Screenshot of the day...

[Mad Russian]

During loading times the game has historical facts and game play tips.

Good Hunting.

MR

[heinrich55]

MR,
Is that Valley of Death map based on a historical area? It looks really good.

Heinrich55

[Mad Russian]

Yes, all my maps are from as close to the original battle areas as I can get on Google Earth. Of course things have changed in the past 60+ years, especially in urban areas. But for the most part the elevations haven't changed. So that's at least half an accurate map.

Death Valley is my own term not a historical one. I just know that our fights on this map don't leave a lot of people to walk away.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Here is a screen shot of my locator page on Google Earth. We are looking right at the area between the Komsomolets State Farm and Prokhorovka. Where the mythical largest tank battle in history took place.

While there was not a single climactic tank battle in this area there were multiple meeting engagements and I'm making several 2km maps to cover this area. This is one of the most famous battle sites in world history and with MM we can get right down on the ground.

You can see where I have marked the first of a series of battles, to be put in a campaign for this area.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mobius]

Using that map here are the locations of some of the maps I did for Kursk campaigns in the south.

[Mad Russian]

Small map - 500 meters.

Small scenario - less than a battalion of Russians on the attack.

BIG FIGHT.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Ammo getting low? When you target with your unit PCO tells you how much of that ammo type you have left.

The infantry model is based heavily on pinning and suppression. IMO, that's as it should be. With that in mind these Soviet infantry squads on the attack offer me a choice. Try to suppress the unit in the buildings or to keep the next one from reaching cover while I can still hit them in the open.

In this case I want to hit the unit moving. They are an easier target to both stop and inflict casualties on.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Gerry4321]

Hello:

Just wondering why the defenders seem to be out in the open. Wouldn't they be better off inside the buildings?

The graphics are pretty amazing!

Thanks,

Gerry

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

Small map - 500 meters.

Small scenario - less than a battalion of Russians on the attack.

BIG FIGHT.

Good Hunting.

MR

[junk2drive]

I'm the Soviet opponent on the other side of the map. I can't see those troops through the trees.

[Mad Russian]

That's a good point. There is no German unit selected at the moment. I simply click on the map and it shows me all units that I'm in contact with or have LOS to on the map. However, the moment I click on a particular unit only the enemy units that are in the selected units LOS will show on the map.

The best I could do with a unit I can't see is to area fire and hope I hit something. I can't target them if the unit doesn't have an LOS to them. You can't target something you can't see.

As the company commander I would be getting situation reports. I would know basically where the enemy is. To get that I just click on the map and it shows me the enemy. Each soldier would not know. If he was close enough but can't see the enemy there is a good chance they at least know where they are. So, while I can't see the enemy squad in the building I hear the fire and am told he's there so can area fire that building.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Gerry4321]

Hello:

From the point of view of the defenders, are they out in the open just for scouting purposes? And when they see the enemy they will move quickly into the buildings to get better protection. Just wondering if the AI will do that as the defender.
In a PBEM game, I assume one could put those defenders in the building during setup?
In Erik's Interactive AAR, it seemed that the soviet reinforcements for the village were coming right down the road and were sitting ducks for the PzKw IIILs. Just wondering how good the AI is at finding cover. Thanks for all your work on this project.

Gerry

[junk2drive]

Those houses are far enough behind the trees that the troops would not be able to see the Soviets coming in the open field. MR has them placed to be able to fire out but I am unable to locate where the fire is coming from other than the tracers. On the left side, the round icon is over a leader squad that is in a house.
 
Look at the minimap to see where the units are and the camera cone.

[Mad Russian]

Here is what my defensive fire plan looks like with the trees turned off so you can where I'm firing. I usually do most of my planning with the trees turned off.

Notice the unit name is in yellow. That means the selected unit is elite. Normal black color means they are veteran, while a green colored name means the troops are green as well.


This screen shot more clearly shows that the troops in the lower center of the SS are in woods while those on the far right are already in buildings. Buildings go transparent when they are friendly occupied so you can tell which buildings you control.

The infantry with round ID coins are leaders the rest are normal platoon members or weapons teams.

This SS and the last were taken during a playtest against J2D. So, this battle was done H2H.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Gerry4321]

Hello:
Thanks for the answers.
I thought removing the tress would reduce fow but, if I understand it now, it just seems to make things easier for the human player to see. However, they won't be able to see anything that their troops are not seeing, right?
Gerry

[Stridor]

ORIGINAL: Gerry

Hello:
Thanks for the answers.
I thought removing the tress would reduce fow but, if I understand it now, it just seems to make things easier for the human player to see. However, they won't be able to see anything that their troops are not seeing, right?
Gerry

That's right Gerry, you can't cheat by removing the trees only see things as a human player better (eg units, order lines etc).

S.

[Gerry4321]

Thanks. One of the things I always had problems with are finding units in a computer war game, getting a feeling for the terrain, etc. Got a few already that I don't play. But this looks very manageable. Hoping this will be the game I buy and play.
Gerry

[Stridor]

ORIGINAL: Gerry

Thanks. One of the things I always had problems with are finding units in a computer war game, getting a feeling for the terrain, etc. Got a few already that I don't play. But this looks very manageable. Hoping this will be the game I buy and play.
Gerry

I think it is pretty easy to find units in this game.

You can cycle numerous different icons, enlarge the unit's to monster sizes as well as track them on the mini map

S.

[Mad Russian]

Viewing your units on the battlefield come in several different options.

Unit ID coins - these can be turned on or off. They are available in more than one display set.

Trees - these can be toggled to full partial or off.

Unit size - these come in various sizes from small to large.

Hope this helps.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Here are the large icons.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Normal sized icons.

Good Hunting.

MR