HPS Nap Series Updates

[Sgt_Rock]

I am working on updates for the Wagram, Eckmuhl, Jena and Austerlitz games (in that order). I am just about done with the Wagram update and it will go off to Rich Hamilton for his crew to look over.

There were MASSIVE changes to the files. Here is a summary:

1. Austrians now have their regiment names back.

2. Morale values are lower - similar to Eckmuhl.

3. Unit.bmp and 3D icon numbers - my spreadsheet from the old days was brought up to date with the help of Warren Bajan and Philippe Divine. The values in the OB files now come out correctly to where no one 3D icon is being used by different nations. Big kudos to Warren and Philippe for helping out on this. CAVEAT: Not all of the values were of their choosing so do not shoot them if you do not like all of the combinations. Knock me over the head if the Unit pic does not match the 3D icon exactly.

4. PDT files brought up to ver. 13.

5. Miscellaneous errors fixed in the scenarios. I am trying to find all of the bridge value errors. I also wanted to mention here that some of the Piave situations have low bridge values on purpose. For instance the bridge over on the French left is intentionally lower as Seras was meant to tie up the Austrians by demonstrating in that area while Eugene and the center crossed at the ford.

Also: supply wagons were restored to full strength in many cases (unless the action is a continuation of a previous engagement)

6. Dragoon regiments (NOT Light Dragoons) are now coded as the Dragoon type. You and your opponent will need to determine if you allow the Dismount ability. Otherwise Dragoon types get a 10 percent bonus (vice 25 percent as previous as Heavy cavalry). I did not give them a Carbine so they cannot shoot while mounted. If you want to do that just copy the OB file, change the "S" saber weapon to a "Q" for carbine (which I will make sure is in the game) and voila, mounted Dragoons that can fire if dismounted. I felt that the arming of all of the Dragoons would affect the Supply Wagon situation too much. If you do use the "Q" fire arm make sure you also increase the amount of wagons in the game too.

7. The Hesse-Darmstadt troops are now properly named. Understand that when I originally did this game I had already built the OB files and built something like 100+ scenarios by the time I got hold of Gill's book on 1809 ("With Eagles to Glory"). Bowden's OBs were accurate for the most part but Gill is superior. Bowden got the Hesse-Darmstadt troops all wrong and frankly there was not the online resources on the Hesse-Darmstadt troops like there is now. I also was unaware of Nafziger's book on the H-D troops.

Bottom line: the H-D troops are properly coded, named, uniform Units and 3D numbers are corrected and in the case of Aspern-Essling OB the Fusilers were removed and the proper amount of Line units were added in. (funny enough it turned out to be the same - 4 bns. total). A big thanks to Warren for helping me with the organization of the H-D troops. Also for pointing out the OB issue with Aspern-Essling.

8. The update will include a PDF file of the OB Guide and a PDF version of my Units/3D# spreadsheet for folks that like to mod the games or just build their own OBs.

The main program will be the latest that was in Campaign 1814 and Leipzig so that will mean that Wagram will finally have all of the features of the series. Frankly I ran out of time in trying to add in some of these things into the scenarios but hey, this is the biggest update to this game in years.

As Rich is swamped with things I am not sure when the official update will go out. Please do not badger him about the date. I will not know either. I just know that this update is just about finished and I will be putting it up on my server for him to grab after a few more days. My guess is that no later than October and maybe sooner.

I will update Eckmuhl next. Austerlitz update is just about ready. Jena needs a little OB work. Like Wagram I need to add in the Prussian regiment names. Fortunately the two big OBs are done and so I only have the smaller ones to work on.

All in all my part in the update process should be done by the end of September at the latest. Looks like you guys will have a busy Fall and Winter!

(note: NRC and Waterloo are in Rich's hands and he has asked some fellows to help him out with the update thus I cannot comment on the status of those)

 

[Marshal Lannes]

I think that a lot of people , ( muttley's included ), are still shell shocked about having 2 Nappy titles released in quick succession...... ,.you can in fact slow down a bit and ride the wave of content, because the moaning and whingeing is unlikely to start in earnest until just before Christmas or as I like to call it; " the whingeing season " :laugh: or thereabouts. Extremely good news though................!

 

[Sgt_Rock]

Actually we are just bringing the older games up to speed - something that folks have wanted FOR YEARS. Wagram was last updated many years ago. Jena as well. NRC even longer.

These are necessary changes. I would admit that they came at a rotten time for me as I was in the middle of working on two titles for John and now am also working with another software game company. Life is incredibly busy these days.

