A TOAW Encyclopedia Idea: RFI

[Hellen_slith]

An update / request of you all, w/re/to a possible TOAW "Encyclopedia" type project:

My goal is to compile a "one stop source" of hints / tips / reviews of the most popular TOAW scenes,
most particularly,

WWI "grand" scenes
East Front (e.g. D21, FItE)
Afrika Korps (CfNA)
WWII Pacific War
and "Next War" WWIII type scenes

My thought is to compile the best from all the AARs from these eras / scenes,
and include hints / tips / etc. in an easy-to-read format.

Ideally, it would eventually comprise a sort of "master reference" for the most popular scenes,
including an Index,
along the lines of the wonderfully done Combat Operations Vietnam series that was done.

Thoughts? Suggestions? References?

OK, well, anyway, thanks for your kind help and suggestions! I welcome your input!

[jreebel]

Speaking as a newbie this would be invaluable.

[carll11]

+1

[Hellen_slith]

Glad to see some interest in this, of course it is a daunting challenge to come up a sort of reference book that deals solely with scenarios and just some basics about them.

My idea is to have a "volume" for each of the eras, and "chapters" within the volume that would contain: a) an "easy to read" scenario briefing (so that you don't have do go into TOAW to read about a scene in the little briefing window); b) a .jpg of the opening map showing the forces at the outset; c) perhaps a map from a different source showing some of the historical aspects (a la the map from Simonds that I included in the ongoing AAR of Falotti's "Great War" scene

I started w/ the WWI era, b/c there doesn't seem to be a lot of AAR from that time period. Falotti's scene is probably the biggest challenge to include. I think I will start mapping out a "skeleton" draft of what a WWI era type volume might look like.

I'll post a "table of contents" for what I think such a volume might look like, and then get some feedback about what might be included / what might be left out / what eventually the whole thing might look like in the end.

So, just spitballing here, a "WWI" era type volume might include all of the smaller / localized scenes (Balkans / Tannenberg / etc.) in chronological order of "game time", each one w/ a map of the initial start and the easy-to-read briefing, leading up to the "grand" scene like Fallotti's.

I think there is at least one other "grand" WWI scene to include, too. Anyway, I'll work up a TOC for a WWI era volume and post it hopefully tomorrow.

Quite a project. I hope that it will garner interest and be a helpful tool esp. for new players and for players like me (from ACOW days) who finally have time to "drill down" into the fun that is TOAW! Thanks for the encouragements!

[Hellen_slith]

Completed: a "bare-bones" proposed TOC for World War I era scenes (I included some Balkans scenes, as I consider them to be part of WWI)...

the proposed "contents" shown by the attached are taken from the TOAWIV list of scenes ... there are many others that might be included, but this "first stab" might give an idea of what I am striving toward: a list of scenes, and some information about them, in easy-to-read format. This list does not have links to ETR briefings, or shots of the initial maps from TOAW, or any "historical" sources that I might like to include.

But, I hope this might provide an idea of what I am thinking about.

It says, "Volume II" b/c volume I would be for pre-WWI and American Civil War scenes that are out there. Volume III would be inter-war scenes and volume IV would be WWII.

Anyway, I know the "links" are not in there, but I am working toward including such links. I will "test" links with the Balkan scenes, and of course, any ideas / suggestions / links to include would be most welcome, along with constructive criticisms. Thanks for reading! Here is a link to the proposed TOC for volume II, it is a one page pdf file that will open in a new window:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rxovH ... pQGM_0NrFq

[Hellen_slith]

I did an example for the Balkans 12 scene. I guess it should actually go into a Pre-WWI volume, b/c the scenario is in the pre-WWI scenario directory.
It wasn't too hard, took maybe an hour and 15 minutes. So, doing just one of these per day, will make a pretty good stab into the whole thing that can then be put all together into one file.

So, here is an example for that Balkans 12 scene: the briefing, opening map, an additional map, etc.
It is a 4 page .pdf file that will open in a new window.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1eM1-e ... -6IjqVFSbE

[cathar1244]

One suggestion would be to include a "grade" for PO performance in the scenario. A user was asking, in another thread, about a filter to find scenarios with good PO set-up.

