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Game Forge => DIY => Topic started by: GJK on November 26, 2012, 11:17:28 PM

Title: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on November 26, 2012, 11:17:28 PM
My son and I enjoy playing Hitler's War.  It's an easy enough game to learn and you have free reign on what you build and where you invade so it's not "scripted" like many other ETO games.  I believe that the game is very underrated but most likely due to the fugly and small map and very plain/boring counters.  I'm making my own print-n-play version with an enlarged map, completely redrawn (1" hexes) and it will have all new counters once I get to that phase of the project.  Scaled down sample of the map:
http://www.garykrockover.com/graphics/HW-Map-alternate-colors-final-small.png (http://www.garykrockover.com/graphics/HW-Map-alternate-colors-final-small.png) (3.4mb)
Thumbnail in the attachment.

Comments?
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: Michael Dorosh on December 09, 2012, 09:31:04 AM
I'd try posting this on an active wargaming forum like http://boardgamegeek.com/forum/26625/hitlers-war/general and see what the consensus is there.

I remember some friends playing Hitler's War in high school, I don't think I ever got a game in myself. They seemed to prefer it to Prados' Third Reich, though.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: Staggerwing on December 09, 2012, 10:07:16 AM
Gary, that map is really nice! I just compared it to the original over at the BGG and I'm very impressed! I see that the shorelines and borders and hex placement still match the original but the map details are so much nicer. How did you get that 'glow' around the coast?
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on December 09, 2012, 11:23:46 AM
Hey MAD-
Unfortunately, the Geek forums for HW haven't been very active at all either.  I get the most response over on CSW but I'll post something on the   Geek.  I'm thinking of selling the pdf for $10 or so.  I removed all references to "Hitler's War" and it looks different enough.  I had the map printed out and it looks really good.  The hexes are 1" across and so a 5/8" counter fits well inside the hex.  A 3/4" counter would work as well.  I'm working on a redeux of the counters that I think I'll have printed on labels and then will affix to 5/8" or 3/4" wooden tiles.  Maybe put some shellac on the pieces and then have a super-deluxe version of the game.


HW just never caught on - probably because of the small, ugly map and plain, ugly counters.  If you read the comments about the game on the Geek, you'll see lot's of praise for it: "the game that Third Reich should of been".  It's a simple game, but seems to capture the ETO well.  What's nice is you aren't scripted to follow anything historically.  You build your armies the way you want and you (try to) invade and conquer where you want.  The little game has everything from amphibious assaults, paratroops, V-1/V-2 rockets and you can even build the bomb (or attempt to).  The only area that it's weak in is the political aspect but I may try working something up on that based off of Prados' Third Reich (which is very heavy in the political coverage).


I'll shoot you an email later today - let's catch up on what's been going on.  Curious to hear what you're playing most these days.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on December 09, 2012, 11:50:23 AM
Quote from: Staggerwing on December 09, 2012, 10:07:16 AM
Gary, that map is really nice! I just compared it to the original over at the BGG and I'm very impressed! I see that the shorelines and borders and hex placement still match the original but the map details are so much nicer. How did you get that 'glow' around the coast?


Thanks Staggerwing.  I touched it up a bit last night and I think it looks even better now personally.  Yes, my version lines up perfectly with the original - all the same Industrial Points are in the same location and coastlines match up.  I've named the cities and industrial centers (original had no names) and as you can see, spruced it up a bit all around.


The shoreline glow is something that I've used in maps before and it's an easy effect to achieve.  I use Photoshop.  After drawing my coastlines, I can select the inside of them (the "land") easily enough using the magic wand.  I put that selection on it's own layer.  That is my "land" layer.  After choosing 4 shades of blue that look good together, I then select my land layer and expand the selection 10, 20, 30 or more pixels (depends on the map that I'm working on).  I create a new layer and then I fill that selection with the lightest of the blue colors.  I keep doing that by expanding the previous selection out further so that I have four bands of blue circiling the land area (you'll have to move the land layer to the top of the layers).  I then put a slight gaussian blur on each of the bands.  I put less of a blur on the lightest blue (the coastline) and just enough blur on the other bands to make sure that they blend together nicely.  That gives you the effect of water getting deeper the further out from the coast and a nice "surf" effect around the coast.


I may change the mountains to give them a more natural look.  I'll post samples if/when I do.


There's a vassal module for Hitler's War that has the map that I drew that is identical to the original.  I can get a copy of the rules to you if you're interested in the game.  It plays really well via pbem. 


There's also a PC game version that somebody worked on a while back.  It's not pretty but it works (there's no AI but it solitaires nicely).  I've spoken to the developer about putting in my graphics, which may happen one of these days:
http://monalisa.web44.net/HitlersWar/index.php
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: Staggerwing on December 09, 2012, 11:59:52 AM
Thanks Gary, I'd indeed be interested in the Vassal/pdfs. I've heard of the pc game but didn't make the connection.

AFA the coastlines and borders go, did you hand trace them over the original or did you find a way to extract them from the original scan and then paste them onto a new hex set? I'm a graphics n00b and would love to pick up a few tips on how to create maps from existing images. If you trace do you use a tablet and stylus? Touchscreen? I'm just now thinking an app for iPad and a capacitive pen/stylus might be the way to go if the app import of source images, layers, and export of several different file types to Dropbox.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on December 09, 2012, 12:16:42 PM
You're on the ASL dropbox share, right?  I'll make a "HW" folder up there and share some stuff with you pertaining to the game.
I do have a tablet but rarely use it.  My hand just isn't steady enough to do an accurate trace.  What I do is scan the original map (in several sections) and then stitch the pieces together.  I then use VASSAL to create a blank hexgrid of the correct size.  I will then stretch and twist the stitched together map so that its hexes line up as closely to my hexgrid from VASSAL as possible.  Then it's a matter of tracing the coastlines.  I zoom in and find a paint brush that is of the right thickness to the original map.  I then shift+click draw in all of my coastlines.  For this small HW map, it wasn't too bad but I've done larger maps and it took a good while.  A stylus would be great but like I said, I just can't keep my hand steady enough to do a precise trace.  Shift+clicking around the borders and coastlines is an absolute in precision.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: Staggerwing on December 09, 2012, 12:35:54 PM
QuoteYou're on the ASL dropbox share, right?
I believe so, though I don't recall how to access another's dropbox folder. Do I wait for an email link or should it show up in my own directory?
QuoteI'll make a "HW" folder up there and share some stuff with you pertaining to the game.
Thanks again!

