Combat mission shock force

[Kyle Holgate]

I'm having quite a fun time with the latest expansion to the above game. I don't remember every playing a PC wargame where it's not unusual for me to physically jump due to being startled. It can be almost too realistic. I'm slowly moving along toward an objective when KABOOM - an IED goes off under my Warrior AFV. The game can be pretty nerve wracking.
There is a Demo out for those that want to give it a spin.

Overview... 2008 the US and coalition forces invade Syria. Right now there is the main game (US army) and 2 expansions: 1: Marines, and 2: British forces. There is one more coming I believe which should have other coalition forces which I believe will have the Germans at least if not others. I'm not certain yet, but I think I like the Challenger II over the M1A2 in the game...

[Mike Malanaphy]

I'm having quite a fun time with the latest expansion to the above game. I don't remember every playing a PC wargame where it's not unusual for me to physically jump due to being startled. It can be almost too realistic. I'm slowly moving along toward an objective when KABOOM - an IED goes off under my Warrior AFV. The game can be pretty nerve wracking.
There is a Demo out for those that want to give it a spin.

Overview... 2008 the US and coalition forces invade Syria. Right now there is the main game (US army) and 2 expansions: 1: Marines, and 2: British forces. There is one more coming I believe which should have other coalition forces which I believe will have the Germans at least if not others. I'm not certain yet, but I think I like the Challenger II over the M1A2 in the game...

Hi Kyle,

I've been a fan of the Combat Mission series having played all of them. Combat Mission Shock Force has a slightly different game engine, but replicates modern infantry weapons quite well. Your able to break squads down into fire teams and move crew served weapons individually (don't forget your spare ammo!) I haven't added the two add ons, but it is quite disconcerting to zoom in to look over your guys' shoulders and have rounds start flying around. I'm finding this version having a longer learning curve than the WW II episodes, but still very challenging.

[Kyle Holgate]

Hi Kyle,

I've been a fan of the Combat Mission series having played all of them. Combat Mission Shock Force has a slightly different game engine, but replicates modern infantry weapons quite well. Your able to break squads down into fire teams and move crew served weapons individually (don't forget your spare ammo!) I haven't added the two add ons, but it is quite disconcerting to zoom in to look over your guys' shoulders and have rounds start flying around. I'm finding this version having a longer learning curve than the WW II episodes, but still very challenging.

Long learning curve isn't the half of it for me. I am routinely getting my a$$ handed to me by the AI. I was better with the WWII combat missions - had infantry support and what not figured out. In modern times I have yet to find the right way to do it.
Infantry gets whacked by enemy fire. If you send up armor first it gets whacked by ATGM's and/or RPG's. Even the M1 and Challenger tanks are in danger of being damaged to mission kill if not KO's by the ATGM's and the lighter vehicles (Bradley and Warrior) are in trouble with RPG's. Very tricky to master modern tactics that are quite different from WW2 ones.

[Mike Malanaphy]

Long learning curve isn't the half of it for me. I am routinely getting my a$$ handed to me by the AI. I was better with the WWII combat missions - had infantry support and what not figured out. In modern times I have yet to find the right way to do it.
Infantry gets whacked by enemy fire. If you send up armor first it gets whacked by ATGM's and/or RPG's. Even the M1 and Challenger tanks are in danger of being damaged to mission kill if not KO's by the ATGM's and the lighter vehicles (Bradley and Warrior) are in trouble with RPG's. Very tricky to master modern tactics that are quite different from WW2 ones.

Hi Kyle,

It can certainly be daunting. In the original version you only had Strykers for support. I never did figure out how to get them to do what I wanted. Give them a path or an order to halt, they could still continue to wander. Typically, I would try to postion them to support the infantry with either their .50 cals or the Mk 19 grenade launchers. You need to stay back 500-600 meters to be safe from RPGs and or 14.5/12.7mm machine guns which are pretty common. but that's a long walk in the open for your infantry guys to get to the village and not be seriously fatigued for the fight in the built up area. I'm learning that your light mortars can be a godsend for smoking your approach. With a little work, you can use the LOS feature to find dead spots and defilade that can be used for concealed approaches. It certainly drives home the lethality of house to house fighting.

