Early-42 Mod Development for BTS

[John 3rd]

Greetings all.

Michael and I have decided that we are complete gluttons of punishment. We have decided to apply an early-spring 1942 template to all of the Between the Storms Variants: Treaty, RA, BTS-Air, BTS-Balanced, and BTS-Heavy.

This decision was only taken with finding a template to use that we feel comfortable with. Having looked at a couple of May 1942 start scenarios, we were delighted to find Big B had done the heavy lifting in creating such a mod. We APPRECIATE your continued work in AE Brian!

So....what does this mean? We are going to take the changes we have made to the December 7th starting scenarios and advance the clock to set a Spring 42 start to ALL the Mods. I know everyone long-term player of AE gets sickj of perpetually running the opening campaign to take the DEI and all other initial Japanese moves that set-up the main action of 1942. We hope to realistically fix this by creating a start point for both Allies and Japan that allows for them to not have to deal with the doldrums of start for the war.

Michael and I have discussed that the placement of units on the map have to reflect a realistic Japanese expansion couple to an equally appropriate Allied response. In thinking like this, we cannot use where I, as a Japanese player, am at the start of spring 1942 but we also cannot be too conservative (which is how I see the map in the Mod starting May 1, 1942). Balance must be found.

Additionally, all the changes made to existing units and new units need to be added. My intention is to create a generic Between the Storms file with everything in it then tweak it based on the differing scenarios we have for the Mods.

This will be a BIG job.

We welcome you to come along for the ride!

[btd64]

Good luck on your project John and Michael....GP

[John 3rd]

Really looking forward to this work in that we have done sooooooo many little patches, changes, and modifications, this will allow us to keep what works and have a strong change log on EXACTLY what we have done. Think that will make a bunch of sense and truly help the rationale of the Mods.

[Kitakami]

Thank you for everything you have done so far!

[John 3rd]

Always good to hear from you Kitakami. How are you doing these days?



OK. Am starting work. I will do the Japanese Side while Michael will handle the majority of the Allied Side.

Figure the easiest thing to start with is DELETE all the Japanese units that no longer exist but take on new forms. This means EVERY Naval Guard unit and SNLF unit goes bye-bye. They come back as Atoll Defense Units (using the Naval Guard as their core Infantry strength) and SNLF Assault Brigades (three regular SNLF units make a Brigade with then a small command section added to it). It is important to note that the EXACT number of units/squads are used so there is little gained here other then CD (the ADU come in company and battalion OOB).

I will Post examples of their TOE in a while.

[John 3rd]

OK. Just spent an hour deleting and noting appropriate units that become the core of the IJN LCU combat changes for BTS. So....

SNLF Units (ID 2128) 29 units at 48 Inf Squads yields 1392 Squads
SNLF Coy (ID 2267) 3 at 18 for 54 more Squads

Nvl Gar (ID 2129) 38 units with 48 Squads equal 1824 Squads
Small Nvl Gar 14 at 24 equal 336
Island Gar (2299) 7 at 36 equal 252

SNLF Total: 1446
Naval Gar Total: 2412

This provides our starting point for the creation of new units. The goal is to land +/- 5% in this area.

Going by these number, Japan will create a total of 10 SNLF Assault Brigades with about 150 Squads each.

The Atoll Defense Units are company, battalion, and brigade strengths...we will figure 20, 60, and 180 Squads. Build out would be 20 at 20, 20 at 60, and 4 at 180 for 2320 Squads.

Begin to see the picture? Everybody thinks Michael and I have created a JFB wet dream. Nope. Things are simply reorganized...

[John 3rd]

Here is the standard SNLF Assault Unit:

SNLF.png (30.46 KiB) Viewed 73 times

[John 3rd]

This is how the current SNLF Assault Brigades look like. They can be broken down into three equal parts if needed. This is why they come up as Divisions but are actually Brigades. I could never figure how to get the editor to breakdown a Brigade into three. Can only make an ID do that...

[John 3rd]

This provides a great chance at working continuity. Will reshape units so their is stronger connectiveness that makes rationale sense!

[John 3rd]

Japanese LCU cut.

Now we shift to Japanese ships, class, and air groups that are not in BTS: Goodbye Kaga, Taiho, and Shinano as well as the Katori-Class.

Notes:
Will delete all the CVE (they shift to conversions from the big 21 Knot APs)
Change Mizuho and Nisshin from their classes to a 3rd and 4th Chitose. Nisshin comes in at her scheduled time but as a CVL.
Replace Kaga with the original Amagi. Match Kaga's Air Group to Amagi.

[John 3rd]

I have also decided to move the start date of the Scenario up to April 1st rather then May 1st. Think this better reflects the speed of actually conquering the 'minimum' territories.

[Kitakami]

Always good to hear from you Kitakami. How are you doing these days?

Alive and kicking, which is more than enough for me these days. Following this thread with anticipation.

[John 3rd]

Heck. I understand. Rolled 60 two weeks ago and do not know how that is possible!

Glad you are with us.

[Kitakami]

I am also 60. In 2024 I caught Guillian-Barré. 10 days in the ICU. ICU director thought I would not pull through. Yet, here I am, just happy to be alive. Minor sequels remained, none life threatening.

If you have the time and the inclination, would you mind giving me access to your latest Dec 8 '41 files, please? I have tons of time in my hands nowadays, and I have always enjoyed BTS.

Thanks!