COMBAT MISSION:
BARBAROSSA TO BERLINª

DEMO DOCUMENTATION Version 1.0
Copyright © 2002 Battlefront.com

Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin (CMBB) is a tactical 3-D simulation of ground combat during the Second World War on the Eastern Front between 1941-1945, and the sequel to the award-winning Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord (CMBO). Each player leads his troops into combat in a mix of simultaneous Order Phases (paused game time) and Action Phases (real-time action). CMBB will be available in fall this year from Battlefront.com and, in Europe, exclusively from CDV Entertainment Software (www.cdv.de, Telephone +49-721-97224-0, Fax +49-721-97224-24)

CMBB is the most realistic simulation of ground warfare on the Eastern Front made to date, and contains a mind-boggling amount of detail, research and information Ð from the organization of the various participating nations to the unbelievably detailed armor penetration algorithms based on real-world physics and real-world data, to the realistic 3-D representation of environment, weather and fog of war.

If youÕre new to the Combat Mission series (CM for short) donÕt be scared. Actual gameplay is easy and you donÕt need to be a master of WWII tactics (a so-called ÒGrognardÓ) to play and win. Use your intuition and think about what tactics and strategies would work in the real world if you were on the front line. ItÕs easy to play CM, because CMÕs ÒrulesÓ reflect the real-world ÒrulesÓ of combat Ð no need to learn an abstract game system first.

If youÕre a seasoned CMBO veteran, donÕt stop reading. CMBB contains many new features over CMBO and many things from the past wonÕt work! Do yourself a favor and read on Ð you wonÕt regret it!

This demo documentation can only scratch the surface of what the full game offers, but it will provide you with a basic understanding of the game concept and the most important functions to start playing and enjoying CMBB.

The Basics
This part will help you to understand the basic elements of the game and how to start a new game.

Demo vs. Full Version
The CMBB Demo contains only a part of those game elements which will be available in the full version, and additional options to gameplay, graphics and other elements are available for the released version. The demo itself has been stripped down to contain only those elements needed for playing the included 2 beta demo scenarios Ð this makes the demo small enough to be downloaded from the internet Ð so that what you have in your hands is NOT the complete game.

Here a short list of features which will be included in the final version:

- Units, vehicles and equipment from 7 nations Ð German, Soviet, Hungarian, Romanian, Italian, Finnish and Polish; the full version contains a total of:
o 300+ different tanks and vehicles
o 600+ other units (guns, infantry, aircraft)
o 50 scenarios and operations
o 15 fortification types (bunkers, mines, trenchesÉ)
o 50 different terrain types (including ÒdestroyedÓ versions)
o 9 types of ground conditions and 8 different types of weather
- Quick Battle generator
- Full-featured integrated scenario and map editor (which was used to make the included scenarios and operations)
- Play against human opponents via PBEM (eMail), Hotseat on the same computer or TCP/IP over the internet
- Air strikes (dozens of airplane types simulated)
- Realistic 3D Sound effects in CD quality (the sounds in this demo have been downsampled to reduce download size)
- nearly 200 page printed full-color manual

Start a new Game

Double-click on the CMBB Demo Icon.

(Windows) The first time you start up the demo, a small window appears asking you to set your screen resolution. CMBB automatically tests various screen resolutions for you, and as soon as you see the window appear, a resolution which will work for your computer system has been found. (Note that it might take ten or twenty seconds for this window to appear Ð please be patient as CMBB tests your video setup).  You can accept it or scroll through the various available resolutions to set it to your liking. Your choice is saved in the preferences file of CMBB and you donÕt have to go through this again for later games.

After the Main Game Screen appears, click on ÒStart GameÓ. A list of available scenarios appears. For the Beta Demo, you will see two entries. These are the two fictional battles which are included with the Beta Demo. Select one of the these battles (by clicking on it) and then click the Continue button. Read the description which follows, and when you're finished with that you'll be asked to choose which side you want to play. At this point, you have three options:

1. Fog of war:
- None: all units, also enemy units, are visible and identified on the whole map
- Partial: Units need to be spotted to be displayed on the map, but will be automatically identified
- Full (default): units need to be spotted and identified separately 
- Extreme: the information you will be gather from the battlefield about enemy units is (realistically) sparse. This is the most realistic option, but will require the player to pay close attention to what is happening on the battlefield.

2. Computer Player Setup:
Allows the Computer Player to set up its own units or stick to the default set by the scenario designer. When you play a scenario for the first time, you should set this to Òstick to scenario defaultÓ. This option has no effect against another human opponent.

3. Computer Experience Bonus:
Increases the experience of computer controlled units by this value, making them more deadly and less easy to rout

4. Play Balance:
Assigns or deducts units to/from one side, depending on the percentage set here. Only unit types which are already in the game will be added.

