donaldseadog

I might be border line cheating but on the basis that aircraft ordinacne is limitless I try to kill every thing I can with planes and keep ship fired weapons for last ditch efforts. (In my first attempt at breakoutUK I found (too late) that my AAW boats were out of SAMs. It got pretty grissly soon after.) I don't know how many long range AGMs I fired off but I'll be stuffed if someone plugs the bottomless pit that is the current magazine. I figure that in this case a little stretching of fair play is OK? Don

I had a similar experience with 'BreakoutUK'. The DF-21 anti-ship ballistic missile is one nasty piece of kit. I have edited both of these, gently, to buy you some time in the beginning.I still have the original versions if you like. Does any one know if there is a half speed time compression setting, I get tired of going from "0" to "1". Also I'm thinking the ctrl alt S setting could be called "satellite view" instead of cheat mode, it would sure be handy. As a matter of interest (and possible envy) has anyone got out? I've got about 30 hours game time to run (if I remember right) and I'm only about 50 miles from where I started, I've lost two ships, a few planes and copters and claimed a base, a few SAMs and SSMs, over a hundred planes and about ten ships and three subs, BUT they still keep coming. Do they ever stop? Don (with pegs keeping eye lids open) Thomas

Just a quicky to thank you guys that put all the information into this site. Things like Brad's tutorials and things like the help files. So many places just can't be bothered to do a decent job with the "boring stuff". I actually went to the help files and found what I was after (and a lot more). Don Thomas

File Name: OK_Coral (HCWW BS) File Submitter: donaldseadog File Submitted: 24 Oct 2009 File Updated: 5 Feb 2011 File Category: WestPac DB Used: HCWW_090925 Authors: don thomas Battleset-WPac: .scq - WPac - WestPac The gun fight at OK coral atoll. (Its in the west (west pacific), but no Wild Bill Hickock). A small scenario for anyone that is hesitant in diving into the world of WWII naval gunnery. Being small it gives an idea of what is happenning and how you might manage your assets. Uses Brad's HCWW 90925 (or better) database. Don Click here to download this file

File Name: 65 Spy File Submitter: donaldseadog File Submitted: 24 Oct 2009 File Updated: 2 Mar 2010 File Category: Caribbean Basin DB Used: HC_65to80_DB_091010 Authors: scen author Don Thomas Battleset-Carribean Basin: .scs - CDB - CDB This uses database HC_65to80_DB_091010 (by "divefreak"), find it in the database downloads (and don't forget to pick up the matching commondb.rsr file in the database section [picture file for HC_XXtoXX_db] for the pretty pics) A rather slow llittle scenario in which subs and EW planes sneak past Cuba to spy on who's doing what, and try not to get clobbered. Meanwhile Cuba sits like a spider and pounces out if you get too close (and are detected). Just had to do something with this growing database. New file added 2 march 2010 to correct time limit and victory conditions (Thanks for feedback) Don Click here to download this file

That sounds fine to me. By the way, has anyone seen planes with air to air cannon exhibit the same desire for blood at all cost? Perhaps (I had this thought while talking to my goats) there can be some sort of setting introduced that the scenario author can make when writting the scenario, perhaps when setting up a group to launch (could also be available for player) Could be maybe a strafing capable toggle or a defensive/aggressive balance value (I'd like that). Maybe tie in with the warning re entering AAW range (AI just scarpers if not close to fire point)?? Don (jumping and happy I can still strafe flak in my beaufighter)!! AND that means Brad gets all the work and Tony can put his feet up (Sounds sus to me Brad, did they gang up on you?)

If I were behind the gun I guess I'd take a stab at calculating what effect my pea shooter will have on the target in question, what value will the enemy place on the target's loss/damage and what's the chance it will shoot me. If it 'looks good' I'd go in and shoot, otherwise I'd scarper. Is that logical and is it simple enough for the AI. Brads suggestion that AI doesn't go hunting with weapons of less than a critical DP would be a good start if the code can't handle anything better, but if we want realistic scenarios where some important targets are soft and we don't waste limited and expensive ordinance on them then I'd like to see AI have a go at them. There are some neat scenarios with lots of land units (Phillipine Crunch in westpac is one I think) that I played late last night and got a whole new result - flanker fighter took out one of my tanks or APCs. Brad's HCWW database (well scenarios written to it) is quite different being able to use escorts to take out flak and slow, if not sink, torpedo boats etc. Also I've seen harriers with antiradar loadouts come in low and fast (as they should) my SAMs trying to knock of the sidearms are unable to reload fast enough to hit the plane which then inflicts damage with cannon, in some cases finishing off the minimal damage done by the sidearms. I just think its well worth persuing, especially as it will take Tony's mind of beautiful, rich and smart women. Having said that I'm not sure there isn't another problem which seems to crop up sometimes with other short range ground attack wepons and that is the attacking plane going backwards and forwards seemingly not able to get close enough for a shot. Has any one come across that and knows what's happening? Don.

