Reluctant Admiral 4.1

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Cavalry: Email sent to you.

FatR: Mighty interesting. These were actual Japanese blueprints/designs? Hmmm...

I like the 2nd class a lot. Would those turrests be the cast-offs from the Mogami's? The 3.9" would already be in production...

The first design with the 76mm harkens back to the original designs. Those twin Turrets---could they be the conventional DD Turrets and become more of a Dido-Class?

The more I look and think about this the more I like the idea. Could you go with 4 of the second design (you've got the triple turrets AND 3.9" in production so this is simple) starting with Circle 4 and have 2 built and two more due in early-42 THEN change to the new DL's (Destroyer Leaders) with the twin turrets for a further run of 4-6 ships in pairs (early-43/early-44/early-45)? They would be simpler, quicker, and less costly to build as a replacement for the old CLs. The initial four would serve as excellent CLAAs for the new CVs being built and the second class serve as more of a true DL. This would serve both the Kido Butai AND the more conservative elements of the Big Gun Kaigun...

[John 3rd]

I plan to move the starting locations of: Sturgeon, Pike, Shark, Tarpon, Pickerel, S-38 and Porpoise to Bataan. This moves them away from Manila and closer to their historic starting locations. It also clears the path for a decent Manila attack without hitting undue targets.

Got Maya fixed. Are there ANY MORE ISSUES? I shall wait until tomorrow morning before sending the final 5.2 Files to FatR.

[Dan Nichols]

Finally, now I need to think about finding an Allied player and try out this thing from the Japanese side.

[Dan Nichols]

One quick question, will 5.2 use the old extended map or the new one with Buin and Shortlands separated?

[John 3rd]

It will use whatever is the DBB standard right now. The map and stacking limits are downloaded from DBB sites.

[John 3rd]

Just checked Buin. It is one complex at this point.

[Dan Nichols]

Sent direct to John.

[John 3rd]

On it....grrrrrrrrrrrr...

[Dan Nichols]

While you are at it, the new extended map has room to include Buin where Shortlands is now and a place right beside it for a new Shortlands. the DBB guys used slot 749 for Buin and slot 1019 for Shortlands.

[ny59giants]

There are also three dot base around Buna that my influence combat in the great Port Moresby area. I opened up a the newest DBB scenario 30 and those base (3 around Buna and the split between Buin and Shortland show up). However, when I open up my current PBEM game using DBB 30 from some time ago, the split of Buin and Shortland does NOT show up.

So you can easily add the three dot bases around Buna to current RA. The question will be adding the Buin and Shortland split which will mean using the newest map panels. I would suggest that you do two versions of the new RA. One without the addition of the Buin and Shortland split, but adds the three bases around Buna and uses the older map panels (version 5.3). Another that will use the newer map panels and adds the split between Buin and Shortland (version 6.0).

Buna - these three bases can be added to existing and future versions
972 - Kokoda @ 98,129 - Port 0(0) AF 0(1) with 25k stacking
986 - Dobabura @ 99, 130 - Port 0(0) AF 0(1) with 25k stacking
987- Ora Bay @ 100, 130 - Port 0(1) AF 0(1) with 35k stacking

Old Shortland in now Buin and will need newer map panels
749- Buin @ 109, 131 - Port 1(1) AF 0(3) with 35k stacking
1019 - Shortland @ 110, 132 - Port 1(3) AF 0(1) with unlimited stacking

[John 3rd]

I'd love to add the options. The question is how will this impact existing games? Does it require a complete different map install or just adding a couple of panels? If it is simply adding the extra panels then--by all means--lets add it.

Been a busy day: went to church, drove to Denver for a Railroad Convention, just got back, and now am heading to work.

[John 3rd]

MAJOR POSTING


Michael and I just got off the phone and we did the following things:

1. The radar issue is now fixed with changing the device from #140 (a FIXED Radar) to 1474. Units (when they upgrade in June 43) will be able to move with this correction and not be frozen in place.
2. Added the following Bases: Kokoda, Dobadura, Ora Bay. We separated Buin and Shortland into their own bases.

