Confused about Patch and Scenarios

[PaulWRoberts]

As I understand it, the big new patch changes quite a lot, making some older scenarios incompatible.

If I do a fresh install of the game and add this patch, will all of the installed scenarios be compatible with the new patch? If not, how do I know which won't?

Finally, how do we know which downloadable user-created scenarios are safe with the patch?

Thanks!

[sPzAbt653]

As far as I know there hasn't been any official concensus. I believe that you should check the scenario briefings. Look for the version number, if there is no version number or an older version number, you can assume that the scenario hasn't been playtested or updated to the newest version. That doesn't mean that the scenario won't play in the newer version, but the player should consider what effects there might be. I also believe that you should check for any notes relating to new rules or the new version. If no mention is made of new rules, the player should not use them.

These are just my guidelines, others may have different opinions.

[dudalb_slith]

You can always make a backup copy of the game before you patch. Just copy the entire TOAW folder into a different location a create a new shortcut, labelling it "Old TOAW" or anything you want as long as it is different the the default TOAW shortcut. It will take around 700 MB of space, but with the size of Hard drive nowdays that should not create a problem.

[PaulWRoberts]

So when playing with older scenarios, is it enough to just disable the new supply rules? What else?

Or is it likely that the new game engine itself will mess things up?

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: dudalb

You can always make a backup copy of the game before you patch. Just copy the entire TOAW folder into a different location a create a new shortcut, labelling it "Old TOAW" or anything you want as long as it is different the the default TOAW shortcut. It will take around 700 MB of space, but with the size of Hard drive nowdays that should not create a problem.

There's actually no need to copy the entire installation. Just copy the Opart 3.exe from 3.2 and rename it something like Opart 3.2.exe or such. That's all you need to save. Then make a shortcut to that.

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: Paul Roberts

So when playing with older scenarios, is it enough to just disable the new supply rules? What else?

Or is it likely that the new game engine itself will mess things up?

This is 99% paranoia as far as I'm concerned. Unless the design did something unusual it will work fine - if not better - with 3.4.

[sPzAbt653]

So when playing with older scenarios, is it enough to just disable the new supply rules? What else?

New Turn Order Rules could also have an adverse effect. The only thing I've come across in the game engine itself that would make enough of a difference is hex conversion. If a scenario was actually designed for the old way, this would make a difference. You can check in the editor to see what the Force Movement Bias settings are, if they are 100 for both sides, then there might not be an issue. If the settings are other than 100, it may be that the designer tailored movement rates by the old engine.

I agree that most of the time there will be no issues, but scenarios designed and playtested under the new rules should state this in the briefing so there is no confusion. Playing older scenarios with new rules and the new engine, you can never be sure if the scenario will play as intended.