Building Custom Scenarios
Select
Mission Type
Choose
Human/Computer Deploy
Visibility Setting Dili
Choose Map input
Scenario Text
Set Set Load Save
Year Month Siemrio Current Siemrio
Select Units to Buy for Player for 2
Choose Battle Size
Player Flags
Nationality Flags Sit Terrain Type
The Custom Scenario Builder lets you create scenarios from the ground up by selecting terrain, equipment, troop type and their placements.
For an example we'll build a simple U.S. Army advance against the Germans.
Selecting Nationality
First, determine who is fighting who. Opponents are selected in the upper left corner of the editor. To pick Player I s nationality, left-click on the flag underneath the heading
"Player 1." Repeat the process for Player 2. We chose to make Player 1 the U.S Army and Player 2 the German Army.
You have now set up the nationalities for this battle.
Set up Battle Size
Below the two "Buy" buttons is the Battle Size Selection Menu. This menu only changes the size of the map the battle is to be fought upon. You have the choice from small to large. For this example, we picked "Small."
Set Year and Month
Next is setting the month and year of the battle. In the lower-left portion of the menu there are two dials: one for the year and the other for the month. The up and down arrows allow you to change the month and year to your choice. For this example we selected the year "1943," and the month of "July"
Select Mission Type
In the upper-right corner is the Mission Selection Menu. This menu lets allows you to pick the three basic Mission Types in STEEL PANTHERS: Assault, Advance, or Meeting Engagement. The difference between "Assault" and "Advance" is that the defender in a "Assault" mission is dug-in and both sides have more artillery support. For now, pick the "US Army Advance" option. Your scenario so far is the U.S. vs. the Germans, July 1943, and it is a U.S. Army Advance.
Select Terrain Type
The editor allows you to pick the Terrain Type you wish to fight in. You have three choices of map types: Desert, Summer, or Winter. For this battle let's pick, "Summer."
Set up Visibility
Next to the Terrain Type is the Visibility Setting Dial. This dial shows you how the units in your armies can see. Use the up and down arrows to adjust the setting. For example, a setting of 10 means that all of the units are able to see only ten hexes away and a setting of 60 means that they are able to see 60 hexes away. For now leave this at its default setting of "60."
Build a Map
Below the Terrain and Visibility settings are the Map Selection Options. You may either have the computer build you a "Random" map, or you can "Load" a saved map, or you can and "Edit" an existing map which has already been loaded. For this example just pick build a "Random" map. It may take the computer a few seconds to generate the map. Once it is done, left-click on the "Edit" button.
Basic Map Editing
You now have a randomly-built map. You can either accept the map as it is, edit the map, or clear the map and start from scratch. To edit the map you first have to select a terrain tile you wish to add. On the right side of the screen are available terrain icons you can choose from. For more descriptions on the icons, please refer to the "Map Editor Menu" section on page 41.
For now, lets add some woods. Left-click on the "Wooded Terrain" button, then pick a spot on the map you wish to add woods to, and left-click again. A woods hex has now been added to your map. Now, if you right-click on a hex, the terrain type is added not only to the single hex you just clicked on, but also to six surrounding hexes. This allows you to quickly add large amounts of terrain to the map. You may now do the same for most of the other terrain buttons.
Making roads and streams have a different way to set them up. Left-click on the "Dirt Road" button. Now left-click on the map where you wish the road to start, then left-click again on the map where you wish the road to end. Be careful not to make very sharp curves or turns, as the computer may have difficulty interpreting this. The method is the same for making paved roads and streams.
If you wish start from scratch, left-click on the "CLR" button. Warning! This erases the entire map of all its features, so be sure you want to do this, or save the current map first.
To save any map you make just left-click on the disk icon. Left-click on the "Quit" button go back to the Editor Menu.
Select Forces
It's time to purchase units. The two "Buy" buttons operate in the same fashion as the Battle Builder Menu. For now select the units for both the Americans and Germans.
Deploy Forces
Now that both the Americans and Germans have units, its time to deploy them. Below the Mission Selection Menu, are the Deploy Options: Auto-1, Auto-2, and Human.
Both "Auto-1" and "Auto-2" allows the computer to automatically set up the units for both players. The "Human" option allows you to set the units on the map. For now left-click on the "Human" option.
The Main Game Screen is where you can place your units on the Battle Map. You'll notice that the units for both the Germans and Americans are on both the extreme left and right sides of the map. This menu is exactly the same as the Deployment Menu as described on page 24 of this manual. The only difference is that you are free to set up the units on the map as you see fit. Also, you may modify Victory Objective hexes as well.
By left-clicking on the Edit Victory Objectives icon, you are able to move each Victory hexes to a different location, add or subtract the value of each Victory Objective hex and change ownership of the Victory hex.
Setting the Number of Turns
To set up the number of turns in the scenario press the "." (period) key on the keyboard and you will be asked to set the number turns you this battle to last.
Change Current Unit/Modify Current Unit
You can also change your units to different type (a Panther tank to a Tiger tank) or modify a unit existing data. These options available through the Change Current Unit and Modify Current Unit icons.
Saving Scenarios
At this point you have finished making your scenario. You can now save it going to the Scenario Options Menu at the bottom of the Editor Menu. You will see two buttons. Left-clicking on Save to save the scenario you've made. The Load icon loads an existing scenario and allows you to edit that scenario. Remember, these options have nothing to do with loading or saving a map.
Input Scenario Text
This feature allows you to type in a text description for the scenario you are building. The window scrolls to allow better viewing, and you can left-click in the window to add new text or make corrections. We suggest the description be only one or two paragraphs long.
Map Editor Menu
In steel Panthers you not only play on realistic terrain maps, you can create your own.
To create a map from scratch or edit an existing map, select the terrain tiles you wish by left-clicking on them, then left-clicking where you wish to place them on the Battle Map.
Note: Be sure to save your maps once you have finished creating them!
Clear Map
Erases all terrain features from the Battle Map.
All Terrain
Selects open or grass terrain.
Swamp Terrain
Selects swamp or marsh terrain.
Rough Terrain
Selects rough terrain which is uneven and rocky, with some light brush.
Level 1 Hill Terrain
Selects small, open hill terrain.
Level 2 Hill Terrain
Selects medium-sized open hill terrain.
Level 3 Hill Terrain
Selects large-sized open hilltop terrain.
Make a Stream
Left-click on the hex where you wish the stream to originate, then left-click on where you wish the stream to end. The generated stream meanders between these two points.
Water Terrain
Selects all-water terrain.
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