WW2-Global

[Sasebo]

I'm sorry to hear that Rocoteh, especially since I don't see Civ4 in my immediate future. nonetheless, I understand. As long as you do get it out sometime, I would greatly appreciate it. If it is going to be some time, could you send me a link to download the beta version? I would at least like to see the bigger map, I thought that would be very useful, especially re: Europe.

Finished my China game early. Did not clear asian mainland, but the writing was on the wall. Japan had five cities left in Manchuria, and the UK and I were just obliterating them. At that point I was considering taking out the C.Chinese, or invading the Japanese mainland, which is just plain silly. The mainland would have been cleared before the end of 1940! The huge numbers of UK armor pouring up here after they finished Italy in North Africa is what made it possible. I had to race them to nearly every city I took, and they took four anyway. Cutting the rubber supply in the home islands via naval bombard seemed to stop them from building SNLF after that.

 

[Rocoteh]

Rocoteh, you start to become like the great software firms: When it is done. Hopefully you do not start producing bugs... . But if you release it after New Years day I won´t be able to have a look until March as I have written exams in January and February. That´s why I ceased my work here at least partly. In this time I won´t visit this forum. Also I think you should make a version 2.2 with the then released (hopefully) SOE units.

Adler

Adler,

Hopefully (90%) I will release version 2.1 before this year
have ended.

If there will be a version 2.2 is still not certain.

Rocoteh

 

[Rocoteh]

i second this!

El Justo,

The problem with the SOE-units though is that the SOE-team
will not allow them for use outside that mod until releasedate+?months.

When that time have passed I will not rule out that CIV 3 Completed
scenarios will be in the CFC-archives.........

Rocoteh

 

[Rocoteh]

Rocoteh - While I am a little disappointed I am not surprised. I am fairly sure we are fast approaching the point of diminished return between your hard work and the number of players and the amount of improvement. Most of us are on to CIV IV and once new utilities are developed we will start to see more scenarios. (I am very excited about the new memory utility released by a member - we should never underestimate the community's ability). While CIV 4 scenarios seem a long way off I think it will come faster than we expect.

I see many of the the discussions here are coming full circle in terms of bombardment, "house rules", AA, etc which tells me that we are near the end.

Of course if you do issue 2.1 I will play it but I would rather see you spending time on CIV 4 scenarios.

Best regards

Bob1475,

No doubt there is as you say a problem with diminished return.

In fact CIV 3 Completed Scenarios is down 65% since the release of CIV IV.
WW2-Global have also been hit hard by this drop in interest for CIV 3.

With regard to modpacks its now 11-1 in favour of CIV IV versus CIV III.
(Number of posts.)

I hope there will be a CIV IV editor. Otherewise I doubt I will work with
CIV IV in the future.

Best Regards

Rocoteh

 

[Rocoteh]

I'm sorry to hear that Rocoteh, especially since I don't see Civ4 in my immediate future. nonetheless, I understand. As long as you do get it out sometime, I would greatly appreciate it. If it is going to be some time, could you send me a link to download the beta version? I would at least like to see the bigger map, I thought that would be very useful, especially re: Europe.

Finished my China game early. Did not clear asian mainland, but the writing was on the wall. Japan had five cities left in Manchuria, and the UK and I were just obliterating them. At that point I was considering taking out the C.Chinese, or invading the Japanese mainland, which is just plain silly. The mainland would have been cleared before the end of 1940! The huge numbers of UK armor pouring up here after they finished Italy in North Africa is what made it possible. I had to race them to nearly every city I took, and they took four anyway. Cutting the rubber supply in the home islands via naval bombard seemed to stop them from building SNLF after that.

Sasebo,

There will be no more BETA.
I can send you the current BETA though.

However I hope to release version 2.1 before this year have ended.

I am glad that you playtested China since its not an popular Civ
to playtest.

