1:1 Sprite Ratio Revealed...Sandbox - Friant vs Cooke SR1

[RebBugler]

As promised, a demonstration of this games 1:1 sprite ratio capabilities.

Sandbox - Friant vs Cooke SR1 Version 1.2, 17 July 2015

Attention: After selecting this mod Resign and restart the game. If the mod remains selected this will only have to be done once.

Follow these procedures for SR1 (1:1 Sprite Ratio) gameplay:
- After selecting mod, resigning and restarting, go to the Options Menu. On Options page 2 adjust Sprite Ratio to 1
- Continue to Sandbox and select same named OOB
- Select Corps vs Corps to play either Friant or Cooke. Next names down are Division vs Division, etc.


More information to follow as version upgrades are made available. At present consider this as an entry level blueprint to demonstrate how the game handles SR1 designs and gameplay. And feel free to mod this, perhaps dividing it into 3 Arms groupings to accommodate MP play better.

Please excuse the use of cloned names for the French. It appears that Petit was a brigade CO and also was in charge of a regiment with the traditional two battalions. Also, it appears that all French regimental commanders commanded both battalions (within each regiment). I did my online searches, but got nada but regimental commanders, not a battalion leader to be found, or second in command...so help here would be greatly appreciated. I know books are more definitive in this regard, apologizes, but I've got limited resources here in backwoods Arkansas, plus my old eyes don't do well with book learnin' anymore.

Unzip and copy into the Mods folder

The attachment Sandbox-FriantvsCookeSR1.zip is no longer available

Realism Revealed with SR1 play:

- As each soldier falls, one casualty is recorded in the casualty stat box
- Exact casualties are shown on the battlefield, bodies do not disappear unless opted
- Easier to spot the REAL gaps left by enemy fire, so decisions on when to relieve a unit are easier
- See what REAL battalions looked like, whether divided into 10 companies as were the allies, 6 companies French, or 4 companies Prussian.
- See why cavalry regiments were divided into squadrons of 100 to 200 horsemen, as squadrons are still mighty unto themselves.
- Understand why cavalry regiments would have been impossible to control for their roles in battle
- See why, although powerful, a cavalry squadron could never rout a large battalion, but could take out several companies.
...and the list goes on

[Gunfreak]

This will be epic!

I hope to try it today, but got a new puppy, so probebly won't have much time to sit on the pc

[Gunfreak]

How did you get past the max 200 sprites thing? Just made the company a unit?

[Saddletank]

Yes, that is how 1:1 has to be done. With a 200 sprite/unit limit you can have up to 200 man companies instead of up to 1200 man battalions (at 6:1).

Brigades then become battalions with brigadiers as colonels.

Divisions become brigades with divisional generals as brigadiers.

Corps become divisions.

Armies become corps.

The entire operational level of the game drops one notch.

[Gunfreak]

But how to keep battlion integrity?

If companies behave like battalions, it becomes a right mes.

While yes at times companies did fight as separate units (particularly in urban combat ) they normally did not have the same "frededom" as battalions.

How do you stop it from just looking like a company is a battlion?

[Marching Thru Georgia]

[quote]But how to keep battlion integrity?
If companies behave like battalions, it becomes a right mes.[quote]
It's the price you pay for playing with a 1:1 ratio.

[Saddletank]

Good questions.

Its why I don't play 1:1, because IMHO the game engine isn't designed for it and can't handle it.

You could try a 1:1 mod and create new brigade formations so that the companies keep together in a more battalion-like manner but this would involve moving the brigade as a whole unit and the AI may still not execute this very well.

1:1 scale games are best played at the very small level where the individual companies of a battalion are treated as the manoeuvre elements; there are numerous small-scale Napoleonic actions where battle reports mention this being done.

[Gunfreak]

Good questions.

Its why I don't play 1:1, because IMHO the game engine isn't designed for it and can't handle it.

You could try a 1:1 mod and create new brigade formations so that the companies keep together in a more battalion-like manner but this would involve moving the brigade as a whole unit and the AI may still not execute this very well.

1:1 scale games are best played at the very small level where the individual companies of a battalion are treated as the manoeuvre elements; there are numerous small-scale Napoleonic actions where battle reports mention this being done.

Yeah, I tried it now(havn't seen action yet, so I can not say what it looks like in actualy battle)

But the cav are deffinatly the winners of 1:1

They looks great, probebyl the only time I have really gotten a sence of how big squdrons are.

But infatnry are loosers, they don't like companies, they just look like battalions like they have always done.

Unless you can super code the companies to be forced to move like comapnies in a battalion it's going to look odd.

I look forward to seeing how all this looks in battle. Havn't found those french yet!

[RebBugler]

Thanks guys! All great comments and feedback. Some may construe that there are some negative comments toward this game's SR1 capabilities, but I don't see it that way...some reverse psychology going on here, if you get my drift.

Pros:

- For those doubting this game's SR1 capabilities, here's proof in the pudding, exact casualty figures are seen as they happen and are recorded accurately (with the exception of artillery, but a whole different animal because all the level 6 artillery design elements are combined: gun, gun crew, etc.)

- Holes left in lines during firefights provide immediate visual insight as opposed to just seeing casualties fall or being represented on the ground...Advantage Player. Otherwise, as with SR6 (stock ratio), a gap doesn't occur until 6 of the same sprite are killed, with one casualty on the ground representing all six (after the first, the remainder fade away, as they must, otherwise a stack of dead sprites, ugly and unrealistic). Sure, you'll see them all drop, if you're looking. But without constantly eye-balling the individual battalions' casualty counts, the player doesn't have quick visuals to affectingly access his damage and react.

- Cavalry squadrons reflect why they were, nothing more to be said, Gunfreak is a believer now, as he questioned this logic and design before, as did others. Regardless, this is the historic design.

- Provides for interesting and entertaining battalion level scenarios. Also small brigade engagements that include the 3 Arms could be well represented historically and entertaining I do believe.

- THE BIG PICTURE: Provides a microcosm visually (two divisions as opposed to dozens of divisions) of what the battle of Waterloo actually looked like, in regard to numbers and how the units were laid out.

Cons:

- Physical limitations, the obvious, as folks see their FPS rates drop with the small division sizes represented here. This includes AI limitations, I believe we are many years away from the amount of AI cycles necessary for the AI to be competitive beyond a one division face-off level.

- Human limitations! On the army level we'd need a disclaimer: Warning, command and control may lead to convulsions and inevitable insanity.

- Battalions don't behave like companies...threw this in for the KS guys, but I disagree. I've heard this argument before but I have never been convinced of it's merit. The smallest unit is the smallest unit, be it company or battalion. From there the chain of command works it's way up the same way regardless of where it starts. The only difference I see is it's harder to control 10 companies than the typical 5 battalions. Still, I respect and will listen to arguments otherwise, but more than likely I'll stay mute and agree to disagree.

- All the other stuff that needs to be adjusted to be totally realistic - musket and artillery ranges (engagement distances), run and walk speeds, map scaling, etc.



The reverse psychology factor...

SPOILER: SHOW

When most folks play this mod they will understand the WHY games of epic proportions use SR4 or 6 or 10. It's not necessarily because of the cons mentioned, or physical and human limitations. It's the simple fact that immersion at 'battalion as the smallest unit' level works, and it works well.
Bottom Line - Folks that constantly harp about the necessity of REAL SCALE across the board in order for them to have their dream game, with ultimate immersion, and decry SOWWL for that reason, might actually GET IT, and understand the WHY for which this game is designed.

[Destraex]

Did you make the map bigger to get the scale right for this?
Very excited to see any footage you have of this mod:)