Am creating new balanced MP scenarios

[the_iron_duke]

I believe I may have settled on an air line-up for the mid '44 NW Europe scenario:

British:

4 x Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX

2 x de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI S1
1 x Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB

1 x Handley Page Halifax Mk.III
2 x Avro Lancaster Mk.III

--------------

German:

2 x Focke-Wulf Fw 190A fighter
2 x Messerchmitt Bf 109G fighter

2 x Focke-Wulf Fw 190G tactical bomber
1 x Messerschmitt Me 410A tactical bomber

1 x Heinkel He 177A strategic bomber
1 x Junkers Ju 88A strategic bomber
1 x Heinkel He 111H2 strategic bomber

The totals for the two armies are 20,707 vs 20,722 points.

[the_iron_duke]

Here's the order of battle for the post-Normandy '44 scenario:

BRITISH FORCES



1st Armoured Division

3 x Cromwell Mk. VII tank

1 x 43 British HW (w/ Bren Carrier)
3 x 43 British Infantry (w/ Lorry)

1 x Sexton self-propelled artillery
1 x QF 25 pounder (w/ Quad) towed artillery

1 x Daimler AC recon
1 x Achilles self-propelled anti-tank
1 x 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun (w/ Lorry)
1 x Engineer 43 (w/ Lorry)

2nd Armoured Division:

3 x Sherman Mk. I tank

1 x 43 British HW (w/ Bren Carrier)
3 x 43 British Infantry (w/ Lorry)

1 x Sexton self-propelled artillery
1 x QF 25 pounder (w/ Quad) towed artillery

1 x Daimler AC recon
1 x Achilles self-propelled anti-tank
1 x 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun (w/ Lorry)
1 x Engineer 43 (w/ Lorry)

3rd Armoured Division: (same as 2nd Armoured Division)

Attached units:

2 x Churchill Mk.VII tanks

2 x BL 7.2 inch (w/ Matador) towed heavy artillery
4 x BL 5.5 inch (w/ Lorry) towed artillery

1 x Crusader AA self-propelled anti-air
2 x QF 3.7 inch (w/ Matador) heavy anti-air

3 x 43 British Paras

1 x Bridge Engineer (w/ Lorry)

Aircraft [Royal Air Force]:

4 x Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX

2 x de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI S1
1 x Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB

1 x Handley Page Halifax Mk.III
2 x Avro Lancaster Mk.III

Total: 64 units, 20,707 points

GERMAN FORCES



1st Panzer Division:

1 x Panther G tank
1 x Panzer IVJ tank

1 x Panzergrenadier 43 (w/ SdKfz 251/1 half-track)
3 x Wehrmacht Infantry 43 (w/ Opel Blitz truck)

1 x Wespe self-propelled artillery (from Wespe self-propelled artillery)
1 x 15 cm sFH 18 (w/ Opel Blitz truck) towed artillery
1 x 10.5 cm leFH 18 (w/ Opel Blitz truck) towed artillery

1 x 1 SdKfz 234/1 8Rad recon
1 x StuG IIIG self-propelled anti-tank
1 x 3.7 cm FlaK 37 (w/ Opel Blitz truck) anti-air
1 x Pioniere 43 (w/ SdKfz 251/1 half-track)

2nd Panzer Division: (same as 1st Panzer Division)

3rd Panzer Division: (same as 1st Panzer Division)

Attached units [Unterstellt]:

1 x Tiger II heavy tank

2 x 21 cm Mrs 18 (w/ SdKfz 7 half-track) towed heavy artillery

1 x SdKfz 7/1 self-propelled anti-air
2 x 8.8 cm FlaK 36 (w/ SdKfz 7 half-track) towed heavy anti-air

3 x Fallschirmjager 43 paratrooper

1 x Bruckenpioniere (w/ Opel Blitz truck) bridge engineer

Aircraft [Luftwaffe]:

2 x Focke-Wulf Fw 190A fighter
2 x Messerchmitt Bf 109G fighter

2 x Focke-Wulf Fw 190G tactical bomber
1 x Messerschmitt Me 410A tactical bomber

1 x Heinkel He 177A strategic bomber
1 x Junkers Ju 88A strategic bomber
1 x Heinkel He 111H2 strategic bomber

Total: 59 units, 20,722 points

[ThvN]

Again, nice armies! I just spotted a little typo,

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IV

I guess you mean the IX (or maybe the XIV)?

