Erik's campaigns, mods and multiplayer scenarios

[Hubbfrosch]

I returned to 'Order of Battle' and want to give some feedback for 'Germany East 1941'. Maybe its helpful:

It starts easy at Belgrade but Metaxas is really a test... the turn limit is so low... I restarted 4 times and tried different troop compositions until I finally made it. (with just one more turn I would have made it on the 2nd attempt)

Crete is missing... is it now exclusive to 'Germany West 1941-1943'?

During 'Barbarossa' I played both mission paths. First I went the southern path and I think this is harder. Both Zhitomir and Zhurivka have a pretty low turn limit. When I arrived at Demyansk I was not even able to fully repair my units and I got wiped out by the 3rd or 4th wave of soviet tanks around turn 16.

Then I choose the northern way. I played a bit more careful and spent less for upgrades. There was a weird victory in Leningrad, basically skipping this scenario and at the start of Demyansk I had 1991 ressources in my pocket. This made the battle rather comfortable.

I think the ressource distribution is not optimal. You get lots of ressources at some points, but you need to preserve them for the end of the campaign. Without knowing this from the start, you might not be able to finish it.

I found some bugs:

Smolensk 41: Small translation error: City of 'Krynki' --> should be 'Krupki'
Leningrad 41: after Krasnovardeysk was captured the battle ended with a minor victory on turn 3
Streets of Moscow: when you capture Krasnogorsk, you get a T-34. But: It appears on the north eastern airfield.
Demyansk Pocket: What I am supposed to do with these JU-52s? After they are landed in the according airfields some disappeared, other stayed there. Also the description talks about escorting them, but most of them can be placed at the airfields during deployment.

[Erik2]

Hubbfrosch

Thanks for the feedback.
I'll check your comments.

[stevefprice]

Quick one on latest Market Garden, German aircraft are out of supply once the extra planes turn up so not very effective.

Is this deliberate?

To compensate I tried removing them via the exit points but they still do not seem to be working. This is the ones top left corner.

The changes make it a much better game in terms of objectives and it was already my favourite MP anyway!

I'm using Mod 3.3

[Erik2]

Quick one on latest Market Garden, German aircraft are out of supply once the extra planes turn up so not very effective.

Is this deliberate?

To compensate I tried removing them via the exit points but they still do not seem to be working. This is the ones top left corner.

The changes make it a much better game in terms of objectives and it was already my favourite MP anyway!

I'm using Mod 3.3

I've noticed the LW issue as well, but have not yet found out why. The air exit/deployment hexes were set up correctly.
Maybe I need to delete them and create them from scratch.

[ColonelY]

France 1940 - Gembloux:

Nice scenario; the campaign looks very promising.

Here are few comments:
*******
BRIEFING:

As written in the scenario descry, it’s mainly a tank battle, so we’ve not really any ground to keep (as Gembloux itself or some defensive line) nor some AFs to hold neither…

The Briefing is a little too short, I think… just ending now with a “This is were we stop the enemy.” (with, well, obviously -> “where”). Well, historically, despite a tactical French victory, the French troops had to retreat…
Instead, what about something like this: “[Same start!, and then:] This is where we’ll delay the German advance and inflict serious casualties to their heavier armored units.”
Followed by (while focusing perhaps the cam on the North):

Suggestion for 2nd part of briefing:
“We don't really have any ground to stand on at all costs. However, it should be known that the Germans have some supply concerns and will probably prioritize taking over our airfields to remedy them.

We don't have air superiority here, but in light of this, delaying the German takeover of the northern airfields might help. Be careful not to spread your troops too thin, however.”
(Because it’s true – we’ll see the fighting efficiency of German planes down to the yellowish colors rather soon in this scenario… until they’ve taken enough of our AFs!)

