So the general idea as I understand it, is the America's database will allow the ships and the air assets to be fully described for the North, South- and Central American countries. And some of the other 'interested parties' such as UK, Russia, probably China. Is that correct?

 

Is there a way to write a scenario for the new battleset maps like Caribbean, and use the HCDA database, and keep the database and the scenario associated. Or will anybody that wants to run the scenario going to have to swap in the database files like what was described on the HCDA thread? To make people do the manual file swap, it can be done but not very convenient.

 

I have not yet downloaded the HCDA and opened it up yet. Wishlist items for the DB. Some generic ro-ro ferries, like what they have for Englich Channel or State of Washington or in the Baltic. For use as short-range troop or supply transports by countries not having purpose-built transports. Maybe a medium and a large version. Generic or Int'l versions of troop-carrying helicopters that any country could acquire. This one is probably already covered if it has entries like the HCDB. Coast-guard cutter assets, at least the larger ones. Do some of the cutters have helos on board?

Is there any resources that would list assets for Air Guard wings for the various states? interested in the sourthern states adjacent to Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean. Potential scenarios might include that US strategic assets are tied up in the Middle East, Asia or Europe. (kind of like now) and a local leader with some money and ego tries to make a move in the Carib and now the US has to respond with what's available. Or an invasion of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) and the Dutch and the U.K. have to respond (kind of a Falklands North). Just some ideas at this point.

So the general idea as I understand it, is the America's database will allow the ships and the air assets to be fully described for the North, South- and Central American countries. And some of the other 'interested parties' such as UK, Russia, probably China. Is that correct?

 

Yes.

 

Is there a way to write a scenario for the new battleset maps like Caribbean, and use the HCDA database, and keep the database and the scenario associated. Or will anybody that wants to run the scenario going to have to swap in the database files like what was described on the HCDA thread? To make people do the manual file swap, it can be done but not very convenient.

 

No other way right now. It isn't difficult to swap databases if you're not looking to edit them. Just unzip the needed DB file into your HCE main directory, which replaces the 'commondb.res' file, and away you go.

 

I have not yet downloaded the HCDA and opened it up yet. Wishlist items for the DB. Some generic ro-ro ferries, like what they have for Englich Channel or State of Washington or in the Baltic. For use as short-range troop or supply transports by countries not having purpose-built transports. Maybe a medium and a large version. Generic or Int'l versions of troop-carrying helicopters that any country could acquire. This one is probably already covered if it has entries like the HCDB. Coast-guard cutter assets, at least the larger ones. Do some of the cutters have helos on board?

 

I'd suggest taking a look at the HCDA firstly.

 

Is there any resources that would list assets for Air Guard wings for the various states? interested in the sourthern states adjacent to Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean.

 

I'd recommend looking at Scramble.

 

Potential scenarios might include that US strategic assets are tied up in the Middle East, Asia or Europe. (kind of like now) and a local leader with some money and ego tries to make a move in the Carib and now the US has to respond with what's available. Or an invasion of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) and the Dutch and the U.K. have to respond (kind of a Falklands North). Just some ideas at this point.

 

Yes, lotsa potential scenario fodder.

OK, I've unzipped the Carib battleset and downloaded the HCDA. I set up the folders as sugested for the different DBs. Have just 2 at this point HCDB and HCDA.

Opened it up in the Scen. Editor and the map looks good. Trying to set up a little scenario to get a feel for it. Umm, not many airbases in the Carib that I can find. Only one in Venezuala, which was one of the players I was trying for. The ports are few too.

On my wish list is that the SE had a few more features. One being to show where all the installations are on the map. If i don't know where many of the 100 or so USA airbases are then it's a one at a time game to select one and see where it shows up. gottta be a better way. Also I picked a couple of the generic bases and they are apparently off the map and do not show at all.

Seems to be the best way to put a airbase or a port that is not on the map is to pick one that is and then move it. It might be hard to explain why I have a Mexican port in Puerto Rico, but whatever.

I will learn but is there something I'm missing? Like how to put a generic base where I want it? Is there a way to rename or am I stuck with the names that they have?

Seems to be the best way to put a airbase or a port that is not on the map is to pick one that is and then move it. It might be hard to explain why I have a Mexican port in Puerto Rico, but whatever.

I will learn but is there something I'm missing? Like how to put a generic base where I want it? Is there a way to rename or am I stuck with the names that they have?

 

It sounds like you got it right in terms of procedure. Add a base, then move it where you want it. There is not currently a way to rename a base (though you might scream if you knew how little stands in the way of that happening!). Using the spacebar to scroll through the groups in your scenario can help you find accidental off-map placements (or more appropriately generics that you didn't move as soon as you added them.

Pat, you can move the location of any Installation in the same manner as you would with any other Group.

 

Just go to Groups/Change Group Position.

I guess that explains why the base I put in Louisiana for a scenario in my Caribbean BS keeps listing it's location as Baghdad.

 

Buddha

The replies are adding to my understanding on this. Yes, scrolling thru the groups on the SE, using the spacebar or the backspace, does help locate the stray bases. Thanks Tony. As I've looked thru the list of bases a few times, I now see more that are in Caribbean or in Central America. The list has a lot of 'donotuse' entries. Suspect these are to maintain compatibility with other battlesets or DBs? And represent bases in off-the-map locations? It would be nice it there's a way to sort these down or omit from list. Or highlight a square in the group window and see what installations are in that area.

I see where the list has almost all airbases and ports twice. Once for Red and once for Blue. Then sometimes again for Neutral. This is probably a legacy of how the setup was originally designed, but it might make more sense to list all the locations once then determine which side it will be when adding to scenario. Just a thought on this.

The replies are adding to my understanding on this. Yes, scrolling thru the groups on the SE, using the spacebar or the backspace, does help locate the stray bases. Thanks Tony. As I've looked thru the list of bases a few times, I now see more that are in Caribbean or in Central America. The list has a lot of 'donotuse' entries. Suspect these are to maintain compatibility with other battlesets or DBs? And represent bases in off-the-map locations? It would be nice it there's a way to sort these down or omit from list. Or highlight a square in the group window and see what installations are in that area.

 

The HCDA is a follow-on adaptation of the official database, the HCDB. Many of the installations that appear in the HCDB (for example, Chinese bases) aren't needed for the HCDA. They are thus converted to 'donotuse' status until I can find a replacement for them in the HCDA. I've added the 'zdonotuse' nomenclature in the latest HCDA version, which does help to sort these entries.

 

I see where the list has almost all airbases and ports twice. Once for Red and once for Blue. Then sometimes again for Neutral. This is probably a legacy of how the setup was originally designed, but it might make more sense to list all the locations once then determine which side it will be when adding to scenario. Just a thought on this.

 

It absolutely is a legacy problem with the HCDB. It used to be that you had to add 'Red' and 'Blue' versions of each installation in the hard wired fashion. We eventually cracked that problem, and now you need only add one version when creating an Installation. The SE will let you add it as Red or Blue. However, as the HCDB caters to legacy scenarios, it must keep both versions of each Installation.