maps need converting again

[Phoenix100]

Just a warning. With the new patch the HTTR maps seem to need converting again. It takes at least 4 minutes to load (after 4 mins I gave up) Mass-Rijn, meanwhile saying 'this may take a long time...' I assume I have to open the mapmaker and save them again. I've only tried to open From the Meuse to the Rhine so far, so don't know if this affects all maps, or just that. Last time round it was all HTTR maps, I recall.

UPdate: Yes. Same as last time this happened. For those who don't know how to fix this, it goes like this:

1. Run Mapmaker.
2. Select 'Open' and then find the map file that relates to your scenario (if in doubt open the scenario in Scenmaker and it tells you the map name bottom left first screen).
3. It will tell you 'This will take a long time...' as it converts it. You might even see 'Mapmaker is not responding' Ignore that and wait. After around four minutes the map will appear in the box.
4. Select 'Save as'. Then from the list of maps select (again) the map you're using. It will ask if you want to overwrite it. Do so.
5. Close mapmaker and you're done. That map will now open normally in the game for those scenarios that use it.

Just in case there's anyone who didn't come across this first time round.

[Arjuna]

Miquel,
 
Did we do anything to change the map files?

[Phoenix100]

For me, anyway, opening big maps in HTTR and Greece seems to inspire the 'This may take a long time...' message, followed by....a long time. For example, 'Centaurs', from the Greek pack, and Maas-Rijn and Screaming eagles from HTTR. But no probs opening Spearhead v Reich, for example. And the fix of opening the maps in mapmaker and re-saving them seems to work fine.

[jph]

Same behavior here: "This may take a long time" message, etc.

Many thanks for the patch, though.

[BletchleyGeek]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

Miquel,

Did we do anything to change the map files?

No, I uploaded all the converted map databases well before Christmas. But I am not sure we regenerated the map drawing caches.

[Arjuna]

Right now the beta build is focussed on BFTB, so we have not updated all the data in the other expansion packs. Once we go final for this patch we will do that. In the meantime you should still be able to open and run these with the new beta build, but yes they will be converted on the fly and hence take longer to load and get going.

[Phoenix100]

Might not work, Dave. It does work on my desktop (w7) if I sit and wait, but my laptop (w8) crashes once the map is converted and the scenarios won't even open. If you do the fix I mention above, however, then no problem. So rather than sitting and waiting I suggest people re-save the relevant maps in the Mapmaker. There's no problem doing that, I assume?

[GBS]

Phoenix,

Thanks. I am at work right now. Where do I find Mapmaker?

Greg

[Phoenix100]

When you double click on the BFTB icon to start things you get a Matrix screen offering various options, including 'PLAY', which you probably normally then click without reading what the other options are. Another option though, if you check, is 'Mapmaker'. If you don't start form that matrix screen then you can find the mapmaker application in the main BFTB directory, wherever you installed it (usually C/Matrix games/BFTB)

Peter

[kev_uk]

I never knew this about updating the map, and I was wondering when I brought CO:HTTR over Christmas why it was taking at least several minutes for the scenarios to load, was getting quite frustrated. But seeing this thread has allowed it to work properly, the map takes seconds to load after putting it through the map maker. Thanks for the heads up on this.

Not really played much of the Bulge scens, still playing HTTR stuff as my interest lies there. Maybe give it the Bulge ones a go sometime.

[Phoenix100]

Those scenarios are my main interest too, Kev-uk. I've started again on From the Meuse to the Rhine (with a few adaptations, such as a minimal SEP in Oosterbeek, a little more airpower and better stats for some of the 'elite' para units) and can't wait to see how we get on at nightfall, though that will be some time in coming as it takes so long to play this scenario properly. Usually I would start getting supply issues by nightfall day 1, in both Nijmegan and Arnhem. I will still get supply problems, of course, but hopefully not so many shot up jeeps that the whole Op grinds to a halt, and I really look forward to seeing the supply routes.

Peter


I also like some Bulge scenarios, of course, and if I had more time right now I would love to see if Manhay is any easier as Axis now that the M8/Stuart issues have been tweaked.

[kev_uk]

Yea, the supply routes seem like a great addition. I still have yet to manage to get to the bridge at Arnhem, last game attempt I used three battalions to try and make it, but still got held up at west Arnhem...great to play the first two days though. Not played Meuse to the Rhine, that looks like some big work going on there, but will attempt that one soon.
Thanks for the map maker tip, games load much quicker now.

[Phoenix100]

No probs.

There are two routes only that work, to get to the bridge, I've found, but this only applies, I think to FTMTTR, because the AI priorities can be slightly different if you just play Red Devils, I think. Basically, in FTMTTR the Axis is desperately trying to get units across Arnhem bridge and down to Nijmegan, as happened historically. I'm not sure it's exactly the same in Red Devils, and it may be that if there's less urgency to get to Nijmegan then Red Devils is a slightly harder scenario for the Allies, than FTMTTR. Not sure. In FTMTTR I can get to the bridge by taking a route very far nth of West Arnhem, as in the pic below:



This seems to work almost every time, providing the unit doesn't dawdle. If they do they run into the Axis units coming in from the Eastern edge.

And I also always task significant units to take the rail bridge, and if they are quick enough (less common) then it's possible to get to the bridge form the sth, as in the pic in the next post.

[Phoenix100]

southern route



I do usually manage to get to the bridge, but sadly, that's only the beginning of the ordeal....

[kev_uk]

Yea, I usually take the southern route, maybe I should put the move command on fastest instead. Always get held up on middle route and train track with the Krafft blocking force, and it takes until nightfall to get past that. Last game a few days ago I sent all 1st Para Brigade southern route and KOSBs down train track with recce squadron. Still got held up by one unit! Grr. You need the Borders to hold the landing sites though, but if they were free too then I think its possible, maybe taking the northern route. Once day 1 is over, you have no effective chance at all to get to the bridge. I use South Staffs to stop the Naval units along the top highway as well. Great random AI here as well, so each game is a little different. Still learning.

[Phoenix100]

I agree. Great AI. I've had more consistent success with that northern route. It's hard to get over the rail bridge quick enough, no? The patch, however, might change things a little since there was something going on with 'static' units refusing to disband, which has now been fixed, and the unit at the southern end of the rail bridge is static, I think. I reckon you have until about 5 o'clock to get to the Highway bridge, then it's all over.

[kev_uk]

I give it until around 8pm to get there, and you need a bludgeoning group to hit those units at the western end, i.e at least three coordinated battalions to assault right through to the bridge, min. I will look into crossing the rail bridge - I usually ignore that, but I know the AI likes to send units across that. So, a minimum of three battalions, pref coordinated to hit the western edge of Arnhem and race for the bridge, probably putting all on max ammo, aggro and casualties, just to try and make the Germans retreat and bring your forces to the bridge. After that, its hell