Trying to make the move from CMBO to CMAK

[Kelen]

OK I've had enough!

Been playing CMBO for years, and as a rule, do reasonably well.

Have never played CMBB, (Eastern Front doesn't really appeal to me that much, and most of the AARs & DARs I've seen appear to take place heavily wooded terrain for some reason(?))

Last year acquired a copy of CMAK as the scope of the conflict was a lot wider than CMBO, the graphics seemed improved, and players here all seemed to be pretty much in agreement that it was a distinct improvement, (good enough reason for me to give it a go).

Anyway, played a few games against the AI, and have also tried a few against other players here, and I just can't seem to get to grips with the differences between use of infantry in CMBO and in CMAK.

Infantry in CMAK seem to hit the dirt if they so much as hear a twig snap, and if someone actually has the audacity to even sneeze in their general direction that's it, they're off any running!!

The same goes even if they're in cover or dug-in. a few shots and they're out the back door crying for mummy!

So after much wailing and gnashing of teeth :mad: I'm decided to approach the combined wisdom of the 'Blitz' community :bow: and ask;

a) What are the key differences in using infantry between CMBO and CMAK?

b) Any hints / tips on moving them around to minimise, (what appears to me at least), the problems with their appalling morale?

c) Any hints and tips on keeping your men IN cover whilst under fire?

d) Although this may be obvious after the previous questions, any hints and tips with dealing with the enemies infantry, e.g. the best way to get THEM to turn tail and run, and to dig THEM out of cover!

Please consider this a heart felt plea for help, as if I can't get to grips with the infantry in CMAK I may end up playing POSeque battles with a minimum of infantry, there just for appearances!! (And as a firm believer of 'combined arms' that isn't a prospect I'm looking forward to! :hissy: )

[Der Kuenstler]

In real life men don't want to be shot at. By anything. They will pin, sneak, panic, and break if bullets keep flying at them in the open. If you were walking across a meadow and heard a MG42 open up - I guarantee you'd pin pretty quickly.

The way to get them across the open if you suspect the enemy is hiding in the area is:

1) send a 1/2 squad out first to investigate, backed up by as much FP in cover and HE as you can muster.

2) when the enemy opens fire the squad in the open will pin.

3) blast the bejeebers out of the enemy squads that revealed themselves.

Also I have had success moving across open ground by making short dashes (run) 20 meters or so and hide. The shooters then lose track of you and can't aim to fire since your men keep turning into generic icons. Continue to do that until you reach cover. (This only works if the shooters are far enough away)

CMAK and CMBB are far more realistic in that you have to use combined arms a lot more effectively to get your guys forward. I myself would never go back to CMBO.

[Colonel Talvela]

Well I havent played CMBO for such a long time, I cant really remember the difference (the one time I did start another CMBO game after playing CMAK/CMBB, I ran all my "super-infantry" forward and got them blown to hell).

However, if I was going to suggest to somebody how to use inf in CMAK, I would say do this:
1)keep your inf in scattered trees or better cover (ie, hard cover - scattered tree, woods, pines, rough, buildings). If they get shot at in cover other than that they are going to go to the ground and start looking for cover.

2)For beginners in ak/bb, use vet inf. If you are getting frustrated, use the vets until you have a better understanding of what inf can/cannot handle.

3)For beginners in ak/bb, use the advance command rather than run. personally, for the most part I use 'run' to cross open ground, but I usually do it in situations where they wont get shot as well. So until you have a feeling for using inf, I would use advance command (they will stand up a little better) or assault if it is in close proximity to the enemy and they have less than 30m of open ground to cover.

4)When looking to move from "hard cover" to "hard cover" try to move across soft cover (ie - rocky, brush)

5)keep your inf in scattered trees or better cover.

6)When you do have to advance out of cover, do it with one unit first - rather than an entire group. If a lead unit can make it, then that unit will usually draw the fire from that point and other units can follow. If that unit doesnt make it, you need to either look for another route (sometimes you have to go backwards), or you need to pin the enemy shooters.

7)Look for rises in elevation. This is one of those points that seems so obvious, but I often find myself getting men shot when I could take a slightly longer route where they are hidden behind a small rise in elevation.

8)keep your inf in scattered trees or better cover.

[Sissisimo]

First of all I havent never played CMBO so I can't say for sure.

But I just love CMAK because of smoke. CMBB Allies has almost nothing thus it's harder to maneuver with your inf. Probably a reason why CMBB ARR/DAR are so heavily wooded as couple halftrack with MG can stop your platoon advance for sure until you've destroyed the halftracks what can take easily a few turn.

CMAK is definitely good for all inf lovers so many things you can do with smoke. IE. Block your enemy HE-chuckers and attack with your own and inf and finish the game there.

[Kelen]

Cheers guys. I'll give the Vet infantry thing a go, (never usually use Vet infantry and never needed to in CMBO).

[Soldier]

I was fortunate nenough to purchase and play the CMBB and CMAK games first. Only after playing those two, for about six months or so, did I acquire a CMBO game and thried it. After a few games I learned to despise the game completely.
Main reason being the infantry's superman like quality.
They attacked, moved forward, iregardless of the type and amount of enemy deffensive firepower being directed at them.
It took only a few games to realize that it took about three to four minutes/turns to finally stoped this Super infantry in their tracks.
Very unrealistc game (CMBO) haven't played it since my earlier few expereince with it and most likely will never again.. :-)