Desert War has been updated to version 1.0.3!

[Daniele]

Hi everybody!

Desert War has been updated to version 1.0.3!

You can download the update from here


Check the full changelog below

Version 1.0.3
=============

NEW FEATURES
- Counters reduced in size
- New hotkey SHIFT-M will show all planned moves

BUG FIXES:
- Game Screen should not cover windows taskbar
- Units can now move across enemy zoc
- Yellow changed to Amber
- Ambush occasionally causing a crash
- Hotkeys occasionally do not work
- Multiple Ground Assets in a battle were incorrectly being reduced in the same way as multiple ground support air missions.

NEW SCENARIO. Added Operation Brevity: Prelude to Battleaxe.

NEW GRAPHICS.
- Added beveled unit counters.
- Added "Unit Designations" to the unit side panel image (picsArmy). The program uses the Counter Name to select the unit patch with the identical name. Given the various means used by the separate national armies found in the game, we've used shoulder patches, tactical vehicle insignia, badges of rank or qualification to represent divisions. A few of these unit designation decisions are ahistorical timewise; some patches were not created until later in the war. However, we feel the flavor added to the game is in the "right" direction. You will find with a quick glance, these unit patches greatly assist your efforts to maintain organizational integrity.
- New move arrows

FIXES.

* ALL SCENARIOS
- Added 3D counters.
- Attack factors of Royal Navy ships increased by 200%. The orginal numbers were calculated as if the guns were land artillery. However, they did not include a Combat+ mutilplier. Naval assets are assumed to always be in Combat+ supply.

* Operazione E
- Axis AI more aggressive.

* Sidi Barrani
- Axis AI more aggressive.

* Beda Fomm
- Axis AI more aggressive.

* Enter Rommel
- Number of turns increased from 21 to 39.
- Movement factors for 26th AU Inf Bde, 2/13th AU Engr Co, 26 AU AT Co, 370 Bty/51st Field Regt RA changed from 8 to 15.
- Assigned Allies Naval assets random re-use commencing GT34.

* Battle of Sollum
- 2-1.1./33 Flak Regt Fixed GT1 @ Sollum Barracks.
- 1.&2./1.Bn/61st Sicilia Infantry Regt of the Bardia Garrison changed from Fixed GT12 to Fixed GT12 Radius 3 or until enemy unit is adjacent.
- Added Surprise ground asset to Allies side to help balance scenario.
- Ariete Division delayed three turns to help balance the scenario.

* Sunday of the Dead: Battle of Sidi Rezegh
- Royal Navy assets are withdrawn during day turns; they appear on night turns (GTs 6, 9 and 12).
- Corrected picsArmy and flag images for Carp Sapper Co. and 11 Czech Bn.
- 32nd Tank Brigade HQ deleted and subordinate units assigned to 14th Brigade.
- Added 4th Anti-aircraft Brigade to Tobruk Garrison.
- Added 70th Division engineer battalion to Tobruk Garrison (attached to 14th Brigade).
- Axis entrenchment at 20,12 now occupied by elements of 7th Bersaglieri.

* Sidi Bou Zid
- Removed Hex 24,15 from Side0 set-up zone 0.

* El Alamein
- Fixed flag for Greek Brigade
- Fixed NATO icons for Allies infantry Bde HQ units.
- Fixed XXX Corps artillery positioning.
- Fixed attack factors for 2nd New Zealand Division artillery.
- Sorted Allies division set-ups by brigade.
- Extended ranges of brigade and regiment HQs to facilitate s

[canuckgamer]

My friend and I are about 2/3 of the way through a scenario by PBEM. If we install the update now, will it screw up our current PBEM game?

[bcgames]

If both of you update to 1.0.3, we don't think there will be a problem continuing your PBEM game. However, if the game you are playing is worth playing--you guys are having fun--then I would avoid the possibility of a spoiled game and keep on playing with 1.0.2.

IMO, the following two items change the way the game plays:

- Units can now move across an enemy ZOC
- Multiple Ground Assets in a battle were incorrectly being reduced in the same way as multiple ground support air missions.

The ZOC change makes the game play more like boardgames that allow mechanized units to move through enemy zones of control if they have sufficient movement points (like Europa: Fire in the East/Scorched Earth). Generally, this change should favor the Allies as most of their units are armor/motorized.

The commitment of multiple ground assets to a single battle--at full strength--is a dramatic change as well. Here's what was happening:

"Ground Support effectiveness decreases with the number of
units added. The strongest air asset attacks using 100% of
its ground attack value. The next strongest air asset attacks
at 50% effectiveness. The next attacks at 33% effectiveness.
The next attacks at 25% effectiveness, etc." p.67 DW Game Manual

So if the player had committed Command Ground Assets with the following shifts: +3, +2, +1, and +1

In version 1.0.2, the actual shifts applied to the battle would be +4.58 shifts (3*1.00 + 2*.50 + 1*.33 = 1*.25). With the fix in 1.0.3, the shifts applied would be +7. It depends on the scenario, but generally speaking I would say this fix favors the attacker.

[bcgames]

Desert Wa? I think I could moderate this forum a tad better. I have an interest in the content. I'm here to support my customers. BK and I need to be granted full privileges to moderate the content found here. That's the price of an "r".

[bcgames]

Desert Wa is my favorite game.

[bcgames]

Still no privileges granted to correct Desert Wa. Get on it.

[ninja81]

Great, tanx! [:)]

[bcgames]

Per Player request, 1.0.3 includes beveled counters and unit designations.

[Joqqemanzinho]

How is the AI in this version? I am quite interested in this game (I like italy and the desert setting), but saw some comments at least about earlier versions that the AI has a tendency to act too passively and throw away troops with no chance at victory.

[bcgames]

ORIGINAL: Joqqemanzinho

How is the AI in this version?

If the AI doesn't kick your ass, explain what you did to defeat it -- and we'll fix it so that doesn't happen again.

[Joqqemanzinho]

Well I guess I will have to give it a try then.

[Saint Ruth]

ORIGINAL: Joqqemanzinho

Well I guess I will have to give it a try then.

Golly good! [:)] We're trying to improve all the time!

[bcgames]

ORIGINAL: Joqqemanzinho

Well I guess I will have to give it a try then.

Feedback is up to you but we would like to hear what you have to say about the AI performance.

[Joqqemanzinho]

ORIGINAL: bcgames

ORIGINAL: Joqqemanzinho

Well I guess I will have to give it a try then.

Feedback is up to you but we would like to hear what you have to say about the AI performance.

I will definitely get back to you later on. Haven't actually ordered yet!

[bcgames]

ORIGINAL: Joqqemanzinho
I will definitely get back to you later on. Haven't actually ordered yet!

No worries. You know your are under no obligation to buy the game. Wait until you are confident that it is something you want to do. Else save you wargame dollars for The Game...it's out there! Thanks for your consideration of Desert War and seeking out answers to your questions..

[bcgames]

Coming on six months since the last patch. What is broken that we need to fix?

[GibClaret80]

Is the game still getting updated ??

[bcgames]

Yes, when bugs are reported we fix them.

[GibClaret80]

Thanks i know it says 40-42 but are there any scenarios from early 43 in the game ??

[bcgames]

Yes. We included a scenario from February 1943 - Battle of Sidi Bou Zid - in the last patch. This scenario takes place in Tunisia. Folks reported that it was balanced in favor of the Axis. Okayrun3254 and I played the scenario and came to an agreement that it did favor the Axis. We doubled the Victory Points received by both sides for possession of all VP hexes. Okayrun3254 and I are currently playtesting that change. See the results here when we have finished our play:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.a ... 1&#4701923