Thanks for the info Ron. I think a replacement mechanism that takes in to consideration the loss/gain of certain key cities is a direction worth pursuing. Most games of similar scope that I have played do this kind of thing e.g. COA's Struggle for Europe, Europa's

FITE/SE, AH's Russian Front are a few. I think someting like this will just make the game evenmore appealing

Status for the weekend on WWII Europe:

1.  I essentially completed Scenario #54 Saving Moscow 1941.  I used the term "essentially" because I was not able to get the Russian Commander names for many of the units.  I purchased "Armies of the Bear" by Michael Avanzini and Craig Crofoot that should give me some additional commander names.  The Charles Sharp and David Glantz books gave me lots of information, and some of the names.  I'm not sure all of these commanders have been translated....  Any help would be appreciated.

2. I uploaded 7 screenshots.  They are http://schwerpunkt.wargamer.com/Saving_Moscow_1941_a.png, http://schwerpunkt.wargamer.com/Saving_Moscow_1941_b.png, http://schwerpunkt.wargamer.com/Saving_Moscow_1941_c.png, http://schwerpunkt.wargamer.com/Saving_Moscow_1941_d.png, http://schwerpunkt.wargamer.com/Saving_Moscow_1941_e.png, http://schwerpunkt.wargamer.com/Saving_Moscow_1941_f, and http://schwerpunkt.wargamer.com/Saving_Moscow_1941_g.png.  I made screenshots of the mid and low level maps only, but everything is there.  Looking forward to your comments.

I need to shift back to some paper map work and terrain array work that is required for my next steps.  It was fun building the Scenario #54.

Ron

Cool!

That looks great! I'm so looking forward to this...

Originally Posted By Michael T (14 APR 2012 8:46pm)

I think a replacement mechanism that takes into consideration the loss/gain of certain key cities is a direction worth pursuing. Most games of similar scope that I have played do this kind of thing

Some caution is in order here?  The scope of the Schwerpunkt games is primarily at the operational level, where most of the game mechanics work pretty well.  For the larger/longer scenarios where players really would want more strategic and grand strategic features (production, research, diplomacy, etc.), the game does not work as well.  Adding some loss/gain mechanism might help a little but in the end players are still left with a lot of unsatisfying results over the long run. 

I've noticed since RGW days that a lot of players want the more strategic campaigns and then end up complaining about the shortcomings of an operational-level game engine that simply does not provide sufficient flexibility to handle ahistorical strategies.  My humble recommendation is for Ron to continue to focus on getting the operational level squared away first and then later maybe consider enhancing the game with more strategic game options.  Based on the AGW experience, there are enough challenges getting the supply model and the air/naval combat systems working smoothly (plus improving the computer opponent AI code to handle it all) to adequately deal with all of the WWII-Europe major operations.   Let's get the operational-level scenarios working right first and then possibly expand the game engine from there?
 

Thanks Battleline and Staggerwing!  We have a long way to go, but I can envision the end product in my mind's eye and in these screenshots.

Ron

I am not asking for a lot here Pzgndr. Not a strategic war element. Just for example if Germany captures a city like Moscow a reduction in Soviet replacement points. I don't think this is a big job, or is it?

To be honest I think a lot of people who by this game will be getting it for the big campaigns, like Russia 41-45.

I really think this game will have much more appeal to me than GG's WITE. Which is fundamentally flawed on so many levels.

Either way I will be suporting this game when it is released

That's some great stuff Ron.  Thanks for the screen shots!  I really like the clarity of the map and the Cmd Panel.

Bootlegger267

WWIIE development status for the last week:

1. Completed Scenario #43  Approach to Leningrad.

2. Implemented weather in the game.  Five weather zones.  Pressing the "W" key or selecting a menu item gives a display of the WWIIE map with the zones marked, and an icon for the weather type.  Clear, rain, mud, snow or storm.  Historical weather for now, but will probably add a die roll and some variation.

3. Developed the top level WWIIE map, and changed the code to display it with units.

4. Continued to create additional columns in the terrain array.

5. Modified the hex coordinate display so that it displays xy at the top of the hex (more like boardgames) and in black text.

Plan forward is to complete enough of the terrain array so that I can work on supply rules and implementation.  I am continuing to build scenarios as a background task.  Scenarios 2, 15, 42, 43, and 54 are basically done.  In addition, I plan to generate 29, 37, 61, 65, 77, 82, and 91 as part of the first set.  This is one from each of the 12 scenario groups.  At that time, I plan to send Playtest #1 out for comments while I continue to build additional scenarios.

Every day this gets a little more real, and a little more exciting.

Ron

re: #5 Thanks Ron.

(small one, but appreciated)

WWIIE development status for the last week:

1. Completed Scenario #29 Gustav Line.  Interesting battle October 1943 on the Italian peninsula.  The units are regiments and brigades, rather than divisions.  Nice to be able to display whether a unit is British, Canadian, Indian, or New Zealand.  Also, commander names are available for most of these units.  Next up is Scenario #37 To the Seine.  1944 scenario in France.

2.  Continued making progress on the terrain array.  Concentrating on the terrain array for the AGW part of the maps, then plan to move east and complete the terrain array for the new Russian segments of the maps.

3.  KC continued to make progress on digitizing the maps.  She is now as far south of Kiev at 

4. Began working on the Help displays.  Help in WWIIE is displayed by Internet Explorer, but are files that are local to your PC.  Plan is to include some mp3 files showing how to perform selected operations.

5. Started playing around with icons (tanks, etc) as an option for standard unit type symbols.  No decision yet, but promising.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Ron

#5 would be a very nice option,  in the early years I always liked games with unit images...before I got comfortable with NATO symbols.  It would make the game more accessible to some and more vet wargamers can also have a purely asthetic option.  Options are good

Hi Ron,

It is possible to add a "sudden victory condition" besides the current grade policy?

I mean, take the big campaign. Germany will get an automatic victory if Paris, London, Moscow, Leningrad and Stalingrad are conquered. Just a bad example. For smaller scenarios, like Sea Lion, Axis can get an automatic victory if London, Manchester and Liverpool are taken at any time. For the allied side, they would get the automatic victory if germans don't take any city after Turn #3. Just another bad example.

Of course, it should be completed with the grade victory conditions, based in city points are unit DFs.

What do you think?

Regards,

Emilio

@Kutnezov: I like the idea of a sudden victory conditions.  They would be different for each scenario.  Adds to the excitement.  Will analyze and get back to the forum on it.

Status on WWII Europe over the weekend:

1. Completed about 50% of Scenario #37 To the Seine.

2. Continued progress on the terrain array.

3. KC has now digitized the maps all the way to the Crimea.  Excellent quality maps showing the terrain most fought over.

4. Continued progress on the Help screens.  Selecting "Help" from the Windows menu starts a local session of Internet Explorer.  Using html4.  May have some mp3 videos to illustrate some operations!  Looking forward to playtester comment.

If you are interested in playtesting, please send me an email.  With over a 100 scenarios, we will need some help!

Thanks,

Ron

Originally Posted By Ron Dockal (16 MAY 2012 6:55pm)

 

If you are interested in playtesting, please send me an email.  With over a 100 scenarios, we will need some help!

 

Email sent to schwerpt@wargamer.com :-)

E-mail sent.

Originally Posted By JMass (17 MAY 2012 1:44pm)

Originally Posted By Ron Dockal (16 MAY 2012 6:55pm)

 

If you are interested in playtesting, please send me an email.  With over a 100 scenarios, we will need some help!

 

 

 

Email sent to schwerpt@wargamer.com :-)

PM sent...

Thanks to all of the folks who emailed me  and volunteered to playtest WWII-Europe.  During this summer, I will contact you via email to get postal addresses, to explain our basic method playtesting at Schwerpunkt, and answer your questions.  Not sure when our PT1 release will be, but I will be in contact.

Status for the last week:

1. Completed ground units for Scenario #37 To the Seine.  Air and naval untis remain to be added.

2. Continued working on Help sections (html displays)

3. Continued working on the terrain array. (manual encoding of terrain features in a very large array)

4. KC finished a large segment of the maps of Russia that contains the Crimea.  She has another 89 x 360 hex swath on the eastern side of the map to complete all of Russia.  She also has a 59 x 360 hex swath (mainly ocean) on the west side of the map to complete, which has Spain and Algeria.  Russian map segments are outstanding!

5. Progress continues to be very good toward Playtest #1 (PT1)

Ron

WWII-Europe status going into the weekend:

1. Completed ground units for Scenario #37 To the Seine.  Air and  naval units to be added.

2. Completed Axis part of Scenario #3, Norway 1940.  Began Allies part.

2. Continued working on Help sections (html displays)

3. Continued working on the terrain array. (manual encoding of terrain features in a very large array)

4. KC added forest and port hexes to Norway and Finland maps.  She also completed segments of Finland and Russia in the northern part of the total map area.

Ron

Hi Ron

No update for a while, hows everything going?

Drew

Thanks for the reminder, drewblack69.

Status for WWII Europe:

1.  I have been picking up speed focusing on the terrain array.  The goal is to complete the columns that were in AGW, and extend east to the columns in Russia in prep for Playtest #1 (PT#1). Averaging about ten columns per week.

2.  Completed two new scenarios:  #3 Norway and #4 Denmark.  Both are small, but #3 is a very interesting set of combined air, naval and ground battles.  This means 9 battles complete for PT#1, with 6 to go.  It is a varied mix of battles to allow good testing of all operations.

3.  KC continues to digitize the paper maps.  She is working on the area east Finland, and then plans to move to the far west part of the WWIIE map which includes Spain and Morocco.

4.  I have found and fixed a few small bugs.  I am also working a background task of developing Help using html.

5.  I have a list of 13 playtesters for PT#1.

So good progress continues, with no showstoppers (just hard work).

Ron

Hi Ron

Thanks for the update cant wait to getmy grubby hands on this ;-)

Drew

Continuing to focus on the terrain array on WWII Europe.  28% complete.

KC continuing to make progress on the maps.  She is about 50% complete on Spain/Portugal.

Ron

Originally Posted By Ron Dockal (28 JUN 2012 5:52pm)

 She is about 50% complete on Spain/Portugal.

 

So it will be possible to invade the Spanish Peninsula or Spain could join the Axis...

Yes.  Hypothetical scenario for Axis capture of Gibraltor.  Also, if Spain joins the Axis there might be additional units send to Russia besides the crack 250th Blue Division.

Ron