Can you edit OOBs in a Campaign?

[Akmatov]

Here is an odd thought.

While in the midst of the Long Campaign can you edit the OOB file for your nationality and have the changes available the next chance you get to buy/update equipment?

Something like wanting Panthers a bit earlier than scheduled?

[Supervisor]

I guess in theory yes but you run the chance of corrupting the campaign. Because if you alter anything that was related to initial core unit purchase these units are stuck with you for the duration, except during the repair or upgrade phase after a battle. You don't get to actually buy alot once a campaign has started only a few points for support units, and depending on the previous battle results, repair points to either repair core units or upgrade them.

[Warhorse]

Akmatov, yes, you can do what you are thinking, I do it all the time, with no problem, but it requires some file juggling, and a degree of caution. I had made a document on how to do this, not sure if Tankheads site still has it or not, Fabio's site did, but I think it is gone now, due to space problems. Basically DURING THE DEPLOY PHASE ONLY, you will save the game, go to the save folder, find the dat and cmt files, rename them to a scenario file(number not in use, or replace a backed up slot), open them up in the in-game scenario editor, and hack away!! I routinely do this to make a huge map to play each scenario in the campaign on, change enemy forces and deployement, change equipment, change any stats at all, change a unit from one thing to the other, anything you want, really, then save, rechange back to the original save file after you're done, and play on!! I repeat, DO NOT DO THIS DURING PLAY, JUST DEPLOYMENT PHASE, or you will corrupt the file, either by making the campaign score screw up, or sometimes by making a crash, thereby unplayable, and always back it up, just in case!;)

Warhorse

[Akmatov]

Many thanks guys.

gmenfan - Wasn't expecting to make any major changes, but wanted the option to change availablity dates as many weapons could have been available earlier if someone had bothered to start development earlier. I'm doing some of that before starting, but didn't want to risk corrupting the campaign if I decided to make something like say the Pather available earlier once I had already started the campaign - "Herr Doktor, you and your team will design faster or else!"

Warhorse - Wow! Text is still up at TankHead. Still processing the possibilites. What a concept!

Once again thanks,

[zzsteven]

Hi Warhorse,

I've been using your instructions for several weeks now and have a couple of questions.

1- The instructions only call for renaming and moving the .dat file, in this post you also say to rename the .cmt file. Am I supposed to be also doing the .cmt file? Haven't had any problems so far.

2- If I buy additional units in the editor and then reassign them to a core force HQ (B0,C0, etc.), will they then stay as part of my core in subsequent battles? With the 2000 points the puter gave me to build a core force, it's dinky. Besides some of these extra units are doing a great job and I hate losing them after each battle.

Thank you for an excellent set of directions, it's opened up new areas for me to explore and have fun. I even got daring and started modifying the current map that I'm fighting on.

Best Regards,
zz

[Warhorse]

ZZ, glad to hear you are having fun with it!! To answer your first question, no, you don't really need the cmt file, I never do, but if someone is new to this, it may help to locate the file quicker!

To your second question, I'm not sure, I haven't tried what you suggest yet, although I think there are limitations to assigning aux units, don't think you can, but hey, try it out, that's how I stumbled on this whole process to begn with!! You do know to set the points all the way up, then start the campaign? I like a reinforced tank battalion, with battalion of armored inf, and assets for my core!! If you ever want variety, I would be able to edit your enemy forces to instructions, to add variety, drop me a line sometime. Rock on!!

Warhorse

[KG Erwin]

If you guys are playing solo campaigns, why don't you just use the OOB editor provided with the game and change availability dates for the units in question?

[KG Erwin]

ZZ, if you're using Command Control, I can see this, but I don't think you can add units to your core during the course of a campaign. If you've found a workaround, please let us know! This issue has been addressed in older threads, I think, so use the search function.

[zzsteven]

Warhorse, I have since learned that the points can be changed in preferences. I'm 18 battles into this campaign (10/42) and interesting equipment is now becoming available. Sorta reluctant to start over again, but what the heck, after this battle I'll try to reasign some units and see what happens. Nothing ventured, nothing learned.

Some of the terminology is a bit over my head yet, a reinforced tank battlion? My real question is, what is my force? A battlion, brigade, division, kampfgruppe??? I understand squads, platoons, and company's but after that.... ?

Thanks for the offer to assign my enemy forces. In a few weeks as I progress I'll take you up on that. In the mean time what would be a good generic Soviet force? The AI is really lame sometimes and I'm concentrating on learning the German forces at this time.

Best Regards
zz

[zzsteven]

Hi KG Erwin, Command and Control???? No, that's several months down the road yet for me. LOL I just turned limited ammo on a couple of battles ago.

It's not a matter of units availability dates. I play with True troop/Rarity on. If it's not available at that time que sara sara. It's semi-historicle.

No, I haven't found a workaround; I was asking the question.

I enjoy searching thru the archives; unfortunatly two problems arise: The search engine doesn't work with multiword phrases and I tend to get sidetracked with all the good info I keep stumbling onto. Sometimes I forget what my original search was about.

Best Regards
zz

[Warhorse]

Originally posted by KG Erwin
If you guys are playing solo campaigns, why don't you just use the OOB editor provided with the game and change availability dates for the units in question?

I don't usually buy anything not available by the certain date, rather I replace elements of my force with units unavailable in the purchase menu, ie the German stuff in the Czech oob!! Also, I re-purchase extensively for the AI, the AI pick is lousy, and I prefer certain forces, ie tank vs tank, etc.

zz, reinforced tank bn, is the standard Table Of Equipment tank battalion, then also the assets available usually to them, depending on time period, say mechanized engineer platoon, reserve tank platoon, SPAA assets, etc. I was into board/miniature wargaming, and have a huge amount of oob material for a lot of countries, I get more satisfaction from putting the core together, than actually playing sometimes!!

Warhorse