Leros 1943 update: Viva Italia!

[Hoplomachia]

When playing as Allies and using the option Favour Allies in the Reinforcement schedule, the Italian 1st battallion of the 10th regiment (Regina Divison) and an MG company which was historically present on Leros, is now also present in the scenario from the start at Regio Marina HQ in Portolago. While under overall British command, these troops will be commanded by Admiral Luigi Mascherpa.

[Note: Australian Estab units has been used to simulate Italian troops under Allied command. Care has been taken to duplicate equivalent allied weapon types and numbers to replace Italian ditto as much as possible.]

Island Prize v. 1.01 [Scenario file only]

Now go get those Axis invaders [:)]

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: Hoplomachia
Now go get those Axis invaders [:)]

YES SIR !

Thanks for the updated version

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[Renato]

At the moment I am engaged in other battles, but I will surely not miss this one, especially because I am curious to see Italians with the Aussies' stamina. [:)]

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: Renato
At the moment I am engaged in other battles, but I will surely not miss this one, especially because I am curious to see Italians with the Aussies' stamina. [:)]

... and how they managed to cook the pasta on the BBQ [:D]

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[GoodGuy]

Maybe include a hint (that a new alternative reinforcement schedule is available) in the scenario briefing.

[Hoplomachia]

Thanks for the heads up GoodGuy, I forgot that.

Now corrected and will be part of the current download.

[Helpless]

Well done, Leonidas!

Managed to get marginal victory as Allies with Italians [:)].

Very dynamic invasions and relatively small island map make it very interesting for me. [&o]

[Hoplomachia]

Thanks Helpless.

In addition you could try to use the Favour Axis option in the Axis Reinforcement schedule.
This will result in an earlier FJ drop on Day 1 (as historically planned by Müller) and Kampfgruppe Dörr will succeed dodging the coastal batteries and land in Palma Bay on Day 1 as well (as they tried unsuccessfully several times). All this means that even with help from the Italians, you will be very busy.

[Renato]

I'm sorry, but didn't succeed in playing.

I have:
- downloaded Island Prize v. 1.01
- extracted the new file Island Prize.AAS 22/01/2007 19.39 on the desktop
- substituted it to the old file with the same name in the MODS/ Leros Island Prize/ Scenarios folder.

Nothing seems changed and I can't see any Australian Estabs.
Could please anybody help me?

[Hoplomachia]

Renato,

As you are using the Generic Mod Enabler, you must always deactivate a mod before adding new files.

Follow this procedure:
1. Deactivate Leros 1943.
2. Place scenario file in MODS folder.
3. Activate Leros 1943.

[Renato]

Silly me! You're very kind, Leonidas.

Now I can play. [:D]

[Renato]

These Italians are really dreadful! Training, fitness, aggression, stubborness are all more than satisfactory. If I had not known it for sure, I would have taken them for Aussies. [:)]

And they are even smart! They prepared defensive positions in the precise location where the Fallschirmjaeger were going to airdrop, and were ready to receive them.

ORIGINAL: sterckxe
... and how they managed to cook the pasta on the BBQ

No problem with pasta reported, but I'm not sure they used BBQ.

All said, we as the Allies achieved a marginal victory after bitter fighting. (standard / normal)

Now, I'm waiting for Narvik.

[Hoplomachia]

Well done Renato.

Actually I have given the FJs several drop zones, which is randomly decided by COTA, but of course all are nearby Mt. Rachi and Mt. Germano. You should have another try with the Favour Axis option, so that the FJs will drop earlier and you will be less prepared.

Narvik is progessing nicely, more to come.

[Lord_Stanley]

This looks good. How do I download it?

OK, I just found the link and downloaded it. I'm just starting to figure out how to run mods.

[Banquet]

What is the generic mod enabler? - I don't think I've heard of it before.

[Hoplomachia]

The Generic Mod Enabler is a freeware tool developed by Jaesen Jones (Jonesoft).

By placing your mod files in a MODS directory using original folder names under any game directory, you will be able to activate and deactivate your mods as you wish. The Generic Mod Enabler will also warn of any file conflicts.
This is good because mods often changes the standard game files and by using GME there is no need for backup. Modders are of course obliged to deliver their mods within the original folder format, but its easy to recreate by yourself.

Get GME here (instructions included):

Generic Mod Enabler

[jhdeerslayer]

Enjoyed your scenario mate and you obviously put a lot of time in to it. I easily won as the Germans but as in real life. I'll go back now and play as the Allies with maybe a little boost for my side...

Thanks again and Narvik sounds wonderful.[&o][&o]

[Renato]

Tried the option Favour Axis / Standard and achieved a marginal victory as Allies. Victory Points were 100 to 58 and so not very far from a decisive victory, but I was somewhat lucky.

This time the final clash happened at Leros Castle instead of Mt. Meraviglia. The AI seems very able to find the weakest spots and to adjust its plans. It was not much commented, but I think the strategic level has been hugely improved with respect to HTTR.

In conclusion, a very enjoyable scenario!

[Arjuna]

Renato,
 
Thanks for the comments on the strategic AI. I spent a fair amount of time on improving this code. The two biggest improvements were in the force allocation code and in the culling of objectives.
 
Previously we allocated forces in chuncks, trying to keep organic forces together. This was sub-optimal, so I completely overhauled the allocation code. It now allocated each and every unit separately. Line units are allocated first, then HQs and support units. Bias is added to encourage organics to stick together. Special Requirements are added to each objective - eg must have line unit/eng/arty, prefer recon etc. The allocation process is done in many passes with checks to ensure that requirements are met and not exceeded too far. All in all it is a far superior method.
 
We now cull the set of active objectives to try and filter out those we have no chance of achieving and those we should leave till later. The sequential cull for instance endeavours to cull distant objectives where the route to them passes through a closer objective. In which case the forces allocated to the distant objective is assigned instead to the closer objective. This has the effect of amassing forces for breakthroughs rather than penny packeting them out.
 
Of course there is always more we can and will do to improve the strategic AI.

[flintlock]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

Of course there is always more we can and will do to improve the strategic AI.

Ahh, just what I need--a larger slice of humble pie! [;)]