M1 Tank Platoon II

Polak2 · 11-13-21, 06:26 AM

About the graphics and making all arrangements to make them compatible with M1TP2 it is my opinion that this may only benefit D3D which is currently unplayable on my win10 64bit and Nvidia GTX card. So therefore I need to run on Glide. And that is basically it.

Here is what is interesting to me atm. Gameplay and how they represented various battledrills as this is what I am learning from the M1TP2 manual and then hearing from the other sources on the internet is the most fundamental component of successful tactics on the tank platoon level. The center of my interest is to try to find and extract the information according to which the battles and battledrills are played out at NTC.

As I have mentioned earlier that most of the battles in M1TP2 are scripted from the rather very simple and totally readable in English text file describing all of the global conditions, spawning information, formations and tasks, and goals for the scenario. I see those files in the Battles subfolder and can read and play and modify them easily. They are for Armor, Player, NATO and Gulf single battle and tutorial scenarios.

However, this is not how the NTC and eventually perhaps campaigns are scripted or generated. They appear to be randomly generated and not scripted although it is my belief that at some point that format of the typical scripted scenario is produced (possibly in memory) and the AI is taking the cue from there. If that could be apprehended and analyzed then not only those Battledrills could be played out (and that is another possibly interesting possibility) on the battlefield and observed and modified to understand fully what is the best gameplay options for Blue as well Red side in this game.

Other things may transpire from that as well.

Polak2 · 11-13-21, 08:44 PM

Quote:

If that could be apprehended and analyzed then not only those Battledrills could be played out (and that is another possibly interesting possibility) on the battlefield and observed and modified to understand fully what is the best gameplay options for Blue as well Red side in this game.

Fortunately, it did not take long to find a good solution to this how-to extract random NTC mission for further study and analysis.

The solution is to SAVE THE BATTLE right after it starts in the Briefing Map.

The result is a new text file of the saved scenario located in the Player folder and called "battle0.txt". You can rename it to the name of what that mission is in my case it is Movement 2Contact1 or M2C1 as I called it when saving it.

This gives very good learning and test material to play and replay it using maybe different tactics.

RetroGamer · 11-17-21, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polak2

...most of the battles in M1TP2 are scripted from the rather very simple and totally readable in English text file describing all of the global conditions, spawning information, formations and tasks, and goals for the scenario. I see those files in the Battles subfolder and can read and play and modify them easily.

That's very interesting. If I'm following you, start one of the battles, immediately save, then go into the Battles subfolder and you can modify it and change the name, conditions, tasks, etc...wow!"

I've been playing the game and trying to figure out which tactics work best. It's a trial and error process. Here's what I've found out so far:

If you've got another platoon of M1A2s, don't separate - keep them next to you on a parallel course so you can engage the enemy in force. That's worked a few times. We've wiped out some enemy tank companies with direct fire with just me and my other platoon.

If you've got another platoon of M2A3s, either keep them with you, but lagging way behind, or send them to some high ground far away. Maybe they can engage long range with the TOWs and not get themselves killed.

If you've got a platoon of M113s, send them for the hills far away so they don't get killed. You can bring them up if you're platoon lost its' mobility.

What gets you killed:

1. Having fun blowing away all those BMPs and enemy tanks and not realizing you're outnumbered. They get a lucky shot and you're platoon is destroyed within 10 seconds.

Oh - back to hardware and software....I can't find a Fraps version that works on Windows 98. It says in the readme of 1.9 that it needs XP to work. I've gotten it to work in XP for the frame counter but can't get any movies. Still working on it. I need a more current version.

Polak2 · 11-17-21, 05:04 AM

Quote:

If you've got another platoon of M1A2s, don't separate - keep them next to you on a parallel course so you can engage the enemy in force. That's worked a few times. We've wiped out some enemy tank companies with direct fire with just me and my other platoon.

Let us not forget our little flying friends. They can give a helping hand and they are controllable too. This is the bonus of having a random learning scenario being "frozen" at the start so you can modify things to see what works or whatnot. And you can see the battlefield from a new higher viewing point.

Polak2 · 01-03-22, 08:50 PM

I was wondering what is new in our topic in this New 2022 year? I hope we still M1TP2 tanking ahead! There are some new developments in M1TP2 terrain modding subject here: https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.p...in#Post4588387

Everyone is invited to make M1TP2 better if possible!

Skybird · 01-10-22, 11:55 AM

We admire your enthusiasm!

It certainly was a good game in its time.

Wolfcat · 03-11-22, 01:09 AM

@Polak2 Hi I am new to this thread. Could you tell me how to use Voodoo wrapper to get better graphics? I am currently using DXWnd to get it to work but the graphics not nearly as good as yours.

Polak2 · 03-11-22, 11:24 AM

@Wolfcat
Try this profile for DXWnd:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ef89tzw70f...M1TP2.dxw?dl=0
I use dgVoodo2 wrapper in Glide mode in the game.

lmk...

RetroGamer · 03-13-22, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polak2

I was wondering what is new in our topic in this New 2022 year? I hope we still M1TP2 tanking ahead! There are some new developments in M1TP2 terrain modding subject here: https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.p...in#Post4588387

Everyone is invited to make M1TP2 better if possible!

I built a retro PC right after the New Year specifically for playing tank sims, especially M1TP2. It’s a Windows XP computer, 3 GHZ processor, intel board, 2 GB RAM, onboard Intel graphics (for now). I intend to eventually get the best graphics card I can find with XP drivers.

As is, I can play:

1. The 3 Armored Fist games (AF1, AF2 under DOXBox, AF3 under XP)
2. M1TP2 - v1.2, looks great under D3D mode. Sometimes the colors are off after using thermal sights but the game plays very well and never crashes.
3. Steel Beasts 1 - I only play the tank range from time to time.
4. iM1A2 - I only play the Instant Action scenario.
5. Mechwarrior4 - Not a tank sim but close - graphics are off the scale beautiful!
6. T-72 Balkans on Fire - looks good, low frame rate due to onboard graphics.

