Blitz War Academy mod

[welk]

Perhaps founded a little modding tip to create with this game a special fast scenario editor that will allows to build operationnal/strategic battles (non historical, just for war academy) on map 100x100 (or more), at scale 1/20 000 000 (1 hex = 1cm = 20 km) with divisions and brigades (not corps and divisions). Each game will be playable on different maps, but the order of battle would stay the same (with possible and fast modifications in CSV files, to add or retry units) : then, it would be possible for me to create series of (non historic) battles, on different maps, to constitute a kind of "Blitz war academy" with different situation (I;e : how to plane a great offensive in a mountain lands, how to resist again a heavy opposed force with limited forces, etc : it would be a very funny alternate way to use this game (a kind of "operationnel art of war" made with ToF). I am very excited to explore this new aspect of the game, I discovered [:'(]

Doom, a question, please : Does a new scenario need absolutly a AI data file with Ai scriopts, or may a new scen work without ? If needed, I will create a special AI data type

[doomtrader]

You don't have to script the AI, as it does have some default settings, however you don't except it is going to be smart.

For the AI logic you need to have cities connected with the cities diagram, so the AI can be able to plan anything.
(From the game perspective the cities don't have to be cities - check out the Iwo Jima scenario for Storm over the Pacific)

[welk]

Doom, other question, please : I tried to change the name of units in the units name CSV file, like this, to have divisions in place of corps and brigades in place of divisions (I will modify the graph according)


(I made the change for all countries, to be sure it will work)

1 Infantry
2 Infantry divisions
3 Motorised
4 Motorised divisions
5 Brigades
6 Armoured divisions
7 Airborne brigades
8 Fighters
9 Tact. Bombers
10 Strat. Bombers
11 Carrier Group
12 Battle Group
13 Patrol Group
14 Submarine Group
15 Transport Fleet
16 Amph. Fleet
17 Mulberry


But the pb is that it seems have no effect in game : type of units in game stay as original : corps and divisions. What is the good way to change this ?

[welk]

Sorry for that but, not a critic but I stop now all modding work with this crazy editor[:@] : errors exception messages, error exception, error exception. Grr... Possibility of modding work are very great with the game and lot of things could be made, but I never seen a so crazy tool, so capricious, so badly bugged, so. Time spent for nothing, to work with and to create a new scenario is a real nightmare, even for an experimented modder, will wait for a new version later.

[doomtrader]

the file you have modified, affected names of units build during the game.

What you need to do is to change the units name for good.

The best thing you can do is to:
go to your scenario folder, open info.ini file and edit the entry to be like this:
SmallUnitsSize = 4
LargeUnitsSize = 5

[welk]

Ok, thanks. But I can not work, too much error exception messages;during new scenario creation,, and then impossible to play the new created scenario. Too bad, this game is very moddable, but it comes with a crazy editor, veryu difficult to be used : what is the utility ? Great deception in the editor, and I worked hard to try, and try, spent some hours to work with the system, but for nothing.

[doomtrader]

From my experience it is easier to modify existing scenario rather than creating new one from the scratch, also after few years of working with it I don't feel the need of using the editor, except the editing the map.
The most time consuming settings are countries and consts so you can copy those values/files from the existing campaign.

[welk]

To build a 100% moddable game without to provide a correct editor has non sense, in my opinion. With ini and csv modification, you may just edit some modification of the existing scenarios, but you have not the possibility to build something entirely new (the possibilities of this game in modding are great, and a correct editor would allow to build some very good things, this bad tool is a strategic error of Wasterland for the carreer of the game : all great hits had a serious and good editor. The result of this bugged tool is that I will just play this 100% moddable game as it's provided and no more mod it : for a 100% moddable game (and I say again : the possibilities are enormous, I am sure yourself, you don't know exactly what great gemm you have in hands, this game has fabulous possibilities of expansion in wargame), this is a curious situation to have repulsed with his badly editor a experimented modder.
If I could have in hand a virgin and ok (without any bug) scenario, with 2 countries ready, a land map only (50 x 50 hex or more) that works, you would see what can be realized with your game. But tried to modify existing scenario, and spent time for nothing : when you erase some things in CSV files, then game crashes at start.


