Hierarchy Module Document

[Curtis Lemay]

I think this is a good gauge of the effort needed to bring existing scenarios into Bobbies world. Considering interruptions, I’m guessing that CFNA took about two weeks of concentrated effort. Also to be considered is that the updater started with all the knowledge and experience needed to work the editor and determine the values to be added/modified. In size, I would consider CFNA as an average, to moderately above average; 86 Axis and 68 Allied formations.
Makes me wonder, how long would it take a person not as qualified as Bobbie to update D21; Axis 432 and Allied 470 formations.

The big Eastern front scenarios are very popular and I’m sure that people would love to have them in the new format, but who is willing to expend the effort? Who will update:
1941 Barbarossa Tactical (Piero)
Campaign Barbarossa v0.8 (Jack)
Directive 21 (Larry)
Eastern Front 1941-45 (Fabio)

In the past few years there has not exactly been a flood of new scenarios. Will there be a renewed effort to post new scenarios with commanders and hierarchy? I tend to think not, over the past five years that boat has sailed. I'm not trying to be critical, just wondering who, and to what extent, the TOAW community will use this update.

Who plans on updating or writing new scenarios? Please post here.

Regards, RhinoBones

I think CFNA is more extreme than your estimate, due to its 242 turn length. Lots of stuff had to be ripped out involving stuff leaving and returning or being renamed, and that made the task more difficult, as the event list had to be completely re-evaluated.

But, I am hoping that that ship will somewhat sail back into port once designers see how much more lush their toolshed has become.

Regardless, I'll be updating at least eight more scenarios (eventually). And that will give players eleven or so to explore.

[rhinobones]

But, I am hoping that that ship will somewhat sail back into port once designers see how much more lush their toolshed has become.

I'm with you on that.

Best Regards, RhinoBones

[Zovs]

I was thinking about updating a few that I have and have permission to work on (i.e. DNO from Daniel McBride since he has authorized me to update and make changes to all his files).

But first I need to find out if I can get Bob's changes to work with my Steam copy or not.

Bob?

Then I need to figure out how to use the Hierarchy to set things up, but DNO would sure be cool with the changes.

[Curtis Lemay]

I was thinking about updating a few that I have and have permission to work on (i.e. DNO from Daniel McBride since he has authorized me to update and make changes to all his files).

But first I need to find out if I can get Bob's changes to work with my Steam copy or not.

Bob?

Then I need to figure out how to use the Hierarchy to set things up, but DNO would sure be cool with the changes.

You have access to the Development Board, so you can access the ftp site and download the latest.

There is an instruction thread on that board on how to create a hierarchy. (If I could move it onto the main board I would. But that's beyond my access).

Personally, I can't wait to use the new features on my existing scenarios and I think anyone really into scenario design would feel the same way.

[Lobster]

Campaign Barbarossa v0.8 (Jack)

Who plans on updating or writing new scenarios? Please post here.

Regards, RhinoBones

That should actually be v1.032. I've toyed with the idea. I have the books to conjure up all of the leaders. That would run into the thousands. Then going through all the little details for thousands of units and formations. Thinking about all of the work involved makes my head spin.

[Curtis Lemay]

I have the books to conjure up all of the leaders. That would run into the thousands.

I've given you a head start with 119 of them!

[Cpl GAC]

I'm in. I'm learning the event engine these days. That thing's more important than I thought. I have mapping figured out, and I'm just not looking forward to the tedious data entry of creating forces, as I've whined about before.

Lesser known, 30-45 day operations, regimental level snapshots.

As soon as I lose the training wheels.

[Lobster]

There's a bit of information overload in all of this so maybe sometime during the last several years this has been mentioned. Is there a limit to the number of commanders a side can have? Or an overall limit? Would hate to get to 4k leaders and have 500 to go only to hit the wall.

