National start and end dates
 

Gentlemen,

I am aware that these are hard coded, never the less I do believe that one modder in the community - Plasmakrab - had figured out a way to change these. Anyone have any idea how I could do the same?

Re: National start and end dates
 

I once edited that kind of stuff a long time ago; let me look around in my notes.

Re: National start and end dates
 

Many thanks Mark. I would greatly appreciate your assistance with this problem. It has put a real monkey wrench in my progress.

Monty

Re: National start and end dates
 

Unfortunately, I can't find my notes on this; and an hour or so looking at the latest EXE didn't reveal to me any obvious patterns.

I could swear though that I managed this once before, but I think with the older DOS SPWW2 version(s).

Re: National start and end dates
 

What a shame. Exe? Do you have a copy? Perhaps I can figure something out.

Re: National start and end dates
 

EXE as in the binary executable winSPMBT.exe that is the game itself.

Re: National start and end dates
 

Ahh! I should have been able to figure that one out. I took a look at it too with an .exe viewer and could not figure much out either. Zeroes and Ones are a foreign language to me. Can you recommend any programmes (freeware preferably) that could translate some of that stuff into a more legible format?

Re: National start and end dates
 

.Exe's are always going to be pretty indecipherable (thats kind of the point...) but bits can be read/altered by using programs such as "HxD" (a Hex editor).

I have, in the past, used it to successfully change a nations name for a fantasy OoB - but, unfortunately, wasn't able to find date or base exp / morale values.

Re: National start and end dates
 

I will see if I can find an hex editor. :)

Re: National start and end dates
 

Downloaded HxD. Opened up the oobs, game options and WinSPMBT.exe. I'm none the wiser. The programme does a good job of displaying the decipherable text but a few portions are still unreadable. I guess that is where the relevant info is to be found. Above and beyond my expertise.

Re: National start and end dates
 

At present I have two options. I can copy every single armoured/infantry platoon, company etc and duplicate them from decade to decade adding additional points for experience and morale where appropriate. If I do this I have no idea whether I will have enough space in the OOBs. I'm fairly sure I have none left in one of them. Alternatively I can leave it the way it is and switch "training" off in the preferences. The only problem is this applies to the opponent's forces too. Also I have no idea whether this interferes with the experience and morale levels of elite units, which I have naturally assigned better morale and experience values as the regulars.
If this isn't the case then I guess I'll have to provide the base values for the most likely opponents so that you can fight your battles realistically.

Using vanilla Denmark, Germany or indeed any other "dark infantry" nation leads to the troop quality being unacceptably low.

Anyone know if these assumptions of mine regarding the training option are correct? Is morale also included in this? If not then I'm kind of screwed unless the Developers toss me a bone or one of the more computer literate and adventurous modders in the community figures out how to edit morale and experience, at least.

Re: National start and end dates
 

Update!

I've come up with a work around. It is not perfect but it works well enough. The experience and morale levels are now at acceptable levels.

Re: National start and end dates
 

Gotta ask what you adjusted it all to? I'm curious :) And quite eager for the mod!

Re: National start and end dates
 

Please share the "work around" :)

Re: National start and end dates
 

Nothing special really.

I first took a look at the base experience and morale values for Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Canada, USA and Russia in MBT.

I then did the same for all but Denmark in WW2.

Doing so made it possible for me to figure out what I was aiming for.

Knowing this, I then figured out how many points I needed to add to the existing values in the German and Danish OOBs to get the regulars up to acceptable levels. The Danish base values are fairly low so I had to add more to them than I did to the German ones. I figured out that I could split the OOBs into two time periods:

1946-1969 and 1970-2020.

I then edited every formation adding more points where necessary (elite units and such like).

The result isn't bad at all.

As for the start date of Germany, well, there was not too much I could do there I am afraid. Beyond my expertise.

Now I am wondering how I can go about changing the names for Denmark and Germany in the game proper.

Re: National start and end dates
 

I'm close to a release. There are a few icons left to do. The Weserflug variants.

I also need to test out the OOBs to iron out any kinks.

The names in-game are not correct. I'd like to at least edit that if nothing else. There are also no pick lists. I don't know how to edit those.

