Trying to edit EC2000 Norwegian scenario 8.0 (Blockers) to add the TU-22MP Backfire D to give the reds a fighting chance. Saw a suggestion to save a newer edited scenario with an older scenario's suffix, but got an annex error when I tried to open it in the older scenario. Is the old data just imcompatible with the newer scenario databases? Am I even asking this question right?

Welcome, toorabid. Most all questions are good ones, this one included. The older battlesets (EC2000 and previous) are incompatible with the new player editable database. Therefore, afaik, one cannot create the Tu-22MP Backfire D and backwards import it into an EC2000 scenario. My best suggestion would be to create a whole new scenario (perhaps based on "Blockers" if that is what you want to do) in an EC2003 battleset.

I suspected as much. I guess if I really want to give the reds an offensive fighter punch I can just give them a squadron or two of F-14s. Thanks for your reply. It seems like I've been playing this game for a decade now, and it's still one of my favorites, thanks largely to all the great scenario writers who contribute to the community.

 

Too...

It's always nice to see someone delving into the mysteries of scenario design!

 

Brad's idea, if you decide to pursue it, sounds excellent. It'll give you an opportunity to see how the old scens were created and the Scen Editor works. I've done some of it in the past. I just run two versions of Harpoon Classic side-by-side. One with the older battleset and one with the EC2003/HCDB data. I then copy all the elements from the old scenario into the new EC2003 data.

 

Good luck to you and I look forward to trying your new scens.

Trying to edit EC2000 Norwegian scenario 8.0 (Blockers) to add the TU-22MP Backfire D to give the reds a fighting chance.  Saw a suggestion to save a newer edited scenario with an older scenario's suffix, but got an annex error when I tried to open it in the older scenario.  Is the old data just imcompatible with the newer scenario databases?  Am I even asking this question right?

Hello Toorabid, and welcome to the HarpGamer forums.

 

A point of information for you and others who enjoy the Classic branch of the Harpoon tree...

 

EC2003 is a direct port of EC2000, meaning that "Blockers" exists in both, the difference being that the EC2003 version has the user-editable database (Brad's most recent HCDB rev is the way to go ). So if you load the EC2003 version of "Blockers" in the Scenario Editor, you should have no problem adding the Backfires or any other platform (s) you desire. Also, if you want to do the same with any of EC2000's many excellent User Authored scenarios, there is a Scenario Converter utility that will turn any EC2000 scen into an EC2003 scen.

 

One caveat: Upon conversion, the scenarios often play "differently" than the original EC2000 version, primarily because platform loadouts and capabilities are now more accurately represented in the HCDB. Consequently, I'd recommend playing "Blinders - EC2003" first, to see what, if any differences you find, then experiment with any enhancements you want to make via the Scenario Editor. Good luck, and I hope this helps you.