‘Having to keep at least this or that amount of our own AFs would be ahistorical and not-well correlated with the shape of this battle anyway, so…
‘Could consider never losing Gembloux itself, but again, that wouldn’t make much sense in this scenario, so…

And then for 3rd part of briefing (while another hex is focused):
“There are few natural obstacles in this area - so it's perfect for quick armor movement... both German and ours.
The Germans lightning advance must be delayed to gain the two or three days necessary for the installation of the 1st French Army between Wavre and Namur.
The whole of France is counting on us/you in this hour.”
Something like this may sound “deeper”.
*******
ALLIED AA CAPABILITY – very weak!
The Germans have: 2 fighters, 1 interceptor and 9 bombers (and 4 recon planes, and some AA units).
As defenses, we have: 1 fighter and 1 AA unit (and 2 bombers and 1 recon plane).
(And all our planes start with no XP at all, unlike the Germans, rather all at half-XP from start.)

Very weak AA capabilities, indeed.

So, on land, what about adding:
-> One French Hotchkiss 25mm without trucks in the Northern area, somewhere between the two French AFs. Perhaps Wilderen? (Ready to be moved by train and redeployed at will.)
-> One depleted Belgian 40mm Bofors in the empty town of Celles (near the frontline).
This would give the player more variability/options.

Hey, we have 3 British aces available for only 2 British planes right now… so, well, either removing one of these British aces OR adding another British plane may be good.

Then, on air, what about adding:
-> One aux British fighter, both to have more power and to use our last British ace at disposal (as we’ve only 2 British planes now, including one recon plane, for 3 British pilots – the one without plane kept on sight the entire scenario now! )
-> And perhaps even one aux Belgian Gloster Gladiator, already deployed (and perhaps a little depleted as most of the Belgian units are), a little over the Belgian lines (‘could be nice for variation, but not very much efficient anyway – if it does survive the very first German turn!).

To compensate, one could perhaps have to shoot down another enemy bomber to achieve the corresponding obj, why not?
*******
... to be continued...

[ColonelY]

*******
Do you have French aces in the mod yet?

You’ve a list here (pt 3.2.3): https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_d%2 ... C3%A7ais_2

Here are some candidates that are relevant in the context of this campaign (I think), with some translations from the corresponding wiki webpages:

1. Marcel Albert
“[…] In February 1940, he obtained his request and joined the 2nd squadron of the 1/3 fighter group in Cannes. This unit was being converted to the best French fighter of the time: the Dewoitine D.520, the dream of all French fighter pilots of the time. With this group, Marcel Albert flew about thirty missions from May to June 1940, during the French campaign. He claimed his first two victories: one confirmed on a Dornier 17, on May 14, and another probable but not confirmed, on a Heinkel 111 on May 20.”
Then he was very active as well during the entire war – deserting from Vichy’s Air Force with few friends to continue the fightings. Then RAF, then Normandie-Niémen, etc.
As basis for picture, perhaps: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... egUIARCcAQ or https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... egUIARC_AQ or https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... egUIARCsAQ

2. Edmond Marin la Meslée
“[…] the most successful French air ace of the French campaign with sixteen confirmed (and four probable) air victories between January and June 1940 […]”
This time, there is a picture directly on the wiki webpage: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Ma ... esl%C3%A9e

3. Pierre Le Gloan
“[…] famous for having shot down five Italian aircraft in a single sortie during the Battle of France on June 15, 1940. One of its singularities is to have won victories against Germans, Italians and English. Pierre Le Gloan's group fought on the German front, on the Italian front, and then in the Levant under the colors of the Vichy regime, before being integrated into the Allied system.”
Picture? Either https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... AXoECAAQFw or https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... egUIARCrAQ or https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... B3oECAAQJQ as basis…

4. Roger Sauvage
“In April 1940, his twin-engine Potez 631 fighter was shot down by four British Hawker Hurricanes who mistook it for a Messerschmitt 110. On May 18, he returned to combat on his Potez 631 and took part in the destruction of a Heinkel 111 that had just bombed the Esbly airfield near Meaux. One month later he destroyed a Dornier 17 at Tours.”
(Later, Normandie-Niémen as well…)
Picture directly here: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Sauvage

