While We Wait: Part 5

[Symphony D.]

Just in case you didn't know, The Aquabats! are awesome.

 

[Shadowbound]

Sylar is the new Spock.

 

[Dachs]

Nobody ever reads von Clausewitz, really. They hear about his maxims and dicta in condensed form and think that it's cool to repeat them, but they have no frigging context and go around throwing out these quotes to sound cool. It's like teenagers with Friedrich Nietzsche. I mean, seriously, people, please attempt to at least try to know what you're talking about.

 

[BananaLee]

To be fair, few read treatises in their entirety nowadays.

 

[Dachs]

To be fair, few read treatises in their entirety nowadays.

And? That's their fault.

 

[BananaLee]

Indeed it is.

But you can't blame a few specific groups when every man, woman and dog doesn't read things fully

 

[Dachs]

Indeed it is.

But you can't blame a few specific groups when every man, woman and dog doesn't read things fully

I clearly stated that 'nobody' reads von Clausewitz; is that not enough of a generalization for you?

 

[Daftpanzer]

I dunno they blur together after a while.

Thats because money men have stifled games development, forcing developers to make exact clones of the last succesful game, without adding any innovation since 1992!

edit:

Nobody ever reads von Clausewitz, really. They hear about his maxims and dicta in condensed form and think that it's cool to repeat them, but they have no frigging context and go around throwing out these quotes to sound cool. It's like teenagers with Friedrich Nietzsche. I mean, seriously, people, please attempt to at least try to know what you're talking about.

I read a (small) book that said Jomini was better, also that Clausewitz's influence on military thought led directly to the massive casualties of the first world war...

 

[BananaLee]

I clearly stated that 'nobody' reads von Clausewitz; is that not enough of a generalization for you?

No it's not!

And I'm blind!

 

[Symphony D.]

The original Command & Conquer sucks compared to Red Alert. No building gaps and slow-harvester unloading is the worst thing ever. Also, they give you repair pads way too freaking late.

 

[Daftpanzer]

The original Command & Conquer sucks compared to Red Alert. No building gaps and slow-harvester unloading is the worst thing ever. Also, they give you repair pads way too freaking late.

My memories of C&C and Red Alert are trying to do cool things with the transports and APC's and airstrikes etc, fumbling with the interface and failing miserably, then sticking to tank rushes and getting bored...

Have you tried Dune2? I loved that game, though I played it when it was new and innovative (long time ago). Dune #1 was also a great RPG on the Amiga, with a 3D globe to explore and strategy elements.

 

[a_propagandist]

You know, why won't C&C just concede the left-click move as a loss and convert to something Starcraft/Age of Empires-esque?

 

[Dachs]

You know, why won't C&C just concede the left-click move as a loss and convert to something Starcraft/Age of Empires-esque?

I honestly can't tell the difference. Either way it's intuitive for me, having spent all too much time playing the game, so I don't notice which finger is doing the clicking.

RE: the original Command and Conquer - yeah. I like the Red Alert line of products better than the Tiberium ones anyway, even if (or especially because?) they are more...cartoony...than the others; they don't take themselves seriously and have fun with everything (psychic dolphins? "Yuri"? the RA3 bears? all of the random Chronosphering?).

 

[das]

I read a (small) book that said Jomini was better, also that Clausewitz's influence on military thought led directly to the massive casualties of the first world war...

I have read a possibly slightly larger book that said people not reading Clausewitz (or at least not paying much attention to what he is saying) and instead only remembering some individual maxims were what actually led directly to what you said.

Jomini is okay, I guess. I recently tried reading Suvorov's Science of Victory - it's nice and poignant, although very much tied to its historical period in many parts, but in addition to this I should note that the style he picked to make it accessible to his soldiers (as opposed to the style of his official reports, which are notable in their own right) makes it absolutely hilarious. Not sure if there ever was an English translation, though.

EDIT: What is it with people replaying the original C&C?

 

[Sheep]

Red Alert..... I remember when that came out in 1995, that was the best game ever. Still play it from time to time... preferred the Soviets over the Allies however as you just cant beat the smell of burnt crisp infantry in the morning under the shadow of a trusty tesla coil!

Speaking of Red Alert, I was going to wait but I may release the alt history I typed up about it during my absence this last year and a bit.... now that I finally have those files on what is becoming my nesing computer, I should open it up so the rest of you can have a read!

EDIT: Das, it could have something to do with Red Alert 3's impending release?

 

[das]

One would think they would replay Red Alert rather than C&C, though.

 

[Symphony D.]

EDIT: What is it with people replaying the original C&C?

I had never beaten the Allied, GDI, or Nod campaigns, and just felt that since I actually bothered to buy the games it was probably something I was obligated to do. It's part of a tour of a vast collection of RTS games I never bothered completing.

 

[Sheep]

I had never beaten the Allied, GDI, or Nod campaigns, and just felt that since I actually bothered to buy the games it was probably something I was obligated to do. It's part of a tour of a vast collection of RTS games I never bothered completing.

Fair enough I often think that myself in regards to the GLA in Command and Conquer: Generals...

Would like comments on the two new timelines I posted on the Alternative History Thread..... I am quiet proud of these so far.

 

[Ninja Dude]

I used to play Red Alert 2, but I never played it online, so it got boring after a while. I do remember remember my main strategy was to turtle up and harrass the enemy with air craft. Once I thought they were weak enough, I set a horde of tanks to kill everything.

Also: I demand more people join NevNES.

 

[Dachs]

I have read a possibly slightly larger book that said people not reading Clausewitz (or at least not paying much attention to what he is saying) and instead only remembering some individual maxims were what actually led directly to what you said.

Oui.

Jomini is okay, I guess.

Yeah, but it's not as applicable or generalized as von Clausewitz is, especially with the focus on tactics. Handy read for anyone wanting to do much in the military sphere in the first half or so of the 19th century.

Not sure if there ever was an English translation, though.

There wasn't that I know of.

EDIT: What is it with people replaying the original C&C?

I'm replaying C&C Generals: Zero Hour and RA2 Yuri's Revenge...the plotline in Zero Hour's campaigns annoyed me, but I guess it was an okay game. I'm definitely the Chinese tank general, though...just crank out promoted Battlemasters with some Gatling tanks for air cover and you can usually roll right through the opposition.

I used to play Red Alert 2, but I never played it online, so it got boring after a while. I do remember remember my main strategy was to turtle up and harrass the enemy with air craft. Once I thought they were weak enough, I set a horde of tanks to kill everything.

For the Allies in RA2, there are basically two lines of easy victory. The first is what you described: get three or four airfields and crank out Harriers, then use some Spies to get promoted War Factory (and/or Barracks) units, then build about ten to twenty Prism tanks, then it's game over. The second is making a lot of Aircraft Carriers and dominating the sea; get five of those and there's no stopping you. Grizzly tanks aren't real good at rushing, even though they're fast, because their cannon is crappy and their armor won't stand up to much. IFVs could do the trick, if you have enough of them, because they can do literally anything (play as Britain, put snipers, Guardian GIs, and engineers inside of them), but they too are annoyingly weak and don't pack a whole lot of punch.