RattyHHG

I get you, but I'm in it solely for the detailed vehicle and crew station simulation. I have little interest in micromanaging an element larger than a platoon. I've done it, I simply don't find it fun. I'd like to be able to enjoy battalion size dynamic scenarios from a single tank or platoon perspective without having to micro manage an entire side of a battle.

My interest in Steel Beasts has always been learning what it is like to operate the machines themselves, the same way I enjoy DCS. Learning the details of various fire control systems and their use is my favorite part of the simulation. I appreciate the strategic aspects, but find less interest there. Real Time Strategy games simply aren't my cup of tea. I have to admit that I find managing more than 4-5 units feels more like work than fun. I prefer focusing on the responsibility of one tank, or one platoon at most, to managing a company or battalion of troops. It would be nice if there could be a commander AI for both sides so that a player could enjoy solely managing a smaller element within the larger battle without the need for micro managing all the elements of a battalion size force.

I've played with Steel Beasts since Steel Beasts Gold was released, but am new to SB Pro. My primary interest in the game has always been more along the lines of a vehicle sim, especially the gunnery and gunner/commander cooperative interaction in engaging targets. The map side of the game isn't my cup of tea. Coming from flight sims and competitive shooting, I appreciate the commander simulation and larger picture the map side of the game provides, but have little personal interest in running more than a single tank and really prefer running the gun. Trying multiplayer one weekend turned me off. The game play was exclusively mapside. One of the devs lead the game and genuinely seemed bored, irritable, and very much like he'd prefer to be doing anything else. The guys on teamspeak seamed to be a mix of neckbeards who took the game way too seriously and former military guys who spent their time biting their tongues and practicing patience with the other players. There wasn't any real banter or intelligent conversation and it seemed like some of the guys were just relieved when the game was over. I didn't enjoy it at all. I think the game could definitely use some fresh blood. One way to do this would be to examine DCS and an event called "Blue Flag." Some groups have set up 24/7 servers that run red vs blue games. The scripts used allow the two sides to capture airbases, towns, and FARPs, which aside from advancing the FLOT, also give some benefits like having more radar SAMs to be deployed by helo pilots. Airbases spawn AI units when enemy aircraft are detected by radar, keeping the game from turning into a pushover when few players are playing, and locations can be hampered or shut down by destroying key structures, like knocking out the ammo bunkers or fuel tanks at an airfield or FARP, disallowing rearming and refueling at those locations until repaired. Fixed wing guys do most of the killing, defending, and breaking stuff on the ground and in the air while helo pilots attack ground targets with attack helos, or use transport helos to strategically place early warning radars, radar SAMs, troops with MANPADs, bring supplies to speed up repair of damaged bases, and carry troops forward to capture bases, towns, and FARPs that have been cleared of enemy hostiles by other friendly players. Victory conditions are set and the server can automatically restart when those conditions are met. I find it to be a lot more fun than set piece scenarios. Concerning mapside play in SBPro, it just isn't as "fun" ordering NATO symbols around a topo map without getting to "see" the terrain, the machines firing, popping smoke, taking hits, etc. If an overhead view camera, integrating sensor fog of war, could be integrated that allowed one player on each team to act as a commander and actually see the units he's commanding, placing markers and waypoints in real time for players on their team and directly controlling AI units ala Wargame, eSim could better draw in players from strategy games. I have friends who'd love to play an overhead-view strategy game that had good unit AI and accurate armor and ballistic simulation, since that's what they were expecting from Wargame.

No just sleep deprived and feeling a little theatrical. You're humorless.

For me it's the sim. I like running the machine.

Burn heretic! Be consumed in cleansing flame with all your lies!

I'm just going to say what we're all thinking: PC networking is Voodoo. There is no science or reason involved. Gibsonm boiled up a pot of frog eyes and made up a box-shaped doll with a dongle before he got on teamspeak. True story.

Much thanks to Gibsonm! Don't know what changed, but everything worked with the fixes mentioned in this thread after starting the PC today.

Don't tell me what to do. I do what I want!

I appreciate it Gibson. Let's try and make that happen.

I'm afraid I don't even know where to start looking to determine if both PCs are on the same network. Can you give me a place to start? "Dongle" really is the most awkward possible name for that thing, isn't it? lol

Sigh. I hate network problems. The PC with the CM stick is setup to act as a network host and has successfully hosted others connecting remotely before. The host is at 10.0.0.8 and the client is at 10.0.0.7. I've entered 10.0.0.8 as well as the Router's IP on the client computer's Webadmin Server Search List. I've created exceptions for port 22350, as well as other Steel Beasts ports listed in the wiki, in windows firewall on both machines (no issues before hosting for people connecting from other cities, but hey, why not?) No one else is attempting to connect to use the secondary license. What else can I try?

I've successfully shared my secondary license with three different friends who live elsewhere, but I'm unable to get another PC in my home to make use of my secondary license. I've been unable to find any information in any FAQ or the wiki that directly addresses my issue. Connecting via the webadmin using the usual method of inputting the external IP obviously doesn't work, nor does simply leaving the server search list empty. I'm no network expert. I need some help on this one guys.

This would be a huge undertaking of course, but I'd really like to see a "Skirmish mode" AI that could be handed a list of units and a map and play as an AI commander without needing scripting in the mission editor. :bigsmile:

If cost is a concern, you can save yourself a lot of money trying out the concept by buying a replacement LED headset from Track IR and using a PS3 EYE cam, an IR filter made from a piece of floppy disk, and free software for about $30 total. You lose a little processing power and possibly some precision since this method lacks Track IR's built-in processor, but it tracks well and smoothly. Head tracking is nice for Steel Beasts, but I don't feel it offers the same level of advantage as it does for a flight sim. It is nice to be able to look around inside the tank while using the mouse solely for pushing buttons- very immersive. I have found head tracking provides an intuitive sense of "forward" when looking around in all the sims I use with it.