5. Louis Delfino
“During the Battle of France, he took command of the 4th squadron of the 2/9 Fighter Group and scored seven air victories […]”
Pic here: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Delfino

6. Albert Littolff
“He was involved in the Battle of France and shot down his first enemy aircraft on May 12, 1940. During the same campaign, six other air victories followed, earning him the Military Medal and the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945. At the time of the armistice, Albert Littolff's group was moved to the Francazal base. Refusing defeat, he took a Dewoitine D.520 on June 25 and flew to England where he joined the ranks of the Free French Air Force […]”
Pic: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Littolff

7. Jean Accart
“[…] On May 10, 1940, the first day of the Battle of France, Captain Accart obtained four confirmed victories, then two the next day and three on May 18, two more on May 26 before a final one on June 1, not to mention the three probable victories on May 11, 12 and 14.”
Pic: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Accart

8. François Warnier
“[…] is a French aviation ace who distinguished himself during the French campaign by winning on Curtiss H-75. He is credited with eight certified and two probable victories.”
Picture: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... gBegQIARAd

9. Charles Chesnais
“[…] During the fighting of the French campaign in June 1940, he was credited with one victory and 6 in collaboration. He flew on MB 152.”
With a good picture directly here: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Chesnais

And there were more…

One could as well mention, just because this man was amazing, and his story awesome, Robert Marchi:
“It was said of him that he was a "virtuoso", a "dazzling pilot", a "pilot of rare skill", capable of having retracted his landing gear a few moments after taking off. One thing is certain, Robert Marchi, born in Chalon-sur-Saône on July 26, 1919 and buried in Chagny, was an ace, so much so that when he returned to civilian life, many manufacturers asked him to be a test pilot, sure that they were putting their prototypes in the hands of an exceptional man.

But before this very brief civilian career, the man who had joined the French Air Force at the age of nineteen had had an exceptional career as a fighter pilot, notably in the famous "Normandie-Niemen" squadron, where his thirteen victories gave him one of the best records in this elite group.

The first years of the war were spent in North Africa. In Oran, his acrobatic flying skills were quickly noticed, so much so that in 1942 he was appointed instructor at Kasba-Tadla in Morocco, where he dazzled colleagues and students. In October 1943, he got what he wanted and left for East Prussia to join the fighter group No. 3 "Normandie". […]”

Perhaps nowadays not very well-known (though), the French pilots were certainly not to be underestimated.

And, with all this information, there is clearly something to add to the campaign this time, right? And you've some choice(s) as well!
*******
... idem...

[ColonelY]

*******
ALLIED LAND DEFENSES:
I suggest:

1. Adding a few MG-fox (especially in the northern part of the map, to help cover this flank, cover the AFs – at least one in Sint-Truiden village, to ensure that the French AA unit in Wilderen has the possibility to travel by train, if the player choose this option. Adding some of them there will ensure that the fortifications may be of some use – the Belgian ones in the South are nice and immersive, but rather useless in this battle, so…)

2. Adding a few minefields randomly placed (perhaps a total of 2 or 3?), either in the central or right areas of the map (thus NOT near Gembloux!)?
Some mines there? Yope!