Hehe, thanks for the kind words guys. As you recognized, I don't, couldn't, and wouldn't do it alone. Now if someone would just provide me a smart, rich, attractive (real) woman to marry we could really build a nifty wargame. ............ So if we get you a smart attractive rich woman,....... I don't think you'll be spending more time on this harpoon game, my friend!!! Don.

Probably because that generation of computers was more reliable! The most reliable system is still the Eyeball Mk I. Funny as it sounds, an old Bofors 40mm with visual guidance is not going to fail you on air defense, even if the computer and radar completely fail. So in some ways, older ships are more dependable, if less survivable. Yep, if you're going to go down, you may as well have something to do while you wait. In the same way it's nice to have some (unreliable?) radars, computers, SAMs, rotary canons etc to have something to watch as well. As to the reason for keeping old computers for fire control and the like, probably a pretty easy job for a computer and the old ones do it fine. I think original fire control computation was done by mechanical computers a bit like large adding machines (a small room full of gears and shafts), I think it was one of these units I saw shoot down a towed target with a 4.5" gun back in the early 70's. Don

I'd say concise, not simplified. That is I guess what I was trying to get to. I perceive that AI seems to do this better than your own side (with out micromanagement), but not sure. Where it does act with caution it does seem to linger (until bingo) when perhaps it should retreat home. Also does any of this pertain to naval vessels, eg surface craft in range of SSMs/artillary, subs in range mortar/ torpedo. Also how much of the info is really available (in reality)? You might identify a ship by electronic or visual methods, and therefore know what it should have, but it might be out of suitable ammo. (EEk, where does it end?) Don Don

I'd like to lobby hard for something to solve this problem... because it's gotten to the point for me that I lose nearly as many aircraft to unreported fuel exhaustion as I do to any "legitimate" causes. I know what you mean I cat my vote with you. Seems to be a few conditions that can cause problems, if I'm in doubt instead of just ordering return to base I set a course to a point next to the base then insert the land command in the course. A bit fiddly but I have to make a lot less cap in hand visits to next of kin. Don Does that actually make the BINGO message come up when it's appropriate? I was thinking that I tried to do that awhile back, but it appeared that any course which included a return-to-base leg would cause the BINGO report not to come up (and the planes would crash), regardless of whether there were course legs other than the return-to-base, or if that was the only leg. I know for sure that the warning doesn't occur if the return-to-base is the only leg, and I'm pretty sure that it also does not appear if a multi-leg course includes a return-to-base leg... so I just assumed that the presence of any return-to-base command in the path would suppress the warning. (?) I'll have another look but I think it works, got to have return to base right at the end. I haven't exhaustingly tested it though. Would still be nice if as you suggest the warning came up at bingo no matter what. Don ..... Here's an autosave showing what I mean, the hornet is coming home on military and will run dry before home but calls in reporting at bingo and requesting ordered home, reply yes and she goes onto cruise and glides in. Don autosave.zip

I've been away and now I'm crying, snip (Don goes away and plays scenario while sobbing).... OK , I've run the scenario, the AI planes come in , launch missiles then close to attack with cannon. Not a good Idea but is this a problem of air 2 ground guns or a problem re any mix of long and short range ground weapons? Surely the same thing would happen if you had antiradar loadouts that included guided bombs, (I haven't tested I'm guessing)? This is a land target that AI will only attack if scenario writer instructed an attacks, is that correct, how will it go if the target is a surface ship group? (I'll test). The AI can be pretty dumb, is this just another example? As some one greater than I said, "I'll be back" Don. Here's my test, now I'm not saying Brad doesn't have a valid point, he does cause the planes act like kamikazies, but I don't think it's cut and dried. Test is similar to Brad's, play red and use "show all" to launch blue planes. Try the antiradar loadouts and attack or patrol right over the red surface ship group, watch. If you turn on your radar you get HARMed (he,he) leave it off till you see the whites of their eyes and SAMem. In the end you'll be hammered 'cause the carrier will rearm with standoff ASUW and blitz you. You might see the situation where the planes are loitering about seemingly wanting to come in and gun you, but apparently worried about your SAM and just turning back, is AI that smart? If it is then AI needs to know when its in stalemate and go home. If blue planes are sent in one at a time red has a fair chance of getting a few, but if the initial attack is four planes its hard not to get done straight off although you should shoot down something. I'm interested in what everyone thinks Don. attktst2.zip

I'd like to lobby hard for something to solve this problem... because it's gotten to the point for me that I lose nearly as many aircraft to unreported fuel exhaustion as I do to any "legitimate" causes. I know what you mean I cat my vote with you. Seems to be a few conditions that can cause problems, if I'm in doubt instead of just ordering return to base I set a course to a point next to the base then insert the land command in the course. A bit fiddly but I have to make a lot less cap in hand visits to next of kin. Don

