Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

John Tiller's Campaign Series exemplifies tactical war-gaming at its finest by bringing you the entire collection of TalonSoft's award-winning campaign series. Containing TalonSoft's West Front, East Front, and Rising Sun platoon-level combat series, as well as all of the official add-ons and expansion packs, the Matrix Edition allows players to dictate the events of World War II from the tumultuous beginning to its climatic conclusion. We are working together with original programmer John Tiller to bring you this updated edition.

Moderators: Jason Petho, Peter Fisla, asiaticus, dogovich

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David Heath
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Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by David Heath »

Hi Guys

We will be putting out a updated version of the entire Campaign Series games as one package. This update will have only a few new game features but will run stable with Windows XP and DirectX b8.0 and higher. A New development as been put together and will be developing and updating the code as we move forward with new enchancements, bug fixes and features. As always we will be posting information on our forum and getting your feedback. We are planing to release the game before the end of the year so the wait is almost over.

Our new development team (Which is not named yet) are all a group of old time Campaign Series players and Mod makers and I personally think will be a great asset to the advancement of the Campaign Series games.

The team leader will be Wyatt Kappely aka dogvich
The team's programmer lead will be Peter Fisla aka himself

The team's design and development memembers are
Jason Petho as himself
George Smithson as himself

I am sure these guys will be long to introduce themself shortly.

One last thing we wanted to announce is that we will be releasing a Vietnam version of Divided Ground this year. The game have been a labor of love for Jorge Grillo, Wyatt Kappely and Paul Adaway. This is something we are really looking forward to releasing.




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Peter Fisla
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Peter Fisla »

Hi everyone,

It's a pleasure to be on board and work on such a cool well known wargame system. I have been playing the campaign series since the beginning when the original EF came out. I'm a big fan of Eastern Front so I guess that's why I got EFI and EFII. [:D] I'm looking forward helping out with software development anyway I can.
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Jason Petho
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Jason Petho »

Thank you, David.

My fascination with the Campaign Series spawns with the original release of East Front back in the late 90's.

I was fortunate enough to be a playtester for West Front/Sealion and Rising Sun. A linked campaign and a couple scenarios were included with the Sealion expansion. A number of scenarios were included in the East Front II expansion, Project Blitzkrieg 1 that was offered through the Blitzkrieg Wargame Club.

My passion is in scenario design, primarily for the Eastern Front.

I have remained active in the Campaign Series community offering game support and trouble shooting. You can find me as a Campaign Series Forum Moderator at Strategy Zone Online and an active member at The Blitzkrieg Wargame club.

I look forward to being part of the team and reviving the series!

Take care and good luck
Jason Petho


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greg_slith
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by greg_slith »

Great news! Looking forward to the Viet Nam stuff[&o] Looks like Matrix is sucking up more of my cash[:D]
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british exil
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by british exil »

Sounds good.
I enjoyed playing WF until my harddrive died along with my "hard work" months of planning and fighting gone.[:@] All the other data (exams and studies for university) of my GF gone at the same time seemed minor to me.
I hope that I will be able to repeat the battles I once fought.
Keep us posted on the develpment.
"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill

WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
asiaticus
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by asiaticus »

Thank you, David.

I came to the Campaign Series fairly late about the time the original Rising Sun was released by Talonsoft adding in East Front and West Front as I went along. I got involved in the Blitzkreig club a few years ago.

I got interested in the Rising Sun addon that Wyatt Kappely developed to add some missing countries to the game. I learned from Wyatt and helped to add in more details on the 1937-41 Japanese, 1938-41 Russians, and the 1939-45 Mongol Peoples Republic added by Charles Hall. Chris Pearlberg and I added more details to Wyatts initial work on the Dutch too. Recently I created a patch updating the addon, cleaning up some glitches in the oob and adding new things and some new countries.

I got invloved in the last few years with the Blitzkreig club project to upgrade and addon to West Front. Previously Charles Hall had made an addon to WF for the Ethiopians for the 1935-36 Abyssinian War and 1940-41 Campaign and the Spanish Civil War, (Nationalists and Republicans) and I added on to it with the Italians for both Wars. After I joined the WF project I worked on the add on of those addons and some new countries to the oob and adding on to existing ones especially for Spain, the Balkans, Italy and Africa and Middle East.

My passion also is in scenario design, particularly for Rising Sun and West Front, and am looking forward to making them with this new edition of the Campaign Series. The war in China, Dutch East Indies and the Russo Japanese conflicts are my big interest as is the Spanish Civil War and the WWII in the Balkans and Ethiopia.

You can find me as an active member at The Blitzkrieg Wargame club.

I look forward to being part of this team and reviving the series!