Translated extract from https://www.gembloux-autrement.be/news/ ... -mai-1940/ :
“Between Ernage and Beuzet, the terrain forms a plateau without natural obstacles. The 15 DIM placed about 2,500 anti-tank mines in the central and right sector but not in front of most of the left sector, that of Ernage.”
*******
OBJECTIVES:

1. Pri obj: I’ve got a “failed” with “10/8” as counter! So, despite the fact that more German tanks have been destroyed…
Because, well, the first trigger, named “7 Pz killed” (7?), is correct. But just after this, comes the trigger “<7 Pz”, which isn’t satisfying. The Germans have the “Black” AI, the player the “Blue”. So, in the “<7 Pz” (7?), either define the Black color (we want to know how many German tanks have been destroyed, not ours – then less than 7, so it’s considered as failed, even after having been considered as achieved within the previous trigger… previous, precisely, so it reverses the effect! - of course it would be failed then - we've a sec obj not to lose more than ONE French tank... so even if we do lose, let's say, two or three of them, that's still much less than 7 or 8 and, well... ), AND precise “<8” rather than “<7” (and what if exactly “=7” happens now? ‘Would stay open forever?).
Alternatively, that may be easier, you can always use the combination: at scenario end, is this obj achieved or not? ‘Cause if not, then failed. And that’s it – and easier, as not dependent of many conditions, thus reducing the risk of little mistakes here and there.

2. Sec obj: Don’t lose more than 1 tank unit… First, why is the “core unit” checked in both triggers? We’ve both core and non-core tanks, so… Then, I suggest adding one sentence in this obj descry, saying something like “Armored recon units like the Panhard or Renault AMR aren’t taken into account from that point of view.” (To be crystal-clear… the player may be unfamiliar at least with the Renault AMR – so, rather than adding some event at scenario start, well…)

3. Sec obj: Perhaps now about 3 enemy bombers instead of 2? Perhaps…
*******
... well...

[ColonelY]

... and, finally...
*******
Small French typos:
Once (French core engi.) “Sapeurs-mineurs” and once “Sapeurs-Mineurs”… two times identical please.
Regiment Leger -> Régiment Léger (the accents...)
Genie -> Génie

Locations on map (with French accents here and there):
Bossiere -> Bossière
Foret de Meerdael -> Forêt de Meerdael
Aerodrome -> Aérodrome (everywhere it appears)
La Bruyere -> La Bruyère
Thorembais-les-Beguines -> Thorembais-les-Béguines
Grand-Rosiere -> Grand-Rosière
Fort de Cognelee -> Fort de Cognelée
Waret-l'Eveque -> Waret-l'Evêque (‘could be Waret-l'Évêque but the first accent is facultative thanks to the capital letter at start!)
Heron -> Héron
Seraing-le-Chateau -> Seraing-le-Château
*******
General considerations:
-> Very good to have added the “Defensive Doctrine” to the French… As it’s a mod, ‘can’t you remove the term “Japanese” from the descriptions? Just “Infantry” or “Regular Infantry […]”, together with “Heavy Infantry […]” shall do the trick.

-> The (French recon armored) Renault AMC wreck texture seems to be missing… ‘like a blank ghost on map…


And, well, I think that's all for now!

Et voilà !


This campaign looks very promising, I must say. Cheers, keep up the good work!

[ColonelY]

MicroMod 3.5
Link updated in first post.

France 1940 campaign.
01Gembloux1:
Removed British and Belgian bunkers & forts in the reserve list. They were probably put there by the game when I cropped the map to the west and the south.
Restricted the 'Kill German tanks' objective's targets to PzIIIF and PzIVD.

'Glad you've already made those two changes.

[ColonelY]

From the crossroad, I’ve just taken a quick look (for now) at the four different options/scenarios… Which all look very interesting and intense!
*************
France 1940 – Dinant:

-> Sec obj: 4 locations with silver flag but only 3 “red arrows” pointing over some of them… Weillen (between Anthée and Dinant) has been forgotten -> so, either regular flag there, or another red arrow, please.