Rocoteh

 

[Sasebo]

If you still plan on getting the 2.1 out in a month or two then I can wait for it Rocoteh. China was fun to play, and being so small the turns go much faster then most civs in this scenario. I will have to try them again without the AA emplacements sometime, since I would still be trying to stop them, nevermind being on the offensive without building those. I am still going to try Italy first whenever you are able to get 2.1 off the ground.

 

[Adler17]

I think there will be at least fan made editors. However even if there won´t be, I suggest to rethink your position. XML is easy to edit, and when I say that, it must be true, as I have only very limited experiences in programming. Or what kind of editor do you mean?

Adler

 

[Rocoteh]

If you still plan on getting the 2.1 out in a month or two then I can wait for it Rocoteh. China was fun to play, and being so small the turns go much faster then most civs in this scenario. I will have to try them again without the AA emplacements sometime, since I would still be trying to stop them, nevermind being on the offensive without building those. I am still going to try Italy first whenever you are able to get 2.1 off the ground.

Sasebo,

Yes version 2.1 will be out within that time-period.

I will also present an improved Civilopedia done by saulosi.

Rocoteh

 

[Rocoteh]

I think there will be at least fan made editors. However even if there won´t be, I suggest to rethink your position. XML is easy to edit, and when I say that, it must be true, as I have only very limited experiences in programming. Or what kind of editor do you mean?

Adler

Adler,

I mean an editor like the one in CIV III.

With regard to this I think there will be a more clear picture
within some months from now.

Its an interesting fact that there are already a huge number of
modpacks for CIV IV but only a few scenarios.

Rocoteh

 

[Emerentius]

hi, rocoteh
just wanted to tell you i'm still playing your scenario.

 

[OgrePete]

Hi, everyone.

I just wanted to let Rocoteh know I am anxious to see his v2.1 of WW2 - Global.

 

[Rocoteh]

hi, rocoteh
just wanted to tell you i'm still playing your scenario.

Emerentius,

I am glad to hear that.

The drop in interest for CIV III scenarios after the release of CIV IV,
now stands at some 70%.

I guess interest will continue to fall for some time until the situation
will be more stabile.

Rocoteh

 

[Rocoteh]

Hi, everyone.

I just wanted to let Rocoteh know I am anxious to see his v2.1 of WW2 - Global.

OgrePete,

Thank you.

Placement of wonders (to stop AI from razing cities) continues.
This caused the program to crash and I had to allocate much time
to bug-hunting.
Most of the cities in the initial combat zones are now protected.

My intention is still to release version 2.1 before this year have ended.

Rocoteh

 

[circumpolar]

Well, for my part, I haven't forgotten this thread. I second the others, please come forward with 2.1 as soon as you can

 

[I_batman]

Adler,

I mean an editor like the one in CIV III.

With regard to this I think there will be a more clear picture
within some months from now.

Its an interesting fact that there are already a huge number of
modpacks for CIV IV but only a few scenarios.

Rocoteh

Rocoteh, just to let you know I have not forgotten about trying to build an editor something like Civ III.
That being said, I haven't touched it for a week or so.
I have had a ton of Real Life work come pushing in at year end, and I have been neglecting all things Civ.

And Adler, the problem with an editor is not just modifying XML files.As I have dug into this, I am realizing that editing the python scripting is almost as important. (eg: Autoproducing a unit is done within a Python script)
And building a GUI that does all that the Civ III editor did is not for the faint of heart.
I have been trying to build it in a Python extension designed to create GUI's.
It is a long ugly process for me.
I have stated before there are more talented, dedicated programmmers than me.
I am sure one of them will put out an editor before I will, but I will continue to slug away at it over the holidays.

Rocoteh, don't give up on Civ IV yet. Let's see what the SDK is capable of.
We may get lucky, and there will be some kind of editor there. I doubt it, since Sirian of Firaxis stated a week ago that he doubts there will be one included.

As for new units within Civ IV however, who knows how that is going to work out. I have not seen any of the 2D unit makers coming up with new units yet.

 

[Rocoteh]

Well, for my part, I haven't forgotten this thread. I second the others, please come forward with 2.1 as soon as you can

circumpolar,

I am glad to hear that.

