Free France Campaign

[bru888]

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[bru888]

Where is Lawrence of Arabia ?

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Wrong desert.

[bru888]

I told you the sheikh is a scourge to weak units! (10 of them at 2 strength, lined up for a test).

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[bru888]

Of course, if you are careless with him, you are going to pay.

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Notice that his followers have disappeared for parts unknown ...

[ColonelY]

'Seems to be an awesome side-story, very immersive.

[bru888]

'Seems to be an awesome side-story, very immersive.

It's also going to be a test of skill because, let's face it, even a five-starred battling sheikh is only a cavalry unit. The player is going to have to use the sheikh carefully, battling only other cavalry and mopping up weakened units, to accumulate 20 damage points without being killed himself. But, it's only a sideshow.

[terminator]

The Battle of Dakar

First remarks after 6 turns :

- Rufisque: no Vichy AA to protect the ART ?

The answer to my question:


Capture d’écran (1907).jpg

Oh, I thought you meant for protecting Vichy artillery. Those found AA units benefit the Allies.

This place would be the best place to place a Vichy DCA piece to protect Vichy artillery pieces highly vulnerable to air attacks:

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[terminator]

The Battle of Dakar(Free France 1940-1945 v0.15)

I captured this flag during the previous turn but the counter remains desperately blocked, the only way to unlock it is to save then reload the scenario:

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[bru888]

Good catch, terminator. This was a real head-scratcher but I did find the issue. I'll be back when I have fixed it.

[bru888]

Good catch, terminator. This was a real head-scratcher but I did find the issue. I'll be back when I have fixed it.

I finally remembered that there was an "Early scenario ending" mechanism in which one primary objective is held open to allow the secondary objectives to be achieved. That primary objective is timed for Turn Start at Scenario Turn Limit. However, the "Early scenario ending" says, if all the other primary and secondary objectives are achieved, then look at the conditions for the delayed primary objective and, if satisfied, award the objective and end the scenario.

My mistake was in using "Pacify outlying villages" as the delayed primary objective. That can't be done if there is a VP counter attached because the trigger is not going to fire until the end of the scenario:

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So instead, I moved this statement to the "Capture Dakar" objective and adjusted the triggers accordingly; this works because "Capture Dakar" does not have a counter attached to it:

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It's fixed now.

By the way, I have been misunderstanding your "place a Vichy DCA piece to protect Vichy artillery pieces highly vulnerable to air attacks." (I had it right in the first place, then changed my mind when you posted the "found AA guns" message which benefits the Allies.) I had not anticipated the player to still have those naval aircraft available; they are programmed to disappear once enemy aircraft and ships are destroyed. From your screen print, I see this is not necessarily happening when I thought it would.

Therefore, I have added two Hotchkiss 25mm AA guns, one for Garnison de Rufisque and one for Garnison de Dakar.

Free France 1940-1945 v0.16 has been uploaded. It includes the correction to Dakar discussed above.

Free France 1940-1945 (seven scenarios)

[terminator]

*** Gameplay Bug ***

Free France 1940-1945 v0.16 (game version 9.0.0)

Bug = when loading a savegame, the game considers this action as "Turnstart" in some cases

At turn 3, I destroyed the 5 boats (there is no Event), I made a savegame then I reload the savegame and the Event of Turnstart appears
If I had not reloaded the savegame the Event would have appeared at the beginning of the next turn (turn 4).
You can see on the picture, that some boats have already moved or fired so this is not a start of the turn otherwise you can test the savegame:

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Savegame:

[Free France] The Battle of Dakar - Turn 3A2.zip

(39.45 KiB) Downloaded 44 times

PS: this also happens for other events during the scenario

[bru888]

*** Gameplay Bug ***

Free France 1940-1945 v0.16 (game version 9.0.0)

Bug = when loading a savegame, the game considers this action as "Turnstart" in some cases

At turn 3, I destroyed the 5 boats (there is no Event), I made a savegame then I reload the savegame and the Event of Turnstart appears
If I had not reloaded the savegame the Event would have appeared at the beginning of the next turn (turn 4).
You can see on the picture, that some boats have already moved or fired so this is not a start of the turn otherwise you can test the savegame:


Capture d’écran (1977).jpg


Savegame: [Free France] The Battle of Dakar - Turn 3A2.zip


PS: this also happens for other events during the scenario

Not a bug; that's intentional. I have found that trying to spawn units during combat or in the same turn as combat is asking for trouble. All unit removals and spawns occur at Turn Start in my work. Now, if you had not saved the game and reloaded it right after that turn, it would have appeared as normal because, yes, if you destroyed the Rufisque fleet in Turn 3, you are supposed to see the popup at the start of Turn 4. Most players are not going to do what you did at that particular time, so I am going to leave this as it is.

[bru888]

I destroy the local fleet on Turn 3, as you did:

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At the beginning of Turn 4, I receive the "Commence Landings" message. Note the supply ships that have just spawned. As I said above, I don't do that during Turn 3, as a result of combat. That often does not work. Turn Start is best for unit spawns and removal:

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Proceeding with Turn 4, I may now deploy land units on the beach:

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So thanks, but it's *** Working as Designed ***

[terminator]

Turn Start is Turn Start, it is not during a turn when we save and load a savegame

The solution :

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[bru888]

So. When someone does not "save and load a savegame" at that point, the message and the spawns, which I choose not to separate, occur in Turn 5 instead of Turn 4 with your proposed arrangement. That is not my intention. I have examined this and determined and demonstrated that it works to my satisfaction. Let us move on, if you please.

[bru888]

Free France 1940-1945 v0.17 has been uploaded. It includes the new Fezzan scenario and campaign popup messages between Fezzan and Battle of the Mareth Line.

Free France 1940-1945 (eight scenarios)

To start:

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Eventually:

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[bru888]

It's always a good feeling to find a superior battle map:

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calculate the equivalent X-Y hex ratio (in this case, 43 by 50 hexes):

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and have the template slot in beautifully in the editor:

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[ColonelY]

[...] It includes the new Fezzan scenario and campaign popup messages between Fezzan and Battle of the Mareth Line.

[...]

To start: [...]

Eventually: [...]

The new Fezzan?! Awesome, thanks!

I'll test is as soon as possible (though probably only being able to start it on Sunday as now, again... well...)


A quick preliminary question... "Eventually" Does it actually mean that the player has a choice at scenario start, or just before it, to play either a more immersive or a lighter version of it?!
It could be a great idea. But then, I'll certainly try the most complete version, the one with the more objectives!

[ColonelY]

It's always a good feeling to find a superior battle map [...] and have the template slot in beautifully in the editor [...]

Indeed. Splendid!

[bru888]

[...] It includes the new Fezzan scenario and campaign popup messages between Fezzan and Battle of the Mareth Line.

[...]

To start: [...]

Eventually: [...]

The new Fezzan?! Awesome, thanks!

I'll test is as soon as possible (though probably only being able to start it on Sunday as now, again... well...)


A quick preliminary question... "Eventually" Does it actually mean that the player has a choice at scenario start, or just before it, to play either a more immersive or a lighter version of it?!
It could be a great idea. But then, I'll certainly try the most complete version, the one with the more objectives!

1) Please take your time. My primary concern: Does the player have enough turns to accomplish the objectives. (I sure hope so, because things are finely timed up there in the north.)
2) Eventually means several objectives are revealed during the scenario. The player has no choice, but there are two ways to activate the remaining primary objectives; one or the other will do the job. Note the randomized placement of Italian garrisons at scenario start, by the way.