ico questions

[PatG]

I apologize if I didn't express myself clearly. My idea stems from thinking about how to handle armoured trains but can be applied to other units. It is not based on down to the millimeter accuracy but on a set of is like a statements. A locomotive is like a prime mover with 1-2 points of armour and a bit bigger. A German pursuit car is like a Pzkw IV but a bit smaller. A tank carrying car is like a Spanish tank carrying truck with some armour. An armoured passenger car is like a bus with 1 point of armour. And so on. (Note: I don't expect these trains to move)

Same for other units, a Calliope is like a Sherman with rockets on top (yes I know this one exists already - its early in the morning and I can't think of a good example). The ability to change values is already present in the scen editor, the only thing missing is suitable graphics.


What I am proposing would be:

1) A set of icons representing rare or unusual units that would normally only be used in a scenario and not in a one off battle vs AI or a campaign.
2) No oob slots would be used.
3) If the art is up to scratch, the icon set could be officially sanctioned to prevent future corruption.
4) For use by scenario designers only. AI excluded by intent.
5) Scenario designers would hack existing unit values and apply the appropriate icon to produce the unit.
6) A list in text form could be drawn up of accepted values for various units. Scenario designers could then plug these values in using the scenario editor.
7) Any new weapon would be represented by an exisiting weapon that is close enough.

eg "To make a Blacker Bombard, use this gun with this many HE this many HEAT this many crew, a move of this .... and use Icon Number xxx".

No oob slots needed. No change in coding. No new DBs. Just some decent art and a .txt file of values.

A big immediate benefit would be the ability to move some of the really esoteric kit out of the crowded OOBs. List the values and icon numbers in a txt file and scenario designers can use them to their hearts content.

My main concern is: are there enough icon slots left to do this? It looks like there are but I'm not certain what has been reserved.

Thanks for your patience.

[DRG]

This is similar to thoughts I had some months back once Andy added the ability to change Icons in a sceanrio with Scenhack. If you look at sceanrio 37 "Valentines day air drop" with the editor you will see grounded Dutch "aircraft" have been added to that sceanrio that are , in fact, "Utility vehicles" that have been added simply to be targets for the Japanese Bombers. With Scenhack all you need to do is know the Icon number and you can change anything into anything else. STATIONARY Trains could be added in that way and I MAY add Icons like that at some point IF and when I can work up the enthusiasm to do so.

However, your idea "the ability to move some of the really esoteric kit out of the crowded OOBs" is NOT a viable idea as those units may be in use in sceanrio and regular games and really... there is ONLY one OOB that is even remotely close to being "full" and just about anything that's not in the German OOB now REALLY doesn't need to be there. There will not be any removal of units UNLESS they can be proven to be unnecessary AND not used in any sceanrio and right now aside from a handful of Brandenburgers there aren't any


Don

[PatG]

Ok thanks again for listening.