When are the CM devs going to show some love to the strat AI? This game has been around with the same level of AI since 2001... This game would also been AMAZING if they made it more MP friendly. Imagine splitting the forces in a 4 v 4 battle
Still 60 dollars though, and 10-20 for DLCs. Laughable pricing for the apparent quality of the game overall. Given that it seems like they have not developed a whole new set of assets, dynamic AI, or proper multiplayer? Now its on steam we can surely do away with port fowarding and TCP/IP direct connections. Boomers only??
@@MalcolmM434 it's sad but it's a VERY niche market that is kept alive because the niche people are very dedicated. Steel Panthers still has a community actively playing it. While it's sad we don't get modern features, nicheness turns away a lot of the market.
@@Poxyquotl For sure, I play a lot of fairly niche games, I get that. But charging the same high price over and over for what essentially seems to be reskins of the same engine, same AI, same PBEM mode etc. feels a bit rich. At what point does it go from catering to a niche audience to farming one, y'know? I'm all for devs, especially smaller ones, being paid better. But it seems odd to me to charge 60 quid for what seems to be new units in the same game.
Please make more of these more often, you're the best source for CM AARs but I hate waiting months or weeks for new content. You have me hooked on some sort of AAReroin.
Played this in the scenario of the month at the Blitz club and got a victory with the Syrians. Their approach is to put their tanks on the back side of two hills across the map from each other, tight up against berms so they can't be seen from the Javelin shooter's perch, and then each group of Syrian tanks can cover the other group's hill if the Americans try to approach. The Syrian tanks get side shots at any Americans that try to advance.
Good AAR about awful mission. Scenario maker was too lazy to create relief which at least allowed syrians to manuever into effective firing distance. Instead we have just a plain shooting range with poping up targets.
What possibly happened to the Syrian troops at the end there is a mismatch between arrival time and plan time. The scenario maker AAR included with CMBN states that this can happen if you set a variable time for reinforcement arrival - basically if you have a trigger for troops to arrive in "20-30 minutes", the plan for the AI has to be set for "30 minutes", otherwise it breaks because it tries to order troops that aren't there yet. So if this scenario featured a variable arrival time for the syrians, it's possible the plan either broke, or just didn't fire yet.
Excellent presentation as Usually ;). Your camera work and narrative style makes these very interesting. How can any serious war gamer out there still not have Combat Mission? Try the demos. They are great games!
I love playing that mission from the syrian side, properly positioned t-72s can shockingly enough shred the abraams with side shots and i even got some frontal pens too
@@usuallyhapless9481 oh absolutely. I have a feeling the Chally 2 has the edge with better armor. But it probably comes down to whoever spots the other first - pure luck in real life. And Hapless, you are notoriously unlucky...
Terrain, plantations, and other thin forested areas should be considered as firing positions for AFV's. The trees could make Saggers and other TOW systems less effective. The missiles depend on their wire control systems.
It would have been nice to have the infantry from the start to help spot. I only pushed the Jav teams up because I didn't want my infantry to get spotted by the Syrian tanks. A couple of guys with a Javelin seemed a lot less risky than nine guys crowding the skyline- plus the Javelin has thermal sights, so its probably the one that's going to do the spotting anyway.
Any picture guides to know what tank you are looking at? The manual black silhouettes don't cut it. I never know if a tank is blinded by smoke or has IR and it staring at me about to shoot
In a few CMSF missions you'd get these clumps of red team vehicles just sitting there doing nothing. I guess they had no plan, or as you say weren't triggered.
I never got CMBN to work, my laptop has some kind of boot sector protection of DEP and I can't figure out how to change that (not even sure if I want to either) and that sucks - i have had all the old versions of the CM but now it felt like throwing away money :(
Another great video. I learned range is your friend. Just like WWII playing as the Germans... Range is your friend as usually the enemy had a more difficult time penetrating at longer ranges while in this case the US ammunition will penetrate 98% of the time. usually.... :)
The difference between a T55 and an Abrams. Like matching a WW 1 tank against a WW 2 tank. The Abrams should have popped smoked right away. Their thermal sights enables them to engage the Syrians.
Mind you that this game takes place in 2008, if the US and NATO decided to invade Syria at that time. So it would make sense for them to not be as better or effective compared to what they are right now after having lots of experience against rebels and other armed groups. Not to mention the fact that Russia didn’t provide as much support in terms of military equipment and training back then, and they mainly assisted through some arms deals.They wouldn’t be as battle hardened as they are right now.
When are the CM devs going to show some love to the strat AI?
This game has been around with the same level of AI since 2001...
This game would also been AMAZING if they made it more MP friendly.
Imagine splitting the forces in a 4 v 4 battle
Still 60 dollars though, and 10-20 for DLCs. Laughable pricing for the apparent quality of the game overall. Given that it seems like they have not developed a whole new set of assets, dynamic AI, or proper multiplayer? Now its on steam we can surely do away with port fowarding and TCP/IP direct connections. Boomers only??
