TOAW IV EDITOR INTERFACE

[Curtis Lemay]

Now click on the Replacements item:



The Inventory and Replacements editor is invoked. The scroll bar is new. Note that this scenario has no replacements.

[Curtis Lemay]

Now click on “Unit Replacement Priorities”:



Note that this is where units can be denied reconstitution ability. If they can reconstitute, this can also set where they reconstitute. “Fixed x, y” specifies that they will reconstitute at the location of their formation’s first track one objective. This is especially useful if you have multiple nationalities in your scenario, and you want them to each reconstitute in their homelands.

[Curtis Lemay]

Now click on the Scenario Briefing item:



The Scenario Briefing editor is invoked. Note that the size of the window has been increased for TOAW IV. Nevertheless, you should still create your briefing in a word processor and paste it into this editor – for the grammar and spelling benefits. Don’t forget the victory briefings, too.

[Curtis Lemay]

Click on the First Force item:



This is the same as under TOAW III. Note that this step is only necessary if you want Side 2 to move first. The default is that Side 1 moves first.

[Curtis Lemay]

Now click on the Designer Preferences item:



This is a new feature that allows the designer to pre-set his preferred Game Options. There is no requirement to do so, however. All preferences start out as “DO NOT CARE”. But here I’ve set most of the preferences. This will be shown to the first player on the first turn. At that point, he may override any he cares to – but if he does so, his opponent will get an alert about such overrides.

[Curtis Lemay]

Now click on the Set Microview Icons item:



This is unchanged from TOAW III. It makes sense for the Union to have blue icons. That leaves red for the Confederacy.

[Curtis Lemay]

Now click on Set 3D Icon Tints:



This is unchanged from TOAW III. Obvious is Gray for the Confederacy, use anything else for the Union.

That completes the Editor. But there may still be tasks to perform. One is the Scenario BMP. I have a document on how to do this that is found in the Manuals folder:

ScenarioBMP-HowTo.pdf

The .psd file shown in that document is the TOAW III .psd and is now replaced by a TOAW IV .psd. I’ll update the document sometime in the future.

[Curtis Lemay]

Finally, let’s look at the Scenario-Specific folder:



Note that such folders are located in the Documents\My Games\The Operational Art of War IV\Graphics Override folder.

This scenario has the .eqp and .col files located in its Scenario-Specific folder.

[Curtis Lemay]

But there are many more files that can be located there:



Here’s the Scenario-Specific folder for CFNA. Note the .nqp file (for naval parameters). Also, there are a suite of tiles. These are the Desert versions of those files (the desert versions are copied to this folder and then their names are changed to match the official tile’s filenames).

[Curtis Lemay]

One more example:

[Curtis Lemay]

Here the counter unit graphic is modified (all three sizes). Let’s look at that in more detail:



Here I’ve marked all the icons that have special features associated with them. I count 45 that don’t. So, if you need to edit more icons of a certain special feature than are available, some of those 45 may also be used (assuming they are not already in use by the scenario), with the special feature added via the alternate icon feature. Some of the others may be usable as well, depending upon the scenario – if the scenario has no helicopters, the Airmobile icons can be reused without consequence, for example.

Happy Scenario Editing!

[Tamas]

Hey Everyone,

As you can see, picking up where he left of with the TOAWIV User Interface, Bob has created a guide for the Editor interface. Enjoy

[BigDuke66]

@Curtis Lemay
Is there a list what special feature a specific icon has?

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: BigDuke66

@Curtis Lemay
Is there a list what special feature a specific icon has?

See 16.1 in the manual.

[BigDuke66]

Thanks, could it be that the list on page 96 is maybe a work in progress sheet or simply outdated?
No unit seems to use the "U Supply Unit Capability" feature, but I wonder if not at least the supply depot icon should use that feature.
It just seems strange that a feature is in the manual that no icon uses.

[kipanderson]

Hi,

thanks for that. Great tutorial[:)].

All the best,
Kip.