[Development Thread]WW1 Mod: Blood and Iron

Regarding the pedia entries - is this the sort of things your looking for?


-Early Recon (Example: Bleriot XI, Rumpler Toube, etc)
Reconnaissance is the active seeking to determine a foe's intentions by collecting and gathering information about an enemy's composition and capabilities along with pertinent environmental conditions, via direct observation. These aircraft carried little armament in order to improve range and carry camera equipment. Early Reconnaissance aircraft were mostly of pre-war design.

-Late Recon/Light Bomber (Example: Albatros C.III, RAF Re8, etc)
Developments in aircraft technology – such as the introduction of more powerful motors - improved performance and therefore increased handling, range and allowed heavier payloads. In turn the heavier payloads meant the aircraft could take on a more offensive bombing role, as well as provide better armament to protect themselves from fighter aircraft.

-Seaplane (Example: Sopwith Tabloid, Nieuport 6.h, Lohner Type L, etc)
Designed to take off from and land on water, seaplanes were important for maritime patrol. Ranging in size, the ability to alight on water also allowed these aircraft to break free of size constraints caused by the lack of large land based runways.

-Early Fighter (Example: DH.2, Fokker E.III, etc)
The initial use of aircraft was for reconnaissance and ground attack – in response this led to the development of the fighter aircraft. Smaller, faster and more maneuverable, many early fighters were based on aircraft developed before the war for such air races as the Gordon Bennett Cup and Schneider Trophy. Mostly biplanes, forward firing machine guns were often mounted on the upper wing – though some early fighters did have newly introduced synchronization gear fitted allowing bullets to pass through the propellor arc for better accuracy and to make it easier for pilots to clear machine gun jams.
 
I m so looking forward to seeing a mortar team animated!!!
Will you do it for Artillery as well at some point? (would definitely be worth it!!!)

can´t wait for a first release, man!
 
I m so looking forward to seeing a mortar team animated!!!
Will you do it for Artillery as well at some point? (would definitely be worth it!!!)

can´t wait for a first release, man!

I'd love to do an animated artillery team to go with some of the new guns I've made lately. They'll probably be a while after the mortar team though, animating figure units takes FOREVER!

Glad you're looking forward to it. I'm working on a couple last minute ships I realized I'd need (no cruisers!?!), after that it's figuring out the formations. After that - the SCENARIOS!!!

Do you think you could take another look at some of the units from your WW1 infantries pack? I found some bugs with some.
 
@Skitters - Those are exactly what I was looking for, thanks!!!

cool...I'll keep plugging away at some more then. Note I won't take offence if you feel any are not quite what you're after, or if you see any obvious refinements you want to make to them.

Also noticed there was a couple of typo's in the early fighter text, which I've now corrected.

Here is the next batch. Hopefully I'll get a chance to do some more later....but guess I really should do some work!

-Intermediate Fighter (Example: Albatros D.III, Sopwith Pup, Nieuport 11, etc)
Better engine developments, and design, a move to more stable biplanes, plus further refinement of synchronization gear and a move to duel machine guns saw fighters improve further as the war progressed. As fighters had been developed to respond to early reconnaissance aircraft and bombers, there now became a development race to give fighter pilots an advantage in speed, maneuverability and hitting power as the skies became increasingly busier with dogfights.

-Late Fighter (Example: SPAD XIII, Sopwith Camel, Fokker D.VII, etc)
Further aerodynamic improvements, the refinement of cantilever wings and more powerful engines saw fighters reach new levels of performance. Frontline fighter pilots were increasingly asked for advice and to help evaluate the latest developments. Strengthened structures improved endurance as pilots put their airframes under increasing pressures as they dueled in the skies.

-Medium Bomber (Example: AEG G.IV, DH.4, Breguet Br14, etc)
As the war progressed, the size of bombers also grew as each side looked to maximise the damage it could inflict on the other. Whilst they would still perform a reconnaissance role, the planes were now developing a more distinct role as Bombers. Larger sections of airframe were now being made from metal, making them lighter but also able to withstand more damage. Coupled with larger engines, payloads increased as the crew looked to reap devastation on the enemy forces below.

-Heavy Bomber (Example: Handley Page O/100, Ilya Muromets, Gotha G.IV, etc)
As early as December 1914 during the First World War the Royal Navy's Director of the Air Department, Captain Murray Sueter requested "a bloody paralyser" of an aircraft from Frederick Handley Page for long-range bombing. Large wingspans, multiple engines, meant heavier payloads could be carried in order to carry out strategic air raids on ports, railway targets and airfields with payloads of upto 800kg of bombs. Longer range also allowed these craft to perform an anti-submarine role. Multiple gun points and armor plating afforded some protection from fighters planes.

