A question on scale

[Simon Edmonds]

I have become curious as to why different scales were chosen for scenarios. FitE2 uses a 6km scale which is about 3.73 miles. D21 and 41 use a 10km scale which is about 6.21 miles. TGW uses a 25km scale which is about 15.53 miles.
Given our large U.S contingent; why aren't more scenarios scaled at 8, 16, 24 and 32km which would be readily identifiable as 5, 10, 15 and 20 miles.
Just curious given the number of scenarios designed by our American friends.

[golden delicious]

TOAW gives you set hex scales, which are defined in km. While you can fudge this by changing various scenario settings, it's much, much easier just to play with what comes in the box.

Certain scenarios like FitE are outliers using a different scale but this is typically a map constraint. No doubt they would have liked to do 5km hex but this would mean the map would cover 20% less distance in each direction. Another example is Europe Aflame (at 33km/hex) which I think just uses an old map drawn by eye by someone who wasn't too bothered about scale at all.

Another factor is that the most precise TOAW mapping aid for a very long time was Bob Cross' Latlong, which only takes km as input for the hex scale. Then, too, even in the US the military tends to use km a lot more than civilians do. A lot of our US players have a military background. I imagine this was a factor in Norm choosing to build the default scales in km.

Finally, if you're serious about mapping, the historic and high quality maps of Europe (where the vast majority of scenarios take place) will be scaled in km. Again you can convert but it's simpler just to go with the flow.

[cathar1244]

Simon,

Your question reminded me of driving American cars in Europe. Got pretty good with on-the-fly conversions between miles and kilometers per hour.

Cheers

[Simon Edmonds]

Ok. I have digested that. Next question. Could you get away with doing FitE at 6.5km?

[Curtis Lemay]

Ok. I have digested that. Next question. Could you get away with doing FitE at 6.5km?

Of course you could.

If you are doing a conversion of an existing wargame that has a map scale different from the canned choices, you can either keep that map and scale a host of parameters, or you can redo the map from scratch. I've gone both ways multiple times.

Killer Angels 1863: Nominal scale 8km/hex. Scale used: 10km/hex. Movement Bias: 70
Leipzig 1813: Nominal scale 0.48km/hex. Scale used: 2.5km/hex. Movement Bias: 400
Shiloh 1862: Nominal scale 0.174km/hex. Scale used: 0.25km/hex. Movement Bias: 240
Next War 1979: Nominal scale 14km/hex. Scale used: 15km/hex. Movement Bias: 107

In some cases, artillery ranges have to be adjusted as well.

In contrast, I decided to redo the map from scratch for CFNA, France 1944, Germany 1945, and Soviet Union 1941.

[Simon Edmonds]

Thanks for that. I need 6.5km to make the map fit.

[golden delicious]

Ok. I have digested that. Next question. Could you get away with doing FitE at 6.5km?

I think the question is whether the world really needs another regiment scale whole east front scenario.

[Lobster]

Sometimes it isn't for the world. Sometimes it just to do it for the satisfaction of doing it. Like a hobby.

[Simon Edmonds]

Thanks Lobster. I am looking at a 1942 scenario. I really enjoy playing D41, but I want more. Playing TOAW is the bestest hobby. I am retired with way too much time on my hands. TOAW stuff fills that niche.

[Simon Edmonds]

Another scenario question relating to scale.
Going with the 6.5 km scale: At what population point does "Urban" become "Dense Urban"?

[Curtis Lemay]

Another scenario question relating to scale.
Going with the 6.5 km scale: At what population point does "Urban" become "Dense Urban"?

If it's closely packed masonry instead of wooden structures, its "Urban". If it's closely packed multiple story masonry, it's "Dense Urban".

But then there is the issue of the size of the place. If it only fills a quarter of the hex of Dense Urban I would demote it to Urban, etc.