The work with version 2.1 continues and I hope it will
be completed within next 2 weeks.

Rocoteh

 

[Rocoteh]

Rocoteh, just to let you know I have not forgotten about trying to build an editor something like Civ III.
That being said, I haven't touched it for a week or so.
I have had a ton of Real Life work come pushing in at year end, and I have been neglecting all things Civ.

And Adler, the problem with an editor is not just modifying XML files.As I have dug into this, I am realizing that editing the python scripting is almost as important. (eg: Autoproducing a unit is done within a Python script)
And building a GUI that does all that the Civ III editor did is not for the faint of heart.
I have been trying to build it in a Python extension designed to create GUI's.
It is a long ugly process for me.
I have stated before there are more talented, dedicated programmmers than me.
I am sure one of them will put out an editor before I will, but I will continue to slug away at it over the holidays.

Rocoteh, don't give up on Civ IV yet. Let's see what the SDK is capable of.
We may get lucky, and there will be some kind of editor there. I doubt it, since Sirian of Firaxis stated a week ago that he doubts there will be one included.

As for new units within Civ IV however, who knows how that is going to work out. I have not seen any of the 2D unit makers coming up with new units yet.

I_batman,

I am looking forward to follow how your work with the editor turns out.

What you mention about Python and XML is very interesting.
My impression of the CIV IV modpacks (only a few scenarios so far)
that are released in huge numbers are that progress is slow with regard
to substantial changes of the game-system.

I will not give up on CIV IV. However I think much time will pass until
its possible to make real good scenarios for it.

Rocoteh

 

[I_batman]

I_batman,

I am looking forward to follow how your work with the editor turns out.

What you mention about Python and XML is very interesting.
My impression of the CIV IV modpacks (only a few scenarios so far)
that are released in huge numbers are that progress is slow with regard
to substantial changes of the game-system.

I will not give up on CIV IV. However I think much time will pass until
its possible to make real good scenarios for it.

Rocoteh

Yes, I have been looking at the U.S. civil war scenario as a basis.
To give some persepective, that is a really small, simple scenario, and the key Python script that runs that scenario is over 1600 lines long.

A script to run create something like WWII-Global, I shudder to think how big it would be.
And that does not even take into account the XML files that define the units.
Now, Paasky is currently working on his WWII scenario, and that should prove interesting when it is done. I would like to see that script when it is done.

I am also hoping to get a full report out for the Japanese position sometime next week.
In short, a Japanese house rule victory is a nightmare with 1.8, and I imagine will get tougher in 2.1.
Occupying Asian mainland, including India and all of China is very easy.
But, by the time you can start gathering forces for a move on Australia, the Germans start something with the Russians, and you are forced to fight a three front war:
1.The Middle East/India border with the Brits
2. An extended front with the Russians.
3. Pacific naval and amphibious war.

I am tempted to try to reverse the order of attack. Maybe taking the Pacfic islands and Australia first is the way to go. Then wipe out China, India, and then take on the U.S. mainland.

In short, a ton of fun, and very difficult, which is exactly what it should be.

 

[Sasebo]

I_batman: I forget all the house rules atm, but isn't taking the west coast cities of the U.S. also on the list? When do they get taken in your 1.8 game? I agree, the big amphibious push to the south is long, and you have to deal with the U.S. navy first. They will come for you early for sure, happens every game that I have seen as China or Japan. Though fighting them off your home coast is ideal, really. In my Japan game I was able to pull off both the southern push and deal with the American navy, but I would have to see the newer versions. Do realize the only real threat are their transports, everything else is essentially just a huge nusiance.

I built a line of defense running south from the NE port city straight south, with a group like a BB for the base, couple CA and subs for the offense, and DDs for scouting each turn withing a turn of reinforcing each other--about 5 squares apart. With a BB on defense and in a big stack like that, the US rarely challenges you, and their ships filter past your lines, letting you pick them off. With advance scouting like that, and a CV group or two also manning the lines, no US transport should ever be able to get close enough to land troops short of having half a dozen BB escorts.

