Extermination Is Here!

[Catfish]

Originally posted by Boco
I was debating about mentioning Catfish's static.spr, but decided to apply the KISS principle. One less file to worry about.

What static.spr file? The sprite guide is all about the KISS principle - especially for the user. For a scenario with no custom unit sprites it says to do exactly what you suggested (Case 1, end of document). Curt already supplies the dummy resource.spr file with the scenario; that deals with the animated terrain problem. Since AFAIK there are only 2 people on the planet who have used Mercator's sprite utilities to create custom sprite files for their scenarios (ie, you and me), the other cases will rarely apply.

Originally posted by Boco
It could be that better solution is to use Merc's SpriteGen, but I haven't checked to see whether you have any trigger units or such, for which you want to hide health bars.

That would be a Case 2 scenario.

Originally posted by Boco
Sprites actually move slightly slower on my machine than units from the bmp. Is that also true for Catfish's dummy sprites?

I've only ever created one type of dummy file and that deals exclusively with animated terrain. As far as I'm aware, animated terrain doesn't move around - well, not that much.

Anyway Curt, I thought you had a handle on this stuff? Certainly, you got it right in Dictator and Bitterfrost.

[curtsibling]

The sprite over-ride methods all work perfectly fine for me.

I think it was only Sarsstock who had a mild problem.

[typhoon]

I had it too Curt, but its fine now, thanks to you and Boco.

[curtsibling]

[Boco]

Oooooooooooopppppppppppppppppppssssss!!!!!!

(Boco's keyboard is stuck from the egg dripping from his face.)

Seems my mind concocted quite a fantasy from my reading of your tip a while back, Catfish. Thanks for setting the record straight. Folks, much of my posts in this thread are incorrect. You can still trust the @UNITS_ADVANCED tip as far as it goes, but forget the rest.

[Catfish]

Originally posted by curtsibling
I think it was only Sarsstock who had a mild problem.

Anyone who hadn't moved or renamed static.spr in their Original directory would've had the problem; so that includes me as well.

Originally posted by Boco
You can still trust the @UNITS_ADVANCED tip as far as it goes, but forget the rest.

I think that's what happened in the end, so the net result was good.

[curtsibling]

So, how is the scenario?

Did anyone last long against the Daleks?

[Sarsstock]

Well by relying on precision bombardments by tanks, missiles and artillery alike I was able to hold off the first two waves of Daleks without having to commit ground forces to combat, so much so to the point where I was almost certain I had turned the tide for my beloved besieged barraks and that there may infact be hope for mankind.

I was so convinced that victory was within my reach by the 9th turn that I began drawing men out of they're defensive positions to prepare for an all out assault on the Dalek Saucer. Sadly, this was not to be, as the 3rd wave of Dalek's seemed bigger than the last two waves combined, and ultimatly breached the compound walls several turns later. Sorry I don't have more playtesting details for ya Curt, I was so excited to play this one I didn't make as many notes as I should have.

All and all, this one for sure gets the thumbs up and then some!!

[curtsibling]

Cheers man!

I wanted this mini-scenario to be a bit like the 'survival' tournaments in Golden Axe.
Where you face ever-increasingly nasty enemies, but have very few chances to heal or repower.

I got to turn 24, and got near the Saucer doors, but a new wave of Pepperpots arrived...

I was shortly exterminated...!

[our_man]

Victory by turn 10. I sent Bateman out on a lone run to take out the Dalek saucer, while relying on the other units to hold the line. Bateman managed to make it to the saucer without committing himself to combat.

On the way, I smashed 3 of those Dalek supplies, but only got one retro-laser. The impression I got was that for every supply I smashed I should get one of these units. Is this meant to be the case, or do you only get a retro-laser from the first one you kill?

A bit OT, but I finished my D3 ToT game too! I finally got around to launching my assault on the USSR by turn 30; I had no idea what I was letting myself in for. The end result was never in any doubt - a Nazi victory, but the AI really made me bleed for it! Most Russian cities were garrisoned by over 6 units, making them rather expensive to take, except for the coastal cities south of Finland (load up some Waffen SS & amphibious assault!). Partisans generated upon capturing cities were a major pain, pillaging roads and slowing my advance to a crawl. I was being counterattacked by 10-15 bomber units per turn; combined with the partisans it allowed the Russians to retake some of their cities... for a while. I responded in kind - with ground assaults out of the question, I used bombers to empty the Russian cities combined with paratroopers. Reason: the Russians didn't build any fighters!

Maybe I shouldn't be so glum; it might have made my game impossible! They refused to build tanks too. By the end of the game I had only managed to penetrate Russia as far as Leningrad, Moscow and Stalingrad - which thankfully was enough!

Allied events worked quite well with the exception of Op Torch. The Allies researched this but nothing happened. Op Overlord was nearly the end of me and provided some excitement during the final few turns - at one stage the Allies occupied all French cities and only a determined counterattack drove them out!

So, in the end it was a German strategic victory, one objective off a world war victory. The war in Russia required all my resources and an invasion of the USA for those elusive remaining objectives was never on the cards. Great job on this one!

[curtsibling]

I guess Bateman is a true hero - Who needs the Doctor!

(I'll get my coat)

If you like D3, I guess you'll be glad to know that D4 is on the
cards too, with many new ideas and a much slicker series of
events...This is one scen I plan for 2006 without a doubt...!

I am chuffed that you got such a kick from the current version...Cheers!

[tanelorn]

So that's how its done. And I thought of just pulling the plug on the big ugly toasters!

Absolutely great scenario, can't wait for "Dalek Tyranny"

[Arthedain]

If you like D3, I guess you'll be glad to know that D4 is on the
cards too, with many new ideas and a much slicker series of
events...This is one scen I plan for 2006 without a doubt...!

[curtsibling]

I am wondering about changing the name from 'Dictator'...

But I cannot think of what...!

[curtsibling]

BTW:
I'll post up a final update of the Extermination scen this weekend...