Back in the USSA (beta) development thread

[der Kriegsherr]

We all know that the October Revolution of 1917 is one of, if not the defining moment of the 20th century for good or for ill. No one can or will deny that for a second.

BUT WHAT IF

- Said October Revolution had not occurred at all? Or at least, not in the way we know it?
- Instead of falling into anarchy and civil war, Russia was one of the prospering victors of the Great War, profiting handsomely from the destruction of the Central Powers alongside her British ally?
- The revolution did not occur anywhere in the Old World at all, but that burgeoning bastion of liberal capitalism across the Atlantic?

The world of Back in the USSA by Kim Newman and Eugene Byrne proposes just such a reality, where the old United States of America collapses into a civil war due to deep-seated societal tensions and an early entry and disastrous performance in the Great War, ultimately being reborn as the United Socialist States of America, the Old World empires of Britain and Russia taking up the mantle of guarding the world from the revolutionary fervor of founding father Eugene Debs and his protege-slash-successor Alphonse "Al" Capone, as well as the Tripartite Pact lead by National Socialist Germany, who seeks revenge against them both...

Based on Newman and Byrne's world and following it as much as possible (while still allowing for alternative outcomes of course!), 077 and der Kriegsherr proudly present the Back in the USSA mod for Darkest Hour!

While still very much a work-in-progress, as we have been working on it for the better part of the past year and a half, the mod is in the odd position of being almost-finished, but still with a few roadblocks, namely due to complications with the E3 map and the difficulty of converting a scenario for DH Full to it and related issues.

 

[der Kriegsherr]

Our team so far:

Head of State: @077 (Concept and some early files)
Head of Government: @der Kriegsherr (Reluctant E3 cartographer, most events, most AI modifications, almost all of the db files by this point)
Minister of Armaments: @Lazer_Pages (About half of the event descriptions)
Head of Intelligence: @Tera Brandford


Decorations:

- Order of Polonia Restituta: @novapaddy for his invaluable contributions and without whom the damn thing would have never started

- Order of the Rising Sun, 1st Class: @kodak for the DH Capable Data Editor

- Order of St. George, 1st Class: @Kutec for the White Russia officers mod. (Always knew there was something wonky about the RUS leaders list!)

Extra Special Thanks to:

- The Kaiserreich team for their skills at hunting down superior minister pics over all these years and otherwise ahistorical rosters; Kornilov for the Austria-Hungary, Belarus, and German Union skins.

- @Bizon and the NWO2 team for a number of events/templates for events and minister lists

- @pakotorino and the Fatherland team for a number of events, especially the Hitler death chain

- The Grand Campaign Team and @Bizon for their tireless and flexible work

- @kazoo for all the work with SKIF icons

- Assorted users for their work on shields/flags, especially @MrNazar

- @erica for the KR flags in DH style pack

- @Czaristan and the KR Tech Improvement Project team for more minister/tech team pics and the counter strip

- @Kretoxian and team for the Tech Tree Extension Project
@Conquerer1234 for adapting it to the mod (Always appreciate the help on something so delicate and potentially game-breaking!)

- @derekg36 for the SKIF Icons for DH Full, NWO2, and the Grand Campaign

- @makif130289 and @Sephy for their work on their Waffen SS minimods (as part of TGC 1914-1991)






What we need now:

- Anyone good with writing/modifying AI files

- Anyone good at modifying graphics more complex than tech/minister pics; flags and shields, I can do as long as I have the original image, but not much else

- Any ideas and/or contributions for some of the godforsaken tags we were never going to use:

Spoiler: Godforsaken TAGS in question

CXB: San Ma Clique (Mas are split between KMT and CPC)
CSX: Shaanxi: See above
CYP: Cyprus (It's either going to the Turks or staying with the British)
IDC: Indochina (Playing with making this a potential American puppet in the future)
OTT: Ottoman Empire (Turkish Empire serves the same purpose)
MEN: Mengkukuo (with a non-red Greater Mongolia under Russia's protection, there's no point)
PRI: Primorsk
TAN: Tannu Tuva (Part of Mongolia)
VIC: Vichy (superfluous in DH)
U05:Sikang
U50: Hedjaz (Jordan Hashemite Emirate serves the same purpose as a coastal power)
U52: Jebal Shammar (Saudis have British backing in place of the Americans)
U71: Northern Ireland (One way or another, somebody's getting their hands on it and not giving it up without a huge fight)
Most of the U+letter tags outside of UPE (Turkestan)

