IronX Related Material

Gents,

IronX has asked to have all of his material, both graphics modification and full game-mods removed from all public sites. I will be working on this over the course of the week as time permits, hoping to be finished by week’s end.

If there are any questions or concerns, feel free to contact him directly.

Thanks,
tBRO

Squad Battles: Falklands Released

Fresh off the presses, John Tiller Software has released SB: Falklands

http://johntillersoftware.com/SquadBattles/Falklands.html

Check out the screen-shots and descriptions. With digital download, you can be campaigning in the Malvinas by lunch!

WulfsMod Graphics Mods for MW, TOD, RV and PW

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Here’s a very nice set of graphics modifications done by IronWulf over on the Blitz.  He’s put together graphics/terrain modifications of four games, each can be found under their specific game folder in the graphics/sounds section of the site, or if you own all four games, simply download the combined zipped files here.   Here is an informational text file he put into the main zipped folder giving information on how to use these graphics images as well as some relevant links and his contact information.  Great stuff, thanks IronWulf!

Panzer Campaigns Graphics

Philippe has put together three more graphics mods for the Panzer Campaign Series, including one of the current JTS Demo.  The other two are Bulge and Rzhev.

Go here to get them.

SB: Modern War!

Modern War

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For almost ten years now, the United States military has been fighting a new kind of war, against both conventional and unconventional forces. Their opponents, while minimally equipped and trained, are inspired by strong beliefs and willing to take any action to achieve victory. These battles have been fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, ranging from fighting in rugged mountainous terrain to close-in fighting in cities. Small unit tactics have become the premiere engagement occurrence with highly tactical fighting the basis for deciding victory or defeat. In this new kind of warfare, terms such as IED and UAV have taken on a new significance. The US military has learned to fight these wars using new weapons, new techniques, and new tactics.

Ranging from operations in Afghanistan such as Anaconda to the initial invasion of Iraq and subsequent fighting in cities like Fallujah, Squad Battles: Modern War covers the major battles and engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq. Modern War provides a unique perspective to how modern combat is being fought at the squad level and how it might be fought in the future.

 

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Scenarios

• 44 scenarios covering actions such as Operation Anaconda, Fallujah, Mosul and Sadr City.
• Scenarios range in length from 10 to 25 turns and cover actions from small firefights between a handful of men to hundreds of men battling it out for key strongpoints on a variety of battlefields.
• Close quarters urban fighting all the way to remote terrain ambushes are modeled and various points in between.
• 2 linked scenario campaigns.

 

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Features

In addition to the stand alone scenarios players may also choose to play the “campaign” format where they will play a series of scenarios centered around a particular figure. As long as this person survives each scenario they continue on to the next battle, but if he is lost the campaign game will end. For players who enjoy “sandbox” features of wargaming a wide array of editors is included – scenario editor, OOB editor, parameter data editor, DAT editor and sub-map editor. 32 “full” maps are included for use with the sub-map editor, which allows “chopping up” of a map to create a new smaller one to represent certain actions. These maps range in size from 30 x 20 hexes up to 226 x 244 hexes – ample ground to make many custom scenarios.

Players control squads or fire teams of men, individual leaders and individual vehicles in a variety of conditions. Lush terrain to high rugged mountains, to massive urban environments are modeled. The system is a tried & true turn based platform using 40 meter hexes and an intuitive interface allowing players to use a combination of mouse clicks, menu commands and hot keys to control their units. Views are in two levels of 2D.

 

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Changes

Changes in the Squad Battles series new to Modern War:

• Added Weapons Off option under View Menu to hide discarded weapons on the map.
• Added ability for Objectives to be defined as Collateral with points awarded for enemy fire into those hexes.
• Added non-degrading reliability ‘X’ for loads, weapons, and vehicles.
• Added Leader morale modification to assault morale (see Assaulting in User Manual).
• Added Demoralize load effect which causes units to become Demoralized or Disrupted (see Weapon Types in the User Manual).
• Added ability to sort data in the Database Editor.
• Added option for Mouse Wheel Zoom.

