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#91
Computer Gaming / Re: Diablo 3
Last post by jamus34 - March 26, 2024, 01:26:32 PM
Quote from: Sigwolf on March 26, 2024, 09:00:33 AMThere's a Diablo IV on the horizon?  Please, tell us more about this breaking news!   :headscratch:

Spambot will do spammy things
#92
Current Events / Re: Baltimore Bridge Collapse
Last post by Silent Disapproval Robot - March 26, 2024, 01:26:14 PM
I saw it on Telegram last night and honestly thought it might be a fake post with ArmA graphics at first.
#93
Current Events / Re: Baltimore Bridge Collapse
Last post by GDS_Starfury - March 26, 2024, 01:11:16 PM
who knew there were so many bridge and marine propulsion experts online today...   :buck2:
#94
Current Events / Re: Israel
Last post by Jarhead0331 - March 26, 2024, 12:32:56 PM
Worth a watch.

#95
Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...
Last post by Tripoli - March 26, 2024, 10:12:16 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 26, 2024, 09:51:39 AM
Quote from: Tripoli on March 26, 2024, 08:58:33 AMArticle on the current state of play IRT logistics in the Black Sea

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/03/24/ukraine-just-blew-up-two-more-russian-landing-ships-its-too-late-to-matter/?sh=5fed74e1144a

The article makes a valid point, but I think it may also overlook the ongoing value of these relatively low cost strikes that inflict a comparatively heavy cost against Russia, while also providing significant benefits to the morale of the Ukrainian people and the PR effect that demonstrates Ukraine's continuing capability to launch offensive operations that yield at least the perception of consequential results.

I was unaware that the Russians had completed the new rail line, and it does complicate the Ukrainian strategy of isolating the Crimea.  I would have to check to see what the logistical output of the new rail line is, and also whether there are any choke points along it that might make it vulnerable to interdiction.  You make a valid point about simply sinking the Russian LSDs provides both a morale boost and takes out logistics capabilities that have other uses, such as supplying areas that are off the rail and road networks, or supporting amphibious operations.
#96
Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...
Last post by Uberhaus - March 26, 2024, 10:04:10 AM
Zeihan talks about the revolution in warfare, then about the targeting of the Russian petroleum industry, and compares it to the industrial warfare that occurred in the US Civil War.


Does anyone have current numbers on how much damage has been currently done?  There is this, but it's four days old.  https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/russia-crude-oil-refining-drops-to-10-month-low-after-ukraine-drone-attacks
#97
Computer Gaming / Re: FREE --> 3 DLCs for Hearts...
Last post by Ian C - March 26, 2024, 10:00:32 AM
Just to hijack this thread for thoughts on a mod. Bear with me...

I recently started playing the Black Ice mod and it is by far the best and most realistic experience I've had with any WW2 global strategy game, ever. This is a mod made by a team that know history and wargames.

If you like HOI4 and you can handle the extra depth, I highly recommend it. In my recent play through as the UK I went through experiences that matched the Battle of Britain, Blitz, the U-Boat war and now I'm up to 1942 and the Russo-German war and Japanese war is in full swing.

To give some idea of the scope: The Luftwaffe was hammering the RAF over the UK from the fall of France up to 1941 and I was hanging on by a thread. My production of Fighters wasn't enough to fill the losses and literally every single tech gain and percentage of help proved decisive (as it does elsewhere in the game). When the U.S. Sold me Fighters I literally breathed a sigh of relief.
My industry was being bombed away. Black Ice has separate factories for air production, tank production, etc. and strategic bombing can individually target these.

The AI does a great job. There are U-Boat attacks all over the historical routes and they are difficult to defend against so far. Air, Land and Sea combat behaves very realistically, both in means and pace. 

Too many things to list here about how much fun and how dramatic this mod is. The way units are composed is accurate. Combat and supply feels realistic. I found myself really using espionage and cryptography, air power and other factors as combat in North Africa was at a stalemate until I realised I was just playing casually like I do with the base game. Once I started taking small factors into account, using air supply, breaking cyphers, air recon, etc, the battle shifted in my favour. These are things that don't really impact too much in the base game, but they really count here.


There are some drawbacks. The mod is really deep. Research, production and other areas are massively expanded. If you find these areas boring or a struggle in the base game, you won't like the mod. It also requires some knowledge of the history of the time, in order to make appropriate choices. It requires more attention and it is definitely exhausting in places, but, as a simulation of world war two, for me at least, this is the realism and drama of it. I would highly recommend that the game is run at a maximum of speed 2 while at war, maybe 3 in the quiet moments. It is easy to miss something really important. Once again, this game takes a lot of concentration and planning. You can't go in lightly.

I took my eyes off the Far East while fixating in North Africa and Japan took Ceylon. From there they threatened East Africa and Southern Arabia. Again, the AI is very surprisingly good. I was blaming ahistorical AI on this before I released I'd let them have Ceylon through negligence and neglecting my naval presence there. The island is strategically important because from it, the Japanese can project naval power into the Indian Ocean and Arabian areas and I completely missed it because I was used the base game's AI. I've cowed the German Kriegsmarine and there is little chance of them launching any invasion as the Germans are bogged down in Russia, so I'm sending the majority of the Home Fleet over to the Indian Theatre to stop any more Japanese advances.

I'm tempted to restart, as it's my first proper game with Black Ice, but I think I'll stick with it and accept my mistake and recover from it.

In summary, this is the best HOI 4 experience I've had so far, but it's deep, difficult, historically realistic and unforgiving.

LINKS TO MOD:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1137372539
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=842834893
#98
Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...
Last post by Jarhead0331 - March 26, 2024, 09:51:39 AM
Quote from: Tripoli on March 26, 2024, 08:58:33 AMArticle on the current state of play IRT logistics in the Black Sea

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/03/24/ukraine-just-blew-up-two-more-russian-landing-ships-its-too-late-to-matter/?sh=5fed74e1144a

The article makes a valid point, but I think it may also overlook the ongoing value of these relatively low cost strikes that inflict a comparatively heavy cost against Russia, while also providing significant benefits to the morale of the Ukrainian people and the PR effect that demonstrates Ukraine's continuing capability to launch offensive operations that yield at least the perception of consequential results.
#99
Music, TV, Movies / Re: "Masters Of The Air" - fro...
Last post by Redwolf - March 26, 2024, 09:27:38 AM
I hate POW movies/series. Not looking forward to the episodes I didn't see yet now.
#100
Music, TV, Movies / Re: Fallout on Amazon Prime
Last post by ArizonaTank - March 26, 2024, 09:25:49 AM
The official trailer.

On Prime, April 11th