After you have decided which side you want to play (Axis or Allies), you can choose the game type. You can choose from Single Player, Play By E-Mail (PBEM) and TCP/IP (Internet play). Macintosh and Windows users can play against one another by TCP/IP or by PBEM, as long as PBEM files have the attachement Ò.txtÓ in their file name and the method by which files are attached to emails are compatible between the two systems. Note to Mac Users: HQX and SIT files can usually not be read by PCs, so itÕs best to send files uncompressed or compressed as ZIP, when you have a Mac ZIP program.

After you have chosen all options, you will see the mission briefings specific to the side you have chosen to play. This will usually give you all the information you need to play and win the scenario. Make sure you read this carefully, or you might yourself without a clue what to do on the battlefieldÉ however, you can also access your mission briefing from within in the game by using the SHIFT-B hotkey.

After the briefing, you enter the 3-D battlefield of Combat Mission. Before issuing your first orders, you will need to get familiar with navigation on the battlefield first.

Navigation on the battlefield

With no units selected, the info panel at the bottom of the screen will give you important information about the battle at hand. The value for ÒmoraleÓ shows you the general condition your troops are in Ð the lower this value, the less willing your units will be to fight. The value decreases as your units take casualties. The number in the ÒvictoryÓ slot shows you the percentage of victory points you have gained so far based on the highest total possible for the scenario. You will also see a figure for the enemy, but keep in mind, however, that this is an estimate only, based on what your units know about the battlefield Ð if the enemy is in possession of a victory location you canÕt see, the victory total will NOT reflect this.

There are also a number of buttons here Ð the most important of which is the HOTKEYS button, which displays a screen with all HOTKEYS available for CMBB.  The other buttons (ceasefire, surrender, briefings and save) allow you to access these options quickly.

You see the battlefield through a ÒcameraÓ, which can be moved freely across the battlefield, by using either the mouse (move the cursor to the screen edge to move or rotate the camera, up moves forward, down moves back, the lower left and right sides move the camera laterally, while the upper right and left sides rotate your view), your keypad (by using the arrows or number pad) or by clicking on the arrow buttons on the right bottom part of the screen. The camera can also be moved up and down. There are 9 view levels available, from levels 1 and 2 close to the ground (great for watching the action over the shoulder of your units), to levels 3 and 4 (for an overview of the battlefield), to the birdÕs eye views of levels 5-9, giving a top down perspective of the action much like the earlier boardgames.

You can also ÒlockÓ the camera to a certain unit, which will cause it to follow that unit as it moves and rotates across the battlefield. This is done by clicking on a unit and hitting the TAB key. Even when locked, you can still rotate the camera to watch the action from any angle. The ÒlockÓ breaks when you move the camera or hit TAB again.

You can also use various hotkeys to ÒfilterÓ what you see on the battlefield. By using SHIFT-C for example, you can increase the visual size of all units, making them easier to see from far away. This has no effect on gameplay or combat (the units donÕt REALLY grow), but makes it easier for you to keep an overview of the strategic situation when needed. Check the HOTKEYS list to see which filter options are available.

Unit info

When you click on a unit, the info panel changes from the general scenario info to a specific unit info of the unit you have selected. This shows you what unit it is, the physical and morale state it is in, where itÕs located (terrain type), which weapons and equipment it has available and what it is doing currently. If you want more detailed information about a unit, hit the ENTER key with that unit selected. This will give you all the information youÕll ever need. You can toggle the display here by clicking on the INFO/KILLS button, also. In order to close the window, press ENTER again or simply click somewhere on the battlefield.

After clicking on a unit, you might notice a number of brown lines extending from that units. These lines are called Òcommand linesÓ and show you to which HQ the selected unit is attached (or, in the case you clicked on an HQ unit, which units are under its command). Units can also be out of command, which will be shown by a black line instead of brown. This can happen when the HQ unit is too far away to be able to communicate with the subordinate unit. Units without command lines are independent (and usually donÕt have to be in command). Being in command has the advantage that the HQ unit is able to excert its command bonus to its subordinate units, making these units react faster, stay rallied and even fight better. The leadership abilities of each HQ unit can be checked by clicking on it and looking for the leadership icons in the unit info panel.

Winning/losing

Winning or losing a battle in CMBB depends on skill as much as luck Ð just like in real combat. ÒNo plan survives contact with the enemyÓ is a very true military wisdom. DonÕt judge your abilities as battlefield commander too harshly when you lose your first CMBB battle Ð you will learn and improve your tactical skills over time. And keep in mind that there is NO way to win EVERY battle.

The main goal in CMBBÕs scenarios is to take and hold the victory locations on the battlefield, marked by victory flags. There are small and large flags, each worth a certain number of victory points. Unlike classic boardgames, however, you donÕt need to have your units sitting right on top of the flags Ð each flag has a certain control radius around it (approx. 80 meters), in which you have to place a sufficient number of troops (usually one tank or a couple of non-broken squads are enough) to exert control. However, again unlike classic boardgames, when the enemy manages to keep his troops close enough also, the flag will be contested and will not be under control of ANY side! So keeping the enemy sufficiently far away from the flag is as important as bringing your troops into the territory as well.

