RE: Stimpak's New Maps (Full Version)

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Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (11/30/2015 5:39:20 PM)

Version 1.3:

-British ORBAT fixed up.
-VP balance equalized: Fallingbostel station begins in NATO hands, but the other two VPs in the north simply have NATO units sitting on them at start
-Training area squadron was moved into the open and some distance away from the VP: This gives the AI freedom to choose what to do, but ideally they'll meet your forces in a meeting engagement.
-DAG 2 moved onto the road by Belsen.
-Mixed obstacle/minefields removed entirely. Obstacles around Fallingbostel station are NATO only now.

--Considering switching the spawns of 2RTR and 1st Staffordshire

EDIT: Yikes. I've overestimated the AI's intelligence.

Version 1.4
-Just gave the other northwestern VPs to the AI. Halved their values.
-First Strikers ordered to hold.
-Sprinkled more IPs around the training field.



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/4/2015 1:51:46 AM)

Map #3 is done. Now I just have to go through with the tedious process of assigning values in the map editor.

[image]http://puu.sh/lICqV/ecda191691.png[/image]

Can't help but feel that something's off, or missing...
Quite a contrast from the heavily forested two maps done previously.

EDIT: I forgot to turn the forest layer on.
Derp.



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/4/2015 2:50:37 AM)

Overview from afar, thus far [;)]

[image]http://puu.sh/lIFcW/c00f786357.jpg[/image]

Any idea on where the fourth map should take place?



Tazak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/4/2015 7:06:41 AM)

Obvious location would be between 2 and 3rd maps, EG division put into reserve to resupply and reinforce when it finds itself in the path of a NATO counter attack

or a in the path of a UK rescue mission to escort Wolfgang and his bratwurst van from behind WP lines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96I4IHQpA98 (23mins into the video)




Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/4/2015 6:04:15 PM)

[image]http://puu.sh/lJiIP/20607f6689.jpg[/image]

For this third scenario, I'm going with a concept that I've always wanted to try: A scenario that starts in the middle of a battle that is already being fought.
The Battle of Bremen is turning into an Urban Hell as 12th Guards Tank Division, supported by 47th GTD, tries to finish off the US 3rd Bgde, 2nd Armor Div.
NATO is responding with a counter-attack: The West German 11th Panzergrenadier Division is moving towards the south to attempt an outflanking of the Soviet forces, where they'll strike into rear echelons, destroying logistical support along the way and hopefully cutting off Soviet fighters in Bremen from reinforcements.
However, first they must break through an intact bridge. The East Germans are all that stand in the way: While 9. Panzerdivision is still out, the elite FJB-40 has landed a full day before in Verden. Their original mission was to destroy NATO nuclear delivery means in the area, but now their only objective is holding down the bridges here until 5. Armee can relieve them.

Now, I would like to throw the entire 11th PzG Division against you, but it seems there's going to be a lack of full-scale divisional battles here: The only divisions standing in the way, 11th PzGD and the US 5th Infantry are each missing a brigade! The US' 256th Mech Brigade is still in the USA, and the West German's 33rd Panzer Brigade is trapped in what I refer to as the "Celle Pocket".

Unfortunately, it appears I can't "delay" core campaign units, but I can compensate for that. I still need to completely re-do my east German database and ORBAT, as I've discovered a much more accurate set than the Fire and Fury TOE. I'm also going to turn their training down to NATO levels, as their high performance is somewhat exaggerated in my mind.



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/5/2015 2:44:18 AM)

Map #3 and it's .FP9 are downloadable here: http://www.filedropper.com/ceg3redstorm
Still stuck on where #4 should be. This time, we've got a choice between British and Americans.

East German databse revamp is nearly done and I just need to change every instance of "RU" to "EG".



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/6/2015 3:59:13 AM)

Diepholz has an airbase of it's own and looks attractive. Might be set for a meeting engagement with American or British forces.

[image]http://puu.sh/lL1U9/1ddec37aad.jpg[/image]

Other candidates include Vechta:

[image]http://puu.sh/lL2iG/7737863f5d.jpg[/image]

And Bramsche, where the A1 crosses the Mitteland Canal (The strategic importance of which I'd like to be educated about)

[image]http://puu.sh/lL2lE/f116eb68ee.jpg[/image]

I like Tazaks idea, although it goes a bit against the narrative I'm working with for this campaign. I may do a one-off in the future for it [:D]



WildCatNL -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/6/2015 3:32:10 PM)

The Mittellandkanal was of similar strategic importance as the major rivers. The canal is between 42m and 55m wide, and at least 4m deep. Like the bridges across the major rivers, all bridges across the Mittellandkanal were prepared to be blown quickly (holes for explosives in the pillars).