George Smithson





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Danish Rommel
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Danish Rommel »

This is great news. ..[:D]
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jchastain
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by jchastain »

It is likely just me, but I have a few questions about the specifics of your message as it wasn't entirely clear to me.

ORIGINAL: David Heath

Hi Guys

We will be putting out a updated version of the entire Campaign Series games as one package. This update will have only a few new game features but will run stable with Windows XP and DirectX b8.0 and higher.
This part is crystal clear. The initial focus will be to make the game stable on the current MSFT platform and release the full series as one package.
A New development as been put together and will be developing and updating the code as we move forward with new enchancements, bug fixes and features.
This is where I am less certain. You did say there would be "a few new game features" in the release mentioned above, but this really sounds like more of an ongoing task whereby the team will continue to take requests and enhance the game. Is that an accurate reading or are the "new enhancements" mentioned here the "few new game features" mentioned above? If this is additional development work beyond the initial release, will it be released/sold as a new product upgrade? Or will it be released as patches to the initial release?
As always we will be posting information on our forum and getting your feedback. We are planing to release the game before the end of the year so the wait is almost over.
This obviously must mean that the initial release will be available by year end which tends to suggest the above point is not additional work beyond the first release.

So, just for clarity sake, can you help us understand the intended logevity of this team with the product, the overall level of enhancements that are planned, and the release strategy regarding what will be new product releases versus ongoing maintenance and patches?

Thanks.
kc_chiefs
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by kc_chiefs »

Requested fixes:

Retreat rules. Too much retreating going on. In several games I see units retreating faster than they can move in real life with their equipment. Example is mortars which I saw retreat FIVE hexes in one game I am currently playing.

Armor is dead meat once retreated (with armor facings rule ON).

Also wanted to know about Defense Fire. It seems that a unit that is in the woods should get first fire when a unit moves adjacent to it but this is not always or even 75 percent the case. Assume I am allowing my units to fire at ALL types of units for the AI Defense Fire setting.

A unit that has 100 APs and is in the woods should get first fire. Or really any amount of points as long as it can fire.

VPs - this is another beef I had with the original series. The Sherman is worth 5 while a Panther is worth 7 yet put out an equal amount of VPs of each and fight it out and the Panther will win 75 percent of the time.

Will the VPs please be looked at? Also the playbalance on the scenarios?

For example: I am in my second playing of Dash for St. Vith from WF and the Americans have almost no chance at a Victory. Its Draw or worse for them. If the Germans had higher VPs for their units (as they usually outclass the US/UK forces) then this scenario would be balanced.

Any help I can give on VPs would be my pleasure.

Best of wishes on this project David.
Bill Peters
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Arkady
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Arkady »

New (old) blood...[:)]

Thanks for info, I hope that other good news will follow...

Jason Petho: do you plan add some of your excelent scenarios into new release ?
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Jason Petho
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Jason Petho »

ORIGINAL: Arkady

New (old) blood...[:)]

Thanks for info, I hope that other good news will follow...

Jason Petho: do you plan add some of your excelent scenarios into new release ?

Hello Arkady

There is potential to have some included or revised to display any new features that could arise. If not, there is hope for a number in the future.

Hope you're well
Take care and good luck
Jason Petho
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Jason Petho
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Jason Petho »

ORIGINAL: kc_chiefs

Requested fixes:

Retreat rules. Too much retreating going on. In several games I see units retreating faster than they can move in real life with their equipment. Example is mortars which I saw retreat FIVE hexes in one game I am currently playing.

Armor is dead meat once retreated (with armor facings rule ON).

Also wanted to know about Defense Fire. It seems that a unit that is in the woods should get first fire when a unit moves adjacent to it but this is not always or even 75 percent the case. Assume I am allowing my units to fire at ALL types of units for the AI Defense Fire setting.

A unit that has 100 APs and is in the woods should get first fire. Or really any amount of points as long as it can fire.

VPs - this is another beef I had with the original series. The Sherman is worth 5 while a Panther is worth 7 yet put out an equal amount of VPs of each and fight it out and the Panther will win 75 percent of the time.

Will the VPs please be looked at? Also the playbalance on the scenarios?

For example: I am in my second playing of Dash for St. Vith from WF and the Americans have almost no chance at a Victory. Its Draw or worse for them. If the Germans had higher VPs for their units (as they usually outclass the US/UK forces) then this scenario would be balanced.

Any help I can give on VPs would be my pleasure.

Best of wishes on this project David.

Hello Bill

All your suggestions are certainly noted.

There are a number of scenarios that could use their victory conditions tweaked which would resolve most of the Victory Point issues.

Hope you're well
Take care and good luck
Jason Petho


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Jason Petho
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Jason Petho »

ORIGINAL: jchastain

So, just for clarity sake, can you help us understand the intended logevity of this team with the product, the overall level of enhancements that are planned, and the release strategy regarding what will be new product releases versus ongoing maintenance and patches?