Cheers

[Hellen_slith]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm probably not the best person to grade PO levels...I'm a pretty weak player. Some of the scenarios do note in their briefings if a PO is available, or if only PBEM. I think that is something that could be included as part of the Index (e.g., a category there under "PO Enabled" and then the alphabetical list, maybe w/ "stars" ranking them as to difficulty?)

I wish I had started doing this project last year; by this time I could have done over 300 scenes @ the pace of one per day. I am finding that it takes me an hour or two to do one scene.

Anyway, I think it is a worthy project, if anyone wants to do a "briefing" for a scenario, all help is welcome! My process is:

1) extract the scenario briefing from the scenario editor, "copy and paste" that into a Word document;
2) take 30 minutes or so to "edit" that in Word, making it into nice easy-to-read format a la my Balkans 12 example
3) start the scene and take a screen shot of the "opening" board or a section of it, and paste that into your Word document at the end;
4) maybe include a separate map showing the historical aspect of the scene, esp. for the smaller, lesser known scenes
5) include, if you are so inclined, a few references for additional historical information

Then, when done, convert it to .pdf (I use the Word function "save as" a pdf for that) and then post it on your Google drive or somewhere to share, and then we can all work on putting them all into a "master" pdf file with all the others, and ... voila ... an "Encyclopedia"!

Okay, well, all help is welcome! I guess I will continue w/ a pre-WWI volume since I did the Balkans. So, Balkans 12 is done. I'll work up a draft TOC for pre-WWI and do another scene from that era today. Also, if you wish to contribute to the effort, please post which scene you do or will do, from any era, either here or in an email to me, so that we don't "cross-purpose". Thanks again for your kind helps and suggestions!

[Hellen_slith]

Completed: a draft of the Table of Contents for Vol. 1: Pre-WWI era, and an ETR briefing for Mr. Cross's Waterloo scenario.

The draft Table of Contents for Vol I you will note that some scenarios already have "easy to read" ("ETR") briefings built into TOAW (accessed by clicking the "documentation" button); those, I have set aside for now. I also started to include "PO Enabled" note for the TOC for those that I know have PO. Also, the TOC only includes (for now) those scenarios that come loaded w/ TOAW (will add fan-based scenarios as time permits).

Draft TOC for vol. I is accessed via this link (a one page pdf file that will open in new window for you)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rx4Kr ... kSKijLMI78

Waterloo "ETR" scenario briefing is accessible via this link (a four page .pdf file, will open in new window by clicking the link)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=16eDsX ... Qdto1K-Jmm

analysis Russo-Jap War 1904
https://www.wargamer.com/articles/the-o ... -in-toaw4/

[larryfulkerson]

Thanks a lot for doing this. It's invaluable for the newer players. What can I do to help specifically?

[Hellen_slith]

Hi, Larry! As you are "The Man" as far as knowledge of fan-based scenarios, you could maybe help categorize those into the various "eras" (I'm working on Vol. I, pre-WWI era, if you can separate out from your list only those that are pre-WWI it would go a long way toward completing Vol I!)

Also, of course, all help is welcome in creating these "easy to read" briefings for scenarios that already don't have the "documentation" button enabled in TOAW, whatever era. I'm hoping to complete V.I "pre-WWI" volume by the end of March. Thanks for the kind help! PS my process for creating these documents is detailed above, if you are inclined to do a few (or more LoL) it would go a long way toward completing the "Encyclopedia"! Thanks again!

[Hellen_slith]

Completed: easy to read briefing for Antietam

accessible via the link below ... it will open a 2 page pdf file in new window

https://drive.google.com/open?id=157E4t ... kaNbXA6vhr

[Hellen_slith]

Completed: easy to read briefing for Shiloh by Bob Cross
PO Enabled
briefing accessible via link below (5 page pdf file, will open in new window)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ILO-E ... vNKB1zu_au

[Hellen_slith]

Well, this is going quite swimmingly so far for Vol. I: Pre-WWI

Only a few more scenes to go (Killer Angels, Balkans 13, Double Eagle) for Vol. I

Shiloh has some variants, as do others, but I haven't delved into those variant briefings (yet).

Depending upon if Larry has others to add from his vault, Vol I will definitely be ready long before end of March. Then, it is on to Vol II completion, the Great War volume, scheduled for completion by the end of April.

Very fast progress being made, thanks for all of your kind helps and suggestions!

