House of Cards - Gotterdammerung

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Silvanski
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Gotterdammerung 1944-45 - TOAWIII mod

Post by Silvanski »

And here's a screenie showing a portion of the Allied/Soviet PO track in Gotterdammerung 1944-45...
1 full track done thus far  "Race to the Elbe"
It is set for the Allies and Soviets to meet up at the historic spots... you'll also see the pocket in the Harz mountains which the PO is set to create, the same for the Ruhr ...
Image
Aha I hear some players think... you won't find me getting caught in the Ruhr[8D]...
Think about it... evacuating the Ruhr means giving up a lot of supply... You'll have to stick it out there
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RE: House of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod - variable tracks

Post by rhinobones »

ORIGINAL: Silvanski

The new objective tracks tool is extremely helpful when setting variable tracks..
Here's the set upfor the Soviet PO

Nice work. Easy to see how this will be a good feature for the scenario designers.

I find it interesting that there are Russian objective tracks on the far East side of the map. I would expect that those objectives are in Russian controlled territory and if so, Russian units will not move toward those objectives. Rather they will advance directly toward the first objective that is enemy controlled territory and not take the path you have described. Result is that any movement behind the lines (in friendly held territory) will not be conducted as planned by the designer. This, at least, is what happens as told by the TOAD Team.

Have you been able to test this scenario to determine whether these formations actually take the path(s) behind friendly lines that you have defined?

Regards, RhinoBones
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RE: House of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod - variable tracks

Post by Silvanski »

ORIGINAL: rhinobones


I find it interesting that there are Russian objective tracks on the far East side of the map. I would expect that those objectives are in Russian controlled territory and if so, Russian units will not move toward those objectives. Rather they will advance directly toward the first objective that is enemy controlled territory and not take the path you have described. Result is that any movement behind the lines (in friendly held territory) will not be conducted as planned by the designer. This, at least, is what happens as told by the TOAD Team.

Have you been able to test this scenario to determine whether these formations actually take the path(s) behind friendly lines that you have defined?

Yes... that path belongs to a security formation to counter Ukrainian guerillas
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RE: House of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod - variable tracks

Post by Matt57_slith »

looks nice!
I expected a TOAWIII version of these scenarios, thank you! [:)]
maybe you would give a shot on updating some other scenarios : spanish civil war (the full war one, can't remember the name), Bloody Sands (Iran-Iraq war) it would be tremendous [&o]
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RE: House of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod - variable tracks

Post by Silvanski »

ORIGINAL: Matt57

looks nice!
I expected a TOAWIII version of these scenarios, thank you! [:)]

Am testing various stuff in 'Gtd 1945' and it seems that the best way to go is PO versions for both sides (the fixed formation setting needs to be used in places)... the PBEM can be split up in two versions : one with historical activation of formations in various sectors East and West and a "free slugfest" version wherein all units on the map are mobile on turn 1 so players have a free hand in conducting the final battle for the Third Reich.. it can include theater options for shock effects timed around various operations both sides carried out, like Wacht am Rhein, Operation Veritable etc
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House of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... almost there

Post by Silvanski »

The TOAWIII mod of House Of Cards 1945 with enhanced PO is nearing completion...
PM me for a play test copy...
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Gotterdammerung 1944-1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by Silvanski »

Almost there... it seems to come together rather well...
1944 1945 - Gotterdammerung
The last months of the Third Reich
Free Deployment version

Original ACOW scenario by
Thomas Kolley & Bill Wilson
Silvanski mod, September 2007
for TOAW 3.2

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get in touch with the designers, so this mod has to be classified as 'unauthorized'.

-This is the "go as you please" version.
All formations and units are mobile at the start of the scenario, which grants both players the freedom to conduct the campaign whichever way they like.
Only one restriction for the Allied player perhaps...
don't send Soviet units to the Western Front and vice versa... meet up somewhere in Germany but don't mingle them up any more than necessary.

