Creating Ordnance Trains

[kjdunc9443]

Hey guys, I recently started playing SOW but I have been playing TC2M for a long time.

I remember doing a modification in TC2M that added 4 more ordnance wagons to create an ordnance train. Although I did the modification, I am not a modder and followed the instructions of others to create it. I tried to do the same thing with SOW but so far have not had any luck.

I found a post, although I cannot for the life of me locate it, that said that you just need to add to the head count to increase the wagon numbers. The only thing that is altered when I do this is the ammunition count in the ordnance wagon but the number of wagons still remains the same.

If anyone could help me out with this I would really appreciate it!

Thanks!

Kyle

[Jack ONeill]

Kyle,

It's relatively easy. However, you'll need to seperate the Wagons from the Divisions they support. Also, the trains will need a commander, as they will need to be organized as a Division in and of itself. Each wagon counts as a Brigade, etc.
The biggest drawback is the AI will send them out to take and hold areas of terrain, just like an Infantry or Cavalry Division. Kinda tough for a bunch of muleskinners. The AI thinks it IS a Division, after all. (This is my big problem with Artillery Reserve "Divisions." No real Commander in his right mind sends out his Guns unsupported like that. I see this all the time. It's why I generally incorporate most of the Guns into the existing divisions in my OOBs.)

The alternative is to add more wagons to the existing Divsions wagon. Think we have problems with that now? Just what we need - MORE wagons swanning around on their own.

Good luck!

Jack B)

[Martin James]

Hi Kyle

The headcount method used to work with G:SOW too, but ceased to do so following one of the early patches.

I think Jack's right that the only thing you can now do is create additional wagon trains under a division-level commander. As well as being slightly more cumbersome however, this is less attractive aesthetically, as the extra wagons normally park right on top of each other if under AI control.

I suppose you could instead try creating several division-level commanders, each with one wagon under them. But that would exacerbate the AI problems Jack mentions.

It would be nice to find a better solution. If there is one out there, hopefully this thread might flush it out. A large division could have 100 wagons, and keeping them safe was a major consideration in battle.

Martin

[Little Powell]

One solution is to just create multiple wagons in your division(s). Wagon A, B, C, D, etc. There's really no limit (that I know of). They won't start on top of each other, and you can have a long train of wagons.

But like Jack said, that will be more wagons wandering around. However, they should all try to stick together, because they will always be wanting to be close to the same Div commander. That's why wagons appear to wander the map, but they are really looking for their Div commander, and always sticking to roads.

[Martin James]

One solution is to just create multiple wagons in your division(s). Wagon A, B, C, D, etc. There's really no limit (that I know of). They won't start on top of each other, and you can have a long train of wagons.

I haven't found a limit LP, but that approach gives rise to a couple of problems:

(a) You're right that they don't start on top of one another, but the double-parking affect arises during the game once the divisional commander has moved

(b) The appearance is better if they keep moving, but even then I have found that they really bunch-up on roads if you have more than 3 in a division.

Martin

[kjdunc9443]

Hey guys,

Thanks to all of you for the replies. Sad to hear about the head count thing. I fondly remember the wagons following each other ducks in a row in TC2M.

Little Powell, in order to add more wagons, do you just need to create additional ones to add to the OOB or do you have to alter one of the unit files. I tried adding more wagons and renaming them in one of my OOB's but to no avail. I am sure I am making a rookie mistake. Here is the OOB script I used to try to create 3 wagons.


Ordnance Supply Wagon,OOB_U_Wagon_5C_2D,Infantry A Ordnance Supply Wagon,,1,1,1,1,8,0,UGLB_USA_Wagon,,(1-0),,50000,GFX_US_National_Cav,,DRIL_Supplywagon,10,,,,,,3,5,8,1,1,3,3,5,0,2,7
Ordnance Supply Wagon,OOB_U_Wagon_5C_2D,Infantry B Ordnance Supply Wagon,,1,1,1,1,8,0,UGLB_USA_Wagon,,(1-0),,50000,GFX_US_National_Cav,,DRIL_Supplywagon,10,,,,,,3,5,8,1,1,3,3,5,0,2,7
Ordnance Supply Wagon,OOB_U_Wagon_5C_2D,Artillery Ordnance Supply Wagon,,1,1,1,1,8,0,UGLB_USA_Wagon,,(1-0),,50000,GFX_US_National_Cav,,DRIL_Supplywagon,10,,,,,,3,5,8,1,1,3,3,5,0,2,7

I just changed the text name.

