Developer Diary #4 - Creating a new Dynamic Campaign Game

[Warhorse]

Nice!! Can't wait to try this!![&o]

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Warhorse

Nice!! Can't wait to try this!![&o]

Thanks man! Who would have thought I got this far eh [:)]

Most aspects if not perfected then at least touched, and the final look and feel of the campaign coming nicely together. All that is needed is some...

[Crossroads]

#14 Crossing the 't's, dotting the 'i's

...which, mostly, is about testing testing testing. Some thoughts though. Consider this, for an example, the timeline of the campaign, fully available HERE, but only with dates here:

440928 30 5 0 0 0 0 0 AUTUMN MANEUVERS
441012 30 1 0 0 0 0 0 TORNIO LANDING OPERATION
441026 30 5 0 0 0 0 0 BREAKOUT TOWARDS ROVANIEMI
441109 30 5 0 0 0 0 0 DAS WAR... MUONIO
441123 30 5 0 0 0 0 0 VICTORY AT LAPLAND

Remember: first there is a date meaning that battles will take under the listed locations as long as the date is on or before the mentioned one. Then, there's the chance that the battle would take place the very next day. All chances are at 30% here, all battle stages are two weeks.

It would not need to be so, even if my target would be to have four to five battles per stage. Take the last phase for an example, last Germans left the northernmost arm of Finland in April 1945. I could easily have that final phase last two months for an example, then just provide a really low probability for battles occurring on consecutive dates. That would well match the final months were the few battle weary battalions still deployed mostly stared at each others.

I will not do that though, mostly for the reason that this would apply for Infantry campaigns only, as armored units had nothing to do with this last stage. So at least for now the timeline will remain as is.

This I will do though, from the opening post:

ORIGINAL: Crossroads
Please note the Germans lack a generic Bde formation. I will add this as I go along in a form of a Battle Group that I will make Bde sized.

And we have the perfect candidate for this: Division Kräutler, involved in the thick of the first actions at Tornio area. Despite of its name it was not division sized, but more of a reinforced regiment say the sources. And that sounds like a brigade to me.

From Wiki:

German forces at the direction of Kemi (and Tornio) were grouped under Division Kräutler. These were 1st battalion of 139th Mountain Jaeger Brigade (Gebirgsjäger-Brigade 139), 6th Jaeger Battalion (Jäger-Bataillon 6), 6th SS Mountain Reconnaissance Battalion (SS-Gebirgs-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 6), and 6th SS Infantry Battalion (SS-Schützen-Bataillon "Nord" 6). Due to the Finnish pressure from the south only the 6th SS Mountain Reconnaissance Battalion could be moved towards Tornio while the rest were tied down against the advancing Finns.[2]

And, the 2. Panzer Kompanie of Pzabt 211 was sent to reinforce them too. Perfect! Here's the resulting addition to German Brigade01.oob file:

Brigade01.oob:
[-------------- Lapland War 1944-45 Dynamic Campaign Game ------------------]
[--------------------------- MCS 2.10 ---------------------------------------]
[---------------------- Division Kräutler ------------------------------------]
44 09 44 12 G0132701 6 Kampfgruppe Kräutler ('Division Kräutler')
44 09 44 12 P01302 KG Kräutler HQ
44 09 44 12 P01408 Generalmajor Kräutler
44 09 44 12 B0112031 1./Gebirgsjäger-Brigade 139
44 09 44 12 B0112496 Jäger-Bataillon 6
44 09 44 12 B0116040 SS-Gebirgs-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 6
44 09 44 12 B0112071 SS-Schützen-Bataillon "Nord" 6
44 09 44 12 B0111036 Gebirgs-Artillerie-Abteilung 124
44 09 44 12 B0111034 Leitschgeschütz-Artillerie-Abteilung 424
44 10 44 12 + C0100552 2./Panzerabteilung 211
44 10 44 12 + (50) B0112032 (50) B0112493 Bataillon/Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 206 or Grenadier-Regiment 379

For the first time I decided to play with reinforcements as well, adding the 2 tank company arriving in October as it did, and then having picked two of the many reinforcements sent to area as with a 50% chance of player getting either a mountain infantry or regular infantry unit.

