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Hitler's War redeux

Started by GJK, November 26, 2012, 11:17:28 PM

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GJK

My son and I enjoy playing Hitler's War.  It's an easy enough game to learn and you have free reign on what you build and where you invade so it's not "scripted" like many other ETO games.  I believe that the game is very underrated but most likely due to the fugly and small map and very plain/boring counters.  I'm making my own print-n-play version with an enlarged map, completely redrawn (1" hexes) and it will have all new counters once I get to that phase of the project.  Scaled down sample of the map:
http://www.garykrockover.com/graphics/HW-Map-alternate-colors-final-small.png (3.4mb)
Thumbnail in the attachment.

Comments?
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer

Michael Dorosh

I'd try posting this on an active wargaming forum like http://boardgamegeek.com/forum/26625/hitlers-war/general and see what the consensus is there.

I remember some friends playing Hitler's War in high school, I don't think I ever got a game in myself. They seemed to prefer it to Prados' Third Reich, though.

Staggerwing

Gary, that map is really nice! I just compared it to the original over at the BGG and I'm very impressed! I see that the shorelines and borders and hex placement still match the original but the map details are so much nicer. How did you get that 'glow' around the coast?
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?  -Voluspa

Nothing really rocks and nothing really rolls and nothing's ever worth the cost...

"Don't you look at me that way..." -the Abyss
 
'When searching for a meaningful embrace, sometimes my self respect took second place' -Iggy Pop, Cry for Love

... this will go down on your permanent record... -the Violent Femmes, 'Kiss Off'-

"I'm not just anyone, I'm not just anyone-
I got my time machine, got my 'electronic dream!"
-Sonic Reducer, -Dead Boys

GJK

Hey MAD-
Unfortunately, the Geek forums for HW haven't been very active at all either.  I get the most response over on CSW but I'll post something on the   Geek.  I'm thinking of selling the pdf for $10 or so.  I removed all references to "Hitler's War" and it looks different enough.  I had the map printed out and it looks really good.  The hexes are 1" across and so a 5/8" counter fits well inside the hex.  A 3/4" counter would work as well.  I'm working on a redeux of the counters that I think I'll have printed on labels and then will affix to 5/8" or 3/4" wooden tiles.  Maybe put some shellac on the pieces and then have a super-deluxe version of the game.


HW just never caught on - probably because of the small, ugly map and plain, ugly counters.  If you read the comments about the game on the Geek, you'll see lot's of praise for it: "the game that Third Reich should of been".  It's a simple game, but seems to capture the ETO well.  What's nice is you aren't scripted to follow anything historically.  You build your armies the way you want and you (try to) invade and conquer where you want.  The little game has everything from amphibious assaults, paratroops, V-1/V-2 rockets and you can even build the bomb (or attempt to).  The only area that it's weak in is the political aspect but I may try working something up on that based off of Prados' Third Reich (which is very heavy in the political coverage).


I'll shoot you an email later today - let's catch up on what's been going on.  Curious to hear what you're playing most these days.
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer

GJK

Quote from: Staggerwing on December 09, 2012, 10:07:16 AM
Gary, that map is really nice! I just compared it to the original over at the BGG and I'm very impressed! I see that the shorelines and borders and hex placement still match the original but the map details are so much nicer. How did you get that 'glow' around the coast?


Thanks Staggerwing.  I touched it up a bit last night and I think it looks even better now personally.  Yes, my version lines up perfectly with the original - all the same Industrial Points are in the same location and coastlines match up.  I've named the cities and industrial centers (original had no names) and as you can see, spruced it up a bit all around.


The shoreline glow is something that I've used in maps before and it's an easy effect to achieve.  I use Photoshop.  After drawing my coastlines, I can select the inside of them (the "land") easily enough using the magic wand.  I put that selection on it's own layer.  That is my "land" layer.  After choosing 4 shades of blue that look good together, I then select my land layer and expand the selection 10, 20, 30 or more pixels (depends on the map that I'm working on).  I create a new layer and then I fill that selection with the lightest of the blue colors.  I keep doing that by expanding the previous selection out further so that I have four bands of blue circiling the land area (you'll have to move the land layer to the top of the layers).  I then put a slight gaussian blur on each of the bands.  I put less of a blur on the lightest blue (the coastline) and just enough blur on the other bands to make sure that they blend together nicely.  That gives you the effect of water getting deeper the further out from the coast and a nice "surf" effect around the coast.


I may change the mountains to give them a more natural look.  I'll post samples if/when I do.


There's a vassal module for Hitler's War that has the map that I drew that is identical to the original.  I can get a copy of the rules to you if you're interested in the game.  It plays really well via pbem. 


There's also a PC game version that somebody worked on a while back.  It's not pretty but it works (there's no AI but it solitaires nicely).  I've spoken to the developer about putting in my graphics, which may happen one of these days:
http://monalisa.web44.net/HitlersWar/index.php
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer

Staggerwing

Thanks Gary, I'd indeed be interested in the Vassal/pdfs. I've heard of the pc game but didn't make the connection.

