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Best way to get into the series?

 
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Best way to get into the series? - 4/12/2020 3:44:32 PM   
Freigeist83


Posts: 33
Joined: 4/28/2019
Status: offline 		Hey guys,

I am new to the TOAW series and wonder what's the best way to learn it.

Could you recommend any tutorials, guides or video series?

Are there any scenarios that you would recommend to get started?

I am personally most interested in modern settings (Vietnam, Falklands, Middle East, Angola) and have to admit that I am a bit sceptical to model
300 years of armed conflicts with the same set of rules. Would like to hear your take on the conflicts and time spans that work particularly well with this system or maybe should be avoided.

Thanks for your feedback and advice.

Happy Easter!

Edit:

Is there a printer-friendly version of the manual?

Does anyone know if there are cheat sheets available for the unit icon displays / nato counters / player aids?


< Message edited by Freigeist83 -- 4/12/2020 10:03:25 PM >
Post #: 1
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/12/2020 4:41:22 PM   
OldWeirdSteve

 

Posts: 1
Joined: 11/20/2017
Status: offline 		This topic is interesting to me also. So I will be monitoring this thread.

(in reply to Freigeist83)
Post #: 2
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/12/2020 5:22:57 PM   
Lobster


Posts: 5104
Joined: 8/8/2013
From: Third rock from the Sun.
Status: offline 		Some of these are for TOAWIII but they still apply to TOAWIV.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=toaw+tutorials

_____________________________

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A: A stick.

(in reply to Freigeist83)
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RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/12/2020 6:42:43 PM   
cathar1244

 

Posts: 1003
Joined: 9/5/2009
Status: offline
quote:

Would like to hear your take on the conflicts and time spans that work particularly well with this system


Best fit is probably scenarios with units as battalions, regiments/brigades, and divisions. My sense is that the system works optimally for the time period 1930s through 1960s, but there are a lot of tools for scenario designers to use to account for variables. Time spans -- maybe half day turns through week-long turns.

Others may have differing views.

Cheers

(in reply to Freigeist83)
Post #: 4
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/12/2020 11:12:23 PM   
TheeWarLord


Posts: 94
Joined: 11/17/2017
Status: offline 		Greetings, I would recommend shorter games at first, predominately land based games. Familiarize yourself with the land and air play with proficiency levels of 70% and up. Pay attention to your battle rounds using the combat panel and work on squeezing out as many battle rounds as possible. Set your tolerance levels, usually minimize losses is one combat round, limit losses is two, and ignore losses is at least three. Remember density levels, avoid red, and supply/readiness levels of your units are important. Good luck!

(in reply to Freigeist83)
Post #: 5
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 4:36:25 AM   
sPzAbt653


Posts: 9511
Joined: 5/3/2007
From: east coast, usa
Status: offline 		NATO Symbol Chart, had to zip it so hopefully you know how to unzip.

Attachment (1)

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Post #: 6
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 4:37:49 AM   
sPzAbt653


Posts: 9511
Joined: 5/3/2007
From: east coast, usa
Status: offline 		Player Manual Text Version:

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Freigeist83)
Post #: 7
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 1:57:51 PM   
Freigeist83


Posts: 33
Joined: 4/28/2019
Status: offline 		Thanks for the files.

I jumped in and started to play around with the Kasserine forty-three scenario.

Not sure if that is a good starting point, but counter density is low with forty-four Battalions on the German side in twelve turns,
there is a lot of movement in the battle and you need to take care not to stretch your supply lines.

Are there any decent map mods that you can recomment to improve the visuals?

Happy with the counter design, but the map style does not convince me...



< Message edited by Freigeist83 -- 4/13/2020 1:58:27 PM >

(in reply to sPzAbt653)
Post #: 8
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 2:23:49 PM   
sPzAbt653


Posts: 9511
Joined: 5/3/2007
From: east coast, usa
Status: offline 		I use these as a base/starting point:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4378126

(in reply to Freigeist83)
Post #: 9
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 2:50:26 PM   
Freigeist83


Posts: 33
Joined: 4/28/2019
Status: offline 		Are there some screenshots available how this would look like?

(in reply to sPzAbt653)
Post #: 10
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 2:58:43 PM   
Shadrach


Posts: 727
Joined: 10/16/2001
From: Oslo, Norway
Status: offline 		There's two big map mods I know of, both are really well done, and are more geared toward a classic board game look:

Cabido's "Board game style mod":
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4523087
Includes a matching UI mod. Unfortunately the site used for the download is dead but there's an archive and a still working Gdrive folder:
https://web.archive.org/web/20190514032153/http://toawstuff.000webhostapp.com/
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1lbpdh7w6S3BaAO-9ZV9b3SRa-KYdM7vb

Telumar's "Best of both Worlds":
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4757572
Includes a really nice blue UI.

