Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy, Commonwealth Forces Expansion.
http://www.armchairgeneral.com/combat-mission-commonwealth-forces-pc-game-review.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkiPbYZ3Gqo&feature=related
Broke down and ordered the bundle. But I have no time to play for awhile. :(
Quote from: 11B4V on June 13, 2012, 06:41:33 PM
Broke down and ordered the bundle. But I have no time to play for awhile. :(
It is such a fun system, though.
With the civil war in Syria, I'm surprised that the CMSF scenario has actually become relevant. :hmm:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 14, 2012, 07:06:12 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 13, 2012, 06:41:33 PM
Broke down and ordered the bundle. But I have no time to play for awhile. :(
It is such a fun system, though.
Love it. I was going to post a CMBB AAR on a five scenario battle sequence, but had to stop after #3 due to work. They guy did a great job on designing them.
Here's a couple of screens
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcf.geekdo-images.com%2Fimages%2Fpic1227957_lg.jpg&hash=8acb92e9015f4c49bc49bdeb276c4d0ed0a9ed53)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcf.geekdo-images.com%2Fimages%2Fpic1227961_lg.jpg&hash=bfc50c062186c6b9bc288aacedd7058328223e50)
I also have a couple of vids of BBQing russians w/ my evil SS pioneers.
Quote from: Syt on June 14, 2012, 07:13:22 AM
With the civil war in Syria, I'm surprised that the CMSF scenario has actually become relevant. :hmm:
Never played SF because
I heard the AI was weeeek.
Strong enough for me, but then again I suck.
In semi-related news, the makers of Achtung Panzer: Operation Star have announced their new game: an operational/tactical treatment of Nomonhan (Japs vs. Soviets in 1939). :huh:
Have they fixed the sniper-AT guns taking your tanks out the moment they peak out from behind cover on the opposing end of the map?
Quote from: Syt on June 14, 2012, 07:21:33 AM
Strong enough for me, but then again I suck.
In semi-related news, the makers of Achtung Panzer: Operation Star have announced their new game: an operational/tactical treatment of Nomonhan (Japs vs. Soviets in 1939). :huh:
Interesting if not obscure for the masses.
Quote from: 11B4V on June 14, 2012, 07:52:11 AM
Interesting if not obscure for the masses.
Well, they're the guys with the tank sim that covers the Angolan Civil War and Iran/Iraq. :P
Matrix Games. :bleeding: Home of the not-quite-fully-baked biscuit.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 14, 2012, 08:25:03 AM
Matrix Games. :bleeding: Home of the not-quite-fully-baked biscuit.
Never regretted turning down that job offer from them 15 years ago :lol:
Quote from: katmai on June 14, 2012, 08:33:50 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 14, 2012, 08:25:03 AM
Matrix Games. :bleeding: Home of the not-quite-fully-baked biscuit.
Never regretted turning down that job offer from them 15 years ago :lol:
We'll never see
Grand Theft Auto: Taco Truck now. :cry:
:lol:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 14, 2012, 08:25:03 AM
Matrix Games. :bleeding: Home of the not-quite-fully-baked biscuit.
Never had a prob with them.
BBQing Russian's. RUN FORREST, RUN :lmfao:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmL5DQnN1yU&feature=youtu.be
VIEW IT FULL SCREEN.
Private video :(
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 14, 2012, 10:13:22 AM
Private video :(
Sit. Fixed sorry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmL5DQnN1yU&feature=player_embedded
Man, CM is probably still the most played game ever for me. I loved that game, was very involved in its patching and continuing development.
Does the new version have Assault Move? That was my idea!
Quote from: Berkut on June 14, 2012, 10:52:59 AM
Does the new version have Assault Move? That was my idea!
Weren't you involved in dealing with turret speeds during development in the forums? I remember that from somewhere. Or maybe I just dreamt it.
Yeah, I argued for quite a while that the data they had for German Panther and Tiger turret rotation speeds were wrong based on a incorrect bit of information they were using.
Quote from: Berkut on June 14, 2012, 11:38:54 AM
Yeah, I argued for quite a while that the data they had for German Panther and Tiger turret rotation speeds were wrong based on a incorrect bit of information they were using.
:nerd:
I feel like playing CMBB again. Any way to play it in proper widescreen resolution these days?
Quote from: Tamas on June 14, 2012, 11:45:16 AM
Quote from: Berkut on June 14, 2012, 11:38:54 AM
Yeah, I argued for quite a while that the data they had for German Panther and Tiger turret rotation speeds were wrong based on a incorrect bit of information they were using.
:nerd:
It made a rather huge difference!
The Panther tank had a hydraulic turret rotation motor, but it was hooked up to the engine of the tank, so it only had as much power as the engine gave it.