[the_iron_duke]

I guess you mean the IX (or maybe the XIV)?

Ah yes, that was a typo - they are Spitfire Mk.IXs.

I think the aircraft are about right historically. The page from wikipedia on German aircraft production numbers has been useful in picking the right historical blend. I couldn't find much information on the dates and production numbers of the two versions of the ground-attack Fw 190 - F and G. So I went with the G version in the '44 scenario for points reasons.

Well, the '43 Eastern Front scenario is just about complete then. I will need a victim - volunteer, I mean - to play-test it.

One issue remains about what to set the prestige-per-turn setting to. I think that it will end up being between 50 and 100 points per turn.
I think the play-test will probably give an idea which is the best figure.

[ThvN]

I couldn't find much information on the dates and production numbers of the two versions of the ground-attack Fw 190 - F and G. So I went with the G version in the '44 scenario for points reasons.

There is some info on wikipedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf ... k_variants

There are more detailed accounts elsewhere, but those also describe each sub-variant in in even more detail.

To save you some time: from some research I did for a mod, the number of available (for combat) planes in Luftwaffe units, as reported in december 1943, was:
FW 190 F = 151 (total built est. 4500-5000)
FW 190 G = 75 (total built est. 1300)

The problem with the F and the G in the game is that their stats don't make sense when you compare them to the real-life planes, which were produced side-by-side for different roles. Note that the 'F' model was basically a slightly modified 'A'-model (fighter), and the first series of 'F' were simply redesignated ground-attack subvariants of 'A' series. The 'G' was more specialized, had much longer range, but less armament. So it doesn't matter much what you pick for your forces, I guess.

[the_iron_duke]

Thanks for the Fw 190 details.

I might make a small change to the air composition for the '44 Normandy scenario to better balance it. My feeling is that the Germans have slightly better air-to-air strength. The British have a lot more points spent on strategic bombers than the Germans. So the change would be to upgrade the He 111 to a Junkers 88A and upgrade the British Mosquito to S2 versions, which have slightly better initiative (and bombing). Incidentally, I can find no information about the Mosquito Series 1 and Series 2 differences or production numbers.

[the_iron_duke]

I had an idea.

In many ways, this type of scenario would benefit from reinforcements costing 100% rather than 25%. Since this isn't possible with the scenario parameters, and my wanting to keep it "vanilla" without alterations to the files, I thought of something that might improve it - starting experience.

My feeling is that it is important to not give too much prestige per turn as the initial armies are big, and also because I don't want players concentrating too much on trying to preserve units at all costs. One remedy is to make sure prestige is just enough to reinforce key units but not enough that a large reserve of prestige builds up.

Another way I thought that might improve things is to give each unit some starting experience, maybe 3 out of 5 stars. Then reinforcing would weaken units and the value of prestige "in the bank" would be decreased. What are your thoughts? Also, if everyone from both sides has 3/5 experience are things basically the same (in combat results etc) as if everyone started with zero experience? Points cost would be different (but hopefully in proportion), anything else?

[the_iron_duke]

Okay, I think the Eastern Front '43 game is ready to be played. I've uploaded the file for downloading. Anyone is free to look at it and if they fancy a game then that would be great.

The scenario is titled The Eagle & The Bear. If I export the armies to a new map it shall be The Eagle and the Bear I: Map Alpha.

The Great Britain vs Germany game will be called The Bulldog & The Eagle and the U.S. vs Germany one called The Bison & The Eagle. A hypothetical US vs USSR one would be the The Bison & The Bear and so on.

This was my first map. The one I'm making for the post-Normandy scenario I'm spending greater time creating and I think it will be more interesting, visually and tactically.

Here's the download link for the scenario:

[removed]

[ThvN]

Incidentally, I can find no information about the Mosquito Series 1 and Series 2 differences or production numbers.

'Series 2' was applied to Mosquitos with an upgraded (wing?) design to increase stability, and some other structural changes.