Also, if you want to call one of the U tags for your work/contributions and/or make a (context-appropriate, so nothing like the Byzantine Empire) suggestion just let me know, but for now, the ones (apart from the obvious ones) reserved:

Spoiler: Reserved tags

ARA: Arab Federation/Greater Arab Republic (Baathist/Nasserist or Commie; tentative)
DFR: South Germany
DDR: Same as Vanilla DH
SCA: American/German puppet Scandinavia (more tentative than the others listed)
SIB: Some damnfool thing with Siberia
TRA: Idel-Ural
USA: Duh?! What else?
U00: USSA
U23: Alsace-Lorraine
U24: Hawaii
U25: North Germany (Basically the BRD regime complete w/Adenauer)
U36: Dutch East Indies
U37: Red Ireland
U38: San Marino
U39: New England
U54: Lichtenstein
U55: Monaco
U56: Vatican City
U57: Andorra
U58: Red Canada
U59: Red Taiwan (not a refuge for the defeated commies)
U60: Monstrosity Red Japan Still a monstrosity
U61: Red Indonesia
U62: Red Congo (already had a TAG for this, whoops)
U63: Red Brazil (as opposed to the empire)
U64: Red Iran
U65: Red Australia
U66: Red New Zealand
U67: Dongbei (MAN's red counterpart; is a refuge for the defeated commies)
U68: Arab Republic of Egypt/Red Egypt
U69: Red Mexico (see the Brazil example)
U74: Provisional Government of the ROC (WTF? We have enough Chinas already!)
U77: Greater Colombia (mildly tentative)
U78: Central America (see above)
U79: Caribbean Federation
U91: Kuwait (We'll get around to it...eventually)
U98: Trinidad and Tobago (See U79)
UTC: Russian Social Republic

 

[Quinto Fabio Massimo]

 

[Korsteeni]

This could be pretty rad. Need any help with ministers, leaders, tech teams or somethin'?

 

[der Kriegsherr]

@Korsteeni

What we're looking for mainly right now is anyone good with the E3 map. An actual release is a no-go until we can get that ironed out.

 

[Korsteeni]

@Korsteeni

What we're looking for mainly right now is anyone good with the E3 map. An actual release is a no-go until we can get that ironed out.

Ah. Well with that I'm no help, unfortunately

 

[Pasha]

Interesting. But please scrap the E3 map. It has prematurely ended the life of many WIP mods

 

[Quinto Fabio Massimo]

Interesting. But please scrap the E3 map. It has prematurely ended the life of many WIP mods

Because? if I may ask.

 

[Conquerer1234]

@der Kriegsherr well, this is the first time I have heard you on a thread since the disaster that was that Barbarossa 1905 mod. (Seriously the scenario was all screwy and not allowing me to do things it normally should do.) well, I may be available in some small tasks as I am taking a short break from my mod until I graduate.

Sheesh what is it with development threads popping up all of a sudden first it was the failed Darkest Hour Ultimate (that got too large for the game) then it was a mod that @Tera Brandford and myself had thought of whilst talking about things that Darkest Hour Full doesn't include, or as you would know it Day of Infamy. Now a mod based on Back in the USSA. What is next? Kaiserreich? Domination of the Draka? Southern Victory? 1984?

 

[Khor]

It is great news, to have a new mod. It shows, that there is still a large community and people are working hard on their mods. I only hope the developers see this and decide to release the new patch in a year, or even just make a hint that they still working on it.

 

[pakotorino]

Good luck ! I'm very glad too see there are new mods, and has Khor said, this shows the community is ever active.
The idea is very interesting.