If the engine was idling at 1000rpm, it took 46 seconds to rotate the turret through 360 degrees. At 3000rpms however, it could rotate in 15 seconds.
They had it set so that the turret always took 46 seconds though. Which was a huge disadvantage in any close range fight.
Quote from: Berkut on June 14, 2012, 10:52:59 AM
Man, CM is probably still the most played game ever for me. I loved that game, was very involved in its patching and continuing development.
Does the new version have Assault Move? That was my idea!
When they get here Ill let you know,
I should reload CM:BB and watch a Russian battalion melt away because a 81mm shell landed within a mile of it.
Fucking slavs.
Quote from: Ed Anger on June 14, 2012, 08:40:29 AM
Quote from: katmai on June 14, 2012, 08:33:50 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 14, 2012, 08:25:03 AM
Matrix Games. :bleeding: Home of the not-quite-fully-baked biscuit.
Never regretted turning down that job offer from them 15 years ago :lol:
We'll never see Grand Theft Auto: Taco Truck now. :cry:
<_<
Its all love dawg.
Quote from: Tamas on June 14, 2012, 07:24:11 AM
Have they fixed the sniper-AT guns taking your tanks out the moment they peak out from behind cover on the opposing end of the map?
?? unsure what you mean here. The last scenario I played (1st SS Breakthrough 5 July '43) my Tigers, which I usually position in overwatch, were picking off T-34's at over 1200 meters.
Kept the Tigers at range supporting and the only thing that hurt them was minefields and the fucking luftwaffe :mad: .
This guy does an excellent job in this video. He's very professional until 09:00... :lmfao:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4MNt-BtBM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ4XalhgOn0&feature=g-u-u
Game Information:
Fortress Italy is a new "family" of Combat Mission games covering the Allied struggle to knock Italy out of the Second World War. This initial release deals explicitly with the battle for Sicily and sets the groundwork for future additions to simulate the hard fighting in the rugged terrain of "Europe's underbelly" up until the war's end in 1945.
http://www.battlefront.com/index.php...295&Itemid=509
and what lots of you have been waiting for:
But wait, we didn't come to the best part yet... Fortress Italy features more than just a new setting and new units. It is also the first Combat Mission game to be upgraded with our CMx2 engine Version 2.0 features!:
•Moveable Waypoints
•Target Armor Arc Command
•Expanded Floating Icon Categories
•"Fog of War" Floating Icons
•2D Editor Map Overlay
•Auto-Assemble Road/Wall/Hedge Tool
•Camera Jump to Groups
•Target Briefly Command
•New Rendering Shaders
•Bump and Normal Mapping
•Improved Framerates
•Pausable Realtime TCP/IP Mode
•...and more!
And even better!:
NO EASTERN FRONT?? :mad:
Quote from: Syt on June 22, 2012, 12:08:15 PM
NO EASTERN FRONT?? :mad:
I wonder how well CMBB still sells. Do newer folks in the system pick up Bat for Norm and look at the older titles of CMBB and CMAK?
There has to be a reason they havent brought the east front into CMx2
Well, I doubt the CMx1 games sell much these days - you really have to dig for them on the Battlefront page (and they still charge $25 - wtf?), though I think they're sold on some other pages, too (GG, GOG?).
About Eastern Front in general - the new Company of Heroes game will be on the Eastern Front, so I guess someone thinks there's money in it. OTOH, Italian front is even less represented than the Eastern Front. However, I don't get much out of slapping Itays. I have to say I'm more interested in the Nomonhan game of the Achtung Panzer guys.
I'm going to pick up AT OP Star. Looks interesting. AT covering Nomonhan is just great. Either CM or AT needs to hit the Winter War.
I'll use this thread for posting some shots of current and past CM operations. This was played last year.
Scenario by JasonC, five total, covering the first days actions by Leibstandarte 05 July 1943.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/246554_4101418505007_274017034_n.jpg)
Night attack. Panzer Grenadiers w/ engineers and support from the Aufklärungsabteilung, preparing to clear the forward Russian outposts to seize the jump off positions.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/246554_4101418545008_1985614517_n.jpg)
Attacking the last Russian strong point.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/179170_4101422865116_2087372181_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/246554_4101418585009_465900655_n.jpg)
Panzer Battlegroup deployed attempting to effect the initial break through of Russian positions.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/179170_4101422905117_411915400_n.jpg)
Battlegroup's Tigers leading the assault emerge from smoke screen.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/181353_4101434985419_811343871_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/179170_4101422945118_950172814_n.jpg)
Assaulting a Russian Pakfront on a low hill.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/181353_4101435025420_354812298_n.jpg)
Panzer Grenadier platoon in the attack against a Russian strong point.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/181353_4101435065421_2041903713_n.jpg)
Started up the fourth scenario in the series.
