Expanding the Demo

[unmerged(10750)]

Any typo, bad number or mismatched bracket can cause a crash. That has been part of the fun of editing Paradox scenarios since EU1

Yup. Well can I remember poring over HoI text files looking for mismatched "{"'s. The feeling of triumph you get when one of your mods works is almost as fun and rewarding as playing the game itself.

 

[thorpemark]

Now this is interesting..

I wanted to try to see how the German AI would do with a stronger Army.. so I first gave them more fighters. Then I went to give them more, and better tactical bombers.

This is with editing the ger.inc file... but then the game began to crash.

So I rolled back my ger.inc changes and it still crashed.. which puts me back to rolling back my ardennes.eug file changes.. and that made it work. So I put backin my ger.inc changes and they all worked.

SO.. that means that somehting was hinckey (odd) with my ardennes.eug changes.. but the changes had worked for a bit... very odd.

As I examine the ger.inc and the usa.inc files I wonder what the purpose of specifying somehting like strength=45 and max_strength=45 would be? Game balance? A way of having a single unit type reflect different strengths according to some specifics? Like a german HQ at same tech at full strength might be really only 75% of what an Allied HQ would be?

Not sure I get this. I do see how it could be a beginning state for accuracy of a scenario.. but, then, why would you permit a max_strength of less than 100%? Example: The german tactical bombers (model 4) are locked at max 40%. I don't get that.

I have noticed that in..

..db\units\divisions\tactical_bombers.txt you have 5 models including this one..

# 4 - Advanced Tactical Bomber
model = {
cost = 22
buildtime = 180
defaultorganisation = 30
morale = 30
manpower = 3
maxspeed = 400
surfacedetectioncapability = 2
airdetectioncapability = 1
surfacedefence = 14
airdefence = 4
airattack = 3
strategicattack = 12
softattack = 12
hardattack = 6
navalattack = 5
range = 800
supplyconsumption = 2.3
fuelconsumption = 3.5
upgrade_time_factor = 0.5
upgrade_cost_factor = 1.0
}

So.. I suppose either side with the tech for a model 4 tactical bomber would produce exactly the same units.. perhaps the 40% strength limit is to reflect teh inability (in 1945) for the Germans to produce enough of them with enough spare parts for full strength squadrons?

Looking around.. I think, if it is okay with Paradocof course, that we will be seeing some scenario mods popping up to use with the demo engine. It will be cool.

 

[Wolf52]

Wow. You can actually see most of canada and alaska too! One strange thing i noticed is that a lot of the island chains in the pacific are not grouped together, hawaii is actually a chain of about 5 individual provinces.

 

[GhengisKhan]

So.. I suppose either side with the tech for a model 4 tactical bomber would produce exactly the same units.. perhaps the 40% strength limit is to reflect teh inability (in 1945) for the Germans to produce enough of them with enough spare parts for full strength squadrons?
QUOTE]

Thats how they represent Regiment size ( etc ) units in some of the Battle scenarios.

 

[Mr.G 24]

The reason of you crashing in the EUG is because you had the world map on. Turn it black again and you would not have that problem.

Right now I am making an even stronger German force and making the battlefiled larger. I got pushed to Paris already.

 

[Spocky]

Adding events, units, leaders and such basic things is no problem, I already fought carrier battles in the North Sea and played around with air cavalry divisions (Apocalypse Now, anyone?).

The Seabattle of the Ardennes

Spocky

 

[thorpemark]

Hey Spocky.. how about posting the mod?

I'd like to try a sea battle.. is this changes to ger.inc and usa.inc only?

is it something like this (which does not work)?

seaunit = {
id = { type = 10602 id = 162 }
name = "Seeaufklärungsgruppe 125"
leader = 278 #von Bismarck
location = 2472 #off amsterdam

division = {
id = { type = 10602 id = 163 }
name = "KMS Bismarck"
strength = 100
max_strength = 100
type = battleship
model = 3
}

division = {
id = { type = 10602 id = 164 }
name = "KMS Graf Spee"
strength = 100
max_strength = 100
type = heavy_cruiser
model = 3
}

}

 

[unmerged(18043)]

That's rather neat. But I think it also shows why Paradox has not created demo's before.

