Hubert Cater

Icedog42, could you send me an email, I might have an answer to the issue, thanks! Hubert

Ok this does seem to be a problem across a few systems so in order for me to track it down I'd like to ask a few questions that would help in that respect: 1) Have you tried downloading your latest video card drivers and/or the latest WindowsXP drivers to see if that helps? 2) Also I am wondering if it has anything to do with DirectX and your system, could you try running the game without it to see if that helps, i.e. change the line 'directx = 1' to 'directx = 0' in your 'SC.ini' file. This file is located in your SC installation directory. 3) Is this only on XP, i.e. has anyone who has posted here running into this problem on something other than XP? 4) Is this only with the latest Battlefront v1.07 patch, i.e. just to be sure for me that this is not also happening with the German v1.07 in case anyone who is posting here is running that one. Thanks! Hubert

Can you try downloading your latest video card drivers and/or the latest WindowsXP drivers to see if that helps? Also I am wondering if it has anything to do with DirectX and your system, could you try running the game without it to see if that helps, i.e. change the line 'directx = 1' to 'directx = 0' in your 'SC.ini' file. This file is located in your SC installation directory, thanks! Hubert [ August 03, 2003, 09:06 AM: Message edited by: Hubert Cater ]

Try deleting the contents of your SAVE and PBEM folders and that should do the trick. Older verison files will not show up in your 'Load' lists and this is why you cannot see them. Hubert

Unfortunately this is not possible. Hubert

Good point, I wanted to double check this just to make sure I wasn't telling SC stories here... and ran a quick test (which can be easily duplicated) with the 1939 Fall Weiss Campaign by setting all front line German units to 3 bars of experience and took 1 point hits on three of the six units I tweaked (all ratios 0 : x) so it does look like things are acting as expected. Hope this helps, Hubert

In due time... Hubert

Still wrong I don't play the game at all lately as current projects keep me pretty busy but I did play quite a bit during the original development phase (as expected) and since at the time it was the game I always wanted to play Hubert

True, this might make for an interesting option but from my design philoshpy/point of view it would run the risk of having the results of some battles completely known to both players before they even fight them. Take for example the opening moves for Poland, with exact results each time, a cookie cutter approach to this game (or any game under the same circumstances) would become even more enhanced and IMO directly affect replayability. While some may enjoy exact combat results each time, from the most simplistic of views, I felt it did not reflect the reality of combat, i.e. where a good player/commander-in-chief has to always adapt to the results of the battlefield and maintain an overall dynamic strategic approach that is essential to success (regardless of initial plans or anticipated results). This would result as expected, initially the ratio is rounded to 4 : 0 and can then have results as follows (with the +/-1 variance): 5 : 0, 4 : 0, 3 : 0, 5 : 1, 4 : 1, 3 : 1 and results with a -1 for the defender would be thrown out and replaced by 0. Hope this helps, Hubert

In case there was something amiss I ran a simple test using the Campaign Editor to reproduce the situation above (while I admit it may not be exact) I came up with an expected combat loss ratio of 1 : 1. With the +/- 1 point variation it is more than possible to produce a 0 : 2 ratio as you've experienced. While combat formulas take many factors into account (i.e. experience, attack and defence types, defensive bonuses, entrenchment, HQ ratings, rivers etc) and are well defined in the manual, after that there is a +/- 1 point variation thrown into the mix to add some randomness to the battle and overall replayability. As stated in a recent Tech thread, while at the time of design I belived a +/- 1 point variation was small enough to produce reasonable variety without overly skewing combat results, it is not to say that I did not expect others may not like it . Funny thing is I remember playing Panzer General (way back when) and they included a random "rugged defence" factor that could knock down a 4 stared King Tiger from 15 strength to 7 every once in a while, and I always thought that was excessive :eek: Hubert [ July 29, 2003, 11:09 AM: Message edited by: Hubert Cater ]

Not sure about that one, when you reinstalled from CD did you also apply the latest patch (v1.07)? The only reason I ask is that there were also various fixes made to the Campaign Editor as well which might resolve this issue for you. Hope this helps, Hubert