Assault on Bykovka
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/481331_4106703477128_1454135695_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/481331_4106703517129_1867638954_n.jpg)
I'm confused by the new announcement. Is this new Fortress Italy an addon or a separate game? For instance if the game adds some of those crap French Tanks can they be used in Normandy (where some in fact were used). I was hoping for simply extending the time line to end o the war, putting in snow and autumn seasons, a few new units and Volkstrum militia. I would have liked to fight Market-Garden, and the Ardenes.
Quote from: Syt on June 23, 2012, 12:11:48 AM
Well, I doubt the CMx1 games sell much these days - you really have to dig for them on the Battlefront page (and they still charge $25 - wtf?), though I think they're sold on some other pages, too (GG, GOG?).
About Eastern Front in general - the new Company of Heroes game will be on the Eastern Front, so I guess someone thinks there's money in it. OTOH, Italian front is even less represented than the Eastern Front. However, I don't get much out of slapping Itays. I have to say I'm more interested in the Nomonhan game of the Achtung Panzer guys.
Something that I read is that developers make much more money on Western Front games then Eastern Front games. I'd love to see a good tactical East Asia war, though the new Engine probably can't do a Banzai charge well.
Also: WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO ADD FLAMETHROWERS?!?!?! ( I really need a key for an interobang).
Quote from: Razgovory on June 28, 2012, 01:06:41 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 23, 2012, 12:11:48 AM
Well, I doubt the CMx1 games sell much these days - you really have to dig for them on the Battlefront page (and they still charge $25 - wtf?), though I think they're sold on some other pages, too (GG, GOG?).
About Eastern Front in general - the new Company of Heroes game will be on the Eastern Front, so I guess someone thinks there's money in it. OTOH, Italian front is even less represented than the Eastern Front. However, I don't get much out of slapping Itays. I have to say I'm more interested in the Nomonhan game of the Achtung Panzer guys.
Something that I read is that developers make much more money on Western Front games then Eastern Front games. I'd love to see a good tactical East Asia war, though the new Engine probably can't do a Banzai charge well.
Also: WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO ADD FLAMETHROWERS?!?!?! ( I really need a key for an interobang).
?? Go back a couple of pages and I post a short vid of roasting some commie swine. CMBB has FT's
Interesting that the WF is more pop than EF. I find the WF..well boring. EF was the two big evils slugging it out. Viscous and nasty. WF is kind of like..."Well, right tea time at noon. We'll give it another go with Jerry at 1400."
I think there was a saying to the effect.."War in the west was sport, war in the east was hell". Something like that.
Quote from: Razgovory on June 28, 2012, 01:03:40 PM
I'm confused by the new announcement. Is this new Fortress Italy an addon or a separate game? For instance if the game adds some of those crap French Tanks can they be used in Normandy (where some in fact were used). I was hoping for simply extending the time line to end o the war, putting in snow and autumn seasons, a few new units and Volkstrum militia. I would have liked to fight Market-Garden, and the Ardenes.
QuoteFortress Italy is a new "family" of Combat Mission games covering the Allied struggle to knock Italy out of the Second World War. This initial release deals explicitly with the battle for Sicily and sets the groundwork for future additions to simulate the hard fighting in the rugged terrain of "Europe's underbelly" up until the war's end in 1945.
Combat Mission: Fortress Italy does NOT require any of the previous Combat Mission titles to play. Both PC and Mac versions are available!
Stand alone Raz
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 06:17:27 PM
Interesting that the WF is more pop than EF. I find the WF..well boring. EF was the two big evils slugging it out. Viscous and nasty. WF is kind of like..."Well, right tea time at noon. We'll give it another go with Jerry at 1400."
One reason why the WF is more interesting than the EF: Stuarts, baby.
Stuarts.
And the PIAT. Right out of the ACME catalog.
God Bless the WW2 Brits and their Nerf technology.
Such brave soldiers, yet such shitty equipment.
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 06:17:27 PMInteresting that the WF is more pop than EF. I find the WF..well boring. EF was the two big evils slugging it out. Viscous and nasty. WF is kind of like..."Well, right tea time at noon. We'll give it another go with Jerry at 1400."
I guess people like playing games that cover their part of history. So games about the Western Front with (mostly) U.S. and (to lesser extent) Commonwealth will have a bigger market in the west/English speaking countries. You don't get much treatment of the pre-1944 campaigns of French and Brits, either.
Quote from: Syt on June 28, 2012, 09:32:56 PM
I guess people like playing games that cover their part of history. So games about the Western Front with (mostly) U.S. and (to lesser extent) Commonwealth will have a bigger market in the west/English speaking countries. You don't get much treatment of the pre-1944 campaigns of French and Brits, either.