In the full game, there are several other types of flags, as well as operations which have completely different victory requirements.

Game phases

Combat Mission differentiates three distinct game phases Ð setup phase, orders phase, action phase. These phases play simultaneously for both players. The setup and orders phases allow you to setup and give orders to your units (your opponent does the same), while game time is paused. The Action Phase plays the action simultaneously for both sides in REAL TIME. Each Action Phase is 60 seconds of real time, during which you can see the results of the orders you have given to your troops. After each Real Time phase, a new orders phase follows and allows you to give new orders or adjust old orders to your units.

Unless playing a timed TCP/IP game, you can take as much time as you want during the orders and setup phases, and replay the action during the action phase as many times and from as many angles as you like.

Setup phase
Often, this phase alone can determine victory or defeat! If you skip through this phase quickly, you will more often regret it than not. Scan the battlefield carefully for terrain, approaches, fields of fire. Keep your mission orders in the back of your mind (remember Ð SHIFT-B brings up your mission briefing) and try to figure out how your opponent will approach the battle.

You will notice a few colored zones (called Setup Zones) on the map. These show the areas that your units can be placed into. Each unit can be moved freely within such zones, and can also be moved from one zone to another, provided it is of the same color. You cannot move a unit from, for example, a red zone into a blue zone, and you also cannot move units outside of such zones (the only exception are Target Reference Points which can be moved anywhere on the map).  Of course you donÕt HAVE to move any units, if youÕre happy with the default setup.

In order to move units, simply right click on them. An order menu will appear and you will be able to choose ÒmoveÓ, ÒplaceÓ, ÒrotateÓ and other orders. You can also alternatively left-click on a unit and use the Hotkeys to give it an order. Most orders have a one-letter-hotkey assigned Ð which one is displayed in the orders menu. For example, the hotkey for Place is ÒPÓ.

You can also move and give orders to more than one unit at a time. There are several options for how to do that Ð you can left-click and drag a selection box with your mouse to select a group of units. You can also double-click (left mouse button) on a HQ unit, which will select that HQ unit and all subordinate units (in or out of command). You can also left-click on units while holding the SHIFT button which will add that unit to the group. Then, with a group selected, simply use the Hotkeys to issue an order or bring up the order menu (by right-clicking on a selected unit). All units will be assigned the same order automatically. Units for which the order is not valid (for example, when by group-moving a unit would end up outside of the map or in water), will not be moved.

After youÕre happy with your setup, hit the GO! Button. This will bring you to the Orders Phase of the first turn.

Orders Phase

In the orders phase, you tell your units (and the opponent does the same) what to do during the next 60 seconds of real-time action. Thinking ahead not only of what you want to accomplish but also what your opponent is going to do is essential!

Each unit can be ordered to perform multiple actions, from moving to firing to other special orders. Movement is done using an easy but powerful Waypoint system. First, you need to select a unit or group of units and give them a movement command. A number of these are available, from a simple ÒmoveÓ (walking) to more combat-oriented ÒadvanceÓ or ÒassaultÓ orders (tactical movement, imagine infantry units running from cover to cover, using covering fire and the like) or Òmove to contactÓ (a recon type order which will make your unit stop once it spots an enemy). After you have selected the movement order you want, you will notice that a colored line (Òorder lineÓ) extends from the selected unit to your mouse cursor. Choose a spot on the map you want to move your unit to and left click. This will place a waypoint on the map Ð and your unit has just been ordered to move to this location.

You can place more than one waypoint, of course. Simply issue another order to the same unit, and you will see that the new movement order now extends from the already placed waypoint. If you know beforehand that you want to issue a string of waypoints, you can also right-click on the map instead of left-clicking Ð this will place a waypoint and automatically select the same type of movement again. When you want to edit your orders, you can do so also. Simply right-click on a waypoint and or (left-click and select a hotkey). Choose another order and you will notice that the order line changes color to display that new order immediately. You can also alter the position of a waypoint by left-clicking on it and dragging it across the map. 

Keep in mind though, that the more waypoints you place on the map, the higher the command delay (the time it takes for the unit to actually start moving during the following action phase) increases. This simulates the time it takes to formulate, communicate and understand more sophisticated battlefield orders, and the command delay depends on the experience of each unit, being in or out of command and so on. Watch the command delay as indicated in a unitÕs info panel to keep an eye on command delays. You can also deliberately increase the delay by issuing a ÒPauseÓ order, for example when you want to coordinate the moves of your units and want to have one unit wait a little longer before moving out. Of course, even during the command delay, units will react on their own and fire their weapons!

