SSI V 1.2 exe with Matrix Campaign 41

[bradk]

As in another thread

tm.asp?m=2651090

I found SSI V 1.2 on an abandonware download site. Preliminary report.

I ran AI vs AI on campaign 41. IJ AI is much more effective than in the Matrix version. Reached Dacca, took a couple of bases in Australia, went past the Solomons to take Ellice, Santa Cruz, Espirtu Santo, and Efate. Couldn't take Port Moresby. Took advantage of some good fortune (sinking the first six USN CVs).

Only two allied base icons are present, US and UK. All beaches have some red tide. (Land masses are red at the edges.)

USMC airgroups are 30 aircraft, other Allied airgroups are 40 bombers and 50 fighters.

There is a problem with some Allied patrol airgroups and aircraft. Some patrol groups have flying B25s and some tac bomber airgroups are flying PBYs. This may be related to a feature in the SSI version where the Hudson was a patrol aircraft and airgroups were upgraded to tac bombers.

Also, Allied ship replacement routine is in the exe not in the scenario files. That means tat when a USN carrier is sunk, the Allies get a replacement with the same name in 12 months. Years ago someone on the pacwar mailing list posted the correct replacement dates. Unfortunately, my copy went away when my old computer died. I actually had replaced it before it died due to it being obsolete. A week later, before I gotten everything I wanted off it... poof.

I think the Matrix version is much better for PBEM but this might be a good combination to play against AI. In human versus AI, AI will get some sublte advantages. There's an air combat advantage for AI. When the human player upgrades aircraft, the new aircraft arrive damaged, but this doesn't happen with AI. AI can also move airgroups around without 10% losses on each more. It probably has unlimited use of Get Transport to include things like Get BBs or Get CVs. I think these are all appropriate advantages for AI since it can't anticipate like a human. After all, it appears to be getting harder to find humans to play against.

I think the combination of SSI V1.2 exe and Matrix scenario is workable. Players will need to watch both sides for abnormalities and have an editor to correct them.

[Capt. Harlock]

I've always thought that Version 2.3 was the most reasonable one. I wonder if I have an archived copy around anywhere . . .

[bradk]

I'd like to try it if you have it. Please let me know.

What I'd like is one that can us the latest obc file, does not replace USN ships X months from when sunk, and gives AI the advantages of the original SSI version.

I recently found what apperars to be the non-SSI Grigsby exe on my computer. I'm gong to check and see if that's what it really is. I'll send it to anyone who is interested.

[bradk]

Further report on SSI V 1.2 with Matrix 3.2 obc files...

Can't be counted on to work. It appears necessary, if the modern obc data is desired, to edit the old obc's with the new data so the aircraft are in the slots where they will upgrade appropriately.

[Capt. Harlock]

I'd like to try it if you have it. Please let me know.

What I'd like is one that can us the latest obc file, does not replace USN ships X months from when sunk, and gives AI the advantages of the original SSI version.

Yay -- it turns out I have it. I'll send it by PM. I'm not sure it will work with the current obc's: the LCU sizes are at their current levels (243 squads), but the aircraft ratings have not been adjusted to the 3.0 and upwards levels. (Manuever rating tops out at 26, so A2A combat may work out a bit differently.)

[bradk]

Got the exe. Thank you VERY much.

I didn't know there could be attachements on PMs.

I'll run it later in the week, AI vs AI and see if anything strange happens.

[Capt. Harlock]

I didn't know there could be attachements on PMs.

Yes, and it turns out very useful. Not only is the allowable file size 10X bigger, but more file types are allowed. (Posted files can only be jpg, gif, or txt)