I think your average yuk yuk player would prefer the WF, what with Tom Hanks and all the Good Guys beating down The Hun, while you average harder-core grog prefers the Eastern Front.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 28, 2012, 09:36:38 PM
Quote from: Syt on June 28, 2012, 09:32:56 PM
I guess people like playing games that cover their part of history. So games about the Western Front with (mostly) U.S. and (to lesser extent) Commonwealth will have a bigger market in the west/English speaking countries. You don't get much treatment of the pre-1944 campaigns of French and Brits, either.
I think your average yuk yuk player would prefer the WF, what with Tom Hanks and all the Good Guys beating down The Hun, while you average harder-core grog prefers the Eastern Front.
I agree, but which of the two is the bigger market?
Quote from: Syt on June 28, 2012, 09:32:56 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 06:17:27 PMInteresting that the WF is more pop than EF. I find the WF..well boring. EF was the two big evils slugging it out. Viscous and nasty. WF is kind of like..."Well, right tea time at noon. We'll give it another go with Jerry at 1400."
I guess people like playing games that cover their part of history. So games about the Western Front with (mostly) U.S. and (to lesser extent) Commonwealth will have a bigger market in the west/English speaking countries. You don't get much treatment of the pre-1944 campaigns of French and Brits, either.
Not including the Hardcores, but most casual Brit/Frenchy or "flavor of the month" gamers, would probably not find it interesting getting stomped again.
Personally I like the tough, hard, uneven fights in games. You(the opponet) most likely will win, but I'm going to make you pay and have a blast doing it. :P
Depends on scoring mechanism. I generally think that historical outcome should equal a draw, at least in uneven scenarios. If you do better than your historical counterpart, you win.
Quote from: Syt on June 28, 2012, 10:24:51 PM
Depends on scoring mechanism. I generally think that historical outcome should equal a draw, at least in uneven scenarios. If you do better than your historical counterpart, you win.
Without a doubt.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 28, 2012, 09:25:42 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 06:17:27 PM
Interesting that the WF is more pop than EF. I find the WF..well boring. EF was the two big evils slugging it out. Viscous and nasty. WF is kind of like..."Well, right tea time at noon. We'll give it another go with Jerry at 1400."
One reason why the WF is more interesting than the EF: Stuarts, baby. Stuarts.
:yuk:
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 06:20:11 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on June 28, 2012, 01:03:40 PM
I'm confused by the new announcement. Is this new Fortress Italy an addon or a separate game? For instance if the game adds some of those crap French Tanks can they be used in Normandy (where some in fact were used). I was hoping for simply extending the time line to end o the war, putting in snow and autumn seasons, a few new units and Volkstrum militia. I would have liked to fight Market-Garden, and the Ardenes.
QuoteFortress Italy is a new "family" of Combat Mission games covering the Allied struggle to knock Italy out of the Second World War. This initial release deals explicitly with the battle for Sicily and sets the groundwork for future additions to simulate the hard fighting in the rugged terrain of "Europe's underbelly" up until the war's end in 1945.
Combat Mission: Fortress Italy does NOT require any of the previous Combat Mission titles to play. Both PC and Mac versions are available!
Stand alone Raz
Yeah, you can have a stand alone expansion pack. For instance Company of heroes had an expansion pack that didn't require the original game. Shame it only starts in Sicily though. I like those Lee/Grant M3s.
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 10:41:54 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 28, 2012, 09:25:42 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 06:17:27 PM
Interesting that the WF is more pop than EF. I find the WF..well boring. EF was the two big evils slugging it out. Viscous and nasty. WF is kind of like..."Well, right tea time at noon. We'll give it another go with Jerry at 1400."
One reason why the WF is more interesting than the EF: Stuarts, baby. Stuarts.
:yuk:
Light tanks get no love. Grogs are to entranced by big tank fights. The little tanks like the Stuart were probably more useful then the big heavies like the Tiger. I imagine there were many times when German infantry were unpleasantly surprised when a few Honeys showed up to support an attack through terrain they didn't think tanks could traverse.
Quote from: Razgovory on June 28, 2012, 11:42:14 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 10:41:54 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 28, 2012, 09:25:42 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 06:17:27 PM
Interesting that the WF is more pop than EF. I find the WF..well boring. EF was the two big evils slugging it out. Viscous and nasty. WF is kind of like..."Well, right tea time at noon. We'll give it another go with Jerry at 1400."
One reason why the WF is more interesting than the EF: Stuarts, baby. Stuarts.
:yuk:
Light tanks get no love. Grogs are to entranced by big tank fights. The little tanks like the Stuart were probably more useful then the big heavies like the Tiger. I imagine there were many times when German infantry were unpleasantly surprised when a few Honeys showed up to support an attack through terrain they didn't think tanks could traverse.