:::PBEM:::
:::Axis PO - Allied PO:::
There are separate scenarios for play against either the Axis or the Allied PO
They play better than this one which I haven't tested properly against either side PO.
However it may give some weird but interesting situations...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*150 turns full day turns
*10 Kilometers per hex
*Units ranging from Battalions up to Divisions
*Northern climate area, heavy precipitation, temperature: frozen 2, dropping to frozen 3.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Original scenario description:
In Mid-December 1944, the Third Reich found itself besieged on almost every front.  Hitler realized he must strike a decisive blow -- and opted to try to seize the vital supply port of Antwerpen.
The Ardennes Offensive was Germany's last massive blow, but by no means its last offensive.  Bitter fighting raged on the Eastern Front and in Italy as well.  In the end, Hitler and his Third Reich fought a fanatical last stand, destroying vast areas of Germany in the process -- Gotterdammerung 1945!
Gotterdammerung 1945 represents the final five months of the war in Europe on a division and independent brigade / battalion level.  Unit types range from Soviet Tank Corps to German Volkssturm battalions to US strategic bombardment groups.  Economic objectives are marked on the map and have a significant impact on Germany's ability to wage war.  Capture of these will reduce German supply and manpower.
More game data: (if link still works)
http://home.wanadoo.nl/thomas.kolley/oc.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Notes on the TOAWIII mod

General
-------
-Map clean-up
-OOB clean-up; use of standardized abbreviations, small OOB fixes.
-Added command groups to HQ's.
-FlaK units without transport have been given the fixed artilery counter.
-Reconstitution "fixed" for all units. You won't see Cetniks popping up in Berlin or Soviets in the Alsace.
-PO tracks and strategic bias upgraded.
-Activation of formations set close to the actual historic dates.
-Automatic rail repair of 6 hexes per turn for the Allies

Events
------
*Allied Shock
The Allies receive a small shock bonus on the following turns:
28 - 29 - 88 - 91 - 98 - 99 - 122 - 129
These are the historical opening dates of Allied and Soviet offensives like Operation Veritable, Vistula-Oder etc .

*Axis Shock
The Allies will always have numerical superiority.
In order to unhinge the balance a bit -as historically happened, albeit very briefly- the Germans receive timeframes of positive but rapidly declining shock values (and strategic bias for the PO) to undertake tactical counter attacks.
These time frames are named after and set on the historic dates of German counter offensives
Wacht Am Rhein: turn 1, effects lasting 10 days
Nordwind: turn 16, effects lasting 26 days
Sonnenwende: turn 63, effects lasting 2 days
Fruhlingserwachen: turn 81, effects lasting 9 days

Make good use of them as these are most likely the only opportunities you'll get to seriously hamper the Allied/Soviet advance.
The Axis player is free to decide where to strike during the period of positive shock.
However for Wacht am Rhein I decided to give the Axis player an incentive to carry out the historic operation.

*Wacht am Rhein succesfull!
If the German offensive through the Ardennes manages to get beyond its historical line of advance there are permanent bonus VPs up for grabs!
This reflects the Allies' failure to effectively contain the offensive and will force them to occupy Germany completely before the Germans surrender.

The bonus VPs are awarded for capturing these locations:
Antwerpen Port  +10
Antwerpen  +10
Gent +5
Brussel  +5
Leuven  +2
Namur  +2
Dinant  +2
Bastogne  +2
Liege  +1
Charleroi  +1
Furthermore the Allied supply will decline when Antwerpen is captured.

*Supply/Replacements
Axis:
The entire Axis supply stockpile (S) of 25 is represented on the map by industry and resources. Supply values will drop after the loss of such a location.
Replacements(R)will suffer a lower percentage compared to the previous value when certain locations are captured.
Silesia industry: R 85% / S -2
Ostrau coalmines: R 85% / S -2
Zistersdorf oil: S -1
Leipzig fuel: R 85% / S -2
Munchen industry: R 85% / S -1
Saarbrucken coal: R 85% / S -2
Hamm (Ruhr): R 85% / S -3
Hamburg: R 85% / S -1
Frankfurt industry: R 85% / S -2
Milan industry: S -2
Nagykanisza oil: S -1
Komarno oil: S -1
Wien industry: S -2
Berlin: R 10% / S -3

*Victory Points
There are 250 normal VPs on the map, of which 240 are in German held territory at the start of the scenario.
The Germans can gain a potential total of 50 Bonus VPs (which are permanent) along the way to Antwerpen if they decide to conduct the Ardennes offensive.
*The fall of Berlin will trigger an automatic end to the scenario, but it's set with delay and variable turn range. Some units held out in Czechoslovakia, remember?
When Berlin falls there's only a short amount of time left for the Allies to rake up some victory points here and there, perhaps to capture a besieged city or carry out actions in the side show sections of the map like the channel ports.

