"Ostfront" - a GPW-based mod (semi-grog version)

[Captain Cruft]

Status

The OOB is done, just about, and I still have to do the later war aircraft, but they're not necessary for the initial test release.

Now it is on to the tweaking phase, which is what I've been looking forward to and why the all the preceding RSI-inducing donkey work has been worthwhile

I still hope to have the time limited test release ready for some time during next week.

[SMK-at-work]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

It's something like 6 planes per unit on average, so about 150 units. However, the a lot of these will certainly be destroyed by the Germans on Turn 1 ...

The current list of Soviet aircraft is:

Fighters - I-15, I-16, Yak-1, MiG-3, LaGG-3
Dive Bombers/Ground Attack - Su-2, Pe-2
Level Bombers - Yak-4, SB-2, Il-4

This list will be expanded though, that's just to cope with Turn 1

which covers 95% or more of a/c in service!!
I have a spreadsheet that purports to be the actual numbers of each a/c in service in June 1941 (serviceable, unserviceable, trained crewews available, by Military district) - it says it comes from the RKKA website, but I can't find it there anymore

If you're interested send my your e-mail by pm & I'll get it to you ASAP.

Cheers

[Captain Cruft]

PM sent, and thanks

After playing around a bit I think I may have been slightly optimistic about timescales. Nothing major but I think the end of the month is more like it. Playing against yourself to test things out is a tad time-consuming

[Captain Cruft]

I've also got to document the thing. There's no way you will just be able to dive in, it's just too different. What I will do is make a quick primer of essentials and then a more comprehensive blurb for those who are keen.

Back on the case tomorrow ...

[Captain Cruft]

I now have the air to air and flak working pretty much how I want. The first few turns will feel quite bad for the Soviet Air Force

Here is one of the specialised recon planes I mentioned earlier.

[Joshuatree]

Nice!
 
Just yesterday I learned the hard way you *have* to do a proper reconnaissance, or risk losing half a mechanized corps... [:@]

[Captain Cruft]

Recon will indeed be important in this mod. The only problem is, the planes will get shot down occasionally and the good ones (unlike the R-5) are expensive to replace.

This is what I mean by a good one

[Captain Cruft]

Happy day ... The initial OOB is now completely on the map. I haven't counted the units but there are a lot

Remaining tasks are:

1. Define Axis air reinforcements and all Soviet reinforcements (donkey work)
2. Land SFType combat parameters and testing (fun)
3. Event and action card definitions (intellectually fun but physically tiresome)
4. Documentation (I actually quite enjoy doing this)

Most of the events needed for the 15 turn play-test version are already there, so number 3 shouldn't take too long. Number 1 will take a while and I have to be in the mood to get seriously bored for a few hours ... Then it is just a matter of playing around with the land units and running a few tests to look for egregious errors. I'm thinking this will not actually take as long as the air part did, which was about three days.

Still realistically looking at the end of the month I think.

[seille]

Testing all the SFTypes and give them the right settings is a lot of work.
At least when you want to get serious results. I would not underestimate this
especially with the many new units you added.
I still can very good remember how much work it was to balance the initial SFType set.
This needs a lot of testing with many testers who have different styles to play.
 
But if this scenario with the new SFTypes is balanced it could bring a lot of fun.
 
 
 

[Captain Cruft]

I don't under-estimate the task. There is no way it will be perfect to start with, that's why I am releasing a play-test version. Hopefully some good people will volunteer to give it a try and report back

There is no commercial pressure here, so I can afford to let it take as long as it takes to get it right. I don't intend for this first version to be the end "product", it will be an on-going process. Version 2 is already taking shape in my mind ...

[Barthheart]

I'll give you some help when your ready for it.

[Captain Cruft]

Thank you

I will be playing it myself too of course.

[BULLDOGINTHEUK]

A word of warning. Your scenario looks great but there are lots of new pictures which could be a problem. I have just tried uploading a scenario onto the AT community site and it has a restriction of 10MB only so it wouldn't let me proceed. My zipfile was only 19MB and not as many pictures as yours (your looks possibly larger from how many units you are doing).

[Captain Cruft]

I have my own web hosting, so shouldn't be a problem.

[BULLDOGINTHEUK]

Nice [8D]...

[Joshuatree]

And bump [8D]
 
How's it going?

[Captain Cruft]

I still hope to have it ready for the end of the month (approximately). There was nothing new that I wanted to show so I haven't posted.

[gnrss]

hi.Captain Cruft .what is the process of ostfront?i'm eagle to play it as soon as possible.you said it will be ready at the end of last month but it's the beginning of another month.
waiting.......

[randybenson]

Wow I new to AT, but this mod looks awesome[:)].  Captain Cruft kudos[&o]... will you marry me  [:D]

[Captain Cruft]

Hi guys.

Thanks for the interest. I am still working on this, but the end of the month has indeed passed. Serves me right for giving out a deadline ...

It won't be much longer, that's all I can say.