Working on a Scenerio

[dwinston]

I'm working on a scenario, and I realize it's not so easy to do! It takes time, but once mine is complete I'll post it. But I have questions---

1) I had to create some units/platforms for the scenario. Is the a way to share ONLY the units/platforms that are used in the Scenario, as opposed to sharing the entire database?

2) "Sam has crashed into the surface!" I get this message sometimes when I launch my SAMs at a given target. What could be the cause of this and how do I correct this?:confused:

3) In designing a missile, and I want to give it a Bearing-Only Launch ability, I find that it is not enough to simply add "BOL" to list of capability flags. Can any platform experts give pointers on designing missiles with such capabilities?

4) "Target not Illuminated" is another message I get sometimes when I try to launch my SAMs at an incoming target. How do I deal with this?:confused:

PS---As suggested, I am use H3 SE 3.6.3, as opposed to H3 ANW, to create the scenario.

[Herman Hum]

1) I had to create some units/platforms for the scenario. Is the a way to share ONLY the units/platforms that are used in the Scenario, as opposed to sharing the entire database?
There is no quick and easy way to do this for the larger databases like PlayersDB (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=51). However, if your database is small, you may be able to use the pfEdit utility that is mentioned on Matrix (http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=1207984). Darren Buckley (http://www.xtreme-gamer.com/forums/member.php?u=10403) is the fellow who would be best able to help you out with any questions on its performance.
2) "Sam has crashed into the surface!" I get this message sometimes when I launch my SAMs at a given target. What could be the cause of this and how do I correct this?:confused:
Try using the "Level Cruise" flag and entering a cruise altitude value.
3) In designing a missile, and I want to give it a Bearing-Only Launch ability, I find that it is not enough to simply add "BOL" to list of capability flags. Can any platform experts give pointers on designing missiles with such capabilities?
Simplest solution is to examine one of the weapons that works properly (i.e. Harpoon) in your DB or in PlayersDB (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=51) and then applying the same characteristics to the one that is causing you problems. This will also educate you about the different weapons flags.
4) "Target not Illuminated" is another message I get sometimes when I try to launch my SAMs at an incoming target. How do I deal with this?:confused:
There are lots of potential problems when that message is shown. It could be:

A) problem in your sensor settings (wrong type, incorrect value,...)
B) Missing a director in the Weapons table
C) Missing a director on the launch platform

I recommend the same as in #3. Find something that is already working, see what settings are needed, then apply them to your specific weapon.

If you are still having problems, post it up on SZO and everyone can take a look at it. A real strength of SZO is the ability to share files by posting them here. :cool:

[dwinston]

The scenario that I'm working on isn't really complete yet, and it does need more work, but I'm ready to let others have a look at what I have so far. Maybe some experts out there can give me some ideas on how to make it better. I could sure use that help---this is my 1st scen on the community!:o

In My Zip File (called MslEx), I'm sending four files:--

1.Mideast.sav

2.MeMEx1.hcf ( the facs I made for the Scen can be added to Players Db 6.4.9)

3.MeMEx2.hcf ( the A/C I made for the Scencan also be added to Players Db 6.4.9)

4.MEMEX.txt---the desciption of the Scen.

I hope this works out---the Email, that is. :nervous:


Advise and Comments are welcome!

PS I use H3 3.6.3 to build the Scen.

[Herman Hum]

Here's the orders so that others can add their comments. I hope that it isn't a problem

MIDEAST MISSILE EXCHANGE
LIBYA VS ISRAEL

LOCATION : EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA

DATE/TIME: 12 July,2012, 06:00:00 ZULU

By July, Oslo Peace accord between Israel and the PLO was clearly broken, with over a year of fighting between Palestinian police units and Israeli troops. Finally, after weeks of rocket attacks inside Israel---from Lebanon as well as from the PA, the Israeli Govt decided to act: Israel invaded the Palestinian Authority on the 3rd of June. The Authority was re-conquered with 3 weeks. The invasion of Lebanon was lanched on the 6th of July, to crush the Hezbollah forces firng rockets from there. Despite Syrian interevtion, the Hezbollah forces south of the Litani River were routed within 3 weeks of fighting.

Of course, the Arab League was outraged, but two countries, Iran and Libya, went much further. The Iranian leader issued Israel an ultimatum: leave Lebanon within 3 days or be driven out "under a hail of rockets". The Libyan leader, for his part, openly ordered the mobilization of his county's force of ballistic missiles, which has enough range to reach Israeli cities. However, the Arabs would soon learn that Israel possessed ballistic missile forces of her own!

