1939 Campaign using Hybrid Counters

[SIPRES]

Dear all,

Here is vanilla 1939 campaign using "Hybrid counters" from HimAgain. (UPDATED to V2.0)
The purpose of this campaign is to try to enhance HQs display (add Various Leaders portrait) so mainly "just" a tweak to give HQs graphics some flexibility.

Here is what have been done for this purpose.

I had to decide wich Upgrade I could disable as I need 1 slot to handle HQ graphics display
Finally I choose to kill Rocket upgrade (used by Germany only, so I think impact on the gameplay must be limited)

Change Rocket weapon Research to "Custom HQ display" lets call it "CHD"
German Rockets will then be upgradable but by Heavy bomber research item.
All nations HQ (minors/majors) will have a full capacity for this "CHD" upgrade (0 to 5), so no need to invest MPP in research.
All nations HQ will have then the following upgrades

1st CHD 0MPP cost
2nd AA at normal AA MPP cost
3rd Mobility at normal Mobility MPP cost

Cost for this CHD upgrade will be 0MPP, but of course no effect on Att/def, "CHD" will be just a dummy upgrade to allow flexibility in Leaders graphics.

There is 4 possible ways where the HQs appears in the campaign.
- The HQ currently on the map at the beginning of the game
Majors updated with differents portraits, for minors not possible at the momment (As long as they are neutral, we cant handle upgrades)
- The HQ in the production queue at the begining of the game
Modified (French, British, Germans)
- The HQ purchased during gameplay
It will be possible to upgrade from 0 to 5 the"CHD" with no additionnal MPP cost.
Works for Majors and minors
- The HQ appearing on the game following an Event firing
Those ones I will not be able to "control" the display (most likely CHD will be 5 if full research is specified in the script)

I also notice by testing that it will not be possible to upgrade CHD on an HQ on the map during gameplay (game engine does not allow upgrade at 0MPP cost) but if you upgrade AA or mobility at same time then it become possible(at the cost of AA or mobility only).

Still need some playtesting to see behaviour.

Some screenshots will follow for explanation how to use.

Link to file v2 00 (Italian Russia expedition event updated to allow Messe HQ display):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0jngl70uxb6ll ... 0.zip?dl=0

Unzip to the following folder
C:\Users\Your computer name here\Documents\My Games\Strategic Command WWII - War In Europe\Campaigns
(any other path will not work)

Rgds

Christophe

[HimAgain]

Hi Christophe,

I will update the Minor Country HQ silhouettes ASAP to match the changes we discussed.
It should work for the Major Country HQs for now with the existing version.

I'll post the update once I'm finished and tested it. We'll call it Ver 1.02

Thanks once again for help with this.[&o]

Angus.

[SIPRES]

Hi Angus,

I tried to modify Minors HQ on the campaign, but it seems I cant play on upgrades for minors wich are Neutral and/or not mobilized.
So far all of them will be displayed with "Tech 0" HQ leader portrait.

I will try to find a way to solve that
I think you can continue to update HQ graphics, as it still possible to choose HQ graphics during purchase screen.

Christophe

[SIPRES]

The research screenshot:

All major nations got a full capacity for the HQ Display item from the start of the campaign.
No MPP cost required

[SIPRES]

The Purchase Screenshot:

During HQ unit purchasing, you can "adjust" the HQ counter display by using the custom HQ display upgrade (0 to 5) at 0MPP cost.

[SIPRES]

The Upgrade screenshot

During gameplay you can upgrade HQ Display by changing the value of Custom HQ display item.
However there is a limitation due to game engine wich didnt allow a 0MPP cost upgrade.
In such case it will work only if you decide to upgrade an other item at same time (AA or Mobility) at vanilla cost.

[HimAgain]

Hi Christophe,

So far from what I’ve tested it works good.
I’ve attached the updated Minor Axis and Allied Counters to including the changes discussed.
There were no changes to the others so there was no point re-sending those.

