New Version of 2194 Days Available for PBEMs!!!

[klesh]

With the blessing of Captain Nemo, for the last 2 weeks I have been hard at work doing a complete rework of 2194 Days of War. This is because it is such a popular game for PBEMing yet is so unbalanced, something had to be done. Hopefully this will reduce the phenomenon of WWII lasting only a few turns. I don't think I ever recall the old 2194 games getting into 1943 at all!

I have discussed changes with several talented people and have come up with what I think could be the definative PBEM version of this scenario. This is not some hokey 4 second fix here.

There is sure to be debate as to whether my changes are in the best interest of every civ etc, but what I have done is to try and balance out each Civ and their tech trees whilst still retaining their respective real world strengths and weaknesses.

I was going to hold a closed PBEM test round of this scenario, then edit any problems encountered. But due to time constraints and other scenario works I have decided to open this up straight away for all to play. I completely encourage constructive criticism, and would like you all to post some here as you experience things in your games. I will continually update the scen as problems are encountered.

I will also attempt to answer any of your criticisms with the reasoning behind the changes, so perhaps my intentions can be brought to light.

What I have done is to make my very first website (ya!) for you all to download this scenario (approx 600kb). Please don't laugh at the website though. I am not a webmaster hero, and all I had to work with was the crappy free geocities pagebuilder software. There you can also read the comprehensive (though, not entirely) list of changes that I have made to the scenario.

You can find the 2194 Days of PBEM files here. I look forward to everyone enjoying the work I put into this.

Regards,
-FMK.

[Jimmywax]

I think I speak for everyone when I say sssssssweeeeeeeeeet. I am assuming it has been thuroughly tested. No offense to Case but that last one just wasn't quite it. But I am raring to start this one since I think all the other ones I am in have stalled. If I seem to be babling don't mind me, I get migraines and the medicine I take for them makes me scatter brained and jittery. Thank god I am not like this all the time, eh.

[klesh]

Updated.

One thing leads to another and problems lead to more. I noticed a few errors with v3. I have squashed bugs over and over but some slip through the cracks. If you have downloaded version 3, please get this little update here (very small).

I will now upload v4 to the geocities site. If you didnt get v3 just go to the site and get v4.


I havent had a change to thoroughly test this in PBEM format Jimmy. Thats what I am hoping to do here. I have tested it by myself, and of course you never catch everything.

-FMK.

[Marko]

You have done good work, FMK

[Chris 62]

To give an idea of some of the changes, Germany and Japan's offensive capabilities have been toned down, the SS are gone, but both Japan and Germany get a heavy bomber and advanced fighter to research.

Britain can now build LVT's, and has an advanced tank beyound the Churchill (The Comet), lost it's Mosquito, but gained a jet fighter, the Meteor!

Russia starts with better defense along it's Japan border, can research a super heavy tank (Js-2).

The USA can build B-17s at start, and cannot lose pearl harbor on the first turn, it's P-47 is now a fighter, as well as several other changes.

There are no raillines, but all infantry can now move 2, and only a few fighters are top of the line for bomber intercept are among the many changes.

Hopefully, this will all work well, but if not, we will just have to fix it.

[Pap1723]

I have found a bug...

I was playing and even though the first turn, the Americans researched Wartime Production, they were not able to build the Ammunition plant.

I also was thinking that the G.I. should be able to make amphibious assaults so that the Americans can island hop in the Pacific.

Pap

[MagyarCrusader]

Why does German units cost more production in comparison to other civs?

[Pap1723]

Magyar,
I amy be wrong, but I am going to assume that they are more expensive to show the supply problems and the shortage of natural resources and men to fight.

But I really have no idea, but it makes sense.

Pap

[Case]

Houston, we have a problem

I can't believe that I didn't notice this during my (too brief) testing, but on turn 1 heaps of American cities (including New York, Chicago and San Francisco) go into disorder! As this is before I even start to move units out of the cities, this has the potential to become a major problem.

Would it be possible to fiddle around with things so that at least some of the German 'happy' wonders, which aren't needed with a Facist government, are in the US?

Possible new names:
Nazi Party -> Hollywood
Hitler Youth -> 'Remember Pearl Harbour'
Nuremburg Rallies -> 'The Four Freedoms'


Here's replacement graphics in the above order. The one for the four freedoms is actually taken from a Nazi propaganda poster, but it's the cloest thing I could find to a Norman Rockwell painting.

[Soundwave]

Looks good, and i hope to see new work continue!

