Ostfront
Posts: 2
Joined: 10/11/2005 Status: offline
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My Christmas wish list for Matrix in regards to the Campaign Series: My primary love of the game comes from it's awesome Scenario-building capabilites, but even they need improving. I like to play at the largest level: entire Fronts or Theatres. Therefore, I would like an increase in the maximum number of horizontal hexes available. Currently, I cannot build a scenario with more than 512 horizontal hexes. This creates problems when I try to re-create Operation Typhoon or the 1945 Soviet invasion of Europe, or Operation Coronet. An increase to at least 1000 horizontal hexes will solve the problem. Other scenario-building wishes: overall better quality graphics of course: Many more types of buildings to break up the monotony of repeating the same structure endlessly in cities. Ability to have German structures in East Front-I am not aware of any onion-domed churches in Berlin. Addition of more types of historical aircraft, including large bombers, with their attacks having a more realistic result. Right now they have little effect. Ability to have working railroads that can bring supplies and reinforcements, and thus become prime targets. Ability to create 'cratered' hexes during scenario set-up as the result of previous artillery or bomber action. Movable warships of all types, from river monitors to battleships and carriers that can launch and land aircraft, as well as submarines that can submerge and sneak up on their enemy. The ability of the Germans in 1944 & 1945 to launch V1's and V2's at their enemy. Make the opposing sides have to set up realistic supply depots and systems before they can begin deep offensive thrusts. Have a much greater range of terrain levels, so that realistic mountain ranges can be built. 0 to 12 isn't a big enough range. Engineers should be able to lay minefields, dig tank traps, build 'corderoy' roads and bunkers from nearby trees, and most importantly, build pontoon bridges. Working railroads could have railroad guns like 'Anzio Annie' ,'Gustav', or 'Thor', plus armoured trains with AA guns. American tanks in 1944 could have hedgerow-cutting blades or anti-mine flails. German infantry in 1944 could have panzerfausts and panzerschrecks. More specialty vehicles could be created for 1945 what-if confrontations, such as the German Lowe heavy tank, the Stalin 3 heavy tank, the M26 Pershing or the colossal German Ratte. Russian, French or Italian partisan activity needs to be included. Dams that can be 'busted' to flood areas would be a nice touch. Rocket-firing Typhoons and real flame-shooting flame throwers would be a visual treat. Oddities to be corrected: The Russians have landing craft that can carry tanks. Why not the Germans? Didn't they have some from the Sealion preparations? I agree with the calls for daylight/nightime visual cycles, and I also would like to see seasonal changes. Barbarossa went from summer heat to frozen wasteland. The game should know what time of year it is, and throw in rainstorms, snow and occasional strong wind. Spring flooding of rivers would be realistic ( this held up Barbarossa for five weeks while the River Bug was flooding it's banks ). Try to build a pontoon bridge or ferry troops across a river when chunks of ice or flood debris come roaring downstream. Typhoons can sink landing craft and destroyers at Okinawa. Artillery should be able to blanket an area and prevent enemy use of affected hexes during the following turn. Of course, if they use up too much ammo.... Anti-aircraft guns should actually be able to shoot down aircraft if they get too near. Katyushas and Nebelwerfers would be nicer if their trails of fire were accurately depicted. Aircraft should be able to shoot down each other. Artillery spotters using colored-smoke mortars to mark targets can increase the accuracy of heavy artillery. Aircraft can spot for artillery, expanding their 'line of sight'. The spotted target will then have to move or be destroyed. Destroyers and patrol vessels can detect submarines. Barbed wire obstructions can be crushed by tanks, as well as cleared by engineers. A realistic limit should be placed on how big a gun can be placed in a bunker. I think a 170mm cannon cannot fit in a bunker; but maybe a 75mm howitzer can. Engineers should also be able to dig a 'hull-down' position for tanks. Armoured bulldozers should be available to crush/bury bunkers or knock down trees to create instant roadblocks. They could even be used to create temporary runways close to the front lines for aircraft. Real airbases of course will have to be buildable in scenarios to rearm and repair aircraft. Finding and destroying them would be a whole new priority in the Campaign Series. Super-tough concrete structures like the Grain Silos in Stalingrad ( or high walls ) should not be able to stand up to a specialty vehicle like the SturmTiger with it's huge mortar. Soldiers armed with just rifles or machine guns should not be able to take out a heavily armoured vehicle unless it was first damaged by a mine or cannon fire. Ok, I'm out of ideas.......Thanks Matrix and Jason Petho!
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