v8.403 Public Beta Released

[Erik Rutins]

Hi everyone,

We've just posted the v8.403 Public Beta in the Members' Club. The patch notes are below. Please download it and give it a try if you'd like to give us feedback on this before it becomes official.

SPWaW 8.403 Patch Notes

1) In some screens, the scroll delay was not functioning. Fixed.
2) Fire effectiveness of infantry primary weapons in slots 2 to 4 have been reduced, unless the
firing unit passes a special experience check. This reduction always applied to infantry
primary weapons in slot 1, but the code assumed that none of these would be found in later
slots. The experience check for slot one assumed some troops would be goofing off,
drinking tea or for some other reason, would not be firing effectively. This limitation now
applies to these primary infantry weapons in other slots, as it is assumed that these would be
fired by ammo carriers, squad leaders or some one else who might be otherwise occupied.
Secondary or crewed weapons are handled in a different part of the code.
3) Reduced hex radius of secondary damage applied from attacks to units in the same or
nearby hexes.
4) Reduced effect of secondary damage to units in the same or nearby hexes from direct fire
attacks.
5) The default Bulgaria morale values were not being set properly. Fixed.

SPWaW 8.402 Patch Notes

6) Made it a bit harder to spot enemy units, especially at range one or zero.
7) Allowed the German artificial intelligence purchase routine a little more armor in smaller
engagements.
8) Sniper units may no longer close assault vehicles.
9) Sometimes the player setup side was incorrect, when assaulting beaches. Fixed.
10) The in game save menu button now automatically saves the Mega-Campaign. This might
be useful, if the player has been experiencing CTD and wishes to save without having to
exit the scenario.

Thanks should go to Mike Wood and the testers for their work in getting this update ready.

Regards,

- Erik

[SAMWolf]

First thing I checked was the artillery scroll function. It works perfectly now

Many many thanks!!

[&o]

[junk2drive]

Thanks for the continued support of the game and all the hard work.

Darnit I'm at work now...

[Temple]

Sorry if these are dumb or obvious questions [&o]

I've played the freeware SPWaW off and on for a while but have never gotten into the Mega Campaigns. Since Santa didn't treat me as well as he should have (and I was a good boy!! [;)]) I was considering getting the General's Edition. My question is, are the Mega Campaigns still fully playable and enjoyable with this latest beta and eventually final release of 8.403? I can't recall seeing mentions of "updated mega campaigns" in the release notes for 8.30 and 8.40 (I might have missed them).

Also, I saw on one of the other forums (SZO?) a mention of a little fix required for one of the Mega Campaigns. Is this fix included in 8.403 or an earlier updates, or do I need to implement their fix? Thanks.

[Mike Wood]

Hello...

Changes in this and further patches will not create problems with Mega Campaigns. The only things that will affect them are OOB changes, in which a unit or weapon slots in a unit are moved around. No OOB patch included in patch. Did not have time to address the "cannot play with C&C on" issue in this patch.

Bye...

Michael Wood

ORIGINAL: Temple

Sorry if these are dumb or obvious questions [&o]

I've played the freeware SPWaW off and on for a while but have never gotten into the Mega Campaigns. Since Santa didn't treat me as well as he should have (and I was a good boy!! [;)]) I was considering getting the General's Edition. My question is, are the Mega Campaigns still fully playable and enjoyable with this latest beta and eventually final release of 8.403? I can't recall seeing mentions of "updated mega campaigns" in the release notes for 8.30 and 8.40 (I might have missed them).

Also, I saw on one of the other forums (SZO?) a mention of a little fix required for one of the Mega Campaigns. Is this fix included in 8.403 or an earlier updates, or do I need to implement their fix? Thanks.

[Temple]

ORIGINAL: Mike Wood

Hello...

Changes in this and further patches will not create prolems with Mega Campaigns. The only things that will affect them are OOB changes, in which a unit or weapon slots in a unit are moved around. No OOB patch included in patch. Did not have time to address the "cannot play with C&C on" issue in this patch.

Bye...