:yucky:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2F1%2F1f%2FStuart_m5a1_cfb_borden.jpg&hash=86f7b409a48086559c646cca504a222eea64e54e)
:yes:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F7%2F7a%2FM24_Chaffee_in_Detroit.jpg%2F800px-M24_Chaffee_in_Detroit.jpg&hash=6359464ed9be620dafb46996cb68a4a6a7b51254)
Best Looking
Panther
T-34/85
Sherman Firefly
Souma S-35. :wub:
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 10:41:54 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 28, 2012, 09:25:42 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 06:17:27 PM
Interesting that the WF is more pop than EF. I find the WF..well boring. EF was the two big evils slugging it out. Viscous and nasty. WF is kind of like..."Well, right tea time at noon. We'll give it another go with Jerry at 1400."
One reason why the WF is more interesting than the EF: Stuarts, baby. Stuarts.
:yuk:
Ground pounders never appreciate the armored angels on their wings.
See if I ever lay down smoke for you, pal.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 29, 2012, 06:52:05 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 10:41:54 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 28, 2012, 09:25:42 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 28, 2012, 06:17:27 PM
Interesting that the WF is more pop than EF. I find the WF..well boring. EF was the two big evils slugging it out. Viscous and nasty. WF is kind of like..."Well, right tea time at noon. We'll give it another go with Jerry at 1400."
One reason why the WF is more interesting than the EF: Stuarts, baby. Stuarts.
:yuk:
Ground pounders never appreciate the armored angels on their wings.
See if I ever lay down smoke for you, pal.
That's what the cannon cockers are for. :blurgh:
Smoke? Fuck that shit. CHARGE!
More info from this week's RPS Flare Path:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/06/29/the-flare-path-this-sporting-life/
QuoteCombat Mission: Wallet Assault
Only foot-to-ball fans as fanatical/ingenious as Battlefront would think to include a sly tribute to the Azzurri's redoubtable defence in the title of their next project.
Combat Mission: Fortress Italy was one of four upcoming CM games announced in a flurry of press releases and forum posts last Friday. Over the next 12 months, if all goes according to plan, the CMx2 engine will be...
a) Invading Sicily (the first game in the CMFI family)
b) Battling across Belorussia (the Operation Bagration focussed base of a CMBB sequel)
c) Going a bridge too far in the Netherlands (Module #2 of CMBN)
d) Exploring a hypothetical future falling-out between a Ukraine/NATO alliance and Russia ('CM: Shock Force 2′).
After years of fairly slow growth, the dramatic change of pace is as surprising as it is exciting.
Though the first instalment of CMFI (already in 'final beta testing') will only provide a two-legged Operation Husky (British, Canadian, and Fallschirmjager forces are due in later modules), the feature list makes enticing reading. Most Italian, German, and US unit types that shed blood amongst the blood-orange groves will be present. That means feather-festooned Bersaglieri, the baggy-trousered art lovers of the Herman Goering Panzer Division, and a host of unfamiliar/ungainly AFVs at our beck-and-call.
Just as significant as the new TOE are the promised engine improvements (also available separately as a paid update for CMBN). Back after an improbably long holiday are CMx1-style moveable waypoints, armour arcs, and target identification vagueness. Unit bases are still MIA but new icon categories, and a redesigned camera and orders approach, should make skirmishes considerably easier to handle.
Hopefully, there 'll be some first-hand Flare Path CMFI battle reports soon, but in the meantime why not read an official AAR and gawp at a screenshot featuring both WW2′s loveliest lorry and its handsomest helmets.
Quote from: 11B4V on June 29, 2012, 07:48:31 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on June 29, 2012, 06:52:05 AM
Ground pounders never appreciate the armored angels on their wings.
See if I ever lay down smoke for you, pal.
That's what the cannon cockers are for. :blurgh:
:lol: Oh yeah, and you want to trust their math?
I wonder if the Italy module will have the hard fighting, atrocity prone Free French colonial troops.
Hmmm, 55 bucks and no goddamn Brits or Juin's frogs? Screw Battlefront.
Quote from: Syt on June 29, 2012, 08:04:52 AM
More info from this week's RPS Flare Path:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/06/29/the-flare-path-this-sporting-life/
QuoteCombat Mission: Wallet Assault
Only foot-to-ball fans as fanatical/ingenious as Battlefront would think to include a sly tribute to the Azzurri's redoubtable defence in the title of their next project.
