Polishing the (RHS) Apple (Updates in sight - or not)

[el cid again]

By reviewing as a player every unit on both sides, I am attempting to study the problems that exist in the RHS data set.
So are several other people. Given one can never get all the eratta out of a data set this large, it appears we are about as close as we can get to completed for the five non-EOS scenarios. EOS is a problem mainly with respect to playing a game with AI controlling Japan - and indeed - we know that is impossible anyway. When we get all the units as good as we can (in terms of loading, destinations, missions, etc) - and we are more than 99% of the way to that goal - we will
release a version that WILL work with AI (i.e. the interior river systems will be removed along with associate units).
But there is no point in that until we have it working right.

Another development thread is map art: Cobra released a Level 7 update today and we should expect to see corresponding Level 5 and maybe 6 art in due course. I plan to release polished pwhex files - probably today - for all levels.

Another development thread is ship art: Mifune and Blitzk are working on two different versions of these - both using the same pointers. As far as I know, the present pointers are all correct. However, I cannot be sure a comprehensive review won't turn up a pointer conflict (two classes pointing at the same art when they don't look the same)? IF there is a need, we will issue an update with these corrected. At that point - when ship art review is finished - wether or not we issue another update - Level 6 will be frozen forever (using the same ship art as Levels 5 and 6 do, pointer wise: the images change, but the pointers will not). I expect this to be done this week - one set is overdue and the other set is probably a few days out.

RHS is now playable in PBEM or FTF modes - and semi-playable with AI as Japan (if you can live with even more insane TF routings than always happens in WITP under AI control). I only contemplate fixing things - or doing enhancements incidental to fixing eratta. But naturally playing will reveal things, and from time to time enhancement updates may occur.
The process of attempting to construct player-turns is turning out to reveal issues - but this is winding down - and I think we are very close to playing vice updating (and starting development of a different game in the modern era in this same area). When I am satisfied with the state of all things - including art pointers - I will attempt to do a scenario for AI as Japan players - addressing Russian and river system matters.

[CobraAus]

Another development thread is map art: Cobra released a Level 7 update today and we should expect to see corresponding Level 5 and maybe 6 art in due course. I plan to release polished pwhex files - probably today - for all levels.

Level 5 and Level 6 maps will get the cosmetic up same as V7 but I am have a weeks break to recharge the brain - first in 3 years


Cobra

[m10bob]

Outstanding work, gentlemen.

[witpqs]

Sid,

Here is an an errata for you. It is in EOS, in the latest release you sent out (I checked the database).

Slot 2951
- Celebes Militia Battalion
- Appears on 1/15/43
- Appears in Morotai
- Attached to USSR Far East Cmd
- Prepared 100% for Celebes
- Is a Chinese unit
- Equipped with (among other things) Chinese 41 Rifle Squads

[el cid again]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Sid,

Here is an an errata for you. It is in EOS, in the latest release you sent out (I checked the database).

Slot 2951
- Celebes Militia Battalion
- Appears on 1/15/43
- Appears in Morotai
- Attached to USSR Far East Cmd
- Prepared 100% for Celebes
- Is a Chinese unit
- Equipped with (among other things) Chinese 41 Rifle Squads

Curiously enough, most of this is NOT eratta! It is a peculiar guerilla formation.

a) The name is correct

b) The date of arrival is correct

c) Location? Should be Makale.

d) The command is correct - it is communist

e) The nationality is correct - it is ethnic Chinese and being Chinese it will reappear if it is destroyed in only 30 days (although then the problem exists it will need to be reincerted somehow, somewhere - if not in DEI it will then model lots of partisans the Soviets formed up in a semi abstract sense)

Note in particular this unit begins with a lot of supply - and it gains supply every day even if isolated - although not enough to sustain it at full size. It also begins at only 10% strength. IF it is able to find supplies, it will tend to grow to full size. If not, it will still grow until it is 33% strength, and then tend to stay about that size - even if it takes losses.
If it is able to find a few supplies at friendly sources - Makale produces far more than it needs - it will grow to full size. These guerilla units are pesky.

Note also that there are two species of guerillas in the DEI - communist ones being Allied and Anti-Dutch ones being Axis - which was literally the case during the war. The Anti-Dutch (and anti-communist) ones never left the field until they won independence. By the time the war ended, they had their own mini air force - supplied by the Japanese. The Anti-Dutch are found on Java. The communists on major outlieing islands - Celebes and Sumatra in particular.