 

[Sgt_Rock]

I ran into a snag for the update. Basically, the graphics are not lining up right and since no graphics will be in the Wagram update here is what I am going to do:

1. Put out the corrected PDT, MAP and SCN files with the update.

2. Put out the corrected OB and 3D/Units files in a MOD.

The customer will update their game. If they want to use my MOD they will COPY their Campaign Wagram folder and call it something different such as "MOD_Wagram."

They then would apply the MOD to the "MOD_Wagram" folder.

This way I can update the graphics to my hearts content and not screw up Mark and Joe's work.

My version of the OB and graphics will use a "One for One" format. In other words no more sharing of 3D icons for two separate unit types. It's gone on long enough.

I had already started doing up my mod using the Eckmuhl 3D file scaling. I did not notice that Wagram uses larger icons. So here is the poll question: Would you care if I used a smaller size for the icons or do you want them to be the larger size?

I cannot simply resize my "Eckmuhl style" 3D icons for the infantry. I tried it and they looked just dog awful.

But some of the icons I had changed:

French Legere now have blue coats.

Tir du Corse and du Po use a blue coat image similar to the French Legere. For the purist my 3D icons file will have a slot for EACH - du Po will have their own and du Corse will have their own. Not that the 3D icon will be able to show the distinctions but again, if someone wants to use my OB mapping and apply their own 3D stuff then go for it.

Port. Legion - I went with the Histofix image. Thus for the infantry pic the lace is gone and the "habite-vest" look replaced it.

But bottom line: the Wagram update will NOT have the Austrian regiment names and morale reduction. That will be in my MOD.

Why? Well because I got in so deep with the update that once I realized that the "one for one" approach would not work with the existing artwork it was useless to continue. And I was not about to change all of the 3d mapping in the OB files back to where they were after I had finished the morale upgrade too.

So the update will be mainly for the MAIN PROGRAM - PDT files are now ver. 13. Weather lines were added so each scenario had to be reviewed to see if the existing PDT file would work (with new weather lines thus a DATE) or if they would need a NEW PDT File. And you will enjoy this - all scenarios OPEN!

The Piave scenarios were redone. A new map was added in. I would have liked to have done up a BETTER version of the map but at least I was able to correct one of the ford locations. There are no bridges now, the ford cost is quite high but the French should be able to get across. I fixed some of the French to delay their full deployment on the far side of the river. There may be some corrections needed later on for the scenarios but that was as much as I could do. The players are always welcome to come up with their own victory levels anyway. Nothing is in concrete. Similar to a board game. You bought it - you determine what is victory, draw or defeat. There were many duplicate Piave scenarios so the ones that no longer apply are simply "pointers" to the correct version. They no longer have units on the map so even if you open them up to play them you will have nothing to push around. This was intentional to remove the incredible confusion that occurred after one of the updates went out.

So when will the Update be out and the Mod?

The Update - the files are off to Rich Hamilton. He is incredibly busy so please do not nag him about it. His team will look the files over and shoot back comments to me. If it all works out fine then I would imagine that sometime next month it should come out. But do not quote me on that.

The MOD - well I plan on taking my own sweet time with it. I have new work with another company and do not wish to put myself into an early grave. If I get some help then everything should go well for a February to March release. Maybe sooner but again, I am not in a hurry. I want to get it right and not just please people. I want a Unit pic to have its own 3d image pairing. And they need to match. If the image in the Units file has a red plume then the 3D image will too.

And of course this MOD will work for Eckmuhl as well.

In the MOD for Eckmuhl there will be files for the Battle of Raszyn. In the Wagram MOD there will be files for the actions in the Balkans where Marmont fought the Austrians and also in BOTH there will be actions in the Alps/passes. Just small actions but something new for the folks to try out with the spiffy new artwork.

The game is old but I still have a fondness for 1809. It remains one of my favorite campaigns.

Finally, one thing that IS in the Update is the new command ranges. Now the Army, Wing, Corps commanders also have a command range. This should slow down the behemoth French army some as Napoleon will not be able to affect every French Div commander's test on the Wagram battlefield. Probably one of the wings will not be in his command control. The Austrians are penalized more of course. After all Napoleon had the best staff system by that time in the wars.

I will keep you all posted as I finish up milestones in my MOD work. You probably will hear again from me once I get the OB files all done. Then again once the UNITS file is done. And finally once the 3D files are ready.

 

[trauth116]

I had already started doing up my mod using the Eckmuhl 3D file scaling. I did not notice that Wagram uses larger icons. So here is the poll question: Would you care if I used a smaller size for the icons or do you want them to be the larger size?

