Pre-1900 Counter Graphics

Graphics, sound, and database mods.

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RedAss
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Pre-1900 Counter Graphics

Post by RedAss »

So I sidled up to TOAW to play Bob's Gettysburg scenario, and it opened up and I realized that the NATO counter set just rubs me wrong for the pre-1900 stuff. You have to admit, NATO was a very weak alliance at the time, but their symbol set post WWII really caught the zeitgeist, and it has been applied retroactively since.

So I "real quick, honey, I promise" decided to throw something together. Didn't like it, either. Still too European for it. So I came up with some more historically accurate Civil War counter iconography. And the Indian Wars era, too, as I recall that there is a Custer Scenario out there. And then I thought that maybe the European symbols set would fit the Colonial Era and the Napoleonic era, so did that.

And then I thought -- maybe not symbols at all! Maybe "little soldiers" are what people want to see. So I did that, too. But I'm afraid that if little guys are what you wanted to see, well... they are kind of hard to see. Especially on the non-enlarged counters. I assure you, those up close ARE revolutionary era Americans and British and classic European uniformed guys of the appropriate time period, but I'm not certain the juice was worth the squeeze. Which is probably why those NATO icons caught on so well.

Then I made some little sailing vessels, but I'm not sure they worked great either. I was tired (and facing divorce) by that point.

Anyway, below is the whole ugly tapestry.

OF NOTE: The design of counters themselves was not mine -- that was an experiment by someone else, but it works pretty well for the time period, I think. Both as the branches in the CSA Civil War set, and as the frock/pants combo on the Brits and French. So what we have is:

CIVIL WAR ICONS:
Period correct bugles for infantry, crossed sabers for cavalry, and crossed cannons for artillery. Added covered wagons for supply and a generals star for the higher level headquarters.
If you hate the numbers on the counters, let me explain: they are supposed to be a recreation of the M1851 stamped brass company numbers on uniforms of the period (as is the HQ font).
I like this set (pending adjustments), l although I'm not certain the fixed mortars are pulling their weight*.

COLONIAL and NAPOLEONIC:
So for the first set I went with simple crossed sabres for CAV, crossed rifles for INF, and a cannon for ARTY. Low level HQ is a flag, and high level is a picture of a Field Marshal, which I think worked. Better than George Washington, which... dammit, he's the father of my nation and I won't have him badmouthed by the likes of you! In general, I think I like the symbols set better than than NATO for all my Napoleonic needs.
The little troop set... well, like I said, not sure that will get me a TOAWY at the annual awards luncheon. Even with the tiny boats, which I know I am going to hear about from the Navy nerds on the forum. I'm here for it!

Have a look, and let me know of any glaring errors or something that SHOULD be there that isn't. If there is interest, I could fine tune it up and post it after the custody hearing.
Counter Example.png
Counter Example.png (1.61 MiB) Viewed 644 times
* OF COURSE the pun was intended.
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rhinobones
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Re: Pre-1900 Counter Graphics

Post by rhinobones »

As usual you’ve done your magic for the musket & saber crowd. Marvelous piece of work. However, to make the game set complete, the Equipment256 file needs to be revised in a way that complements the unit icon graphics. After all, can’t be populating CSA regiments with NATO equipment.

The only comment I have concerns the Civil War set. Think at least one of the ships needs to be an ironclad.

Best Regards
Colin Wright:
Pre Combat Air Strikes # 64 . . . I need have no concern about keeping it civil

Post by broccolini » Sun Nov 06, 2022
. . . no-one needs apologize for douchebags acting like douchebags
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Cpl GAC
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Re: Pre-1900 Counter Graphics

Post by Cpl GAC »

hats off.jpg
hats off.jpg (25.32 KiB) Viewed 615 times
Well done.
If you're STILL making Panzer IIs after seeing your first T-34... you're probably going to lose.
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RedAss
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Re: Pre-1900 Counter Graphics

Post by RedAss »

rhinobones wrote: Wed Apr 29, 2026 11:31 pm As usual you’ve done your magic for the musket & saber crowd. Marvelous piece of work. However, to make the game set complete, the Equipment256 file needs to be revised in a way that complements the unit icon graphics. After all, can’t be populating CSA regiments with NATO equipment.

The only comment I have concerns the Civil War set. Think at least one of the ships needs to be an ironclad.

Best Regards
Thanks Rhino. Definitely a swing and a miss on the ironclads! So obvious in retrospect. Which counter do you think? Smallest naval counter, or next to smallest? I think the ships of the line should stay in case a scenario simulated the blockade.
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RedAss
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Re: Pre-1900 Counter Graphics

Post by RedAss »

Cpl GAC wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 11:21 am hats off.jpg

Well done.
Thanks -- some clear improvements need to be made. Civil War wise, all of the images need to be moved right a pixel and up a pixel. If they are crowded on the large counters, the smaller ones will be even worse. And the large mortars are embarrassing for the amount of time I spent on it!

I have this idea to make folders for each era of warfare:
Ancient
Napoleonic (1700-1850)
Civil War (1850-1900)
WWI (1900-1930)
WWII (1930-1955)
Cold War (1960-2000)
War on Terror (2001-2020)
Modern (2020-)

Each folder would contain:
.eqp file appropriate to the era
*counter files appropriate to the era
*flag/roundel file appropriate to the era
*counter color .XML file

That way, when building a scenario you could begin with everything you need in one place. And you could drag and drop into graphics override for the existing scenarios.
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rhinobones
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Re: Pre-1900 Counter Graphics

Post by rhinobones »

RedAss wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 6:08 pm Definitely a swing and a miss on the ironclads! So obvious in retrospect. Which counter do you think? Smallest naval counter, or next to smallest?

Ironclads are going to be a problem as they operated in both deep and shallow water. TOAW keeps the ships exclusive to either deep or shallow, but not both. Maybe it would be best to make two ironclad unit icons, one for shallow and one for deep water. Let the scenario designer figure out how to make it work.

I haven’t tried it, but what would happen if you used a deep water icon (destroyer, battleship, cruiser or aircraft carrier) and gave it a secondary shallow water function (patrol boat). Would it operate in both shallow and deep water or would TOAW just get confused?

Regards
Colin Wright:
Pre Combat Air Strikes # 64 . . . I need have no concern about keeping it civil

Post by broccolini » Sun Nov 06, 2022
. . . no-one needs apologize for douchebags acting like douchebags
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rhinobones
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Re: Pre-1900 Counter Graphics

Post by rhinobones »

RedAss wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 6:25 pm I have this idea to make folders for each era of warfare:

Ancient
Napoleonic (1700-1850)
Civil War (1850-1900) . . .

Don't forget to include your WotR icon set.

Regards
Colin Wright:
Pre Combat Air Strikes # 64 . . . I need have no concern about keeping it civil

Post by broccolini » Sun Nov 06, 2022
. . . no-one needs apologize for douchebags acting like douchebags
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RedAss
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Re: Pre-1900 Counter Graphics

Post by RedAss »

rhinobones wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 10:23 pm
RedAss wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 6:25 pm I have this idea to make folders for each era of warfare:

Ancient
Napoleonic (1700-1850)
Civil War (1850-1900) . . .

Don't forget to include your WotR icon set.

Regards
I just saw in an old thread that you had a very similar notion as my folders! Probably a Medieval folder as well, as the next version of the game may be heading in that direction based on some of Bob's flag requests.

And I was thinking ironclads would be riverine. I didn't realize they were deep water vessels! 1800's naval ops are not my area of expertise.
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