kmart494

Scenarios created using any other version of SimPlot will not work with the newest version. I am glad you are up and running now.

Jim, There is a newer version of the Quickstart Scenarios in the downloads section. Are you using the old version, or the new version?

View File 2019 Origins System Test These files are recreations of the System Test played at Origins 2019. The game was refereed by Larry Bond and the game turns were run by Kevin Martell (kmart494) on a MacBook using an earlier version of SimPlot2. The old files are not compatible with the current version of SP2, so I recreated them using the latest version. Download and extract the Origins System Test folder to SimPlot's Scenarios folder. You will also need to download the GIUK1 map files from the Maps download section if you do not already have it. The map files can go in the Maps folder or directly into the Origins scenario folder. Contents: player_settings.json -- This file contains the display and text tag settings. Referee.json -- The game file as played from Turn 0000 to Turn 0103. The game stopped there as the air and surface combat phases were played on the tabletop using miniatures. setup.json -- The game file at the start of the scenario (Turn 0000). If you want to play your own version using established units, then this is where you start. System_Test_Blank.json -- This file only has the starting reference points (no units). Use this if you want to play with your own unit formations and orders. The scenario is published in The Naval SITREP #57 (October 2019) and is available at the Wargame Vault website. NOTE: You must have SimPlot2 v2.0.0 to use these files. Submitter kmart494 Submitted 01/25/2020 Category Scenarios

I uploaded version 2.0.0 of SimPlot2. (it sounds redundant, but I am naming things the "Windows way".) Check out the change log for a list of new features. You need to unzip the download into a different folder than the last SimPlot folder. Future updates will always have their own main folder. You can reuse the same maps (copy them into the new Maps folder), but you cannot use any existing turn files. NOTE: the macOS version is not yet ready. I will post when it is. I have additional hoops to jump through with Apple first. Download HERE

The program update is ready. Before I upload it, I am taking time to modify the Quickstart Scenarios to work with v2.0.0. All current turn files will not work with the new version of SimPlot. Kevin

Global Mapper looks to be very expensive.

Did you download or transfer the original SimPlot zip folder to the laptop? There are several resource and library folders/files that go along with the executable. Anything that is missing would produce an error. Are the maps and scenarios located in the Maps and Scenarios folders on the laptop? You could load a non-map scenario from another network location without a problem, but SimPlot checks the default Maps folder (located with the executable) for an associated map file. (I think I might change this to allow the scenario map to be co-located with the scenario file.)

One other thing to consider is that SimPlot is "folder sensitive". The map .txt and .png files must be in the Maps folder. The Maps folder must be in the same folder as the SimPlot2.exe file. A few questions for you, please. Is your laptop Win10? Is it 64 bit? How much memory do you have? Does your laptop hate you?

David, Were you attempting to create a new scenario with a map? The only other time I have seen this error is when I tried to use a map that was waaaayyy too large for the program to handle. Kevin

The promised update is almost ready. I want to do a little more testing, as I have discovered a bunch of small bugs. My time lately has been focused on reviewing the upcoming H5 data annex volumes (USA/Russia ships and aircraft). Work will resume on SimPlot this weekend. Kevin

I posted a video of a SimPlot screenshot showing the new turn replay feature. The game running in it is a re-creation of the Origins 2019 Dance of the Vampires scenario that was run by me and Larry Bond. The original turn files are not compatible with the SP2 update, so I had to run the game all over again using the original turn files as guides. The end result looks just like it happened at the convention. The Undo Turn and Undo Move buttons at the bottom right looked fine in the Win version, but as you can see they aren't right in the Mac version. I will have to fix that. They do, however, work very good. The update is nearing completion. I want to spend this coming week doing some testing, especially with multiplayer files. https://youtu.be/TSb8AA1-5P0 My next project is an experiment with using polygons to render land areas vs. using a bitmap image. If it works, then I will be creating a stand-alone application to make SimPlot maps.

A new update for SimPlot2 is in the works. I was waiting since May to hear back from the folks at Xojo about a problem I was having with container controls not working properly. I sent them my entire SimPlot project for analysis. They have recently released a new version of the IDE/Compiler, which fixed the issues I was having. They also fixed so much other stuff that I had to make 2,400 changes to my project (mostly depricated Xojo.Core method name changes). Anyway, here are the things I am working on: Implemented Container Controls for the various unit windows. This allows the sharing of common controls so I only need to make one change to a container and it will automatically update any unit window using it. Instead of tracking everything (unit positions, perceptions, bearings, circles, etc.) as an update-able singular state (using arrays), I am now saving the entire state in a separate object that essentially "archives" the turn state. When the Move button is pressed, the current state is copied to a new object and the game continues using the new one (effectively cutting off the old one). This way, the last turn state is a reflection of the game state at the plotting phase. This important change paves the way for... Turn replay! Yes, I can now view the previous turns by cycling each saved turn object through the graphics routine. It is still a bit rudimentary, but for now I can view the game progress at 1 second intervals for each previous turn. I will add a pause function. One important point is that no previous turn can be modified, only the "current" turn object can be changed. All scenario information will be contained in a single file that encompasses the entire turn data/structure. For multiplayer games, that means three files will be saved (referee, blue and red). No more individual turn files cluttering up the folders. Map files will work the same for now. I am going to bring back the original SimPlot Range/Bearing button. When a unit is selected, and the RNG/BRG button is active, the ranges and bearings to all other units will be displayed on screen below the symbols. So far, the replay function is working well, even when displaying Red only or Blue only (using unit perceptions). There are a few niggles, but I am working them out. Also, I have not yet implemented the new turn save/load routines. Because I am already using JSON for turn files now, I think it will be relatively easy to do (except for the time--heh). I am hoping this may also be a way to implement live network play.

