How to create a new Main Force

[ineffable]

Custom units can be edited into \Close Combat - The Bloody First\Data\Base\Units\scnunits.txt using a text editor (eg. Notepad) or a spreadsheet app (eg. Excel). Any of the unused index slots are available for this or new slots can be added at the end of the file as long as the index count at the very top of the file is increased accordingly.

An example custom Force is shown with each column labeled (a), (b) etc. The corresponding column values are defined below. Classic CC modmen will recognize these as the all-important column headers.

(a)0 (b)Frankenforce 44 (c)0 (d)0 (e)3 (f)0 (g)1 (h)1 (i)67 (j)2 (k)5 (l)3 (m)16 (n)57 (o)168 (p)158 (q)150 (r)169 (s)183 (t)32 (u)34 (v)14

(a) unit index # used on the main force and support lines of scenario files
(b) unit name
(c) side 0=Allied, 1=Axis
(d) nation 0=US, 1=GE, 2=IT
(e) echelon 0=squad, 1=gruppe, 2=platoon, 3=company
(f) ?unit type? 0=infantry, 1=mechanized, 4=engineer, 6=support
(g) shown in Scenario Editor 0=no, 1=yes
(h) upgrade to unit index# in ScnUnits list, -1=none
(i) HQ unit index# in Teams list, -1=none
(j) # of single teams in Force. See Teams List.
(k) # of sub-units in Force. See ScnUnits List.
(l) # of upgrades in Force. See Upgrades List.
Then follows a variable number of columns depending on the sum of columns j+k+l.
eg. if columns (j) (k) (l) are 2 5 3, there would be 10 columns after column (l).
If any of the columns (j) (k) (l)=0, then there are no additional columns associated with that class (teams, sub-units or upgrades).

The first two additional columns, (m) (n) would be index numbers from the Teams list. In the example at the top these are: 16 (I&R Section) and 57 (A&P Squad)

The next five columns (o) (p) (q) (r) (s) would be index numbers also from the ScnUnits list (graphic list or text list). In the example at the top these are: 168 (=Combat Engineer Rifle Platoon 44), 158 (=Armd. Inf. Anti-Tank Platoon 44), 150 (=Heavy Weapons Platoon 43), 169 (=Rifle Squad 42), 183 (=Armored Recon Assault Gun Sect 42)

The last three columns (t) (u) (v) would be index numbers from the Upgrades list. In the example at the top these are: 32 (=US Assault), 34 (=US Tank Hunter), 14 (=US Grenade Launcher M1).

Note that custom ScnUnit can include any nationality.

[ineffable]

Of particular interest is column H, upgrade to unit index# in ScnUnits list. This is the TBF equivilent to the team upgrade paths in CC3 only in TBF it also applies to the entire force. AFAIK, force upgrades happen at each campaign change. So when you go from Tunisia to Sicily your Rifle Company '42 morphs into a Rifle Company '43. At the same time some individual teams and sub-units transition as well. And this process can be modded for the GE and IT as well eg. the surrendered 15th Panzer which effectively re-materialized as the 15th Pz. Grenadiere Division.

[Riggar]

Many thanks for info. [:)]