Beta testers, please

[cpdeyoung]

Folks,

I have a new scenario launcher I would like to make available as I work on it. It shows you a bit about the scenario you might wish to try, and it has a feature I have wanted for awhile. It can launch a generated scenario with a setup turn, as the campaign does. This will allow you to generate a "River Crossing", for example, exit, and then load it using my launcher, selecting "Setup phase" and move the units about. I think this works, but I have not tested it very much.

I want to continue working on this, but if you want to try this version please contact me. It is only 169KB, so light weight for mailing at 92KB zipped. It does not require a run time package.

Chuck

[Jason Petho]

Looks great, Chuck!!

Jason Petho

[cpdeyoung]

Thanks Jason, it has been great fun.  I have many new features in mind.
 
Chuck

[rich12545]

Wow.  That really looks great.  May I suggest a feature that shows what size scenario it is?

[big dawg]

That is impressive.  I would like to try it.  I am leaving for vacation, so it will be a 2 weeks before I could provide much feedback.  Well done!

dawgs85@monroeaccess.net


Could you provide simple instructions to install this add-on?


Jack

[marcbarker]

I guess mine is obsolete now...oh well.....later taters

[Jason Petho]

Two different beasts, I believe.

Jason Petho

[marcbarker]

Yeah I think so...nice though...I see though why he wanted a copy of the data base. thats cool I hope he can do alot more with it. I know I have. I incorporated the Platoonxx.oob thru battalion for the dynaic OOB generator. I am just weak on VB is all. Wished I knew alot more.

[cpdeyoung]

Hey Marc,
 
No way do our tools compete!  I have been working with these ideas awhile and am sure we have two very "different beasts".  Mine is dynamic, reading the scenario files and gleaning what I can from them.  I do not intend to duplicate your spectacular depth on the established scenarios.  In fact if you will allow it I would like to try to integrate your webpage into my program by putting a HTML parser on it and loading your index page.  I have not begun anything like this yet, but if you do not mind a "link to" I will give it a try.
 
If I can help you with your programming I would be happy to.  We can share a lot, Marc, and it's all good!
 
Chuck

[marcbarker]

not a prob...whatever you want to do... i ain't one like some people I know in this business that goes ape over crap. Me CS is a hobby.....Guess what I do for a living. I am a codeveloper of a program called circuit flash. It is a wire trace program with automated hyperlinks that Highlight wiring schematics and link to the components and also do trouble shooting manuals for aircraft. google Circuit Flash Gulfstream Aerospace....I am a wiz at the post script side linked with cad programs etc.
 
The reason why I got into CS was that it is fun and the ability to mod was there. I have a knack for scripting into programs and get what I need it to do. I would love to have Jpg of all the Scenario maps. This cut and paste routine is tedious at best. Once the Jpg files are ready the linking part is easy. I create battle area maps from these. that link to CS and start the scenario from there.
 
Once you put your mind to it it is amazing what you can accomplish.

[cpdeyoung]

Good morning all,

Here is shot of the latest version. A more detailed scenario list.

Thanks to all who have suggested ideas.

Chuck

[marcbarker]

You know it may not be a bad idea and combine the 2. I bet that would be a kick butt thing...what say you

[cpdeyoung]

I agree, and will try adding a browser element asap.  I will be driving four hours this afternoon, and am working this morning, but I should have something pretty soon.  As I understand your program all I need to do is get the user to your entry, index, page.  They will be able to use your internal navigation to get from document to document.  I will make the control big, because you have a lot to look at!
 
Chuck

[Huib]

The minutes indication is sort of not necessary. The six minutes thing is one of the most unclear things about the whole game. Better to leave that out. It's a discussion in itself but I've heard players say the most hilarious things about the timespan of CS turns. It is probably not for nothing the John Tiller in all his later games states that turn timespans are variable per scenario.

[marcbarker]

why not make the standard 5 minutes for turn based options...ie 12x 5 = 60 min battle so a full days battle would be 144 turns... there is a rounding effect why 6 min anyways?

[Jason Petho]

6 minutes is the number used to determine how far a unit can move during the course of a turn.

6 minute turns have nothing to do with combat, which I believe is the biggest issue for creating historically related scenarios.

Jason Petho

[cpdeyoung]

The .scn file actually has the "minutes" and not the "turns".  I took the value stored and divided by six to get turns.  Actually I have never had a bad feeling about the turn taking about six minutes.
 
I am driven by how I interpret the scenario file, and there is much I do not know.  My "complexity index" is determined by the amount of space used to describe the units in position and renforcements.  If anyone knows data I can mine from from the scenario file please let me know.
 
Here is what I "think" I "know".
 
Line : Contents
====   ========
01 :
02 : Title of scenario
03 : ??? ??? ??? NumberTurns*6
04 : ??? ??? ??? ??? VisibilityHexes
05 : AlliedAir AxisAir AlliedSmoke AxisSmoke AlliedAmmo AxisAmmo
06 : AxisFirst(1)AlliedFirst(0)
07 : MajDefeat MinDefeat MinVictory MajVictory ScenarioType(0-11)
08 : AlliedAI AxisAI ??? ???
09 : Map file name
10 : Org file name
11 :
12 :
13 : NightBool(0,1) AlliedStarshells AxisStarshells
14

Chuck

[Huib]

For CS designing the designer needs to filter out all the moments that there was no action in the historical battle. So by definition the designer defines the # of turns that works for a certain battle in a certain timeframe. If you have a scenario of 144 turns and you don't move any units in 120 of them you would probably have a realistic representaion of reality. We all know the game is not designed that way.

[marcbarker]

I was thinking of a way to transition day to night in that context for the reason as to not have to edit the file at all:
 
each turn represent a time of day: this would be based on the 5 minute thing
 
1-54 = night (night rules)
55-84 = dawn (limited visibilty)
85-216 = day
217-246 = dusk (limited visibility)
247 - 288 = Night (Night Rules)
 
Could not an alogirithm, be calculated so that when time is selected it automatically calculates the start turn add the turn numbers to that and for each turn a visibility check is then initiated to calculate the range of sight right after each turn?
 
 
 

[marcbarker]

Did not the Battleground Series cover this? I know they have scenarios that do transitions day to night why not incorporate that structure?