The maps I make for SimPlot are just repainted screenshots from Google Maps. I draw the shorelines and border in one color, and fill the land in another (I don't have the actual colors at hand, but using a color dropper on an existing map will show them). The scale is represented by "pixels per Nautical Mile". This is how SimPlot scales the maps in game. First, choose an area for your scenario. If the area is large, such as hundreds of miles, then the scale is likely to be very low as making the maps will be excessively time consuming. Even a high resolution small map can take time to create. Check out my Falkland Islands Detail Map. That took a long time to do (and involved multiple screenshots "stitched" together). The scale is determined before you repaint the image. First convert the scale bar distance from Miles to NM. Then measure how many pixels are in the bar and divide the number of pixels by the NM. Repaint the image. If you want to confine the map to just the depicted area, then draw a border all around the map (i just use the shoreline color). If you want an "open ocean" map, then you can leave out the border. Generally speaking, if there is a land mass that extends beyond the map, then it is best to use a border to truncate the land mass. The map background should be the ocean color (RGB 70, 70, 70 I think). I recommend using a separate layer for drawing the land masses and border. You need a text file that defines the map. Please look at an existing .txt map files for the format. The format will change in the future, as I will eventually migrate to using JSON files. The best way to add country and city names is to create the map, then make a new scenario in SimPlot using that map (I think the map scale definition is the only data you need in the map .txt file). Mouse click places that you want to name to get the coordinates. You will have to add that data to the .txt file manually. Country names are centered at the coordinate. City dots are drawn at the coordinate, with the name placed Upper Left (UL), Lower Right (LR), etc. Please refer to an existing map to see the format. Also, please be aware that my technique does not produce accurately scaled maps when you have a large change in latitude. A conic projection would work best, but I do not have the ability to use them in SimPlot for now. So, maps that stretch horizontally, rather than vertically, work best. I am contemplating a map making utility app for SimPlot. It seems doable, but I also have to work on improving turn files and a true turn replay capability. Please let me know if I can be of further help.

I forgot to mention how Range Arcs work. I will explain it here until I get around to updating the documentation. Most of it is intuitive, but the Start and Angle features need explaining. For now, the arcs are limited to a graphic that will follow the unit's heading. The Start value will be a whole number representing the starting angle of the arc, expressed in degrees of a compass with the unit's heading being 0 (or 360) deg. The Angle value will be a whole number representing the number of degrees clockwise the arc should go. Example 1: For an aircraft with a 60 deg-wide radar arc (centered on the nose), the Start value would be 330 deg (360 - (60/2)). The Angle value would be 60. Set Range to the detection range in Nautical Miles. Example 2: For weapons on a ship that launch in the Port (P) and Starboard (S) arcs, you would create two arcs with Start and Angle values like these: 30, 120 for Starboard and 210, 120 for Port. The arcs will rotate on screen as the ship changes course, keeping the arcs relative to the ship's new heading.

As a test, I downloaded the SimPlot app to my Win7 64-bit laptop. I ran the program first, which created the Scenarios and Maps folders. Then I downloaded the Quickstart scenarios and maps, placing them in their respective folders. SimPlot continued to run in the background while I did this (it's not necessary, but I wanted to see if it would work). I was able to load the scenarios, even those with maps. All seems to work well.

For a fresh SimPlot install, two of the required directories may not be present (Maps and Scenarios). I may have accidentally left those out of the recent build. Please create those folders in the same folder as the .exe, then drop all the scenario folders (each one represents a single game) into the Scenarios folder. Drop the maps into the Maps folder (.png and .txt--no separate folder for them). New scenarios will not have their own folder until you save it. Please create a new folder for each game under the Scenarios folder when you save for the first time. When specifying a map for a new scenario, the program is looking for the .txt file, which has all the data the program needs to render the .png correctly. EDIT: As an alternative, the program should create the folders the first time it is run. So, you could run it, then transfer the scenarios and maps into their respective folders.