This OOB research is always my favorite part of scenario design, it is amazing how much information is available in the net nowadays [&o]

Speaking of which, I found the actual Panzerabteilung 211 formation as well. It is now entered as:

[-------------- Lapland War 1944-45 Dynamic Campaign Game ------------------]
[------------------------------ MCS 2.10 ---------------------------------------]
[------------------------German Panzer Abteilung 211----------------------------]

44 09 44 12 C0100550 7 Stabs Kompanie
44 09 44 12 P01406 Hauptman
44 09 44 09 P01652 Aufklärungs Zug (5x Pz 39H)
44 10 44 12 P01001 Aufklärungs Zug (5x Pz Ib)
44 09 44 12 P01691 I Panzer Zug (3x Pz 35-S)
44 09 44 12 P01652 II Panzer Zug (5x Pz 39H)
44 09 44 12 P01109 Panzerjäger Zug PaK 38
44 09 44 12 P01946 Panzerjäger RSO

44 09 44 12 C0100551 7 1. Panzer Kompanie
44 09 44 12 P01406 Hauptman
44 09 44 12 P01691 I. Panzer Zug (3x 35-S)
44 09 44 12 P01652 II. Panzer Zug (5x Pz 39H)
44 09 44 12 P01652 III. Panzer Zug (5x Pz 39H)
44 09 44 12 P01177 IV Panzer Zug (4x Pz IIIN)

44 09 44 12 C0100552 7 2. Panzer Kompanie
44 09 44 12 P01406 Hauptman
44 09 44 12 P01691 I. Panzer Zug (3x 35-S)
44 09 44 12 P01652 II. Panzer Zug (5x Pz 39H)
44 09 44 12 P01652 III. Panzer Zug (5x Pz 39H)
44 09 44 12 P01660 IV Panzer Zug (2x Pz IIIN)

So, for the first time, let us enable all this stuff and see if the DCG is playable at Brigade level as well!

First, the German 20th Mountain Army in Campaign01.oob must be edited to include Division Kräutler as well. I will not list it here, but have updated the Opening post instead. [:)]

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads
So, for the first time, let us enable all this stuff and see if the DCG is playable at Brigade level as well!

So far so good!

[Crossroads]

Division Kräutler's first mission:

[Crossroads]

And the Brigade sized deployment phase. Yay!

[Crossroads]

Again, a note to myself:

- Add another route for battles North of Rovaniemi
- Have a closer look at Force combinations to match the rare availability of armored units
- Only some of units in Lapland available as core forces. Add more
- Figure out how to have Armored Division available to Infantry core as well (Jaeger Bde)

And of course:
- Testing and more testing

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

Again, a note to myself:

- Add another route for battles North of Rovaniemi
- Have a closer look at Force combinations to match the rare availability of armored units
- Only some of units in Lapland available as core forces. Add more
- Figure out how to have Armored Division available to Infantry core as well (Jaeger Bde)

One down, three to go! Make that a complete recreation of the three tunnels of advance towards Norway. Funny how, looking at the files for third time, things start to go 'click' [:)]

