Simple Balancer Fantasy (SBF) Mod

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

I agree with Japanese production being turned off. However, I still want the Japanese to have some reason to go for the DEI. Maybe I'll just keep Japanese industry only so far as it is needed to convert oil and resources into fuel and supply points. Other than that, a/c production, engines and armament factories will not exist. Basically the name of the game will be to cart oil and resources back to Japan to convert into what they need for supplies, etc. The Germans and Italians will be getting their supplies arriving from Europe and maybe the near east via Mogadishu which will be in game but heavily garrisoned.

So you are going to have use "build rate" to predefine the numbers of engines, a/c etc That's going to be a bit of work. Can I suggest slimming the number of plane types available ... AE can be an aspergers plane paradise. I'd also suggest a better conversion/upgrade path but that will make the "build rate" definition more complicated.
As for using half the production functions and not the other I think you'll have to be creative in how you tackle that problem as it isn't an easy solution with figuring what will be needed.

I'll need to run some tests to see if I can split IJN and IJA nationalities between Japan and the European Axis so that the Germans and Italians aren't pulling from the same pilot pool as Japan.

Not sure this is possible.

Good luck

[JWE]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress
I'll need to run some tests to see if I can split IJN and IJA nationalities between Japan and the European Axis so that the Germans and Italians aren't pulling from the same pilot pool as Japan.

Not sure this is possible.
Good luck

Not practicably possible. If you do that, army and navy pilots become fungible. All army and navy leaders become fungible. Majors commanding warships? Admirals commanding Divisions? Yamashita or Homma commanding Combined Fleet?

Hopefully your Nazi extras will just be ships and a few pilots. Obviously this won't be AI friendly, but even running one computer turn in a PBEM or H2H game will screw things up royally.

Suggest you do as Cid proposes and identify your Nazi stuff in data. People who play your mod can look for the KM designator and pick leaders appropriately. Why screw up 99% of the game just to have some pilots and ship commanders with German surnames?

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Fi 167 of fictional "Graf Zeppelin" regiment. Group 3(3rd as in torpedo?), squadron 2, plane 5, GZ-EK.

As a curiosity:
Different planes have torpedoes in different locations. Japanese Patrol Boats have them as "external", BETTYs, as "internal", and NELLs as "Center-line". I wonder if that changes accuracy somehow...

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

Working on a storyline for my scenario.

I'm thinking something along the lines of the RAF gets thrashed in the BoB instead of the historical outcome because the Luftwaffe concentrates on airfields and industry instead of cities.

You complicate things too much. Beaten UK means less their assets on-map. The simplest solution would be LACK of attack on USSR. That way Germany could focus more on air/naval production, and defeating UK in Africa, plus preparing "right hook" for future attack against USSR.
I think USSR entry date is hard-coded, but you can actually begin scenario in early 1945. Editor have enough slots, to enter pilot numbers up to 1948. That way, we can pretend, that it is actually 1942, but USSR will enter war, after 6, or more months, not after 4 years. With LOTS of units, ships, and planes. And then, some of AXIS units will have to withdraw to Europe (well, actually keeping an eye on withdrawing is PITA, so should be eliminated to reduce clicking).

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: JWE

ORIGINAL: n01487477

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress
I'll need to run some tests to see if I can split IJN and IJA nationalities between Japan and the European Axis so that the Germans and Italians aren't pulling from the same pilot pool as Japan.

Not sure this is possible.
Good luck

Not practicably possible. If you do that, army and navy pilots become fungible. All army and navy leaders become fungible. Majors commanding warships? Admirals commanding Divisions? Yamashita or Homma commanding Combined Fleet?

Hopefully your Nazi extras will just be ships and a few pilots. Obviously this won't be AI friendly, but even running one computer turn in a PBEM or H2H game will screw things up royally.

Suggest you do as Cid proposes and identify your Nazi stuff in data. People who play your mod can look for the KM designator and pick leaders appropriately. Why screw up 99% of the game just to have some pilots and ship commanders with German surnames?

Thanks for the feedback.

Hadn't thought of that. That's why I was asking for feedback on how practical it would be to split IJA & IJN between Japanese and Germans. I was wondering if there would be any negative ramifications to it. Looks like there would be.

One workaround I can think of to the problem of getting the right leader names in the right units is to zero out political points so that leaders cannot be changed by the player and basically assign leaders permanently to units from the get go. Of course this also means that HQs cannot be changed for units. One way I could get around problems with that is to simply do away for the most part with static HQs and make all my game HQs movable to wherever the player wants to send them. That would also serve to simplify the game a bit, take away the need to change around leaders and HQs.

