Steel Beasts Pro Discussion Thread

[Grim.Reaper]

Plus I believe you need to edit old missions to turn on the new overhead view if I am not mistaken.

[Ssnake]

Yes, to assure backwards compatibility, the default is set to "off", and that's how old scenarios get imported/converted as well.

If you are going to fire up the Mission Editor anyway, I would also recommend to go the the Map... Navmesh menu, select "Purge Navmesh" and then to "Add Navmesh" again. The old 3.0 format is no longer supported. Fortunately, building a new nav mesh no longer takes 5..15 minutes but rather one minute, often less. You might also want to experiment with the Options... Weather dialog and modify the default settings. You could either look up historical data (e.g. www.wunderground.com, a somewhat tasteless name, but the site is still a good reference for global historical weather data), or at least set seasonal averages.

A number of tweaks have been suggested at www.SteelBeasts.com to improve the overall framrate performance of 4.0; in addition to using an external frame rate limiter software and optimized driver settings there are of course still the in-game options. The user manual already lists a few things in their order of effect, no need to go over these again (find the manual in the Windows Start Menu / eSim Games / Steel Beasts Pro PE, also check out the "Documents" folder in there which contains a ton of additional references). Still, I personally prefer to have (Alt+D) the terrain geometry at a maximum, the high res texture out to maybe 50...60%, and I keep the ground clutter (grass etc.) at a minimum of 15...25%.
New control elements are the volumetric clouds which now have a bigger effect on the frame rate than before, high detail tracks (which can also yield one or two frames per second). The star settings, I recommend a small angular diameter (.2 mil), a gamma of about 1.7, and a pixel diameter of 4.5 or so; this doesn't have an effect on the frame rate, but stars being point light sources their apparent diameter should IMO be kept as small as possible; unfortunately single pixels simply aren't bright enough.

[Asid]

T.A.N.K.S. Multiplayer 21/08/16 @ 19:00GMT


You can watch it live.  You do NOT need Steel Beasts. http://www.twitch.tv/dogsofwarvu Sorry not available at present

Charge the Gap by Cougar11

This scenario is a simulation and does not have any political message.



Mission Summary :
D 1-12 CAV attacks against a Battalion plus to secure objective Lynx.

Map




SITUATION:

a) Enemy:

Elements of the 265th Rifle Battalion reinforced. Enemy is well supplied, and prepared in defensive positions. Enemy has the ability to counter attack if they feel their numbers are sufficient.


b) Own: D 1-12CAV 1st CAV Division Armored with 1 Platoon of M60A3 (TTS),  1 platoon of M1A1 (HA), 1 Platoon Leopard 2A5A2-DK, one Section of Marder and one Section of M2A2.


c) Attachments: Multiple supply, medic, and recovery vehicles.


MISSION:

Conduct a hasty attack from the deployment zone to secure objective Lynx.


EXECUTION:

Intent: D 1-12CAV will conduct a hasty attack from our current position south to secure objective Lynx, and prevent any counter attack.


a) Concept of Operation:

By Player

Call signs:

By Player

Dogs Of War Vehicles : (in mission)

M60A3 (TTS) Click here

LEO 2A5A1-DK: Main Battle Tank Click here

M1A1 (HA): Main Battle Tank Click here

Marder 1A3 Click here

M2A2ODS Infantry Fighting Vehicle Click here

M113A3/Medic Click here

M88A1 MRV Click here

M977 HEMTT/Fueler/Supply Click here


Player Skill/Ability:
Any


Date: Sunday 21/08/16
Time: 19:00 GMT
Time (local): Click here

For the rest of the mission and additional info please click here -   T.A.N.K.S. Mission


All Welcome

Note: These posts are made in support of the Dogs of War Vu and GrogHeads

[Asid]

Halfway to the weekend? It's time for...Midweek Madness.


Open to all. Friendly Head 2 Head

D.O.W. Vu  & Red Alert Vu

Wednesday Mission 24/08/16 @ GMT17:00

Defence of Losevo By Red Alert VU

This scenario is a simulation and does not have any political message.

Information:
Dog's of war will be attacking to Village Losevo



Map




Mission Summary:
We must take the town of Lenovo. At all costs! The enemy is entrenched. They have other ideas....

Excerpts of the battalion commander's orders for...
1) SITUATION:
   a) Enemy:
   Enemy forces:
                                5 T72b1(2012)
                                4 BMP-2 with troops
                                4 ATGM Spigot
                                1 Ural(supply)

   b) Own:
                                2 Leopard 2A5
                                2 Leopard 2A4
                                2 Leopard AS1
                                3 CV9030 (fin)
                                4 Unimogs with troops (only RPGs)
   

   c) Attachments and detachments: 2 Unimog supply trucks and 1 artillery battery of 6 tubes (HE 30rds, Smoke 6rds) each.

2) MISSION:
Our mission is to take Losevo village.

