Combat Mission Red Thunder DEMO released

[Michael Dorosh]

For those of you who already have Red Thunder, you'll know Tankovyi Desant is already in the main scenario list. Monster Mash is a new scenario, and they've told me it's being put in the Battlefront Repository for you guys to pick up.. but give 'em a chance to add it! 8)

You'll eventually find it here. In the meantime there's plenty of great scenarios to pick up... :)

http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=314&func=select&id=60

It's in the Repository now.

[SgtRock]

Early on the East Front most Russian tanks didn't have radios' so the tank commander had to stand up in the turret and wave flags or his arms to signal other tanks, needless to say this presented an easy target. Just look at German tanks and the size of the hatch and protection on the turret for the tank commander. CM Tank commanders and vehicle gunners are treated the same in CM2 games regardless if vehicle provides any protection. There should be a big difference between a tank where the commander has half of his upper body exposed vs. one where only half is head is showing.

[JudgeDredd]

My problem is the size of the scenarios. I cannot abide loading a scenario and seeing all these units sitting there waiting on my command.

Also - I always ALWAYS prefer real time in the CM games - but there are times when I crave for WEGO because something is happening across the map and either I am unaware of it, sometimes until it's too late, or something has happened and I missed it - like a tank is taken out and I can't rewind to have a look and see what went on.

So I'm always in a dilemma about how I want to play...but size of scenarios is a big one for me. I set up an infantry only game last night and had 2 companies of US troops against the same Axis troops and I even found that a chore at the start.

I guess there's just no satisfying me  ;)

[Sir Slash]

Agree with Sgt. Rock,  from 300 meters, an enemy MG shouldn't be able to hit a tank commander in a moving tank-- even if it's moving slowly-- with it's first burst. But worse is the tank commander doesn't when fired on try to button-up. Only the very experienced ones ever seem to react. And when buttoned-up, the tanks are blind as a bat wearing an eye-patch. Sometimes you really have to hold your tank crews by the hand and manage their every move. The original CM was better at this in my humble opinion.

[Rayfer]

My problem is the size of the scenarios. I cannot abide loading a scenario and seeing all these units sitting there waiting on my command.

Also - I always ALWAYS prefer real time in the CM games - but there are times when I crave for WEGO because something is happening across the map and either I am unaware of it, sometimes until it's too late, or something has happened and I missed it - like a tank is taken out and I can't rewind to have a look and see what went on.

So I'm always in a dilemma about how I want to play...but size of scenarios is a big one for me. I set up an infantry only game last night and had 2 companies of US troops against the same Axis troops and I even found that a chore at the start.

I guess there's just no satisfying me  ;)

When there are a lot of units I move them in groups by either platoon, or even company, for both set up and for those first few minutes as they move to first contact.  Doing them one unit at a time is certainly tedious. I am learning not to micro-manage and it makes the game all the more enjoyable to me. 

[JudgeDredd]

I think I recall UCG mentioning I was micro managing and to not do so (this was for combat and the like, giving arcs etc)...maybe it's the same with movement

I'll try it.

[Boggit]

For those of you who already have Red Thunder, you'll know Tankovyi Desant is already in the main scenario list. Monster Mash is a new scenario, and they've told me it's being put in the Battlefront Repository for you guys to pick up.. but give 'em a chance to add it! 8)

You'll eventually find it here. In the meantime there's plenty of great scenarios to pick up... :)

http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=314&func=select&id=60

It's in the Repository now.

Great stuff! I'm downloading now. :) BTW thanks for your Gross Deutschland trio. Great fun! :)

[Boggit]

Early on the East Front most Russian tanks didn't have radios' so the tank commander had to stand up in the turret and wave flags or his arms to signal other tanks, needless to say this presented an easy target. Just look at German tanks and the size of the hatch and protection on the turret for the tank commander. CM Tank commanders and vehicle gunners are treated the same in CM2 games regardless if vehicle provides any protection. There should be a big difference between a tank where the commander has half of his upper body exposed vs. one where only half is head is showing.

