Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Central Blue

I guess it wouldn't surprise me if there were a fare number of older tanks left in Europe -- like M-60s and M-48's. Expensive to ship them home. Available for sale to allies still using them. And maybe even planned for use in a worst case scenario.

Nato operated using hand-me-down rules, whenever we upgraded a div based in europe all the old equiptment went to one of our poorer allies. IIRC old german (french, UK too?) hardware was also parceled out the same way, which meant natos 2nd tier armies had a godawful mix of armor from 2 or 3 different countries. Even with standard calibres for the guns, the logistics of that would have to suck.

ORIGINAL: DanNeely

IIRC old german (french, UK too?) hardware was also parceled out the same way,

British equipment tends to show up in various Commonwealth armies, so probably not so widely used in Europe. Dunno about the French.

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

ORIGINAL: DanNeely

IIRC old german (french, UK too?) hardware was also parceled out the same way,

British equipment tends to show up in various Commonwealth armies, so probably not so widely used in Europe. Dunno about the French.

IIRC the Dutch and the Danes used [early model] Centurions. I know the Greeks used hand-me-down AMX-30s & later Leo1s.

After reading all the comments and suggestions for TOAW 3 it is obvious, as Ralph has pointed out and responded to, a good number of people want scenarios designed for play against the PO. I have a design for a scenario designed to be played against AOwPI (pronounced “Oh’pee”) which stands for Artificial Opponent with Programmed Intelligence. It is an Earthling (human) against AOwPI; a challenging scenario against AOwPI which can be played in an evening when your PBM mates have let you down, or when you just feel like something different.

The basic features of the scenario are:
1) Randomized forces deployed for AOwPI
2) Randomized forces available to the Earthling, deployed using supply points
3) Random placement of the Earthling’s ‘Primary Objective’
4) Random placement of the Earthling’s ‘Secondary Objective’
5) Extensive use of events to randomize AOwPI’s attack and defense postures
6) Extensive use of events to screw up the weather
7) Timed events in which AOwPI gets X VPs per turn plus any VPs for kills; the fist side to reach 200 VPs, wins . . . about 30 turns total
8) The scenario is set in 1937 (go figure)
9) Theater Recon is extremely limited
10) The scenario is hypothetical (go figure again)
11) Provisions are included to fully support PBM (Earthling vs Earthling) play
12) Randomized Supply Points

In the early stages of design there are approximately 60 variations possible for Primary and Secondary objectives. Combine this with the thousands of possible force deployment combinations and you will never see the same scenario twice. For me, every time the scenario is fired up a new game is played. I find this much more appealing than playing scenarios where the troops, deployment and events are static from game to game.

The whole point of the scenario is to provide the Earthlings with fresh and challenging scenarios with each launch.

Right now the scenario is being designed for TOAW OPART300, but I have every intention to port the scenario to TOAW 3. With the AOwPI enhancements described by Ralph, this scenario should only get better.

Depending on the reception, I have a couple of other ideas for additional AOwPI scenarios. I'm sure that other Earthlings have excellent ideas for additional scenarios.

Regards, RhinoBones

I forgot a link that might be of interest to Stevens and Rob:

http://cgsc.cdm.oclc.org/cdm4/item_view ... =162&REC=3

Working title for the scenario is now The Wetterau Corridor.

ORIGINAL: rhinobones
It is an Earthling (human) against AOwPI; a challenging scenario against AOwPI which can be played in an evening when your PBM mates have let you down, or when you just feel like something different.

Wow!

That sounds very kewl. Not only interested in playing it, but picking it apart to see how you made it!

Ray (alias Lava)

I have a design for a scenario designed to be played against AOwPI (pronounced “Oh’pee”) which stands for Artificial Opponent with Programmed Intelligence. It is an Earthling (human) against AOwPI; a challenging scenario against AOwPI which can be played in an evening when your PBM mates have let you down, or when you just feel like something different.