ORDERS TO THE CMDR OF LIBYA ARMED FORCES

INTELLIGENCE

We know where Tel-Aviv-Yafo is, and we know the Israelis have at least two air base near the city. It is rumored that the Israelis have missile bases---at least five ramprts from where missiles can be fired have been spotted. But we expect our SAMs and interceptors to be more than a match for any missile attack they may mount.

MISSION

The liberation of Palestine is to begin IMMEDIATELY, beginning with the annihilation of Tel-Aviv Yafo! Defeat any attempt by the enemy to attack our missile bases!

SPECIAL NOTE

Our highly capable Shipwreck units enable us to strike even with the UN present---we don't have to wait for Al Qeada friends to destroy the UN site. It is, in fact, in our best interests that we DO NOT WAIT---Israel will most likely attack once the UN is attacked. As long as peace talks are underway, Israel is least likely to jeopardize world opinion by striking first. The advantage, the initiative, is ours!

EXECUTION

Do not wait for the UN unit to be destroyed--use the BOL capabilities in our missile forces to destroy Tel-Aviv and the missile bases surrounding the city! Keep our bomber forces in reserve for a second strike.

ISRAEL

ORDERS FOR CMDR OF ISRAELI FORCES

INTELLIGENCE

Mossad agents have confirmed that Libyan missiles are positioned in and around the city of Bengazi in the east, east of the Libyan capital, and the Tunisia-Algeria oilfields in the West. These missiles identified as Shipwreck and the Taepodong-2 missilies. The Libyan Leader may have given the order to launch these missiles---regardless of the peace talks in Cairo---but it will take some time for the various missile forces to comply. Air activity is present from the Trpoli and Bengazi bases. A strong SAM belt is present around the missile bases. Neither surface or submarine activity is present.

SPECIAL NOTE

There are UN-sponsored peace-talks being held in a hotel in Cairo. NO DIRECT ATTACKS can be mounted against the the enemy as long as these talks are underway. Indirect attacks---such as BOL---are allowed. Also, there are reports that Al Qeada units seeking to disrupt the talks in Cairo. If they mount a successful attack on the peace talk site, both sides can freely lauch attacks. Thus, the key to success is to mount a sussessful pre-emptive strike.

MISSION

Destroy as much of Libya's missile forces as possible BEFORE they can launch an attack on Israel. In any event, defend the city against ANY incoming SSMs, and destroy Libya's capabaility to launch such attacks in the future. Special must be made to avoid attacking oilfields and the

Libyan population in the process.

EXECUTION

STRIKE FIRST!!! Use your missiles' BOL capabilities to destroy as many enemy missile bases as possible BEFORE the UN unit in Cairo is eliminated. Once that has occured, the Libyans will unleash a torrent of missiles upon Israel!! Also, put up an AEW-interceptor screen around Israel to defeat the incoming missiles!


OPEC
OPEC, the site of millions of gallons of oil and hundreds of international petro-workers---and reluctant hosts of Libyan missile forces


CIVILIAN POPULATION
CIVILIAN POPULATION---primarily Libyan, and another reluctant host for missile units targeting Israel


UNITED NATIONS
UNITED NATIONS---holding peace-talks between Israel and the Arabs at a hotel in Cairo. The UN serves as delay link for hostilities---as long as the UN unit is present, Israel and Libya will not fire on each other (However, SEE THE SPECIAL NOTES FOR ISRAEL AND LIBYA SIDES!!!).


AL QAEDA
AL QAEDA---a terrorist group, confident of a Libyan victory in the event of a war between Libya and Israel, which seeks to disrupt the peace talks. Wearing Egyptian Army uniforms and using an Egyptian Army helicopter gunship, thir mission is to attack the delegation site.

This side is the Link Destroyer for the UN---once Al Qeada destroys the UN, full, direct hostilities between Israel and Libya can begin. (SEE THE SPECIAL NOTES ON ISRAEL AND LIBYA SIDES!!!)
I tried to import the HCF files into the PlayersDb 6.4.9 and then look at your scenario. Unfortunately, I don't think that it works very well. There are all kinds of weird and out of date aircraft that you probably don't want to have show up in this scen. i.e. Russian and Libyan planes appearing on Israeli bases.

The problem in what you have done is that you are only exporting the units that you are creating for your personal database. For example, the current edition of the PlayersDB for H3.6.3 [posted Aug 21, 2006] had 687 facility entries. Since then, we have been adding new facilities on a daily basis.

