Bug report

[kensey]

There is no bug report forum for steel panthers, so I used this
one. Please excuse if these bugs have already been reported
earlier

-When I start the game via the start menu Standard Start:
I get an error that d3d9.dll could not be found.
When using quickstart everything works well.

-When in camapign mode, if you press the end game button
after deploy (because you saved your deployment and want
to continue with the battle later) the game first
switches into bombardment phase and only afzter this ends

-Ammunition supply seems to work unreliable. The manual
says a unit has to be moved UPON a ammo dump and be left there
one turn without shooting or moving. Another part of the
manual says you have to put it adjacent to the ammo dump.
However I do it there seems to be no resupply.
A suggestion btw: Ammo trucks should be much cheaper to
purchase. I don't see a reason why a single truck is much
more expensive than a whole heavy truck section.

-If you select a forward observer vehicle and then start up
the bombardment menu you can reassign arbitrary new targets to
ALL artillery units with minimal delay instead of only shifting.
IMHO this should only be possible for units in the visibility of
the FO unit.

Version used:
SPWAW 8.01
MS Win XP Professional 5.1

Regards
kensey

[Goblin]

1.) Start the game via the mech.exe file

2.) It does do that, dunno why.

3.) You will reload in or adjacent to an ammo dump, or ammo truck. You will reload faster while in the same hex. Rates are dependant upon experience, etc.

4.) Game engine is old. That is how FO's work. Impose self-limitation on it if it bothers you alot.

5.) Welcome aboard.


Goblin

[mine_field]

If I start the game via the start menu, I get a black screen until I click. The fact of the matter is that the game is dated and workarounds are a hundred times more useful at this point than bug fixes. It is still good that you take the time to let these things be known, for current users to be aware of and so that others can work around these problems.
I now use the quick start as well.

If the d3d9.dll error bothers you, one of us could find that file and send it to you. It doesn't happen on my computer. Note that this is more likely an issue with your OS and particular configuration since I have not experienced this on several computers I have worked with.

The campaign mode end game button bug is an annoyance. I just suggest having fast artillery on or having your delays low so that this bug doesn't hold you up too long. I sometimes forget to do this and just go get something to drink while the unneccesary bombing occurs.

Ammunition reloading does work, but you probably need some more info than what you have. Remember that this game is not a profitable venture so you are not going to get the development to fix things and have everything polished, as you noticed in the outdated manual. For reloading, you need only be adjacent to the hex. You can still bombard and reload in the same turn (if I recall correctly). You must be still and not suppressed though (as Goblin so helpfully reminds us).
Resupply does work. Check other posts in this forum to see the reload rates. For rockets it is as low as one rocket per turn. For other guns, it can be 3-6 shells. Tanks can also reload. Smoke is never reloaded. Ammo resupply is unlimited.
Ammo dumps resupply 2X as fast as the truck. I don't know if being in the hex speeds things up.

For your suggestion, this is objective but I say the price is right. You are paying for the ammo and not for the truck. Considering it is an unlimited supply, it is a great deal. The price is that high because it is such a great tactical advantage. Ammo resupply can extend the continual bombardment life of a piece 50%-75% longer.

The workings of the FO unit and truck are as they are. They are meant to function as someone who has a direct line to the arty pieces so they can call in the bombardment as quickly as possible. Think of them as referencing an ordnance map of the area and not actually seeing the target. This really is the case since when you bombard with a FO who doesn't have line of sight, the bombardment doesn't have line of sight and it is not as effective as if someone who sees the enemy calls it in. This is true (I believe) if the FO reassigns a target. If you are saying that the FO can actually just move a target after it has been assigned, I haven't noticed this. If so, then it is the same as just canceling the first strike and assigning a new one.
But to the point, the FO is calling in the strike via a direct radio link while using a detailed ordnance map of the theater of battle to bring in the strike. He doesn't see the enemy (unless you have los) so it is more of an area bombardment rather than a directed strike.

[mine_field]

In addition, I use Windows 98. Since you are using an OS that is much more current, I think your problem is occuring because the game was designed for the older OS.

And as Goblin said, welcome aboard.

[mine_field]

Hey, I learn something every day. I pulled this from the manual (v5.0) in regards to your problems with artillery bombardment occurring when you are trying to exit from the campaign.
[center]
The artillery barrage message delay has been reduced to one half the message delay set in the Preferences. This should speed up artillery barrages. Also, remember that if you hold down the “F” key during the barrage for a bit, the fast artillery option will turn on.[/center]

[kensey]

Yes I know the game is free, and my report was not meant
to depreciate the effort which went into the game by
voluntary unpaid people but as you wrote just to let
people know that these bugs are there.

I played the Campaign Series of Talonsoft a lot,
and although the graphics of SPWAW is somewhat
outdated it is far more realistic and even the AI
is a tad better - all in all cheaper but the better
game

As for the resupply, the units that weren't resupplied
probably had too high supression. I should have read the manual
more carefully.

Your explanation of the FO makes sense. I didn't think of the
reduction in effect for artillery called by a unit which has no
LOS. With it FO are quiet balanced.

Thanks for the replys.

Kensey

[mine_field]

Glad it helped some. I'm still struggling to understand everything that is going on, but it gets better each day.
Just to clarify about those arty calls without LOS, its effectiveness is like 50% of a LOS bombardment. It causes more widespread suppression though (people know it is coming down randomly so people one or two hexes away get scarred). LOS does more kills, no-LOS more suppression. Details in the manual.

I just learned that the M9 Bazooka can suppress your own troops in the left hex of a tank you are attacking from the right hex!

[Resisti]

ORIGINAL: kensey
-When I start the game via the start menu Standard Start:
I get an error that d3d9.dll could not be found.
When using quickstart everything works well.

This error means you don't have DirectX 9.0 on your PC.
The "minimum requirements" list, during the installing process, cites this.