This change was first introduced in the 'B' (bomber) model, and a little later also for the 'FB' (fighter-bomber) versions. The 'FB' is basically the one used in the game.
Production: Only the first 300 or so 'FB' were 'Series 1', the rest of the 2300 (total) built were 'Series 2'. The first 'Series 2' were delivered from mid-june 1943, prior to that delivered fighter-bombers would have been 'Series 1', but they were built at different locations, so it's hard to be very accurate.

Another way I thought that might improve things is to give each unit some starting experience, maybe 3 out of 5 stars. Then reinforcing would weaken units and the value of prestige "in the bank" would be decreased. What are your thoughts? Also, if everyone from both sides has 3/5 experience are things basically the same (in combat results etc) as if everyone started with zero experience? Points cost would be different (but hopefully in proportion), anything else?

It's a nice idea, but it might require some testing. Experience now has different bonuses depending on unit type, these are taken from the exp.pzdat file. A small example: experience now gives tanks a 'normal' bonus to Hard Attack, but Anti-Tank receives double that bonus. But to even things, Anti-tank only has half the bonus of a Tank for Soft Attack. So there are divergent trends which might favour one over the other under specific circumstances.

Also, combat tends to be more 'deadly', with more extreme results, if units are very experienced, especially in the air. Basically, units with higher stats will benefit relatively more from experience, which was one of the reasons behind introducing this moddable experience table. So the ideal value of base experience would have to be found by testing and seeing what you like. But two or three stars seems a very reasonable value.

[the_iron_duke]

Thanks for the information on the Mosquito - you beat the internet that time!

Maybe starting experience is not such a good idea then, if it would have the potential to distort things. I had set it at 250 but I think I will change it to 50 or do away with it completely. I did a quick check using a custom scenario to test the power of experience stars and found that a 3 star unit was quite a lot more powerful than a zero star unit.

[the_iron_duke]

I've decided to rethink the composition for the '44 scenario.

The Achilles self-propelled anti-tank had arrived in time for D-Day but only in small numbers to begin with. Therefore I think only one of the divisions (with the Cromwells) shall have one and the other two (Sherman-equipped) divisions shall have a towed QF 17 pdr anti-tank gun each.

I am also upgrading one Sherman battalion in each of the Sherman divisions to a Firefly. This would mean there'd be two Fireflies and four Shermans (which is bigger than the historical proportions of 1 in 6 Shermans in mid '44 being Fireflies), but I think it's necessary in game terms due to the weakness of the Sherman Mk.I in relation to the German tanks.

One of the attached Churchills VIIs will downgrade to a Churchill AVRE.

[the_iron_duke]

Here is the new look British Armoured Corps for '44. Added Fireflies, towed anti-tank, Churchill Avre and an attached Corps-level Daimler Dingo AC. The Germans get an SdKfz 222 AC. The 222 had ceased production in '43 but they were still being used in non-frontline roles. These corps-level recons will be useful for independent reconnaissance, especially for rearward work in case paratroops get behind the lines.

[the_iron_duke]

Here's a good diagram of the structure of a '44 British Armoured Division:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Great ... e_1944.png

[the_iron_duke]

Here are the armies for the '44 scenario in deployment mode:

[the_iron_duke]

And limbered up:

[ThvN]

The Achilles self-propelled anti-tank had arrived in time for D-Day but only in small numbers to begin with. Therefore I think only one of the divisions (with the Cromwells) shall have one and the other two (Sherman-equipped) divisions shall have a towed QF 17 pdr anti-tank gun each.

I am also upgrading one Sherman battalion in each of the Sherman divisions to a Firefly. This would mean there'd be two Fireflies and four Shermans (which is bigger than the historical proportions of 1 in 6 Shermans in mid '44 being Fireflies), but I think it's necessary in game terms due to the weakness of the Sherman Mk.I in relation to the German tanks.

I think the Western Allied are very tricky to get a nice mix, as the stock equipment file has some inconsistencies. The Sherman is too weak, the Firefly too strong, so fudging the numbers to make a better army is recommended. If you are unsure about the AT units, as a 'wildcard' you can also swap one of the towed AT guns for an Archer SPAT, they were introduced in April 1944, but they were about half as common as Achilles.