I also recommend the Blue Water Mod as the default light blue rivers are sometimes hard to make out from the background:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4393088

Other than that, just browse the Mods forum and try some out
Top tip: When trying different mods, you can use Ctrl+R to reload graphics, and save a lot of time instead of restarting the game.

< Message edited by Shadrach -- 4/13/2020 3:00:57 PM >

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Post #: 11
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 3:53:15 PM   
Freigeist83


Posts: 33
Joined: 4/28/2019
Status: offline 		Are there instructions somewhere how to correctly install Telumar's BobW mod?

I am using the Steam version of TOAW.

(in reply to Shadrach)
Post #: 12
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 4:08:35 PM   
Shadrach


Posts: 727
Joined: 10/16/2001
From: Oslo, Norway
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Freigeist83
Are there instructions somewhere how to correctly install Telumar's BobW mod?


You pop the files from the Map folder inside the zip into your "Documents\My Games\The Operational Art of War IV\Graphics Override" folder

If you want the UI you do the same with the "Blue GUI" files.

Then follow the instructions in the mod post about the hills_overlay files.


< Message edited by Shadrach -- 4/13/2020 4:10:18 PM >

_____________________________

OUW (Order of the Upgrade Wars)



There are folks out there with way too much time on their hands.
- Norm Koger

(in reply to Freigeist83)
Post #: 13
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 4:49:12 PM   
Freigeist83


Posts: 33
Joined: 4/28/2019
Status: offline 		Thanks for the instructions. That looks much better...

Opart 4 Fonts goes into the same override folder?

The only thing that does not seem to work is the menu opacity and the movement arrow which is still display in red instead of gray.


< Message edited by Freigeist83 -- 4/13/2020 5:14:04 PM >

(in reply to Shadrach)
Post #: 14
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 5:42:11 PM   
Shadrach


Posts: 727
Joined: 10/16/2001
From: Oslo, Norway
Status: offline 		The fonts file go in the top folder under Documents, not Graphics Override. It will replace the default one. But fonts, especially sizes, are a personal preference so I would be careful replacing it. At least make a backup of the old one. The default fonts should work OK with the Blue GUI mod, but for Cabido's lighter UI you need dark fonts.

If you mean the drop down menus, they don't have opacity. UI opacity is controlled in the Player Options (Background opacity setting).

The Blue GUI mod contains the Movement_arrows files, I think these are dark+transparent. But I suspect the mod has left out the "large" size "Movement_arrows.png" file which would lead to the game falling back to the defaults. I recommend using the arrows from Cabido's mod, they look really great.

I've organised some of files from different mods for my own use in a Gdrive folder, you can get them separately here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wCkzDxfc2kaX0e3-mfIHrUUQWwqpeo2g


_____________________________

OUW (Order of the Upgrade Wars)



There are folks out there with way too much time on their hands.
- Norm Koger

(in reply to Freigeist83)
Post #: 15
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 6:01:27 PM   
Freigeist83


Posts: 33
Joined: 4/28/2019
Status: offline 		Thanks, Shadrach.

Just found the background opacity setting in the Player Options.

And you are right about the fonts; I can live with the default settings.

Overall, this looks much better. Can't post a link with screenshots yet as I do not seem to have the required forum permissions yet.

The only last thing that is annoying is the mouse cursor. Is there a way to use a simple, standard Windows mouse cursor instead of that "funny" hand?

Thanks for your help, everyone.

(in reply to Shadrach)
Post #: 16
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 6:11:38 PM   
Shadrach


Posts: 727
Joined: 10/16/2001
From: Oslo, Norway
Status: offline 		Try this one for cursors
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4794110&mpage=1&key=�

You can of course use one you like from c:\Windows\Cursors. You name them appropriately and place under "Graphics Override\Cursors"


_____________________________

OUW (Order of the Upgrade Wars)



There are folks out there with way too much time on their hands.
- Norm Koger

(in reply to Freigeist83)
Post #: 17
RE: Best way to get into the series? - 4/13/2020 6:31:48 PM   
Freigeist83


Posts: 33
Joined: 4/28/2019
Status: offline 		Perfect. Thanks, Shadrach.

(in reply to Shadrach)
Post #: 18
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