I would only need a new scenario with 2 countries, 1 land unit in each side (I would add other units myself), with only land map (no sea node), that works : this basic scenario would be used by me to create something entirely new, and I think, good for the reputation of the game in the wargame community. I would add, in CSV files, all the units I need, commanders, etc, and place all units in "reserve" (not placed on the map). Then, when I want to create a battle, I would just need to edit the map with editor, and save. After that, I would lunch the game and use the F12 key to set the 2 countries "human" (if not made in editor). I would realize the deployment of the 2 oob, and then I will save the game : this "saved game" would be diffused for players, ready to be played. With this way, I would have the possibility to create series and series of battle situations, with different map for each battle (but same oob, or just modified in CSV file). Using the division/brigade level dor a "operationnal war academy" would provide a different way to use the game. But impossible for me to create the basic scenario : editor does not work properly, and to do hevay modif in existing scenarios (to erase units, etc) causes crash . Too bad [:@]

[welk]

The big problem with this game is that you can not stop modding it once you have began[8|] Will try again, and again...

[welk]

A Polish fairy has sent to me some reinforcements, the "Blitz War Academy mod run again" [:'(]

[welk]

If the goal may be reached, players who will use the "Blitz war academy" mod will be able : 1/To play typic WW2 battles (non historical, just "academic situations", like a "strategy school", as "training" 2/ To create their own battles (historical or not, as they prefer).

The leng of these little scenarios will be free : 10, 20,30 40, 100 turns or more, etc turn, as designer prefer. Maps will have different sizes.

The level will be that : 1 hex = 15/20 km Larges units = divisions (not corps) small units = brigades.
(but players would be able to play with corps and division, if they prefer this level)




It would give, as result, a system like "operationnel art of war", the game of Norm Kruger, in a more accessible and synthetic version. All kind of battles will be realizable, for all historical periods between approx. 1920-1965 (but only with land/air warfare, not naval units).

Thanks to Doom for the help [&o]

[welk]

A screen to show the project in work

It's just a quick map 50 x 50 , no good worked, made in few time

The system will allow to play what sort of battle you prefer, and will include new terrains, stream that slow move, etc

The only thing that will be missing will the long range arty (the campaign arty is considered as included in divisions and brigades, due to the scale of system : 1 hew = 20 km), but in game human vs huma, it would be perhaps possible to modd (I will see later) the air strikes as long range heavy arty (with house rule in human vs human games : interdiction to use them for reco, fighters would just be awailable for this reco job)

The "national borders" are in this map geometric (simple line), but it will be like in the vanilla game at final result of work. This sustem, playable with all size map, will allow you to play historical or non historical battles for 1920 to 1965 (conventionnal operationnal level battles) : a bonus "game in the game"[:'(]

[welk]

Sorry for that, Doom, but I have to stop the work again, and definitivly.

In the attached screen is the result of some hours of work... Blitz war Academy was a good dream, and the game was very adapted for a "Operationnel mod", but it needed a good editor.

At this time, this game is very great to be played, but absolutly un-moddable, the editor is definitivly a crap (except for graph modifications, that work fine, and some awailable modifications in CSV/INI files). So, like Agent S, I stop modding work, will see later if a good editor is made. Very disappointed about that, it's a pity, too bad, because the game is a diamant. But I am player/modder, not un-bugger[:'(][:-] My deception is very great, because with this game, lot of things could be made in modding. Perhaps I am damned :One time, the editor of a game is ggod and the game is bas, one other time the game and the editor are bad, one time the game is excellent and the editor a crap. In this case, the game is fabulous, so good than Strategic Comand 1, but the editor seems have decided to make the designers crazy. Grrrrrrrrrrr ![:(]



For each clik you do, you have 50% risk to receive this kind of message. How can you work in good conditions ? You build with the obsession to have a seriuos bug and to have worked for nothing. Very frustrating. Now, il am going to take revenge on some Polish divisions[:D], ToF as game is perfect for that[:D]

[doomtrader]

Doh, you have zoomed out too much.

