Matrix Games Forums

I'm working on making additional Preset lists for the Random Battle Generator. For those that don't have the game, the RBG picks units from the game data based first on the timeframe that you select when creating the battle. It then looks at the prevalence of all the units in a category (such as medium tanks)in that timeframe and creates a percentage of chance that a unit will be picked. The preset also contains the percentage of points used for each category so that tank presets have a high percentage for armour and low for infantry, guns, OBA, transport and air.

For example we have a Panzer Battalion preset that has the usual troops and guns, but the tank selection runs from PZII to Panther, no Tigers or StuGs or other TDs/assault guns.

I created one for fun called Katz that has all the infantry and guns but only Puma, Lynx, Panther and Tiger for late war AFVs.

I would like to see suggestions from you of what you would like to see on a preset list so that when you click the dropdown to choose a preset, it will give you what you expect in the game. Also what is the historical list, such as, should a preset named Panzer Battalion have assault guns included? Recon? Guns?

Would these preset lists be moddable as in an XML file or some such?

Yes, that is what I am doing, editing the xml. The preset folder has a default preset and a few created ones. I am just adding some extra ones to give the casual player more choices.
You and others can make your own and share them.

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

I would like to see suggestions from you of what you would like to see on a preset list so that when you click the dropdown to choose a preset, it will give you what you expect in the game.

Maybe you could have some structures that are unit-specific, for the Grossdeutschland Division for instance. I realize that these units were supposed to have uniform TOE structures and such, but the exceptions would appear to outweigh convention, at least in regard to German formations.

That's what I'm looking for. Someone with the knowledge of what I should include and exclude from the list so that if GD never had StuGs, I would exclude them from the list.

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

That's what I'm looking for. Someone with the knowledge of what I should include and exclude from the list so that if GD never had StuGs, I would exclude them from the list.

Do you have a list of units that you're interested in, or is this pot-luck?[;)]

Also, are you interested in having an individual unit broken down by operational period, again with the GD as an example?

If so, we can simply allot the vehicle types on a proportional basis (as I suspect is also your intention).

BYOOOB?

If you have the previous games the xmls are the same if you want to open one and have a look.
Notepad ++ is freeware and does a good job.

Here is a clip of infantry from the current Panzer Battalion
<unit unitid="Sd Kfz 222" unitname="Aufkl Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Sd Kfz 222/5" unitname="Aufkl Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Sd Kfz 231" unitname="Aufkl Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Sd Kfz 250" unitname="Halftrack Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Sd Kfz 251" unitname="Halftrack Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Opel Blitz" unitname="Truck Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="MG34 HMG Team" unitname="HMG Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="MG42 HMG Team" unitname="HMG Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="MG42 HMG Team 43" unitname="HMG Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pz Grenadier 41" unitname="PzGren Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pz Grenadier 42" unitname="PzGren Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pz Grenadier 43" unitname="PzGren Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pz Grenadier 44" unitname="PzGren Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pz Grenadier 44 Late" unitname="PzGren Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pz Grenadier 45" unitname="PzGren Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pioneer 41" unitname="Pioneer Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pioneer 42" unitname="Pioneer Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pioneer 43" unitname="Pioneer Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pioneer 44" unitname="Pioneer Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pioneer 44 Late" unitname="Pioneer Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Pioneer 45" unitname="Pioneer Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Tank Hunter 43" unitname="Tank Hunter Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Tank Hunter 43 Late" unitname="Tank Hunter Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Tank Hunter 44" unitname="Tank Hunter Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Tank Hunter 44 Late" unitname="Tank Hunter Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="Tank Hunter 45" unitname="Tank Hunter Platoon" ></unit>
<unit unitid="50mm GW36 Mortar" unitname=" Light Mortar Platoon" ></unit>

Notice there are no Regular infantry because they would not be assigned to a Panzer Bat.

An infantry preset would have all the different infantry types, but only support AFVs.

Using your GD example, what could they have had 41-45 and what did they never have 41-45?

Just for example, the Big Bird battalion, you would tell me, assuming that they were not Pz Grenadiers

41-45 Infantry
41-45 Pioneers
222
PZIII
Trucks
44-45 PZIV

I would then enter all of the infantry types, pioneer types, variants of 222s, PZIIIs, trucks and only variants of 44 up PZIVs.

ORIGINAL: Prince of Eckmühl

If so, we can simply allot the vehicle types on a proportional basis (as I suspect is also your intention).

For random battles you can specify the total number of points that gets spent on armour, the kind of tank that gets in the game is random. For example an under strength bat might have 1 PZIV, 2 Panthers in plt 1, and 3 Panthers in plt 2 against a similar number of T70s and T34s.

