FWII NATO Counters - Version 1.4

[PHalen]

I unabashedly plagiarized your and SIPRES' great work for personal use without permission

It’s not like we’re talking IPR’s here...
This is an open custom shop. As I'm sure it was intended to be. And that's the beauty of it!

Having said that, I agonized a LOT about how SIPRES might feel about me hijacking & fiddling with his great counter design concept.
So I was very relieved when he commented favorably on most of my adjustments.
Except on my color choices...[:)]

I’ve tried to state as clearly as I can that the FWII NATO Counter mod isn’t created by me alone.

The French HQ are screwed up (you can still see the gold HQ under the counter

I've checked & can confirm that this issue isn't coming from my updated file in my initial post.

[PHalen]

You really need your own tread mroyer cause I’m now 100% confused! [8|] [:D]

I suppose what Taxman66 mean is something like the UK Army on the pic below.
I would however feel reluctant about implementing such squares on the FWII NATO Counters.
But it could be done as a variant, based on demand.

[Taxman66]

Close. My suggestion (and I have no idea if it is possible) would be a smaller box just around the white '10', not a complete stripe across the lower quarter.

[mroyer]

ORIGINAL: PHalen

You really need your own tread mroyer cause I’m now 100% confused! [8|] [:D]

Yeah, sorry for that - I had no intent to usurp your thread.

ORIGINAL: PHalen

The French HQ are screwed up (you can still see the gold HQ under the counter

I've checked & can confirm that this issue isn't coming from my updated file in my initial post.

Oops... didn't mean for you to go searching. It is my error from the get-go and I know exactly how to fix it - just need to do it.

[PHalen]

Close. My suggestion (and I have no idea if it is possible) would be a smaller box just around the white '10...

Ah! Yes. A small box just around the ”10” is definitely possible.
Another even smaller box around the little green (& very handy) upgrade indicators is also possible.
As is a combined box around both.

I’m currently not sure if the request is for the FWII NATO Counters or for mroyer’s high contrast counters however so I’m laying low with further adjustment samples.

Personally, I think one consistent counter color is cleaner.
But I'd be happy to make variants!

[PHalen]

I had no intent to usurp your thread

No worries mroyer!
Good luck with your great high contrast counter mod that has already been well received!

[PJL1973]

ORIGINAL: Taxman66

Close. My suggestion (and I have no idea if it is possible) would be a smaller box just around the white '10', not a complete stripe across the lower quarter.

Actually, the rectangle in the counter as shown is fine as you also need to make sure the even smaller upgrade numbers are visible.

[PHalen]

High contrast rectangles won’t work well on naval & air units.

I've removed the previously provided link to a file containing slightly darker Brits from this post and my dropbox.
Since HimAgain generously provided a better solution in post #54, with the effect as seen in post #55.
And to minimize the number of unit versions to maintain...

[PHalen]

Updated version 1.2 is now available in my initial post.
Version 1.2 feature Hs123 instead of Ju87B as German TAC 0.
And a recommendation added to the "Historical Flag Mod" by Philippeatbay.

[Taxman66]

Quick questions:
For the countries using a yellow center background color, how do you differentiate tanks vs heavy tanks?

Would it be possible to get a planes only version of this mod? Perhaps with game original countries' background color?

The counters look great, but for me I'm not a fan of certain changes (specialty INF (ENG, SEC et...) but particularly the ships. These are just my personal preferences, don't go out of your way just for me.

[PHalen]

For the countries using a yellow center background color, how do you differentiate tanks vs heavy tanks?

USSR heavy tanks will look like on the pic below. (From the opening of campaign "1944 D-Day to Berlin".)
Admittedly a bit tricky to distinguish from the "medium" tank that can also be seen.

Not sure where my affection for mustard colored Russians come from.
Probably from Squad Leader...[:'(]

[Taxman66]

That question (about the tanks) was mostly directed to Mark R's high contrast. It doesn't apply (except slightly to the Soviets) for your base mod.

If you ever decide to seperate out the planes (or make an alternate ship version that looks closer to the stock nato naval counters) please let me know. It would be much appreciated

[PHalen]

Would it be possible to get a planes only version of this mod? Perhaps with game original countries' background color?

The counters look great, but for me I'm not a fan of certain changes (specialty INF (ENG, SEC et...) but particularly the ships.

Are you pulling my leg?
The naval units are my favorites!!! [:D]
My initial idea for the Bleached Map was actually to accentuate them!

Would you prefer alternative naval units looking something like the pic below?
But with vanilla counter colors for better contrast?

I like & am not planning to adjust SIPRES's ENG & SEC unit symbols however.
Basically because the Engineer units effectively are construction workers (i.e. civilians) rather than combat engineers.
And Garrisons units are often used as security forces to prevent partisan activities.

[Taxman66]

Yes, exactly. I suppose an internal transparent box around the silhouette or below it would be a compromise.

I do like them, but would also be more inclined (as in 'very') to overlook them without seeing a full square counter. Particularly at the larger scale map view.

The Paras, SEC and Engineers I could learn to live with. However, I disagree about them being 'civilian'. They have better combat values than Corps almost as good as an Army.

I played a lot of World in Flames, so have grown accustomed to those nato counters. Partly why I like the downward facing E for engineers and the elongated m for paratroopers (as per the core and the high contrast variant). I'm also used to different looking Gar; But those are just my preferences I can easily learn to live without. The ships, however, I know I would overlook.

[mroyer]

ORIGINAL: PHalen
The naval units are my favorites!!! [:D]

Agreed.
-Mark R.

[Taxman66]

And like I said before, I would also be estatic with a planes only version that matched the core colors.

DO NOT go out of your way to just accomodate me.

[PHalen]

No worries!
I’m not in the habit of going out of my way just to accommodate taxmen anyway…[:D]

Your suggested alternative naval counters are interesting, and probably easier to play with, so I can promise you those as alternatives.
Just don’t sit up & wait for them cause I’m probably talking weeks.
The naval counters will be slightly bigger than the ground unit counters.
I want to avoid multiple background colors, so no squares.

As an ex Europa Series guy myself I know exactly what you mean with the NATO symbols for paras & engineers.
I really like SIPRES’s artistic renderings however and I think they work well with his beautiful Special Forces & Shock Armies so I’m not planning to change para or engineer symbols. Sorry!

Also, no promises on vanilla color alternatives.
But maybe somewhere down the line based on demand.

I had no idea that Engineers are so powerful, so thanks for the heads-up!
(I’m a pretty casual beer & pretzel type of gamer these days...)

[mroyer]

ORIGINAL: PHalen
As an ex Europa Series guy myself...

Me too! I use to play a ton of Europa way back when...

-Mark R.

[PHalen]

A concept test of zoomed-in "Bismarck II" undergoing initial trial runs in the Baltic Sea:

[PHalen]

Zoomed-out view:

Creating alternative naval units for all nations & tech levels will however require significantly more work than I initially assumed...[:(]

And I'd like to spend some time on gaming now so I really cannot tell when they will be made.