Hierarchy Module Document

[Curtis Lemay]

When you get the FTP site, will you be posting is here or in the above 'topics' section?

I don't have any site yet, so no way to know for sure. But I expect there will be instuctions on this forum on how to access it.

Any update on the beta?

Eric still hasn't even read my email to him. Maybe he's gone for the summer? If he is, surely he left someone in charge.

Regardless, I'm still working hard on the documentation. I'm about finished with the Editor document. But it's already so large (24MB) even it will require an FTP site.

[joey]

Oh Boy. I hope he opens your email soon.

[Curtis Lemay]

I've finished the Editor Document. But it totals 35MB (32MB after zipping). So I still have to wait till I get some FTP support.

However, I did upload it to the Development FTP site - for those of you who have access to that site.

Next, I'll make a Game Play Document and that will finish the documentation. Edit: Actually, I need to make a general reference document after that.

[Curtis Lemay]

Please do not try to tell me what I may or may not choose to presume.

Just pointing out that I get requests for expansion all the time. Note that this expansion germinated on the Development Board. You can't be witness to posts there.

My observation about the utility of the update and its incorporation into TOAW IV scenarios is based on a post I made on 12 January 2025. In it I asked who would be interested in performing updates.



This posting received three replies. One reply was positive and the other two were non-committal. That leaves you and one other person to update the hundreds of TOAW IV scenarios. Based on this lack of interest, I am skeptical regarding the number of active requestors you have for the "huge" modification. After six years what remains of the community does not need to see mission creep extend the wait.

Only a small fraction of TOAW owners post on this site. And, the launch spotlight should generate renewed interest. Regardless, while I will not be updating anyone else's scenarios, I have a total of 21 separate scenarios (and total with variants are 35). I expect to eventually update all of them with perhaps a new one or two. There will be plenty of material for players to sample.

The "Huge" version should be simple to implement and will be developed while the Beta Test is underway so should not delay anything.

Bob,

Would it be possible for you to create a small summarized document (with perhaps links to more details) of how to upgrade existing scenarios to use this new (and I'd say extremely complex) hierarchy module?

Sometimes there is just a wall of posts with text and or screenshots and one tends to just glass over it all. But maybe if there was a simplified bite sized document on the basics of what needs to be done then I think that would be a great way to wade into this update.

As it stands in this thread alone there is 10 webpages with 195 posts but I have no idea where or how to start, maybe this is documented somewhere (the dev forums has a 48 webpage with a thread count of 945 posts, just too much to read).

Maybe take a small(ish) scenario that has not been updated yet, and walk a user through the process?

Thanks in advance.

Just alerting Zovs that I have made such a document - available on the Development Board FTP site. Nothing small about it, but it is step-by-step instruction on how to update.

[Curtis Lemay]

The process of writing the Editor document included upgrading my Leipzig 1813 scenario as an example. So, that scenario is the seventh scenario to be so updated.

Note that this scenario took 19 days to update (but I was writing an article as I went).

This included:

1. Added Commanders for both sides.
2. Using the new Hierarchy features, created hierarchies for both sides.
3. Events intended to model commander bonus/penalties are removed (Actual commanders will effect this).
4. Events generated for commander casualties => VPs.
5. Made extensive use of the 32 characters for formation and unit names where appropriate.
6. Formations given sizes, nationalities and service arms.
7. Units given nationalities and service arms.
8. Formation and Hierarchical command radii set.
9. German and Italian units had their Commitment values reduced from their Proficiency values.
10. Guard units had their Commitment values increased from their Proficiency values.
11. Alternate Forces replacement values were generated for both sides.
12. Updated the scenario briefing.

[Curtis Lemay]

Here are the French commanders. 24 total with 10 having to be created:

[Curtis Lemay]

Here are the Allied commanders. 23 total with 10 having to be created (2 edited):

[Curtis Lemay]

Here is the French Hierarchy:

[Curtis Lemay]

And the Allied Hierarchy:

[Curtis Lemay]

This scenario needed a lot of Alternate Forces. Here is the Allied Alternate Forces Dialog:

[Curtis Lemay]

And the French Alternate Forces Dialog:

[Zovs]

Just pointing out that I get requests for expansion all the time. Note that this expansion germinated on the Development Board. You can't be witness to posts there.



