Panzer Campaigns – Zovs Mods

[zovs66]

Panzer Campaigns – Zovs Mods

Design Notes
I have finally finished my initial (Phase I) Panzer Campaign modifications called "Zovs-Mods" for all 27 titles. The total statistics thus far for Phase I form windows shows: Total size is 298 MBs (size on disk is 304 MBs), total package contains 2,523 files, and 373 folders (note some files are repeated like for example German or Russian-Guards, etc.).

Currently this modification includes over 446 individual file modifications for the series:

• New on map counter colors with a ‘flat’ board war game type of look and feel. Reworked all on map counters (266 files) for all 5 zoom levels (2DSymbolsSm, 2DSymbolsLg, 2DSymbolsMag, 3DCounters50, 3DCounters100, 3Dsymbols50 and 3DSymbols100) for each nation. I basically converted all counters to a board war game counter look and feel. This included recoloring all the nationalities based loosely off either board war game counter colors or in some cases national flag colors or some parts of uniforms (i.e., for the NKVD and VMF - Soviet Naval troops).
  
• New Victory Point national flags. Reworked all VP flags for all the nations (38 total nations right now in the series) for all 5 zoom levels, the basic idea here was to use or mimic historical flags for each nation (for 'flavor' I added an extra flag for the SS, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, and the USMC although it could be argued that the national flag works best here). Note I also corrected the max zoomed in VP display box, the original file is 2 pixels too small, and I corrected this.
  
• New unit type symbols. Reworked all three 2D unit symbols for on map units (2DSymbolsSm, 2DSymbolsLg, and 2DSymbolsMag) to use symbols based loosely off board war games (mainly Europa) and for max zoomed in 2D level made them thicker for us old school war game folks. Also, for this mod I put a yellow HQ stripe for all CC, TF/HQs on the 2DSymbolsMag files. Some new symbols include new rocket, mortar, RR entrained, Engineer, Tank Engineer, Recon, Bicycle, Motorcycle, Heavy AA, Light AA, AT, and TD. Also changed Partisans, Irregular forces, and the Supply counter symbols. I also changed the bridge laying symbols so they are subtle but stand out more on both 2D large and 2D mag levels.
  
• New UI panels and function. Also included is a complete rework of the UI Panels (18 files) to give a steel plate and rivet look for all four positions (top, bottom, left and right), including scroll buttons when the hex contains more units than can be seen in the unit panel.
  
• New Unit Info Boxes. Created, brand new Unit Info Boxes (45 total for all the unique nations and sub-nations forces in the series), which also includes a mini-national flag, and I created a different way to know when you have selected or deselected units and with this unit info box mod I made the unit info panel darker so that when you right click you can better read the detailed unit information. I thought being able to read the data here was a key factor to game play.
  
• New movement arrows. I made brand new movement arrows for three of the zoom levels (2D only; 2DSymbolsSm, 2DSymbolsLg, and 2DSymbolsMag, the 3D movement arrows are still red).
  
• New Turn Phase boxes. Added new Turn Phase box artwork for all titles in the series (9 in total for all 27 titles), here I used mainly the national flag(s) for this area. In some cases, multiple flags (i.e., US and UK).
  
• New Cover (at start splash screen) for all 27 titles. Lastly, I put my own spin on the at start splash screens. The idea here was to keep the WDS vibe but add my “artistic” touch to them.
  

All 27 zip files are GME (or JGME) compatible for each game. These mods won't necessarily work with Jison modifications because I changed a lot of the files that he also changed. That being said if you like his maps look and feel you can use just those but its recommended to use my 2DSymbols and Unit info art work instead (his work is older and has not been updated to any of the 4.00 WDS standards in regards to all the 2DSymbols files, many missing new features which my mod deals with).

Phase II will take a bit longer and in that phase I am going to update all the unit counters in the unit info box to also include use of both the flat board war game counters and the board war game unit symbology, but that will take probably six months or so. I started phase I in December, and it took about two months just for this work. So, I have decided to release Phase I now since its completely playable right now and you can just plug in Phase II when its complete.


You can download and access the files and view the instructions here:

Zovs-Mods


See next several posts for some screenshots and other highlights or points of interest of this mod.

Don

[zovs66]

Budapest '45

One of the 27 inital spash screens.


The UI, max 2D zoomed out (small) and turn phase box.


2d zoomed in (large).


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/OlOHIZp.png

2D zoomed in max (magnified).


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/X6fqkWy.jpg

Some new VP location flags (you can also see some of the new and reworked unit symbols, as well as the reworked mines, obstacles, bunkers and pillbox symbols).


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/3zwUPH1.jpg

[zovs66]

Bulge '44

Opening screen with new UI, new turn phase box, new unit selected info box, new movement arrows and at max 2D zoomed out.


Zoomed in one level on 2D, showing both sides with new flat board war game counters, new counter colors, new counter symbols, new VPs flags and new movement arrows.


Max 2D zoomed in, showing newer counters, symbols, counter colors, flags and movement arrows.


One of the 3D views.

[zovs66]

El Alamein '42

Highlighting the various units of the Commonwealth (all CW units are split with the British tan on the top and their national colors on the right, India in this picture is green), plus one FF unit in the lower right, and the Italian Albanians (again the counter is split, Italian green and red for Albania).


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/1S3sse8.png

Germans, Italians and South Africans (British tan and SA orange).


Free French (FF), British and some various Italians (note the new Heavy AA, Engineer, and Motorcycle symbols).


Australians (British brown with Australian medium brown), Italians and the Italian Blackshirts.

[zovs66]

Tobruk '41

Here we can see some Australians, Czechs (pink), Poles (red) and British units besieged.


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/265h1UA.png

Here we see some New Zealand units (British brown with NZ dark brown), note the new recon symbols.


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/Z4Ffk22.png

[zovs66]

France '40

The Dutch with several new symbol types (from left to right, Heavy AA, Bicycle, Cavalry, Engineers, Mortars - in-between the two HQs, HQs, and Motorcycle - far right).


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/jGqrZsf.png

The Belgians.


The French and British (BEF).

[zovs66]

Japan '45

The Japanese and USMC.


US Army, USMC and Japanese.


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/NwSJZHK.jpg

[zovs66]

Stalingrad '42

Russians, Russian Guards and Romanians.


Germans and Russians entangled in Stalingrad proper (note the new bridging unit symbols, the Germans have one in the south and the Soviets in the north, and the new Rocket artillery units). Also you can see the larger sized VP boxes.


New Soviet Naval Infantry.

[zovs66]

Normandy '44

British sector with British Airborne against the German and SS.


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/S5Kt0Qu.png

Canadian sector facing the SS.


US Army sector.


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/Sc5Nu2W.jpg

US Army and US Airborne.


Direct link:
https://i.imgur.com/D3MlvYy.png

Luftwaffe.


Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht.


Unit selection highlights, UI arrow navigation in hex/stack, unit info boxes and mini-unit national flags.

[zovs66]

There is a lot more, but you get the general idea. If you have any problems downloading let me know, I believe I made my shared link available for all.

If you spot any issues or have any feedback let me know.

Again please see the first post for details and download links, there is also a text file instructions on how to install and use GME (or JGME) to use these mods, all 27 folders/games are GME compatible.