Cold War 2020 mod: first release!

[PlasmaKrab]

Hello folks!

Here is a little Christmas gift for you all:

First public pre-release of the Cold War mod I have been working on for some time now.

Here is the idea: I guess many of you happen to play modern heavily-armored battles from time to time. Isn't it too bad that so many of the high tech programs of the recent days have been written off due to budget cuts, given there was no more enemy around?

What if there had been an enemy?
See where this is leading us?

So here comes a little total conversion mod, where pre-1990 countries, orbats, strategies and feuds have been made to evolve in a totally different direction.
Imagine Central Europe divided in two ideological blocks armed to the teeth (nothing new yet), with weaponry of the 2010s...

Ever wondered what a T-95 would have been worth?
Ever battled infantry squads armed with G-11s?



Have fun trying it out!
(Works in hotseat, PBEM and also against the IA)

Just extract the archive to the WinSPMBT install folder you want to mod (better not the one you are already modding on your side), then install the OOB set using the OOB sets manager (don't forget to do that!).

To remove the mod, simply restore the default OOBs the same way and run the deinstaller I've included to restore the other default files (so the Russians don't keep on running under the USSR flag eternally for no reason... ).

See the included readme for more technicalities, and don't hesitate to contact me for more infos.



The mod is a bit short on OOBs for now, since I have included only the ones that were more or less complete already. I'll keep up the work on this mod (this is only the first version), add new OOBs, new and corrected icons, etc., ultimately scenarios and campaigns, and of course I'll keep it compatible with the V3.0 as soon as it is out.


Greetings!

Plasmakrab


Warning: 4.6Mb download! (what did you expect?)

Edit: DL links changed to latest version mod installer (and install is mow 19Mb BTW)

[pdoktar]

Only problem here is that you don´t want to back to those puny Leo2A6s and other trash-metal.

[Gooseman2448]

Really good work Plas,

Your icons are excellent.

I made some for Bradleys (with and without ERA), Abrams (Even TUSK), Strykers and M113a3 w/slat. Feel free to use them in your MOD. Atleast replace the Abrams turrets. The 120mm barrel looks too wimpy. (Leo is better)

I'd like to get your help with adding winter (white) camo to icons.

OOBs are pretty good, still checking through them. Haven't plugged it into the game yet, my CD version is too modified.

Good work over all.

Goose

[PlasmaKrab]

Thanks for the feedback, Gooseman!

If you want to try it out (that's what it's meant for after all), better install a second clean game version alongside your main one, it takes only a few hundred Mb hard drive.
That's what I do to mod whatever I want while being able to play PBEM games.

As for icons, well, many of the ones I included will need a facelift at some point, and I'll probably make my own replacements for some original ones so I can add my own modifications to them (eg some fictional LAV variants). The Abrams looks good enough for me right now (just like the Leo2, except for the latest variants), in any case good enough for me not to make an attempt at redoing it!

I'm not sure I can help you for winter icons, I'm in a bit of a conundrum in this domain: this is where you really run into the limits of camoed icons: the contrast is so high you end up not seeing them properly. At the other end of the scale, you have winter icons with a dirty greyish white color that just doesn't make it.
There are some winter series I'll have to redo in the near future, I'll tell you then if I can come up with a reliable technique.

[Gooseman2448]

Thanks for the winter feedback.

I have tried them but it is very hard to find a balance like you mentioned. I want to redo my US icons with some that look like they were done at the last moment. I am working on a series of scenarios that may evolve into a campaign.

It involves going from Germany to a former East Block country to seize nuclear warheads. Counrty is in a civil war state and it is believed that the warheads will fall into the wrong hands.

Somebody needs to take the lead to secure them. UN is too slow and political and NATO refuses to get involved. The time is now (unfortunately winter).

The story leads up to the fact that they have to fight their way back. Germanys new leaders take offense to the action and claims US forces are criminals and vows by any means to prevent them from returning with the Nukes.

Story gets deep but, for all those who have secretly wondered about head to head Leo and Abrams combat will hopefully get a chance.

As far as redoing Abrams or other icons, I have done them already. Biggest update for Abrams was to make the barrell look more realistic as the Leo. I also gave each version from M1 to M1A2 SEP all unique camo patterns(even autumn pattern).

Check them out:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...b=5&o=&fpart=1

good job either way, very unique and forward looking MOD.

Gooseman

[RecruitMonty]

How does the installer work? I have a lot of modified units and things and I don't want to lose them. If I just run the thing will it nuke all of my work?

[PlasmaKrab]

RecruitMonty said:
How does the installer work? I have a lot of modified units and things and I don't want to lose them. If I just run the thing will it nuke all of my work?

Yup, mostly it will, sorry. That's why I recommend installing a second 'clean' version of the game alongside your main 'work' one.
It takes less than 350Mb more, and you'll also have a certified clean copy for PBEM games once you deinstall the mod.

It all depends on what you have modified. The mod's OOBs are created in a Custom OOB folder, but new icon and lbm files are created and overwritten, so there may be conflicts with your own edits if they have the same indexes. Same thing for picklists if you have edited them.

All in all, better install the mod on a clean game version, it will always come in handy anyway.

EDIT: After checking the edited files list you posted, I think you'll have no problem with the mod provided you backup your icon0099 file and your OOBs. (and you have no custom picklists, namelists, ranklists or lbms)
I use icon files 47, 48, 49, 54, 57, 59, 99, 100, 101, 102 for now, and probably going further in this direction in the future.

Thanks for the interest!

[RecruitMonty]

Your welcome and thanks for your timely answer. How do you create a copy folder?

[RecruitMonty]

Do I just have to put my disk in and install the game again?

[RecruitMonty]

Eine Antwort auf meine letzte Mitteilung ist nicht mehr noetig, weil ich die Frage geantwortet habe. Tatsaechlich war es wirklich leicht, deswegen fuehle ich jetzt ein bischen Doof.

Aber das ist vollkomen egal. Ich muss sagen, dass Ihre Arbeit wunderbar ist! Gut gemacht! Die "Icons" sind sehr gut gemalt. Die Einheiten sind Toll!