Silvanski, September 2007
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House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by Silvanski »

And here's the other one I've been working on
 
HOUSE OF CARDS 1945
The last battles on the Eastern Front
 
For TOAW 3.2
 
Original ACOW scenario by
Thomas Kolley, 1998
 
Silvanski mod for TOAW 3.2
September 2007

Unfortunately I was unable to get in touch with the designer, so this mod has to be classified as 'unauthorized'.
 * * * * * * * * * *
Start: 12 January 1945
Up to 120 full day turns.
10 KM/hex.
Units from Armies down to Battalions
 
:::PBEM:::
:::PO set for both sides:::
More challenging vs the Soviet PO
* * * * * * * * *
"The Eastern Front is like
a House of Cards."
Generaloberst Guderian
"The Eastern Front must help itself
and make do with what it's got!"
Adolf Hitler
* * * * * * * * *
Original briefing by Thomas Kolley
with additional notes by Silvanski
 
Soviet player:
As the Soviet player you will crush the enemy with initial artillery barrages and then steamroll through Poland, the old provinces East Prussia, Pomerania and Silesia on to Berlin.
Budapest, Vienna and Prague are big prices, as are the rich industrial areas of Silesia and Mahrisch Ostrau and the oilfields.
It will pay to attack cities which historically got bypassed.
Taking Berlin will trigger an early end to the scenario but won't mean an automatic Soviet victory... the level of victory is still decided by the addition of other objectives you capture on your way to the Reichstag.
 
German player:
As the German player you can't allow the loss of German territory to the enemy. You must hold at all cost and avoid losing too much ground.
There are slender opportunities for counterstrikes but if these fail all is lost.
Best use for this are 6 SS Pz Army, Germania SS, and the GD and HG formations.
Do not lose the oilfields, Mahrisch Ostrau and the Lower Silesian Industrial Area because supply and replacements will drop dramatically.
Defend Berlin at all costs as it will cause your replacements to drop like a brick and trigger the end to the scenario.
* * * * * * * * * *
Notes on the TOAWIII mod:
-Scenario expanded from 50 to a potential 120 turns. It originally only covered the Vistula-Oder and Budapest-Vienna operations.
-Map clean-up;  geographics in Poland, Hungary and Austria made more accurate.
-Units and formations renamed; use of standard abbreviations.
-Detached those Soviet armies which were included in Front formations for more flexibility in objective tracks for the Soviet PO.
OOB underwent a few tiny corrections. (reference Axis History Factbook website)
-Added command and support groups to HQ's.
-Changed all low mobile German FlaK counters to fixed artillery counters.
-Slightly adjusted force proficiency, supply stockpile and transport capabilities.
-Limited Soviet paradrops (Polish and Czech NKVD) and limited German naval transport are possible.
-Added Komarno, Nagykanisza and Zistersdorf.
The loss of the oilfields near these cities will affect German supply, but overall losses remain the same as in the original Kolley scenario.
-Reconstitution set as "fixed".
You won't see Cetniks popping up outside Yugoslavia...
-Hungarian units do not reconstitute
-Replacement priority varies by nationality and type of unit. In general SS and Soviet Guards get higher priority.
Romanian and Hungarian as well as Volkssturm units have lower priority.
-Adjusted some weather effects, there is more chance of an early thaw, but storms may rage frequently till the final warm front.
-Automatic rail repair set at 3 hexes per turn for the Soviets
-The fall of Berlin is a disaster for the Germans... As central command collapses replacements will drop to 10% of their last value to reflect the desintegration of the German army... the loss of Berlin will also trigger the end of the scenario, set on a variable amount of turns... the last chance to capture or defend some VP's
-The Soviets receive positive shock values on turns 1 and 2, the initial breakout from their bridgeheads.
German shock will be below 100 during these turns.
-The German side receives TO's for two timeframes of positive but rapidly declining shock values to aid tactical counter attacks.
These time frames are named after and set on the historic dates of their two ultimate counter offensives in the East:  "Sonnenwende" and "Fruhlingserwachen" but can be used anywhere on the front.
Sonnenwende: TO available from turn 36,
shock effects lasting 2 days
Fruhlingserwachen: TO available from turn 54, shock effects lasting 9 days
Don't forget to use these TO's. Each TO is only available for 7 days and these are most likely the only opportunities you'll get to seriously hamper the Soviets.
The German PO will activate the shock events on variable turn range.
-German and Soviet PO subject to events:
"Sonnenwende" can be activated  when the Soviets approach a certain location before turn 37 and the PO will attempt a counter attack.
 