Allied Minor
0 Harry Crerar CANADA
1 Greek General Alexander - Papagos
2 Dutch/Belgium general - Winkelman
3 Turkish general - Toydemir
4 Yugoslavian general (Tito) - Spain Franco instead
5 Maybe a generic general - Guy Simonds CAN

Axis Minor
0 Mannerheim Finland
1 Jozsef Heszlenyi Hungary
2 Petre Dumitrescu Romania
3 Ivan Marinov Bulgaria (updated with better fitting silhouette)
4 Swedish general - Olof Thörnell
5 Spanish general – Generalissimo Franco

Depending on how successful you are modifying the preset minor country HQ icons, I’m thinking that we may want to consider changing the order of their appearance. The default portrait should not be a well-known general. I’m thinking we move Guy Simonds to the Allied 0 slot and Dumitrescu for the Axis.

This would also tie in with the 3D-icon NATO replacement Mod that I’m planning. My testing so far shows me that the minor countries HQ portraits will need to have preset flags on the counter so the default/generic HQ will have to remain without a flag.
I hope to be able to use both sets of icons interchangeably with your Campaign MOD without any other changes.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Angus

[SIPRES]

[quote]ORIGINAL: HimAgain

Hi Christophe,

So far from what I’ve tested it works good.
I’ve attached the updated Minor Axis and Allied Counters to including the changes discussed.
There were no changes to the others so there was no point re-sending those.

Allied Minor
0 Harry Crerar CANADA
1 Greek General Alexander - Papagos
2 Dutch/Belgium general - Winkelman
3 Turkish general - Toydemir
4 Yugoslavian general (Tito) - Spain Franco instead
5 Maybe a generic general - Guy Simonds CAN

Axis Minor
0 Mannerheim Finland
1 Jozsef Heszlenyi Hungary
2 Petre Dumitrescu Romania
3 Ivan Marinov Bulgaria (updated with better fitting silhouette)
4 Swedish general - Olof Thörnell
5 Spanish general – Generalissimo Franco

Depending on how successful you are modifying the preset minor country HQ icons, I’m thinking that we may want to consider changing the order of their appearance. The default portrait should not be a well-known general. I’m thinking we move Guy Simonds to the Allied 0 slot and Dumitrescu for the Axis.

Agree, You are right, I am still strugling with Editor to find a way for minors Initial deployment

This would also tie in with the 3D-icon NATO replacement Mod that I’m planning. My testing so far shows me that the minor countries HQ portraits will need to have preset flags on the counter so the default/generic HQ will have to remain without a flag.
I hope to be able to use both sets of icons interchangeably with your Campaign MOD without any other changes.

Please let me know what you think.

Just a "small" modification would be great on the following:

UK
Move Lord Gort to slot 5 , then O'conner to any other slot you like (I will adapt cgn file accordingly)
Germany
Move Rommel to slot 5 , then Model to slot 1

The reason is due that Rommel and Lord Gort appears in the game by Event (BEF and DAK) then the script specify Full research so both will deploy at level 5.

Actually O'conner (in Egypt) is level 5, then few turns later BEF deploy in France with Lord Gort HQ (level 5 also due to scripting)
So 2 British HQ with same portrait



Thanks,

Angus

[HimAgain]

OK, very good points.

I'll swap O'Conner with Gort and make the other changes.
I will post them once completed.


Thanks,

[BillRunacre]

Really thoughtful use of the engine here to do this, I'm impressed! [:)]

[HimAgain]

Hi Christophe,

The requested changes have been made along with the re-org of the Minor HQs
I also cleaned up Crerar a bit. Compared to the others, his face was too dark and pixelated around the edges.

I'm really hoping that you can figure out this Minor HQ CHD preset value. It would add a lot.

Here's a summary of what we have now:

Allied Minor
0 Generic general - Guy Simonds (CAN)
1 Greek - Papagos
2 Dutch/Belgium general - Winkelman
3 Turkish general - Toydemir
4 Spain Franco
5 CAN Harry Crerar

Axis Minor
0 Generic - Petre Dumitrescu Romania (his dark uniform will help contrast unit strength values)
1 Hungary - Jozsef Heszlenyi
2 Finland - Mannerheim
3 Bulgaria - Ivan Marinov (updated with better fitting silhouette)
4 Swedish - Olof Thörnell
5 Spanish – Generalissimo Franco again

Major 1 Britain:
0 O'Conner (He looks better as the default/generic British General)
1 Montgomery
2 Alexander
3 Auchinleck
4 Brooke
5 Lord Gort

Major 7 Germany
0 Guderian
1 Model
2 Von Manstein
3 Von Rundstedt
4 Kesselring
5 Rommel

Good luck and let me know if there any other changes that you need.
I go back to work tomorrow, so I may not be as quick to respond.

Cheers,

Angus

[HimAgain]

ORIGINAL: Bill Runacre

Really thoughtful use of the engine here to do this, I'm impressed! [:)]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the thumbs up.
Christophe is the real wizard here. I'm sticking to the graphics but without his know how, I could never of gotten this far on my own.

Cheers,

Angus

[HimAgain]

Christophe,

Please re-download the file above. You were too fast for me to make a minor adjustment.
The German Atlantic Wall Cannon only face West in the update I made.

Sorry

[SIPRES]

ORIGINAL: HimAgain

Hi Christophe,

The requested changes have been made along with the re-org of the Minor HQs
I also cleaned up Crerar a bit. Compared to the others, his face was too dark and pixelated around the edges.

I'm really hoping that you can figure out this Minor HQ CHD preset value. It would add a lot.

Here's a summary of what we have now:

Allied Minor
0 Generic general - Guy Simonds (CAN)
1 Greek - Papagos
2 Dutch/Belgium general - Winkelman
3 Turkish general - Toydemir
4 Spain Franco
5 CAN Harry Crerar

Axis Minor
0 Generic - Petre Dumitrescu Romania (his dark uniform will help contrast unit strength values)
1 Hungary - Jozsef Heszlenyi
2 Finland - Mannerheim
3 Bulgaria - Ivan Marinov (updated with better fitting silhouette)
4 Swedish - Olof Thörnell
5 Spanish – Generalissimo Franco again

Major 1 Britain:
0 O'Conner (He looks better as the default/generic British General)
1 Montgomery
2 Alexander
3 Auchinleck
4 Brooke
5 Lord Gort

Major 7 Germany
0 Guderian
1 Model
2 Von Manstein
3 Von Rundstedt
4 Kesselring
5 Rommel

Good luck and let me know if there any other changes that you need.
I go back to work tomorrow, so I may not be as quick to respond.

Cheers,

Angus

Thanks Angus for so quick update
I just did update the dropbox link with your new file
I think so far everything looks good for Majors

[SIPRES]

ORIGINAL: HimAgain

Christophe,

Please re-download the file above. You were too fast for me to make a minor adjustment.
The German Atlantic Wall Cannon only face West in the update I made.

Sorry

ooops
no problem, I will update

[SIPRES]

ORIGINAL: Bill Runacre

Really thoughtful use of the engine here to do this, I'm impressed! [:)]

Hi Bill,

Its not perfect (I still have problem to handle minors HQ display)
But it gives a really different flavor to the game to be able to display several HQ leaders.

Thanks for your comments

Christophe

[HimAgain]

Hi Christophe,

I've been testing and noticed a problem when Messe appeared as part of one of the Italian Expeditionary Force deployment scripts to Russia. Similar to the BEF and DAK deployments to France and Africa when you asked that I place Gort and Rommel in their countries 5th HQ slots, I would have thought that the 5th Italian HQ would appear.

Instead of Bergonzoli(the 5th Italian HQ), Graziani (slot 0 HQ) appeared (see the screenshot below).

I’m thinking that I’ll have to swap Messe into the 5th slot and place Bergonzoli to the 4th slot. This will allow you to make the same change as you did with the BEF and DAK scripts.

Or, is this something else that is happening that we could use to our advantage somehow and allow us to fix the Minor Axis and Allied General/HQs that we can’t currently control?

What say you?

[SIPRES]

ORIGINAL: HimAgain

Hi Christophe,

I've been testing and noticed a problem when Messe appeared as part of one of the Italian Expeditionary Force deployment scripts to Russia. Similar to the BEF and DAK deployments to France and Africa when you asked that I place Gort and Rommel in their countries 5th HQ slots, I would have thought that the 5th Italian HQ would appear.

Instead of Bergonzoli(the 5th Italian HQ), Graziani (slot 0 HQ) appeared (see the screenshot below).

I’m thinking that I’ll have to swap Messe into the 5th slot and place Bergonzoli to the 4th slot. This will allow you to make the same change as you did with the BEF and DAK scripts.

Or, is this something else that is happening that we could use to our advantage somehow and allow us to fix the Minor Axis and Allied General/HQs that we can’t currently control?

What say you?

Oups I forgot this one (I need to play the full campaign), just swap the graphics between Messe/Bergonzoli then I will join your png file with updated script on the campaign link.
The problem with script units is that they can be allocated as 0 or full research only.
So for the scripted Italy deployement in Russia "DE 701" I will change to FULL RESEARCH.
The 2 italians Corps in the same event does share the research level with HQ unit, so they will deploy with the "Infantry"research to current game level.

For the minors HQ there is no solution I am afraid.
The initial deployement can't be controlled as each minors had to be mobilized and ally with an AXIS or an ALLIED major.
They are all neutral at begining of the campaign..
Maybe on the next Hubert update it will become possible

Christophe

[HimAgain]

Hi Christophe,

Sorry for the delay but I've made the changes discussed above and included them in my latest 2.0 update.
At your earliest convenience please update your Mod to match the 2.0 counter release and change the scripted Italian deployment to Russia.

While testing I found myself hesitant to change the Minor HQ displays because the cheapest AA upgrade cost of 40+ MPP was just too dear to waste on adjusting the HQ display. It occurred to me that we can make the cost to change the CHQ 1 MPP per level. Ideally I would like to leave it at zero, but I think this will make it much less costly overall to make the required changes to the Minor HQs. Unless of course there is a game engine minimum MPP upgrade expenditure higher than 1 MPP?

From what I can see that's all we can do for now unless they help us out with an update to give us some options for the minor HQ deployments.

Once again, many thanks for your efforts in helping me out.

Angus

[SIPRES]

ORIGINAL: HimAgain

Hi Christophe,

Sorry for the delay but I've made the changes discussed above and included them in my latest 2.0 update.
At your earliest convenience please update your Mod to match the 2.0 counter release and change the scripted Italian deployment to Russia.

While testing I found myself hesitant to change the Minor HQ displays because the cheapest AA upgrade cost of 40+ MPP was just too dear to waste on adjusting the HQ display. It occurred to me that we can make the cost to change the CHQ 1 MPP per level. Ideally I would like to leave it at zero, but I think this will make it much less costly overall to make the required changes to the Minor HQs. Unless of course there is a game engine minimum MPP upgrade expenditure higher than 1 MPP?

From what I can see that's all we can do for now unless they help us out with an update to give us some options for the minor HQ deployments.

Once again, many thanks for your efforts in helping me out.

Angus

Hi Angus

I just updated the campaign file with your latest graphics 2.00
I change the DE for Italy East front deployement.
For the upgrade cost the minimun I can set is 5MPP per level, (so maybe too expensive just for Display feature)

Good idea for the numbers contrast it really improves readability.


Christophe