Firing orders (like ÒTÓ for target) work much like movement orders. You will need to place a ÒwaypointÓ (which is actually a target point) on the map, instructing units to fire on that location. This target location is usually an enemy unit, but can be any spot on the map which your unit can see. Other orders work a little differently, as they are executed immediately Ð for example, ÒhideÓ or Òbutton upÓ for tanks.

By the way, you can also select a unit by clicking on its movement order line!

After the first turn is over, you will notice that old waypoints turn red, and new waypoints are white. Red waypoints signal that this order has been given in an earlier order phase, and such orders cannot be changed as easily as new orders. You can edit the movement or order type, but can edit the location/position of the waypoint only within certain restrictions. You can at any time delete the order and issue new ones, keeping in mind, however, that a new command delay will be added!

Action Phase

After you and your opponent are ready giving orders, both hit GO! and the Action Phase begins. You cannot influence the action anymore for 60 seconds as your troops try to execute the commands given to them, but you can move freely across the battlefield, watch and gather information about your troops and those of the enemy. You can also rewind the action and replay as many times as you wish (exception: timed Internet play). Something really cool: ÒlockÓ the view to a rolling tank or a running infantry unit (by clicking on it and using the TAB key) and watch the action unfold!

IMPORTANT GAME ELEMENTS

There is so much packed into CMBB, that this documentation can really only show the tip of the iceberg! Experiment! Most of the things you would expect to play a role in the game because they played a role on the real battlefield ARE in the game, even if not mentioned here! Another great way to find answers when you have questions is to visit our message boards at www.battlefront.com and you will find hundreds of thousands (!) messages from avid players, exchanging tactics and discussing the game.

Orders

Many orders are available for your units in CMBB, and even seasoned CMBO players will find a lot of new orders, so read this section carefully. The hotkey associated with that particular order is given in parenthesis.

Movement orders

Run/Move fast (F) Ð orders the unit to move at maximum speed, will not stop to engage targets, heavily reducing spotting
Move to Contact (E) Ð orders the unit to cautiously advance and keep eyes open for enemy contacts. Will stop as soon as enemy comes into LOS or unit is fired upon.
Advance (A) Ð tactical move when advancing under fire towards enemy position. This assumes dashing from cover to cover, using covering fire and movement by bounds.
Assault (U) Ð similar to Advance, but especially useful for covering those last 10 or 20 meters into an enemy position. Increases morale slightly while allowing units to return suppressive fire, but too tiring to units to be used over longer stretches.
Move (M) Ð walking or driving at walking speed. Units wonÕt stop when enemy is spotted, but will break off movement (and usually look for cover) when under heavy fire.
Sneak (S) Ð not available for units with heavy equipment. Tells a unit to hug the ground and crawl and use stealth. Will open fire in self-defense only. (This command combines the ÒcrawlÓ and ÒsneakÓ commands of CMBO)
Withdraw (W) Ð emergency order, tells infantry units to Òget the heck out of thereÓ. This order has NO command delay, but it increases the chance that the unit will panic while retreating substantially.
Rotate (O) Ð changes the facing of a unit
Human Wave (Y) Ð available only to Russian units. Unit will begin with a brisk walk and cover the last few dozen meters of the way to the waypoint running. Increases morale. Waypoints can NOT be adjusted!
Shoot&Scoot (Q) Ð available only to armoured fighting vehicles (AFV). This is a two-leg order requiring placement of two waypoints. The first waypoint tells the unit to advance to that position and scout for targets. After several seconds, the unit is supposed to withdraw (scoot) to the second waypoint (which Ð usually Ð is somewhere out of sight of the enemy)
Hunt (U) Ð available to AFV only. Tells the vehicle to advance at medium speed and look for armoured targets. When armoured enemy targets come into LOS, the vehicle is supposed to stop and engage.
Reverse (R) Ð works similar like the withdraw command for infantry and instructs vehicle to back up out of the current position. Short command delay only.
Hull-down (D) Ð orders unit to move forward towards the waypoint and, on that path, stop as soon as a position is found which will result in the vehicle being hull-down relative to a possible enemy in the area of the waypoint. If no such position is found, the vehicle will move all the way to the waypoint.

Special orders

Hide/Unhide (H) Ð tells unit to keep its head down or engine idle and try to remain unspotted. Issuing the order again tells the unit to unhide. Obviously, trying to hide is more or less successful depending on several factors, but being in suitable terrain is one of them. Trying to hide a Tiger Tank in an open field is not a good idea.
Pause (P) Ð increase command delay for a unit in increments of 10 seconds. Works up to 60 seconds, then resets back to 0.
Line of Sight (L) Ð allows player to check what a unit is able to see precisely. Order line is blue when LOS is free, and red/black when itÕs blocked. The red part indicates up to which point the LOS is clear. The LOS order also shows additional information, like distance to the area the cursor is pointing to, or even exposure of an enemy unit.
Button up (Z) Ð available for non-open vehicles only. Instructs crew to close protective hatches. This results in heavily reduced spotting ability, but obviously increases protection for the crew.
Split (no hotkey) Ð available only for infantry squads. Splits the squad into two half-squads, which can now be maneuvered independently. However, splitting squads reduces the morale for BOTH halves, and makes BOTH halves less combat effective. ItÕs a good choice for recon purposes, but not for actual combat, as half-squads are more likely to panic. 