I attempted to set the dates for activation of Soviet formations and their objective paths as close as possible to history.
As you play vs the Soviet PO, don't provoke an early activation of formations in quiet sectors by moving units adjacent to them...
 
Both PO's have three objective tracks, activated by events or turns.
They affect following areas separately:
Soviet:
Vistula-Oder Operation and Hungary defense
Silesia and Budapest-Vienna Operation
Oder-Berlin (the great clean-up)
German:
Poland/Hungary defense
Operation Fruhlingserwachen
General defense
 
Silvanski, September 2007.
More info on the original scenario
http://members.fortunecity.de/mcsnipe/HoC.html
if it's still on the web...
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by shunwick »

ORIGINAL: Silvanski

Unfortunately I was unable to get in touch with the designer, so this mod has to be classified as 'unauthorized'.

Silvanski,

I hope you know what you are doing. If you want to see how nasty things can get take a look at the Harpoon ANW forum. I love your mods and I would love to try these two but I worry about it.

Best wishes,
I love the smell of TOAW in the morning...
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by Silvanski »

I understand what you mean,  can you point me to a specific post on the Harpoon forum?

I tried every known contact to Mr Kolley, even the guestbook on his personal webpage... I believe he quit his wargame activities...

edited to add:
This is frustrating cuz these scenarios deserve a new lease of life
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by Silvanski »

He ran this wargame club...
 
[font=arial]http://members.fortunecity.de/mcsnipe/news.htm[/font]
 
where it says...
[font="lucida calligraphy"][/font] 
[font="lucida calligraphy"]July 2000[/font]
[font="lucida calligraphy"]Dear player and former player,[/font]
[font="lucida calligraphy"]After 10 years of OC I  Have decided to call it a day. There will be no active organization from my side with regard to a new game.[/font]
[font="lucida calligraphy"]However I am always open for an activity like playing Gettysburg with two teams just contact me.[/font]
[font="lucida calligraphy"]The below game is, btw still ongoing and no result yet seen.[/font]
[font="lucida calligraphy"]The pages are left as they were.[/font]
[font="lucida calligraphy"]Thank you all for  for 10 years of amazing, educational and above all exiting wargaming.[/font]
[font="lucida calligraphy"]Thomas Kolley [/font]
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by sPzAbt653 »

Does Matrix have an official standpoint on an idividual modifying a scenario? I can see how some scenarios can use some modification, and there are great benefits to us due to the work of people like Silvanski. I've read some other posts that make analogies to other types of legal precedents. But what does Matrix say?
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Telumar
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by Telumar »

As long as noone has any commercial intentions i can't imagine Matrix has anything against it. 
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by sPzAbt653 »

That's what I would think. And the 'getting the designers permission' part would just be out of common courtesy.
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by shunwick »

ORIGINAL: Silvanski

I understand what you mean,  can you point me to a specific post on the Harpoon forum?

[:D][:D][:D][:D]

Pick just about any post in the forum. Best to wear a flak jacket though. [:)]

Best wishes,
I love the smell of TOAW in the morning...
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by shunwick »

sPzAbt653, Telumar, Silvanski (in no particular order),

I suspect that Matrix would not involve themselves in it since they are not hosting the scenarios. I don't know where Silvanski is planning to release them but the owners and operators of Rugged Defense, Wargamer, and Gamesquad etc might have something to say on the matter. Silvanski, it might be worth approaching them to see what they think.