Combat Mission: Fortress Italy was one of four upcoming CM games announced in a flurry of press releases and forum posts last Friday. Over the next 12 months, if all goes according to plan, the CMx2 engine will be...
a) Invading Sicily (the first game in the CMFI family)
b) Battling across Belorussia (the Operation Bagration focussed base of a CMBB sequel)
c) Going a bridge too far in the Netherlands (Module #2 of CMBN)
d) Exploring a hypothetical future falling-out between a Ukraine/NATO alliance and Russia ('CM: Shock Force 2′).
After years of fairly slow growth, the dramatic change of pace is as surprising as it is exciting.
Though the first instalment of CMFI (already in 'final beta testing') will only provide a two-legged Operation Husky (British, Canadian, and Fallschirmjager forces are due in later modules), the feature list makes enticing reading. Most Italian, German, and US unit types that shed blood amongst the blood-orange groves will be present. That means feather-festooned Bersaglieri, the baggy-trousered art lovers of the Herman Goering Panzer Division, and a host of unfamiliar/ungainly AFVs at our beck-and-call.
Just as significant as the new TOE are the promised engine improvements (also available separately as a paid update for CMBN). Back after an improbably long holiday are CMx1-style moveable waypoints, armour arcs, and target identification vagueness. Unit bases are still MIA but new icon categories, and a redesigned camera and orders approach, should make skirmishes considerably easier to handle.
Hopefully, there 'll be some first-hand Flare Path CMFI battle reports soon, but in the meantime why not read an official AAR and gawp at a screenshot featuring both WW2′s loveliest lorry and its handsomest helmets.
Huh. Thanks for the information. I hadn't seen anything on shock Force 2 (which looks much better now that you are fighting a real country), or The Eastern Front game. Leaving the Brits out of Fortress Italy is bullshit. I didn't get Beyond Normandy until they put the Commonwealth forces in. I imagine they already coded much of the British kit so why you would leave it out is beyond me. The fact that you have to buy the "Upgrade" for CM:BN seems like bullshit, but at least it answers my questions.
Still, I like the idea of a shock force 2 with Russia as the baddie. I would have also accepted Iran or China. China would be the coolest I think, but data on their modern weaponry is somewhat sparse. At least it's not in the fucking desert.
Couple more screens of the 4th scenario (Assault on Bykovka) in the series. Tough nut to crack. Slow but steady advance.
PzKw IV's overwatch the grenadier's advance.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/521913_4137444765641_348596708_n.jpg)
SS Panzergrenadiers advancing with a PzKw IIIL in support.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/521913_4137444885644_984363596_n.jpg)
I had a lot of fun with that game, but damn it was ugly. It was ugly for when it came out, and that's when they were first transferring to 3D graphics over sprites and everything was ugly. It's like war of the log people. I got the distinct impression though that the developers really only cared about armored warfare. Infantry and artillery were really just an after thought.
Still it had flamethrowers, which worked surprisingly well on tanks. I remember playing a play by email game where I had a flamethrower team in a burning building. From my opponent's point of view it looked like there was a cottage spewing flames at passing infantry and tanks.
Quote from: Razgovory on June 30, 2012, 06:16:04 PM
I had a lot of fun with that game, but damn it was ugly. It was ugly for when it came out, and that's when they were first transferring to 3D graphics over sprites and everything was ugly. It's like war of the log people. I got the distinct impression though that the developers really only cared about armored warfare. Infantry and artillery were really just an after thought.
Eh maybe CMBO, never payed that one. I was a diehard Steel Panthers fan. Ugly is the word. In fact SP was the first comp game I played. I bought Combat Mission BBSE and AKSE and they sat on the self for several years unopened. Finally broke it out and it had "the perspective" that I was always looking for. Never looked back and have never played any of the SP games or spinoffs since.
Well the Steel Panthers series started out back in 1995. It has acceptable 2d graphics at the time. Nothing special, but functional (also the arty just never did damage). The Combat Mission were 3D. That really helped with things like judging line of sight and distance. Lots of games where shifting to 3D, but didn't gain any real game benefits from it. Combat Mission did. I could tell at a glance I was on a hill and could see spot the village on the next hill. I also really like the Wego system.
I played the Demo of CMBO and played a scenario where you try to traverse a valley with enemy bunkers on the other side. My American troops were working their way around wooden bunkers and a platoon of Shermans was shooting them up. I was close to capturing the enemy position when a single Panther crested the hill and started killing my tanks. My heart sank. I decided to move one of my remaining tanks around and hit from the back. He sped up to about 30 yards behind the Panther. Then seeing the might of the German war machine, the crew panicked started retreating and eventually bailed out only to be shot up by the ruthless Germans. I only had one tank left a few infantry and a battery of 75mm artillery on call. So I called the artillery down on the Panther. One of the shells hit the turrent and it and the tank exploded. My remaining infantry charged the hill and won. I was sold.
I later bought CMBB (great) and CMAK (Not so great). I even got Shock Force (which is mediocre). The Shock Force engine is neater though. Individuality soldiers are represented and artillery is much more flexible. The down side is you are fighting Syria which has Soviet Kit from the 1960's. It was also buggy as hell.
Combat Mission Battle for Normandy isn't bad. It has the benefits of the Shock Force engine with a more interesting series of battles and some major improvements. Still, it feels cut down in scope from Beyond Overlord. Smaller time frame, not as many units, NO FLAMETHROWERS, the British, Canadians and SS only show up in the expansion and there is still no French. Still it's fun, and Artillery really shines in this one. So much that scenario makers frequently don't put it scenarios because a well placed bombardment of 105's can pretty much end a battle. And there are great moments like when a very gutsy German creeps up and throws a grenade into a M8 GMC blowing it sky high or a lowly 60mm mortar team stops a platoon's assault cold.
Quote from: Razgovory on July 01, 2012, 06:43:12 PM
The Combat Mission were 3D. That really helped with things like judging line of sight and distance. Lots of games where shifting to 3D, but didn't gain any real game benefits from it. Combat Mission did. I could tell at a glance I was on a hill and could see spot the village on the next hill. I also really like the Wego system.
This. So much superior than top down 2d veiw. Looking at fields a fire and deadspace for example.
For folks that never played this. This pic shows a relative open, flat sparsely wooded engagement area. If you look real closely, it is anything but flat.
The purple circle is the location of a T-34 doing a peep-a-boo
just past the ridge's crestline. It managed to knockout a PzKw IV circled in blue. The red circle is a PzKw III duelling with it at long range. Not doing much but pinging the hell out of it, keeping it occupeid. The yellow circles are a PzKw III (left) and a Tiger (right) moving forward to engage it. The PzKw III is going downhill concealed by the clump of trees circled in pink. The Tiger is out of the T-34's view in this shot, because the T-34 isnt coming out far enough. Once it crosses the road to its front, the T-34 wont be able to see the Tigers approach because it will be in a low area. The Tiger will use a combo of the clump of woods, low area, and the building to mask it's approach going up the ridge crest.
Tiger making it's approach. T-34 is somewhere between the house and woodline to the right.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/552572_4140976733938_1930517848_n.jpg)
Gotcha
T-34 says :o
Tiger says :menace:
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/552572_4140976813940_964260615_n.jpg)
Obviously not a Berkut-commanded armored column. They're not all brewing.
Berk is knocking on the hatches demanding thier orders while pointing at his watch.
Ripped out all the tachometers, replaced them with chess tourney clocks.
On of the things I liked about CMBB was that radios really mattered. You give orders to a T-34-76 it may take half a minute to execute. They just sit there stupidly. Really hits home the importance of radios in tanks, and why that was fatal flaw in early T-34s. I imagine whole companies of tanks could get flanked and wiped out without much resistance because nobody could coordinate a response. Or even tell one another that they are under attack.
Man, I loved CM so much. Probably still my favorite game of all time.
And yet, I cannot get excited about this at all. The restriction of the scope just seems like such artificial bullshit.
Which is fine to some degree - they have to make their money, and I get that. But to this extent? A game system that spanned all of WW2 in Europe reduced to this tiny slice of the pie?
Quote from: Berkut on July 02, 2012, 09:15:24 AM
The restriction of the scope just seems like such artificial bullshit.
Cant faultthe above. Seems to be the way of things today.
But as long as they keep putting out a good product in CM, I'll buy.
Quote from: Berkut on July 02, 2012, 09:15:24 AM
Man, I loved CM so much. Probably still my favorite game of all time.
And yet, I cannot get excited about this at all. The restriction of the scope just seems like such artificial bullshit.
Which is fine to some degree - they have to make their money, and I get that. But to this extent? A game system that spanned all of WW2 in Europe reduced to this tiny slice of the pie?
Plus modules. CM Shockforce + Marines + UK + NATO. CMBN + Commonwealth. CMFI (+ Brits? + Fallschirmjäger?). At 25 bucks per module it's no exactly cheap, either.
Besides the lack of scope with the newer games, there's also the distinct lack of customizable random maps for some quick fun.
I admit CMBB may have spoiled me for other games of its kind. "More than 60 detailed units" (Achtung Panzer: Operation Star)? Pff.
I've gotten more mileage out of Steel Panthers 1&2, CMx1 games and the TOAW series than any other wargame because of their scope. Whenever I had an itch for playing anything between WW2 and WW3 I knew where to go without having to shell out big bucks for a specialized game.
Granted, a more focused can cover more detail, but often I don't need that. Usually I will get into a mood for something because I read or watched something about a topic and it only needs a scenario or two to "get it out of the system".