Can anyone think of any drawbacks to zeroing out political points?

Thanks.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

I agree with Japanese production being turned off. However, I still want the Japanese to have some reason to go for the DEI. Maybe I'll just keep Japanese industry only so far as it is needed to convert oil and resources into fuel and supply points. Other than that, a/c production, engines and armament factories will not exist. Basically the name of the game will be to cart oil and resources back to Japan to convert into what they need for supplies, etc. The Germans and Italians will be getting their supplies arriving from Europe and maybe the near east via Mogadishu which will be in game but heavily garrisoned.

So you are going to have use "build rate" to predefine the numbers of engines, a/c etc That's going to be a bit of work. Can I suggest slimming the number of plane types available ... AE can be an aspergers plane paradise. I'd also suggest a better conversion/upgrade path but that will make the "build rate" definition more complicated.
As for using half the production functions and not the other I think you'll have to be creative in how you tackle that problem as it isn't an easy solution with figuring what will be needed.

Actually I'm thinking twice about turning off IJ production. If I can simplify other areas of the game enough I would maybe leave production alone. Production is too much fun to mess around with. Leaders and HQs OTOH, to me, are a pain in the rear to micromanage.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

Working on a storyline for my scenario.

I'm thinking something along the lines of the RAF gets thrashed in the BoB instead of the historical outcome because the Luftwaffe concentrates on airfields and industry instead of cities.

You complicate things too much. Beaten UK means less their assets on-map. The simplest solution would be LACK of attack on USSR. That way Germany could focus more on air/naval production, and defeating UK in Africa, plus preparing "right hook" for future attack against USSR.
I think USSR entry date is hard-coded, but you can actually begin scenario in early 1945. Editor have enough slots, to enter pilot numbers up to 1948. That way, we can pretend, that it is actually 1942, but USSR will enter war, after 6, or more months, not after 4 years. With LOTS of units, ships, and planes. And then, some of AXIS units will have to withdraw to Europe (well, actually keeping an eye on withdrawing is PITA, so should be eliminated to reduce clicking).

There's a "yes/no" switch for activating the Soviets in the "Scenario" tab. Not sure if it works or not.

You're overlooking other possibilities. Lack of an Eastern front would mean more German assets to make England's life miserable. That in itself would guarantee that Britain would have to focus primarily on home defense, locking up most of their units there. With the Soviets fighting the Germans the UK can hope to be ignored a bit and can still try to protect her far flung empire, occasionally attacking the Germans here and there. Otherwise the Germans would be able to concentrate their power on Britain alone. That wouldn't be a good thing either.

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

ORIGINAL: inqistor

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

Working on a storyline for my scenario.

I'm thinking something along the lines of the RAF gets thrashed in the BoB instead of the historical outcome because the Luftwaffe concentrates on airfields and industry instead of cities.

You complicate things too much. Beaten UK means less their assets on-map. The simplest solution would be LACK of attack on USSR. That way Germany could focus more on air/naval production, and defeating UK in Africa, plus preparing "right hook" for future attack against USSR.
I think USSR entry date is hard-coded, but you can actually begin scenario in early 1945. Editor have enough slots, to enter pilot numbers up to 1948. That way, we can pretend, that it is actually 1942, but USSR will enter war, after 6, or more months, not after 4 years. With LOTS of units, ships, and planes. And then, some of AXIS units will have to withdraw to Europe (well, actually keeping an eye on withdrawing is PITA, so should be eliminated to reduce clicking).

There's a "yes/no" switch for activating the Soviets in the "Scenario" tab. Not sure if it works or not.

It is problem going back to witp - and wasn't fixed for AE iirc. If set as active then it doesn't activate from the scenario start. You'll need a HR for the Japanese to attack to make it active

[dwg]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress
I'm tring to figure a way of incorporated the German and Italians into the mod.

An alternative approach would be to knock the Russians out of the war -- Germany invades, Russia collapses and fragments into warlord statelets, perhaps with a Japanese-dominated Far Eastern Republic, allowing the Germans access to Pacific Russia along the Trans-Siberian railway. It allows the deployment of a Panzer Armee Afrika equivalent, but at the end of a very tenuous supply line -- I'd restrict German units to German HQs and keep those very limited in number, while making European Russia a supply source but forcing the Axis to garrison the Trans-Siberia line. This idea is more problematic for extensive naval deployments, but would allow the Monsun Gruppe U-Boats and Raiders to be put on a firmer footing.

