new player questions

[sawomi]

Marines Modul has USMC + Syrian Airborne with T-90 MBT and BMP-3 [-> the 'power-up' module]

British Modul has UK Army with anti-IED vehicles and on-board mortas + US Army IBCT (light infantery with trucks) [-> the 'specialist' module]

NATO Modul has German+Canadian+Dutch Armies with Leopard MBTs and very much more cool stuff + Syrian Shilkas and Uncon AA Pickups for ground fire and Syrian trucks [-> the 'lands of plenty' module]

[Hooahguy]

So which one is more "bang for buck" in terms of missions?

Im going to guess NATO.

[sawomi]

So which one is more "bang for buck" in terms of missions?

Im going to guess NATO.

Hard to say if you calculate bundle options, user made content and pbem-possibilities in.

[Hooahguy]

So if you take all that into account, what would be your guess?

[sawomi]

Base Paradox Retail Version as a 1$ sellout if you find it somewhere

+

v1.21 Retail upgrade (Paradox) [1$]

+

Marines + British + NATO Bundle [45$]

[Hooahguy]

Ok, but which module, when you take into account mods and user made content, would you recommend as having the most content. I cant afford to spend more than $25 when it comes to modules, so no bundles for me.

[meade95]

So where are we regarding Patches? I'm at 1.30.

But I see there is a 1.31 patch out (yet not really highlighted here on the main page). I also reading about 1.32 patch coming out at some point (the last CMSF patch most likely).

Are there issues, new issues with patch 1.31 that makes keeping patch 1.30 a better idea (and thus why patch 1.31 is not really highlighted).

[Hooahguy]

I have the 1.31 demo.

[sawomi]

Ok, but which module, when you take into account mods and user made content, would you recommend as having the most content. I cant afford to spend more than $25 when it comes to modules, so no bundles for me.

I have all three modules and downloaded nearly all scenarios I could find on the internet (repository and other places). A quick scenarios count of my installation gives this result:

Base: 99 (X)

Marines: 48 (VI)

British: 40 (II)

NATO: 28 (III)

Mixed (more than one module needed): 3

These include H2H (no single player AI) and scenarios with briefings in languages I don't speak (Spanish and Frensh). So if you look at the table the obvious choice would be Marines. But this is the oldest modul which means it has longest time for creation of user made scenarios. British is almost even.

The roman numbers in brackets stand for the number of campaigns which contain quite a number of scenarios each, but to see them all you have to play for more then once. Of course Base and Marines again have the highest number, British has only one user-made campaign I know of, and for NATO there are only the 'default' campaigns till now. NATO still has some bugs that make it harder to play (no Panzerfaust-3 launchers for German Panzergrenadiere in v1.31), so most players don't play them for the moment (at least the German one) till this is solved.

But another point to consider is that the newer modules have mostly 'better' scenarios because the designers have now more expierience with the editor. The maps for British and NATO are much more better designed than the ones in the early Base and Marines. But they are also more challenging and difficult. For Base and Marines there exist more scenarios by numbers, but there is also a higher chance to download 'crap' made by people that have no idea what they are doing (placing Kornets down in a swale and giving no setup space etc.) So it is not easy to give a good advise, if you want only buy one Module.

Let's say it this way: If I had to spent a year in a station in antarctica (lonley island case) and could only take Base + 1 Modul with me, I would opt for ........... NATO.

[Hooahguy]

Thanks for the info. NATO does look good, though the few bugs that you mentioned worries me. So I might go with British. Maybe if I skip a few meals I can afford the other two.

Plus I also heard that there are some great mods for the British.

EDIT: and what about mods that enhance textures and effects and other stuff like that?

[gibsonm]

So where are we regarding Patches? I'm at 1.30.

But I see there is a 1.31 patch out (yet not really highlighted here on the main page). I also reading about 1.32 patch coming out at some point (the last CMSF patch most likely).

Are there issues, new issues with patch 1.31 that makes keeping patch 1.30 a better idea (and thus why patch 1.31 is not really highlighted).

Well 10 secs with the search tool found this:

http://www.battlefront.com/community/announcement.php?f=56&a=361

So that’s the good news, I’ll let you look for some of the issues related to it.

[Hooahguy]

Looking at the Repository, Im seeing that NATO has very few mods. Im a big mod person, so Im guessing that I should go with Britain.

[Erwin]

Don't forget that the interface and terrain mods are good for the later modules like NATO, so it's not quite that simple. However, the Brits are a very fun outfit.

[Hooahguy]

So you are saying that a terrain/effect mod for the base game will work for modules like NATO?

[meade95]

Well 10 secs with the search tool found this:

http://www.battlefront.com/community/announcement.php?f=56&a=361

So that’s the good news, I’ll let you look for some of the issues related to it.

I know there is a 1.31 patch - That was my question (perhaps wrongly worded, as I was traveling while typing). Typically the most recent patch, is the one highlighted. Yet, it seems patch 1.30 is the one with the 'sticky' here in the forums (not 1.31). Which is why I had the question that perhaps 1.30 was more stable and waiting for 1.32 would be advisable to those who haven't already patched to 1.31.

[ChrisND]

So you are saying that a terrain/effect mod for the base game will work for modules like NATO?

Yes. They are still the same game, the modules just add more nationalities and military equipment for the Syrians.

[Hooahguy]

Awesome. Now all I have to figure out is how much I want new skins for infantry, vehicles, etc.