[Jimmywax]

Re: Houston, we have a problem

Originally posted by Case
Possible new names:
Nazi Party -> Hollywood
Hitler Youth -> 'Remember Pearl Harbour'
Nuremburg Rallies -> 'The Four Freedoms'

I think Hollywood would be an excellent replacement since it was a source of entertainment to millions during the depression. I like 'Pearl Harbour' but it seems kind of cheesy, I think a better wonder would be 'mobilization' to show the American publics move from an isolationist society to a determined force to be reckoned with. Just my two cents though.

[MagyarCrusader]

How come these cities are in disorder in the new version but not the old version? Do they have all the city improvements? Entertainers? I don't think Germany's happy wonders should be scrapped because they are valuable in giving Germany money (tithes).

Not really important but something that gets me is the fact Nemo uses Belgrade instead of Budapest. Personal feelings aside, Budapest was one of the biggest, longest, and ugliest battles on the Eastern Front. There was no major battles at Belgrade. Anyone how knows the least about this theater will tell you that. Belgrade even has control over the Ploiesti oil fields and that should be Bucharest. I expected more from Nemo.

[klesh]

Excellent fellas. This is what I meant for this to be. We all love playing this scen, but we all know there are things that should change, and I certainly cant do everything right the first time etc. These suggestions are very nice, lets go through some shall we?

I was playing and even though the first turn, the Americans researched Wartime Production, they were not able to build the Ammunition plant.

Yes, I don't know what is going on with this. I checked and no one can build them when they get Wartime Production. It should be cumulative toward the Steel Mill. But when I seel a Steel Mill off in an American city, it isnt available for building either!!! The Steel Mill doesnt even show up in the Civlopedia. The Ammunition Plant is in the Civilopedia, and its listed as being available with Wartime Production. I dojnt know whats happening here... I didnt even fiddle with this.

Would it be possible to fiddle around with things so that at least some of the German 'happy' wonders, which aren't needed with a Facist government, are in the US?

Yes, of course it is! Great idea. I am in favor of using the 'Nuremberg Rallies 1938', as it will count as a Cathedral in every US City. I like the idea 'Hollywood' for this. I will try switching just one wonder, and if needed I'll do another.

I have no idea why these cities went into disorder when they didn't used to before? If anything they should be more happy, as they have more units in their cities...strange.

I agree with Mike that the Germans shouldn't lose all these wonders as the tithes are quite important to their economy. We'll see if losing Nuremberg Rallies hurts them too much. I will also add some entertainers into the US cities.

Budapest was one of the biggest, longest, and ugliest battles on the Eastern Front. There was no major battles at Belgrade. Anyone how knows the least about this theater will tell you that. Belgrade even has control over the Ploiesti oil fields and that should be Bucharest.

Well Mike, what do you suggest? I can very easily give control of the Oil Field terrain to Bucharest, and even move the Ploesti Wonder into Bucharest as well. What do you suggest for a city size? As it is now, Belgrade is size 12 and Bucharest is size 4. Where do you suggest these to be?

Personal feelings aside...

Yeah right.

I also was thinking that the G.I. should be able to make amphibious assaults so that the Americans can island hop in the Pacific.

Well I think they should have no problem island hopping with those LVT-2's. The Ami's didnt island hop right away, and building a few of those amphibious vehicles will surely do the trick after a quick shore bombardment. Brit infantry cannot assault amphibiously, but they are allowed to research the LVT-2 as well. I think this gives Japan a nice window of oppertunity to run wild in the Pacific before the Allies can react.

What are everyone else's thoughts on this?

Why does German units cost more production in comparison to other civs?

This is because Germany starts with alot of tanks and planes and Infantry. They are on the move from the start so later on, cheap units for them would allow their advance to continue infinately. They were never able to field their later armours in sufficient numbers. If they develop their economy properly, they still shouldn't have too much problem with this.

Okay, I'll try these changes and post an update.

-FMK.

[klesh]

Okay, I changed Bucharest to a size 10 city. Gave it the same set up as Belgrade, and put the Ploesti Wonder in there. I also gave it control of the one tile of 'Oil Fields' terrain that used to belong to Belgrade.

I changed 'Nuremberg Rallies 1938' to 'Hollywood' and placed it in Los Angeles. New York, Chicago and San Francisco still all rioted on the first turn after giving the wonder, so I gave them a few GI's to prevent this. All 3 are fine now.

Also, Marko noted to me that 'Trondheim' was spelled without the 'd' in the original, so that has been changed as well.

I still cannot figure out why the Ammunition plant does not become available upon discovery of 'Wartime Production' (MP). There is no apparent reason why this happens. What am I missing?

-FMK.

[Leonidas]

Nice work, FMK. It's nice to see Civ2 is still going strong.