The ETO mod for Combat Mission Afrika Korps is still my all-time favourite wargame, the latest Syrian version looks wonderful but the period doesn't really interest me, and the game is still being patched to make it work properly.
As I said before, Steel Panthers is more than 12 years old and it doesn't really agree with my new system, so I'm looking for something new.
I had never heard of Combat Mission before, so I was checking out some reviews of the game and it sounds promising. What can you tell me about it? Are the tanks represented realistically (ie: representative values for the armor, movement, main weapon strength, etc. for the different models of AFV's). Is it good for solitaire play? Anything you might add would be of interest to me.
The AI is ok to good on the Defense but ok to mediocre on the attack. The game realistically models ballistics and the armor values of the various vehicles. The graphics aren't too bad (considering it was originally released in the late 90's) and there are several mods available to fix that. It uses a "we-go" system (note I did not say "real-time"); you plan your moves and the computer (or human) does the same. Then hit the "go" button and watch the action unfold. I still play all three(Beyond Overlord, Barbarossa to Berlin, Afrika Korps) from time to time, all them heavily modded to get a more "up-to-date" look.
Take this from a guy who has played just about every tactical/operational/strategic wargame out there. The Combat Mission series has the most realistic physics bar none. As with all AI systems, the computer is not very good on offense, but it's pretty good playing defense. As others have noted, the 3D graphics are a bit dated, but that just means that your computer won't get bogged down rendering the graphics as was the case when the game was new.
In addition, I have found that PBEM is very easy to do and great fun!
I'm not qualified to answer this question since I'm still running Windows XP, so unless someone else can answer this for you, you might want to ask the people who make the game:
Where did you get the ETO mod for Combat Mission Afrika Korps? I'd love that - the original Combat Mission Beyond Overlord's game interface is a bit too dated compared to Barbarossa and Afrika Korps, but I really enjoy the ETO. I'm like you on the Syrian one. Too bad they didn't do an Arab-Israeli version from 1948 to 1973 as their follow-up.
Scott, go here, download and follow the installation instructions. It is pretty straightforward, but make sure your game is patched to version 1.03 first. http://www.tspindler.de/cmak_mod/
There are loads of other mods at www.cmmods.com , once you have created an account. I seem to remember they had lots of scenarios too, but they seem to have gone. You can't change or add vehicles in these games, they are hard-coded, but the mods allow new graphic 'skins', so the repainters have had a field day! I had a go with some of the scenery tiles, made some better seas/beach ones for a Normandy scenario I was working on, but never finished! I have the basics of a Wittmann at Cremesnil scenario too, which if I let run without too much interference, turns out the same way events happened in real life. The Germans really didn't stand a chance...
I'll try and do some screen shots, but playing it yourself is better!
Have you gone to the Combat Mission Mod database? It took me a while to download several mods, but I brought the graphics look up to near CMAK standard.
I recently got a new computer with a larger monitor. An unfortunate consequence of this is that the older graphics of SP don't look good when stretched to larger dimensions.
I downloaded the demo for CMAK, and got quite hooked on it... Really tried to apply some tactics, but it all goes to heck sooner or later. It's a right tough nut trying to cook up a Lee, all the shots just ricochet of it. Will have to see if I can find it cheap.
I grew old on those early COMBAT MISSION games and sure wish CMAK was still
available to me. I work on a Mac, and they supported the old OS9 system, but when Mac
upgraded their system to OSX "Panther" the Combat Mission games were left behind.
I haven't played the Combat Mission games but Tripwire Interactive's Red Orchestra is a German vs. Russian mixed arms 3D first person shooter. It has maps with Tigers, panthers, PIII's, PIV's, STUG's and more vs T34/76's, T34/85's, IS-2, SU-76, KV-1S. Its a mainly online multiplayer game with tanks, infantry etc with some single player missions. Sometimes the strategy is lacking but its still fun.
Man, the Shermans and M3s in CMAK are way, way too over-armoured. NOTHING gets through them. Just had one single Sherman single-handledly stop an entire German advance.
Depends on what your tactical situation is. Were you the Allies? If so, it isn't that hard to stop an advance with the Sherman if your opponents are Panzer IIIs and IVDs and IVEs. If the Germans have some long-barreled 75 mm guns, though, the Shermans turn to mincemeat.
FWIW
Isamu
Another qualifier would be that you have a human opponent as the attacking Germans. There is a limit to what the AI can do when attacking.
This message has been edited by IsamuM from IP address 220.104.119.95 on Feb 9, 2008 10:23 AM
No, I was the attacking Germans. Had fifteen IIIM's pounding away at five or six M3's and M4A1's, just kept getting "Front hull hit - Ricochet". I need some 88s...
Here is the scenario I was working on some time ago, if anyone wants to improve it, feel free! Best used with CMAK and the ETO upgrade mentioned above....
I haven't placed' the Units yet, they are just in basic set-up locations, and I haven't named any of the units either. The place flags are there just for my own reference!