Rhino, that would be great! Is this a further development of the scenario you posted for the Mini-scenario tournament at szo? You MUST do it ! [&o]

ORIGINAL: rhinobones

After reading all the comments and suggestions for TOAW 3 it is obvious, as Ralph has pointed out and responded to, a good number of people want scenarios designed for play against the PO. I have a design for a scenario designed to be played against AOwPI (pronounced “Oh’pee”) which stands for Artificial Opponent with Programmed Intelligence. It is an Earthling (human) against AOwPI; a challenging scenario against AOwPI which can be played in an evening when your PBM mates have let you down, or when you just feel like something different.

Awesome, let me know if you need help understanding why 'Elmer' does some things that he does. Also, let me know what I need to look into putting into the next release for 'Elmer' I have some ideas, but I'm always open to other ideas.

Ralph

ORIGINAL: Telumar
Rhino, that would be great! Is this a further development of the scenario you posted for the Mini-scenario tournament at szo? You MUST do it !

You obviously know your tournaments and scenarios. You are correct, the new scenario uses some elements first tested in Cheese Wars but also includes some very important elements from another 10 turn scenario named Operation Barbaro. If you think you might be interested in Operation Barbaro, I can send a copy.

ORIGINAL: Ralph
Awesome, let me know if you need help understanding why 'Elmer' does some things that he does. Also, let me know what I need to look into putting into the next release for 'Elmer' I have some ideas, but I'm always open to other ideas.!

Thanks for the support. Don’t know that I need to know the reasons why Elmer produces certain results, but there are always going to be questions as to ‘what would happen if’ and ‘why didn’t it’ . . . fill in the blank.

I would expect that a forum sticky will be posted to collect all of the suggestion for future TOAW 3 releases. I know that as I try to port scenarios to TOAW 3 there will be both questions and recommendations. I’m sure you are expecting a ton of questions and gripes once TOAW 3 hits the streets. You should also expect tons of well deserved kudos for your efforts.

The only suggestion I currently have for TOAW 3 is to make a companion game named TOAW-WEGO. That would certainly keep you busy for a very long time!!

Regards, RhinoBones

ORIGINAL: rhinobones

You obviously know your tournaments and scenarios. You are correct, the new scenario uses some elements first tested in Cheese Wars but also includes some very important elements from another 10 turn scenario named Operation Barbaro. If you think you might be interested in Operation Barbaro, I can send a copy.

What's the difference between cheese wars and operation Barbaro? You can send me a copy if you want to Stefan.goehring@student.uni-tuebingen.de , but i am more interested and looking forward for your new scenario..especially with toaw3
Thanks and happy eastern.

ORIGINAL: rhinobones
The only suggestion I currently have for TOAW 3 is to make a companion game named TOAW-WEGO. That would certainly keep you busy for a very long time!!

The only way I can see it working well is to do away with the rounds system. The combat rules would also have to be modified to take into account meeting engagements, who was the attacker, etc. The replay code would also have to be made more robust. To me, it makes the most sense in smaller scenarios, with a continuous internet connection, I'm not sure it makes as much sense for the larger scenarios that some people want to play.

I'd need to split the code to allow a planning and execute phase, that's probably the hardest part.

If anything like that happened, it would be a way off. I need to rewrite the code to bring it into the 21st century first, that's a non-trivial task. The event system and AI/PO are probably going to come first. It's in the pot with everything else. We'll finalize plans after we see how well TOAW 3 is received.

Ralph

ORIGINAL: Telumar

What's the difference between cheese wars and operation Barbaro?

Cheese Wars has two equally armed opponents with the deployment of forces and objectives randomized. Operation Barbaro has a strong aggressor invading a weaker defended. Once again the forces, deployment and objectives are randomized. No doubt the aggressor will overpower the defender; it is just a question of whether it can be done within the time limitations. Both of these scenarios are good for both PBM and AOwPI games.