I've been away and now I'm crying, I was having so much fun taking out flack with zero fighters. I hadn't had time to look much at modern databases (just one scenario which seemed to go OK) It seemed not only was air 2 ground guns working but with multiple targets (eg a number of flack units) planes were going from one target straight to the next without sitting like mullets in the middle asking what to do next. It seems generally worth persuing if can overcome this hurdle. Don. (Don goes away and plays scenario while sobbing).... OK , I've run the scenario, the AI planes come in , launch missiles then close to attack with cannon. Not a good Idea but is this a problem of air 2 ground guns or a problem re any mix of long and short range ground weapons? Surely the same thing would happen if you had antiradar loadouts that included guided bombs, (I haven't tested I'm guessing)? This is a land target that AI will only attack if scenario writer instructed an attacks, is that correct, how will it go if the target is a surface ship group? (I'll test). The AI can be pretty dumb, is this just another example? As some one greater than I said, "I'll be back" Don.

An interesting situation because in the extreme cases different countries have such differences in maintenance and operator skills that the same platforms are totally different in ability. Perhaps sometimes duplicates (with appropriate ATA/DATA and PH values) would be worth while. Don Thomas

(I'll restart my numbering I think), 1. When the assistant comes up to advise a new contact, I'd like to see the new contact on the unit and group windows (behind the assistant window) before dismissing the assistant. 2. I'd like to be able to set a group to "shadow" an enemy group. 3. In scenario editor, when editing a group I'd like to see the % prob. of the units. Also when editing group events (eg launch aircraft) I'd like to see the details for repeat launches. 4. When instigating an air intercept from the new contact window I'd like to be able to somewhere override the current speed of each group chosen for intercept. I'd also like to be able to both come back to 1:1 time compression and fill in the intercept option. Don (never satisfied) Thomas 5. When assistant advises a new contact, have the option of selecting your group that made the contact. 6. Air intercepts, be able to select for intercept a group (or unit) that already has an assigned target. They are sometimes to close for comfort to the new contact and I'd like to either/both fire something at them or get out quick. 7. When intercepting (generally from the new contact advice window) and selecting a unit form a multi unit group, I'd like the option of splitting the unit from the group - eg fighters escorting bombers. 8. anything that reduces any type of micro management- I love this game for it's stategy realism, it makes me the Admiral (yehhh!!!) Running an air to air attack or short range bombing run, navigating ships through narrow straights etc can be left to some lowly dog captain, I want the big stuff. (hope I didn't step on any captain's toes, I haven't done that for 30 years but I still remember they yelp pretty loud). Don. (is very picky) 9. Separate zoom buttons for group and unit windows. (maybe shift Z and shift X for unit window) I get tired of tabbing from one to the other to change zoom setting. 10. In staff options (or somewhere) toggle the bingo warning from on to auto return to base. (maybe for each group in perhaps course editor). 11. When a new contact is reported an option to select your detecting group and option to come to real time if intercept option is taken. 13. Planes ask to return to base or (better) course editor after completing attack (instead of loiter) 14. ship's officer of watch pencil in location of stationary items like mines (when they are detected) so that you don't blunder into them just because you lost contact. Even if they go yellow in a small trapazoid that would be OK. 15. (maybe) A real time limit switch so that I get to bed tonight instead of tomorrow morning Don.

File Name: Bases Loaded (HCWW BS) File Submitter: donaldseadog File Submitted: 24 Sep 2009 File Updated: 5 Feb 2011 File Category: WestPac DB Used: HCWW 090917 Authors: don thomas Battleset-WPac: .scq - WPac - WestPac Another WWII type scenario. Requires minimum HCWW 090917. Various bases and surface groups for both sides attempting to reinforce/ destroy new bases. Click here to download this file

File Name: backup File Submitter: donaldseadog File Submitted: 1 Sep 2009 File Category: WestPac DB Used: HCWW-090825 Authors: don thomas Battleset-WPac: .scq - WPac - WestPac Using database HCWW-090825 (or more recent) this is off the north east coast of Australia and edging into the Pacific giving another chance to play with the new database of WWs ships etc dodging around the islands. Don Thomas Click here to download this file

I've posted in issue tracker (#128) a test which indicates inability to shoot with aircraft cannon an air target that is in formation patrol about a surface group or land base. Don thomas

Sorry I can't help but I like the idea of a small specific database for a scenario (especially something a little out of ordinary). Would be nice if we could copy between databases (without needing other programs and knowhow of using them) Hope someone comes up with the answer. Don Thomas

Fixed for 2009.040, don't bother with the Issue Tracker this time. Gee, go away for a week and every one else gests all the fun Don,