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File Previews

Here are some files from the game (PDF files):

• Getting Started Help File
• Iraq Scenario Map
• Afghanistan Scenario Map
• List of Operations
• Campaign Notes

Credits

• Game Coordinator: Rich Hamilton
• Scenario Designer: Joao Lima
• Scenario Maps: Dave Blackburn
• Campaign Maps: Mike Avanzini
• Playtesters: Dennis Suttman, Phil Driscoll, Nik Butler, Alan Florjancic, Bill Havice, Abram Harrison

In Memoriam

This wargame is dedicated to the memory of Mike Mundell who died serving his country on January 5, 2007 in Fallujah, Iraq.

System Requirements

Windows XP, Vista, or 7
Processor: 1 GHz
Disk Space: 1 GB
Memory: 1 GB

This wargame is for sale at The John Tiller Software Store

Two Big Christmas Presents: SB: Modern War and IronX’s Red Victory MOD

I’ve had a run of illness run through the BigRedOne’s family this week, so this post will be short. Two big announcements come on the heels of the holidays.

John Tiller Software has unveiled SB: Modern War. Previews and screen-shots can be found here. The game goes on sale via digital download on Monday the 27th.

Second, IronX has put out another fantastic set of graphics/sound mods for Squad Battles, this time for the Eastern Front and Red Victory. I’ll have a separate page for this on the site in the coming days, but until then go to his site to download the mods and the instructions. They come with a few directions that need to be followed in order to maximize your experience.

Happy Holidays!

HPS Operational Campaigns: Sicily Mod

Philippe has completed another MOD for the Operational Campaigns, this time it’s Sicily in the Western Front series.

Go get it here.

The Pacific War Expansion Pack A

Squad Battles Scenario Designer Joao Lima brings us the first new set of scenarios for Pacific War in a long, long, LONG time.  His PW Expansion Pack A contains 5 brand new tactical challenges to the table.  Light Tanks-Heavy Battles, The Rescue, At the Edge of the World, The Squeeze and From the Jungle to the City.

I play-tested three of these scenarios with Joao (my first Pacific War game play ever, can you believe it?) and can attest that its fantastic work that you’ll truly enjoy.  Go get them here.

The Sharp End–New Scenarios

Ozgur has put together a couple of more scenarios from his tactical series The Sharp End.  This time three for Eagles Strike and one from The Soviet Afghan-War.

Are you up to the challenge?

Go here to get them.

HPS Operational Section Updated

Philippe has added a couple of more Operational Mods, The First Blitzkrieg and War on the Southern Front for Total War in Europe.

Go here to get them!

HPS Operational Games Graphics Mods

This is a little out of the scope of what we do here at Task Force Echo 4, but we’re always looking to help the HPS community out in any way we can.  Philippe asked if we’d be willing to host some graphics modifications he’s been working on in the Panzer Campaigns series, as well as one for the WWI series.  Below are the links to the mods.  A zipped file with proper instructions, acknowledgments and screen-shots can be downloaded here.  I’m not a player of this side of the HPS world, but I’m pretty sure that it’s crucial to read the instructions before attempting to use these graphics modifications.  Here’s a thread over at the Blitz Wargaming Club with some screen-shots as well.  Enjoy.  Go here to get these.

Any and all questions should be forwarded to Philippe, as I am not involved with the Operational games in any way.

The Sharp End-ES modified OOBs

Gents,

Ozgur took the time to sync up his Eagle’s Strike Sharp End scenario OOBs  with IronX’s latest graphics package.  Enjoy.

Go here to get it.

IronX Eagle’s Strike Graphics Mod 1.1

IronX has re-vamped his previously released graphics mod for Eagle’s Strike.

This latest version of the graphics mod (1.1) is now available and includes:

- new snow tiles
- smaller victory objectives
- reworked booby-trap, wire and grappling hook icons
- new field graphic
- some buildings reworked

Scenarios that take advantage of the graphics now include:

- 100 Men
- A Deadly squeeze Play
- A Race to the River
- A Ranger Challenge/Easy
- Barkmann’s War
- Bloody Black Forest
- Bloody Night
- Bouck’s Brave Little Band
- Bullets for Breakfast
- Busy Bosses
- Fear in the Fog
- Fire on the Flank
- Hell to Pay
- Hassoumont Farm
- Pointe-du-Hoc-The Landing
- The Battle of Mortain Part 1
- Those Green Devils
- Trapped!

