NATO Counters (Solitaire/Multiplayer)

[Tac2i]

** deleted - obsolete **

[AlanBernardo]

ORIGINAL: Webizen

Added a v2.04 version for the latest patch. See top post for link.

Got a "file not found" error.


Alan

[Tac2i]

Alan, fixed the link. Thanks for reporting. I should have tested it before turning off my machine.

ORIGINAL: AlanBernardo

Got a "file not found" error.


Alan

[jzz001]

Hi Webizen. how to using NATO counters for custom scenarios (i.e. NEW_WAW_PUBLIC_BETA" East Front 1941), its possible now?

[Tac2i]

Edit: My NATO counters will not work as replacements for this custom scenario as there are nation specific counters for each regime. Someone put in a lot of work doing that.

ORIGINAL: jiangzhouzi

Hi Webizen. how to using NATO counters for custom scenarios (i.e. NEW_WAW_PUBLIC_BETA" East Front 1941), its possible now?

[Tac2i]

** deleted - obsolete **

[british exil]

I'm just too dumb to get the NATO counters. Don't want to corrupt org files but would like to try the counters.

Any NATO counters for Dummies?

Mat

[Tac2i]

Use the auto install NATO Counters Mod. It does not overwrite any original files.

ORIGINAL: british exil

I'm just too dump to get the NATO counters. Don't want to corrupt org files but would like to try the counters.

Any NATO counters for Dummies?

Mat

[Tac2i]

I've added two install files for quickly switching between regular and NATO counters if this is something you choose to do.

[Tac2i]

Updated to add another download containing NATO counters with unit size designations. See top post for download.

[all5n]

so does the unit size designation actually change as you add more troops to each formation? What are the rules for the size to be shown?

I am amazed that the engine would allow for different graphics based on the number/size of units within the formation.

[Tac2i]

There is no engine logic that assigns the unit size. They are simply static graphic files. I made some basic assumptions: 1) all rifle units are, by the ATG engine, labeled as divisions so I put the division symbol on them. Same for armor. In fact, ATG labels all land units as a division (except HQs). 2) Armored cars I put the battalion symbol on as that is the way they are most used, based on my experience (few in number). I call them armored recon groups. 3) I put the brigade symbol on AT guns as that just seemed appropriate to me. Note that if you have mixed unit types, usually the greater number decides the unit type symbol applied. Usually that works out well. I did not put a size designation on MGs, motars or bazookas as they are normally just a standard part of an infantry division.

If you have a division with few troops, it is simply an understrength division. If you have a unit (division, battalion or brigade) with lots of troops/tanks, etc., it simply is an over-strength unit.

In my games I've started to rename each non-infantry unit that I create (i.e. 27th Armor, 15th Armored Recon, 8th Anti-Tank, 44th Anti-Air, etc.). The infantry divisions I just leave as is. To some this isn't important but I think it adds some additional polish to the game.

ORIGINAL: all5n

so does the unit size designation actually change as you add more troops to each formation? What are the rules for the size to be shown?

I am amazed that the engine would allow for different graphics based on the number/size of units within the formation.

[ghoward]

I am interested in being able to identify a given unit by looking at the map (instead of cycling through all of them one at a time). An example might be "Where are those 3 horse mobile units I know I have around here somewhere, or the 113 inf div that has a lot of special forces in it, where is that guy". The power points change, and the graphic selection changes based on the SF mix (using some formula that I don't understand), so the unit may change appearance from one turn to the next. Do you know of any way to sense, suppress, or override this powerpoint and graphic selection behavior by the ATG engine? If any of these things could be done, now or in a future version, then you could have the engine select a specific graphic for flagged units that identified them on the game map as special in some way. To put it another way, it would be helpful if I could tell the game to represent THIS UNIT with a horse symbol, regardless of it's SF makeup. I am not supposing that your graphic mod is the right vehicle for something like this, but since you have been working in this area, I thought you might have an idea or comment.

[ernieschwitz]

I don´t think that is possible with the current way the game is run. BUT i think it is an excellent suggestion for Vic to come up with something that could lock a symbol to a unit....

[ghoward]

I expected that that would be the case. Thanks for the response. Maybe I should move the post over to the new feature wishlist thread. I bet there is a slick way to do that, but I don't know it.

[Tac2i]

I concur with ernieschwitz. Don't think it is currently possible to do.

[Tac2i]

error in posting... deleted

[Tac2i]

I've created a new defaultmod.txt file that works well with this mod (simply replace your existing one in the root folder of ATG with the attached). See screenshot in next post. Note that the 'New Random (enhanced)' button will not work unless you have Lancer's Enhanced Mod Suite installed and rename his at2 file to 'enhanced.at2'.

Note that this new defaultmod.txt file will work equally well with standard ATG. NATO counters are not required. Also note that it is independent of any particular version of ATG, at least since v2.14.

Caveats:

1) Don't use this new defaultmod.txt file with my NATO Counters Mod for Random Games as it uses it's own special file.
2) If you already have a modified default main screen via some other mod, using my file will overwrite those changes.
3) The "Download NATO Counters" button links to this thread re the NATO Counters (Solitare/Multiplayer) Mod.
4. Installing a new patch from Matrix Games will reset the default main screen.

See this post for additional options: Modified Main Screens.

[Tac2i]

Screenshot for above post...

[Tac2i]

Here is a little bonus which I'll incorporate later in my NATO Counters Mods. This is a set of small counters that are used in "zoom out" mode. I don't normally much use this mode because the counters are not very readable. After recently doing a short AAR using screenshots from this view, I decided to do something about the readability. I didn't touch them all but I reworked most of them. Note: Users of my 'NATO Counters Mod for Random Games' visit that post to get the install file. For others, note that many of these counters are NATO and some are just symbols I made up. The primary goal was, when in 'zoom out' mode, that you can easily recognize what type of unit you are looking at: not an easy task with these small counters.

Download: at2SMALL.atzip (Edit: more tweaks 9/16/13)