It's a very good point you make. Have you raised this as an issue with Battlefront? One interesting thing I saw on a Finnish film set in 1944 are the turret hatch covers (cupola) on captured Finnish KV1 tanks (IIRC right - one of the producers - script author fought in the battle, and did the film as tribute to his comrades (a bit like SPRyan)) here's a clip  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbOLHzMA78g

[Sir Slash]

Is it just me or does the Russian armor have no insignias at all? I haven't seen one yet with anything like a red or white star, lines, numbers or anything other than bland green paint. Was this accurate for 1944 Russian armor? Come on Grogs, earn your reps.

[Michael Dorosh]

Is it just me or does the Russian armor have no insignias at all? I haven't seen one yet with anything like a red or white star, lines, numbers or anything other than bland green paint. Was this accurate for 1944 Russian armor? Come on Grogs, earn your reps.

One of the mod artists is busy putting "Victory Parade" art on the Soviet tanks that may be more to your liking...

[Sir Slash]

That's great MD. I checked out the mods section at Battlefront and didn't note any. I wonder what were some of the color schemes for the Red Army in 1944? I'm more interested in a more historically accurate look than to just pimp them out. By the way, I loved your scenarios for CMBN-- great work.

[panzerde]

That's great MD. I checked out the mods section at Battlefront and didn't note any. I wonder what were some of the color schemes for the Red Army in 1944? I'm more interested in a more historically accurate look than to just pimp them out. By the way, I loved your scenarios for CMBN-- great work.

You want to grab Aris' tank skins, those are the ones that have the decals. The markings aren't a separate mod. You actually replace the entire tank texture. He's done nearly every vehicle in the game, and in the previous games, too. They look great.

[Con]

I have all the Aris mods but he hasn't done any for Red Thunder or has he?

Also silly question can I drop all my mods from CMBN into the corresponding folder for CMRT?  Or do I have to get RT specific mods (skins, terrain etc)

Thanks
Con

[Michael Dorosh]

That's great MD. I checked out the mods section at Battlefront and didn't note any. I wonder what were some of the color schemes for the Red Army in 1944? I'm more interested in a more historically accurate look than to just pimp them out. By the way, I loved your scenarios for CMBN-- great work.

Thanks for the kind words.

Re: the tanks - that's weird! I went to the Repository to find the link for you, and I can't find them either?? I saw them discussed on the forum. Huh.

But yes, they were post-war schemes, not field schemes.

I had an article on Red Army tank markings in the first issue of my wargamer's journal. It's only available in print form right now but I am working on the e-copy which I am desperately trying to get on the market, as I find the time to do so. It's a very brief precis. Send me an email at madorosh@shaw.ca and I can send you a scan of the page on markings if you're interested.

Basically, though, tank markings were very austere throughout the war. In the early days, as noted above, tanks had no radios, so commanders didn't apparently feel the need to identify other tanks at long range. With the introduction of radios, vehicle markings became more complex, the most common being a diamond shaped tactical marking with numbers identifying the unit/vehicle number. Larger numbers were also seen, some units used letter prefixes (using the commander's initial, for example), and these systems were apparently at the discretion of individual formations and units. The markings most commonly associated with Red Army tanks of the Great Patrioc War are the "graffiti" type markings with patriotic slogans - "For the Motherland", "Crush the Fascist Vipers", etc.

As well, as aerial supremacy was gained during the course of the war, it became more important to be able to identify friendly vehicles to air support, so various identifiers became more prominent (the same problem was faced by Allied tankers in the west, where the white star became more prominent as the war went on, as the fortunes of the Luftwaffe waned).  Flags on engine decks were used. Red stars of various types were used, though not popular and often painted out, as Americans, British, Canadians did, but on Lend-Lease types and captured German vehicles, they were often left prominent on the vehicle if there was a danger that the type would not be familiar to friendly anti-tank gunners.

Guards units often painted their insignia on tank hulls and turrets as well, as did recipients of the Order of the Red Banner.

[RyanE]

http://cmmods.greenasjade.net/mods/5173/details