 

[novapaddy]

@Korsteeni

What we're looking for mainly right now is anyone good with the E3 map. An actual release is a no-go until we can get that ironed out.

While still very reluctant to get involved again in modding, if you are having problems which are stopping the release of a mod, then I can help you.

What do you need exactly?

 

[der Kriegsherr]

Actually, I've thought of some things we will need:

- Someone really good with graphics, especially SKIF icons and skins; I can handle flags/shields/counters and event/minister pics, but not much more complex than that

- Eagle-eyed souls who can pick out problems in event and scenario files; The event files should work (albeit with my placeholder event descriptions only), but I copied the scenario files from the vanilla E3 mod, so I'm not so confident in that.

- One or more AI specialists; I've already modified a good number of the files for our scenario, but I know the general quality of the edits is average at best and may actually be contributing to the crashes

If you can handle one of these, just let me know and I'll send the necessary files/info your way

@novapaddy

And the master himself shows up! Actually, just who I needed to see: We had a conversation on this topic about my problems starting the mod with the E3 map a few months back in the Modding Questions thread.

Actually, I think that your application of the Cold War Tech Tree mod to the map may actually be a step in the right direction in solving the "Brigade Sub Types" crash problem.

Evening all. I've run into a bit of a problem with a mod project I and some others have been working on. Thing is, the alpha is pretty much done: I'm 95% sure I've already got everything I need to actually run it. But once the loading bar fills up, I get a crash to desktop and the "Darkest Hour has stopped working" message in Windows Explorer. Here's what my save_debug file looks like:


DirectDraw object created
About to Initialize video!

Setting Mode.
Mode Set.
Video Initialized!

Backbuffer cleared

Fonts Initialized!

Loadimage!

Loadimage used!

Starting to Initialize sound!

Sound fully initialized!

Network initialized!

MainPalettes initialized!

Core GFX initialized!

Initialising Map!

Map okay.


Parsing division_types.txt... Done!

Parsing brigade_types.txt... Done!

Brigade Sub Types{
}
Oh, and I'm using the E3 Map if it makes any difference.

 

[Conquerer1234]

Actually, I've thought of some things we will need:

- Someone really good with graphics, especially SKIF icons and skins; I can handle flags/shields/counters and event/minister pics, but not much more complex than that

- Eagle-eyed souls who can pick out problems in event and scenario files; The event files should work (albeit with my placeholder event descriptions only), but I copied the scenario files from the vanilla E3 mod, so I'm not so confident in that.

- One or more AI specialists; I've already modified a good number of the files for our scenario, but I know the general quality of the edits is average at best and may actually be contributing to the crashes

If you can handle one of these, just let me know and I'll send the necessary files/info your way

@novapaddy

And the master himself shows up! Actually, just who I needed to see: We had a conversation on this topic about my problems starting the mod with the E3 map a few months back in the Modding Questions thread.

Actually, I think that your application of the Cold War Tech Tree mod to the map may actually be a step in the right direction in solving the "Brigade Sub Types" crash problem.

Involving the Cold War Tech Tree, I almost have a fixed version (with some minor tweaks) ready (It is currently being worked on by @mdlusk), so when I get the link to it I will send it over to you. (it really has 1 very small error involving a model name being unknown string wanted instead of Cavalry1870)

 

[novapaddy]

Actually, I've thought of some things we will need:

- Someone really good with graphics, especially SKIF icons and skins; I can handle flags/shields/counters and event/minister pics, but not much more complex than that

- Eagle-eyed souls who can pick out problems in event and scenario files; The event files should work (albeit with my placeholder event descriptions only), but I copied the scenario files from the vanilla E3 mod, so I'm not so confident in that.

- One or more AI specialists; I've already modified a good number of the files for our scenario, but I know the general quality of the edits is average at best and may actually be contributing to the crashes

If you can handle one of these, just let me know and I'll send the necessary files/info your way

@novapaddy

And the master himself shows up! Actually, just who I needed to see: We had a conversation on this topic about my problems starting the mod with the E3 map a few months back in the Modding Questions thread.