I'll have to get the add ons......a Challenger or M1 with TUSK add ons would be handy! : )

[Kyle Holgate]

The original CMSF had M1 tanks, Bradly IFV's as well as the Strikers. Many missions were built around the Striker infantry groups, but the others are in there too.
The Marine mission adds a few more vehicles as well as T-90 tanks for the Syrians which can be unpleasant after dealing with older enemy tanks for a while.
The British module adds a while bunch of AFV's and IFV's as well as of course, British infantry.
I have gotten reasonably good at moving into buildings using infantry supported by Strikers. I use smoke often and occasionally will do area fire on likely bad guy spots and then drive madly up to the building with a striker - pop smoke for cover then unload the squad to move into the building before the smoke clears. Unless the bad guys are right inside that very building, it works fairly well. With a bit of cover the US or Marine squads have excellent firepower. I have yet to get a good feel for the British squads. I like the Warrior vehicle better than the Bradly already though, it appears to take RPG's and live a bit more often. I'm not noticing much difference in play between the Challenger and the M1 tank so far. Had one take a shot from a T-72 at around 100 yards yesterday and shrug it off with only damage to the optics and the IR. Return fire apparently went trough the T-72 and out the back for some distance.
Addictive, frustrating game!

[Mike Malanaphy]

The original CMSF had M1 tanks, Bradly IFV's as well as the Strikers. Many missions were built around the Striker infantry groups, but the others are in there too.
The Marine mission adds a few more vehicles as well as T-90 tanks for the Syrians which can be unpleasant after dealing with older enemy tanks for a while.
The British module adds a while bunch of AFV's and IFV's as well as of course, British infantry.
I have gotten reasonably good at moving into buildings using infantry supported by Strikers. I use smoke often and occasionally will do area fire on likely bad guy spots and then drive madly up to the building with a striker - pop smoke for cover then unload the squad to move into the building before the smoke clears. Unless the bad guys are right inside that very building, it works fairly well. With a bit of cover the US or Marine squads have excellent firepower. I have yet to get a good feel for the British squads. I like the Warrior vehicle better than the Bradly already though, it appears to take RPG's and live a bit more often. I'm not noticing much difference in play between the Challenger and the M1 tank so far. Had one take a shot from a T-72 at around 100 yards yesterday and shrug it off with only damage to the optics and the IR. Return fire apparently went trough the T-72 and out the back for some distance.
Addictive, frustrating game!

Hi Kyle,

Interesting.......I wouldn't think the Warrior is that much better protected against the RPG as both feature armor upgrades. Perhaps it's the Warrior is a smaller vehicle making slightly less to hit or less of the superstructure rises above the side shields. I would imagine the 25mm works nice against those types of structures.

It's amazing the firepower an infantry squad can bring to bear. Does the British squad have a Javelin missle system equivalent? They may still use Milan or the Carl Gustav. You can't carry that many but they are awesome anti sniper weapons.

I think I'm going to get those modules. : )

[Kyle Holgate]

The British have the Javelin system, but not too many of them. You have to be a bit careful not to get your only long range anti-tank guys splattered!
The warrier in game has a 30mm cannon, the Bradly a 25mm. I don't see a great deal of difference between the two weapons. I'm not sure why the game's Warrior vehicles take RPG hits better, but they sure seem to. Strikers - just toast any way around. I don't know if I've ever seen on of them take an RPG and survive in working order. Watching the Challenger or M1 take ATGM's though and come out with little damage is eye opening.

You know - if you DO get the modules... you can now play head to head online.:cool:

[Mike Malanaphy]

The British have the Javelin system, but not too many of them. You have to be a bit careful not to get your only long range anti-tank guys splattered!
The warrier in game has a 30mm cannon, the Bradly a 25mm. I don't see a great deal of difference between the two weapons. I'm not sure why the game's Warrior vehicles take RPG hits better, but they sure seem to. Strikers - just toast any way around. I don't know if I've ever seen on of them take an RPG and survive in working order. Watching the Challenger or M1 take ATGM's though and come out with little damage is eye opening.

You know - if you DO get the modules... you can now play head to head online.:cool:

Hi Kyle,

Got both modules in the mail while on vacation. Tried one of the UK missions..forgotten how frustrating no line of sight tool can be. The Harrier seems a poor replacement for an A-10 though. : )