QuoteShift+clicking around the borders and coastlines is an absolute in precision.

I don't have Photoshop. What does shift+click do? is it some sort of autotrace option? I can check if the same option is available in Paint Shop Pro or GIMP.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on December 09, 2012, 01:03:33 PM
If you want, send me a message here with your email address and I'll add you to the ASL DB folder.  I'll then upload the rules for HW and some other stuff.
Shift+click with the paintbrush simply draws a connected line from the first click to the next.  So I can just shift+click trace any shape that I need (coastline, borders, etc).  I'm sure that PSP does the same thing.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: Staggerwing on December 09, 2012, 01:18:38 PM
Will do!
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on December 09, 2012, 01:52:10 PM
By the way, some other maps/games that I've drawn.  This is a very small collection of some of my more favorite ones:


http://garykrockover.com/graphics/
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: Staggerwing on December 09, 2012, 02:35:22 PM
Good Grief!  :o That Ardennes map must have taken you a few years!

They all look great. I just wish i had the talent and time to create even a pale imitation of what you have there.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: bob48 on December 09, 2012, 05:52:08 PM
^+1 The Ardennes '44 map is a work of art. I also like the one from Desert Fox, a game a played a lot when it came out.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on December 09, 2012, 06:06:44 PM
Thanks Bob!  That page is a couple of years old - I have dozens of more maps/counters/designs that I'd like to showcase on there.  I've done a couple of maps for Frank Hunter (Matrix games published) and I was asked to do the map for Red Star Rising but after a number of submissions it just wasn't coming together for what they were looking for.  I would love to do it as more than just a hobby but if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen.  I really enjoy working on that kind of stuff as Mike Dorosh can attest to (he himself a frequent wargame project designer).
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on December 15, 2012, 11:35:59 PM
Some images of the completed upgrade "kit".  The map is under plexi so it looks dull in these pictures.  The colors are very sharp and crisp and the map was laminated at Kinko's after it was printed.  The countersheet was laminated with a self-adhesive backing and then applied to blocks.  The blocks are 15mm ceramic tiles that I found at Hobby Lobby and are perfect!  The weighted tiles means no counter shifting and they can stand on end so you could play this game like a block game.  I only recreated the army unit counters, the other counters are the originals from the game and I probably won't redo those.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on December 15, 2012, 11:37:52 PM
And for comparison, a shot of the original game and counters.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: Cdndave on July 31, 2013, 09:20:17 AM
Sorry to post in this old thread - but how would I go about getting a copy of this revised game?  You mentioned that you might be selling as a PNP

Thanks

Dave
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on July 31, 2013, 09:55:01 AM
Hi Dave,  I can upload the files to a Dropbox folder and give you access to them.  No charge.  I'll just need an email address that you would like to use for Dropbox and I'll get that set up.  Just PM that email address to me if you like.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: Keunert on July 31, 2013, 10:37:54 AM
Garry can you describe how you do these maps and what software you use?
impressive work!
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on July 31, 2013, 11:50:42 AM
Oh well thank you!  I have an old version of Photoshop (7.0) that I've used for years and have created and added a number of patterns and have acquired a few plug-ins for it as well.  I don't recall what the original motivation was (websites maybe) but I self-taught on how to use the thing.  I did a number of maps and counters for VASSAL modules where I would scan the original map and then basically trace over it in photoshop.  From there I just progressed to putting my own twist on the original artwork or just redrawing it in a completely different style altogether.  I've done a couple of maps and counter sets for Frank Hunter and am working on a Gettysburg map for Paul Koenig games.  It's fun stuff, I really enjoy it!
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: BanzaiCat on July 31, 2013, 11:54:42 AM
If you import a map into Illustrator and run the Trace function, you can get decent-looking vector-graphic maps to play with. I love Photoshop myself, but the sharpness lacks somewhat. Still, you can import the Illustrator graphic into Photoshop and go from there, too.

Great work on the map. Plus I really liked Hitler's War back in the day...I still have my copy, and now I want to break it out and play it again.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: GJK on July 31, 2013, 12:20:30 PM
I have just not been able to master Illustrator as I did Photoshop for some reason.  In fact, I never did figure out how to use the ink pen in Photoshop even so came up with my own ways of drawing lines.  I'd like to switch to vector based artwork; especially for the print stuff obviously.  I just need to sit down and learn it one of these days.  I'm sure that there's a ton of YouTube video's on using it as well that I should look up.
Title: Re: Hitler's War redeux
Post by: BanzaiCat on July 31, 2013, 01:48:27 PM
Don't feel bad. Illustrator is NOT an easy program to learn, and it's really only good if you have a drawing tablet (at least, in my opinion). I despise drawing with a mouse and generally avoid Illustrator unless I need some sharp vector graphics to work with.

I've worked with Photoshop for a long while now (since 2004 or so), and I know there's tips and secrets to it that I've never touched, and when I discover something new I always think, "why the hell didn't I know about that before?"