Please include a campaign tree w/ each AO

[brettwjohnson]

It would be really helpful if each of the AO DLCs included a campaign tree for the AO in question.

Ideally a word-searchable PDF and not a JPG (which allows you to copy relevant text for bug reports, forum discussion etc.).

I have the FieldMarshal edition of the game from GOG and when I checked the folders, I found a JPG (bleah) of the base campaign scenario tree, but nothing from the SCW, 1939, 1940 AOs...

Please (!) include these - it's trivial for you all to create them and it's very helpful to players...

[GUNDOBALDO08]

More better a in game campaign tree, as an option in every mission briefing.
I would also like a section of unit battle stats on the briefing screen with even more information than on the victory screen. I wish I could sort the units in the screen according to the different statistics ...

[brettwjohnson]

More better a in game campaign tree, as an option in every mission briefing.

<snip>

Wholeheartedly DISAGREE... When you are actually playing the game, you shouldn't have perfect future knowledge in-game.
If you want to step out of the game and reference a spoiler file, that's a different matter... Some people will and some people won't.

This is similar to the "willing suspension of disbelief" that is critical in writing fiction... Any time do something that causes the reader to lift themselves out of the story, you are inhibiting their enjoyment. A classic example in fanfiction is when the author includes an "author's note" in the middle of a paragraph... It's jarring and breaks the magic...

So NO, I don't want a campaign tree as an option in mission briefings... It's not better, it's far worse...

[brettwjohnson]

Additionally, it's TRIVIAL for the developer to include a PDF of the campaign tree. They already have it (maybe not in PDF), as it was a needed design document in actually developing the DLC content.

It should take 1 person about 1 minute to generate this content and include it w/ the DLC.

To implement it in game would require far more effort to code it, test it, etc.

[dalfrede]

Additionally, it's TRIVIAL for the developer to include a PDF of the campaign tree. They already have it (maybe not in PDF), as it was a needed design document in actually developing the DLC content.

It should take 1 person about 1 minute to generate this content and include it w/ the DLC.

It is included with each DLC;
It is called script.lua. It is a text file.
No need for a PDF.

To generate a Flow Chart of the campaign takes well over an hour.
Since the JPG is created from a PDF, creating a PDF is trivial.

Note:
LibreOffice has an export to PDF, but no export to JPG function.
PDF will not display on a post as a JPG will.
People can see the Tree JPG from a post without downloading anything.

[SineMora]

While a clunky method, dalfrede is right. On Steam you can use manage and browse local files to access the PzC 2 directory, then find script.lua in the Content\Campaigns\X folder, where X is the campaign you're interested in, e.g., if you want a list of the SCW scenarios you can check the Content\Campaigns\AO0Spain\script.lua file.

Notepad++ is good for lua files in general.

[Kerensky]

I hope one day the Axis Operations can get campaign trees with fantastic art backdrops. Just like the original Grand Campaign got.
viewtopic.php?f=121&t=41972

But the original Grand Campaign didn't get those until the Grand Campaign was complete... and it got the extra perk of being baked directly into the game through the Panzer Corps Library.

In the interim, we do have very helpful user made campaign trees. They even come with extra details on CP earning and spending.
viewtopic.php?f=464&t=100028

Very bottom of the leading FAQ post for campaign tree links.

[Kerensky]

Wholeheartedly DISAGREE... When you are actually playing the game, you shouldn't have perfect future knowledge in-game.
If you want to step out of the game and reference a spoiler file, that's a different matter... Some people will and some people won't.

This is similar to the "willing suspension of disbelief" that is critical in writing fiction... Any time do something that causes the reader to lift themselves out of the story, you are inhibiting their enjoyment. A classic example in fanfiction is when the author includes an "author's note" in the middle of a paragraph... It's jarring and breaks the magic...

So NO, I don't want a campaign tree as an option in mission briefings... It's not better, it's far worse...

What would be a really cool feature if is the campaign tree had fog of war.

Meaning you can see it from the start, but it's all hidden because you haven't progressed through the content. As you play, and branches open and optional stuff becomes available, the fog is slowly rolled back.

That would be the best way to get around what you describe, because it would be a major spoiler and bummer to see the full 1941 tree the moment you start the 1941 campaign. We all know where history will take 1941, but that does not mean the campaign is pre-determined as history is. Who knows what scenarios will actually be ahead?

The best example is actually 1940, with it's appearance of the Sea Lion scenarios. That would be a sucky thing to spoil from the get go.

[Retributarr]

Wholeheartedly DISAGREE... When you are actually playing the game, you shouldn't have perfect future knowledge in-game.

So NO, I don't want a campaign tree as an option in mission briefings... It's not better, it's far worse...

We all know where history will take 1941, but that does not mean the campaign is pre-determined as history is. Who knows what scenarios will actually be ahead?

The best example is actually 1940, with it's appearance of the Sea Lion scenarios. That would be a sucky thing to spoil from the get go.

PLEASE!!!… keep the "SUSPENCE"[The Known UnKnowns]… as high as you practically can. This is what makes for 'high-intrigue, absorbing immersive interest,fascination and fear!'. As well... include some unexpected elements into the Game, to heighten the thrill-factor, to help alleviate the boredom of the Eternal-Drudgery-Grind!.