[larryfulkerson]

Here's all the WWI scenario's I've been able to collect over the years. Anybody see one they can't live without....just drop me an email and I'll send it to you. larryfulkerson2(at)gmail(dot)com

[Hellen_slith]

Thanks, Larry! This will be great for completing the volume 1

I'll add a second page to the table of contents, listing the player created scenarios that don't come with the game install

Thanks again!

[Hellen_slith]

Update to volume I, Pre-WWI scenarios:

I went through the "scenarios" section of these forums, where people have uploaded their scenarios.

This list, along w/ Larry's list, will complete most of volume I (and I look forward to looking at these scenes!) So many scenarios, so little time! Anyway, here is my list of scenes to include as player scenarios in the volume I of the Encyclopedia, if I have missed any scenes please sing out so that I can get them into the list:

Germany 1813
Russo-Japanese War 1904-05 (two versions?)
Alma 1854
American Civil War 1861-1865 v.B09
Balaclava 1854
Battle of Waterloo 1815(500km per hex)
Chickamauga 1863
Der Deutsch Franzosischer Krieg 1870
Dixie 107
Double Eagle - Rising Sun 1904-1905 v.3.4 (may be duplicate)
Fulford 1066 (!!)
Franco-Prussian War 1870
Gettysburg v.1.1
Greco-Turkish War 1922 (oops! this one may should be in Vol. III, inter-war period. confirming date for now.)
Lincoln 1141 (!! yes, that date is correct!!)
Little Big Horn 1876
On to Philadelphia (? not sure if this is pre-WWI, including now until confirmed)
Russo-Turkish War 1877 (two versions)
The Triumph of the Eagle - Jena and Auerstaedt 1806
Wakefield 1460

Working now on a revised Table of Contents for volume I (pre-WWI era) and downloading a LOT of scenarios to get the briefings out for you to peruse, still aiming for completion of Vol. I by end of March! If not this weekend!

Thanks again for your kind helps and suggestions!

[Hellen_slith]

A request of you all:

If you have a chance, please open any of these pre-WWI scenarios, either as versus PO or in the "open challenge" project on the Slitherine server, and play a few moves to "guage" the level of play in these pre-WWI scenarios. Then, report back your findings, either here or in AAR threads, and we can then build a kind of "review" process that will give better insight into the workings of these scenarios, what might be better designed, what works well, etc.

I hope this makes sense! Okay, well, for me I will start a game on the server for one of these scenarios, and report back in time. Most of my time right now is spent on FitE1 and CfNA w/ GenJCL and some other games, but my "Next War" is winding down soon to decision, so I have time for another game soon, I think, and I think I will try one of these pre-WWI scenes for a change of pace.

Any suggestions for a throw, please advise and I will post a challenge ... I'm thinking that the Shiloh scene seems interesting.

Okay, well, again, thanks and have a great gaming day!

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: Hellen_slith

A request of you all:

If you have a chance, please open any of these pre-WWI scenarios, either as versus PO or in the "open challenge" project on the Slitherine server, and play a few moves to "guage" the level of play in these pre-WWI scenarios. Then, report back your findings, either here or in AAR threads, and we can then build a kind of "review" process that will give better insight into the workings of these scenarios, what might be better designed, what works well, etc.

I hope this makes sense! Okay, well, for me I will start a game on the server for one of these scenarios, and report back in time. Most of my time right now is spent on FitE1 and CfNA w/ GenJCL and some other games, but my "Next War" is winding down soon to decision, so I have time for another game soon, I think, and I think I will try one of these pre-WWI scenes for a change of pace.

Any suggestions for a throw, please advise and I will post a challenge ... I'm thinking that the Shiloh scene seems interesting.

Okay, well, again, thanks and have a great gaming day!

The first post in this thread:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2231803

has links to my analysis of many of my scenarios - if you're interested.

[Hellen_slith]

Thanks Boss, those are very helpful links!
Some of the scenarios I note, have already the documentation available via the "documentation" button in TOAW ...
and my goal is to eventually provide a link for how to "imbed" all these other ETR briefings into TOAW.

Of course, for player scenarios, those will be "second tier" briefings, that will hopefully in future be imbedded along w/ the actual scenes.

In mean time, thanks again for your kind help! Maybe in a future TOAWV all of the briefings will be accessible via that button...and even maybe an option to d/l the entire Encyclopedia!

Okay, well thanks again for the kind helps and suggestions!