-> Editor: The entire folder “French” may be removed, may it not? All is set up for turn t=99… ‘Should have been left from building up this scenario…
(-> And the different German commanders could be moved inside the corresponding folder, but that’s something the player won’t notice anyway…)

Then, the rather annoying part French accents on map:
Gozee -> Gozée
Well, in French you’ve never two “ee” just like this… So, same consideration for Rognee, Yves-Gomezee, Vodecee, Wagnee, Romeree, Rosee, Biesmeree, Mazee, Gimnee, Vodelee, Gochenee, Denee, Anthee, Anhee

Then:
Thy-le-Chateau -> Thy-le-Château
Drehance -> Dréhance
Hastiere-par-dela -> Hastière-par-delà
Hastiere-Lavaux -> Hastière-Lavaux
le Mont d'Haurs -> Le Mont d'Haurs
Sommieres -> Sommière
Genimont -> Génimont
*************
France 1940-Sedan:

-> Pri obj: Watch out, “Ger 3 objs” trigger but “>0” for “Check VP Count”…
And now, the “Rail Station” (near the frontline) has been forgotten – no red arrow over this golden star flag… with this one, that’s 7 locations. At least 4 of them have to be held as scenario end. So max 3 may be lost, may be in German hands at scenario end. => Then, it would have been a “>3” in the trigger.
Choice:
A) Include the “Rail Station” in this obj: then add the Red Arrow and set a “>3” in the trigger.
B) Do not count the “Rail Station” in this obj: then no Red Arrow to be added (obviously), but then regular flag on map, and a “>2” to be set in the “German” trigger. (Total of 6 pri, 4 to be held at least, that means max 2 for the Germans, otherwise it’s failed!)

-> There, the aerial defensive situation may look a little tricky… mid-scenario, or something, what about spawning some auxiliary French fighters (perhaps 1 MS 406 & 1 D 502), perhaps even together with one aux Breguet interceptor… let’s fight them back a little!
‘Could be a nice opportunity to unlock a French ace, but I think it’s better to let this option evade for this time, as you should then offer a similar option in the different scenarios of this same crossroad – and not all of them would allow for it that easily, so…

Then, French unit names:
Morocains -> Marocains (1 time only)
Algeriens -> Algériens (2 times)
7eme BCC -> either 7ème BBC or 7e BBC; Same consideration for “4eme BCC”…

And locations:
Charleville-Mezieres -> Charleville-Mézières
Nousonville -> Nouzonville
Chemery-sur-Bar -> Chémery-sur-Bar
*************
France 1940 – Orp:

Sec obj: ‘Forgotten to consider this one at scenario END. Thus the obj is considered as achieved from start and our land commander directly available too…

No issue related to French accents here, as it seems.
*************
France 1940 – Monthermé:

-> Pri obj: Watch out, for the German trigger, I think you should have put “>1” rather than “>0” in the Check VP Count (we’ve 3 total, we need to keep 2, so the German CAN safely have one without failing our obj!)…

-> A single air exit hex would be enough for a single allied air unit on this scenario…

Then, on map:
Gue d'Hossus -> Gué d'Hossus
Tremblois-les-Rocroi -> Tremblois-lès-Rocroi
Aero de Tournes-Belval -> Aéro de Tournes-Belval
Secheval -> Sécheval
Charleville-Mezieres -> Charleville-Mézières
Saint-Laurnet -> Saint-Laurent
Montherme -> Monthermé
*************
Well, I’ll stop here for now, at least until the next updated version of this campaign.

I suggest that you directly double-check the validation (or especially the failure) of the objectives in the remaining scenarios of the campaign, that you see which French aces you could add and that you distribute them within this campaign.

This campaign looks very interesting. And I really like the different French units that have been added: varied and immersive, excellent!

[Erik2]

The Colonel is on a roll again

Thanks for the comments, I've saved them for later (quite busy with Operation Olympic at the moment).

These are the commanders are already in the campaign:
commander_500 = Charles De Gaulle
commander_501 = Charles Huntziger
commander_502 = Maurice Gamelin
commander_503 = Henri Giraud
commander_504 = Pierre Billotte
commander_505 = Georges Blanchard

I may add other, but this depends on finding some usable mug shots of the commanders.

BTW, I've borrowed custom unit graphics from all over the place. If there are missing wrecks they will probably stay missing...