The mod, hosted by TFE4, can be downloaded here.

Lowlander Files Updated

Ian did a little more tinkering and sent me an updated folder yesterday.  See the post below and go to the link, it has been updated.

TBRO

General Terrain Graphics Enhancement Files

Another budding SB graphics artist has made his work known to the SB community.  Lowlander (Eastwindrain over at Wargamer) has put together some nice looking terrain files that can be used with most SB titles.  Within the zipped folder are a couple of screenshots to give you an idea of what they look like when applied to a couple of games.  As with all graphics mods, it’s always best to make a copy of the Map folder before putting these files in there, just in case you wish to easily revert back to your stock graphics.  Many kudos to Lowlander for another set of excellent graphics modifications!

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Get it here.

Pacific War and Proud and Few Graphics Packages

It seems that the graphics enhancements for the SB series keep right on rolling.  This time a member over at Wargamer has taken it upon himself to spruce up the Pacific-based SB games, with some really creative twists.

Here is the thread over at Wargamer which includes a multitude of screenshots as well as some explanations as to what his inspiration was.

As you can see, the counters have been made much smaller,  and there have been a variety of terrain and other feature changes.  Really good looking stuff, and can be used as-is or easily adapted to a mix-and-match type of situation with some of the other graphics enhancements out there to give an individual custom look.

As always, it’s recommended that you make a copy of the folders that will have the files over-written, just in case you want to go back to your original set up.

Pacific War files go here.

Proud and Few files go here.

The Sharp End #12 (Eagle’s Strike) Scenario released.

The 12th scenario for Eagle’s Strike in The Sharp End series has been released, and it’s another meat grinder in the Hurtgen Forest courtesy of scenario designer Ozgur Budak.

This game is currently the second round scenario in The Green Hell tournament over at the Blitz Wargaming Club.

Get it here.

Eagle’s Strike WWII Sound and Graphics MOD

IronX has just released his latest work, a graphics and sound MOD for Eagle’s Strike.  The visuals are striking,  and the sounds crisp and clean.  Take a look.

The two mods for Eagles Strike that update the unit and map graphics and replace the weapon sounds are now available for download from Task Force Echo Four.

A number of the OOB files included in the mod have been updated to take advantage of the new graphics. The scenarios include:

100 Men
A Deadly squeeze Play
A Race to the River
A Ranger Challenge/Easy
Barkmann’s War
Bloody Black Forest
Bloody Night
Bouck’s Brave Little Band
Bullets for Breakfast
Busy Bosses
Fear in the Fog
Fire on the Flank
Those Green Devils

Installation of the mods is straight forward. Just unzip to the drive where Eagles Strike is installed (usually C:\) and make sure the “Use folder names” option is checked in Winzip. Alternatively, you can unzip the files manually to their respective sub-folders.

Go here to get them.

The two mods for Eagles Strike that update the unit and map graphics and replace the weapon sounds are now available for download from Task Force Echo Four.

A number of the OOB files included in the mod have been updated to take advantage of the new graphics. The scenarios include:

100 Men
A Deadly squeeze Play
A Race to the River
A Ranger Challenge/Easy
Barkmann’s War
Bloody Black Forest
Bloody Night
Bouck’s Brave Little Band
Bullets for Breakfast
Busy Bosses
Fear in the Fog
Fire on the Flank
Those Green Devils

Installation of the mods is straight forward. Just unzip to the drive where Eagles Strike is installed (usually C:\) and make sure the “Use folder names” option is checked in Winzip. Alternatively, you can unzip the files manually to their respective sub-folders.

Click this link to download the graphics mod (3.6MB).

Click this link to download the sounds mod (50.1MB).

Red Star over Europe v1.2 released

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IronX has updated his Cold War SB Mod.  Go get it here.

Red Star Over Europe mod for Squad Battles Vietnam 1.06 is now available for download. Due to the numerous changes, this is a complete mod rather than just an update.

