I know this will sound like shameless self promotion but I see people post about other sales frequently here. If it isn't allowed please lock or delete this post.
If there are any Combat Mission titles you've been holding back on then now is probably the time to grab them. Everything that is available on Steam is now on sale on the Battlefront website. Any of these purchases will give you license keys that can be redeemed for Steam keys at no charge if you hate the Battlefront DRM.
A couple of examples. The entire Shock Force 2, with all 3 modules, is $69. Black Sea is $36.
This sale includes Battle for Normandy, Black Sea, Shock Force 2, Cold War and Red Thunder.
HOT DAMN
Red Thunder is now on Steam. Just got my Steam key from Slitherine and it's downloading now. Great game!
Great news. I need to update Red Thunder and Fortress Italy. Thanks for the info all.
Thanks for the heads up on CMRT making it to Steam.
I stopped buying CM titles not on Steam long ago, just because of the DRM fiasco that was Battlefront.
Now just need CMFI and CMLB to make it to Steam and I will be a happy camper.
Matrix is oddly laggy right now while I was registering my old RT code. My imagination likes to think it's all the Red Thunder registrations! :Nerd: :cool:
Their store page is always very slow for some reason.....
So I have never played a Combat Mission game (I know, I know).
WWII ETO interests me the most, so I have Red Thunder Complete in my cart right now.
What can I expect in my first 10-20 hours learning how to play?
Quote from: Gusington on June 15, 2023, 08:04:56 PMSo I have never played a Combat Mission game (I know, I know).
WWII ETO interests me the most, so I have Red Thunder Complete in my cart right now.
What can I expect in my first 10-20 hours learning how to play?
To give you an idea of how the game plays, you might want to take a look at my {shameless plug} recent AAR in CMFI here:
. One thing that notice (and like) about the CM titles: if you go around the battlefield during the turn replay, you can find little vignettes, or stories being told. I tried to re-tell some of them during the AAR I did above. For instance, in the AAR I did above, there was a 50mm AT gun that would not die, a lone German rifleman that tried to hold off a squad of Americans, and a couple of US troops that got hit by friendly fire. I personally find these little vignettes one of the interesting things about the CM titles
CM has a professional edition, that is used by the US and UK military for training, so it is a fairly realistic game. You will find that it is unforgiving of mistakes, the modern titles much more so than the WWII titles, which is to be expected given the advances in weapon technology. The commercial version similarly realistic, so real world tactics work well. If you are looking for some very good tactics videos, check out "Usually Hapless" here: https://www.youtube.com/@usuallyhapless9481
^Fantastic, thanks Tripoli.
Damn, was that your AAR Trip? I just watched it the other day on YouTube trying to find something CM-like to watch. And very nicely done too, the video and the fight. I had one hell-of-a time with that scenario too. From the original CMBO to the present versions, the AI does fair on offense but will really peel your potatoes for you on defense. I am just finishing-up the first mission of the German Campaign for Red Thunder at present and even when you think you've got a victory in the bag, the AI enemy will still give you one more kick in the nuts just to say, 'Goodbye'.
Gus, I'd start with the small scenarios before you take-on the larger ones and read that scenario briefing well and take plenty of time to check the battle map the way Trip did in his AAR.
Quote from: Gusington on June 15, 2023, 08:04:56 PMSo I have never played a Combat Mission game (I know, I know).
WWII ETO interests me the most, so I have Red Thunder Complete in my cart right now.
What can I expect in my first 10-20 hours learning how to play?
First 20 hours?
Also, Gus, if you've played the Close Combat games to any degree, and remember how those go, you'll find the CM game(s) play very similarly. Aside from having an easier time understanding the subtleties of the 3D terrain (because the game engine really is in 3D), and aside from lacking a strategic layer for any campaigns (which in CM are usually called 'operations' as a series of linked missions), the main difference has traditionally been that CM forces you to plan and operate in 60 second bursts -- which leads to some arbitrarily enforced (and generated) control issues, but also can do a good job helping simulate the large degree of lack-of-control you'll have over the battle-space.
The modern CM engine allows a pausable real-time tactical experience (even) more similar to the Close Combat engine, if you'd prefer that.
On the other hand, the modern game engine doesn't allow for random map generation and tweaking, and map design itself is somewhat harder if you're into that: you play on what the designers designed, or modders, and that's that.
Also, as in my sig, the older games (which can be found on GoG and run reasonably well on modern systems, or the latter two entries do anyway) allow more of a separate dynamic/random campaign generation -- although I've heard that people have been trying hard to make something similar work for the CMx2 engine.
Real life has been tiring and busy (...including asynch and live multiplayer gaming to be fair... :Nerd: ) but I've been slowly puttering up a partly-designed, partly randomized narrative campaign for the CMx1 engine title Barbarossa to Berlin, playing as the Finns from June 22nd onward. Specifically I've been setting up a first mission where I'm literally only one unit on the map, a sharpshooter (sniper), trying to scout a forward probe by the Soviets early on the morning of June 22nd as their infantry division parked at Pesanto (or whatever its name is, my notes aren't handy) take over the mines from which Hitler gets most of his nickle.