Michael Wood

Thanks for the reply. I never have used C&C after first trying it, it seems to take too much away from the "Beer & Pretzels" mode of playing [;)]. Does anyone reading this think I'm missing something significant by not using C&C against the AI?

[Wild Bill]

There are patches for the mega campaigns. They are not related to coding issues as far as I know. If there are any problems it is usually a MC design problem or some changes in the OOBs.

Those small patches are available at the Matrix site.

No, I am wrong. I think those patches have all been included in the copy of the General's Edition so you really should not need anything for any of the Mega Campaigns.

WB

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: Temple


Thanks for the reply. I never have used C&C after first trying it, it seems to take too much away from the "Beer & Pretzels" mode of playing [;)]. Does anyone reading this think I'm missing something significant by not using C&C against the AI?

IMHO, you're only missing additional headaches in maintaining control. Mike has said he plays with C&C on, and so do several veteran gamers. I play with C&C off, and so do other veteran gamers. It's up to you, man. You play as YOU want to play it. The game is very open-ended. Look, I play with mines off, which isn't historical per se, BUT, in the theater I play, I still have my hands full with assaulting caves and bunkers. The Japanese didn't always take the time to plant mines, as some islands' supplies were cut off long before we ended up launching invasions. Peleliu is a good example. As far as I'm concerned, if the game meets your expectations and provides sufficient challenges to your level of expertise, then it's good.

[Lausbub]

Where is the Members' Club?

[Alby]

click the members link at the top of this page

[Temple]

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

IMHO, you're only missing additional headaches in maintaining control. Mike has said he plays with C&C on, and so do several veteran gamers. I play with C&C off, and so do other veteran gamers. It's up to you, man. You play as YOU want to play it. The game is very open-ended. Look, I play with mines off, which isn't historical per se, BUT, in the theater I play, I still have my hands full with assaulting caves and bunkers. The Japanese didn't always take the time to plant mines, as some islands' supplies were cut off long before we ended up launching invasions. Peleliu is a good example. As far as I'm concerned, if the game meets your expectations and provides sufficient challenges to your level of expertise, then it's good.

Thanks, I do like it with C&C off, but I considered that perhaps I was hasty. I'm very old school (Avalon Hill, SPI) in my taste for wargames and like to be able to move when and what I want.

[chief]

Just for S & G's ......down loaded lates beta Mod. Directed the install to my ver 8.4 (plain jane), it installed and indicated my ver now 8.403, now you would think I'd be tickled pink and I am. The strange thing is that my ver 8.3 (Mod) also is now indicated as ver 8.403. Checking the folders showed only one was effected by change "installed Mods", 8.3 still working fine and I'm not looking for a revision.
As a matter of note the H2Hfr (7.1) was not affected. Oh well alls well that ends well. FWIW DEPARTMENT

[Procrustes]

ORIGINAL: Mike Wood

Hello...

Changes in this and further patches will not create prolems with Mega Campaigns. The only things that will affect them are OOB changes, in which a unit or weapon slots in a unit are moved around. No OOB patch included in patch. Did not have time to address the "cannot play with C&C on" issue in this patch.

Bye...

Michael Wood

Hi Michael,

Thank you for all your hard work. Just wondering, are you intending to address the "cannot play [megacamps] with C&C on issue" in a future patch? I know it doesn't matter to some posters, but it would make a world of difference to me (and I suspect a few others).

Best wishes,

Procrustes

[chief]

If anyones interested about a trivial problem with 8.403 beta patch.....everything seems to work fine EXCEPT my 'Y' & 'N' keys no longer function during OPfire requests. Still able to control it with mouse L & R clicks though. Thank you for editor update also. To use the latest, younger generation, venaclear (sp?) "AWESOME MAN"

[Mike Wood]

Hello...

Yes. Yes, I am.

Bye...

Michael Wood

ORIGINAL: Procrustes

ORIGINAL: Mike Wood

Hello...

Changes in this and further patches will not create prolems with Mega Campaigns. The only things that will affect them are OOB changes, in which a unit or weapon slots in a unit are moved around. No OOB patch included in patch. Did not have time to address the "cannot play with C&C on" issue in this patch.

Bye...