AFA the coastlines and borders go, did you hand trace them over the original or did you find a way to extract them from the original scan and then paste them onto a new hex set? I'm a graphics n00b and would love to pick up a few tips on how to create maps from existing images. If you trace do you use a tablet and stylus? Touchscreen? I'm just now thinking an app for iPad and a capacitive pen/stylus might be the way to go if the app import of source images, layers, and export of several different file types to Dropbox.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?  -Voluspa

Nothing really rocks and nothing really rolls and nothing's ever worth the cost...

"Don't you look at me that way..." -the Abyss
 
'When searching for a meaningful embrace, sometimes my self respect took second place' -Iggy Pop, Cry for Love

... this will go down on your permanent record... -the Violent Femmes, 'Kiss Off'-

"I'm not just anyone, I'm not just anyone-
I got my time machine, got my 'electronic dream!"
-Sonic Reducer, -Dead Boys

GJK

You're on the ASL dropbox share, right?  I'll make a "HW" folder up there and share some stuff with you pertaining to the game.
I do have a tablet but rarely use it.  My hand just isn't steady enough to do an accurate trace.  What I do is scan the original map (in several sections) and then stitch the pieces together.  I then use VASSAL to create a blank hexgrid of the correct size.  I will then stretch and twist the stitched together map so that its hexes line up as closely to my hexgrid from VASSAL as possible.  Then it's a matter of tracing the coastlines.  I zoom in and find a paint brush that is of the right thickness to the original map.  I then shift+click draw in all of my coastlines.  For this small HW map, it wasn't too bad but I've done larger maps and it took a good while.  A stylus would be great but like I said, I just can't keep my hand steady enough to do a precise trace.  Shift+clicking around the borders and coastlines is an absolute in precision.
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer

Staggerwing

QuoteYou're on the ASL dropbox share, right?
I believe so, though I don't recall how to access another's dropbox folder. Do I wait for an email link or should it show up in my own directory?
QuoteI'll make a "HW" folder up there and share some stuff with you pertaining to the game.
Thanks again!

QuoteShift+clicking around the borders and coastlines is an absolute in precision.

I don't have Photoshop. What does shift+click do? is it some sort of autotrace option? I can check if the same option is available in Paint Shop Pro or GIMP.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?  -Voluspa

Nothing really rocks and nothing really rolls and nothing's ever worth the cost...

"Don't you look at me that way..." -the Abyss
 
'When searching for a meaningful embrace, sometimes my self respect took second place' -Iggy Pop, Cry for Love

... this will go down on your permanent record... -the Violent Femmes, 'Kiss Off'-

"I'm not just anyone, I'm not just anyone-
I got my time machine, got my 'electronic dream!"
-Sonic Reducer, -Dead Boys

GJK

If you want, send me a message here with your email address and I'll add you to the ASL DB folder.  I'll then upload the rules for HW and some other stuff.
Shift+click with the paintbrush simply draws a connected line from the first click to the next.  So I can just shift+click trace any shape that I need (coastline, borders, etc).  I'm sure that PSP does the same thing.
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer

Staggerwing

Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?  -Voluspa

Nothing really rocks and nothing really rolls and nothing's ever worth the cost...

"Don't you look at me that way..." -the Abyss
 
'When searching for a meaningful embrace, sometimes my self respect took second place' -Iggy Pop, Cry for Love

... this will go down on your permanent record... -the Violent Femmes, 'Kiss Off'-

"I'm not just anyone, I'm not just anyone-
I got my time machine, got my 'electronic dream!"
-Sonic Reducer, -Dead Boys

GJK

By the way, some other maps/games that I've drawn.  This is a very small collection of some of my more favorite ones:


http://garykrockover.com/graphics/
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer

Staggerwing

Good Grief!  :o That Ardennes map must have taken you a few years!

They all look great. I just wish i had the talent and time to create even a pale imitation of what you have there.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?  -Voluspa

Nothing really rocks and nothing really rolls and nothing's ever worth the cost...

"Don't you look at me that way..." -the Abyss
 
'When searching for a meaningful embrace, sometimes my self respect took second place' -Iggy Pop, Cry for Love

... this will go down on your permanent record... -the Violent Femmes, 'Kiss Off'-

"I'm not just anyone, I'm not just anyone-
I got my time machine, got my 'electronic dream!"
-Sonic Reducer, -Dead Boys

bob48

#12
^+1 The Ardennes '44 map is a work of art. I also like the one from Desert Fox, a game a played a lot when it came out.
'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers'

'Clip those corners'

Recombobulate the discombobulators!

GJK

Thanks Bob!  That page is a couple of years old - I have dozens of more maps/counters/designs that I'd like to showcase on there.  I've done a couple of maps for Frank Hunter (Matrix games published) and I was asked to do the map for Red Star Rising but after a number of submissions it just wasn't coming together for what they were looking for.  I would love to do it as more than just a hobby but if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen.  I really enjoy working on that kind of stuff as Mike Dorosh can attest to (he himself a frequent wargame project designer).
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer

GJK

Some images of the completed upgrade "kit".  The map is under plexi so it looks dull in these pictures.  The colors are very sharp and crisp and the map was laminated at Kinko's after it was printed.  The countersheet was laminated with a self-adhesive backing and then applied to blocks.  The blocks are 15mm ceramic tiles that I found at Hobby Lobby and are perfect!  The weighted tiles means no counter shifting and they can stand on end so you could play this game like a block game.  I only recreated the army unit counters, the other counters are the originals from the game and I probably won't redo those.
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer