Hierarchy Module Document

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Here's a shot of the Axis Hierarchy:

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Here's a shot of the Commonwealth hierarchy:

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Here's the list of Axis Commanders (93):

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And the Commonwealth commanders (70):

(Note that of the 163 total commanders, 110 had to be created for the scenario - only 53 were in the canned list).

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Unit and Formation names were expanded as appropriate to take advantage of the expansion from 16 to 32 characters per name. This is an example comparison between old and new Axis names:

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Here's a similar comparision for an example selection of Commonwealth names:

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Several alternate forces were designed with alternate replacement values:

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Similar for commonwealth alternate forces:

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CFNA was the third Hierarchical scenario update I'd finished. Before that I updated both my Soviet Union 1941 and Shiloh 1862 scenarios.

Here's the Axis Hierarchy in Soviet Union 1941 (note that there are three separate hierarchies in this force: Finnish, German, and Romanian):

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And here's the hierarchy for the Soviets (lots of formations not in a hierarchy here):

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Here are the Axis commanders in Soviet Union 1941 (68):

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And the Soviet Commanders (51):

Of the 119 total commanders, all were in the canned list (advantage of a Corps-sized unit scenario )

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Only the Axis used Alternate Forces in this scenario:

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Here's the Confederate Hierarchy in Shiloh 1862 (much simplier in this scenario):

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And the Union hierarchy:

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Confederate commanders (27):

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Union commanders (40):

Of the 67 commanders in the scenario, 44 had to be created (23 were in the canned list).

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Shiloh is unique (so far) in that it employs Subordinate units (units internal to other units). Here's the 1st Division of the Confederate II Corps. Note the regiments internal to the on-map demi-brigades (17th Louisiana was my Great-Great-Grandfather's unit):

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The Union side has subordinate regiments too:

[rhinobones]

I can now answer this question based upon direct experience modifying that specific scenario: Started on 12/20/24, finished 12/19/25 = 1 Month. (There were holidays and out of town trips in that, though).

Changes 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. Return Events and Rename Events eliminated the need for duplicate units => all were deleted.
8. Generated those Return and Rename events for such units/formations.
9. Side one starts out named “Italians”. Changed to “Axis” on turn 53 when the Germans arrive.
10. Alternate Forces replacement values were generated for both sides.
11. Italian non-elite units had their Commitment values reduced from their Proficiency values.

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