Earlier Start Date

[Chief-Phillips]

Hey everyone,

As a fellow WW1 enthusiast and modder myself (The Somme Valley for Half-Life 2, www.sommevalley.com), Id just like to start off by saying great job

I suggest that the starting year, insted of 1914, be 1901. The Spanish-American war is just closing to and end, and in 1902, the Boer War ends. This would make for some nice starting action for the US and the UK, and would give commanders experience (which quite a few commanders in WW1 had experience in one of those two wars).

Of course for playability reasons, more techs would have to be implimented and so forth, but it'll give people another hour or two more of TGW experience. And plus, for those who enjoy a shorter, strait into the action game, you could do what Paradox did and add a few scenarios, all virtualy the same, just different starting years.

Thats just my two cents, dunno how valuable those pennies are, as my knowledge isn't very extensive on HoI modding (but if you guys need a webmaster and a pair of forums isntalled, I'm your man, lol).

Cheers

 

[Shadow Knight]

This was discussed a while ago, the reason we went with the date we have is to keep a relatively historical start-up that leads to WWI. The way HOI works there would be little chance of a set up that historically happened, too many strange things would happen.

While we are planning some extra scenarios (1916, 1917, and maybe a 1918), only Allenby really knows exactly, they will take place during the Great War and the Russian Revolution. Any scenarios earlier is outside the scope of this mod.

 

[Allenby]

SK has it right really - a mod starting in 1901 wouldn't really be about the First World War, but about the early twentieth century.

At this late stage, changing what the mod is about would demand too many drastic changes to tech trees, leader and minister files, OBs and otherwise.

But you're correct when you say that leaders would get battle experience....but leaders like Sir Garnet Wolseley and Sir Redvers Buller would too :wacko:

The scenarios I have in mind are an August 1914 one, 1917 after the Russian Revolution, 21st February 1916 and 21st March 1918. (This is me thinking ambitiously though)

 

[kionas76]

Balkan war?

Ok i agree that it would be to early for a start at 1901 but what about 1912-1913 and therefore include Balkan wars?After all IIRC there is a chance in the game now that war wont break out and due to balkan intrigue it may begin in 1915 or something.Remember the importance of Balkans in that era and the fact that war actually broke out because of the Arcduke murder there.So it could be possible to start a WW earlier during the 1st or 2nd Balkan wars.The minister files want need to much change and the OOB would be the same except a few ships maybe.

 

[Allenby]

Arguing that the mod should start in 1912 or 1913 is all very well, but it's irrelevant now. These matters were decided upon more than a year ago when the mod was started and, with the 1914 start date in particular being chosen before I had much influence or clout around these parts. Had I been in the position I am now back then I may well have been an advocate of starting the mod in 1913 at the earliest, but it is simply too late to change it now, without wasting a lot of time altering leader files, minister files, OBs, writing new events, changing country.inc files, changing the scenario file. I want to take the mod forward by pushing it towards a firm proper version, after which, some scenarios can be worked upon. Arguing over the start date will only take us backwards.

 

[Shadow Knight]

I can't speak for the others, but if someone would like to take our basic mod and make a 1912-13 mod from it that would be cool with me. However that person would have to do it on their own, or with others who would be interested in doing such a thing.

 

[ptan54]

The further you depart from the point of divergence the messier it becomes.

Start in 1901 and you can easily have Germany in alliance with Britain. You can have war over Morocco and Fashoda. The Balkan wars could have had a different outcome. Europe's borders could be radically different in 1914.

There is no way we can account for all the different possibilities. Hence, we start in January 1914 when the alliance systems are set. It is the Great War mod after all.

 

[Henry v. Keiper]

I wouldn't mind 1912 being the start date or some thing. Not too far.

But a start date in 1914 is fine too. When you think about it, World War I sprung up quite suddenly (even though its causes were deep) so it would make sense to have the gameplay be the same way.

Cool website, btw.

 

[StephenT]

Research would be a big problem for an earlier start date. There are tons of books giving in-depth data on leaders, ministers and orders of battle for WW1, but very little for earlier dates. Even going back to 1 January instead of 28 June caused us a few problems.

Personally, the scenario I'd like to see would be Winter 1914 or Spring 1915, so the main alliances are in place, the front lines are set and the mass armies are dug-in. That might mean the war develops more realistically (ie stalemate) and the AI would be able to cope better if all its forces are pre-deployed for it.