Hierarchy Module Document

The sequel of the legendary wargame with a complete graphics and interface overhaul, major new gameplay and design features such as full naval combat modelling, improved supply handling, numerous increases to scenario parameters to better support large scenarios, and integrated PBEM++.
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Designers have the option to preset such delays for their commanders if they want:

Note that Removal and Promotion Delays are handled separately. Note the commander must be assigned for this.
Attachments
Delay Presets.jpg
Delay Presets.jpg (114.45 KiB) Viewed 563 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Now, let’s try to remove von Bock:

Success! Note that the slot has a rank stored, for re-attachment attempts. Von Bock’s information is still stored there, but his rank could change, so the slot rank has to be preserved separately.
Attachments
von Bock removed.jpg
von Bock removed.jpg (212.92 KiB) Viewed 562 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Let’s try to re-attach a couple of commanders to von Bock’s formation:

Hoepner’s rank is too low for this command. (Requires a Field Marshal).
Attachments
Rank Mismatch.jpg
Rank Mismatch.jpg (134.46 KiB) Viewed 559 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Well, how about Mannerheim?

Nope. He’s the wrong nationality. When the checkboxes are all unchecked (max restriction), the match has to be perfect.

I won’t provide an example of promotion/demotion. Just know it is almost identical to detach/attach efforts.
Attachments
Flag Mismatch.jpg
Flag Mismatch.jpg (128.27 KiB) Viewed 558 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Now let’s upgrade some equipment. Note the target equipment:

Nothing is in the “Available Equipment” button until the upgrade is triggered (we don’t know what equipment is to be upgraded till then).
Attachments
Pre-update.jpg
Pre-update.jpg (214.25 KiB) Viewed 556 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Click on the checkbox next to the target equipment to initiate the upgrade:

Now equipment appropriate for the target slot is shown in the “Available Equipment” button. There may be many items to cycle through, but only items that meet the requirements will be shown. Note that there are 30 Panzer IIB available in the pools. The unit can’t receive more than it already has (14), so that is plenty.
Attachments
Update ready.jpg
Update ready.jpg (214.33 KiB) Viewed 555 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Once the desired replacement is decided on, left-click on the checkbox again and the upgrade is effected:

In the Inventory 14 Panzer IIB have been deducted and 14 Panzer II (flame) have been added. Proficiency is reduced by 10% x fraction upgraded. In this case, such a small fraction of the unit’s equipment was swapped out no deduction occurred. Note that the upgrade could have been canceled by right-clicking on the checkbox.
Attachments
Post-update.jpg
Post-update.jpg (213.33 KiB) Viewed 553 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Now let’s work with some subordinate units. First, a formation with units that have subordinates:

Note that subordinates aren’t on the map. They are “Internal to a Unit”. Also, they have to be in the same formation as their superior. So, detachment can’t happen on this dialog. You have to shift to the individual unit. Note that subordinates don’t have checkboxes. Not even the flag.
Attachments
Formation with Subordinates.jpg
Formation with Subordinates.jpg (261.66 KiB) Viewed 552 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Shifting to the second page of the Third Infantry Regiment we get this shot:

This is a test scenario, but it will suffice for our purposes. Note this regiment has detached one battalion. That battalion is stacked with it – so it can be re-attached. Let’s re-attach it. Click on the checkbox!
Attachments
Third Infantry Regiment 2nd Page.jpg
Third Infantry Regiment 2nd Page.jpg (244.99 KiB) Viewed 551 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Now the stack is re-combined into a single unit:

There will probably be little need for swapping subordinates between units (unless they are division or larger sized). But detachment allows subordinates to operate independently from their superior as needed. Note that, unlike subunits, detached subordinates suffer no 20% penalty in proficiency.
Attachments
Resubordinated subordinate.jpg
Resubordinated subordinate.jpg (167.33 KiB) Viewed 550 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Now notice the TF units on the water. Let’s take a look at them. The Third Fleet Formation, TF 58 Unit:
Attachments
Third Fleet.jpg
Third Fleet.jpg (171.21 KiB) Viewed 549 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

The first page just shows a few equipment items. Page 2 is another matter:

Eight Carrier subordinates! This is a test scenario – no real unit would have this combination. But it illustrates the possibilities. Now let’s look at the USS Essex’s subordinates:
Attachments
Third Fleet page 2.jpg
Third Fleet page 2.jpg (163.44 KiB) Viewed 548 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Eight naval air squadrons! Again, no real carrier would have so many. Just testing what’s possible.
Attachments
Third Fleet Essex page 2.jpg
Third Fleet Essex page 2.jpg (168.28 KiB) Viewed 547 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Note that the attack popup has been revised to allow attack setups for this unit’s construction.
Attachments
Third Fleet Essex attack popup.jpg
Third Fleet Essex attack popup.jpg (204.49 KiB) Viewed 545 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Now let’s look at the impact of commanders. I created a test scenario with various commanders. Forces were equal except for air units.

This shot shows the test scenario in Map mode (Commander Skills not effected in that mode). So, these are the underlying strengths sans Commanders.
Attachments
Commander Skills neutral.jpg
Commander Skills neutral.jpg (368.53 KiB) Viewed 543 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
cathar1244
Posts: 1249
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 2:16 am

Re: Hierarchy Module Document

Post by cathar1244 »

Bob,

Looks nice and like a lot of work was put in. The new events and triggers look interesting.

Did the bug that ate memory and causes crashes to desktop get identified and squashed ?

Cheers
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Note that there are the following matchups:

Napoleon/Ney vs. Wellington/Hill
Villeneuve vs. Nelson
Gamelin vs. Manstein
Wavell/Cunningham vs. Rommel/Graziani
Cyrus the Great vs. Alexander the Great
Hannibal vs. Gaius Julius Caesar
LeMay/Blakeslee vs. Galland/Molders

This spreadsheet shows the various Commander Skills:
Attachments
Commander Values.jpg
Commander Values.jpg (71 KiB) Viewed 541 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Here's the scenario shown in Deployment Mode (it would look the same in-game). Note the Commander Skills impact the Unit Strengths shown:

Note that three battles have multiple commanders per side in the battle. In those cases, the commander skills combine as the square root of the sum of the squares. Higher-level commanders must be within their formation command radius of the battle to apply their skills to the total. (Battle skills are too intimate for hierarchical distances). Formations that weren’t designed with commanders have no penalty (see the two far-left units). But a formation that had a commander and is missing it is treated as if it had an 80-skill commander (20% penalty).
Attachments
Commander Skills skills shown.jpg
Commander Skills skills shown.jpg (374.14 KiB) Viewed 540 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Here’s a shot of the Combat Report. Note the commander casualty reported:
Attachments
Commander Casualty 18.jpg
Commander Casualty 18.jpg (167.51 KiB) Viewed 538 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
User avatar
Curtis Lemay
Posts: 14658
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: LET’S LOOK AT SOME GAME PLAY EXAMPLES

Post by Curtis Lemay »

Here’s a shot of the Loss Report. Note the display of manpower losses and commander losses:
Attachments
Commander Casualties 2.jpg
Commander Casualties 2.jpg (88.12 KiB) Viewed 537 times
My TOAW web site:

Bob Cross's TOAW Site
Post Reply

Return to “The Operational Art of War IV”