Fliegerhorst Diepholz doesn't seem to have had aircraft stationed in the late 1980s. It was home to the Luftwaffenpioniere (Luftwaffenpionierlehrkompanie 2), the German air force engineers specialized in repairing and constructing run ways.
North of Vechta, near Ahlhorn is a more import air base which also had Nike air defence missiles and USAF A-10 Thunderbolts stationed.

William



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/6/2015 9:47:08 PM)

So that puts it between a meeting engagement with heavily supported Americans in or around Vechta (Ahlhorn is roughly 11 kilometers outside of the Army boundary), or an assault on the Mittellandkanal against the BAOR 12th Armoured - and there's already been a scenario against the British.

Thanks for the information, William.



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/8/2015 10:13:23 PM)

[image]http://puu.sh/lOt07/1b6d1dfa8c.jpg[/image]

The Goldenstedt and Drebbersches Moor provide an interesting possibility: A new kind of terrain type, bog, which restricts movement but leaves vehicles exposed. Pseudo-lakes that can be crossed, but generally you do not want to have your troops in.

[image]http://puu.sh/lOtgD/f1c66f3764.jpg[/image]

I'm leaning towards the American Meeting Engagement. Since Ahlhorn itself is outside of the army boundary, I'll have to find somewhere around Vechta.



harry_vdk -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/9/2015 6:43:01 AM)

That area is a real bad. And around Bremen there is a lot of it.

[image]local://upfiles/48993/23D0043CEA094C70AFE0051DDCDE42E5.jpg[/image]



harry_vdk -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/9/2015 6:57:27 AM)

But 80 years back in time its look like this.
http://kartenforum.slub-dresden.de/vkviewer/?welcomepage=off#

[image]local://upfiles/48993/60FF699BDC44416AA4E753695848CF6C.jpg[/image]



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/9/2015 8:05:02 AM)

Thanks, Harry.



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/10/2015 4:46:55 PM)

[image]http://puu.sh/lQxtN/767229ef90.jpg[/image]

Using the National Geographic map has revealed a waterway I did not previously see. It also highlights terrain and bog better than the simple topographic layer I was using.



WildCatNL -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/10/2015 6:35:29 PM)

Does the NG map also list the Fladderkanal (which runs from Vechta to the west)?

For Germany, http://www.falk.de/stadtplan is also pretty good (Falk is/was a big publisher of paper maps).
Enter "Vechta" in the left hand search box to zoom in on Vechta. Next, make sure to use their older paper map by choosing the bottom right option ('Kartenauswahl') in the 2x3 toolbar, then choose "Falk Originalkarte".

FalkPlan also offers you the options to see Google maps (which is the default) and various types of OpenStreetMap based maps.

The one thing I learned from studying and comparing these maps is that all of them contain errors. It makes sense to shop around and compare.

William



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/10/2015 6:50:00 PM)

I can see. There's several streams I missed in all of my earlier maps. However, a lot of them seem very minor, and I think to that end I'll leave out any stream that can easily be crossed by an unassisted tank.

You said earlier that your maps are generated from software - They use the .fp9 files for this, right? Could they then easily generate the maps I've done based on their elevation/vis/mob/road/etc. values?

The website I use for my references is here: https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?useExisting=1 and was provided to me by Tebeinteresno. You can click "basemap" in the upper left corner and change the layer to any of your choosing.



WildCatNL -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/10/2015 11:08:42 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Stimpak
You said earlier that your maps are generated from software - They use the .fp9 files for this, right? Could they then easily generate the maps I've done based on their elevation/vis/mob/road/etc. values?


My software uses .fp9, a text file with manual annotations, and also checks the .png (for roads crossing hex sides, rail roads, forests). It should be able to render a decent map based on your input, but without the labels, road types, and with more generic shapes of the towns and forests.
Something I'm thinking about is to change my software to also output terrain as individual layers, for example the hex landscape, forest layer, fields layer, towns layer. These layers should be useful to anyone with a decent paint program, allow them to create their own look and don't require special annotations. Harryvdk came up with this idea.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stimpak
The website I use for my references is here: https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?useExisting=1 and was provided to me by Tebeinteresno. You can click "basemap" in the upper left corner and change the layer to any of your choosing.

Nice. Similar to Falk Plan, but with different sources. Be aware that the topographic view leaves out many water ways; the OpenStreetMap view has more (but poor differentiation between easily crossed ditches and streams wide enough to require a bridge layer).
I end up checking pretty much every stream using satellite imagery. The width of a stream is easiest to estimate where they are being crossed by a road; the shape of the bridge or absence of a bridge is a good indication.