3) EXECUTION:
Intent: Dow force will proceed and capture village Losevo

   a) Concept of Operation:
   Designed by player.
         
      i) Maneuver:
      Designed by player.
   
      ii) Fires:
      1 artillery battery of 6 tubes (HE 30rds, Smoke 6rds) each.

      iii) Additional assets:
      2 Unimog Suply trucks



--------------------------------------------------------------------

Information:

Victory:1) All enemy AFV will be destroyed or 2) 5 of our AFV's take green zone in the village.
Defeat:2) We lose all AFV or 2) mission time is 60 min.

Starting positions of our troops will be randomized(NW,NE,SW or SE from Losevo village).




Date: Wednesday 24/08/16
Time: 17:00 GMT
Time (local): Click here

For the rest of the mission and additional info please click here -   Midweek Madness Mission


All Welcome

Note: These posts are made in support of the Dogs of War Vu and GrogHeads

[Asid]

The above mission

Good time had by all.

Thank you to everyone who showed up.

We intend to continue with these.

All welcome :)

[RyanE]

A good summary of how close SB is to being a true wargame in the CM-sense...

"I think offering a "wargaming" option of playing isn't too far off.  I can think of a few things that are needed to flesh that out...

1) As stated above, a more expansive ability to move around and view the map...mostly the angle of the overhead camera
2) A more fine-grained recorder that plays back in smaller frames that every 4 seconds
3) An option to have a mini-map on the 3d view that allows you to quickly jump from one part of the map to another.
4) Info on the map about what unit is selected, what their state is, and who they are carrying or who they are being carried by

Of course this would all be done in the context of the fog of war.  You wouldn't be able to view info on enemy units unless FOW allowed it.  Might even have options limiting friendly info, based on damage, position, etc.

These are just some thoughts.  The overhead view and its related features are a huge step towards doing the above.  And they are just plain fun.  Most of those above would also be very helpful in testing out scenarios during development also."

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/10355-sb-pro-pe-40-discussion-thread/?page=106#comment-159010

Not saying this is the only way to build a wargame.  SB has a lot of additions that BFC has stated will never happen in CM.  But the above list is a good summation of what SB is missing that CM has.  The other big thing is wego.  I am not sure SB will ever have that.

[Ssnake]

The only way to implement "Wego" would be "single turn" where you split a scenario into its different parties, let all players develop their battle plan, then merge the split scenarios back into one, and press the "Start" button without interfering with the troops from that moment on.

Probably not a very satisfying play style although you COULD test which of the players created the most robust plan without ever testing the scenario.

If I may comment on CM, I think the biggest mistake they ever made was to switch to real-time mode, rather than keeping on utilizing as much CPU power as possible to run larger battles on bigger maps. Conversely, I don't see Steel Beasts ever going turn-based. That's not because I think that real-time is the "better" or the "only" way to play a wargame - far from it. But Steel Beasts merges too many different game elements into one package to let go of real-time mode. It's designed to be a real-time application. That is one of the biggerst underlying design decisions in pretty much every part of the code base.

[Yskonyn]

Saw this posted over at SimHQ.  Pretty bad ass.

I'm gonna try to get this all installed on my rig tomorrow.

That video is indeed bad ass!
I had a nice chat with Asid on TS last night and I am as giddy about getting back into SB again as I was when I first pulled the trigger on it all those years back.
4.0 does seem to be a very worthwhile upgrade!
Well done eSim! :thumbsup:

Now, the frustrating part is that I wont be able to spend time with it for at least 4 more days. YT will have to provide me with my SB fix until then.

[JudgeDredd]

I had deleted all my emails - everything. I figured there was nothing I wanted to keep of importance. Then I realised my email with an activation code for Steel Beasts was in there.

A quick email to them, and I was resent it (as it hadn't been activated). It's a 4 month licence I think. I was wondering, is it easy to "upgrade" that licence, or is that licence only good for version (whatever...v 3 or 3.5 I think)

[Pete Dero]

It's a 4 month licence I think. I was wondering, is it easy to "upgrade" that licence, or is that licence only good for version (whatever...v 3 or 3.5 I think)

You may change to the new version at any time while the license is still valid.

[Asid]

I was wondering, is it easy to "upgrade" that licence, or is that licence only good for version (whatever...v 3 or 3.5 I think)

Hey JD

That license will work for any version of SB. Including the current version as it is a "Time limited license".

Let me know if you need any assistance :)

Regards

[Asid]

D.O.W. Saturday Mission 27/08/16 @ GMT19:00

You can watch it live.  You do NOT need Steel Beasts. http://www.twitch.tv/dogsofwarvu

D.O.W. 4-7 CAV Phase II of Campaign by Cougar11

Phase 1: Click here

This scenario is a simulation and does not have any political message.