Firing orders

Target (T) Ð the standard firing order, telling a unit to fire at an enemy or area.
Cancel Target (X) Ð tells the unit to stop firing at previously selected target.
Target Next (N) Ð toggles through available targets, starting with the one easiest to hit
Target Wide (W) Ð only available for Artillery Forward Observers. Instructs the firing battery to use wide dispersion of shells for barrage.
Reset Target (R) Ð resets any changes made to FO firing orders during the current order phase
Smoke (K) Ð instructs unit to fire smoke instead of other ammunition. Only available when a unit is capable of firing smoke and has smoke ammo left.
Cover arc (C) Ð by placing to points on the map, the player designates a firing zone for that unit. Unit will only engage enemy units that enter this area.
Cover armor (V) Ð similar to the above, but unit will only engage armoured targets. This order only available for anti-tank units (AT Guns, AT teams and AFVs)



Experience

Each unit in CMBB is rated for its experience in combat, determining how effective it will be on the battlefield, how quickly it can react (command delays) and how well it can withstand the terror of war. There are five experience levels in the game Ð reaching from Conscript and Green (troops with no combat experience and badly trained Ð if at all) to Regulars and Veterans all the way to Elite (the best of the best). 

Morale

No realistic combat simulation can get away with not simulating the stress and strain experience by front line units during war. The morale system of CMBB is very detailed. It will have your troops get alerted to incoming fire, causing them to possibly not follow your orders exactly as you planned them, or even panic and rout. Troops can become brittle, losing their effectiveness in face of the enemy, and can be rallied again by nearby HQs. How your units react to the stress of war depends on their experience, fatigue, being in or out of command, and not least also on your orders Ð when you tell a squad to storm across 200 meters of open ground in the face of heavy machinegun fire, or when you tell them to assault an enemy tank with not much else but small arms and hand grenades Ð donÕt be surprised when they become pinned, then panicked and finally break and run away; if they survive, that is.

Fatigue

Each unit in CMBB is rated for physical fitness in addition to its experience. The possible choices are fit, weakened and unfit. This can simulate extended front line duty without much rest, or simply third line replacement troops (like the German Volkssturm units). Depending on their physical fitness, the orders you give (running without rest for several turns), the ground conditions (for example, deep mud or snow tires men much faster than running across flat paved ground) and the equipment of the unit (carrying heavy weapons), a unitÕs fatigue will rise throughout the battle, from rested through tired all the way to exhausted. Making sure you let your units rest once in a while for a few turns will usually ensure keeping their combat ability. Once a unit becomes exhausted, it is not able to use fast movement types like Run or Assault.

Casualties

Soldiers seriously wounded, incapacitated, killed, or made combat ineffective by other means are called ÒcasualtiesÓ by CMBB. There is no distinction between the various reasons for becoming a casualty, as the outcome is the same Ð the headcount of active soldiers for a given unit is reduced. And not only the headcount Ð with each soldier dropping down, his weapons and ammunition will become unavailable to that unit, also. The exception are light machineguns, which are very valuable to an infantry unit, so there is a chance that another soldier from the squad will pick up the machinegun and drop his own weapon instead.

Taking multiple casualties is also the quickest way to deteriorate a unitÕs combat morale and make the remaining soldiers in a squad panic. The quicker casualties occur, the bigger the morale hit Ð one mortar round taking out three soldiers will cause a higher morale hit than taking 5 casualties over a time span of 10 minutes.

Once a unit has been completely eliminated, a marker Ð a wounded soldier Ð will be placed on the map where the last member of that unit became ineffective.

Spotting

Unless youÕre playing with Fog of War set to None, your units will need to spot the enemy first before you will see enemy soldiers on the map. Spotting does not occur automatically when an enemy comes into Line of Sight. It depends on the cover the enemy is in, if it is moving or firing or hiding, what your units are doing currently, and if theyÕre panicked or tired. Spotting also wonÕt reveal all information about an enemy (unless youÕre playing with Fog of War: Partial). There are several levels of identification of a spotted enemy, reaching from vague sound contacts to the exact identification of a unitÕs type, headcount and even experience. ItÕs even possible to misidentify units Ð a conscript infantry squad will have a hard time correctly identifying that enemy tank rolling towards them with guns blazing!

Spotting works best when a unit has binoculars (most HQs units and guns and tanks have these) and when your unit is stationary. The latter because movement tends to cause Òtunnel visionÓ, and spotting to the sides and especially the rear become more difficult.