[the_iron_duke]

I tested out the tank/anti-tank abilities of the Panzer division versus the British armoured division. The Sherman Mk.Is were totally out-matched so I decided to make the change.

A Firefly and a 17 pdr acquit themselves well against a Panther and Panzer VI. Two Shermans against a StuG III is not so bad and the divisional QF 25 pdr can also switch to a weak AT, so there is better balance between the armies this way.

From what I understand from Wikipedia, the Archer didn't enter service until October 1944. I'm setting the scenario from 1st August, so it's towards the latter half of the Battle of Normandy.

[the_iron_duke]

Regarding the Great British army, I decided to replace the Churchill AVRE for a second Churchill VII. It's slightly less neat, in points balance terms, but I think it's better this way to even out armour differences between the armies.

I've been making a U.S. vs Germany scenario set at around the time of the Ardennes Offensive, so late 1944/early 1945. One problem I have with it are the Sherman graphics. Here are the five different Sherman graphics along with the Shermans they represent in the game:



(L-R) M4 Sherman - M4A1, M4A1(76)W - M4A3, M4A3(76)W - M4A3E2, M4A3E2(76)W - M4A3(105)

There are a couple of problems with the graphics. Firstly, one of them is much bigger, the size of a Tiger tank, and so I am disinclined to use that image. Also, the graphics are quite wrong in their graphical representations in terms of the turrets and barrel lengths they show. The main differentiation should be between those that have a rounded turret with a shorter 75mm gun and those that have an angular turret with a large 76mm gun. Instead there are different graphics for different models.

There's a good site on Shermans here:

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/index.html

I have summarised what I have read about some of the main Sherman versions concerning two of the most important identification signs: hull and turret. The hull can be cast, which gives it smooth, rounded edges, or welded, in which case it has a more angular shape with sharp 90 degree edges. There are two main turrets, the first of which holds the 75mm gun which has a shorter length and has a smooth, rounded turret. The second turret type holds the longer 76mm gun and has a slightly more angular, box-like turret. Here are the relevant details from the website (with models not used in the game in brackets).

M4 Sherman - welded hull & also some cast hull, 75mm rounded turret
M4A1 - cast hull, 75mm rounded turret or boxish 76 mm turret
(M4A2 - welded hull, 75mm rounded turret or boxish 76 mm turret)
M4A3 - welded hull, 75mm rounded turret or boxish 76 mm turret
(M4A4 - welded hull, 75mm rounded turret)

There is also the M4A3E2 "Jumbo" model which has extra frontal armour. There are some pictures of it on this page:

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minu ... /m4a3.html

The differences aren't that obvious and it's hard to spot from a photo, let alone the small graphics in the game.

There is also the Sherman type that's fitted with a 105mm howitzer, that is a self-propelled artillery piece in the game.

So, I have already altered my equipment file to re-assign different graphical images to different models. How will this work with a multiplayer game? Can a multiplayer game be played with an altered equipment file?

Also, what are your interpretations of the unit graphics? Here are mine:

The "M4 Sherman" graphic has a welded hull and a rounded 75mm gun turret.

The "M4A1(76)W" graphic has an angular 76mm turret and it looks like a smooth, rounded hull although it's difficult to tell.

The "M4A3(76)W" graphic is huge. It has an angular 76mm turret and angular welded hull.

The "M4A3E2" graphic has a 75mm turret and a welded hull. It's difficult to tell, but it could indeed be a Jumbo tank with 75mm gun. The gun mantlet seems to have some extra armour, similar to a photo in the website above. It also looks like it's got some extra, thicker armour at its front between the tracks.

The "M4A3(105)" graphic does indeed have an appropriate slightly shorter barrel length for this gun.

So I think the "M4 Sherman" graphic should in the game represent: M4 Sherman, M4A3

The "M4A1(76)W" graphic should represent: M4A1(76)W

The "M4A3(76)W" graphic should represent: M4A3(76)W. But only if the graphic can be re-sized to the correct proportions, otherwise I'd go for the "M4A1(76)W" graphic.

