CM: Black Sea Strategy Discussion Thread

[fabius]

QB AI gave me a tough time!

My tactics were a little slack- the AI stonked me bad with numbers, and arty.

US company against a Battalion and a half in thick forest fighting,


Lessons re-learned:

1. Never spread a company too thin in close terrain. They need to support each other, especially when it gets tight.

2. Arty is deadly. Mobile defence will be my plan instead of static next time.

3.  Damn it, I know to have a reserve- so why oh why did I not position one from the get go....   

[mikeck]

Use smoke, then use smoke then when you think you've used enough, use smoke. When I am done with a battle, hardly any off units have any smoke left. I use it before I move anything across any open terrain

[jomni]

I think there was some skepticism about how popular a new modern title would be over on the BFC forums.  But I don't think I have seen that much activity and that much new blood brought into the forums since CMSF days.  I hope it was as commercially successful for BFC as it looks.   I also hope they can pace the CMBS modules to take advantage of it.

I got CMSF.  I skipped all WWII titles.  Modern is the way to go for me.
I think Black Sea is more popular than CMSF because the sides are quite even in capabilities.

[JudgeDredd]

+1

I love CMSF but I never really cared for the "fictional" battle and didn't care for the "war against terror". Loved the kit though.

[panzerde]

+1

I love CMSF but I never really cared for the "fictional" battle and didn't care for the "war against terror". Loved the kit though.

There are some CMSF scenarios in the Repository that replicate historical engagements in Afghanistan that I enjoyed. I think those worked because they were less one-sided, or at least placed the NATO forces in a difficult position. Usually the victory conditions are such that you just can't take very many casualties.


Having said that, none of them hold a candle to CMBS. This is the best CM game yet as far as I'm concerned, and I loved CMRT.

[RyanE]

CMSF had a pretty rocky start.  Releases have gotten better with each one it seems, as far as technical and gameplay issues.  CMSF with all the modules is probably one of my favorite games of all times.  But CMSF 1.0 was a steaming pile on release.

[fabius]

Patch is out:

http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=339&Itemid=584

[jomni]

How to determine if the save is command or replay phase? Especially PBEM.

[z1812]

Me and this game (and the other series) have a love/hate relationship, I really can appreciate what JH said earlier in this thread about not being patient and not doing the right things to be successful because it seems like work.  We are given a lot of options to plan our missions, but I mentally break down and fail to use all the resources (i.e. fire support, smoke, LOS, etc.) to my advantage.  And because of that, I end in defeat.  My mind just can not comprehend the correct tactics for some reason and/or I fail to be patient enough to execute them.

Using an example, I have been trying to play the tiny battle "August Morning"....I play as the blue force, which I only have something like five units to control which one would think is manageable.  The main mission is to recon a bunch of knocked out vehicle locations that were hit in a previous strike.  My units start concealed in the woods on top of a hill, overlooking a valley that leads up to the enemy positions.  In order to get at any of the enemy locations, I have to cross this wide open valley with my limited troops.  It seems no matter what I do, I can't get my soldiers safely across this valley without getting many casualties, which pretty much render my force useless to continue with the mission.  I have tried prep fire on some of the locations, which seem ineffective and then I run out of ammo for it.  I am guessing I need to make more use of smoke and other tactics to make it across, but that is when I end up losing my patience.

Just curious, anyone else play this battle with any success?

Even with my own personal frustrations, I think it has great potential once I figure out making things work for me.

Doing proper scouting and recon is required for success.....as it is in the real world. A unit trying to spot can hide and not fire as to not give its location away. The target arc and the hide command, applied with patience are essential to proper recon.

In this scenario give all your units a small target arc and move them back into cover except your FO or leader. Give your FO or leader a small target arc and move him to the edge of the tree line with a good field of view. Click on the white node of your last movement path and issue a hide command to him. Within 5 minutes you will start to see indications of enemy positions. Call in Support.  Follow on from there. Scout first and move carefully.

Target arcs are very useful for moving carefully. A combination of hide with a target arc can place a crew served weapon in a building for instance very quietly. It can set up while hiding and remain undetected until you decide to use it.

[Zulu1966]

Patch is out:

http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=339&Itemid=584

Well that was quick. Some good fixes in there. This is, like all the others, a superb game.

[Capn Darwin]

Did the bridge bug get fixed? I am looking at picking this up down the road when I get ahead of the bills.  :'(

[undercovergeek]

Did the bridge bug get fixed? I am looking at picking this up down the road when I get ahead of the bills.  :'(

Same here - I owe con some pbem pain

[jomni]

Did the bridge bug get fixed? I am looking at picking this up down the road when I get ahead of the bills.  :'(

What is the bug?

[Grim.Reaper]

Did the bridge bug get fixed? I am looking at picking this up down the road when I get ahead of the bills.  :'(

What is the bug?

Believe it this

http://community.battlefront.com/topic/117824-bridge-bug/

[JudgeDredd]

lol

That tank MG is doing a good job of stabilising.