The Elf's Poll

[bradfordkay]

I use your CHS planetops, as well as your loading and savegame screens.

dtravel, one reason I use the CHS is that it has already broken down all the bomber groups and fighter groups into squadrons. I recall Russ saying that the higher the number of sub units you have in your game, the higher the likelihood of the leader bug appearing (disappearing?). With the groups broken down into squadrons, it is easier to make use of the smaller airfields without overstacking.

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

still using the CHS artwork (planetops) though i should probably download the stock version. This is on Spooky's site i assume?

Yes they are all available on Spooky's and Rogue's sites. I have a more up-to-date Stock 15 file that I use in my game that addresses the alignment issues in the current file. I will release that soon.

[Banquet]

CHS and Stock Planetops, both sides. Love em!

[Black Mamba 1942]

I use the CHS tops exclusively.[;)]

[captskillet]

CHS tops, both sides.

Pinup save screen!

[jcjordan]

I've loaded the CHS planetops but I don't use that view much unless I'm looking for exactly what is happening when a combat event occurs to see if anything strange going on.

[medicff]

ORIGINAL: TheElf

Need some user feedback. I'll list the products I have produced, and request anyone who uses them to reply with what you use. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on anything. I am trying to survey the community in an effort to focus in an area where people get enjoyment out of my products. So if you want to see more of something then say so!

BTW. I am aware of some minor alignment issues in the Stock planetops, but PLEASE post anything YOU have seen...I may not have seen it yet. Thanks!

CHS planetops
-Allied
-Japanese

Stock planetops
-Allied
-Japanese

Pinup Load screens
Pinup Savegame screens

[&o][&o][&o]Stock planetops - Love them, very nice. [&o][&o][&o]Adds much visual to gameplay. Last big leap for me was subchaser's map.

What are the best ships icons - don't mean to hijack thread.[8D]

[FeurerKrieg]

All your tops, and the 'black' pinup load screen.

[m10bob]

I use your CHS planetops, and appreciate how you show the color variation of the later models as it helps me to identify which units have upgraded. (Olive drab B 24's going silver, etc.)[:D]

[Alikchi2]

Elf - I lied about going to bed in the email - I did some quick testing with your late-war aircraft after I saw this thread.

I think these are the only issues I've ever spotted with your tops. Everything else looks fantastic. [8D]



1945 carrier battle!

[TheElf]

hmmm. Of note, you have no art for the TBY SeaWolf. Was that something you requested. I don't remember it.

It is good you posted this. This is exactly the kind of feedback I am interested in. There is obviously something going on with the F7F and F8F, but I'm not sure what. Those two were some of the first tops I ever did, yet I've never seen them in game. I shall look into them.

Unfortunately the problem with the Reppu and the Helldiver are compatibility issues with the combat screen you are using. Planetops are done on a Sky Blue background and as such when they are transposed over the Stock Air to Air Combat Screen the blue/white halos around the edges are not visible. This looks like one of Sarges great Combat screens, but it unfortunately has mostly a Forest green backdrop. It isn't very compatible with even stock art...

[TheElf]

How did that carrier battle go BTW?

[Alikchi2]

ORIGINAL: TheElf

hmmm. Of note, you have no art for the TBY SeaWolf. Was that something you requested. I don't remember it.

It is good you posted this. This is exactly the kind of feedback I am interested in. There is obviously something going on with the F7F and F8F, but I'm not sure what. Those two were some of the first tops I ever did, yet I've never seen them in game. I shall look into them.

Unfortunately the problem with the Reppu and the Helldiver are compatibility issues with the combat screen you are using. Planetops are done on a Sky Blue background and as such when they are transposed over the Stock Air to Air Combat Screen the blue/white halos around the edges are not visible. This looks like one of Sarges great Combat screens, but it unfortunately has mostly a Forest green backdrop. It isn't very compatible with even stock art...

It's odd - I've never seen anything like this before. Hopefully I'll be able to spot something else for you soon (if there is something else) - I'll be doing a lot more testing as I get closer to release. I've created a small tutorial-ish scenario to run all the aircraft through their paces..

And doh! Too bad about Sarge's backdrops - I'll have to drop them..

How did that carrier battle go BTW?

It came out a draw. I had Akagi and Kaga (with Reppus and Graces as their airgroups) versus Midway and Franklin D Roosevelt (Bearcats, Hellcats, Sea Wolfs, and Helldivers). The Americans had a big numbers advantage, but I had forgotten to change the experience levels of Akagi and Kaga's daitais to 1945 levels.. so, ouch. The Bearcat and Reppu are normally even but the 90exp Japanese pilots hurt the American attack bad. Still, the Sea Wolfs and Helldivers got through, both Japanese flat tops were crippled and speed slowed to a couple of knots. They sunk the next day.

The Japanese counterstrike was surprisingly powerful. The Grace played a big role here. It's very, very fast and I noticed it had much less trouble with the fighters and flak than the Sea Wolfs and Helldivers. Plus, they can carry the 800kg bomb, which is extremely deadly.. FDR was holed by several torps and 5 bombs, Midway escaped with a couple of 60kg bomb hits and a torpedo that did nothing. FDR sunk at the end of the turn.

So: 1 American carrier sunk, one lightly damaged. Two Japanese aircraft carriers crippled, will not make it home. The biggest determinant here was pilot XP. If I had remembered to bring the Japanese down to realistic levels, they would have gotten knocked out of the sky.

Oh and -
I think I requested the SeaWolf, but I may have forgotten to - I've just been using the TBM art and slot while I've been working out the stats for her (gotta remember to ask Nik how he calculates speed..)

[TheElf]

I'll add the SeaWolf to your IS2 Palette. Probably this weekend.

[steveh11Matrix]

None of the above, I play with the stock graphics only - they're plenty good enough for me.

On the other hand, I play with the databases quite extensively.

Steve.

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: steveh11Matrix

None of the above, I play with the stock graphics only - they're plenty good enough for me.

You've got to be kidding...

[DuckofTindalos]

Hmmm, I use your Tigercat and Bearcat tops in my mod as well, and they look good enough. Not knackered, like Alikchis, that's for sure...

[Alikchi2]

It might be just because I used Sarge's background. Hmm..

[DuckofTindalos]

Gotta be...

[dtravel]

ORIGINAL: TheElf

ORIGINAL: steveh11Matrix

None of the above, I play with the stock graphics only - they're plenty good enough for me.

You've got to be kidding...

Why? This isn't a first-person shooter game or something like that who's whole appeal is the eye-candy. Its a grand strategy game. The ability of the graphics to convey information in a usable fashion is a high priority in that type of game. If a player gets the necessary information, why mess with it? Personally, I'm not looking at the pretty pics during the combat replays, I'm looking at numbers and types of units involved. If I could I'd turn the battle animations off except they are the only source of usable LCU combat information and details of the size of hits taken by ships in combat.

Now, that's me and I understand that other people want different graphics. But (stop reading if you can't take rants) I am also beginning to get tired of people looking down their nose at me because I'm not using someone else's personal modification of the program. (rant over)