It is not possible to simply import your *.HCF files into the PlayersDB. By importing your *.HCF files, we are giving your facilities new entry ID numbers. When your scenario looks for facility #688 [from your personalized database], it is probably not the same facility that is numbered 688 in the PlayersDB. The importation process may have assigned it #747, instead.

It is not a problem to get units added to the PlayersDB, but we have to ensure that your additions do not cancel the work of others. Obviously, you have been maintaining a personal database [variant of PlayersDB] that works for your scen. That might be the best path for you unless you want to:

1) tell us what entries you want added to the PlayersDB
2) check your scen and then re-place any units that are erroneous

[dwinston]

OOPS!----I didn't realize that!:eek:

A possible solution: The scen works on my Database---so what if I present MY database, and then you play the scen using my db? Would that help?

[Herman Hum]

Okay, took a quick look at this scenario with your database. Here are some observations:

1) Many of the SAM and SSM field units are grouped together with air bases. You may wish to separate those units which are not normally part of a base because bases always show up as 'detected' right away even if you have all their components non-auto-detected. Also, there is a known bug whereby group icons can be attacked and their components destroyed without ever needing to detect any of the individual facilities located within the group. See: Hidden units can be destroyed without detection (http://www.xtreme-gamer.com/forums/showthread.php?p=541977#post541977)

2) Some of the aircraft on the Libyan bases have not been assigned any missions nor have they been assigned to any Formation Air Patrols. If the AI is controlling them, they will most likely just end up sitting in the hangars and do nothing.

3) There may be a problem with your Al Qaeda side. I ran it for a bit and it seems as though your AQ side is actually FRIENDLY with the target in their mission target list. Therefore, they cannot launch to attack it.

3A) Do you think it reasonable to have AQ with such powerful military hardware since they have used much less sophisticated weapons in their history? If you wish to give them such high-tech weapon systems, perhaps you might consider a footnote or cover story in which AQ managed to suborn some disgruntled Egyptian air force officers.

4) Here is a hint for some of your delayed missions. Some designers find it useful to put in the delay time after the mission name. i.e. "[D]Green Trojan 12:37" might indicate an attack to commence 12hr 37min after the game starts. Once you set the delayed mission's activation time, there is no way to find out what that setting was unless you wrote it down somewhere else and this may be problematic if you come back to check your scenario months in the future.

5) Now that you are maintaining and sharing your personal database, you might like to post it up on the SZO file archives (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=30&styleid=97) along with the other Harpoon3 databases.

These are only suggestions. I hope that they help and do not hurt.

[dwinston]

I've fixed the problems mentioned, particularly 2, 3, and 3a. I've put an explanation on how Al Qaeda was able to get control of such a weapon. I've reduced the # of helicopters used to just one, and I've put a time for the copter attack to begin---after 2:50:00. I also installed my Db over at teh archives.


Hope this works.....

[Herman Hum]

I've looked in the archives and cannot seem to locate your revised DB. Can you provide a link to where it is posted?

I see that you have included an *.HCF file with your latest scen posting. I don't think that this is the best idea. One could import and add it to the DB editor and then re-export the DB in order to test your scenario. However, if the numbers get jumbled in some way, the facilities might be mixed up, too. The more steps involved in any process mean more chances to create errors or problems. ;)

For the convenience of all, could you post the 17 *.DAT files for your DB to the archive so we can be certain that we are using the correct DB in order to test your scenario?

[dwinston]

I realized that my first attempt wasn't complete---that's why it wasn't there.:o

It's fixed now--- I had just uploaded my Harpooner database to the archives. It shows all the *.dats that I've used to create my scens. Whatever hcfs you see can be loaded into my db.:)

[Herman Hum]

I've taken a second look at your scen with the DB posted to the archives.

I gave it a quick run and can say that the "inhibitor" technique does work and prevents combat between Israel and Libya. However, I find your orders problematic.

Do you really want the Israeli player to be firing SSMs BOL? Is this practical?
When I did this, the SSMs would often lock on and kill the Neutral units. As there is no way that a player can control this, it means that the Israeli player cannot follow your orders. To do so means he loses the game for killing a neutral.

I don't think that allowing IRBMs the BOL ability is such a good idea. The darned things travel so fast that I don't think that their sensors would be any good at guiding them. :D

Well, it is a hypothetical DB, so anything can happen. ;)