Hello jchastain

Although I cannot speak for David, I can say that I am in this for the long haul. Just as I have been providing "support" for the Campaign Series after Talonsoft died.

Hope you're well
Take care and good luck
Jason Petho

kc_chiefs
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by kc_chiefs »

Thanks Jason. The concept behind the VPs for units is that for FUTURE work that we all do we would have a better baseline of VPs to use rather than trying to figure out if a Panther is going to alter the odds.

Thus instead of a Panther being 7 VPs it probably should be 9 VPs for instance. Not asking for all of the scenarios to be changed. Just the base VP rate. I think that that would take care of the balancing issues.
Bill Peters
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Jason Petho
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Jason Petho »

ORIGINAL: kc_chiefs

Thanks Jason. The concept behind the VPs for units is that for FUTURE work that we all do we would have a better baseline of VPs to use rather than trying to figure out if a Panther is going to alter the odds.

Thus instead of a Panther being 7 VPs it probably should be 9 VPs for instance. Not asking for all of the scenarios to be changed. Just the base VP rate. I think that that would take care of the balancing issues.


Unfortunately, changing the VP's of the Panther, for example, would have direct effect on any scenario with Panthers in them, which in turn would require tweaking of Victory Conditions for those same scenarios.
ORIGINAL: kc_chiefs
The Sherman is worth 5 while a Panther is worth 7 yet put out an equal amount of VPs of each and fight it out and the Panther will win 75 percent of the time.

That is something to consider when designing new scenarios. Historically how many instances were there equal number of Shermans vs Panthers, let alone Shermans fighting alone without the typical support enjoyed by the Allied forces on the Western Front? Air, Tank Destroyer Battalions, etc? Further, how many cases are the armour units actually engaging in combat at full strength?

Hope you're well
Take care and good luck
Jason Petho



Warship NWS
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Warship NWS »

A quick congrats to the new dev team for the Campaign Series. However, dont just stop at Vietnam.. this engine has a wide range of directions it could take covering other modern conflicts like Korea or the Cold War regions. There are FAR too few good wargames out there covering modern land tactical combat. WW1 would be an interesting topic also.

Good luck.. and if there is anything we can help with in regards to research or combat mechanics concepts at NWS just let me know.

Take care.
Christopher Dean
Director of Operations
NWS Online Combat Gaming Store
http://www.nws-online.net
Les_the_Sarge_9_1
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Les_the_Sarge_9_1 »

Officially on my Christmas list now I guess.

My only beef is I have wanted a unified install that "liked" XP in the first place. I'd buy it for just that improvement.

Everything else is gravy (I don't mind gravy though :)).
I LIKE that my life bothers them,
Why should I be the only one bothered by it eh.
Adz
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Adz »

Hello All!
 
I have played the Campaign Series since East Front first came out. I first got interested in modding when I bought Divided Ground and was immediately disappointed by the many flaws in the game. I have since become more of a modder, than a gamer!. I have completed my work on improving Divided Ground (currently on version 2.00), and participated in the development of the Vietnam Mod to Divided Ground. I have also completed work on adding Soviet and US forces to Divided Ground. In between, I have assisted George Smithson and Jason Petho on their additions to the WW2 games. For the last three years I have been mainly occupied with developing a massively comprehensive WWI mod for West Front.
 
I look forward to working with David and the rest of the Matrix team.
 
 
 
Paul Adaway
 
Temple
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by Temple »

ORIGINAL: Adz

For the last three years I have been mainly occupied with developing a massively comprehensive WWI mod for West Front.

I look forward to working with David and the rest of the Matrix team.



Paul Adaway

[:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]
dogovich
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RE: Campaign Series Update and Development Team Memebers

Post by dogovich »

Whoa!  So much discussion going on.  It's easy to get overwhelmed.  Sorry about being so late, but I was having a bit of trouble accessing the forums.  I'm sort of the stepfather of the CS Mod industry.  I found out how to mod the game system, wrote a paper on it, and put it on several Campaign Series sites.  From there people just took off.  I've developed a number of add-ons for Rising Sun and for Divided Ground.  I was one of the Divided Ground play testers and was really upset by what was finally put out.  So between David Adaway, myself, and a few others, we are continuing to turn it into the game system it ought to be. 
 
As for the Matrix addition, as I understand it, the main focus over the next few months will be to put out the stable version that runs on Windows XP and maybe fix a few bugs and/or add a few enhancements.  The development team is still kind of new, so please be patient.  With a release scheduled before Christmas, it's important to do what is feasable first and then wait until later before adding anything complex.
 
At any rate, let us all hope for the best.
 
Wyatt aka dogovich
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