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

ORIGINAL: Prince of Eckmühl

If so, we can simply allot the vehicle types on a proportional basis (as I suspect is also your intention).

For random battles you can specify the total number of points that gets spent on armour, the kind of tank that gets in the game is random. For example an under strength bat might have 1 PZIV, 2 Panthers in plt 1, and 3 Panthers in plt 2 against a similar number of T70s and T34s.

I can live w/out random maps, since the quality of the maps is better, but force selection feels like playing a slot machine. I often go back to the random generator and start all over again, hopefully getting some units I want.

I get Pz-IIIs WAY TOO MUCH!

Why can't we just be able to choose any unit available during a certain time period? If we have a point limit, so what? If rarity is an issue, then inflate the values according to rarity, like in CMBB.

ORIGINAL: HintJ

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

ORIGINAL: Prince of Eckmühl

If so, we can simply allot the vehicle types on a proportional basis (as I suspect is also your intention).

For random battles you can specify the total number of points that gets spent on armour, the kind of tank that gets in the game is random. For example an under strength bat might have 1 PZIV, 2 Panthers in plt 1, and 3 Panthers in plt 2 against a similar number of T70s and T34s.

I can live w/out random maps, since the quality of the maps is better, but force selection feels like playing a slot machine. I often go back to the random generator and start all over again, hopefully getting some units I want.

I get Pz-IIIs WAY TOO MUCH!

Why can't we just be able to choose any unit available during a certain time period? If we have a point limit, so what? If rarity is an issue, then inflate the values according to rarity, like in CMBB.

You can do this with battle plans, but at the moment it requires editing a battle plan xml, there is no UI for it.

The idea was once they were made they could be shared with the community.

The RBG is very flexible in that it can do pretty much anything you want, but it may need tweaks to some input files.

One day if I get around to it I will write a preset/battle plan editor which will allow ultimate control over the RBG.

Regards

S.

I find the scenario editor pretty easy to use. If you get a generated battle that is close but not quite what you wanted, load it into the editor and add a few, subtract a few, raise the points if you have too.

Stridor mentions sharing presets. That's what I am trying to do here. Get an idea of what people want to see, and make some presets for the game release.

I think that it would be nice to see some Minor powers in the mix, or at least something that would provide some equivalent to. The roles of It., Hun., and Rom. might not be as huge as that of the Russians and Germans, but they were there, any chance of getting some kits that could represent them somehow?

Anybody can add mods to the game. If they have the talent to do the models that is.

Good Hunting.

MR

ORIGINAL: Ratzki

I think that it would be nice to see some Minor powers in the mix, or at least something that would provide some equivalent to. The roles of It., Hun., and Rom. might not be as huge as that of the Russians and Germans, but they were there, any chance of getting some kits that could represent them somehow?

There are plans to incorporate minor powers into future releases in the series.

Thanks
rick

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

I find the scenario editor pretty easy to use. If you get a generated battle that is close but not quite what you wanted, load it into the editor and add a few, subtract a few, raise the points if you have too.

Stridor mentions sharing presets. That's what I am trying to do here. Get an idea of what people want to see, and make some presets for the game release.

Well here's an idea: make an "unrestricted" preset, where as long as the player has the points to spend, every unit is potentially available. This is a small, but extremely important detail.

[/quote]

You can do this with battle plans, but at the moment it requires editing a battle plan xml, there is no UI for it.


[/quote]

Assuming PCO and PCK have similar folder structures, where are these exact xml files located?


--edit. Even if I create an XML with every single unit listed, the game might still only randomly choose a few of these for me to pick? Am I getting this right? So it would be impossible to create an unrestricted template?

I think the PCK manual gives examples of the xml files and where they are located in the game.

Good Hunting.

MR

Double Post.

Good Hunting.

MR

ORIGINAL: HintJ

You can do this with battle plans, but at the moment it requires editing a battle plan xml, there is no UI for it.


[/quote]

Assuming PCO and PCK have similar folder structures, where are these exact xml files located?


--edit. Even if I create an XML with every single unit listed, the game might still only randomly choose a few of these for me to pick? Am I getting this right? So it would be impossible to create an unrestricted template?

[/quote]

True, but you can override this with a specific battle plan.

S.

The presets are like the random pool to draw on (and by editing the preset you can define how big and what is in the pool), the battleplans can define explicit units which much be used.

So by using the two together you get have a core forces and random aux force.

S.