I cannot simply resize my "Eckmuhl style" 3D icons for the infantry. I tried it and they looked just dog awful.

Put me down as a wouldn't mind at all... I tend to like the mods that are using the smaller scales (and suspect that if I had a miniatures' table set up it would be at mm or smaller scale).

 

[Sgt_Rock]

GOOD NEWS The update will include updated OB files. See my first mention of what will be included in the OB files for the update.

There will be some minor changes to the 3D/Units image mapping from the OB files. They will use the stock artwork. My Mod will include new images.

Note: the French Legere have a blue Units pic but a green 3D pic. Not much I can do about it. In my MOD this is corrected. I redid the 3D pic to have the coats blue. You will def. want to consider getting my MOD which will be out as soon as the Update is released (or shortly thereafter).

Glad to have included these in the update. And the changes to "downgrade" the OBs from my "MOD" versions did not take anywhere near as long as I thought they would.

Upward and onward ...

 

[Sgt_Rock]

I got an update from John Tiller today. The update is checking out fine. There was a minor glitch with the updated Vienna.map file but he fixed it.

Now up to Rich H. and his group to check out the update. Again, not sure how much time they will spend on it. Update should be out in a few weeks. Maybe sooner.

 

[trauth116]

Rich has posted the above mentioned update for open testing (like he did with some other series during the past few months). Just happened to see it, so figured I would pass it along.

http://hpssims.com.c7.previewyoursite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=32696#post32696

 

[Sgt_Rock]

Thanks Steve, always good to get more folks to look at it and give Rich feedback.

These are the last set of official HPS product updates I will be doing for John Tiller. Unless Rich or someone else adds in corrected content the updates which follow after the ones I am working on will only have updated main programs/editors. Thus if behooves anyone who has an interest in the game to check out the update before it goes out. If they spot something that is wrong I will be happy to fix it providing that it is not time consuming.

I will continue to support the games I have put out with John via the John Tiller Software website. (Leipzig & 1814)

Basically, its time to move on from the older titles. New work that I have with another company is really soaking up my time.

 

[Nikel]

Thanks for continue the support of these games

On a fast look I see that only notes and started documents are in .pdf version, but not the rest.

Inside the game you cannot call them, well you can, but they are not opened, not sure if this is WAD. Parameter and changes work, and also the old, not pdf, help and manual.

The problem with nVidia graphics card updated drivers is gone here.

ezjax' mod seems to be still compatible.

 

[Sgt_Rock]

Pass along anything you find to Rich Hamilton at the HPS Support email please. He will look into any issues with the update. If they apply to me he will email me about it.

 

[trauth116]

Thanks for continue the support of these games

On a fast look I see that only notes and started documents are in .pdf version, but not the rest.

Inside the game you cannot call them, well you can, but they are not opened, not sure if this is WAD. Parameter and changes work, and also the old, not pdf, help and manual.

Nikel: while I don't know if they plan on converting the other files to pdf's for the update or not, those ones you are referring to are all series documents, so that if you have any other later titles you already would have that material. Or barring that, I keep the updated versions of those documents in pdf format available on SDC.

http://hist-sdc.com/spotlights/series_nb.php

(I er realize that I hadn't made my NB Series relaunch post in here (or anywhere it looks like), yet. But those got done awhile ago on the site.

 

[Nikel]

Hi

It is not that I am requesting them, it was only a comment just in case it was forgotten.

In Leipzig all the documents are in pdf.

And in the last Eckmuhl update , all were in pdf even though in a separate file.

 

[Sgt_Rock]

As in the last Eckmuhl update the help docs and notes files will have PDF versions.

 

[cuco]

Thanks Steve, always good to get more folks to look at it and give Rich feedback.

These are the last set of official HPS product updates I will be doing for John Tiller. Unless Rich or someone else adds in corrected content the updates which follow after the ones I am working on will only have updated main programs/editors. Thus if behooves anyone who has an interest in the game to check out the update before it goes out. If they spot something that is wrong I will be happy to fix it providing that it is not time consuming.

I will continue to support the games I have put out with John via the John Tiller Software website. (Leipzig & 1814)

Basically, its time to move on from the older titles. New work that I have with another company is really soaking up my time.

Thanks a lot Sgt Rock for still supporting these series. These are my favourite PC games and I always enjoy them a lot. Are you still involved in new games (1807 Eylau, PW...) ? My fear is that if you are working for other company the series will be never completed. Anyway, thanks a lot again for creating several of these wonderful games

 

[Sgt_Rock]

John adds in the rest of the PDFs at the time that the update is released.