As far as I am aware, the lack of commercial interest has nothing to do with it. Mr Kolley's apparent disapearance has nothing to do with it. Even Mr Kolley's death has nothing to do with it (for at least 25 years (I think)). Copyright is copyright.

I am genuinely sorry to bring up the issue since I would like to play these scenarios myself. I just don't want to see Silvanski get into trouble.

There have been no lawsuits in the Great Harpoon Database Scandal but that hasn't stopped the Harpoon community splitting up into multiple hate-filled factions. I don't know this Mr Kolley from Adam but it is always possible that he is lurking in the background just waiting to make everyone's life miserable.

I wish I had a better answer.

Best wishes,
I love the smell of TOAW in the morning...
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by Silvanski »

Fair points...
 
As a matter of copyright, yes there is something but these scenarios are non-commercial...
Getting the designer's permit is only natural and in the mod's notes I give full credit for the original design.
 
Not being able to get in touch with a designer however is frustrating ...
 
I've got here two playable scenario mods... scenarios which are almost 10 years old and a previous TOAW version but are solid because of their original design. Their PO however was quite rudimentary.
This upgrade/mod gives them a new lease of life.
 
I'll be holding them back and ask around at RD etc what their view on the matter is...
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by shunwick »

Silvanski,

Don't get me wrong, I hope it all goes well and you certainly won't get any problem from me. I just thought I'd better make sure you understand the potential problems.

Best wishes,
I love the smell of TOAW in the morning...
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by ColinWright »

ORIGINAL: Silvanski

Fair points...

As a matter of copyright, yes there is something but these scenarios are non-commercial...
Getting the designer's permit is only natural and in the mod's notes I give full credit for the original design.

Not being able to get in touch with a designer however is frustrating ...

I've got here two playable scenario mods... scenarios which are almost 10 years old and a previous TOAW version but are solid because of their original design. Their PO however was quite rudimentary.
This upgrade/mod gives them a new lease of life.

I'll be holding them back and ask around at RD etc what their view on the matter is...

As I recall, there's language in at least the original Matrix releases barring any claim of any propriety rights to any designer of any scenario.

So legally, you would seem to be safe. Morally, I'd say you've done all that can be asked. You've tried to find this guy and he's fallen off the face of the earth. I'd say put something to that effect in the briefing and consider your duty done.
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RE: House Of Cards 1945 - TOAWIII mod... briefing preview

Post by shunwick »

Colin,

This is from the license agreement at the back of the manual (sorry about the capital letters but that is how it appears):

THE ENCLOSED SOFTWARE PROGRAM AND THIS MANUAL ARE COPYRIGHTED. ALL RIGHTS
ARE RESERVED. THE ORIGINAL PURCHASERMAY PRINT OR HAVE A PRINT/COPY SHOP MAKE A
PRINTOUT AND/OR COPY OFTHE MANUAL. MATRIX PUBLISHING, LLC GRANTSTHE ORIGINAL
PURCHASER OF THIS SOFTWARE PACKAGE THE RIGHT TO USE ONE COPY OF THE SOFTWARE
PROGRAM. YOU MAY NOT RENT OR LEASE IT, DISASSEMBLE, DECOMPILE, REVERSE ENGINEER,
OR MODIFY THE SOFTWARE IN ANYWAY. ALL EDITORS MAY BE USED TO CREATE SCENARIOS
THAT MAY BE FREELY DISTRIBUTED. ALL SCENARIO AUTHORS HOLD THE ULTIMATE RIGHTS
TOTHEIR DESIGNED SCENARIOS AND MATRIX PUBLISHING, LLC MAKES NO CLAIMS THEREOF.

YOU MAY NOT COPY OR DISTRIBUTE COPIES IN ANY MEDIA FORM. ANY PERSONS DOING SO
SHALL BE GUILTY OF COPYRIGHT VIOLATION AND SUBjECT TO THE APPROPRIATE CIVIL OR
CRIMINAL ACTION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER.

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