1.02 patch for Panzer Battles Kursk – Southern Flank - Released

[Strela]

Announcing the release of the 1.02 patch for Panzer Battles Kursk – Southern Flank.
Download Link; http://www.johntillersoftware.com/updates/BattlesKurskSouthern_102_upd.exe
 
The 1.02 version is the launching of the game as a Wargame Design Studio (WDS) release and to celebrate this we have included two new optional ‘start-up’ covers for each game. The intent is to standardize the look and feel of the Panzer Battles series going forward so that the titles are easily identifiable.
 
Kursk now has both the Soviet light machine gunner and Panzer commander;




The changes are pretty extensive for Kursk. The game is getting all the enhancements that were delivered with the Normandy 1.01 patch as well as the latest improvements in features.

These features include improved user interface, new terrain graphics and simplified folder structures. The full list of changes is below;

Kursk Patch 1.02 Changelog

Bug Fixes

• Adjusted reporting for air attacks
  
• Corrected hex stack reporting when a wreck is in the hex   
  
• Corrected a crash bug when the last man/gun/vehicle is destroyed by defensive fire
  
• Corrected a fog of war bug when right clicking
  
• Included a check that all off board artillery is not placed on the map.
  
• Any fixed unit that is fired on will now instantly un-fix
  
• Units could use a bridge while in travel mode to enter an obstacle and then exit the hex, rather than lose their whole movement allowance. This has been corrected and units will now lose all their movement points if they move into an obstacle hex
  
• Engineer units were in some cases isolated when in a minefield - this should no longer occur
  
• Engineer units will not clear a minefield in a turn that they recover from disruption
  
• Adjacent engineers no longer remove isolation for units in minefields
  
• Off map artillery was not firing during the defensive fire phase - this will now occur at the same frequency as on map artillery
  
• Engineers that attempt to damage a bridge or AT ditch will reveal themselves if currently concealed
  
• Units can no longer combine if in mismatched travel modes
  
• File mismatch due to different encryption setting during PBEM - fixed
  
• Campaign auto-advance on wrong password entry – fixed
  

 

Enhancements

• Newly implemented:  View > Map Elevations, View > Map Coordinates, View > Map Combat Modifiers.
  
• Optional Zoom to hotspot – Settings > Center Zoom on Hot Spot
  
• New parameter file entry - Fatigue factor. Used for scaling fatigue accumulation. Set at 2.0 for Normandy & Kursk. Will be 3.0 for future titles to match the fatigue calculations in Panzer Campaigns. 3.0 is the more appropriate value to use, but none of the Kursk & Normandy scenarios were tested with the higher value
  
• New on counter broken and disrupted markings - visible when stacked and unstacked.
  
• New Getting Started documentation, including Campaign Primer and Terrain & Combat tables
  
• Updated General Help guide with a revised layout and additional information.
  
• Updated User guide with a revised layout and additional information. All manuals are a work in progress and will continue to be rationalised over time.
  

 

Order of Battle

• Corrected Soviet 27 76mm Gun btty (hs) causing scenario crash
  

 

Graphics Changes

• New -small- terrain features. All files are under \Maps\ Terrain Small. Copy all the 8 files into the map directory and overwrite the existing. To revert to the graphics released in Patch 1.01, copy the files out of \Maps\ Terrain - Default directory back into the Map directory. To revert to the graphics released in the original game, copy the files out of \Maps\ Terrain - Original directory back into the Map directory
  
• New Cover art. Various versions available in the \Screen directory
  

 

Map Changes

• Alternate small map graphics included
  

 

User Interface Changes

• New Shortcut keys
  
• New Toolbar Icons in traditional and standard configuration. Small, Medium and Large versions also available for each.
  
• File/folder reorganization, with creation of the following new folders:  Data (.oob & .pdt files), Logs (.log files), Manuals (.pdf files), Saves (.bt? files), Scenarios (.scn, .map files etc.), Screens (various game .bmp files).
  
• New logging system (with various .log files in the new Logs folder), to assist in game testing, and identifying and fixing bugs.
  

 

Kursk Patch 1.01 Changelog 

Bug Fixes

• AA range calculation fixed – it was quartering the impact
  
• HQ’s & Naval units will now save movement points when save movement cost is selected
  
• Isolation determination phase adjusted; corrected a phasing issue for engineers clearing minefields.
  
• Removed undiscovered minefields showing on the jump map.
  
• Corrected railroad unit’s inability to move through stacks in a railroad hex.
  
• Fixed a defensive fire issue where indirect firing units were immune to defensive fire when the artillery dialog was open.
  
• Passengers that disembark from a fixed vehicle/carrier will become fixed.
  

 

Enhancements

• Hard Fire modifier added to the PDT to allow scaling of combat results
  
• Elevation modifier in the PDT additionally has an inverse relationship when a unit fires at a unit at a lower elevation. Please note this modifier is per elevation differential.
  