Hi Oak, As you've pointed out, combat formulas take many factors into account (i.e. experience, attack and defence types, defensive bonuses, entrenchment, HQ ratings, rivers etc) and are well defined in the manual, after that there is a +/- 1 point variation thrown into the mix to add some randomness to the battle. While I think a +/- 1 point variation is small enough to produce reasonable variety from game to game this is not to say that others may not like it. Hubert

Not sure actually, but my guess would be the same as yours. I don't have enough computers here to try it but if you do feel free to report the results here. Hubert

Just when you thought you had it all covered... Hubert

This is also correct since the turn was loaded but not completed, i.e. saved with another name. Each time a save is loaded it counts as a load/reload with the information stored and hidden until the turn is completed. It might be completed with a new name or the original. If you load up the original and finish the turn it should show how many times you reloaded the save correctly. Hubert [ July 25, 2003, 03:29 PM: Message edited by: Hubert Cater ]

This will happen when playing internationally now Since this info is generated on each machine and stored in the PBEM file his last turn summary of your activity will be in English and your last turn summary will be in German. Something to consider tweaking for future versions though. Hubert

This could be for a variety of reasons, for example on the first turn sent to you by your opponent there will be no reload counter shown since it is the first turn saved. After that it should show a reload counter when you receive the turn, but after you play your turn the reload counter will not be shown again until your turn has been completed, i.e. if you are loading the save and then quiting and then reloading it will not show until you have finally finished your turn by hitting done. Hope this helps, Hubert

Nope not a bug, there are a variety of reasons why the war readiness may have jumped so much but for probably the most insightful analysis of the game I would recommend Bill Macon's and Dan Fenton's SC Strategy Guide found here: http://ww2n.com/schq/SC-StrategyGuide-Rev1.pdf Hope this helps, Hubert

Yup, tried this today and it is linked to the changes I made with respect to DirectX, the new implementation doesn't seem to like it when you have two copies of the same SC.exe. If you run with 'directx = 0' you should not have the same issue but you might encounter a screen size resetting issue instead if you are not running at 1024x768. Note this is only if you are trying to run two instances of SC at the same time. Hope this helps, Hubert

Thanks for the system specs, I've tried to reproduce the problem on my XP system (very similar to your own) and I am unfortunately not able to do. Could you try to re-download the patch and see if that helps in case the patch was corrupted during your original download. Thanks, Hubert [ July 18, 2003, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: Hubert Cater ]

Ok I'm wondering if the patch was somehow corrupted via download, not likely but anything seems to be possible these days. Just to confirm the details the problem both of you have encountered is from the latest official v1.07 patch and not the previous betas correct? If so and if you can download and retry the latest patch from the Battlefront download area that would be great. I'm assuming you were both playing the AI, but if this can be confirmed as well as which side and what scenario that would be great so I can try and repeat the problem on my end. Full system specs will probably help as well, thanks! Hubert

Not sure if this is SC related as its the first I've heard of this... I'm out of town at the moment but when I get back next week I can take a closer look. Thanks, Hubert

Replied to in the sticky thread... Hubert

Hi Frank! Glad to hear you enjoyed the German demo of Strategic Command To answer your question, there is no need to do anything else with the retail German version of Strategic Command as it is already at v1.07. The official patch v1.07 via Battlefront was only to bring the US Battlefront version of the game up to date with the retail German version available in stores. Hope this helps, Hubert

Siberian transfer depends on a lot of factors, relative strength of Russian units vs. German units, supply path situation etc., coupled with some of the better known geographic triggers. The idea behind Siberian transfer was to only have it triggered under the right situation, not too early and not at all if the circumstances warrant it etc. In general it should be as a result of the combat situation, this way (it was hoped) for the most part it can help to create an ebb and flow on the eastern front and simulate some of the tension. Either way I realize it may not be perfect and it will be something to consider tweaking for future games etc. Btw, great AAR and I've thoroughly enjoyed the gripping detail Hubert