Coyote
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Posts
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Posts posted by Coyote
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Zip format if you please sir.Originally posted by Jeff Gilbert:I have a set of overlays for map 781. I would be glad to stuff or ZIP them up for whoever wants them.
Jeff
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Mario,
I looked through my files but no longer have any large overlays. Perhaps some of the other players have one from a CPX?
I sent you a small one for use with the Tm Cahoon scenario attached an email message.
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Mario,
Use the "Search" function at the top of this page to find the word "overlay" and you can read several earlier discussions on this question. I've copied the MajorH's answer to one of them below.
Originally posted by MajorH:User Guide, Chapter 17, page 77 through 78
View Overlay.
Loads a map overlay file which was saved in bmp format. This feature is intended to allow an expert user to create and then display optional military operational control graphics on a TacOps map. The first time that this menu item is selected, the user will be asked to select a bmp file. The selected bmp file will then be loaded and blended into the current TacOps battle map display. Any part of the bmp file that is not "perfect" white, will be added to the TacOps battle map. Any part of the bmp file that is perfectly white will be ignored. Subsequent selection of the "Map/Menu Overlay View" menu item will toggle the map overly display off and on. Shortcut. Press the F5 key.
Change Overlay.
Allows the user to load a different overlay without having to restart TacOps. Shortcut. Press the Shift + F5 keys.
Creating an Overlay.
The best way to create a map overlay is to use a paint program that is sophisticated enough to allow editing in layers. With such a program the user can place a bmp file for a TacOps map into a background layer and then use one or more layers above the background for the placement of the operational control graphics. Once the overlay is finished, the user can temporarily hide the background layer and then save or export only the layer or layers with the operational control graphics to a bmp format file for subsequent use as a TacOps map overlay.
A less efficient way to create a map overlay would be to use a simpler, program without layers such as Microsoft Paint to open a copy of a TacOps map file in bmp format and then add the operational control graphics directly to the map surface. The drawbacks to this approach are mainly that drawing errors in the overlay are difficult to correct and the overlay is not easily changed after completion.
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Commanche,
Click on the email icon and send me your address, with the subject, "Weapons Database". I'll send you the version that the Major posted last spring. There are many more "units" now but very few of the guns and missiles have changed. Is MS Excel format okay?
Once the new tacopshq.com site is up, I expect most of these support files will have a new home. And of course some afternoon the good Major won't have any pressing engagements and may decide to post an updated version for us "rabid" hobbyists.
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Well if you ever do get around to that one, I'd like to see the addition of a notional cargo aircraft, roughly C-130 class. It doesn't need any functionality other than the ability to carry the correct weight and volume of troops/equipment, load/unload, fly at medium altitude and land. That's enough to run an air head and force the players to keep the terrain around the airfield clear of infiltrators.Originally posted by MajorH:TacOps does not support the loading of vehicles inside of helicopters. In TacOps, helos carry vehicles in external slings with a max of one sling per helo.
Changing that is on the wish list but ...
I've tried simulating it with multiple units of V-22s but it's a bit awkward and rather unrealistic when they do take fire. Who ever heard of 1/4 of a C-130 being shot down anyway?
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If you are playing solitare or PBEM, you have enough time to conduct resupply if you are interested. TACOPS includes many types of tactical trucks for this purpose. Somewhere around here we have a download of the weapons database that includes the approximate supply points per round [or vice versa] for each weapon system. That allows you to specify the size of each log pack to be consistent with the type of ammunition you want to portray.
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That's not a bad idea. Although I'm not interested in adding a lot of detail to the airstrike routine, it does seem logical that a pilot would hit the higest value target at the location rather than just the closest unit to the target coordinates. Even if it only followed a simple priority like:Originally posted by minmax:. . . I hate when I send a strike against a column of armor only for the jock to drop on a lowly section of grunts. Maybe using a FAC would allow more flexibility . . .
"tracks > wheeled vehicles > grunts"
Maybe the existing target priority dialog used by direct fire weapons could be adapted to airstikes?
That would be less code for the good Major and one less new interface item for us.
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One thing to remember, you as a player can see any enemy unit that is spotted by any of your units. But any specific friendly unit MAY NOT be able to spot a specific enemy unit [within LOS] because of the cover value of the terrain the enemy unit is in.
Having said that - IIRC - A unit with no priorities set will usually attack spotted enemy units based on the overall "value" of the unit and the distance to target. I don't recall which is more important to the game engine.
Enjoy,
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Hunter,Originally posted by hunter19:. . . Two questions, firstly are there any plans for additional solitaire scenarios, or are there some already out there I can download? I bought v4, and just downloaded the 405 patch.
I play mostly solitare myself so I'll list my ideas, some may be useful.
1. Change blue OOBs. Most of the solitare scenarios are "balanced" [i.e., a human player would have a reasonable chance of success playing Red or Blue. Unbalance them. Delete the existing blue units and import or create your own.
2. Upgrade RED. In addition adding optional units to Red on the options menu, you can upgrade red's equipment using any unit in the database. If you really want to suffer, give OPFOR any optional minefields. Breaching obstacles under fire is always a pain in the axx!
3. Change the victory conditions. Try exiting 20% of your force off the East map edge in DeGoey. Did it? Okay, change all OPFOR SU-57 anti-aircraft guns to dug in T-90 tanks with thermal sights. Try it again.
4. Play logisitics. A truck full of ammo [log packs] is just a juicy target to any red unit.
And if you are pressed for time, there is always PBEM. That let's you do a more leisurely game.