[ColonelY]

You are welcome!

Okay, thank you for that information.
I think there are several pictures that may be helpful, but you'll see that in time.

[GabeKnight]

BTW, I've borrowed custom unit graphics from all over the place. If there are missing wrecks they will probably stay missing...

You need to put a "destroyed" texture of each custom unit into the \Units\Textures\Destroyed folder.

But you can be lazy and still get - at least - some destroyed "generic" graphic if you copy&paste some from my mod and rename them.

[Erik2]

BTW, I've borrowed custom unit graphics from all over the place. If there are missing wrecks they will probably stay missing...

You need to put a "destroyed" texture of each custom unit into the \Units\Textures\Destroyed folder.

But you can be lazy and still get - at least - some destroyed "generic" graphic if you copy&paste some from my mod and rename them.

Thanks, Gabe. I will.

[ctskelly]

*******
Perhaps nowadays not very well-known (though), the French pilots were certainly not to be underestimated.

*******
... idem...

I felt the France 1940 campaign was a wonderful way to teach us about some great French heroes and the way the allies did not properly respect de Gaulle. The histories we English speakers read, maybe because of British bias against the French, tends to focus on the hypocritical Vichy and not the true patriots. To fight for your country by becoming a "traitor" is the greatest sacrifice. This campaign corrects that.

And so do ColonelY's comments on the aces above, which I read with enjoyment.

Thanks to all involved for honoring their usually overlooked sacrifices.

[Mascarenhas]

France 1940:

First scen: Still not working properly. Destroyed >8 Pz II & IV, but got minor defeat. Got nukes to advance.
Units: Breguet 693, a ground attack plane, registered as fighter.

Congrats on the initiative. Frace's problem was command and coordination, not weapons, superior to Germans, as everyone knows. I like to play it as a what-if alternative.

[Juansana]

Hi Eric, I noticed in your campaign "Wacht am Rhein" in the 2nd scenario "Roadblocks", if you finish the scenario in turn 21 and have achieved all objectives, that there is a defeat at end of turn. This is clearly a bug, because before that it shows that all objectives have been reached (see screenshot).
When ending in turn 20 no problems

[Erik2]

Juansana
Are you sure you didn't lose a primary objectives at the very last turn?

Anyway, I've changed the trigger from 'check VP' to 'end of scenario'.

[Juansana]

Eric, attached is an overall screenshot from before train quit. There I have completed all conditions

[Erik2]

MicroMod 4.0
Link updated in first post.
Added French air commanders.
Breguet 693 classified as ground attack plane.
Borrowed destroyed unit graphics from GabeKnight's mod.
Added Defense Doctrine to all factions. Infantry and heavy infantry may build MG nests. Only engineers may build bunkers.

Wacht Am Rhein campaign 2.2
2Roadblocks:
Changed primary objective trigger.

France 1940 campaign 1.2 (thanks to ColonelY)
(Added more French/German air units and secondary objectives to later scenarios)

01Gembloux1:
Finally fixed the primary objective.
Replaced British air units with French
Added Belgian fighter.
Added secondary air objective.
Added low-strength Allied AA units to the air fields.
Corrected French names.
Various other minor additions/fixes.

02Dinant:
Added 1 location to secondary objective.
Added secondary air objective.
Corrected French names.

02Sedan:
Fixed primary objective.
Added random French air command points later in the scenario.
Corrected French names.

02Orp:
Fixed secondary objective.
Added German fighters and French air command points.
Added secondary 'kill LW units' objective.

02Montherme:
Fixed German primary objective.
Added Luftwaffe unit and French air command points.
Added secondary 'kill LW units' objective.
Corrected French names.

2v2 Market-Garden 3.1:
Fixed Luftwaffe exit/entries.

2v1 Lyuban 1944 1.1
Added a few German deployment hexes near Soviet exit locations.
Added a bit of supply to various villages.