• Ability to highlight reconnaissance units. Menu View\Highlight\Recon units
  
• Revised Fog of War. The first X strength of an enemy unit’s strength is shown if they are in a clear hex (or hex with + defensive value such as beach, shallow or water). Showing the first X means single value units would show their exact strength, double digit; #X and triple digit; #XX. The rationale is at this scale unit numbers would be able to be approximated in hexes without cover. Fortifications (IP, Trench, Bunker, Pillbox) are considered cover for the purposes of this rule.
  
• Breakdown percentages quartered in the PDT file (1 for both sides).
  
• AOF orders revised so that individual unit orders will always override global orders. Resetting global orders will reset all individual orders.
  

Graphics Changes

• Nato Symbol for M3 Stuart corrected.
  
• HQ Symbols removed from vehicular HQ’s
  
• New top down graphics for all units.
  

 

Map Changes

• Optional terrain, features & symbols files included (see appendix at the end of changelog)
  

 

Scenario Updates

• New scenario; #0708_07 Gresnoye by Jeff Connor
  

 

Scenario Changes

#0704_01 Gertsovka     

• Additional AI hold orders included
  
• All Soviet units begin in fixed status.
  
• +2 turns to 12 turns long
  
• VP’s dropped by 10 for each victory level
  
• New supply source in NE corner
  
• Supply source in (5,4) removed
  

#0704_01a Gertsovka   

• Additional AI hold orders included
  

#0705_02 Hill 228.6

• +2 turns to 12 turns long
  
• Air support added for Axis
  
• Remainder of II./SS-PzGr.Regt.2 LAH enters on turn 6
  

#0705_03 III PzK - July 5: The Right Flank

• HQ in hex (43,46) moved to hex (48,46)
  

#0705_04 Krutoy Log - 7th Panzer through the Marshes (HTH & AI versions)

• HQ in hex (29,2) moved to hex (34,2)
  

#0705_05 Solomino - Swamp Tigers

• Victory points dropped by 5 per level
  

#0705_06 XXXXVIII PzK - July 5: The Left Flank

• Units in Hex (21,21) rearranged to (18,20) & (21,19). Hex (21,21) is now a minefield.
  
• Hex (11,12) now a Bunker
  
• Objective moved from (21,21) to (21,19).
  
• Breaks in the anti-tank ditch between (29,22) to (40,20) corrected.
  
• Anti-tank guns adjusted (various hexes)
  

#0705_07 Korovino - Clear the Hill (HTH & AI versions)

• Units in Hex (21,17) rearranged to (18,16) & (21,15). Hex (21,17) is now a minefield.
  
• Hex (11,8) now a Bunker.
  
• Anti-tank guns adjusted (various hexes)
  

#0705_08 Cemetery - Where the Panthers come to die

• Units in Hex (5,9) rearranged to (2,8) & (5,7). Hex (5,9) is now a minefield.
  
• Objective moved from (5,9) to (5,7).
  
• Breaks in the anti-tank ditch between (13,10) to (15,10) corrected.
  
• Anti-tank guns adjusted (various hexes)
  

#0706_01 II SS PzK - July 6: Breakthrough!

• Number of turns increased from 28 to 35
  
• Victory points increased by 300 for each victory level
  
• Hexes (28,90), (32,89) & (46,82) now fixed
  
• Totenkopf withdrawals changed to 50% chance from 1200
  
• Incorrect Totenkopf withdrawals corrected
  
• Soviet artillery at (16,48), (31,48), (31,49), (32,47), (36,55), (48,57), (49,58), (50,58), (65,38), (65,39), (67,39), (70,48) now unfixed.
  
• Soviet front line battalions release on contact with the enemy. This is determined on a battalion by battalion basis.
  
• AT Ditch breach added in hex (44,99)
  

#0706_02 Shuravlivny Woods - 155th Guard's Last Stand

• Added a hasty minefield to hex (15,5) and obstacles to (16,5)
  
• AT Ditch added between hex (0,7) & (19,15)
  

#0706_03 Yakovlevo - Breaching the Second Line

• Soviet artillery at (10,13), (25,13), (25,14), (26,12), (30,20), (42,22), (43,23), (44,23) now unfixed.
  
• Victory location in (25,16) moved to (18,13). The German player has to commit to the high ground on the left flank.
  
• Soviet front line battalions release on contact with the enemy.  This is determined on a battalion by battalion basis.
  
• Axis smoke allocation adjusted to 20 fires.
  
• 1st Guards Tank Brigade armored car in hex (25,16) is removed and now controlled as a strategy option allowing the Soviet player to choose its starting location. This removes some certainty for the German.
  

#0706_04 Nechaevka - Das Reich's Full Force

• Soviet artillery at (29,3), (29,4), (31,4), (34,13) now unfixed.
  
• Soviet front line battalions release on contact with the enemy. This is determined on a battalion by battalion basis.
  
• Axis smoke allocation adjusted to 20 fires.
  
• All German StuG’s unfixed.
  

#0706_05 Pokrovka

• Full TRENCH in hexes (19,16), (19,17), (20,15)
  

#0706_07 Nepkhaevo - The Meeting Engagement

• Victory point value in hex (7,1) reduced to 50 from 100.
  