ISSUE:
In doing this change you CANNOT use the base changes/additions with an existing game. This impacts the Turn One work I have gotten done with Dan. Additionally separating Buin and Shortland requires use of the latest DBB Map. Games started prior to this Map Change cannot use it regardless.

Thinking SOLUTION:
We have separated the Mods. RA 70 will reflect database changes to existing campaigns and RA 72 will use the database changes AND the new map info. Make sense?

Questions?

We're going to sit on this for a day or two before release to get feedback and see if there any additional issues.

Sorry for any issues this causes...
John

[Natali]

Hello. Trying to help out. If this is not helpful or you thing I'm sticking my nose where it doesn't belong, say so.

The old sweats who did the Map and Base changes tried to make everything as painless as possible.

I hope I can explain this right. Both old games without the Buin-Shortlands split and new games with the split can use the new Extended map with the new split graphics. Older games that just have Shortlands will have Shortlands showing up in the same place regardless. All that happens is the map graphics will say Buin and the drawing of the islands will move across the hex boundary. So old games can use the new Extended Map without problem.

The new Buin base is in the same slot as the old Shortlands base so that’s just a text name change in the locations file. The new Shortlands base is in a previously unused slot so it’s a never mind to existing games and the AI. There’s some Guadalcanal and Operation SF scenarios going on and they have dropped in the new map and new bases without any problems at all.

Only time a problem comes up is if a new scenario file moves LCU units from an old scenario file onto the new base in the database. That confuses the savegame file but if everything is set to arrive in base #749, whatever it’s called, it should be ‘transparent’.

If you think I can help you some, call me. I’m in the middle of doing just this with my ’42 Babes scenario. If you think my nose is out of joint, call me too and I'll step away.

Regards. Sam

[John 3rd]

Natali:

I added dot bases near Buna and the new map. When I loaded the game I have just started Turn One prep on for Dan and I, it did not show anything new...

[John 3rd]

Yep. Just checked and the new bases do not show up in a game that hasn't even had Turn One sent. Very sad. Time to redo 3 hours of work with Dan and I's game...

[Natali]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Yep. Just checked and the new bases do not show up in a game that hasn't even had Turn One sent. Very sad. Time to redo 3 hours of work with Dan and I's game...

So sorry John 3rd. Maybe I got confused, it's easy to do. Hope I didn't do anything bad for your mod. I would get bad beat up if that happened.

Sam

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

MAJOR POSTING


Michael and I just got off the phone and we did the following things:

1. The radar issue is now fixed with changing the device from #140 (a FIXED Radar) to 1474. Units (when they upgrade in June 43) will be able to move with this correction and not be frozen in place.
2. Added the following Bases: Kokoda, Dobadura, Ora Bay. We separated Buin and Shortland into their own bases.

ISSUE:
In doing this change you CANNOT use the base changes/additions with an existing game. This impacts the Turn One work I have gotten done with Dan. Additionally separating Buin and Shortland requires use of the latest DBB Map. Games started prior to this Map Change cannot use it regardless.

Thinking SOLUTION:
We have separated the Mods. RA 70 will reflect database changes to existing campaigns and RA 72 will use the database changes AND the new map info. Make sense?

Questions?

We're going to sit on this for a day or two before release to get feedback and see if there any additional issues.

Sorry for any issues this causes...
John

Should be Kokoda, Dobodura (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historic ... a_1942.jpg), Oro Bay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oro_Bay)

[John 3rd]

Thanks Jeff. Will correct.

have found no other issues so the new Mod Version shall be sent to FatR later tonight or tomorrow morning.

[John 3rd]

RA 5.3 is complete. The dot bases have been added near Buna, Buin--Shortland are split, and the names are spelled correctly. Have sent the scenario to FatR. Everything stays within RA 70 using the current extended map of DBB with Stacking Limits.

[Dan Nichols]

5.3? the ones you sent me said 6.3. I guess I am ahead of things. [;)]