Generating battles in the Campaign Series

[Rosseau]

While many players will stick to the packaged historical battles and play the scenarios "to the letter," the Campaign Series Middle East features an awesome option that I have not discovered in any other wargame.

The ability to instantaneously generate a battle by choosing a generous series of parameters is an excellent feature. But that's just the beginning...

The designer can then load up the "random" org and scenario files created by the generate battles app in the OOB and scenario editors and create a virtually limitless variety of encounters featuring organizations spanning the entire conflict.

Because the tactical AI is pretty solid, there is no need to create detailed scripts with these custom scenarios. Careful use of the "aggressiveness" feature also helps guide the AI when attacking or defending.

Finally, micromanagement can be kept to the minimum by giving the AI control of your forces temporarily before resolving the turn. Key units can be given individual orders, but it's not necessary to give every unit fire or move-to-contact orders, etc.

Most of these features are probably obvious to veteran players, but just going deeper into the game myself, I was greatly impressed by all the possibilities. And I'm sure these features and more will be included in the upcoming CS Vietnam release. I can't wait!

[Jason Petho]

And I'm sure these features and more will be included in the upcoming CS Vietnam release. I can't wait!

They battle generator will not be available with the 1.00 release, but will be included in a future update for Vietnam.

BUT...

You still have access to all of the editors so you can build your own scenario.

[Jason Petho]

We do provide a wack-load of historically accurate Master maps though, so that saves you tons of time in scenario creation.

[berto]

In the original JTCS, John Tiller had not written the random battle (and map etc.) generator; a Talonsoft programmer had.

Over the years, as JTCS was expanded to include West Front, then Rising Sun, etc., the battle (and map etc.) generator was not updated to include new terrain types etc.

In the battle generator included with the last installment of JTCS, the whole battle (and map etc.) generation mechanism left a lot to be desired. (Some of the generated maps were pretty wacky.)

With extensions to the game since then -- new terrain types, new unit types (think helos etc.), and other changes to game play and mechanisms -- the legacy battle (and map etc.) generator is by now quite broken.

Fixing it is high on the to-do list for next year.

[Rosseau]

So, right after someone praises a game feature to high heaven (and exposed their naivete), the developers respond: "Uh, thanks but it's broken."

Such honesty will surely not go unrewarded! [;)]

Anyway, I do have good luck generating "static" line battles with the current generator and look forward to an updated application in coming years.

It's also great that we have devs dating back to the Talonsoft era to continually improve a game with a long history all its own. Best wishes!

[jmlima]

ORIGINAL: berto


In the original JTCS, John Tiller had not written the random battle (and map etc.) generator; a Talonsoft programmer had.

Over the years, as JTCS was expanded to include West Front, then Rising Sun, etc., the battle (and map etc.) generator was not updated to include new terrain types etc.

In the battle generator included with the last installment of JTCS, the whole battle (and map etc.) generation mechanism left a lot to be desired. (Some of the generated maps were pretty wacky.)

With extensions to the game since then -- new terrain types, new unit types (think helos etc.), and other changes to game play and mechanisms -- the legacy battle (and map etc.) generator is by now quite broken.

Fixing it is high on the to-do list for next year.

So the in-game editor will be limited to the existing maps? Or is there a map creator, just not an auto-battle/map generator?

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: jmlima

So the in-game editor will be limited to the existing maps? Or is there a map creator, just not an auto-battle/map generator?

The game comes with Map Editor, OoB Editor, and Scenario Editor.

With Map editor, you can create new maps from scratch, but there will already be huge master maps in place covering many of the key areas.

With OoB Editor, you can create organisations from scratch, but there will be full OoBs available for all nations, covering the era.

Then, with Scenario Editor, you take a map (new or old), an OoB (new or old), and then add the scenario information, including turns, weather, objectives, victory conditions, for a new scenario.

You can also tweak an existing scenario for your personal liking.

[athineos]

Are you planning to have a battle generator before the end of 2022? Thanks

[berto]

We hope to achieve that, yes.

[athineos]

We hope to achieve that, yes.

Any news on the Battle generator?

[berto]

Sad to say, the battle generator has been dropped. We have more important priorities, not the least of which is to pump out new games and new game content (DLCs).

Driving one more nail into the coffin: it is impossible to auto-generate the CSEE/SAI for random battles.

We can't be all things to all people. Sorry.

[athineos]

Sad to say, the battle generator has been dropped. We have more important priorities, not the least of which is to pump out new games and new game content (DLCs).

Driving one more nail into the coffin: it is impossible to auto-generate the CSEE/SAI for random battles.

We can't be all things to all people. Sorry.

It’s a good thing I held off and didn’t buy the game. Thank god I can still play and use Battle Generator with JTCS & Steel Panthers.

[Jason Petho]

Even without the generator, there are all the tools to build your own scenarios.

Map Editor (with a large number of historical master maps that you can use)
Org Editor (with one of the most comprehensive order of battles in a game of this scale)
Scenario Editor