440928 30 5 0 0 0 0 0 AUTUMN MANEUVERS
Oulujoki 3 50 313 355 0 0 0
Oulu 3 10 305 351 0 0 0
Ii 3 3 303 330 0 0 0
Yli-ii 3 53 313 323 0 0 0
Pudasjärvi 4 54 349 322 0 0 0
Olhavajoki-River 4 50 338 312 0 0 0
Ranua 4 52 338 284 0 0 0
Suomussalmi 5 54 416 354 0 0 0
Niva 5 50 396 330 0 0 0
Taivalkoski 5 53 410 274 0 0 0
441012 30 1 0 0 0 0 0 INITIAL CLASHES
Röyttä 3 3 266 298 0 0 0
Tornio 3 3 269 291 0 0 0
Raumojoki-River 3 45 274 290 0 0 0
Keminmaa 3 42 276 297 0 0 0
Kuivaniemi 4 15 300 312 0 0 0
Maksniemi 4 37 290 304 0 0 0
Kemi 4 10 280 302 0 0 0
Jokikylä 5 46 403 292 0 0 0
Lake-Kuusamojärvi 5 53 414 281 0 0 0
Kuusamo 5 40 414 276 0 0 0
441026 30 5 0 0 0 0 0 BREAKOUT AND PURSUIT
Ylitornio 3 18 258 264 0 0 0
Turtola 3 12 261 241 0 0 0
Pello 3 45 264 228 0 0 0
Sieppijärvi 3 51 265 200 0 0 0
Tervola 4 52 284 284 0 0 0
Ylimaa 4 53 305 255 0 0 0
Rovaniemi 4 12 313 248 0 0 0
Rukatunturi 5 29 422 269 0 0 0
Lake-Onkamojärvi 5 53 410 223 0 0 0
Salla 5 18 406 215 0 0 0
441109 30 5 0 0 0 0 0 FURTHER ACTION IN LAPLAND
Kolari 3 17 260 186 0 0 0
Äkäsjoki 3 45 256 173 0 0 0
Muonio 3 20 258 143 0 0 0
Alamuonio 3 18 261 141 0 0 0
Palojoensuu 3 32 243 119 0 0 0
Ringwall-Stellung 4 20 314 241 0 0 0
Kemijärvi 4 7 360 230 0 0 0
Savukoski 4 42 383 191 0 0 0
Sodankylä 4 38 337 181 0 0 0
Schutzwall-Stellung 4 39 339 175 0 0 0
441123 30 5 0 0 0 0 0 GERMAN RETREAT TO NORWAY
Enontekiö 3 34 257 112 0 0 0
Karesuanto 3 32 227 103 0 0 0
Sturmbock-Stellung 3 33 222 99 0 0 0
Sturmbock-Stellung 3 30 219 92 0 0 0
Kilpisjärvi-Lyngen-Stellung 3 30 180 61 0 0 0
Schutzwall-Stellung 4 39 339 175 0 0 0
Ivalo 4 54 357 95 0 0 0
Inari 4 54 342 77 0 0 0
Karesjoki 4 30 311 42 0 0 0
Utsjoki 4 30 330 5 0 0 0

A complete rehaul of action in Lapland requires a full size map as well. Here's a new version to go with the flow:

[Matto]

Wow, great ... just found it )

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Matto

Wow, great ... just found it )

Thank you for your kind comment, Matto. I am first to confess I had absolutely no idea a DCG can be designed with such attention to history! Live and learn, eh [:)]

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads
- Add another route for battles North of Rovaniemi
- Have a closer look at Force combinations to match the rare availability of armored units
- Only some of units in Lapland available as core forces. Add more
- Figure out how to have Armored Division available to Infantry core as well (Jaeger Bde)

Making progress here, again! Rather than to work with these cryptic lines in a text editor, I copied the content of the both *-Forces.dat files into MS Excel, converted them into individual columns as the data is delimited with spaces, added some informational headers, and lastly, added a SUM column to know when I am hitting the 100% threshold (it is not an absolute threshold as such, but a guidelines. With Germans for an example I am exceeding that with plenty of forts for them to capture their level of preparedness for delaying actions on selected locations).

Here it is, with Finns done, and Germans waiting their turn:


And with some Excel magic, I quickly removed all assault guns from German TOE as there wasn't any, had them stocked with +5SP of comparative Finnish artillery and anti-tank capabilities, put the infantry strength at par for most cases, and provided them with forts as they had time for prepared positions.

