Making Scenarios

[RADO]

I know I'm going to regret asking this, but is there a page here at The Blitz, that gives some basic A,B,C's on how to make scenarios?

I have opened up the ditor in the rules, but to me it seems about as clear as mud.

Any help or direction is appreciated.

:)

[ScoutsOut]

Good luck...You have far more patience than I do..,TJ

[Herr Straße Laufer]

I know I'm going to regret asking this, but is there a page here at The Blitz, that gives some basic A,B,C's on how to make scenarios?

I have opened up the ditor in the rules, but to me it seems about as clear as mud.

Any help or direction is appreciated.

:)

If you want to design historical scenarios Huib wrote some articles on how to make maps, find OOB's etc. https://www.theblitz.club/articles/Scena...es-/cid=11

If you want to make a hypothetical or historically based scenario then it is mostly up to you?
Essentials; Theater and Battle.
a) You will need a MAP.
b) You will need an OOB.
c) You will need a scenario "file", which will tie the map and OOB together.
Selecting similar names will help to streamline the files, and keep them adjacent in the game folder, when you connect them together.

Always keep in mind what you generally want to do. The scenario file is where you place units, from the OOB, onto the map while adding blocks, mines, planes, etc.
Balance and fun are essentials to a long lasting scenario.
Try to keep in mind the units for each side. Balance is not giving the Allies a company of armor and the Axis a company of armor. Even in a meeting engagement. :)

a)A map can take forever to create or you can pop one out in a few minutes. It will depend on how much work you want to do and what you need to do to make the map "work" for the scenario.
b)The OOB has been streamlined by the new Matrix version. You are given many of the countries involved from platoon to army level. You can select Divisions and have all the units in a division to work with. You can deselect individual parts of the division by deleting them from the OOB. You can also add units to the TO&E by replacing units with other units.
c)Creating the scenario will be part of your imagination. When you place units on the map, in defense are they where they need to defend, in offense are the massed where they should attack, are questions that should always be in your mind.

All the steps to making a scenario seem confusing and do take time. As TJ said, good luck and have patience.

Also, once you tinker and become familiar with the editors you will gain confidence and understanding.



HSL

[RADO]

I know I'm going to regret asking this, but is there a page here at The Blitz, that gives some basic A,B,C's on how to make scenarios?

I have opened up the ditor in the rules, but to me it seems about as clear as mud.

Any help or direction is appreciated.

:)

If you want to design historical scenarios Huib wrote some articles on how to make maps, find OOB's etc. https://www.theblitz.club/articles/Scena...es-/cid=11

If you want to make a hypothetical or historically based scenario then it is mostly up to you?
Essentials; Theater and Battle.
a) You will need a MAP.
b) You will need an OOB.
c) You will need a scenario "file", which will tie the map and OOB together.
Selecting similar names will help to streamline the files, and keep them adjacent in the game folder, when you connect them together.

Always keep in mind what you generally want to do. The scenario file is where you place units, from the OOB, onto the map while adding blocks, mines, planes, etc.
Balance and fun are essentials to a long lasting scenario.
Try to keep in mind the units for each side. Balance is not giving the Allies a company of armor and the Axis a company of armor. Even in a meeting engagement. :)

a)A map can take forever to create or you can pop one out in a few minutes. It will depend on how much work you want to do and what you need to do to make the map "work" for the scenario.
b)The OOB has been streamlined by the new Matrix version. You are given many of the countries involved from platoon to army level. You can select Divisions and have all the units in a division to work with. You can deselect individual parts of the division by deleting them from the OOB. You can also add units to the TO&E by replacing units with other units.
c)Creating the scenario will be part of your imagination. When you place units on the map, in defense are they where they need to defend, in offense are the massed where they should attack, are questions that should always be in your mind.

All the steps to making a scenario seem confusing and do take time. As TJ said, good luck and have patience.

Also, once you tinker and become familiar with the editors you will gain confidence and understanding.



HSL

Thanks for the replies gents! I may have not been as clear in my question as I should have been. It's the software that seems to me to be anything but user friendly.

For example, how does one use the map editor to change the size of the map? I understand changing terrain features but how to create a custom size map seems to escape me.

I'll check out the link!

Thanks.

[Jason Petho]

Good day.

First thing I do is make short cuts to the various editors to my desktop, as I use them frequently.

I would recommend making a short cut to the following EXEs: (if using East Front)

efmap.exe
eforg.exe
efedit.exe

Using the shortcuts, open up the map editor.

When you do, the editor will open and a the option to open an existing map will appear.

Cancel this.

Then select "File --> New" to make a new map.

Select the region you would like your map to be in. Each region has different map tiles available.

Once the region is selected, it will take you to the "Resize Dialog" which will allow you to type in the extents of your map.

40x40, 10x300, 100x100, etc.

You can always add to the map or make it smaller using the Extents menu. I will explain how to do this if you need it.

Jason Petho

[RADO]

Good day.

First thing I do is make short cuts to the various editors to my desktop, as I use them frequently.

I would recommend making a short cut to the following EXEs: (if using East Front)

efmap.exe
eforg.exe
efedit.exe

Using the shortcuts, open up the map editor.

When you do, the editor will open and a the option to open an existing map will appear.

Cancel this.

Then select "File --> New" to make a new map.

Select the region you would like your map to be in. Each region has different map tiles available.

Once the region is selected, it will take you to the "Resize Dialog" which will allow you to type in the extents of your map.

40x40, 10x300, 100x100, etc.

You can always add to the map or make it smaller using the Extents menu. I will explain how to do this if you need it.

Jason Petho

Got that far. What is not making sense is after I have made a map. When I open up to make an OB, how do I separate German from Allied OB's? Adding the first nationality is easy enough, but then when you start adding opposing sides, it adds the troops to the first side.

Then, after one has the map file and OB file, how do you use the scenario file to add units to the map, etc?

:conf:

[Herr Straße Laufer]

What is not making sense is after I have made a map. When I open up to make an OB, how do I separate German from Allied OB's? Adding the first nationality is easy enough, but then when you start adding opposing sides, it adds the troops to the first side.

Then, after one has the map file and OB file, how do you use the scenario file to add units to the map, etc?

:conf:

The OOB editor is the most confusing but, also the most simple and mistake proof of all the editors when you get to know it.
When you select units for a nationality select all the units of that nationality. If you ever add units you will need to move them up and then "lower them" into your units.
Yes, all the nationalities end up on the same page. But, that is how the OOB file works. You just need to group them together under an overall command. Or, keep them together as separate units that are on the same side.
You just need to click the units to move them up or down in the OOB list.
If I recall correctly, the manual describes that function very well. :chin:

Existing maps can be renamed and resized in the edit function. But, I do not have time to explain it. Jason also showed how to make a map from scratch, so you will have some idea of how to increase a maps size.

More later, if needed. I stopped by on my lunch break. :smoke:

My advice is to start small and get familiar with how the system works. Nothing wrong with a small map, few unit, limited turns scenario if it is balanced to play, and you learn a lot along the way in creating it? :)



HSL

[Jason Petho]

Good day.

If you wish, I can call you this evening and I can go through a step-by-step over the phone.

Jason Petho

[RADO]

Good day.

If you wish, I can call you this evening and I can go through a step-by-step over the phone.

Jason Petho

Thanks to all! With the various emails & posts here I have figured it out.

Now the hard part begins.

Thanks to all of you.

[Jason Petho]

Good luck!

Jason Petho