I just completed the new signing and notarizing steps that Apple demands for all new software. I was able to download the file from HarpGamer, but I could not run the installer. However, you can instead right-click the downloaded .dmg file and select "Open". This will open the .app file as a mounted drive. You can then move the .app file over to the Applications folder (I recommend creating a "SimPlot 2" sub-folder first). Also, you need to create Scenarios and Maps folders in the same folder as the .app (I forgot to add it to the .dmg) If anyone made this work, or even if you didn't, please post here or send me a message. Kevin

I uploaded version 0.9.0. All scenario files will now save in JSON format. Multiplayer files will save in separate folders automatically when the scenario is saved. You can now reload past turns without exiting and reloading the entire scenario. CWS icons are available for some air and surface units. Added Range Arcs to the unit windows. Added a button bar to the bottom of the window for controlling graphical overlays. Scenario files created with previous versions of SimPlot 2 will not work with v0.9.0. All the scenarios in the download section have been updated to the new JSON scenario file standard. NOTE: I am having trouble with the MacOS version. I signed the dmg file with my Apple Developer ID but the file will still not load onto my Mac. I will keep working on this problem. EDIT: I just realized the must-have Scenarios and Maps folders were left out of the builds. Please create these in the same folder as the application (Mac and Win).

It has been a while since I worked on an update due to life and diversions, but I have a new inspiration so a new update will be out in a few weeks at most. The big inspiration moving this forward is Larry Bond's acceptance of my offer to use SimPlot to referee a scenario at the Origins Game Fair in June. Each of the sides (USSR and NATO) will have a paper planning map made from my new SimPlot GIUK map (not yet uploaded to Harpgamer). Larry and I will then take orders from the players and run the turns in SimPlot. Players will update their paper maps accordingly and make decisions. This is a "hybrid" game idea, which blends a computer with a live convention setting. Even miniatures will be used to depict aircraft and ship formations. The scenario will be Dance of the Vampires (Abridged) just like at Cold Wars. The scenario is slightly different this time, but the objective is the same--to test new air defense rules. Some of the changes coming to SimPlot include: Using JSON files for saving turn data. I tried XML but the files grew too much in size due to data tags. Adding exception capturing in many places to prevent the program from crashing when something doesn't go right. Now a message box will pop up instead of closing the program. More CWS symbols will be added. Chris Carlson and I talked about using professional symbols at Cold Wars. Range Arcs will be added to compliment Range Circles. They can be used to show the arcs and distances of weapon mounts, directors, radar cones, or threat sectors. A button bar at the bottom of the map will allow players to turn on/off map display options instead constantly hitting F9. MacOS versions will be uploaded in a signed .dmg format. Kevin

I think Coventry had an aft Radar 909 that could control just Sea Dart. The forward Radar 909 could control either the gun or Sea Dart. So, just two Radar 909s.

No timeline yet, and the rules are still "close hold" at this point.

At the last minute I was able to get time off from work and drive down to Lancaster, PA for the Cold Wars 2019 convention. There I met Larry Bond, Chris Carlson, Mike Harris, et al. I played Dawn of the Battleship with them on Friday, and Dance of the Vampires (abridged) on Saturday. Saturday they also gave a presentation on the Chinese navy and a closer look at the proposed air defense rule changes for H4.2. Larry and Chris said they would do a writeup on the DotV game, but I don't know in what publication/web page that will appear. When I find out I will let you guys know. I can tell you that the new rules will greatly reduce the complexity of a mass missile raid without sacrificing a realistic outcome. BTW, the Soviets dished out tons of damage to the NATO task force while only taking minimal losses. Sound familiar?

Merry Christmas to all! It started snowing last night, so I will get a White Christmas after all. 😄

I uploaded version 0.7.0. Fixed the issue with the colors.xml file. The existing file needs to be deleted. The app will create a new one the next time it is started. Fixed the problem of some unit perceptions not saving correctly. Fixed a problem with sonar bearings not saving in a multiplayer file. Added a Sonobuoy unit type to the app. You can select what type of buoy it is. The NDTS symbol set will show active or passive symbols. Added additional turn times to the Turn Time drop down menu. You now have 30 second, 1 minute, and 10 minute turn times. This will help players to "catch up" to the longer H4 turns after using Engagement Turns. Units that reach their Nav Target will now continue to "burn up" range even though the unit appears to not move. For example, if you send an aircraft to a holding point, it will not move away from it but will still consume range per its speed. You can increase the unit duration by reducing its speed when it reaches the hold point. Regardless, range is used up at a rate of 1 NM per 1 NM traveled (the throttle and altitude modifiers in H4 are not implemented). You can now use decimal numbers with range circles. The app will display circles with one decimal place precision. Kevin

I just discovered a problem with the colors.xml file routine. The program is not correctly reloading the colors. For now, just delete the colors.xml file every time before starting SimPlot2. EDIT: I also discovered some problems with the multiplayer turn files not saving the correct perception information. This could cause a program crash when trying to load them.