A Company of Heroes Proposal: Settling Accounts Thread

Mod Proposal- Settling Accounts

Hi all!

First point: I have absolutely no modding experience beyond giving suggestions to the Dawn of Victory team and hanging out on their forums, and as a complete novice, I understand this may seem a bit ambitious. However, since I'm thinking of starting out, I thought it would be a good idea to receive feedback of those who actually are developers, especially those with experience with modding Company of Heroes. This post is not one assembling a team, although interested parties may PM me. Rather, I am just posting this as a feasibility idea for people to peruse.

Without further ado, the proposal:

Platform: Company of Heroes

Inspiration: Harry Turtledove's "Timeline 191" Series, particularly the Settling Account series of books. For those unfamiliar with the series, it postulates a Confederate victory during the American Civil War, and then extrapolates this to the twentieth century. Settling Accounts sees the fascist dictator of the CSA, President Jake Featherston, launch Operation Blackbeard against the United States in 1941. The Confederate forces, well prepared and using new lightning war techniques, storm forward driving US forces back in all directions. Eventually, CSA forces reach the shores of Lake Erie, cutting the US in two. As the war drags on, however, the tide begins to turn. The Confederate army is mauled in brutal street-fighting in Pittsburgh, and then the United States begins to move its juggernaut strength into the fray. The old barrels (tanks) of the US Army are fazed out, replaced by new more up-to-date machine, and the Confederates, mired by the blinkered military strategy of the President, are slowly and inexorably forced back. Not wanting to spoil the story for those who intend to read the books, I shall stop there. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline-191)

Forces: The US Army and the Confederate Army.

US Army Aesthetics:

Uniform: The US Army in this timeline is inspired by the forces of the German Empire (which continues to exist in this timeline). Green-grey, similar to German feldgrau, is the uniform colour of their forces. Coal-scuttle helmets are the used design.

Weapons: The US forces use less advanced weaponry than their Confederate counterparts, which seem most similar to their real life WW2 gear, although they still use bolt-action rifles rather than semi-automatics (the Springfield as its known.)

Barrels: In the early stages of the war, the US has an outdated barrel programme. Under the Socialist government, barrels were rarely invested in, and in 1941, their armoured units are heavily outclassed by their CS counterparts, who have the edge on speed, armour and firepower. As the war progresses, this slowly changes Design wise, they seem to use their real life US tank chassis, but with German turrets (from book descriptions and cover art.) Imagine a Sherman tank chassis with a Panzer IV turret and you roughly have the picture.

Symbol: A red circle, emblazoned with an eagle holding two crossed swords. This appears in all the places where the US white star does on WW2 equipment.

CS Army Aesthetics:

Uniform: Butternut, what us Brits call khaki, is the uniform colour. CS helmets look like WW2 US helmets did (the bowl shaped ones). Party Guards, the CSA equivalent of the SS, start wearing camo by the end of the war.

Weapons: German, German, German. Submachine guns, rifles, machine guns. Everything is inspired by the German army. By the end of the war, a large portion of the Confederate Army is using automatic rifles, which their US counterparts usually scrounge and turn against their former users. They also begin to use disposable one shot anti-tank weapons, similar to the Panzerfaust.

Barrels: Again, pretty much German, from the doctrine down to the chassis design anyway. The turrets look like US Army equivalents, so the opposite situation to above, a Sherman turret on a Panzer IV.

Insignia: the Confederate Battle Flag. The rectangle shape is retained on all vehicles, so no roundel. Freedom Party Guards also use the Confederate Battle Flag but with the colours reversed (red cross on blue).

US Army Style.

Basically defensive in the early stage of the war, but they're not dug in prepared positions. Infantry is rushed forward to halt the Confederate advance, and their tanks, horrendously outclassed, have to mob up to have a chance. Their one advantage is a huge industrial and population base which takes a while to get going.

By the latter part of the war, the US army is beginning to drive the enemy back, adopting CS strategies and basically hounding the enemy to destruction. At this point, their style is more like their real life counterparts. Acceptable tanks, lots of good infantry, and a straight laced approach to combat.

