About the Scenarios that come with the Game and others

[vicousvic]

Hello to the TOAW Community,

I am a newbie with that game having read the manual and scrolled the forums and played around a little and having much fun so far. BUT I am struggling a lot with the scenario types and have the following questions:

1: are ALL scenarios that come originally with the Game designed or adjusted for TOAW IV???
This question seems to be fundamental, since - from what I understand, please correct me, if I am wrong - a scenario made for TOAW III can´t handle the advanced ruleset, but needs some setup finetuning. So, I don´t want to end up playing a scenario for hours to then find out, I am not playing it, as it was meant to be played.
Sometimes the game gives me a designers list of preferences, then I am a bit assured, that I am playing it correct, but that´s not for all scenarios, I´d say not even the majority. If this preference list is missing does that mean it is a TOAW III scenario???

2: Having learned the advanced ruleset quite eagerly I would like to play scenarios that use them or at least a majority of them. So how can I find out if community scenarios are optimised for TOAW IV. Sometimes - again, in only rare cases - they tell me so, but more often, I can not be sure.

3. If I play a TOAW III scenario - (and was able to find out, I am doing so) - which setup should I use, if the designer doesn´t make any comments and no override-popup, well, pops up.

It is really not that easy to get into this game, but with your help, I hope to at least solve this fundamental issue for me (and maybe) others.. thanks in advance!

[sPzAbt653]

... playing a scenario for hours to then find out, I am not playing it, as it was meant to be played.

An astute observation that, as you can expect, does apply to every version change. More specifically to TOAW IV, the level that scenarios were 'designed or adjusted for TOAW IV' varies from a simple 'open and save' to scenarios fully designed with IV. To simplify this situation and many other aspects of TOAW, consider that scenarios are designed by individuals and submitted for inclusion with TOAW, and over the years TOAW has been monitored by various different people with varying standards. Efforts to 'herd the cats' have only been partially successful, resulting in some confusing scenario situations.

As you are new to TOAW, I will offer that scenario briefings, while containing various levels of assistance, can provide some clues. Here are two quick things you can get used to while browsing scenarios. 1. If there is a TOAW Version included in the briefing, this is generally the version that the scenario was designed with. 2. If the scenario was 'updated' or 'modified' that is almost always mentioned in the briefing. The extent of any updates or modifications obviously vary.

Also, there are a few of us old timers still here that understand the TOAW learning curve and are happy to help out, because we believe that this is the best Operational System available. I'm not just some fanboy, I've tried moving on to other games, but there are only a few options available and they are woeful compared to the issues we have with TOAW.

An answer to some of this can be found in post #4 here:
https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=388324

[vicousvic]

Thanks for your quick and profound reply!
May I nevertheless ask you to answer a bit more specifically the questions that are troubling me - some may require just a yes/no answer. That would really help me.
I wonder, how I can have a certain degree of assurance about playing the scenario the way it was meant to be played, because more often than not, there is no description or hints.

Another more concrete question: Is TOAW IV the same as Version 3.5. So if the scenario says it was made for 3.5 (or higher?) is it fair to assume, that you can play it with TOAW IV settings on?

Why do some scenarios have that Designers setting /Override option and others don´t. Is the missing of that option a sign for TOAW III or older???

Thanks again in advance!

[sPzAbt653]

I wonder, how I can have a certain degree of assurance about playing the scenario the way it was meant to be played, because more often than not, there is no description or hints.

It is a shame that some descriptions offer no help. This is more noticeable mostly as you go back further in time and thru earlier versions. Imagine the worse case, TOAW I, where scenario designers had no idea there would be several different versions in the future and therefore no idea how to even comment on such things. It will take a little time before you get more comfortable making playability decisions, meanwhile there are usually some folks here that may have played and possibly modified some scenarios that could offer assistance.

Is TOAW IV the same as Version 3.5?

3.5 was originally meant to be an update to III, but at some point it became version IV. So, no they are not the same.

Why do some scenarios have that Designers setting /Override option and others don´t.

It is up to the scenario designer to 'set' the 'presets'. Like everything else, we can ask designers to do things but not everything is always done. Some designers don't even participate in forums. They develop a scenario, post it on a depository somewhere, and over the years it makes it's way here.

Another word about 'the way it was meant to be played'. In many cases it is impossible to know. With no documentation and the original designer no longer active here, we can only guess, which is very hit or miss. On the positive side, there are so many scenarios available that there is a lot to work with for this hobby.

[vicousvic]

Thanks again for being so helpful!
I also found Larry Fulkersons topic: Recent submissions to TOAW IV to be very helpful, since it provides me with a list of scenarios especially made or optimised for ToAW IV (at least in theory), so I have a safe place to start..
Playing around with the German-French War of 1870/71..

Question: is there a Sicily to Brenner Pass version other than the default one that comes with the Game (that one has 700 turns)? I am pretty sure, I heard about one with like 200 turns (half-weeks?)

[sPzAbt653]

Regarding Advanced Rules - I've never seen a scenario designed without them, so I think it is very safe to always use them. Maybe for an extreme beginner who is having trouble, turn them off. But then it is almost certain it is not being played the way intended.

StBP stuff:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3304909

An extensive AAR:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3504403

[vicousvic]

That is great: a 197 turn scenario - switching to half-week was exactly what I dreamed of.
2 more Questions on that:
a) I have read that AAR beforehand and that made me ask for this version and got interested in that scenario. Alas, they seem to use another graphic mod, that I really like (especially because of the railway lines). Do you, by chance, have any idea, which mod it is and how I can install it?
b) Is your version playable against PO Allies from a german perspective or is all the landing and stuff to complicate for ELMER?

GREAT anyways, that you re-made that scenario. It´s a shame it isn´t in the default game files. That 700+ turn thing is a bit mad in my eyes.

[sPzAbt653]

That AAR was by Larry, so you might ask him what rail mod he uses.

As far as the Allied PO, it's been too long since this was done for me to remember specifics, but probably you are correct in that it is a complex campaign for Elmer to navigate thru. I also think that most players aren't fond of playing a defensive scenario, so probably not too many are interested in playing the German side. That said, there is an Allied PO in place so you can do it that way if you want, just don't cry if boredom sets in.