Anyhoo
Continuing with the fifth and final scenario.
The Panzer battlegroup moves out to seize a vital crossroads before the final push to the Psel River. Expected enemy are a depleted tank regiment, elements of a anti-tank artillery brigade and infantry support.
The group's Tiger leads the charge at 12mph. :rolleyes:
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/483196_4140930252776_2144113424_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/555374_4140966893692_730092954_n.jpg)
Contact is made a long range. One Pz IV is knocked out by a T-34 on the far ridge playing peek-a-boo. The Tiger and a Pz III move forward using terrain to hunt him down. The Recce detachment overwatches at long range and engages any infantry positions that stick their heads out.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/555374_4140966973694_1494974932_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/426054_4140972093822_1731530997_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/552572_4140976773939_1251828846_n.jpg)
The right wing of the Panzer group is engaged at long range by a couple Russian Pak Fronts. Two PzIV's are put out of action as they crest the rise.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/426054_4140972133823_332940487_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/483196_4140930332778_2095486159_n.jpg)
Not wanting to fight the Pakfront at long range, the right wing angles left, behind a low ridge crest and shoots for a gap leading into a small valley.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/426054_4140972133823_332940487_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/426054_4140972173824_1031330960_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/480987_4140982214075_2022201621_n.jpg)
As the first PzIV moves through the gap, A T-34 reveals itself and is engaged by the three Pv IV's and dispatched quickly. To the upper left the Tiger is seen moving up the ridgeline looking for the swine peek-a-booing T-34.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/480987_4140982134073_2070529357_n.jpg)
*From the Russian perspective*
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/480987_4140982174074_1377321010_n.jpg)
I got to get used to this interface. :mad:
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522050_4147665101143_27955898_n.jpg)
I can't figure out German or Commonwealth organization. Brits and Canadians often have some officers or small groups of men who don't serve any purpose. It doesn't help that I don't recognize what the ranks are by just looking at them.
"This unit is commanded by a guy with a crown. I guess his rank is "King"."
Quote from: Razgovory on July 02, 2012, 07:10:40 PM
I can't figure out German or Commonwealth organization. Brits and Canadians often have some officers or small groups of men who don't serve any purpose. It doesn't help that I don't recognize what the ranks are by just looking at them.
"This unit is commanded by a guy with a crown. I guess his rank is "King"."
http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/
Unless it is their interface, then no help here.
Yeah, but it's the way they put their units together. A company HQ doesn't consist of one squad with 2 officers 14 men. It's all split up. So you'll have one guy who I think is the captain, and he has like four guys with him. And then there are a few other groups. There is a sniper who I think is taken from that Company HQ and he and his best buddy form one two man unit. Then another group which is called "1 section", which I think serves as an XO. There also might be a jeep or a Universal carrier and the drivers of those might count towards what consists of a Company HQ
Then there is the guys who command company support or weapons platoons or whatever. Usually you split up heavy weapons teams to support rifle, so you'll have these useless officers who I don't know what to do with.
Stalin had an efficient way of solving that problem.
I do sorta wonder what role these guys played in actual combat. Take for instance a American rifle company. There is a Captain, his XO and a bunch of guys who hang out with them. Then there is three rifle platoons and one weapons platoon. Each platoon is led by a LT. I imagine that the weapons platoon doesn't all fight together in a group, and are probably split up across the company. I wonder what that extra LT does. I can understand his function in administrative sense, but less so in a tactical sense.
Getting a litle more comfortable with CMBN interface.
An American mech company prepares to seize the railway station.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522118_4152008449724_1211463661_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522118_4152008489725_834864374_n.jpg)
A US squad comes under fire as it deploys on the eastside of the RR tracks.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/522118_4152008569727_484874141_n.jpg)
60mm mortar stike on the northside of the railway station. Rest of the company begins the assault from the SW with two armored cars in support.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/539816_4152018409973_1630496933_n.jpg)
US squad assaulting the south building. Trying to establish a toehold on the station.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/539816_4152018449974_1663185535_n.jpg)
A sharp firefight develops as entry is made. The Krauts are getting the worst of it.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/539816_4152018489975_691618260_n.jpg)
Squad secures the building and fires on the retreating Krauts.
(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/561004_4152023850109_411715390_n.jpg)
All in all pretty slick. Just a matter of getting the interface down.
That is a hard mission for the Germans to win. The train station is nearly undefendable. Also remember, you almost always want to split your squads. Unlike the previous games, explosions, even from smaller guns, kill your soldiers really quick. You want them spread out. You'll also find that you can only shoot out windows and doors. The buildings are not abstract like in the previous games, so if you have a squad occupying a building, split them so you have one on one floor one on another. I know you can't do that with your mortar guys.