N.B The discrepancies between late war and early preparedness of both armies has to be solved somehow. Ideally, I'd like each skirmish to represent that with some kind of slow auto-research feature which steadily releases more units into the hands of the player. This feature might also start giving resource bonuses and population increases for the USA as it starts seriously mobilising, and research point bonuses for the CSA player to balance out.

CS Army Style

In the early stages of the war these guys are winning and winning hard. Confederate dive bombers (known as Ass Kickers, cf. Stukas) and artillery pound any position the US can form into the dirt. Waves of well designed barrels and well trained infantry (they've been waiting for this chance for years after all) support the attack. In the early game, the CS player as the definite advantage in terms of equipment. What the player lacks, however, is the population cap and resource generation of the US. So numbers can still slow him down, especially if the US player is tenacious in defence.

Late game the CS is on the ropes. Their former air superiority has been hacked from the sky by the new jet planes of the USAAF, and the numerical superiority and industrial power of the USA is starting to tell. The Confederate barrels of the early war period are now outclassed, and most have already been destroyed in the US counter-attack. Assault guns (think StuG) are now being rushed to the front to try and make up the lack of armour. Monster barrels, with vicious 88mm or larger guns are designed. Their engines are too weak to be fast, and their numbers too few to stop the US advance. CS infantry technology is still the best, with automatic rifles commonplace. Fanatical Party Guards enter the fray, determined not to let up an inch of ground. There are too few of them, however, and poor quality Mexican soldiers are rushed up to try and stem the tide. The CS player can still win, if he effectively uses the limited resources available. The CS barrels, whilst not perfect, have the most deadly gun on the frontline, and in a one to one situation, it won't be Dixie that brews up.

US Army Doctrines

"Not one step back!"

If you want to maul the Confederates like at Pittsburgh, then this is the doctrine for you. A bevy of support powers will keep your troops in the fight, boosting morale and determination; whilst another set will either cause the Confederate troops to automatically retreat, or prevent them from doing so, to ensure their complete destruction. Mines, traps and camouflage round off this tree, to give the enemy a nasty surprise.

"I have not yet begun to fight!"

The defiant cry of President Al Smith of the USA as, with General Morrel at its head, the US Army is starting to drive the Confederates back. This tree emphasises the combined arms of the US forces. Support powers allow the US player to repair his tanks, buff units for those carefully planned assaults, and demoralise the CS opposition. The player can also call in paratrooper drops like at the Battle of Chattanooga when US airborne seized Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge; or bring in an extra load of veteran units armed with captured CS weaponry from the vast pool of manpower that lies behind the US forces.

"The South shall not rise again"

At the end of the Great War, the CSA was constrained, but not conquered. This time round, the government in Philadelphia are determined to crush the South, and restore the one American nation. This tree is entirely designed to take the ground from beneath the feet of the CS player. To bolster its already impressive manpower, the US player can call in African American units, volunteers from the South, who intend to exact payback for the Freedom Party's campaign of ethnic cleansing. Scorched earth policies, and the destruction of resource points ensure that the US player will enjoy economic dominance. To top it all off, the US player can encourage enemy units to lay down their arms and surrender. Whilst this tree might not give the direct military advantage of the others, its not nice to be a CS player and watch your exhausted troops surrender in droves to the enemy!

CS Army Doctrines

"One good punch"

If the CS and US were to be envisioned as boxers, then the US would be a hulking figure with a glass jaw. The scrawny CS guy needs only one punch in the right place to lay the other flat, and that's what this doctrine is all about: Offensive power! Support powers can bring in deadly artillery strikes, and even worse, the Asskicker dive bomber, which can flatten a MG nest, destroy a tank or render a bunker structurally compromised with unerring accuracy. Rounding off the package are the best barrels and assault infantry the CS can offer. Choosing this tree will leave the CS player slightly exposed, however, as many defensive structures will now be lost. If the one good punch misses its mark, then the lack of resources will mean the CS player will be scrambling to regain the advantage.

"I'm Jake Featherston! And I'm here to tell you the truth!"

