TAKE COMMAND 1861: SCENARIO TOOL KIT (Beta Version 1.03 - p.m. 6 Feb 05)

by The Harper's Ferry Arsenal

PURPOSE.  This tool kit is designed to facilitate the work necessary to create a scenario for
 Mad Minute Games' Take Command 1861 tactical level Civil War simulation.  It attempts to 
achieve a compromise between the needs of the historical researcher and the needs of the 
computer--both have different ways of organizing and comprehending data that is sometimes not 
user friendly' to the other.  This is not a scenario editor; most scenario editors presume the 
data is already available…just waiting to be entered.  This tool kit is intended to help close 
the gap between the historical researcher and the scenario editor program.

SCOPE.  This beta edition is limited to collecting and organizing the information required to 
build an Order of Battle (OOB) and determine where to place each unit and leader on a TC1861 
game map.  It assumes the scenario designer is satisfied with all other modifiable aspects of 
the game (sounds, sprites, screens, etc.--i.e. the "stock engine").  Future editions of the 
TC1861 Scenario Tool Kit (TC1861 STK) will include organizational tools and aids for these 
aspects of the game engine.

ORGANIZATION.  The TC1861 Scenario Tool Kit is organized into eight sections (aka Excel 
worksheets).  These sections are as follows (click on the tabs at the bottom of this worksheet 
to access these sections):

  -- Instructions Tab.
  -- Army Orders of Battle (OOB) Tabs.
  -- Map Tabs (We will add tabs and contents over time--starting very soon).
  -- Unit Placement, Orientation and Disposition Tool Tab (this uses Microsoft's PowerPoint 
	presentation program).
  -- Scenario Events Tab.
  -- Scenario Notes Tab.
  -- TC 1861 References Tab.
  -- Terms and Criteria Tab.

REQUIREMENTS.  This tool kit presumes a basic knowledge of Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet program 
and PowerPoint presentation program.  As a minimum, you must have the Excel program; PowerPoint 
is optional but you lose some functionality that the two programs--working together--can provide.  
Familiarity with 6th Vermont's Basic Scenario Tutorial 101 is essential.

TC1861 SCENARIO TOOL KIT INSTRUCTIONS.

This kit is designed to make OOB researcher's jobs a bit easier for recording and posting/sending 
TC1861-centric scenario data.  Though designed specifically to support development of the 2BR mod, 
this kit can be used to commence construction of other ACW battle OOB using the TC1861 family of 
games format (We are hopeful that a map editor will be published with the next game to take 
advantage of these "work aheads").  This kit will eventually include criteria for translating 
historical data into scenario-relevant data.  This tool kit is intended to help--not hinder--your 
efforts. The information is the thing.  If you have a better way to gather and share info--use it.

Map.  This section contains a .jpg image of the area in which the Battles of 1st and 2nd Bull Run 
were fought.  It is intended to assist the scenario designer in determining the initial location 
and orientation for each unit contained in his scenario.  How it is used is up to you.  A military 
grid reference system has been super-imposed over the map to facilitate recording unit locations 
and/or facilitate discussions on the MMG forum where the location of a unit is the subject of debate.  
To use the grid reference system, read the numbers right and up.  For example, Stone house is located 
at 048_550 (give or take 50 yards).  You can record these locations on the OOB workesheets but this 
is for your use only--it will not populate the game engine with unit locations; this has to be done 
by physically marching the units to their locations in the game (see 6th Vermont's article on scenario 
building to understand how this is done -- 6th Vermont's Basic Scenario Tutorial 101 is at URL: 

http://www.madminutegames.com/modding/article1.htm

Army Orders of Battle.  These sections (OOB - Army 1 and OOB - Army 2) were designed with two users 
in mind…the scenario designer and the War3D engine.  As such, we used the units.csv as the basis for 
these sections.  For the user, we added a few columns at the end to support items the scenario designer 
has to consider in marching units to their scenario start positions.  We also revised the visual 
appearance used by the csv to enable more information to be seen on the screen at any one time.  In 
addition, we enabled locked panes so the user can scroll left and right, up and down without losing 
the headings…or his place.  There is data already recorded in both the OOB - Army files.  It is our 
first cut at a Second Bull Run Scenario OOB (courtesy of Mike Peyrot).  It is just an example of what 
the data entries might look like.  Delete this information before you start your work on your own 
particular battle of interest.  NOTE: This is the only worksheet in the TC1861 Scenario Tool Kit that 
contains elements that could be cut and pasted into a units.csv file for direct use in the game.

Scenario Events.  This is a place to record the time and the events pertaing to your scenario.  It forms 
part of the information required to build a complete events.csv file.

Scenario Notes.  This section is for the scenario designer to keep whatever notes he deems necessary.  
It is not intended to be used in the construction of .csv files.

TC1861 References.  This section contains links to all of the relevant information pertaining to modding 
TC1861 as published by Mad Minute Games.

Enjoy,

The Harper's Ferry Arsenal