But considering that I play in real time, I dont have time to zoom in on units, so it seems kinda pointless.

[gibsonm]

I know there is a 1.31 patch - That was my question (perhaps wrongly worded, as I was traveling while typing). Typically the most recent patch, is the one highlighted. Yet, it seems patch 1.30 is the one with the 'sticky' here in the forums (not 1.31). Which is why I had the question that perhaps 1.30 was more stable and waiting for 1.32 would be advisable to those who haven't already patched to 1.31.

No its simply that because 1.31 came out at about the same time as the initial flurry about CM:BN (and all the related issues of setting up forums, etc. for that) that making the announcement about 1.31 a sticky seems to have fallen through the cracks.

It is in the Announcements area though.

Also there are some subsequent issues with 1.31 and while that is being worked on (but again with the clamour to get CM:BN out the door, there are less resources to work on it) its pretty much up to the individual to make a value judgement as to proceed or not.

Along the lines of:

Want all the good stuff in 1.31 and don’t play the Germans, install it.

Play Germans exclusively and need Panzerfausts more than what 1.31 fixes, then don’t install it.

Your call.

[Hooahguy]

Ok so Ive decided to go with the Marines module.

I played the British mission from the demo, and I didnt like it. Well, I couldnt even get past it. All I had were a few scout units, and approaching a heavily defended building in "Out of the wilderness" with such a weak force does not work. At least for a newbie like me. Maybe Im missing something? Do reinforcements come in at some point so I can make a substantial assault?

I also played the German NATO mission Die Festung (it was about taking a castle from the Syrians). It was ok, but I feel like I need to re-examine how I approached that mission. I tried an assault from the western side (the side with all the infantry and no vehicles) with a smoke screen to cover them, but they couldnt scale the hill, so they went around, getting slaughtered by Syrian MGs. I then sent my mechanized force to assault with some artillery plastering the area before, but there must have been mines or ATGMs in the area because I lost one of my two tanks and two APCs, and an HQ squad in the process. I then retreated and ended the game when a Syrian ATGM destroyed the other tank, and then a mobile AA gun opened up on my troops who were mounting for an assault on the castle, killing/pinning most of them.

I then tried USMC Going to Town. I really enjoyed it. I rushed two Strykers with infantry to the far objective, quickly securing it. I then surrounded the government complex and slowly assaulted it, as my Strykers put down supressing fire on the upper floors. So I think Marines it will be.

[gibsonm]

Not not really different countries have different national characteristics / equipment / force structure and you need to adapt.

However it doesn’t really matter now as you haven’t bought either of those so just focus on learning the differences between the US Army and USMC (that in itself will influence how you use there two very different forces).

[stikkypixie]

Ok so Ive decided to go with the Marines module.

I played the British mission from the demo, and I didnt like it. Well, I couldnt even get past it. All I had were a few scout units, and approaching a heavily defended building in "Out of the wilderness" with such a weak force does not work. At least for a newbie like me. Maybe Im missing something? Do reinforcements come in at some point so I can make a substantial assault?

I also played the German NATO mission Die Festung (it was about taking a castle from the Syrians). It was ok, but I feel like I need to re-examine how I approached that mission. I tried an assault from the western side (the side with all the infantry and no vehicles) with a smoke screen to cover them, but they couldnt scale the hill, so they went around, getting slaughtered by Syrian MGs. I then sent my mechanized force to assault with some artillery plastering the area before, but there must have been mines or ATGMs in the area because I lost one of my two tanks and two APCs, and an HQ squad in the process. I then retreated and ended the game when a Syrian ATGM destroyed the other tank, and then a mobile AA gun opened up on my troops who were mounting for an assault on the castle, killing/pinning most of them.

I then tried USMC Going to Town. I really enjoyed it. I rushed two Strykers with infantry to the far objective, quickly securing it. I then surrounded the government complex and slowly assaulted it, as my Strykers put down supressing fire on the upper floors. So I think Marines it will be.

Kind of a silly question regarding the British mission, but did you check the briefing for possible reinforcements? I know a lot mission begin with a scouting party with the main force arriving about 10 minutes after.

And just to clear up some more confusion (I'm in that kind of mood ), I don't recall Strykers being in the Marines TOE. Are you sure you were playing with marines? I really need to check those demo missions.

[gibsonm]

I then tried USMC Going to Town. I really enjoyed it. I rushed two Strykers with infantry to the far objective, quickly securing it. I then surrounded the government complex and slowly assaulted it, as my Strykers put down supressing fire on the upper floors. So I think Marines it will be.

Where did this paragraph come from?

Perhaps an edit while I was responding to the first edition (or maybe I just was dozing)?

[gibsonm]

And just to clear up some more confusion (I'm in that kind of mood ), I don't recall Strykers being in the Marines TOE. Are you sure you were playing with marines? I really need to check those demo missions.

Yes the USMC has only LAVs in Recon Pl (complete with Gunny Highway) and access to AA7Vs.

US Army has Stryker.

I’m not even sure there is a USMC version of “Going to Town”?

[gibsonm]

I’m not even sure there is a USMC version of “Going to Town”?

Yes, there is a USMC version of “Going to Town” on the demo.

No, it doesn’t have any Strykers - AA7Vs only.

[stikkypixie]

Regardless, Marines and the Germans are my favourite forces so far. Haven't tried the Dutch and the Canadians that much (where is that patch!). Wish there were Marines scenarios designed by BFC now that they have more experience.