Mission Summary :
From HVOC 6: Good morning or should I say it's too early to deal with this. After yesterdays surprise airborne and mechanized assault by Russian forces, we are still conducting hasty recovery operations. We lost some good crews from three of our Bradley's including the XO, a 113 Engineer vehicle, and a Bradley Engineer vehicle. Not to mention the Squadron command team was ambushed on their way back to the HQ. We also sustained a lot of personnel casualties, and vehicle equipment damage. Current strength of the Troop is four tanks including the CO, one from second, and two from fourth platoon. Bradley platoons are showing both first and second having four operational at this time. Replacement vehicles, crews, and equipment have been ongoing, and will be finished soon. Make sure you check back with the UMCP to take control of units as they become available. We have been augmented by the Greeks with a company minus of infantry, and a platoon of STRV's which are in route. They will anchor at the river and hold as long as they can to the East of St. Joseph. We have been tasked to hold the town of St. Joseph, the school complex to the South, and if possible take a possible short strip airfield to the East Obj. Stone. An hour ago I received word that a combined force of Albanian/Serbian, Romanian/Ukrainian, and Russian forces are pushing southwest to take the town of St. Joseph. Enemy strength is estimated at battalion size. It is probable that they know what our current force strength is, and wish to exploit our current low numbers, and small force size. It is our job to hold the line, and destroy the enemy to our front. We cannot allow any enemy forces to make it inside of the town of ST. Joseph. Expect to see T model tanks ranging from T55-T90, BMP 1-3, BRDM, BRDM-AT, and infantry depending on what forces you are currently facing. We will be greatly outnumbered! Make sure you make your shots count. Get your men ready, and prepare for one hell of a battle!!! MOVE OUT!!!


Map




Excerpts of the battalion commander's (HVAOC 6) orders for...BLUEFOR (D.O.W.)

1) SITUATION:

a) Enemy:
   A multinational force of Serbian and Albanian, Romanian and Ukrainian, and Russian mechanized forces are currently attacking south to destroy NATO forces, and secure the strategic area of St. Joseph after failing to do so yesterday.


b) Own:
                     4-7 CAV DOW Troop on loan to Greece from NATO defends the town of ST. Joseph to the east, from enemy forces to the east and north east.

c) Attachments and detachments:

                    Motors, Fires, and Support elements internal. Greek infantry, and platoon of STRV's. STRV platoon is at your command.


2) MISSION:

DOW Troop 4-7 CAV with attachments conducts hasty defense east of St. Joseph to destroy attacking forces, and counter attack if possible to objective Stone. 


3) EXECUTION:

Hold the town of St. Joseph to the east, and counter attack if possible to objective Stone. 

Intent: DOW 4-7 CAV defend East of the town of St. Joseph, destroy all enemy forces, and counter attack when possible securing objective Stone.

Dogs Of War Vehicles : (in mission)

M1A2(SEP): Main Battle Tank
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M1A2_%28SEP%29

STRV 122: Main Battle Tank


M3A2(ODS): Infantry Fighting Vehicle
[url=http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M3A2

M113 F/O
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M113-FO

M1064A3
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M1064A3

M113 G3/Eng
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M113A3_Eng

M2A2(ODS)/Eng
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M2A2

M113A3/Medic
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M113_Medic

M88A1 MRV
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M88A1_MRV

M113 Repair
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M113_Repair

M977 HEMTT/Supply
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=HEMTT_Cargo

M977 HEMTT/Fueler
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=HEMTT_Fuel



Date: Saturday 27/08/16
Time: 19:00 GMT
Time (local): Click here

For the rest of the mission and additional info please click here -   Dogs of War Mission

DOW members, by invite, or request in advance prior to mission.

Our goal is to have the DOW session more immersive and realistic.

Note: These posts are made in support of the Dogs of War Vu and GrogHeads

[JudgeDredd]

Thanks Pete and Asid  O0

[Ssnake]

...(it hadn't been activated). It's a 4 month licence I think. I was wondering, is it easy to "upgrade" that licence, or is that licence only good for version (whatever...v 3 or 3.5 I think)

Time-based licenses will NEVER require an upfgrade fee. They are valid for all Steel Beasts Pro PE versions from 3.0 and higher. So, yes - it's still good to go.

That said, I highly recommend downloading and installing the CodeMeter runtime version 6.30b first, since it fixes an important bug related to time-based licenses. When the Steel Beasts installer then pops up the CodeMeter installation assistant, click "cancel" to skip installing the older version 6.30a.

[Asid]

New Update

SB Pro PE 4.004 Release Notes

Posted by Ssnake on Aug 31st, 2016 in Announcements, Blog, Software Releases

The Release Notes for the first patch to version 4.004 can be found here.
https://www.esimgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SBProPE_4-004_RN.pdf


In addition to the feature description of the major changes, and installation advice, it also (naturally) lists the changes from the initial 4.000 release version.

Update:
Apparently a new version was built while I wrote this announcement. Expect the patch to be made available this week, but probably not today.