Games that won’t run until I install a better graphics card:

1. Battlefield 2
2. T34 vs Tiger
3. Steel Fury
4. Steel Armor: Blaze of War

All that being said - M1TP2 is the main game I play. Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. At the mission start, get everybody to the high ground.
2. Keep your forces together. LAVs and Hummer platoons and sections die without you.
3. Every mission is an attack mission. Wedge, full speed. Upon contact, use Battle drill to assault line formation.

4. While doctrinally incorrect, stopping the M1 and engaging g targets at maximum effective range with sabot rounds works. Sabot has a longer range. Just stop and snipe each BMP because if you’re moving, you’ll miss.

I’m still playing the heck out of all the campaigns.

M1TP2 is still awesome!

Polak2 · 03-14-22, 10:08 PM

@RetroGamer ...and others,
I am glad you are still with M1P2.

About best tactics in this I cannot say yet too much, however, IMHO there are a few problems about this game that prevent implementation of closer to RL tactics and doctrines.

a. size of the battlefield
b. very awkward and clumsy representation of trees and forests
c. inability to split tank platoon into 2 sections
d. more refined and accurate heightmap allowing use terrain for cover

Some, if not all, of those deficiencies, could be possibly corrected with deeper research of files and modding. It needs some time and perhaps broader attention and support would be helpful.

So for now let us just enjoy this visualization of Movement to Contact with VBS2:

RetroGamer · 05-21-22, 09:47 PM

Hey, Polak2!

This is somewhat M1TP2 related - I bought Gunship! A few weeks ago and yes, it’s more advanced graphically than M1TP2.

I’m starting the training missions but confound it!….I immediately ran into a snafu. There’s no way for me to navigate to the next waypoint.

Apparently one needs a patch.

If there’s a Gunship thread on this, point me in the right direction and I’ll meet you there.

I really want to sink my teeth into Gunship! It’s another high quality sim that I didn’t give a chance back when it came out. Thanks.

01-10-22, 11:55 AM	#6
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,568 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	We admire your enthusiasm! It certainly was a good game in its time. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

03-11-22, 11:24 AM	#8
Polak2 Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	@Wolfcat Try this profile for DXWnd: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ef89tzw70f...M1TP2.dxw?dl=0 I use dgVoodo2 wrapper in Glide mode in the game. lmk... Last edited by Polak2; 03-11-22 at 12:21 PM.

05-21-22, 09:47 PM	#11
RetroGamer Mate Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 54 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Gunship! Hey, Polak2! This is somewhat M1TP2 related - I bought Gunship! A few weeks ago and yes, it’s more advanced graphically than M1TP2. I’m starting the training missions but confound it!….I immediately ran into a snafu. There’s no way for me to navigate to the next waypoint. Apparently one needs a patch. If there’s a Gunship thread on this, point me in the right direction and I’ll meet you there. I really want to sink my teeth into Gunship! It’s another high quality sim that I didn’t give a chance back when it came out. Thanks.

11-13-21, 06:26 AM	#1
Polak2 Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	About the graphics and making all arrangements to make them compatible with M1TP2 it is my opinion that this may only benefit D3D which is currently unplayable on my win10 64bit and Nvidia GTX card. So therefore I need to run on Glide. And that is basically it. Here is what is interesting to me atm. Gameplay and how they represented various battledrills as this is what I am learning from the M1TP2 manual and then hearing from the other sources on the internet is the most fundamental component of successful tactics on the tank platoon level. The center of my interest is to try to find and extract the information according to which the battles and battledrills are played out at NTC. As I have mentioned earlier that most of the battles in M1TP2 are scripted from the rather very simple and totally readable in English text file describing all of the global conditions, spawning information, formations and tasks, and goals for the scenario. I see those files in the Battles subfolder and can read and play and modify them easily. They are for Armor, Player, NATO and Gulf single battle and tutorial scenarios. However, this is not how the NTC and eventually perhaps campaigns are scripted or generated. They appear to be randomly generated and not scripted although it is my belief that at some point that format of the typical scripted scenario is produced (possibly in memory) and the AI is taking the cue from there. If that could be apprehended and analyzed then not only those Battledrills could be played out (and that is another possibly interesting possibility) on the battlefield and observed and modified to understand fully what is the best gameplay options for Blue as well Red side in this game. Other things may transpire from that as well.

01-03-22, 08:50 PM	#5
Polak2 Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	I was wondering what is new in our topic in this New 2022 year? I hope we still M1TP2 tanking ahead! There are some new developments in M1TP2 terrain modding subject here: https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.p...in#Post4588387 Everyone is invited to make M1TP2 better if possible!

03-11-22, 01:09 AM	#7
Wolfcat Chief Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 325 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	@Polak2 Hi I am new to this thread. Could you tell me how to use Voodoo wrapper to get better graphics? I am currently using DXWnd to get it to work but the graphics not nearly as good as yours.

03-14-22, 10:08 PM	#10
Polak2 Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	@RetroGamer ...and others, I am glad you are still with M1P2. About best tactics in this I cannot say yet too much, however, IMHO there are a few problems about this game that prevent implementation of closer to RL tactics and doctrines. a. size of the battlefield b. very awkward and clumsy representation of trees and forests c. inability to split tank platoon into 2 sections d. more refined and accurate heightmap allowing use terrain for cover Some, if not all, of those deficiencies, could be possibly corrected with deeper research of files and modding. It needs some time and perhaps broader attention and support would be helpful. So for now let us just enjoy this visualization of Movement to Contact with VBS2: