Force roster countersset to on map, off map

[atuhalpa]

Trying to build a scenario to duplicate the Vulcan AA team kill I noticed that after purchasing the units I had to click on each one as they were set to <on map, off map> instead of NOT DEPLOYED in boldface. Why? I couldn't deploy them in that condition and had to go and click on each and every one to set them to NOT DEPLOYED. I have never seen this happen before, and it was very irritating as it took me a good 5 or 6 minutes clicking just so I could deploy. Is this a bug or is it something I did wrong because I have no manual to reference as everything I have learned about scenario construction I have reverse engineered or trial and errored it. By the way, when is the scenario construction manual coming? Anyway this time I am making sure that I save games and scenarios properly so I can get them to you "bug" exterminators.

[cbelva]

That is definitely a new bug. That is the problem with code as complex as SS. You fix one thing and it breaks something that appears unrelated. I have posted this to the developers. This is a good catch. Thanks.

[atuhalpa]

Understood, I don't envy the coders job. I'll just keep on utilizing the editor and keep you guys posted and eventually we'll whip it into shape.

[atuhalpa]

Come on guys, I bought the game for 60 friggin bucks and I can't play it. Another problem surfaced when I went back to continue editing my scenario: The scenario is saved as "meeting engagement", but "meeting engagement" doesn't show up on the in game roster of scenarios. It should be right there between "Lesson of War" and "Overture" but it isn't there. BUT when I go to the FCSS saved folder in my documents it IS in the folder right there between Lesson of War and Overture. WTF? Help me out, give me some hope, I'm losing my desire to play/ troubleshoot this game. I can't even save a scenario so why bother?

[cbelva]

Can you post the scenario for me to look at? I would like to see what you did. I make a quick scenario in the editor and saved it without any issues. Thanks

[atuhalpa]

Meeting Engagement.zip

(443.56 KiB) Downloaded 4 times

Here it is

[CapnDarwin]

In the scenario selection screen, please check to see if you have all of the size filters checked. Once I turned on the Large filter, your scenario popped right up.

[atuhalpa]

Wow, now I feel stupid. No excuse for overlooking that. I take it all back.

[CapnDarwin]

Please don't feel bad. I've done that myself a time or two.

[atuhalpa]

So I am really interested in ferreting out the bugs in this program. What can I do to help? Are there specific scenarios to playtest in order to debug or something like that? I really love this game/sim and want it to go places in the wargaming community.

[cbelva]

Do exactly what you are doing. Your reports are a big help. Saved games and a detailed description of what you were doing when you noticed the bug also goes a long way in helping us root out the bugs. We appreciate all the help we can get.

[cbelva]

I know you are frustrated with the scenario editor right now. Jim is a behind on the manuals due to some personal issues that slowed him down. I do know he is working hard on them. Unfortunately, we all do this part time. Expect for Rob we all have day jobs. However, we are all dedicated to making Flashpoint Campaign the best military sim possible.

Once you get the basics down in the scenario editor, it is really not that difficult to make scenarios. I looked over your scenario and right now it is an incomplete scenario. Units have to be deployed on the map. Also, when building a force, you can't mix different types of movement types. You have your FARP in the same force as your attk helos. The FARP is a ground force while the attk helos are air. The forces are the individual maneuver packages that the AI look to and it does not like mixed movement types (ground vs air specifically). I normally make my FARP a separate force. On the last page of the scenario editor is a window that list any problems (Scenario Validation Notes). That will tell you if you are missing something or something is not right.

If you have specific questions, I would be more than happy to address them. I would like to post some scenario editor helps on the forum. My problem is that I am having to go out of town on Monday for a couple of weeks. I don't know if I will have internet where I am going. I have to go take care of some problems. If I do have internet, I will see if I can write some posts on lessons that I have learned on using the editor.

[atuhalpa]

Thanks. I have another anomally I want to report that seems like an AI bug. I created a very basic scenario, 3600 points WP,
4000 pts NATO, similar force makeup. Two victory points at 500 each 28 hexes away from each force on the same level hiway. The Nato forces just shuffle a bit in the same area and the Warsaw Pact jets two tank companies on down and claims the 1000 points and when the timer stops the NATO forces are still just sitting there bivouaced doing nothing. Should I send you the scenario?

[cbelva]

Yeah, I will be more than happy to look at it while I pack.

[atuhalpa]

Here it is. While you pack?

Meeting Engagement.zip

(320.25 KiB) Downloaded 4 times

[JohnOs]

As Charles stated, when building a force, you can't mix different types of movement types. You have your FARP in the same force as your attack helos. The FARP is a ground force while the attack helos are air. Your units are not moving because of desynchronization. You have your helicopters mixed with land units.

[cbelva]

I don't have a lot of time but I will try and give you some pointers. When I opened the scenario and checked the validator for the scenario, I found quite a few problems specifically you had mixed air and ground units together in the same force. I rearranged your forces and the OOB. I moved the helos to their own force. I moved the FARPs to their own force. I created a Bn HQ for the Americans and it was in its own force. The Americans needed another layer of structure to function. Once I added the Bn HQ, the American tanks started attacking. I will attach my scenario so that you can see what I did. Please ask questions and if I am able, I will try and answer them. Just remember I am going out of town for a few weeks. I did see odd behavior from the Helos which I'm going t have to take with the developers about. Behavior which I had pointed out a few months ago and I thought had been ironed out. To get the helos to move, I had to create a Battle Plan for them and give them a hunt mission. Once I reorganized the different sides, the scenario was playing better. The Soviet's AA missles are a real killer to the Ami helos.

[atuhalpa]

Thanks so much! As I have said I have reverse engineered most of what I know and the desync message came up a lot but I didn't really understand how serious it was. Once again thanks and I will study the scenario as fixed.

[atuhalpa]

It's so stinking confusing still! I loaded up the scenario you fixed and more or less understand the command and force structure but with the scenario as is now it took me multiple times playing to realize that now I don't resupply my helos at the Farp, but at Battalion HQ. What is the distinction, was it because my command structure was screwed up and the FARP was erroneously the Helos HQ? And if I don't need a FARP to resupply with what is the point of having a FARP? I know I am asking a lot of questions, but inquiring minds want to know......

[cbelva]

You are not confused. It is on us. We had experienced with a different setup for the FARP where it was split into two different units. One fixed and one mobile. It was a bad design. If you look in the Force Selection (Add Units button) in the editor, there is a "FARP (Single)" unit. That is the one you need. I thought we had deleted the split FARP. I will let the powers that be know it is still there. BTW, I fixed the FARP, so give it a try now and see if that is better. I didn't have a chance to test it myself. I believe it is only the Ami data file that is like that. The Soviets should be ok. Let me know if this didn't fix the issue.