You don't really need to fight Russia either. So long as you get roads up all through Manchuria, and link the cities by railways, plus destroy the Soviet road nets next to your borders. As soon as their ground forces get out of range of their own cities you can crush them with air attacks alone, or with limited ground forces if you wish. If you play a couple fronts defensively like that, you should have plenty of troops to maintain your offensives elsewhere.

Just talking about it makes me want to play Japan again. I'm still calling dibs on Italy first when Rocoteh finishes 2.1. Anyone planning on trying UK? I have not read many reports on them in the last few versions, and I've never played them myself since I thought it would be too easy, but if Japan has a lot of options as to where to concentrate, then UK is just swimming in them. Great troops, but they are just all over the place!

 

[I_batman]

I_batman: I forget all the house rules atm, but isn't taking the west coast cities of the U.S. also on the list? When do they get taken in your 1.8 game? I agree, the big amphibious push to the south is long, and you have to deal with the U.S. navy first. They will come for you early for sure, happens every game that I have seen as China or Japan. Though fighting them off your home coast is ideal, really. In my Japan game I was able to pull off both the southern push and deal with the American navy, but I would have to see the newer versions. Do realize the only real threat are their transports, everything else is essentially just a huge nusiance.

I built a line of defense running south from the NE port city straight south, with a group like a BB for the base, couple CA and subs for the offense, and DDs for scouting each turn withing a turn of reinforcing each other--about 5 squares apart. With a BB on defense and in a big stack like that, the US rarely challenges you, and their ships filter past your lines, letting you pick them off. With advance scouting like that, and a CV group or two also manning the lines, no US transport should ever be able to get close enough to land troops short of having half a dozen BB escorts.

You don't really need to fight Russia either. So long as you get roads up all through Manchuria, and link the cities by railways, plus destroy the Soviet road nets next to your borders. As soon as their ground forces get out of range of their own cities you can crush them with air attacks alone, or with limited ground forces if you wish. If you play a couple fronts defensively like that, you should have plenty of troops to maintain your offensives elsewhere.

Nope Sasebo, I had not forgotten about the US cities. They are the last thing I go will go after. The logic of that is although they will be brutal to capture, they will be even more brutal to hold. I want to have the entire Pacific quelled before comitting massive resources to the US west coast.

I do set up picket lines very much like you describe. Each of 6 or 7 battlegroups consists of a Yamota class, a couple destroyers for sub-hunting, and a couple carriers loaded with Kates (best bomber I have so far).
Kates act as recon and lethal bombing units.
And yes, it is very effective, once the initial US and British fleet are dealt with.

But I have other worries. I lost Truk to to U.S. Marines, while I booted the US out of the Philipines. Now, I have a HUGE battlegroup parked by Truk, but because the AI was smart enough to build an AA battery, bombing runs are suicidal. I have to wait for a couple transports of SNLF's to show up, since the 1942 US marine, even after being hammered by my battleships, is still a devestating defender, and I will lose many SNLF's to knock out two 21.18 marines.

Problem with the Russians is the PE bombers they are throwing at me.
I have a bunch of Zero's and Nates to form a CAP, but it never seems enough.
And I have seen some massive troop movements by Russia. Had two stacks of 25 and 30 Russian armour within 3 tiles of each other I had to deal with.
Even with heavy bomber work, it was a bloody battle to blunt their attack.

I am simply terrified of the Russian production capabilities, since my German AI ally appears to be ignoring the Russians, once Germany started a war with them.
Germany is more intent on capturing Ireland. It ignores England proper and sails right around to go after the Green Isle. Who knows what the costs are for that, but Dublin keeps changing hands, and the other Irish city was razed by the Germans.

I am doing this from memory, because I have not played the game in a week or two.
In fact, this is just a break from more Python coding/learning.
But I may fire up the game tonight and see if I can make more headway.

I also owe my TCW buddies El Justo and Klyden a bunch of emails.
With real life work, and Xmas committments, there are just not enough hours in a day.