• Minor adjustments to the Soviet setup. Hex (24,11) and environs.
  

#0707_01 III PzK - July 7: If at First You Don't Succeed...

• Corrected mis-stacked units in hexes (34,34), (34,37).
  

#0707_02 Batratskaia Dacha - The House on the Hill

• Corrected mis-stacked units in hexes (8,9) and (8,12).
  

#0707_03 Iastrebovo - A Tale of No Crossings (HTH & AI versions)

• +2 turns to 9 turns long
  

#0708_01 Voronezh Front - July 8: While the Cats Away...

• Repositioned  Soviet Katyusha  batteries in hex (52,30)
  
• Minor adjustments to German setup
  

#0708_03 Kalinin - The Northern Attack (HTH & AI versions)

• Repositioned  Soviet Katyusha  batteries in hex (52,30)
  

#0708_06 Gostishchevo - 2nd Guards Tank Corps Attacks (HTH & AI versions)

• Minor adjustments to German setup
  

#0711_02 Oktyabrskyi State Farm - SS vs Para's

• Removed the release of SS-Werfer.Abt.102, the unit is not present in this scenario.
  

#0712_02 Hill 252_2 – Avalanche

• +3 turns to 15 turns long
  

 

Appendix – Changing Terrain Graphics

 

New terrain graphics have been provided with this patch. Two new directories are now present under the ‘MAP’ directory. They are ‘Terrain – Default’ and ‘Terrain – Original’. Terrain-Default contains the new terrain graphics while Terrain-Original contains the originally released game graphics.

There are three different terrain graphics;

• Base terrain graphics; these are used for the base hex graphic with differentiation for elevations and ground condition. There are 12 files in all with Normal, Soft, Mud and Snow included with three zoom levels of 100, 50 & 25.
  
• Hex Features; these files include in hex features such as villages, towns, woods, fields etc. Items that are within a hex are usually within this file. There are 3 files in total covering the three zoom levels.
  
• Hex Sides; these files include all graphics that impact hex sides such as streams, rivers, bridges, cliffs etc. There are 3 files in total covering the three zoom levels.
  
• Symbols; these files include all graphics that modify hexes or are game markers such as fortifications, air strikes, supply sources, arrows etc. There are 3 files in total covering the three zoom levels.
  
• Primary; these files are darkened primary roads as compared to the original release for better visibility at lower elevations. There are 3 files in total covering the three zoom levels.
  

 

This patch will automatically replace the originally released graphics. If you would like to restore to the originally released graphics just copy the contents of ‘Terrain-Original’ back into your Map directory. This can be done selectively if only certain elements are to be changed. For example a player who wanted the original fortifications would have to restore only the Symbols files - the remainder of the new terrain would remain in place.
The ‘Terrain-Default’ folder is included to restore the new graphics after any changes are made with the Original graphics.

[kazooba]

Awesome, Just downloaded and installed both patches, and when picking a scenario, the sort by turn length no longer works.

[Strela]

Awesome, Just downloaded and installed both patches, and when picking a scenario, the sort by turn length no longer works.

Weeks of testing and the first downloader finds something no one else has...!

We'll look into it.

David

[Compass Rose]

Awesome, Just downloaded and installed both patches, and when picking a scenario, the sort by turn length no longer works.

In the years I have been playing JTS games, I have never seen anything displayed in game that would sort scenarios by turn length.

I know for sure nothing like that is displayed in the "File Selection Dialog" box.

Where did it use to be displayed or where should it be displayed?

[Strela]

Awesome, Just downloaded and installed both patches, and when picking a scenario, the sort by turn length no longer works.

In the years I have been playing JTS games, I have never seen anything displayed in game that would sort scenarios by turn length.

I know for sure nothing like that is displayed in the "File Selection Dialog" box.

Where did it use to be displayed or where should it be displayed?

It's there under file selection - New by length.

I have never used it and we obviously don't have anyone on the testing team who does either!!!

David

[Compass Rose]

Ahh, yes I see it now.

Can't say I ever used it before.

Since I mostly play Black Powder Ladder games, none of those games have such a sort feature.

Goes to show that you can learn something new every day!  

[kazooba]

Ahh, yes I see it now.

Can't say I ever used it before.

Since I mostly play Black Powder Ladder games, none of those games have such a sort feature.

Goes to show that you can learn something new every day!  

It's there for those of us who like to play the larger scenarios, automatically sorting so you can play the longer scenarios first.

[berto]

Awesome, Just downloaded and installed both patches, and when picking a scenario, the sort by turn length no longer works.

Sorry for the oversight.

Admittedly it's an imperfect substitute, but to identify the larger scenarios, you can try

• At the opening File Selection Dialog, press Cancel.
  
• Try File > New.
  
• At the Open dialog, sort by Size.
  

That will help you identify the large scenarios.  Not the lengthiest, but the scenarios with the largest OOBs etc.

Until we fix it in the next update, this is better than nothing maybe?

[Ricky B]

The Blitz scenario listings for each game can be sorted by length also, so that can be used, for our members at least!