Sound contacts occur even when your units donÕt have a line of sight to the enemy, but when itÕs sufficiently close that it can be heard. A tank racing down a road or a gun firing can be heard from quite far, but a unit sneaking in the woods will rarely be heard. Sound contacts in CMBB are rarely displayed in the exact position they are, and only serve to indicate a general area of where the sound is coming from Ð therefore donÕt be surprised when you see an enemy tank sound contact rolling through a house or even off-map. ItÕs not, but only once you get Line of Sight to that tank, will you be able to see its location.

Command & Control

Good leadership on the battlefield can win wars. CMBB simulates this important aspect of warfare through the use of HQ units. There are platoon, company and battalion HQs in the game for infantry units, and platoon HQs for armored units. Keeping subordinate units close enough to their HQs and within their command range will go a long way to improving your chances to win battles in CMBB. Units in command profit from shorter command delays, better morale, and higher combat efficiency than units out of command.

Each HQ is rated for its leadership abilities, ie. combat, morale, stealth and command, and a bonus in any of these categories improves the abilities of subordinate troops which are in command, as displayed by the brown command lines visible when you click on a unit Ð and the Òcommand iconÓ in the unit info panel, which glows green when a unit is in command, and red when it isnÕt.

Infantry Platoon HQs can keep units from its own platoon and any independent infantry teams in command. Infantry Company and Battalion HQs can keep ANY units within range under command. Vehicle Platoon HQs can only keep units from their own platoons under their command.

The command range depends on several factors Ð lines of sight, the command rating of the HQ unit, and the experience of both the HQ and the subordinate unit. This is also true for vehicles, however vehicles equipped with radios do not require lines of sight. Vehicles without radios not only have to stay within Line of Sight, but both the HQ vehicle and subordinate vehicles need to remain UNBUTTONED (i.e. hatches open) in order to stay in command!

ItÕs a good idea to keep your HQs out of harmÕs way but as close as possible to your fighting units to be able to exert control without the risk of being killed Ð a dead HQ can mean that the remaining subordinate units have to fight out of command for the remainder of the battle. For infantry units, moving a higher HQ to replace the killed HQ is a good option, but this doesnÕt work for vehicles!

Artillery

Artillery is one of the most important support arms for ground combat during WWII, and great attention has been paid to simulate this aspect as realistically as possible. The way artillery works has also been greatly tweaked since CMBO.

There are two types of ÒartilleryÓ Ð on-map guns and mortars and off-map batteries.

Off-map batteries require a Òforward observerÓ (FO) team to provide them with targets Ð usually through radio or wire telephone. These FOs are placed and moved on the map like any other unit, but the fire orders available to them donÕt mean that theyÕre firing small arms at the target, but instead that they are instructing the artillery battery in the rear to plaster the target area with a barrage of shells.

This doesnÕt happen instantly, as there is a delay between ordering a battery to fire and when the first rounds arrive on target. The delay depends on the experience of the FO, the type of gun ordered to fire, and whether the target area is within Line of Sight of the FO or not. DonÕt be surprised when you see delays of 10 turns (minutes) and more! It took a long time for a battery to do the necessary calculations to adjust their guns on target, sometimes from as far as 10 or more kilometres from behind the front lines!

The delays are different for all nations, reflecting their different firing procedures and artillery asset allocations. You will find that the Soviets, relying on a more centralized artillery support system, usually have substantially higher firing delays, primarily in the first several years of the war.

Note: In the full version of CMBB, firing delays can be improved dramatically through the use of Target Reference Points (TRP). These points reflect areas ÒregisteredÓ before the battle, so that all the needed ballistic calculations have been done, and therefore it is possible, even for guns with usually high delays and for all nations, to unload a barrage within 1 turn on these points. TRPs work regardless if a line of sight exists or not and are always accurate.  However, TRPs are rarely if ever available to an attacking force, or to either side in a meeting engagement.  And even the defending side often does not receive them.

Talking about accuracy, yes, barrages Ð especially those fired outside of LOS of the FO Ð can be inaccurate, and terribly so sometimes. There is no indication if a barrage is accurate or not, except to watch the battlefield closely and see where the artillery rounds impact. Usually, before the full barrage arrives, you will see a couple of Òspotting roundsÓ impact somewhere on the map, giving a good indication if the barrage will be on target or not. If itÕs not, you need to adjust.

Adjustments made to artillery barrages work the same as placing a new target order, except that the delays are usually shorter, as long as the new impact point isnÕt too far away from the originally plotted point. When a barrage seems off-target, simply replotting the original point is enough to adjust the target. Even when the barrage is on target, you can ÒwalkÓ the barrage in any direction up to a certain distance, and the shorter ÒadjustmentÓ delay will be calculated. In order to achieve this, the new point has to be in LOS, however, and not too far away from the original point. A green target line (instead of a blue line) indicates an adjustment bonus. At any time, you can use the Reset order (hotkey R), which resets any changes you have made in that order phase.