Here's the resulting files, with data copied from MS Excel back to each text file (and notice how much easier it is to work with these parameters in MS Excel!). Edit: Realising Infantry-Support includes the Mortar and MG platoons, I added them into mix as well with providing a percentage for this category too, for all mission types. Mortars especially were an important weapon type in Lapland, where towing heavy equipment around was often not an option at all:

Lapland War-Forces0.dat (Finns):

450428 A TANK ART INF A-T ASS-GUN ENGINEERS RECON INF SUPP A-A CAV FORTS
1 15 10 45 5 5 5 10 3 2 0 0
2 20 15 35 5 5 10 5 3 2 0 0
3 10 20 35 15 5 5 5 3 2 0 0
4 20 5 40 5 5 15 5 3 2 0 0
5 20 10 35 10 10 5 5 3 2 0 0
6 10 20 40 10 0 8 5 5 2 0 0
7 15 10 35 10 5 8 10 5 2 0 0
8 15 15 45 5 5 5 5 3 2 0 0
9 15 10 40 5 5 5 10 8 2 0 0
10 15 10 35 5 5 10 10 8 2 0 0
11 10 15 40 10 0 10 10 3 2 0 0
-1
450428 D TANK ART INF A-T ASS-GUN ENGINEERS RECON INF SUPP A-A CAV FORTS
1 15 10 40 10 5 5 10 3 2 0 0
2 15 10 35 10 5 5 5 3 2 0 5
3 10 20 35 10 5 5 0 3 2 0 10
4 10 15 35 10 5 10 5 3 2 0 5
5 10 20 35 10 5 5 5 3 2 0 5
6 15 15 35 10 5 5 5 3 2 0 5
7 15 15 35 10 5 5 5 3 2 0 5
8 5 10 50 10 0 5 10 3 2 0 5
9 10 10 40 10 5 10 5 3 2 0 5
10 15 10 33 10 5 5 10 5 2 0 5
11 5 15 45 10 0 5 5 3 2 0 10
-1

Lapland War-Forces1.dat (Germans):

450428 A TANK ART INF A-T ASS-GUN ENGINEERS RECON INF-SUPP A-A CAV FORTS
1 10 15 45 10 0 5 7 3 5 0 0
2 12 20 35 10 0 10 5 3 5 0 0
3 5 22 35 20 0 5 5 3 5 0 0
4 10 12 40 10 0 15 5 3 5 0 0
5 15 18 35 12 0 5 5 5 5 0 0
6 5 25 40 10 0 8 5 5 2 0 0
7 10 20 35 10 0 8 10 5 2 0 0
8 15 20 40 10 0 5 5 3 2 0 0
9 15 15 40 10 0 5 10 3 2 0 0
10 10 15 35 10 0 10 10 8 2 0 0
11 0 20 40 15 0 10 10 3 2 0 0
-1
450428 D TANK ART INF A-T ASS-GUN ENGINEERS RECON INF-SUPP A-A CAV FORTS
1 10 15 40 15 0 5 10 3 2 0 0
2 15 15 35 15 0 5 5 3 2 0 10
3 5 25 35 15 0 5 0 3 2 0 20
4 10 20 35 15 0 10 5 3 2 0 10
5 15 25 35 15 0 5 5 3 2 0 10
6 10 20 35 15 0 5 5 3 2 0 5
7 20 20 35 15 0 5 5 3 2 0 5
8 5 15 50 15 0 5 10 3 2 0 10
9 5 15 40 15 0 10 5 3 2 0 10
10 10 15 35 15 0 5 10 3 2 0 5
11 0 20 45 15 0 5 5 3 2 0 10
-1

[berto]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

I am first to confess I had absolutely no idea a DCG can be designed with such attention to history! Live and learn, eh [:)]

[&o]

Let's exploit DCGs (also LCGs) to the hilt. And in future, make revisions and code in new capabilities to support ever greater historical fidelity and realism.

[Warhorse]

I had only dabbled with DCG's, when making the K'talan Mod, I made two of them, a LOT can be put into them, as we are seeing here!!

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Warhorse
I had only dabbled with DCG's, when making the K'talan Mod, I made two of them, a LOT can be put into them, as we are seeing here!!

Amen to that!