The new scenario will be more like a larger version of Operation Barbaro.

Regards, RhinoBones

ORIGINAL: Telumar

I have a design for a scenario designed to be played against AOwPI (pronounced “Oh’pee”) which stands for Artificial Opponent with Programmed Intelligence. It is an Earthling (human) against AOwPI; a challenging scenario against AOwPI which can be played in an evening when your PBM mates have let you down, or when you just feel like something different.

Rhino, that would be great! Is this a further development of the scenario you posted for the Mini-scenario tournament at szo? You MUST do it ! [&o]

The design has now progresses to the point where the aggressor is given both a random Primary and Secondary objectives. 11 Primary objectives and 12 Secondary objectives; this yields 132 possible objective tracks for the Earthling Force 1 player.

Add to this the randomization of the forces (another several 100,000 possibilities) and this may be a challenging ‘Fog of War’ scenario against AOwPI.

I will be on vacation to San Francisco, Daly City, Sur Point and the Red Wood starting April 28th, so this scenario will probably not be ready for test until mid-late June.

Can't figure out how to attach a picture . . . so maybe I'll post it on the SZO site.

Anyone in the Bay area I can visit? Send a private mail.

Regards, RhinoBones

ORIGINAL: rhinobones
Anyone in the Bay area I can visit?

I suggest visiting Colin Wright. An experience.

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

ORIGINAL: rhinobones
Anyone in the Bay area I can visit?

I suggest visiting Colin Wright. An experience.

Thank you.

Colin, might you be available any time Apr 30 thru May 2. I can handle an 'Experience'. After all, I am visiting SF and a hot bed of liberal thinking!!

Regards, RhinoBones

ORIGINAL: Lava

Hi!

Just wondering if anyone was inspired by the upcoming release to start working on new user scenarios?

Personally, although I've never published a scenario, I am working on new european war scenario tentatively named "The Fourth Republic."

Ray (alias Lava)

It has been a long while since I had thought about TOAW:COW. I know I have the original disk somewhere as well as all of the updates... I have a 5km map of Europe about 95% completed. I last worked on it around the end of 2001. It covers UK to Poland and N. italy to the southern Sweden. Anyone intereseted in it PM me. Lots more stuff I never got around to doing anything with. Maybe when the new release comes out I might get back into it.

ORIGINAL: rhinobones

Colin, might you be available any time Apr 30 thru May 2. I can handle an 'Experience'. After all, I am visiting SF and a hot bed of liberal thinking!!

Sadly Colin doesn't read this forum. I mentioned it to him on IM and apparently his wife objected for some reason. Oh well.

I'm working on a scenario called "On to Philadelphia". It's based on Harry Turtledove's Great War novels. The scale is 2.5 Km with Bn sized units. Tane Woodley provided the OOB and the basic event structure. The Map, deployment & event chrome are mine. I hope to start playtesting in May.

Rhino...

I'll be on full kid duty during your trip. My game enabler will be traveling on biz.

I reccomend The Ramp for a Bloody Mary hangover cure. Not that I've had the need since we started having kids. [;)]

Golden Boy Pizza and The Bohemian Cigar Store in North Beach used to still be authentic when me and the missus were still in the mix. Lower Clement Street is like China Town without the hype. Chestnut Street and Union Street if you want to meet yuppies -- or whatever they are called these days. Never buy coffee at a Starbucks. Go to Peets or one of the independents.They were roasting coffee in Frisco when Seattle was a howling wilderness.

There are lots of military sites to visit if you're inclined. Fort Point is closed. But there are still a lot of gun emplacements and a Nike site to visit (opposite sides of the Gate.) Liverpool Lil's is a nice place by the Presidio if you visit there.

Remember what Mark Twain said about the coldest winter he ever experienced, dress appropriately, and you won't look like a tourist.

Have fun.

Here is a screen shot of a 2.5km BN/CO scale battle in SE France June 1940.