William



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/11/2015 1:46:01 AM)

I've added what I assume is the Fladderkanal, but it's been re-routed south of an assumed hill that was in the way.
Terrain layer is mostly finished, pending corrections.

[image]http://puu.sh/lR74d/c8fad9e8bc.jpg[/image]

And for those curious, yes those brown spots are "Bogs" - 30-50% cover, and only 20-30% mobility. Maybe I should make all of those "L1 pits" into Bogs. They're in contrast to the brown Training fields of previous maps, for all intents and purposes were treated as regular fields.



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/11/2015 4:28:28 AM)

[image]http://puu.sh/lRfiL/5024146da2.jpg[/image]

Road net is up. Vechta and Lohne are in and some of the forests are as well. Still need to put in more of those, then I can assign labels.



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/11/2015 10:13:21 PM)

The map is done and I am putting in the .fp9 values right now.

[image]http://puu.sh/lS63w/f01c185871.png[/image]

Compared to older maps, the elevation terrain is more complex. Also, you'll note a large amount of "hedges" and forest blocks scattered around the map. Who these help can go either way - an attacking WarPac player now may cover-to-cover instead of being forced to advance over open ground, and it allows NATO to take advantage of their optical advantages.

There's a few long hedge lines that cross hexes. I'm not sure whether to keep these as "mixed" terrain, or to turn them into "curtains" that obstruct visibility greatly, but don't hamper mobility.



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/12/2015 4:49:30 AM)

.Fp9 file is done. It's packaged alongside the map itself in the link below, but I won't be uploading it to OTS until I'm sure that I've weeded out the errors.
http://www.filedropper.com/ceg4redstorm - As usual they both go into the Maps folder.
When I go to work on the scenarios, it'll be the same way. No upload until I've got something that's roughly balanced and hopefully enjoyable for you guys.



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/14/2015 5:59:50 AM)

[image]http://puu.sh/lUW0X/f642c447be.png[/image]

The US 5th Infantry is huge and their European assets total more than 30,000 points. A full-scale divisional battle against them probably isn't suited for a campaign.
I think we'll simply narrow it down to the 2nd Brigade, and 1-5th Aviation Bn with heavy air and artillery support.



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/19/2015 10:31:45 PM)

Been meaning to show of something else I've been working on:

[image]http://puu.sh/m1LS6/4557d095b7.jpg[/image]



CapnDarwin -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/20/2015 12:55:52 AM)

Nice looking setup there. [8D]



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/20/2015 2:03:16 AM)

The ORBAT I'm using for the Netherlands is described here: http://www.orbat85.nl/reference/unit-organisation-and-equipment.html

[image]http://puu.sh/m1WrC/3fd0c7a0a6.jpg[/image]

Like the Soviets had splits between BMP formations and BTR formations, the Netherlands operated Armoured Infantry Brigades that could consist either of YPR-765 and their variants, or YP-408 and their variants.

[image]http://puu.sh/m1WCW/431f5f60a9.jpg[/image]
(I'll have to add Harry's maps to "Flashpoint Earth")

Estimates have the I NL Corps mobilized within 48 hours. In the event of a surprise attack, I NL Corps had 3rd Panzer Division, 41st Armour Brigade, and the American "Hell on Wheels" Brigade as a covering force while they mobilized. These forces had a few options: They could counter-attack 2GTA and 3CAA, or dig in the Veluwe and wait for reinforcements. They could flood the lowlands if they were crazy enough [:D]

But if I ever do add on more scenarios for the East German campaign, they will probably involve counter-action against 1 NL Corps, as the 3CAA is already engaged with British forces in Red Storm 13/14/15.



Plodder -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (12/20/2015 5:16:12 AM)

Nice work on the Dutch. [&o] It's great to see someone using the orbat from the Tour for what I envisaged it for as well. Makes all those hours building the damn thing worth it! [:D]



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (1/14/2016 7:50:34 PM)

[image]http://puu.sh/mvMwl/2cfbecd961.jpg[/image]

Hmm...



CapnDarwin -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (1/14/2016 8:20:12 PM)

Nicely done!



Stimpak -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (1/14/2016 10:11:54 PM)

Has the team decided upon a Polish counter yet? I found the white-on-red to be obscuring, so I went to the Panzerblitz style Polish flag.



CapnDarwin -> RE: Stimpak's New Maps (1/14/2016 10:40:21 PM)

I had them on an orange background to start, but I'm not sure what we will settle on. Red and white would be great, but too many white counter elements get lost on the white. We may need to address the counter elements and see if that helps. So run with what you think is best.



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