ORIGINAL: berto
Let's exploit DCGs (also LCGs) to the hilt. And in future, make revisions and code in new capabilities to support ever greater historical fidelity and realism.

Oh absolutely! Not for the immediate future, but there's a few ideas as how to make DCGs a much smoother experience altogether. Good things are worth waiting right.

[Crossroads]

And back to testing

ORIGINAL: Crossroads
- Add another route for battles North of Rovaniemi
- Have a closer look at Force combinations to match the rare availability of armored units
- Only some of units in Lapland available as core forces. Add more
- Figure out how to have Armored Division available to Infantry core as well (Jaeger Bde)

Taking the first steps here, added a couple of Infantry Bdes as Finnish core units, and doing a quick testing with Jaeger Bn 5 of the Jgr Bde. My assignment: Defending a Pocket Breakthrough at Pudasjärvi.

Here's the parameter sets:

[font="Courier New"]Pudasjärvi 4 54 349 322 0 0 0 [/font] Maptype 54 is 'Swampy Forest Lake Lt Pop'
Finnish force mix:-- [font="Courier New"]4 10 15 35 10 5 10 5 3 2 0 5[/font] Mission type 4, Pocket Breakout, Defending force mix table
German force mix:--- [font="Courier New"]4 10 12 40 10 0 15 5 3 5 0 0[/font] Mission type 4, Pocket Breakout, Attacking force mix table

So to summarise: Route 4 it is for me, not by the Sea coast, not in the Eastern border towards USSR, but in the middle. Force mix is probably for the first time something I actually like, I've spent some time tweaking them so glad to see this.

Date is 18 Sept 1944, so the 30% chance for a next day battle took me nicely the planned average of three days forwards from the starting date of 15 Sept 1944.

And how does it look on a map - the Swampy Forest Lake Lt Pop place - quite nice actually! Again, with Scandinavian Terrain Mod in place:


Tsk tsk, forgot to enable the latest beta executables for this testing session. [:-] Enabling in - one - two ...

[Matto]

I would like to see hypothetical DCG Germany vs Czechoslovakia 1938 ... sometime in the future.
Thanks for your great work, we are still playing it (included online sessions up to 12 people) ...

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads
Tsk tsk, forgot to enable the latest beta executables for this testing session. [:-] Enabling in - one - two ...

And here's roughly the same view with latest betas. Can you spot the little changes?


Unfortunately, the new resized dialogue windows Berto talked about in his Coder Diary #23 are not here yet on CS executables, so can't show them. Next time perhaps!

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: Matto

I would like to see hypothetical DCG Germany vs Czechoslovakia 1938 ... sometime in the future.
Thanks for your great work, we are still playing it (included online sessions up to 12 people) ...

Czechoslovakia's not on the EF nor WF catalogue of nations yet, though. Would you happen to know anyone with experience of CS and Czechs? Anyone? [8D]

I'd be more than happy to incorporate them into Forgotten Battles mod if you'd be up to creating the OOBs.

After that: childs play to get the DCG moving as I've proved in this Developer Diary right! [:D]

[Warhorse]

Slovakia, is in there and then we have Allied Germany, doable!! Also Hungary vs Czech border wars, hopefully someday!

[Crossroads]

Yes, we definitively need an Allied Czech Republic as well. Together with Slovakia, for Chzeckoslovakia scenarios, and separately for the various phases of history!

Also, need to consider the Dynamic Sides thing versus Campaign Series and its great legacy of existing scenarios. I think an Allied Czech nation would go a long way though, given Hungary is available as Axis although I recall that would be more relevant vs Slovakia. Poland is available only as Allied though and those Forgotten Battles would need a solutuion of some sort.

Oh well, plenty of nation slots still open! It seems Project Forgotten Battles just has to endure a tad longer still [:)]

Edit: And to be specific as how soon this would be available et earliest: a new Nation ID requires code changes, and new Campaign Series version is not coming until 2016, after a couple of Project Modern Wars game titles have been released. Good things are worth the wait though, right!