Michael Wood

Hi Michael,

Thank you for all your hard work. Just wondering, are you intending to address the "cannot play [megacamps] with C&C on issue" in a future patch? I know it doesn't matter to some posters, but it would make a world of difference to me (and I suspect a few others).

Best wishes,

Procrustes

[RockinHarry]

just downloaded, although I had to register for this club thingy first.[8|]

[johnhulten]

I've always used CC and think it is one of the defining wonders of the game.

[soldier]

Check out the prices of artillery weapons with indirect fire capabilities with the programmer patch. While i like the idea of a standardized pricing system offboard guns seem way to cheap and out of proportion. Super heavy soviet 200mm offboard battery costs $76 while a 76.2mm battery costs $88 so somethings wrong there. Considering artillery assets where not always available at WAW's tactical level i think the prices were too cheap before but way off now. Mortars are also dirt cheap. Does the pricing system take into account units with indirect ability.
Opinions ?

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: soldier

Check out the prices of artillery weapons with indirect fire capabilities with the programmer patch. While i like the idea of a standardized pricing system offboard guns seem way to cheap and out of proportion. Super heavy soviet 200mm offboard battery costs $76 while a 76.2mm battery costs $88 so somethings wrong there. Considering artillery assets where not always available at WAW's tactical level i think the prices were too cheap before but way off now. Mortars are also dirt cheap. Does the pricing system take into account units with indirect ability.
Opinions ?

Soldier, which OOB set did you use the "programmer conventions" with? For most of the database, I'm using the Depot mod. The Soviet unit 238, the 203mm off-board battery, costs 82. Unit 112, the 76.2mm off-board battery, is slightly cheaper at 79. However, the rate of fire of the 76 is higher (10 as compared to the 203's 3), and overall, Soviet guns have fewer rounds than comparable US or German arty (30 for the Russians, 60 for most of the US, and 50 for most of the Germans). These adjustments are derived using the "standardize ammo loadout" option. This is why they are relatively cheap. Given the lower exp ratings of the Russians, you may also find that their arty is often out of contact.

I play with "true troop on", and the points available for off-board assets are somewhat lower than they once were. All things considered, the AI does a reasonably good job of buying and using arty -- human players can voluntarily impose their own restrictions.

Try out a few generated battles, and you'll see what I mean.

Quoted from the editor documentation:

"Recalculate Costs for Units in this File: Changes unit costs for all units based on unit class, smoke discharger presence, crew size, unit size, carry capacity, land or air speed, amphibious speed, survival value, rate of fire, infra-red vision ability, gun stabilizer value, range finder, fire control, firepower and armor. The armor recalculation considers amount, type, slope and location of the armor. The firepower factor considers the maximum range and accuracy and other capabilities of each weapon, as well as the number of rounds the unit carries for each weapon, up to sixty rounds for some weapon type and ammunition and a lesser number for others. Please note that ammunition is a factor in calculating costs, so an German 88mm anti-air craft with zero rounds of ammunition (code does not care about the unit name) is evaluated as a size three (vehicular size, very easy to hit, soft target) group of eleven men armed with fists and unable to move and with a rate of fire of only five, not able to swing very quickly and a kill factor of zero, giving a net unit cost of one (for effort). So, when trying to figure out how values were derived, please look at ammunition, rate of fire and other factors not normally obvious."

[soldier]

I installed the patch onto 8.4 with depot mod applied, the prices quoted are from soviets in 41 with all historic ratings applied. Same thing with the German guns, much cheaper and virtually no difference in prices despite a massive difference in the calibre of the weapon in question.
75mm with 80 shots costs $87
105mm with 50 shots costs $85
150mm with 30 shots costs $90
170mm with 25 shots costs $92
I don't think anyone would disagree that the combat effectiveness of a 170mm barrage is a lot more deadly for those under it than a 75mm pea shooter yet the difference in cost is only $5. A bit odd that a gun over twice the size and twice the power costs the same. I guess I'll have to leave the pricing option off, I think heavy and effective weapons should cost substantially more.
Is this unusual pricing for indirect artillery an intentional change or an unexpected result ?