The "M4A3E2" should represent: M4A3E2

So that leaves two units without designated graphics: M4A1 and M4A3E2. If I had to shoehorn them, then I'd use for the M4A1 the "M4 Sherman"
graphic as, although it has a welded hull, it has the correct smaller 75mm gun. The M4A3E2(76)W is slightly trickier but it should have a large 76mm gun.

It would be easy to alter the graphics to make them more appropriate as it's a simple edit to lengthen the barrel of a depicted gun.

[the_iron_duke]

Here are the forces for the Ardennes-era scenario.

Although I have read of the infantry components of US armoured divisions being fully mechanised (with half-tracks) I have included several trucks, partly because they are quite an expensive use of points. Both armies are now using a similar balance of trucks and halftracks.

Unlike the previous two scenarios, there is less points balance between the ground and air components. In this scenario, the Germans have a slightly higher ground force points tally, while the US have proportionately more on air power.

Also, I have changed the unit graphics for the Shermans, so the Shermans don't represent the units they do in the game for reasons described in the previous post.

UNITED STATES FORCES

Three Armoured Divisions each including:

1 x M4A3(76)W tank
2 x M4A3 tanks

3 x US Infantry 43 (w/ Truck)

3 x M7 Priest self-propelled artillery

1 x M8 Greyhound recon
1 x M18 Hellcat self-propelled anti-tank
1 x M16 MGMC self-propelled anti-air
1 x US Engineers 43 (w/ M3 Halftrack)

Attached units:

2 x M36 Jackson heavy self-propelled anti-tank
1 x Willys Jeep

2 x 8 Inch M1 (w/ M3 Halftrack) towed heavy artillery
1 x Calliope self-propelled artillery

2 x 90mm M1A1 (w/ M3 Halftrack) towed heavy anti-air
1 x M15A1 MGMC self-propelled anti-air

2 x US Rangers (w/ M3 Halftrack) infantry
1 x US Airborne 43 paratroops
1 x US Bridge Eng (w/ Truck)

Aircraft:

2 x P-47D Thunderbolt fighters
2 x P-51D Mustang fighters

2 x B-26C Marauder tactical bombers
1 x A-26 Invader tactical bomber

1 x B-17G Flying Fortress strategic bomber
1 x B-24 Liberator strategic bomber





GERMAN FORCES

Three Panzer Divisions, each including:

1 x Panther G tank
1 x Panzer IVJ tank

1 x Panzergrenadier 43 (w/ SdKfz 251/1 half-track)
3 x Wehrmacht Infantry 43 (w/ Opel Blitz truck)

1 x Wespe self-propelled artillery (from Wespe self-propelled artillery)
1 x 15 cm sFH 18 (w/ Opel Blitz truck) towed artillery
1 x 10.5 cm leFH 18 (w/ Opel Blitz truck) towed artillery

1 x 1 SdKfz 234/1 8Rad recon
1 x StuG IIIG self-propelled anti-tank
1 x 3.7 cm FlaK 37 (w/ Opel Blitz truck) anti-air
1 x Pioniere 43 (w/ SdKfz 251/1 half-track)

Attached units:

1 x Tiger II heavy tank
1 x SdKfz 222 AC recon

1 x Panzerwerfer 42
2 x 21 cm Mrs 18 (w/ SdKfz 7 half-track) towed heavy artillery

1 x SdKfz 7/1 self-propelled anti-air
2 x 8.8 cm FlaK 36 (w/ SdKfz 7 half-track) towed heavy anti-air

1 x Fallschirmjager 43 paratrooper

1 x Bruckenpioniere (w/ Opel Blitz truck) bridge engineer

Aircraft:

1 x Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 fighter
3 x Messerchmitt Bf 109K fighter

2 x Focke-Wulf Fw 190F tactical bomber
1 x Messerschmitt Me 410A tactical bomber

1 x Heinkel He 177A strategic bomber
1 x Junkers Ju 88A strategic bomber
1 x Heinkel He 111H2 strategic bomber

[the_iron_duke]

I re-sized the M4A3(76)W image - the middle Sherman - and I think it looks a lot better.