That's right, the Freedom Party is here to put the South back on its feet! Grab your weapons and show the damn Yankees who's boss! This tree brings all the dubious benefits of a fascist state at your disposal. Propaganda will stir you troops to new heights, and demoralise the enemy to new lows. To round this off, bring some of the terror weapons of Confederate science into play. The rocket barrages of the "Screaming Meemies" will turn the US forces offences into ash, and if you manage to get the President to authorise the use of the CSA's larger rockets, then say goodbye to the Yankee scum!

"Southern Fortress"

This is it, endgame. The CS player is going to make the US player pay in blood and treasure for every bit of land taken. Defence works are rapidly constructed; from trenches to machine gun nests and artillery posts. Freedom Party Guards, the most fanatical of CS forces are marched into the fray, unable to retreat, but armed with the best weapons, and boy do they know how to use them. Peoples' Storm units, militia made up of young boys and old men are thrown into the fight to fill the gaps between the CS army regulars. While they may not be able to shoot well, armed as they are with old bolt action Tredegars, they can still blow up a tank with their disposable anti-tank guns if they get in the right place. Bringing up the rear are the monster barrels of CS engineering, the massive Lee, with its 88mm gun, and a expert crew to match.

US Army Units

Infantry: Rifle Squad, Engineers, MG Team, Mortar Team, Snipers

Vehicles: Armoured Car (M3 "Washington"), Jeep, Halftrack (M3A2 "Lexington"), AT gun (M1 "Pilgrim") upgradeable to the better M3 "Founder"

Barrels:

Early War- M1A2 "Paine" light tank, M1A3 "Adams" medium tank

Late War- M2 "Seattle" light tank, M2A1 "Boston" medium, M3 "Chicago" heavy.

Called in: African American Militia, US Airborne, Combat Veterans

CS Army Units

Infantry: Rifle Squad, Pioneers, MG Team, Mortar Team, Sharpshooters

Vehicles: Armoured Car (AC-IV "Pickett"), Motorbike with sidecar, Halftrack (HT-II "Forrest"), AT gun (AT-III "Parrot")

Barrels:

Early War- LB-IV "Jackson" light tank, MB-II "Stonewall" medium tank, HB-VI "Bragg" heavy tank

Late War- AG-II "Pemberton" assault gun, MB-IIa "Johnston" medium tank

Called in: Peoples' Storm unit, Freedom Party Guards, HB-V "Lee" super-heavy tank

Final Points

Company of Heroes has been chosen because it provides a good base for the gameplay, and all the models are already pretty much in the game! Re-skins, and some swapping of model parts will be necessary.

The difficulties present are balance: the CSA is supposed to be strong in the beginning, but not to strong that they will always beat the USA within the first few minutes. Furthermore, the CSA needs to retain some ability to win in the latter stages to avoid the same thing happening over and over again!

Of course, given the pressures of real life on my part, I'd be very happy if anyone interested would like to use this brief outline for their own work, preferably a team that is determined enough to make something akin to the excellent production quality of Eastern Front. I would like to mod this to that standard, and I would be unhappy to see anything lower than that. PM me if you are thinking along those lines.

In short, any opinions, advice, thoughts comments would be more that welcome. Like I said, no knowledge of modding on my part, so reccommendations for tutorials and places to start are welcome.

it's nice to know that there is someone else out there that loves this series as much as i do, i might have to buy company of heroes just to make this, if i do, ill try and give it a shot

wow this really makes me wish i could mod

Thanks for the comments

Given real life concerns, this is a long term idea of mine to have a look at. I have had a look at some Company of Heroes modding forums to get some ideas about such things. My hope was posting this here would bring in some people who could point me in the right direction, do keep me posted if you get anywhere near modding Schroederfgson!

So yeah, Smallchange my idea wishes I could mod too!

Watch this space, perhaps we will see the sight of Asskickers pounding US defensive positions sometime!

it may take me a while to learn how to mod this certain game, but it shouldn't be too hard, i think that the hardest part will be the models

Models are fine, Animations are the hardest part. You find and animator for your CoH mod, you're set for life
Sounds like an awesome idea for a mod however. Would help if I could but I'm a one mod at a time guy due to a serious lack of time. All the best though.