When I've gotten those things sorted out I will provide a few of you with an alpha so you can test etc.

Then we'll load her up for public consumption and hopefully the community will make some maps, scenarios etc.

Re: National start and end dates
 

Changing the names in game means editting a couple of files (one easy, one a little more complicated):

1. The Mobhack .ini file

Found in folder:
...\Shrapnel Games\The Camo Workshop\WinSPMBT\MOBHack

File = mhMBT.ini

Edit with notepad or a similar text editor (NOT a Word Processor)

This allows you to change the names of Countries (in some places in the game) and (if necessary) the names of unit classes.

2. The MBT .exe itself (MAKE A BACKUP BEFORE CHANGING!!!)

Found in the main folder - winSPMBT.exe

Edit this with a hexeditor (eg HxD).

Replace all occurences of old name with new one - PLEASE NOTE: The new name MUST be the same length as the old! ie "Denmark" must be replaced by a 7 letter name.

Good luck! :)

Re: National start and end dates
 

Your "work around" is unfortunatley the only way I know to adjust from the base exp / morale levels.

The problem is if the replaced OOB's levels are far from your new country's levels as the maximum I can seem to apply is a +25 modifier.

Re: National start and end dates
 

I still maintain that a lower morale and experience value spread for a very late war / post war Germany is believable whether victorious or not. It may help to offset the technological advantages (if any) as well.

That said I'm glad you found a way to mitigate things, I do think the big stumbling block now is the name issue. On the plus side, Denmark can be easily renamed into Germany but if you want a more formal or precise name I'm not sure how you can get around the character limit Scorpio mentioned.

As far as alpha testing, I'm all for that! :D I don't mind missing picklists, as I think most players would be wanting to play as Germany from the start and not against it...not until later.

Re: National start and end dates
 

Also a quick addendum based on my personal experiences with bolstering troop XP through the bonuses: this does not affect replacements. Replacing units during campaigns will draw from the national morale levels, from what I have seen. If this is incorrect I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will correct me.

The long and short of it is, all you can do is give the player a "boost" from the start, I think. Repairing a destroyed tank that started from 75 to 85 will probably re-roll on something from 55 to 70 depending on the exp/morale spread.

Re: National start and end dates
 

Re: National start and end dates
 

If that is the case then I guess one can pretend the replacement troops are Green. It also encourages the player to be a bit more careful with his troops.

Re: National start and end dates
 

That's been my experience at least: You're hoarding your "old hands" from the war years and trying to keep them alive to teach the new kids how to survive.

So Denmark will stand in for the "Imperial" Germany, in other words? And you'll be using regular Germany for the Federal Republic?

Re: National start and end dates
 

Both OOBs are meant to be combined. They are the two halves of the one whole. One is more of a QRF-setup the other packs more of a punch. I'm making two versions of 35 - one of National-Socialist Germany. The other of an Imperial Germany. People can then chose whichever suites them best.

Re: National start and end dates
 

I guess you could use the names "German1" and "German2" - Not ideal nor elegant but is within the character limit.

Re: National start and end dates
 

Not quite what I was expecting, those must be massive OOB's! :eek: But on the other hand I'm suddenly very excited too...

Re: National start and end dates
 

They are indeed quite massive. 44 was especially large due to all the different types of infantry units I ended up having to create. 35 is, for some reason, not quite as full - probably because the emphasis there lies with more conventional forces. Both have little to no room left in the individual unit / section rosters. 44 is also pretty much full in the formation section.

I'll finish up testing the OOBs for obvious mistakes this week and then I'll pack everything up and attempt to upload it somewhere so that Beta-testers can get a hold of it (dropbox or some such thing). I'm doing some serious thinking about the best way for me to pack everything together so it is easily downloaded. I also am putting together a disclaimer/readme with acknowledgements.

Eventually I will also write my own encyclopedia entries for some units. These will not be available to start off with though.

I'll make a formal request for volunteers on the other thread on Monday or Tuesday.

Re: National start and end dates
 

I'm very excited for this. How satisfying to see your years of hard work finally come to fruition :D