As the campaign goes along, I'll level up to gain temporary access to a few 'support' units like myself; and then once I'm promoted to (the Finnish equivalent of) 2nd Lt, I'll earn access to command of a few core units, and so on. Ideally I'll work my way up to direct command of a battalion or regiment's worth of troops (core units plus temporary support) on the randomized game maps. I have a plot in mind I'll be working toward 'simulating', if I can pull it off, where Finland's control of northern ports and routes down to Leningrad helps the Germans reduce the Soviet government to impotency, whereupon the Finns will get tired of working with/for the Nazis and use their spike of position in conjunction with the Allies invasion on the Western Front to ruin the Nazis, too! -- borrowing former-Soviet kits and troops!
...or maybe I'll just putter around forever setting up the first mission and never get any farther. But I might as well plan to be epic, if I'm going to plan anything. :paladin: :viking4: :viking1: :viking4: :viking1: :viking4: :paladin:
There will of course be some kind of AAR when-if-ever I get this going. I mention it only as an example of what can be done with the CMx1 engine, but the CMx2 engine has a lot of advantages of its own. Both are well worth investing in for grogginess!
Quote from: JasonPratt on June 16, 2023, 05:49:36 AMThere will of course be some kind of AAR when-if-ever I get this going. I mention it only as an example of what can be done with the CMx1 engine, but the CMx2 engine has a lot of advantages of its own. Both are well worth investing in for grogginess!
Yes, please on that AAR!!!
CMx1 is still on my hard drive and gets plenty of play. I love the random map generator. Also, I just find CMx1 games to be easier to play.
CMx1 series is on sale at GOG.COM right now. $3.59 each game. I CM Afrika Korps and Barbarossa to Berlin are highly recommended, and a steal at that price.
Quote from: Sir Slash on June 15, 2023, 09:51:30 PMDamn, was that your AAR Trip? I just watched it the other day on YouTube trying to find something CM-like to watch. And very nicely done too, the video and the fight. I had one hell-of-a time with that scenario too. From the original CMBO to the present versions, the AI does fair on offense but will really peel your potatoes for you on defense. I am just finishing-up the first mission of the German Campaign for Red Thunder at present and even when you think you've got a victory in the bag, the AI enemy will still give you one more kick in the nuts just to say, 'Goodbye'.
Gus, I'd start with the small scenarios before you take-on the larger ones and read that scenario briefing well and take plenty of time to check the battle map the way Trip did in his AAR.
Thanks for your kind words. Yep, that video is mine. I did it as an experiment, trying to figure out whether I should do video AARs (at least for some titles) and, if I do video AARs, how to present the AAR and how to best produce them. I wanted to do a different AAR from what others do, and that video is what I came up with. Getting back to how (as you put it the "AI enemy will still give you one more kick in the nuts just to say, 'Goodbye'." That is exactly what happened to me it that AAR, with that last turn German mortar strike on my MMG team. Vignettes like that are what make CM such a great game.
Thanks all. I will definitely heed the advice and start small. I really have no choice :cool:
80.00 is more than I like to spend on one game but I get the vibe here that it is worth it.
I should treat myself.
You should. You deserve it. Try writing it off on your taxes as a, 'Training Expense' for the State Guards you're in. Might work. I can't wait for the Gus AAR where the last German left hiding in the Lettuce Field nails your Company Commander's tank in the ass with a Panzerfaust killing the whole crew. :hair: It happened to me.
Quote from: Gusington on June 15, 2023, 08:04:56 PMSo I have never played a Combat Mission game (I know, I know).
WWII ETO interests me the most, so I have Red Thunder Complete in my cart right now.
What can I expect in my first 10-20 hours learning how to play?
TRY THE FREE DEOMOS FIRST!!!!!!!! BEFORE SPENDING A PENNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote from: Gusington on June 16, 2023, 09:18:08 AMThanks all. I will definitely heed the advice and start small. I really have no choice :cool:
80.00 is more than I like to spend on one game but I get the vibe here that it is worth it.
I should treat myself.
You won't regret it. The CM titles take an investment in time to understand and play effectively. The good news is that since all the CM titles use the same engine, once you have learned one, you have done 80% of the work necessary to learn any other title in the series (including the modern ones). Do the training scenarios and the training campaign. Then be prepared to have your a$$ handed to you the first couple of games. One other thing: Terrain analysis is
Key to doing well in CM
^Thank you! I have always been an Elvis fan. The original, not Costello.
Slash if only I could. So many stories. I'll leave it at that :crazy2:
Thanks again Tripoli!
Elvis is right, try the FREE Demos. Who does that anymore? "Save" A game just before you make an assault or fight a big shoot-out, then go back and play through from that point several times and I guarantee the same thing probably won't happen twice in a row. There's so much that happens when the bullets start to fly that you can never be for sure what will happen. That's the real uniqueness of this game. :notworthy:
Quote from: Gusington on June 16, 2023, 09:18:08 AMThanks all. I will definitely heed the advice and start small. I really have no choice :cool:
80.00 is more than I like to spend on one game but I get the vibe here that it is worth it.
I should treat myself.
Oooo, PBEM, PBEM, PBEM!!!!!
With an aar!!!!!
^You ask so much from an utter n00b!
Quote from: Gusington on June 16, 2023, 06:54:54 PM^You ask so much from an utter n00b!
I found pbem to be a much gentler way of learning - especially against someone with a bit more experience who could say 'I blew your shit up that turn because...'
Sounds 'fun'
Will all the BF games work on the newer 64 bit versions of MacOS?
IIRC, From OSX Catalina (10.15) on, the OS doesn't support a lot of older software, primarily 32 bit.
Quote from: Staggerwing on June 17, 2023, 09:52:25 AMWill all the BF games work on the newer 64 bit versions of MacOS?
IIRC, From OSX Catalina (10.15) on, the OS doesn't support a lot of older software, primarily 32 bit.
Yes.
(I tried to think of a longer response than that but couldn't. :-) )
:ThumbsUp:
Quote from: Gusington on June 15, 2023, 08:04:56 PMSo I have never played a Combat Mission game (I know, I know).
WWII ETO interests me the most, so I have Red Thunder Complete in my cart right now.
What can I expect in my first 10-20 hours learning how to play?
Congrats! First off, despite the "reputation" it's not that "hard" to learn. The reason the system is so popular is that it rewards "real world" thinking. This means that, once you have the UI down pat, you get to feel that you can try to solve tactical problems by first principles rather than gamey ones.
Quote from: Father Ted on June 17, 2023, 06:03:00 PMQuote from: Gusington on June 15, 2023, 08:04:56 PMSo I have never played a Combat Mission game (I know, I know).
WWII ETO interests me the most, so I have Red Thunder Complete in my cart right now.
What can I expect in my first 10-20 hours learning how to play?
Congrats! First off, despite the "reputation" it's not that "hard" to learn. The reason the system is so popular is that it rewards "real world" thinking. This means that, once you have the UI down pat, you get to feel that you can try to solve tactical problems by first principles rather than gamey ones.
That reminds me: Armchair General did an outstanding series of Combat Mission videos 10 years ago that showed the application of real world tactics. You can find the first episode here:
Quote from: Tripoli on June 17, 2023, 06:13:02 PMQuote from: Father Ted on June 17, 2023, 06:03:00 PMQuote from: Gusington on June 15, 2023, 08:04:56 PMSo I have never played a Combat Mission game (I know, I know).
WWII ETO interests me the most, so I have Red Thunder Complete in my cart right now.
What can I expect in my first 10-20 hours learning how to play?
Congrats! First off, despite the "reputation" it's not that "hard" to learn. The reason the system is so popular is that it rewards "real world" thinking. This means that, once you have the UI down pat, you get to feel that you can try to solve tactical problems by first principles rather than gamey ones.
That reminds me: Armchair General did an outstanding series of Combat Mission videos 10 years ago that showed the application of real world tactics. You can find the first episode here:
Armchair General used to have really solid gaming content. I haven't seen anything from them in years- for whatever reason they seem to have dropped it.
My biggest complaint nowadays with this game series is the inability of them to scale for modern monitor resolutions. On a 4K screen, the fonts on menus, briefings, and game screen are very small and difficult to read for my old eyes. Could I before playing each game change my screen resolution to lower it? Sure, but that is a pain and requires extra steps. I would play these much more if it was scalable unless I am missing some trick.
Quote from: Tripoli on June 17, 2023, 06:13:02 PMQuote from: Father Ted on June 17, 2023, 06:03:00 PMQuote from: Gusington on June 15, 2023, 08:04:56 PMSo I have never played a Combat Mission game (I know, I know).
WWII ETO interests me the most, so I have Red Thunder Complete in my cart right now.
What can I expect in my first 10-20 hours learning how to play?
Congrats! First off, despite the "reputation" it's not that "hard" to learn. The reason the system is so popular is that it rewards "real world" thinking. This means that, once you have the UI down pat, you get to feel that you can try to solve tactical problems by first principles rather than gamey ones.
That reminds me: Armchair General did an outstanding series of Combat Mission videos 10 years ago that showed the application of real world tactics.
Those are good definitely, but also check out Usually Hapless' guides - these will help you climb the learning curve of the UI and so on, so that you can apply the stuff advocated in the above video set.
The guy is English, but I'm sure you can get past that :laugh:
"Usually Hapless" Has excellent videos of the, 'hows and whys' of everything Combat Mission. I highly recommend them. They can even improve MY gameplay.