Any infantry HQ unit exerting command over an on-map order can serve as a spotter. The on-map mortar is then able to fire at areas which it canÕt see itself, but which is within LOS of the HQ unit. This is also true for vehicle-mounted on-map mortars!

Ambushing

One of the best ways to smack your opponent hard is to use ambushes. In CMBB, a successful ambush can be sprung in a couple of ways.

- Covered arcs: You can issue Òcovered arcsÓ and Òvehicle arcsÓ orders to units, by defining a killing zone laterally and in depth. Units with active covered arcs will only engage enemy targets within these arcs, and while they are not allowed to hide (they need to be observing so they canÕt keep their heads down), chances are that the enemy will not spot these units until after walking right into the killing zone. By setting such an arc, it is often possible to have the enemy come within 100 meters or less before opening fire. Covered arcs apply to all enemy unit types, while units with vehicle arcs will only open fire on armored vehicles.
- Hide: hiding your units is the best way to make sure the enemy wonÕt see them until itÕs too late. The downside is that hiding units are not able to spot very well. Once an enemy comes very close to your hiding units (usually within 20-30 meters), your units will engage the enemy automatically. Of course you can simply unhide your units manually during an order phase once the enemy has come close enough to your liking.

How well your units are able to spring an ambush depends on their experience, however, and also if theyÕre under command (especially of a leader with high stealth leadership ability). It takes nerves like steel to hold fire when you can see the enemy approaching your position so close that you can see the white in their eyes.

Armor penetrations

CMBB uses the most advanced unclassified historical and physics research currently available to simulate gunnery and armor penetration with maximum accuracy and precision. The algorithms under the hood are incredibly detailed and based exclusively on real-world data. The following is a very brief description of how armor penetrations are calculated in CMBB:
- determine (with some randomness) the impact point of a projectile, ie. upper hull front, turret side or top armor. The impact is based on real-world ballistics, and takes into account the exact position and ÒtiltÓ of a tank Ð since CMBB plays in a 3-D environment, it is possible to determine the impact angle relative to the angle of the tank exactly Ð in all three dimensions!
- calculate the basic armor of the area struck by the projectile, including a plethora of values like armor thickness, armor quality, ÒBrinnellÓ hardness factor, face- hardened armor (whose effect depends on type and ÒshapeÓ of the striking round), armor slope, vertical and horizontal angles, spaced armor, bolted-on supplemental armor, curved armor and much much more. The underlying real world values for each tank can be seen in the detailed unit info window.
- determine the velocity of the striking projectile at the impact point and calculate its kinetic energy
- determine the ability of the projectile to penetrate the armor, including the ÒshapeÓ of the round, structural weakness, the size relation between projectile and armor and much more. Some randomness is built in here, since no two projectiles or armor plates are the same.
- When the penetration energy is higher than the armor can withstand, a penetration occurs. But this doesnÕt mean the tank is knocked out immediately. CMBB differentiates between minimal penetrations (where the striking energy is just enough to punch a small hole) and complete penetrations, and assigns the possible damage to the tank and its crew depending on this, but also the location, the size and type of the round, and several other factors (including some randomness).
- When the penetration energy is not high enough, rounds can ricochet (and will land somewhere else on the map) or even break apart. But even non-penetrating hits can be dangerous, as CMBB simulates the possibility of armor ÒflakingÓ or ÒspallingÓ (even non-penetrating rounds can cause damage inside the tank by causing metal fragments from the inside armor to break loose under the impact from the outside, and injure the tank's crew. This was a particular problem with early-war Soviet tanks whose armor was too hard and brittle).

Fortifications

CMBB features the most common types of fortifications found on the typical Eastern Front battlefield, ie. several types of bunkers, several types of minefields (anti-personnel, anti-tank and daisy-chain mines), barbed wire, foxholes, and trenches. These can be placed on the map by the player during the setup phase. Most of these, however, are not available in the Demo.

Bunkers can have different armament, depending on their type, reaching from several machineguns to one or more anti-tank guns and howitzers. Each ÒminefieldÓ in CMBB is considered to be 20x20 meters, and any number of those can be combined to construct a large minefield and hinder passage by the enemy. Minefields cannot be spotted until you walk into them, except daisy-chain mines which are laid in the open. Minefields can be reduced by firing high explosive shells at them, but there will be no indication when itÕs safe to pass or not! Crawling through minefields, instead of running, in any way increases your chance for not setting off too many minesÉ

Trenches and foxholes allow the defending side to Òdig-inÓ its troops. Foxholes are individual firing positions for 1 or 2 soldiers, while trenches represent dug-in shelters a couple meters wide and 10 meters long. Trenches can be connected to construct whole trench systems, allowing units to shift positions without exposing themselves to enemy fire.

