RHS Level II Update Link 2.20
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=3 ... file%2cmsi
This update corresponds to 1.461 of Level I, but with additional
work done, including a new (not yet completed) pwzlink.dat file.
As well, it has the new pwzone.dat file. This goes a long way toward
making the new off map locations work - but still more work is needed.
As well, it relocates ships to test polynya - areas in the ice where the
water never freezes - two of which permit winter navigation - something
not present in Level I.
The new allied Boeing 247 is in odd numbered scenarios. In 125
(and the future 129) - Japan Enhanced Scenarios - Canada puts its
planes in the West (they really served in the East) - in the form of 141
Squadron - which isn't in other scenarios. It can upgrade to Beechcraft,
Dakota or other transports when/if available.
Remarks below generally apply as well. You have new air art, new scenario
files, new pwzlink.dat and pwzone.dat files, and many updated documentation
files. Three off map locations don't yet work - but probably will even in ongoing
games - if I get the pwlink.dat file fully configured. And I am getting technical
support from Matrix, so that is likely. One editor has been rewritten and two more
will be to facilitate this work.
This unplanned update was made for several reasons.
There is a change to the aircraft art and we keep Level I in sync with Level II
in that respect rather than have two standards. As well, there are new aircraft,
which, since we were reworking the Level I files, we added. The most interesting
of these is the Ki-105 (formerly Ku-7 II) twin engine, ultra long range transport -
a glider upgraded with engines. Here, I actually made the top art and alpha myself,
which is unusual, by modifying the Ku-7 I images done by Cobra AUS long ago.
Working on that, I figured out that the Ku-8 I, which was developed in the first part
of 1942, was never put into production. An improved version, already added, the Ku-8 II, was mass produced in 1944 (700 examples). So I changed the way RHS treats
them - the Ku-8 I exists but is not in production, although a player may produce it.
The Ku-8 II gets a much higher rate of production than it had before - in strictly historical scenarios. Neither type is in production in Japan Enhanced Scenarios,
but may be put into production (because I think glider production may be a mistake
in terms of resource allocation - JES scenarios have no glider regiments - substituting more transport regiments. Both glider plane units and troop units are replaced by regular air transports and light parachute regiments.
The Boeing 247, the first modern airliner, was added to art - but not to Level I aircraft files. It is present for use by Level II. Level II 1.46 will release tomorrow.
There is at least one new device. An airborne Type 3 Special tankette was added, but it only appears in JES scenarios because it was not put into production. It is essentially a machine gun tank (there were three versions, but it is the practical one),
and it is small enough to move on Ku-8 II. A type 95 light tank can be moved by a Ku-7 I (but not II). This means the single airborne "armor" company can be airlifted by gliders or by heavy regular transports, if either is produced - in 1944.
There is some eratta of all types which, when significant, was backfitted and held against this day, when a release would happen. Most of this will update into old games. All of it will make new games run better in some sense.
There is no present plan to update again, but it is likely there will be occasional releases similar to this one.