@@MalcolmM434 it's sad but it's a VERY niche market that is kept alive because the niche people are very dedicated. Steel Panthers still has a community actively playing it. While it's sad we don't get modern features, nicheness turns away a lot of the market.
@@Poxyquotl For sure, I play a lot of fairly niche games, I get that. But charging the same high price over and over for what essentially seems to be reskins of the same engine, same AI, same PBEM mode etc. feels a bit rich. At what point does it go from catering to a niche audience to farming one, y'know? I'm all for devs, especially smaller ones, being paid better. But it seems odd to me to charge 60 quid for what seems to be new units in the same game.
Really enjoyed this. The effort you put into your videos shows.
Cheers man! Glad you're enjoying them.
10:44 "Oh yeah, take that!"
The HQS sound mod is on point again!
Please make more of these more often, you're the best source for CM AARs but I hate waiting months or weeks for new content. You have me hooked on some sort of AAReroin.
Hey man are you alive?
You know, I was just looking at your older videos, wondering when I'd get my next fix. Tanks for the quick delivery!
No worries man- bit later than anticipated because the old PC bit the dust, but back up and running now.
Played this in the scenario of the month at the Blitz club and got a victory with the Syrians. Their approach is to put their tanks on the back side of two hills across the map from each other, tight up against berms so they can't be seen from the Javelin shooter's perch, and then each group of Syrian tanks can cover the other group's hill if the Americans try to approach. The Syrian tanks get side shots at any Americans that try to advance.
Good AAR about awful mission. Scenario maker was too lazy to create relief which at least allowed syrians to manuever into effective firing distance. Instead we have just a plain shooting range with poping up targets.
at one point in games you just get tired of winning and beating the ai like its nothing
Shit, this never showed in my notifications.
Really glad you started doing cinematic AAR's again, love the recent content
Cheers man! Feels like I'm getting a good format nailed down now.
What possibly happened to the Syrian troops at the end there is a mismatch between arrival time and plan time. The scenario maker AAR included with CMBN states that this can happen if you set a variable time for reinforcement arrival - basically if you have a trigger for troops to arrive in "20-30 minutes", the plan for the AI has to be set for "30 minutes", otherwise it breaks because it tries to order troops that aren't there yet. So if this scenario featured a variable arrival time for the syrians, it's possible the plan either broke, or just didn't fire yet.
Excellent presentation as Usually ;). Your camera work and narrative style makes these very interesting. How can any serious war gamer out there still not have Combat Mission? Try the demos. They are great games!
I love playing that mission from the syrian side, properly positioned t-72s can shockingly enough shred the abraams with side shots and i even got some frontal pens too
Very good analysis and video editing. Congratulations
Awesome battle. I never get tired of the Abrams!
I do have an urge to pit it against the Challenger 2 :P
@@usuallyhapless9481 oh absolutely. I have a feeling the Chally 2 has the edge with better armor. But it probably comes down to whoever spots the other first - pure luck in real life. And Hapless, you are notoriously unlucky...
Terrain, plantations, and other thin forested areas should be considered as firing positions for AFV's. The trees could make Saggers and other TOW systems less effective. The missiles depend on their wire control systems.
Nice AAR, should have used that infantry screen though, even a few scouts would help spot.
It would have been nice to have the infantry from the start to help spot. I only pushed the Jav teams up because I didn't want my infantry to get spotted by the Syrian tanks. A couple of guys with a Javelin seemed a lot less risky than nine guys crowding the skyline- plus the Javelin has thermal sights, so its probably the one that's going to do the spotting anyway.
Any picture guides to know what tank you are looking at? The manual black silhouettes don't cut it. I never know if a tank is blinded by smoke or has IR and it staring at me about to shoot
In a few CMSF missions you'd get these clumps of red team vehicles just sitting there doing nothing. I guess they had no plan, or as you say weren't triggered.
I never got CMBN to work, my laptop has some kind of boot sector protection of DEP and I can't figure out how to change that (not even sure if I want to either) and that sucks - i have had all the old versions of the CM but now it felt like throwing away money :(
Do you take offers to do pbems? How about a video AAR vs me?
How you watch your after action reports?
Another great video. I learned range is your friend. Just like WWII playing as the Germans... Range is your friend as usually the enemy had a more difficult time penetrating at longer ranges while in this case the US ammunition will penetrate 98% of the time. usually.... :)
This looks like the Gulf War battle, 73 Easting....
You had you're tanks too close together.
Yep. Sometimes you find such a good position it's hard to resist cramming things into it.
The difference between a T55 and an Abrams. Like matching a WW 1 tank against a WW 2 tank. The Abrams should have popped smoked right away. Their thermal sights enables them to engage the Syrians.
In reality the syrians are better there soldgers have preformed better in the civil war
Mind you that this game takes place in 2008, if the US and NATO decided to invade Syria at that time. So it would make sense for them to not be as better or effective compared to what they are right now after having lots of experience against rebels and other armed groups. Not to mention the fact that Russia didn’t provide as much support in terms of military equipment and training back then, and they mainly assisted through some arms deals.They wouldn’t be as battle hardened as they are right now.