Simultaneously the collapse of Russia allows you to restrict the rate at which Allied commitment to the Pacific grows as the threat in Europe will be greater. It also creates the potential of a thrust at India from the West through the Caucusus and Persia (I'm not sure even Hitler was stupid enough to try coming south through Afghanistan).

[Erkki]

Bf 109 E-7/B, "White 3" of I/JG.26.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Bf 109 E-7/B, "White 3" of I/JG.26.

Beautifully done! Keep them coming Erkki! [&o]

One thing, the tops are a little large compared to the ones in game. Any chance you would shrink them just a little to match the scale in game? I wish the ones in game were as large as yours as they are more beautiful at that size.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: dwg

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress
I'm tring to figure a way of incorporated the German and Italians into the mod.

An alternative approach would be to knock the Russians out of the war -- Germany invades, Russia collapses and fragments into warlord statelets, perhaps with a Japanese-dominated Far Eastern Republic, allowing the Germans access to Pacific Russia along the Trans-Siberian railway. It allows the deployment of a Panzer Armee Afrika equivalent, but at the end of a very tenuous supply line -- I'd restrict German units to German HQs and keep those very limited in number, while making European Russia a supply source but forcing the Axis to garrison the Trans-Siberia line. This idea is more problematic for extensive naval deployments, but would allow the Monsun Gruppe U-Boats and Raiders to be put on a firmer footing.

Simultaneously the collapse of Russia allows you to restrict the rate at which Allied commitment to the Pacific grows as the threat in Europe will be greater. It also creates the potential of a thrust at India from the West through the Caucusus and Persia (I'm not sure even Hitler was stupid enough to try coming south through Afghanistan).

I'd rather bring them in via the Red Sea and Mogadishu. One of the main reasons I have Germany in game is to introduce some neat new naval toys, Bismarck, H-Class BBs, Graf Zeppelin, etc. I don't think I could do that very well coming from Siberia.

[GaryChildress]

One thing I'm working on is alternative ship designs. Without any treaties in effect I assume there would be a little more diversity in ship size. So instead of all cruisers hovering around 10,000 tons, I will throw in a few 15,000+ designs. Here are some samples for the USN:

Above are the original cruisers and below each cruiser is the new treatiless design. At there very bottom are Alaska and Iowa to compare.



Unhindered by Treaty limitations the US invests in 12 x 8" designs. [8D]

[kfsgo]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress


I'd rather bring them in via the Red Sea and Mogadishu. One of the main reasons I have Germany in game is to introduce some neat new naval toys, Bismarck, H-Class BBs, Graf Zeppelin, etc. I don't think I could do that very well coming from Siberia.

You could conceptually always bring them round the north of Siberia - have them arrive at Anadyr, I guess? - which was technically possible. Not really all that credible, but not really any less so than the alternatives, and there seems to have been at least one German raider that actually did make the trip that way.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: kfsgo

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress


I'd rather bring them in via the Red Sea and Mogadishu. One of the main reasons I have Germany in game is to introduce some neat new naval toys, Bismarck, H-Class BBs, Graf Zeppelin, etc. I don't think I could do that very well coming from Siberia.

You could conceptually always bring them round the north of Siberia - have them arrive at Anadyr, I guess? - which was technically possible. Not really all that credible, but not really any less so than the alternatives, and there seems to have been at least one German raider that actually did make the trip that way.

I think it would probably be best if I just have them arrive in Mogadishu as planned. From there they can attack india.

So this is what I have so far:

1. Simplicity: Disable the ability to switch leaders and HQs by zeroing out Political Points. This will also help in keeping German commanders with German units and Japanese commanders with Japanese units.

2. Simplicity: I'm taking all the existing aircraft in the game for the Japanese and reorganizing them into bigger units. The only AGs which will be less than 18 planes will be ship board float plane units and recon units.

3. Balance: For the Allies I am actually going to add some aircraft at the start as they are currently weaker in the air on day one than the Axis.

Any additional suggestions are welcome. Just keep in mind the three essential aspects to the mod will be simplicity, balance and it doesn't need to adhere strictly with reality--although I will try to preserve a sense of "semi-plausibility" where I can. In other words will there be 20/20 hindsight so that both sides build more carriers, yes. Will the carriers be Nimitz class with F-14 Tomcats, no.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

ORIGINAL: JWE

ORIGINAL: n01487477

Not sure this is possible.
Good luck

Not practicably possible. If you do that, army and navy pilots become fungible. All army and navy leaders become fungible. Majors commanding warships? Admirals commanding Divisions? Yamashita or Homma commanding Combined Fleet?