Another suggestion I have which I am sure has been explored. I like to play as a division commander mostly. Would it be possible to create a trains brigade within your division? I don't mind TC'ing the (trains) brigade commander (name him a captain or something) and have his wagons formed up in road column or something. Something is making me think that the Wagons are somehow hard wired to the Division commander.

Thanks again for your help!

[RebBugler]

They have to be numbered sequentially in the BGDE column.

[Davinci]

I use four Supply-Wagons in my divisions, but only give the AI divisional two wagons.

As, mentioned above, it is best if you take command of the supply wagons to keep them from riding into each other.

You also have to give them a different name, other-wise it will cause a error to appear in the SOWGB.txt file, but it will not cause the game to crash.

Now, it is possible that a setting in the drills.csv will separate the wagons while moving, but I haven't been able to get that result.

Hood's Supply Wagon1,Hood's Supply Wagon1,Hood's Wagon1,Hood's Division,2,1,1,2,13,0,UGLB_CSA_Wagon,,(1-0),,500000,GFX_CS_Virginia4,,DRIL_SupplyWagon,10,6,6,6,6,6,9,5,9,9,9,0,5,5,0,9,9
Hood's Supply Wagon2,Hood's Supply Wagon2,Hood's Wagon2,Hood's Division,2,1,1,2,14,0,UGLB_CSA_Wagon,,(1-0),,500000,GFX_CS_Virginia4,,DRIL_SupplyWagon,10,6,6,6,6,6,9,5,9,9,9,0,5,5,0,9,9
Hood's Supply Wagon3,Hood's Supply Wagon3,Hood's Wagon3,Hood's Division,2,1,1,2,15,0,UGLB_CSA_Wagon,,(1-0),,500000,GFX_CS_Virginia4,,DRIL_SupplyWagon,10,6,6,6,6,6,9,5,9,9,9,0,5,5,0,9,9
Hood's Supply Wagon4,Hood's Supply Wagon4,Hood's Wagon4,Hood's Division,2,1,1,2,16,0,UGLB_CSA_Wagon,,(1-0),,500000,GFX_CS_Virginia4,,DRIL_SupplyWagon,10,6,6,6,6,6,9,5,9,9,9,0,5,5,0,9,9

davinci

[kjdunc9443]

Davinci,

I was able to get multiple wagons to appear. My OOB code looks basically like yours. I play at division level mainly and created an extra "Brigade" that I use as the Division trains. I gave it a commander (captain and named him after an ancestor who fought in the war) and added a small detachment of cavalry (his cavalry unit) as an escort. Now I can detach my trains "Brigade" and order him around by courier which is the closet I can get to ordering the wagons around by courier. If I need to move a specific wagon towards a specific brigade for resupply I take command of it and move it that way.

I have fooled around with the wagon unit files but have been unable to get them to move over open ground and not just by roads. I know this is slightly historically inaccurate as a wagon train would have a tough time moving over open ground and that a commander would consider the road network in his movements. But for the sake of game play I was wondering if turning off the automatic "follow roads" command is possible for the wagons.

Thanks again for all your help

Kyle

[Davinci]

I play at division level mainly and created an extra "Brigade" that I use as the Division trains. I gave it a commander (captain and named him after an ancestor who fought in the war) and added a small detachment of cavalry (his cavalry unit) as an escort.

I think that I tried it that way a long time ago, but if I remember correctly, you have to manually move the units to re-supply .

I agree, it would be nice to have the supply-wagons in the courier-menu , I asked about that more than a year ago.

The Cavalry-Escort is a good idea!

Now I can detach my trains "Brigade" and order him around by courier which is the closet I can get to order the wagons around by courier. If I need to move a specific wagon towards a specific brigade for resupply I take command of it and move it that way.

Yes, units from a different Division can use the supply-wagons from another division, as long as you move the unit real-close to the supply-wagons-flag.

But, are you saying that the units from the same division will resupply with the wagons that are under the Brigade-Commander ?

I have fooled around with the wagon unit files but have been unable to get them to move over open ground and not just by roads.

I know this is slightly historically inaccurate as a wagon train would have a tough time moving over open ground and that a commander would consider the road network in his movements.

To get the wagons to move across-country by courier, try issuing a Brigade Maneuver without selecting the road-system.

Guessing here…..but something like this…..

General Supply-Wagon
Move to this point…..Click a point on the map
Face unit in this direction
Change to Brigade Column
Send Message

The units should move without using the roads.

Now, the only thing that I can think of that would prevent the units from moving across-country would be if the Divisional-Commander was over-riding the Brigade-Commander .

But, you can also Take \ Command of the Brigade leader using the courier-system.

davinci