Matrix Games Forums

Does anyone have a TOF map where the Qattara Depression is impassible terrain?

The editor will not work on any of my computers and I need a map like that.

If the editor works for you and you have a PayPal account I would even be willing to hire you to do it.

The only way I've seen it done is to make those hexes part of an unusable country.

Figure out what hexes you want to be part of the depression, then go into a text editor and define the unplayable country for those hexes.

You can also edit them into sea hexes, which is what I meant to do. However, the editor is simply awful.

Thanks for the tip, I'll try it.

I have edited the Qattara Depression as mountain hexes and then modified the movement cost (in the scenario consts.ini file) for armoured and motorised units in mountain hexes, to make it almost impossible to move through, but does not exclude infantry units. The reduced movement for Armoured and Motorised units will apply to all mountain terrain on the map and should also slow the romp through Italy.

I have not play tested this and am away from home so don't have the files (home next week), I am not sure how to separate out edited map files and only have the edited full scenario files for 'Fall Gelb', not yet finished a modified Gotterdammerung, which is a much bigger job. The scenario files will contain map and other adaptations I use.

I have had problems with the editor and it is not always certain that edited files will work, although the 'Fall Gelb' scenario seems to be working (ver. 1.04). One problem is that the editor is corrupting some files when it saves after you finish your editing, .csv files (like 'commanders' )have names with text containing accents, which get scrambled after using the editor. Restoring these files gets the game working again.

More than happy to share any files that work, send me an e-mail address in a PM and I can explain how far I have got (which isn't very far) and what other changes are in the scenario that will automatically be in the files, which you may not want and may want to have taken out. [:)]

Thanks, will do.

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

The only way I've seen it done is to make those hexes part of an unusable country.

Figure out what hexes you want to be part of the depression, then go into a text editor and define the unplayable country for those hexes.

To make impassable terrain using a inactive country, make a copy of the scenario and load that copy in the editor.
Follow the five steps shown below. After edit, save the scenario and copy the edited map.wim file to your original scenario folder.

Thanks Peter123.

Now, is it possible for two players to have that map on their systems, and play with it on Slitherine's PBEM++?

Thanks for the guidance, in your 'Berlin' scenario the impassable flooded hexes remained as original owner Germany, but controlled by 'flooded', did you achieve that by renaming a spare country, e.g. Uruguay as 'flooded'. That way the status of the terrain (flooded, impassable) shows in the hex info box.

In your scenario the flood subsides and the terrain seems to revert to German control, becoming passable again, which was a nice touch. [:)]

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

Thanks Peter123.

Now, is it possible for two players to have that map on their systems, and play with it on Slitherine's PBEM++?

Does anybody know the answer or have you tried it yet? The Quattara Depression map reminds me of the old AH Afrika Korps game. Looks great and will help the Brits defend Alexandria.

If I could only get the horrible editor to work I'd love to do it myself.

ORIGINAL: Steely Glint

If I could only get the horrible editor to work I'd love to do it myself.

I have uploaded the map for the Grand Campaign scenariohere.
I dont know what scenario you're playing. I can do the same for another scenario it you agree with the map.
(You can rename Uruguay as "impassable" or so in countries.csv with Wordpad).

Success! I have it now.

I downloaded Peter's maps (thank you Peter and Rasputitsa)and I extracted the files to the proper directory. They would not show up as selectable, even though they were in the correct directory.

So I got angry, and looked for reasons. And I destroyed all the file permissions for the directory. And then the map files were accessible!

Also, the editor was in that subdirectory. When I nuked the file permissions, I tried the editor again and it worked!

Thanks everyone, for all your efforts and patience. The editor is a witch to use BUT IT RUNS. And I now have a grand campaign map where the Qattara Depression is impassible terrain!

ORIGINAL: Steely Glint
Success! I have it now.

I downloaded Peter's maps (thank you Peter and Rasputitsa)and I extracted the files to the proper directory. They would not show up as selectable, even though they were in the correct directory.

So I got angry, and looked for reasons. And I destroyed all the file permissions for the directory. And then the map files were accessible!

Also, the editor was in that subdirectory. When I nuked the file permissions, I tried the editor again and it worked!

Thanks everyone, for all your efforts and patience. The editor is a witch to use BUT IT RUNS. And I now have a grand campaign map where the Qattara Depression is impassible terrain!

Sometimes getting features into the game is as much fun as actually playing, as you work in changes the game becomes more personal, you made it, you own it, congratulations.[&o]