[Curtis Lemay]

There's a bit of information overload in all of this so maybe sometime during the last several years this has been mentioned. Is there a limit to the number of commanders a side can have? Or an overall limit? Would hate to get to 4k leaders and have 500 to go only to hit the wall.

The limit is 1500 per side.

[Curtis Lemay]

I've now finished adding the Hierarchy/Commander stuff to my Kaiserschlacht 1918 scenario.

Tasks required were:

1. Using the new Hierarchy features, created hierarchies for both sides.
2. Added Commanders for both sides, including spare commanders.
3. Events generated for commander casualties => VPs.
4. Made extensive use of the 32 characters for formation and unit names where appropriate.
5. Formations given sizes, nationalities and service arms.
6. Units given nationalities and service arms.
7. Updated the briefing.
8. Units have “Restricted” disband checkbox checked.
9. Subdivided units have “No Recombine” checkbox checked.

Here's a shot of the German Commanders added (40):

[Curtis Lemay]

Add here's the Allied Commanders added (also 40) (note: of the 80 commanders, 46 had to be created - only 34 were in the canned list):

[Curtis Lemay]

Here's the German Hierarchy:

[Curtis Lemay]

And here's the Allied Hierarchy:

[Curtis Lemay]

I had really expected this scenario to be easier, but it took about 3 weeks. The issue was that this scenario has a huge swath of units that are subdivided and had to be recombined before any new units could be added. Of course, I needed a few new HQs for the hierarchy so the full recombine, add, edit, re-divided process had to be carried out. Plus, I had some busts in the recombine/divide process in that most of the new Unit info (National Flag, Service Arm, Commitment, Disbandment Options, etc.) was not addressed by those tasks (bugs to fix now).

I'm going to do at least one more (Germany 1945 - Last Stand). Hopefully it is an easy one at last!

[Curtis Lemay]

I've now finished adding the Hierarchy/Commander stuff to my Germany 1945 (Last Stand) scenario.

Tasks required were:

1. Using the new Hierarchy features, created hierarchies for both sides.
2. Added Commanders for both sides, including spare commanders.
3. Events generated for commander casualties => VPs.
4. Made extensive use of the 32 characters for formation and unit names where appropriate.
5. Formations given sizes, nationalities and service arms.
6. Units given nationalities and service arms.
7. Edited the Alternate Forces dialogs for both forces.
8. Updated the briefing.
9. Units have “Restricted” disband checkbox checked.

Here's a shot of the German Commanders added (58):

[Curtis Lemay]

Here's a shot of the Allied commanders (39):
(Note that of the 97 total commanders only 3 had to be created - the other 94 were in the canned list. Note, however, that I edited the Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin tactical ratings from 90 (10% penalty) to 95 (5% penalty). I figure that by this point in the war neither was interfering quite the way they did for the rest of the war. Plus, I added Guderian as "commander" of OKH. Hitler was the real commander - Guderian was the Chief of Staff. But this puts a buffer layer between Hitler and the Eastern front that Guderian's skill may molify a bit.

I also raised ranks to match commander's commands. (So Army Group commanders were bumped up to Field Marshal, Army commanders to Full General, etc.) Both sides often kept commanders below the nominal ranks for their commands and that can affect commander performance in the game.

Note that I don't know just who would replace Eisenhower or Montgomery if either became a casualty (pretty unlikely I think). But I provided Auchinleck for Monty and Marshall for Ike, just in case.

Also, I provided Keitel just in case Hitler became a casualty. (Obviously he wouldn't replace Hitler politically, but he might replace him in the military commander sense). I also provided von Manstein as a replacement. He was on the outs with Hitler by this point and having health issues. But I leave him as a possibility after a 10 turn delay.

[Curtis Lemay]

Here's the German side's Hierarchy:

[Curtis Lemay]

Here's the Allied Hierarchy:

[Curtis Lemay]

Here's the German Alternate Forces:

[Curtis Lemay]

Here's the Allied Alternate Forces: