leakyD Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 I don't like the desert. It bothers me. Maybe it's because I've trained at the NTC in Ft. Irwin, and served in GW1. Desert ops suck. Really. Every time I play a desert battle (Ops?, no way, pal!) I get waxed. Doesn't matter what side I play (well, defense isn't so bad). Maybe it's just a psychological thing from my previous experience? So, is there a quick "do's and don't's" checklist for CM desert warfare, or am I just a non-desert fighting be-atch? Get me in the ETO, and I'm just fine. Get me in the desert, and I suck big hairy donkey testicles. Anyone else feel the same way? I need a shoulder to cry on. *sniff* Note: this opinion was formed a while ago, but severely reinforced after playing the scenario: "A Series of Misfortunes" - can you blame me? [ August 12, 2004, 11:25 PM: Message edited by: leakyD ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingknives Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 First, lose the donkey. It's obviously distracting you. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Embark Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 I live out in 29 Palms CA. Trust me when I tell you that I hate the desert more than anyone I know. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingknives Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 Desert fighting requires much more overwatch if you're fighting in open visibility than wooded terrain. Smoke is also useful to screen attacking troops. Most battles in the desert in WWII were fought at night and/or with heavy artillery support for good reason. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brent Pollock Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 "Topic: Does the desert *really* suck, or is it just me..." It's just you... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Level 1 vision. Float across the screen. Discover the angles, the depressions, the hillocks. Will solve your problem. Cheerio Dandelion 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine59 Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 I agree. I retreated to Sicily and Italy some months ago. Even the ambient sounds in the desert bothered me. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holman Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 You can learn a lot (the hard way) about fighting in the desert by playing the attacker in "The Defense of Snipe." You'll have to use the terrain veeeery carefully. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 You need to do a little research Tiger... Read up on some desert tactics 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooz Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 I have to say I LOVE the desert battles. Without these desert battles I feel sometimes I am playing CMBOX2! There are a horde of really good desert battles and ops awaiting at the Scenario Depot and Proving Grounds. Check them out. However, to be honest, I find myself drifting back to CMBB more and more lately. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leakyD Posted July 25, 2004 Author Share Posted July 25, 2004 Hey, I just can't get rid of the donkey, we got history, y'know? That's the best laugh I had all week. Well, except for this: This Land.... Yeah, yeah, I gotta practice this desert schtuff more. I just needed to whine a little. Seriously, has anyone WON as Germans in "A Series of Misfortunes"? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junk2drive Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 i had to read this to my wife. she said it should be big hairy camel testicles. i live in the desert and love it. i hate playing desert battles. if i ever get good at the flatlands of benelux, maybe i will try the desert again. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooz Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 "That's the best laugh I had all week. Well, except for this: This Land..."--Leaky D Hey leaky D! Thanks for this link--hilarious! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer76 Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Its a hate or love thing with the desert. I generally dont like it, but small battles (1000 pts) with heavy trees and med hills can be fun. The "problem" is the lack of features in the desert, its just plain boring. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splinty Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 I've spent alot of time in the desert, (Iraq, Gulf WAr 1)and I have to agree it sucks. I would also agree that you need to spend alot of time at Level 1 view so's to find all those little hummocks and dips in the ground to use as cover/ hull-down positions. The dips can be good for guns/ MGs too. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brent Pollock Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Usually ended up playing Richtofen's War or Luftwaffe instead of TOBRUK with my Dad because he found the map so ugly. Originally posted by Panzer76: Its a hate or love thing with the desert. I generally dont like it, but small battles (1000 pts) with heavy trees and med hills can be fun. The "problem" is the lack of features in the desert, its just plain boring. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chashm Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 I love the desert....very civil out here, not like that nasty Eastern Front. Somebody could get hurt out there. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyD Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 I've found if you're attacking infantry in open desert (there's lots of N.A. desert types in CMAK) you really have to supress the crap out of the opposition first. I get the urge to change 35 turn scenarios into 45 turn scenarios just so I can spend the first 10 turns hammering enemy positions before sending my infantry 'over the top'. ...That is, assuming you've got something handy to hammer with (mortar F.O.s, heavy mgs, Grants, etc.). Just infantry without support weapons - then the desert really sucks. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 I don't like North Africa. I don't like Arabs (apparently the soldiers in WWII felt the same way). I judge places and cultures by their food, drink, scenery, trees, and relaxation. North Africa (then and particularly now) is a huge loser on all counts. Also, I like to mix playing CM with reading history and traveling to WWII spots on vacation. Who the hell wants to go to Morroco or Libya for good drinks, stylish living, food, or beautiful forest trails? Give me France, Belgium, Germany or Italy any day... So I'm playing games in Italy with CMAK while I wait for BTS to make the Western Front game that will be really cool. Glad to know I'm not the only one who finds North Africa unappealing. Let the Monty Boyz in short pants enjoy pushing Krauts across the sand through places I can't pronounce. Who gives a damn? What is it with Brits and sand countries anyway? Ain't Brighton beach bright enough? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunMod Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 Originally posted by leakyD: [QB] Hey, I just can't get rid of the donkey, we got history, y'know? No no no.. The cat.. The cat was freaking hilarious "Are you Shrek?" - Insert - cat licking himself looks up with leg still cocked up in the air "For you Lady, I could be" 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgars Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 Originally posted by Panzer76: The "problem" is the lack of features in the desert, its just plain boring. I felt the same way, when CMAK came out. So i didn't bought. Is it worth buying CMAK if i'll only play Italy (and Crete, probably)? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junk2drive Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 yep, defintely 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingknives Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 Yes. The chance to play as Brits and Yanks with the proper battery sizes for arty (even if it's too pricey), more allied armour, halfway decent allied ATGs, not to mention the improved AI etc. Then there's Tunisia. Anyone who says that the desert is flat, boring and featureless has never so much as seen a picture of Tunisia. This is exacerbated to an extent by some scenario designers letting their preconceptions draw the map rather than basing on the terrain that was actually there. It was not without cause that Tunisia was referred to as "a country of defiles" 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YankeeDog Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 I love desert scenarios. There's a number of great ones, both on the CD and also at SD, etc. And as noted, North Africa desert terrain can run the gamut from wide open and almost no cover to quite a lot of relief and cover. Desert QBs are another matter. Especially the more open desert maps in don't really make very good QBs. I actually found this true of the really open steppes maps in CMBB as well, though these weren't quite as bad as Steppe terrain did provide some degree of concealment and cover (unlike sand, which provides basically nothing). Actually, in general I find QBs in CMAK unappealing due to certain (mostly Allied) purchasing problems. I've already harped on about this issue ad nauseam, though, so I won't hijack this thread by bringing this stuff up again. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you want to enjoy the desert, play well-crafted scenarios. It is much more important on open, coverless maps to have a designer tailor the setup zones, available artillery, etc. to make an interesting and more or less balanced fight. Cheers, YD 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sand digger Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Love the desert :cool: And most QB's there are good too, particularly with all the little folds and surface variations that seem to be generated. Using the longer engagement distances the game seems to work at its best as well, really very good. If you are interested in a suggestion, try a 1000 point motorised meeting engagement QB on a large map. Try also farmland, moderate trees, small or modest hills. Then call me for a PBEM game Psssst... Use one of the grid mods available, Caffino's is excellent (thanks Caffino) makes a hell of a difference, adjusting your monitor screen settings may help as well. [ August 08, 2004, 08:58 PM: Message edited by: sand digger ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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