CMBB allows units to start dug-in in foxholes, but additionally to that, players are able to place a limited number of additional unoccupied foxholes on the map, to simulate alternative and Òback-upÓ firing positions, prepared before a battle begins.

Pioneers

The answer to fortifications are pioneers (and to a limited extent also artillery). CMBB simulates one specific type of pioneers, called combat pioneers, whose duties were among the most difficult ones for any unit during WWII, namely assaulting fortified positions, Òbunker-bustingÓ, clearing minefields and so on. Most nations have pioneer units, and these come usually equipped with some additional ÒfirepowerÓ in the form of demo charges or flamethrowers.

Flamethrowers are especially useful for clearing out bunkers, but also trenches, as they tend to panic even the hardest units subject to a flame attack. Demo charges are great against bunkers also, but work best for clearing out mines. Each pioneer unit in vicinity of a spotted minefield is able to clear a path through that minefield with demo charges. This usually takes a couple of turns and the pioneer unit should not move for that duration. Daisy-chain mines can be cleared without demo charges.

Troubleshooting

Windows

When Combat Mission does not want to run, or the monitor stays ÒblackÓ for some time and nothing happens, there is a good chance that something went wrong with unpacking the demo files. A simple way to check if the CM demo has been correctly installed is to look in the ÒCombat MissionÓ directory, if all BMP and WAV files are located in the correct subdirectories (called ÒBMPÓ and ÒWAVÓ respectively). If this is not the case, then simply move these files into the correct directories, and the game should run.

NOTE: When the CM Demo is started for the first time, the program will check your available graphics hardware, and a window appears asking ÒCan you see this?Ó. You have to click the OK button to confirm. When you want to change your graphics preferences (for example, when you purchase a new graphics card or monitor), then simply delete the CMBB Preferences file (called ÒCMBB PrefsÓ) and your graphics parameters will be checked next time you start up the game automatically.

System Requirements Windows
* Platforms and Operation Systems:
IBM compatible PC, MS Windows 98/ ME/ 2000/ XP
* System Requirements:
	Pentium (P5) 233MHz with 3D card
	64MB of RAM; 400MB of Hard Disk Space (est.); CD-ROM drive
	DirectX 8.0 compatible video- and sound- card
	28.8 modem or LAN for multiplayer
Note: 3D Video card with 16MB of VRAM or more is strongly recommended.

CMBB does not run under Windows NT, as Windows NT does not fully support DirectX.

Drivers and DirectX
Most problems can be solved by installing the newest drivers for DirectX and/or drivers for your mouse, sound or video hardware. When you experience problems with graphics or sound in the demo, you should first install the newest available drivers. This cannot be stressed enough!

DirectX 8.0 fulfills the minimum requirements, but later versions are even better. DirectX can be found under http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp.

Mouse cursor

When your mouse cursor behaves strangely (disappears, freezes etc.) then you should make sure that you are not using a custom mouse cursor. If this is the case, please disable this and use the standard Windows cursor when playing the demo. We have tried to code around the problem with custom cursors, but unfortunately there is always a number of video cards / drivers which has problems with this.

Tip

Whenever you try to find the reason for a problem, it is a good idea to delete the CMBB Prefs file. Next time you start up the game after deleting the file, the CMBB Demo will automatically look for new a video setting. This is like a fresh start.

General troubleshooting
Transparency

Unfortunately, some older video cards are unable to display the transparency effects in CMBB correctly Ð these are most visible when rendering transparent house walls and smoke. ThatÕs why CMBB offers the display option Òquick and compatibleÓ. Simply set ÒTransparent BuildingsÓ (Shift-O) to OFF and smoke effects (Shift-I) to Òquick and compatibleÓ.

Game performance

There are several options to improve game performance. Try one or all of the options listed below.

* (Windows only) Activate the hardware acceleration for DirectX/Direct3D (in the DirectX settings)
* adjust visual display of trees (Shift-T) to ÒmoderateÓ or ÒsparseÓ, or disable them altogether
* adjust visual display of terrain elements (Shift-N) to ÒmoderateÓ or ÒsparseÓ, or disable them altogether
* set the horizon (Shift-H) to a lower max value than ÒinfiniteÓ
* set smoke display (Shift-I) to Òquick and compatibleÓ or disable it altogether
* set the amount of men displayed per squad (Shift-M) to Ò2 men per squadÓ
* set Weather/Fog (Shift-W) to OFF
* set SOUND (Shift-S) to OFF or Òno ambient soundÓ
* buy a newer 3D video card with more RAM (16 MB or more for best results). This will immediately improve game performance.

Playing by email Ð Old version?

When you or your opponent see the message that the PBEM file is too old or too new, then on of you is using an older version of the CMBB Demo.


All rights reserved. Copyright 2002 Battlefront.com, Inc.

ÒCombat Mission Ð Barbarossa to BerlinÓ was developed by Battlefront.com, Inc. and the Macintosh version is sold direct from www.battlefront.com worldwide.