Idea for more fun during convoy-management?

[TeaLeaf]

Isn't it possible to add a button or checkbox somewhere (?production planning/main form) to fixate/lock all current convoy routes as they are?

Meaning the player tells MWiF it is not allowed to change anything in the current routes. Only new routes can be created with newly added convoys.

Too often MWiF makes a mess of good and efficient convoy lines, if the player adds just 1 convoy somewhere... Infuriating.

[Joseignacio]

Not only this, but also a convoy maybe more efficient but may also be more exposed to subs, planes or even cruisers. And of course there is the matter of LOS, which has to do with convoys.

Not that I have a lot of experience with MWIF, but because of what I am reading...

[TeaLeaf]

The reason why i was thinking this:

After quite some time of managing the CW and USA convoys after some sort of bug I had their convoylines set up to my satisfaction.
But then I wanted/needed to add two more convoys to the existing lanes, to bring one more non-oil resource into the USA to allow Roosevelt one additional oil to save.

Simply sailing those convoys into their needed place changed my carefully placed existing routes, so I needed another time-consuming go at planning.
This shouldn't be so.
So I thought why aren't we allowed to lock all existing routes in place at any given time? Such a thing would save us from going over planning all routes twice (or more)...

[Joseignacio]

Seems like a good idea to me, it shouldn't be a problem I guess. Then, again, I am not the programmer.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

Seems like a good idea to me, it shouldn't be a problem I guess. Then, again, I am not the programmer.

While it would be easy to code - to do so would be wrong. A player could set up convoys routes, "lock them", and then move convoys around - thereby making those routes invalid. Or, more likely, the enemy could sink a bunch of convoys, making the routes invalid.

To add to the complexity, suppose 10 resources were going through the Bay of Biscay and all their routes were "locked". And then 3 of the convoys have to abort due to submarine attacks. Which of the 10 resources would have their locked routes invalidated?

[TeaLeaf]

Free choice for the program to choose which (preferably the closest resources), and the resources that are chosen can be easily indicated by the player since all other resources will still have a 'locked' status but not those resources that just had their convoys removed/sunk. As an alternative, though I think more complex to program it right, the player could be presented with a form where a resource must be indicated that must revert back to idle when a sea area has insufficient convoys left to transport all set up resources.
In both cases unlocked and unused convoys should be taken as losses before locked ones. MWiF should also warn the player if a locked convoy is about to be moved. The connection between a resource and its destination should become unlocked automatically if the player ignores the warning.

While MWiF should not be allowed to make changes to locked routes, it must ofc be allowed to revert a locked route back to unlocked and unused (and the resource back to idle), if player actions would make a route invalid (raids, naval movements, closing of canals, etc.).

Repairing/setting up a (lost) connection between a resource and its destination should now be easy: just add 1 convoy to a few sea areas so there is only one connection possible between a resource and its designated destination. MWiF cannot be confused and has to swallow the route, because there is no alternative. Hit 'lock route', rinse and repeat till all connections have been repaired/established.

And locking down should ofc also be reversible. If the 'unlock button' is pressed, everything unlocks (for the current major power only).
If the 'lock' button is pressed with some routes locked and some still unlocked, the locked ones remain as they are and the unlocked routes will now change to locked as well (again, for the current major power only).

All this is just a brainstorm; if MWiF would again accept each and every (legal) player modification to a convoy route that would be good enough .