CaptainFoobar Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 I was never much of a CMAK or CMBO player, so what's the story behind these classic missions with such a devoted cult following like Chance Encounter or Valley of Trouble? What are the situations of those scenarios, and what about them made them so near and dear to players' hearts? Broadsword, In the case of 'Last Defense', 'Valley of Trouble', and 'Chance Encounter'.. I would say that there is nothing particularly unique and groundbreaking, other than the fact that these were the ONLY maps available to us when we were waiting for CMBO to come out. And as such, the result was a common experience, and a source of nostalgia... Also, it was our FIRST taste of the Combat Mission magic. You will probably be underwhelmed with playing them after hearing the hype, but I think this is what is behind it, at least for me... Foobar 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodyBucket Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I was never much of a CMAK or CMBO player, so what's the story behind these classic missions with such a devoted cult following like Chance Encounter or Valley of Trouble? What are the situations of those scenarios, and what about them made them so near and dear to players' hearts? For me it was the profound shock and pleausure of finding a game where the designer actually "got it". I ran in to CMBO in the form of the demo, and the demo scenarios are etched in my brain like a laser put the maps there. When I played them, it was with a sense of "Hot Damn, finally, it's here! THE GAME that we always talked about being possible one day..." I don't think it's that those scenarios are superior from a design standpoint, but for a paper map and cardboard counter tactical gamer, finding CMBO was like being a kid and discovering there really is a Santa Claus. It's nowhere near on the same scale of importance, but just like most of us remember where we were and what we were doing for the rest of our lives when a momentous historical event or tragedy strikes, those first scenarios are going with me to the grave. In fact, if I could be buried on that hill on the left overlooking the Valley of Trouble, while those magnificent, blocky squads who have contended over that electronic real estate so often fired a volley and played that glorious rendition of Taps that played at the end of the scenario, I'd be happy to spend forever with a clear line of sight to that opposite elevation. BTW, where's the mod that duplicates the CMBO opening and closing music....? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawomi Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 As already said these are the CMBO Beta/Gold scenarios. They where recreated for almost every Combat Mission game since then (CM:A is missing, someone has to do somefink...) . They are presumably the scenarios most often played. For me it is Chance Encounter I have most played, but the first experience of CM-magic I had with Riesberg. Would also to like to see this last one for CMBN. Even Wikipedia knows about it: [...] Demo scenarios Three playable public demo scenarios were offered by Battlefront.com at various times. A Beta Demo was released first in October 1999. A Gold Demo was released later, and because the file format changed, two new scenarios were included on it that were not compatible with the earlier Beta version. Neither demo included access to the mission editor, but did permit solo, hotseat, or email play. Last Defense Last Defense was included with the original beta demo. Riesberg Riesberg was included with the original beta demo. Chance Encounter This scenario was originally released as an add-on for the beta demo, at Christmas 1999. It was later also released as part of the Gold Demo. It depicted a meeting engagement late in the war between an American rifle company supported by Sherman tanks, and a German rifle company supported by assault guns. The terrain depicted a rural crossroads overlooked by a forested hill. Chance Encounter has remained a popular scenario and versions of this battle have been recreated by third parties in Combat Mission: Afrika Korps and even Combat Mission: Shock Force. Valley of Trouble Valley of Trouble was a new scenario for the Gold Demo that depicted an American assault through a fortified valley. [...] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Mission:_Beyond_Overlord 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkEzra Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I'm working on Riesberg now. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlapHappy Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I've only played Chance Encounter and Valley of Trouble from the second demo. I kinda wonder how they will play compared to the CM1 engine, and what the differences will be. You've got a lot of green Wehrmacht troops dug-in in Valley of Trouble. Will the trenches and infantry pits give them a decent chance of defense? I guess we'll see soon enough. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jief Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 In case you guys didn't notice, there is a mission editor in the game, so instead of "requesting" things, why don't you get the job done yourselves ? Bien dit yes a lot of things could be done trhrough it 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastables Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Broadsword, In the case of 'Last Defense', 'Valley of Trouble', and 'Chance Encounter'.. I would say that there is nothing particularly unique and groundbreaking, other than the fact that these were the ONLY maps available to us when we were waiting for CMBO to come out. And as such, the result was a common experience, and a source of nostalgia... Also, it was our FIRST taste of the Combat Mission magic. You will probably be underwhelmed with playing them after hearing the hype, but I think this is what is behind it, at least for me... Foobar More than that remember that in the way back machine the demo missions were the only CM you could play while also waiting for the full game to arrive. CM was before website downloads. They also highlighted certain things like Tiggers can die to 76mm hellcats. StuG's die to Sherman. Green volksgren sub-machine-gun troops dieing at range to regular and vet US rifle sections yet murdering them at sub 40m ranges in the trees. Relying on schreks as the US have more tanks than you. Learning that not every penetration is a kill from HEAT rounds. Sure CM was great but what really showed you how awsum it was was the almost infinitely replayble demo missions and interesting situations CM through up. For many early adopters CM demo and the missions were CM for what 6 months or longer? New demo bah who cares, I pre ordered and can download the full game when ready. First time I played closing the pocket was after downloading it to the full game. But you know what i miss, chance encounter. Last defence was ok but it's no encounter in the forests filled with 18yearolds and submachineguns. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastables Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I've only played Chance Encounter and Valley of Trouble from the second demo. I kinda wonder how they will play compared to the CM1 engine, and what the differences will be. You've got a lot of green Wehrmacht troops dug-in in Valley of Trouble. Will the trenches and infantry pits give them a decent chance of defense? I guess we'll see soon enough. No volkgrendier platoons: 2 sections 8 men armed with MP40s and 1 section 2x MG42 and 6 MP 40 schoollevers. two of those and one "normal" combat range platoon with rifles. I don't think it can be done properly yet which is maybe why it exists only as a QB map now (155 open i think) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I don't think it's that those scenarios are superior from a design standpoint... I think Chance Encounter is. I can't recall any other canned scenario that grabbed me as much. It's probably the only one from CMBO that I'd want to play again today. All the other ones always seemed to disappoint me in one way or another, to have something wrong with them somewhere, but this one seemed to be perfect in all its ways. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCMHQ Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Some pics of my first battle-test of the new (but yet not finished) CMBN "Chance Encounter" map: I played the German side and set up a very basic AI plan for the US attacker. My óld favorite hull down position on the CMBO map also worked like a charm on the new map. Bang...the first Sherman is gone. My infantry approches the Abbey and gets under heavy fire from the remaining US tanks The first US platoon emerges from the western woods and is beaten back by my mortars. OK...big victory for me since the AI is no real match in CMBN. But wait ...suddenly the tide was turning. My Stugs were destroyed in short time by the remaining Shermans and those gamey Yanks started a strange "Safari" with their Jeeps to hunt down my tank crews.... so I guess no Jeeps will be included in the final version. Despite a fanatic defense of the Abbey and its surroundings by my Pixeltruppen the AI started a well coordinated final assault against me... and succeded. Five minutes before game time ran out the graveyard and the Abbey were taken by the AI and my last forces were driven out of the church building. Final result: a humilating defeat against the AI. Lessons learned: back to tactic school ... haven´t played CM games for more than five years. Seems that an overdose of Mario Kart on the Nintendo WII has killed my skills. Keep AI plans simple and never underestimate your enemy. Can´t wait to present you the final scenario. Kind Regards Tom 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradley Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Beautiful work. Thanks for sharing. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I hope you are going to include an AI plan for the Germans, since I prefer to play the Yanks. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cymru Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I always thought in was called Valley of Terror: Freudian slip I guess given my appalling lack of success. Thinking about it: wasn't Valley of Terror a Sherlock Holmes story? Hmm: never mind Hamstertruppen and space lobsters, I want Holmes in a scenario. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCMHQ Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I hope you are going to include an AI plan for the Germans, since I prefer to play the Yanks. Michael For sure ! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastables Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 three or 5 plans per side. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainFoobar Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 Great pics Tom, Cant wait to play it!. It seems it may be a really good size for RT play. Maybe we could start an "All Chance Encounter" League 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oddball_E8 Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I'm working on Riesberg now. great! cant wait to see that old gem again 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mord Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Sure does take me back...probably the scenario I played the most out of all the demo stuff...amazing to see it updated with such beautiful graphics and fidelity. Really nice work Tom! Glad you are back in action...I hope you'll stick around for quite a while. You gave us a lot of gaming goodness throughout CMX1. Your Bulge mod was one of the greats! Mord. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oddball_E8 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Well someone made chance encounter... and valley of trouble is next apparantly... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ales Dvorak Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Tom, thank you for Chance Encounter scenario. I like landmarks. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCMHQ Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Tom, thank you for Chance Encounter scenario. I like landmarks. Hi Ales, thanks. I hope no one is offended by these At least Steve´s Cafe, the St. Grammond Abbey and the memorials survived all my battle tests without collapsing :eek: Cheers Tom BTW: if you missed the announcement: "Chance Encounter CMBN" can be downloaded from the Repostory. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agua Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Thanks Tom. I must say that it looks closer to the original (sans neon) than I thought possible. Looking forward to VoT. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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