Re: winter movement
 

There wont be any new terrain types - we are at the limit already.

Orchards are simply less dense trees for height and for seeing through.

Cheers
Andy

Re: winter movement
 

Cross, what do you mean with 'medium difficulty' map feature?
And yes, to my mind trees should mostly be avoided by vehicles, a lot of other games like combat mission handle it the same way. You should be able to cross them with vehicles, albeit slowly and I really like the idea to make them even breakdown-hexes like rough.

Mario

Re: winter movement
 

If you look at movement costs for various map features, approximately:

Road, clear and field could be termed 'easy' to traverse.

Trees are about 'medium' cost.

Rough, mud and swamp are 'difficult', and you really have to avoid these with vehicles apart from exceptional circumstances.

If Trees become similar to Rough, then we've lost the only 'medium difficulty' map feature. Map features would mostly be easy or difficult.

Even orchards would be avoided by vehicles, because orchards have the same movement cost as trees. IRL, orchards were often used to park-up in because they provided cover but were easily accessible for vehicles.

That said, I do think forests are too easy for vehicles currently. But I think vehicles should be able to pull into the first layer of trees, or through a tree a line, with relative ease.

If 'sparse trees' aren't an option then I don't know what the best answer is...

cheers,
Cross

Re: winter movement
 

As terrain types are at their limit, I wonder if it would be possible to change either orchards or hedges to a more universal terrain type. The goal to have both 'dense trees' and 'sparse trees' terrain.

I have no idea what code is tangled up with orchards or hedges, but if it's possible...

If hedges could be changed:
Change trees icon to sparse trees icon.
Change hedges icon to dense trees icon.
Make hedge movement penalty +2 over current trees (sparse trees).
This means that the only existing maps affected would be Normandy, where hedges will look a little different and would be easier to cross than in the past, but still harder than regular trees (now sparse trees).
Orchards would keep the same movement, which would be the same as sparse trees.
Future maps could use dense trees and sparse trees.


If orchards could be changed:
Change orchards label to 'sparse trees'.
Leave orchard movement alone.
Give trees +2 movement over current trees movement.
Add additional orchard icons showing sparse trees, so map designers could cycle through sparse trees using random icons for sparse trees, but choosing centred 'orchard' icon for a more planted orchard look.
Existing maps wouldn't be affected.
Orchards/sparse trees would now be easier to move through than trees.


Just some thoughts on the off-chance the code wasn't too tangled.


Cross

Re: winter movement
 

In next release scenario designers with the CD edition will be able to edit terrain density ( and obstacle height ) and that includes trees so it will be possible to edit a map so that there could be less dense or more dense stand of trees. It will all be explained in the game guide. I have no intention of removing orchards.

Don

Re: winter movement
 

Sounds like a great solution.

I'll look forward to trying it out.

Cross

Re: winter movement
 

This next update is looking rather intresting, some tactics might just go out the window with the latest offerings. I am also looking forward to having a play with the map editor & seeing what some people come up with.

Got to love the dedication to this game & the constant tweaks sometimes in a totaly unexpected direction by Don & Andy.
This quite possibly has to be the best supported game on the planet.

Re: winter movement
 

.......more than you could guess. All will be revealed just before release



Don

Re: winter movement
 

Don, will this also pertain to the random map generator in the long campaigns or only to the map editor for scenarios? It would be perfect if it would affect campaign-play as well.

Mario

Re: winter movement
 

Maybe it`s possible to connect it with the tree level in the random map generator. The higher the number the higher the tree density.