-Armored Car (Example: Rolls Royce, Ehrardt, Charron, etc)
First seen in the Italo-Turkish war of 1912, the armed forces were quick to see the potential of fast, armored vehicles. Primarily armed with light machine guns, they provided a fast, mobile weapons platform. Their good speed and range made them useful for a reconnaissance role, and as the air war developed they also fulfilled a mobile anti-aircraft role. They had a key role in the Race to the Sea and rescuing downed fighter pilots, but as the Western front ground to a halt it became apparent that they had only limited use in muddy trenches. They were, however, able to operate in other theaters such as the Near East.
 
@Skitters - Thanks for those entries, I'm going to start adding them in to the code, they'll help give B&I a more finished look!

Still working on a lot of the XML - every time I think I've gotten something finished I find some other area to work on. Still, the mod is moving forward, and I think I can safely say it'll be along in a couple months.

To finish out some of the artwork, in between sections of XML, I've been working on some more artillery units. Here's a preview of the Russian 76mm Divisional Gun (Field Gun):



-Smitty
 
I'd love to do an animated artillery team to go with some of the new guns I've made lately. They'll probably be a while after the mortar team though, animating figure units takes FOREVER!

Glad you're looking forward to it. I'm working on a couple last minute ships I realized I'd need (no cruisers!?!), after that it's figuring out the formations. After that - the SCENARIOS!!!

Do you think you could take another look at some of the units from your WW1 infantries pack? I found some bugs with some.

Sure! give me a list of what needs reworking and I can see what I can do for you!

Also, if you still need some more Infantry units, let me know, maybe I can find the time to create some more.
 
I know you like graphics that add flavour and climat.

I experimented a little bit and came with idea that vintage graphics might look cool in our mods (black and white would be to hard to recognize).

I leave the mod colorfull, but i think I'll make additiona graphic pack wich will turn game into an old color photograpgy.

Just now only terrains (without rivers and bonuses) - I can't decide wich version I like better tough :p

vintageciv1.jpg


vintageciv2.jpg


I use action for PS - it turns whole operation of modifing texture to couple of clicks (or 1-2 keybord shortcuts)
 
Hey Smitty, what ship art do you have done or are planning on doing before release? For a little project (partly of my own) I have been thinking of creating a few more ships, TBs, First Class Cruisers, Destroyers and so on but I thought I should determine what you have done already so I do not go creating stuff I will be able to get from you (Which will in all likelihood be much better.)

Unfortunately I thought of asking after I completed a Monmouth Class cruiser, but at any rate I shouldn't be doing doubles.

I am looking forward to the mod, and check your email as I sent on something that I was supposed to quite a while back..

Matthew
 
Asio, awesome stuff, I´d prefer the lower one, I think with less saturation it is better to keep it less noisy.
Cool idea to apply it to the other graphics (thinking of mainly improvements, cities and features) as well... maybe even units...

further I think we will need some new terrain grafics with craters and stuff for plots where you have heavy artillery fire and/or trench warfare for several turns?
 
@asio- Nice terrain man, that would be an awesome add-on. I'd be interested to see what it looks like with the units modified as well.

I've made some good progress balancing things out with units, and finally got to work on the different formations. So far here's what I've got (showing the late-war German ground units). I'm thinking of making 2 armored cars per formation and adding some infantry to run along with tanks, but I like the way the assault infantry turned out. It's fun seeing 4 different types of units battle it out!

 
I'm looking forward to playing this as Imperial Germany.

Long live the Kaiser!!!

:ar15:

where the hell are all these pigeons coming from?
 
:bowdown::drool: Awesome work with units, and techs and everything.... That mod is already a jewel. When it'll be completed it'll be definitly one of the best mod!
 
Wow, that's so 19th century!!! :eek: :D
Asio, awesome stuff, I´d prefer the lower one, I think with less saturation it is better to keep it less noisy.
Cool idea to apply it to the other graphics (thinking of mainly improvements, cities and features) as well... maybe even units...

further I think we will need some new terrain grafics with craters and stuff for plots where you have heavy artillery fire and/or trench warfare for several turns?

@asio- Nice terrain man, that would be an awesome add-on. I'd be interested to see what it looks like with the units modified as well.
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Thx :) I add this effect to all .dds in game - I've made all .dds from Terrain folder, Half of the Interface folder - You should see now buttons - they look very old :). I'll post more screenshots after turning cities and couple of units into vintage style.

The idea with damaged terrains is very cool :)
 
-Tank (Example: Mark IV, A7V, Fiat 2000, etc)
Designated as water carriers to conceal their true identity as weapons the “tank” was born from a need to help break the stalemate of the trenches and machine guns on the Western Front. Developed to be able to cross trenches, resist small arms fire, travel over difficult terrain and capture fortified enemy positions it provided an offensive impetus in a theater that had become increasingly bogged down. Carrying a mixture of machine guns and naval cannons, the tank was a mobile weapons platform that could bridge trenches and ride over the masses of barbed wire and craters that bogged troops and wheeled vehicles down.