Hopefully your Nazi extras will just be ships and a few pilots. Obviously this won't be AI friendly, but even running one computer turn in a PBEM or H2H game will screw things up royally.

Suggest you do as Cid proposes and identify your Nazi stuff in data. People who play your mod can look for the KM designator and pick leaders appropriately. Why screw up 99% of the game just to have some pilots and ship commanders with German surnames?

Thanks for the feedback.

Hadn't thought of that. That's why I was asking for feedback on how practical it would be to split IJA & IJN between Japanese and Germans. I was wondering if there would be any negative ramifications to it. Looks like there would be.

One workaround I can think of to the problem of getting the right leader names in the right units is to zero out political points so that leaders cannot be changed by the player and basically assign leaders permanently to units from the get go. Of course this also means that HQs cannot be changed for units. One way I could get around problems with that is to simply do away for the most part with static HQs and make all my game HQs movable to wherever the player wants to send them. That would also serve to simplify the game a bit, take away the need to change around leaders and HQs.

Can anyone think of any drawbacks to zeroing out political points?

Thanks.

Hmmm. Just realized, when TFs are formed or LCUs split there will be no control over what sort of leader they choose. How to remedy that? If I do Germans as IJN and Japanese as IJA I will get correct surnames but could still get admirals commanding LCUs and generals commanding TFs. OTOH if I don't split IJN and IJA to be nationality specific, then I could get the right ranks commanding units but I could end up with Japanese commanders commanding German units and German commanders commanding Japanese units. Can anyone think of a workaround for this? I'm stubbed at the moment. [:(]

[Erkki]

My idea of a 111... He 111 H-4 of 4/KG.26. I used a too large top view pic in the 2 previous ones: they're 60 x 60 not 80 x 80, oops...

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress
You're overlooking other possibilities. Lack of an Eastern front would mean more German assets to make England's life miserable. That in itself would guarantee that Britain would have to focus primarily on home defense, locking up most of their units there. With the Soviets fighting the Germans the UK can hope to be ignored a bit and can still try to protect her far flung empire, occasionally attacking the Germans here and there. Otherwise the Germans would be able to concentrate their power on Britain alone. That wouldn't be a good thing either.

Well, Germany would do better, if they focused on Mediterranean (Malta, Gibraltar, Egypt), not UK, if they had no transport capacity to make/defend invasion. They had no planes, nor pilots to really challenge GB in 1940, so they would have to focus on expansion of those arms in winter 1940. With no need for expansion for ground arm (no USSR attack), Graf Zeppelin could probably be launched, and with safe exchange of technology with Japan (by sea, or by neutral USSR) she could actually work.

Also, Commonwealth troops have safer, and in most cases (India/Australia) shorter trip to Africa, not UK.

Now, considering defeat in Africa, German troops should actually enter India by map edge, not make some weird amphibious invasions from Africa.


And in most cases I do not even watch on commanders, so who cares about their rank, or name?

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

Now, considering defeat in Africa, German troops should actually enter India by map edge, not make some weird amphibious invasions from Africa.

The only problem with that is that Karachi IS the map edge. So I'd need to give the Axis Karachi. I suppose that wouldn't be all that much of a problem. I could have a kind of "Deutsche India Korps" stationed in Karachi. However, either way you cut it the Germans and Italians are probably going to need to enter the far east via sea transport. If you look at a world map of the area, the terrain West of Pakistan looks pretty uninviting for taking the land route.

NOTE: Thanks for the reply. It always worries me when I come back to a thread about my mod and find that no one has posted any responses. Makes me think no one really cares one way or the other about this mod. Of course that may well be true. Maybe I'm just wasting my time working on this. Probably everyone would rather play something historically based instead of a bunch of fantasy nonsense.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

My idea of a 111... He 111 H-4 of 4/KG.26. I used a too large top view pic in the 2 previous ones: they're 60 x 60 not 80 x 80, oops...

Looking good Erkki. Basically I'll be looking for both German and Italian aircraft to span the whole time period between 1/1/1942 to 1945, so anything you can make will probably go in the mod. [:)]

[chesmart]

Why dont you give germany back Tsingtao and base them there.