To install, make sure you have a clean copy of Vietnam that is updated to 1.06 then run the mod installer.

Changes for Red Star Over Europe 1.2 include:

- Mod now compatible with Vietnam Version 1.06
- Added French units:

Vehicles

* AMX-30 MBT
* AMX-13/90
* AMX-13 DCA Anti-Aircraft
* AMX-10P APC
* AMX-10RC
* VAB APC

Weapons

* FAMAS F1
* FAMAS F1/RG (HE and AP)
* AA-52 LMG and HMG
* FR-F1 Sniper
* SARPAC anti-tank rocket launcher
* LGI Mle F1 Mortar
* ER95B Radio

- Fixed immovable BVP-1s in scenario Danube By Night
- Changed the map (only) for US Scenario 1
- Increased HE lethality for larger caliber guns
- Reduced armor value of Leopard 1
- Added BMP-1/2 that carries external riders only – denoted by (+)
- Vehicle smoke grenades are now single use weapons
- Replaced unit map counter and info backgrounds
- Replaced Normal tileset so that higher elevations are lighter
- Updated unit information markers and map objects a la World At War
- Improved sound file management
- Revised sounds for some effects and weapons
- Added sound effects for new French weapons and some vehicles

Squad Battles: Red Victory

With TillerCon III beginning, folks there are getting the first glimpse of the new SB title, Red Victory. It’s the follow-up to Advance of the Reich and it’s a masterpiece. Ozgur Budak crafted 90 scenarios, which include the campaign scenarios. It’s a must-have SB title as far as I’m concerned.

Here are some screen shots of some of the playtests I had the pleasure to run, just to whet your appetite. The graphics are a combination of the stock graphics and alternate graphics files, so what you’ll see there isn’t exactly what you’ll be getting, but a good approximation.

HUGE, huge kudos go out to Ozgur for his tremendous effort bringing this game to fruition.

Pre-order is now available through various retailers, including NWS.   Shipping won’t be until June 4th.

At Stalingrad, the largest military offensive in history ground to a halt as the Wehrmacht met and was defeated by the Red Army. The German Sixth Army has surrendered and the Soviets have a renewed fighting spirit. Now it’s time for the Red Army to press the Germans back towards the Fatherland. In the next 2 1/2 years of titanic struggle, the Soviets will push all the way to the Reich’s capital of Berlin. Can you lead the Red Army, sweep over your foes and outperform the historical Soviet commanders? Can you as the Wehrmacht stop the Red Tide from engulfing the Reich? Red Victory is the long awaited sequel to Advance of the Reich, published over seven years ago. It is a tactical level computer wargame with scenarios ranging over the entire Eastern Front, 1943-45. The basic unit is the squad, but players can form units up to division level. With this game, the Squad Battles engine has received many upgrades and the level of detail has grown. The number of scenarios included in this title has almost tripled, as have the number of maps available for player use. The last half of the war on the Eastern Front (1943-45) is covered in detail here with multiple scenarios from battles in Kharkov, Warsaw, Kursk, Kiev, Korsun & Berlin, to name but a few. Any wargamer with an interest in the Russian Front will find many hours on challenging engagements awaiting them.

Red Victory 90 stand alone scenarios and 3 campaigns to choose from. 37 unique maps ranging in size from 900 hexes to 86,400 hexes providing ample ground for scenario designers to create their own actions. 3D graphics with a wide range of AFVs being modeled.

Engine changes include:

1) Added sled vehicle flag to designate such vehicles as the Russian aerosled. 2) Added Infrared Detection Devices and three uses for those: MP-44/StG-44 with Infrared PzKw V Panther with Infrared SdKfz 251/20 with Infrared 3) Added Demolition Vehicles SdKfz 301, 302, and 303 (See Remote Control Vehicles under Movement section of Users Manual). 4) Added Direct Fire vehicle flag for designating aircraft with no targeting scatter (see Support in Users Manual).

The game also has the standard scenario, OOB, parameter, database & sub-map editors included with the game. Play modes include A/I, Hot Seat, PBEM, LAN & Internet play.