[welk]

It was not the only pb : I had some other error messages, and in addition, the game grashed when scenario was lunch. So, no interest to continue the work, will try later, if editor is improved. At at this time, I am in Warsaw, some poor polish troops were on my way and I have put them outside of the road. It's good, sometimes to have the last word [:D]

[doomtrader]

I know, we are planning to focus on those issues after the Easter.

However does the 'white screen' error happen on the latest version?

[welk]

Yes : with the last sent, and with the "basic map", during the only work for terrains (I was just working on plain, mountains, etc.

So, not so bad, I will have time to play more the game during waiting. I have opened a second Poland campaign to verify some things about the IA conduct of war, and I noticed that I was again victim of polish encirclement whern I drop isolated Pz div to the east. This Polish IA is very redoubtable and sneaky, it gave me some ideas for a future scenario 1920-1921, a war between Poland and Urss (these 2 countries only in scenario), because I have seen that dates may be change on the game.

Concerning the editor, I have to say that I would be able to pay for a such free bug product :It is a cruel and inhuman torture to give us this fabulous game without a complete usable editor [:D], and frustration is at very high level to not be able to work with for heavy modifications and new games (As I said to you, Time of Fury may be considered as a fabulous engine for wargamers, to create their own PC wargames for period 1920-1965 without any programming knowledges : the only obstacle is this damned crazy editor[:(]

[Magpius]

I often get an out of range error when trying to add terrain to the edges of the map.
But they can often be ignored.
While progress IS being made, it is still a long way from functional.
Which is frustrating.

[welk]

Yes, I have seen that, some errors during work editor may be ignored. But my pb is that, in addition of such errors, the concerned scenario crashed without apparent reason, as I had made juste only light work (placement of terrain : mountains, hills, etc), no sophisticated work. The editor seems need to be heavy revised, I think.

And I have to say that the error reported in the screen blocked entirely the editor (must do Ctr+alt+Suppr to open the special end of program windows to close the editor)

[welk]

Work for Blizwar academy mod has started again and has no more bugs (*) (bugs came from a map made with 1.02 version of game, as I use 1.01 version).

(*) The mod has nomore bugs in map, but the editor is always bugged, as he was. I just use it only for terrain, and all other things are mad under excel. Ts's the reason for what sea nodes and ports are not present, because they must be made in editor (for connexion work), and this part of editor is heavy bugged.

Players will be able to fight in Westland and Eastland, 2 ennemy countries, on variable map sized (small or large huge, but always "Island continent" and with only land/air warfare, never naval warfare), with variable oob each time (large or small the both, or one large and other smaller, etc= challenges). Maps are easy to build now, starting at "sea map" (that avoid the pb of hex borders that causes bugsin editor), usin a basic tool map, and to create a scenario will not take long time. The opponent countries will be Westland, Eastland, Southland and Northland, depending of configuration of maps (orientation West/east or North/south)

The scenario will be medium or short (in the screen : 48 turns, but could be 24, 50, etc as designers want to do), and will allow players to experiment different strategic situations in this virtual "Military Academy" (how to defend against a heavy armored force ; how to to a bliz invasion in very short limited time ; etc

Size of units is that : small units = brigades ; large units = Divisions no arty in game Vs IA, but heavy arty may be introduced in game human vs human, I will see that later : the tip will be to use, for each side, air forces as a separate country, and to reserve the "original air forces" for arty use, with different PNG graphs in each case)

Scenarios will be only "strategic", not diplomatic : always 2 opponent, as in a "theorical kriegspiel"

There are 2 new terrains : very high montains (100% impassible) and "forest on hills"

If Doomtrader could give some answers to my questions here, would be great and would help
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