Enjoy,
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If you are on the Umpire PC, try using the "Situation Map" Command under the "Map" menu. A screen capture of that might work for yyou.Originally posted by Comanche:. . . 3) Overlays, I keep reading that there was a way using Umpire CPX mode of creating overlays. While creating them myself is something that I am used to having the computer do it for me (ie graphical Spot Reports, LOGREP, SITREP and orders overlays) would be great. Having to personally do these is the biggest time problem (but hey at least we get rid of over a hundred counters and having to keep track of them)
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Enjoy,
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Here's the full link.Originally posted by Coyote:For a more detailed and insightful explanation, go to StrategyPage.com and check out the three part article on this subject by M.K.Robel.
http://www.strategypage.com//fyeo/howtomakewar/default.asp?target=HTCBTSP.HTM
One part was posted on Monday, one on Tuesday and the last today. So they are in reverse order on the Web site.
Enjoy
[ June 16, 2004, 10:23 PM: Message edited by: Coyote ]
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For a more detailed and insightful explanation, go to StrategyPage.com and check out the three part article on this subject by M.K.Robel.
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Linking scenarios in a military training setting is not the same as it is for hobby players. All of the things a program would do are instead done by a human participant - either a trainee or an umpire.Originally posted by Tory the Magnus:. . . I would have thought that a campaign mode, or the ability to link scenarios into a campaign, would have been a prerequisite for TacOps when being ordered by the various militaries that employ TacOps as a training tool.
Rather than the program generating a new situation for follow on scenarios, the trainee staff officers [or umpires] conduct replacement, and resupply operations as part of the THEIR training. Reorganization will be directed by the participating commanders. The overall training commander will direct mission changes as needed to ensure that all tasks scheduled for training are addressed at some point and an appropriate OPFOR provided. That doesn't leave much for the computer to do.
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It may or may not. In the few moments it will take oxygen levels to return to normal after the blast, the impact point will be cooled considerably. Consider the way in which explosives are used to extinguish oil well fires only on a much larger scale. In any event, anyone close enough to be burned will already have been killed by the blast wave and will no longer care about forest fires.Originally posted by Sir Kozakh Dragonfire:So, you are claiming that a barrage of this missiles won't ignite the forest massive?
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This is a common misconception. FAE and the newer "thermobaric" weapons both produce a very large blast overpressure as their primary casualty causing mechanism. The secondary effect is the consumtion of much of the local oxygen supply causing dealth by asphyxiation to people in small spaces. Although both types of weapons produce a large visual fireball, this does not last long enough to be a significant source of ignition (i.e. a flame weapon). That and anyone inside the fireball has already been pulverized by the shockwave.Originally posted by Sir Kozakh Dragonfire:. . . like Soviet-built HFS-1 "Buratino". It fires 30 220 mm. unguided missile rounds fitted with FAE on a distance from 400 m. to 3500 m. The flames cover an area of about 1 sqr. km. . . .
Nice pictures though.
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It is also harder to dig in a truck mounted gun if a battery finds itself required to stay put and support a static operation. Likewise a truck is more vulnerable in various low intensity warfare situations than either a armored/tracked vehicle which can fight back or a towed gun which can be air lifted.
Great stuff Rame, keep it coming.
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Originally posted by Scheuer:
I was active in the early 80's when 8th ID changed to the M60A3 with laser rangefinders and thermal sights. It was dramatically better than the passive night vision, seachlights, and coincidence rangefinders on the M60A1. -
In practice this isn't a problem. The infrared laser rangefinder can "see" through fog and smoke somewhat better than the gunner can through his thermal sight and much better that a simple daylight sight. It is very rare that you can see something but not range to it.Originally posted by Scheuer:... First question: Tank Guns rely on laser range finders to measure distance to target. Will this laser beam be blocked by smoke? If so, the gunner will then need to manually figure out the range (provided he sees the target in his thermal sight), and the tank will suffer from reduced accuracy and rate of fire. Is this assumption right? (Real tankers are welcome to answer) And is it reflected in TacOps? ...
Coyote
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On the defense, I try to use my TacAir early to break up advancing enemy armor. As you noted, the longer the battle goes on, the more dismounted SAMs litter the battlefield.
On the offense, I try to hold my TacAir to support my main effort in coordination with artillery or use it against counter-attacking enemy armor.
Regardless, I generally set a few units in each part of the map with a low priority to attack air defense systems. If I have sniper/recon teams, they may get a high priority against manportable SAMs. If I have any helicopters I try position them to destroy any air defenses revealed when the TacAir hits and to increase the overload on enemy defenses that others have described.
Look through the publications on your TacOps disk and on the internet for SEAD [supression of Enemy Air Defenses].
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If you are running any version of windows other than NT, look in Programs > Accessories > "Accessibility" for Maginfier or just do a search on your system for 'magnify.exe'.Originally posted by tigercrash:... I can't find any info on "zooming in" on the maps, or enlarging them on my screen.
Enjoy the game.
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Rather a cute game concept but but not workable in real life. War is a condition, not a commodity and hence cannot be bought or sold. Unlike a mercenary unit :cool: which is a "company" selling its "services" to the highest bidder.Originally posted by Tory the Magnus:So in an effort to finance their war machines and win the war the nations involved listed their war efforts on the stock exchange and got people in countries not involved such as America and Japan to finance their war efforts by investing.
A very serious possibilty and one that TacOps might be helpful in studying. I think one or two other players [i don't recall who] are working on a China v Taiwan scenario. Use Harpoon 3 to game the invasion forces crossing to Taiwan. Then use TacOps to model the individual engagements with forces that do get across.Once China gets rolling we could have another cold war on our hands.I was thinking about it and have downloaded a number of small scale Taiwan maps but I don't have the time to create TacOps maps of Taiwan in the near future.
Happy Gaming
Problems
in TacOps 4
Posted
The information line on my system used to be postioned correctly when I started a game. Now I must resize my TacOps window once or twice to get the information line to move to the correct position above the task bar.