Actually, I think that your application of the Cold War Tech Tree mod to the map may actually be a step in the right direction in solving the "Brigade Sub Types" crash problem.

If you zip your mod and upload it, then PM me a link, I will see what I can do to fix it.

EDIT: Yeah, looking back on your months-ago post in the modding questions thread regarding this same problem. Unbelieveable to think that you are still having the same problem now, months later.

But back then I asked you to zip your mod, upload it and pm me a link, so I could try to fix the problem...

I ask this because this is the only way that I can help you. No idea why that should be a problem for you to do this. I can only presume there is some problem, since you didn't do it then, and looking at my pm box today, you still are not doing it?

I would even have to reinstall dh on my pc to help you out. I don't even have dh on my pc anymore.

So, looks like it is goodbye then. Good luck with solving your problem. I might look back in a few months time to see if you are still requesting help, since obviously you don't need my help.

Cheers

 

[der Kriegsherr]

@novapaddy

Alright, check your PM box! Thanks! I've solved the "not-starting-at-all" problem (I forgot what exactly I did to do that), now it will load, but crash to desktop. We've at least got the save_debug.txt file!

 

[Conquerer1234]

@der Kriegsherr well, of course you are supposed to have it (in the main game directory), but remember set the scenario up first as if you don't it will not start as is what happened with my first attempt modding. Honestly, I forgot to change a TAG in the .inc file from GER to U08 and change it in the scenario.eug as well, because if I did that I would have my own mod by this time. Oh, if you want it to load change the settings.cfg to 1 from 0 to actually allow you to start the scenario and begin editing it (remember to keep the game paused while you are editing provinces as the game hates provinces not being owned)
btw I will send you a PM containing the Darkest Hour editor that I have on my computer just to be on the safe side and because I don't want to see yet another mod I am following die.

yea, definitely set the scenario up as that probably is causing the CTD's.

 

[Skyhascheese]

Damn this seems to be a good idea! well if you need anyone with time to test the game, i'm your man!

 

[novapaddy]

@novapaddy

Alright, check your PM box! Thanks! I've solved the "not-starting-at-all" problem (I forgot what exactly I did to do that), now it will load, but crash to desktop. We've at least got the save_debug.txt file!

I will have a look.

 

[novapaddy]

I downloaded your mod and had a look.

Where do I start?
I can see a lot of work done certainly, but I think the main issue is that you may not understand fully the scope of the project you are undertaking here.

When doing a mod and using the dh map, you simply make a copy of dh, rename it and you are set to go, just change things to suit what you want to do.
I mean if you are starting for a ww2 scenario, then the AI, scenario countries, events are all suitable for use.

When doing a mod and using the E3 map, things are very different.
The E3 map is for 1936, but it is just a map. Everything else is just a shell to get you started.
So, there are no ai files, no events, techs are a shell, etc etc etc.

I you are intending to use the E3 map for a 1936 scenario and intending to use the DH events, techs, ai etc, ..... ALL of these will need to be changed to suit the E3 map. This is a monstrous undertaking. I mean you are mad to even think of doing so!

For instance, every ai file will need to have its provinces set to the E3 map, from the dh map.
Every event will need the same... and so on.

I think you will be better off forgetting about the E3 map for a ww2 scenario, as just use the dh map. Now everything suits what you are doing and all becomes possible again.

............

You start a mod with a working map.
Then you add everything else, piece by piece, checking that everything still works at every step.

IF you are intending to have a more modern mod, maybe set later on in the 1980s? I would suggest using hansnery's Turning Point mod as a starting point.

You could even use the putin mod as a starting point, it gives you a working map again.

.........

SO, looking at your files I'm thinking if I was to get this mod working, I mean the map opening up, he will still need to do so much more before he has a working 1936 mod. For a game like dh which is pretty much dead with few players, I don't see the point in spending time on it.

EDIT;

YOUR IMMEDIATE PROBLEM is that the map is called from the db/misc.txt file, see the very bottom and compare to how the putin mod misc.txt file looks.

But after changing this, the map still crashes, so I can only presume that you made a mistake in your scenario files? EVERY province has to be accounted for.