Only a small fraction of TOAW owners post on this site. And, the launch spotlight should generate renewed interest. Regardless, while I will not be updating anyone else's scenarios, I have a total of 21 separate scenarios (and total with variants are 35). I expect to eventually update all of them with perhaps a new one or two. There will be plenty of material for players to sample.

The "Huge" version should be simple to implement and will be developed while the Beta Test is underway so should not delay anything.

Bob,

Would it be possible for you to create a small summarized document (with perhaps links to more details) of how to upgrade existing scenarios to use this new (and I'd say extremely complex) hierarchy module?

Sometimes there is just a wall of posts with text and or screenshots and one tends to just glass over it all. But maybe if there was a simplified bite sized document on the basics of what needs to be done then I think that would be a great way to wade into this update.

As it stands in this thread alone there is 10 webpages with 195 posts but I have no idea where or how to start, maybe this is documented somewhere (the dev forums has a 48 webpage with a thread count of 945 posts, just too much to read).

Maybe take a small(ish) scenario that has not been updated yet, and walk a user through the process?

Thanks in advance.

Just alerting Zovs that I have made such a document - available on the Development Board FTP site. Nothing small about it, but it is step-by-step instruction on how to update.

Thanks Bob, much appreicated.

[Curtis Lemay]

I've now finished adding the Hierarchy/Commander stuff to my Okinawa 1945 scenario.

Tasks required were:

1. Using the new Hierarchy features, created hierarchies for both sides.
2. Added Commanders for both sides, including spare commanders.
3. Events generated for commander casualties => VPs.
4. Made extensive use of the 32 characters for formation and unit names where appropriate.
5. Formations given sizes, nationalities and service arms.
6. Units given nationalities and service arms.
7. Updated the briefing.
8. Japanese Land Units have “Prohibited” disband checkbox checked.
9. Added Formations and units for higher naval and air force HQs.
10. Added “Amphibious Command Ship” equipment for several of those HQs
11. Added more refinement in DD and DE equipment types.
12. Made all carrier air groups subordinates of their carriers.

I discovered that I forgot to create the "Alternate Forces" for my Okinawa 1945 scenario above. It took me about 3 days to complete that task (increasing the time to update this scenario to 16 days).

The Alternate Forces for the American side is now here:

[Curtis Lemay]

And here are the Alternate Forces for the Japanese side:

[joey]

Did Eric ever read your email?

[Curtis Lemay]

Did Eric ever read your email?

Not yet. Still in my outbox.

I am making progress on the documentation and materials for the update.

I've also found a few additional bugs that will need fixing before the BT.

[Curtis Lemay]

I've finished the Editor Document. But it totals 35MB (32MB after zipping). So I still have to wait till I get some FTP support.

However, I did upload it to the Development FTP site - for those of you who have access to that site.

Next, I'll make a Game Play Document and that will finish the documentation. Edit: Actually, I need to make a general reference document after that.

I've finished the Game Play Document. It totals 20.3 MB (19.7MB zipped), so still needing the FTP support.

Again, I uploaded it to the Development FTP Site - for those of you who have access to that site.

There may still be a need for a general reference document - or perhaps I can expand the Editor Document a bit and that will suffice. We'll see.

[Curtis Lemay]

OK, I made a few additions to the Editor Document and I feel between the two documents, there is enough reference material. I put the updated Editor Document on the Development FTP site.

I'm going to move back to bug fixing as I've uncovered a few new issues with the Hierarchy Module:

[Curtis Lemay]

I've finished the Editor Document. But it totals 35MB (32MB after zipping). So I still have to wait till I get some FTP support.

However, I did upload it to the Development FTP site - for those of you who have access to that site.

Next, I'll make a Game Play Document and that will finish the documentation. Edit: Actually, I need to make a general reference document after that.

Updated Editor Document is 34.7MB (31.5MB zipped). Word count is now:

[Curtis Lemay]

Update: It's now been a month since I texted Eric about a Beta Test. Email is still in my out box.