 

[mike8472]

If you feel the need to expand demos then do it for yourself, dont post it. PM if you want to share it with friends. Unless you want paradox to never release another demo again.

We have had a taste of whats to come, only 3 weeks away. Be patient and play the full game and explore all its wonders once you have the full copy.

 

[Sgt. Schultz]

If you feel the need to expand demos then do it for yourself, dont post it. PM if you want to share it with friends. Unless you want paradox to never release another demo again.

We have had a taste of whats to come, only 3 weeks away. Be patient and play the full game and explore all its wonders once you have the full copy.

I agree with mike 8472. This might not go over well.

 

[HolisticGod]

All,

I don't imagine Paradox's liberal policy toward modifications of their games extends to the demo they generously released in advance. For which you paid upwards of zero dollars...

Enjoy the tease, but keep your hands to yourselves.

 

[Mr.G 24]

I dont get what you guys are saying. I think it's a little naive to think that the programmers thought we weren't going to look deeper into it. How is it infringes on us buying the game? If in anycase this hasn't been closed by any mods and it has been quite awhile. What have we shown that hasn't been shown? We have huge chunks of the map on the official screenshots to look at and piece together the world map. The whole purpose of this thread is to extend our enjoyment of the demo while we patiently (and some impatiently) wait for the game. Unless I'm misunderstanding your complaint.

Edit: I don't follow too many games but I know in the Call of Duty Demo there was a tank mod (just for the demo, made by fans) and also listings of all maps to come in the campaing and multiplayer up on the forums.

 

[Sgt. Schultz]

I dont get what you guys are saying. I think it's a little naive to think that the programmers thought we weren't going to look deeper into it. How is it infringes on us buying the game? If in anycase this hasn't been closed by any mods and it has been quite awhile. What have we shown that hasn't been shown? We have huge chunks of the map on the official screenshots to look at and piece together the world map. The whole purpose of this thread is to extend our enjoyment of the demo while we patiently (and some impatiently) wait for the game. Unless I'm misunderstanding your complaint.

Edit: I don't follow too many games but I know in the Call of Duty Demo there was a tank mod (just for the demo, made by fans) and also listings of all maps to come in the campaing and multiplayer up on the forums.

You're right. They (the programmers) would have thought of something like this and I'm sorry for thinking the worst but some people do their worst.

 

[Mr.G 24]

How is this the worst? why is this the worst? what have w've done to hurt Paradox in any way?

 

[Sgt. Schultz]

You haven't but some people can. Like I said I'm sorry

 

[kucing]

You haven't but some people can. Like I said I'm sorry

The game is not complete. As such, there is no way to "extend" it to make it plays like the real game. Demo players can only modify it a little bit. Therefore, any modification of the demo (by means of text editor) can not hurt the game.

 

[Sgt. Schultz]

You're right my bad.

 

[unmerged(35776)]

Well i dont see what the big deal is. why would they be offended that people fool around with the demo code? Its not like anyone here hasnt pre-ordered it! And it gives us a neat chance to do a little modding before it comes out, while we are all on holiday. Or some of us anyway. Youre prolly not going to have time to be scripting and fooling around with graphics when the game comes out in January (...2004 )

I cant speak for anyone else, but im going to be making a few tweaks here and there, to suit my taste. And on things that arent very likely to be changed from the demo version, namely unit portraits and icons. And as soon as i figure out how to upload them I mean to offer them to the community here.

 

[danoh]

Nice screenshot Spocky. Are all the guns but the U.S. carrier crossed out to show it's a carrier battle and only the carrier gets to attack? That's the new ranged combat system at work perhaps. Cool man

 

[m45tion87]

Stupid and possibly impossible questions:
Can I add more countries for scenario?
Is it possible to unlock prod/science/diplo screens? (Maybe not....)

I've done some good progress with editing, but I'm still buying the game (definatedly!) and I just want to find out more differend aspects of the game.