-Light Tank (Example: LK.II, Fiat 3000, Whippet Mk.A, Renault FT17, etc)
As the nations developed effective ways to deal with heavier tanks, so the respective armies began to develop lighter tanks that would complement their heavier cousins with their speed and mobility to exploit any break in the enemy lines. Often cheaper to produce, than their bigger cousins, despite their lighter armament and armor, the light tanks better speed and maneuverability proved to make them more effective.

-Field Gun
Quick firing, mobile, artillery pieces providing fire support for the infantry. These weapons would fire a mixture of shrapnel and high explosive shells by direct or indirect fire. Whilst the weapons did not have the hitting power of heavier artillery, by being easier to relocate and their accuracy meant they had an important part to play throughout the Great war.

-Heavy Artillery
As the was developed the need for howitzer like artillery pieces that could fire larger shells at a higher elevation so that the explosive would have more impact on fortifications. Would often require assembly before could be fired, but were road transportable.

-Railroad Artillery
Naval Guns or large howitzers mounted on stationery rail carriages that would need to be emplaced in a concrete foundation, these weapons could fire shells of around 1100kg's at long range. Whilst being transported by rail provided an element of maneuverability, it would take days to set-up them up before they could be fired.

-Field Medic
Providing front line trauma care, the field medic could be the difference between life and death to injured troops.

-Observation Balloon
Aerial platforms that could provide intelligence gathering, locating submarines but primarily these hydrogen balloons would be employed a couple of miles behind the front lines providing essential reconnaissance for artillery that could fire well beyond the visual range of ground based spotters. The flammable nature of these balloons, and because they were often well defended by anti-aircraft guns and fighter, attacking them could be risky – but a risk welcomed by some “balloon busters”.

-Naval Mine
Layed either to protect a coast or port from enemy ships and submarines, or offensively in enemy waters outside harbors and important shipping routes, mines provided a relatively cheap means to bring devastation on the enemy fleet.

-Seaplane Tender
Normally converted merchant vessels, with a hangar but not flight deck, seaplane tenders were the worlds first aircraft carriers. Cranes would lower seaplanes to the sea for takeoff and be used to recover the craft after landing. This required smooth seas for both takeoff and landing and could take 20 minutes.

-Torpedo Boat
Small, fast craft making use of the internal combustion engine for speeds of 30 to 50 knots. These would one to four torpedoes plus machine guns and be used to make quick raids.

-Destroyer
Fast, maneuverable ships used to protect slower members of the fleet from Torpedo boats and submarines. As well as providing a fleet screening role, the Destroyer was also often used in a Raider role itself.

-Armored Cruiser
The introduction of side armor as well as having deck plate and protected coal bunkers to help protect the ship from explosive shells, led to introduction of the Armored cruiser to Western Navies around 1873. By 1908, after the introduction of Dreadnoughts and Battle Cruisers the design was already considered outclassed. These ships carried two to four 7.5-10 inch caliber guns at either end of the ship plus a number smaller secondary guns, and could manage speeds of between 18-23 knots.

-Battle Cruiser
Designed to be the successor of the Armored Cruiser, these ships traded the armor of Dreadnought for higher speed taking advantage in the development of steam turbine engines. Whilst lighter armored than the Dreadnought, they packed the same armament and adopted the “all-big-gun philosophy”. The weaponry and speed meant the ships compared favorably with Pre-Dreadnaughts as well as Armored Cruisers and had an edge in speed over Dreadnaughts. These ships usually carried eight 11-14 inch guns and ranged between 24-27 knots.

-Pre-Dreadnought
A general term for battleships built between the mid 1890's to 1905 the designs were considered obsolete on the launch of HMS Dreadnought in 1906. Pre-Dreadnoughts developed from ironclad battleships, carrying several different calibers of guns for different ship to ship combat. Main armament was usually four 12 inch guns in two aft and fore turrets plus a secondary battery of 6 inch guns and typically managed around 18 knots.

-Dreadnought
In 1906 HMS Dreadnought was launched and immediately made all previous Battleships obsolete. The secondary battery of Pre-Dreadnoughts was scrapped for an “all-big-gun” design. This meant she was able to field ten 12-inch guns rather than four – eight on a broadside and six ahead as opposed to four and two respectively. Making use of the more powerful steam turbines, despite being heavily armored, Dreadnoughts could manage between 21-25 knots and carried between eight to twelve 12 to 15 inch guns.

That leaves the mine tender and Carrier. Regarding the tender I was wondering if that was a generic name for mine sweepers and minelayer?
 
Regarding the Dreadnought - just wondering whether some ships should perhaps have a negative promotion of perhaps -1 strength applied to them to represent later ships from around 1910 onwards being "Super Dreadnoughts"?

This would represent the bigger armament, and heavier armour they fielded (HMS Dreadnought carrying ten 12 inch guns and having an 11 inch armour belt compared to HMS Orion which carried ten 13.5 inch guns with a belt of 12 inches and the later HMS Queen Elizabeth class with its 15 inch guns?
 
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