My Concept for an Afrika Korps Mod

[Otto Halfhand]

When I first became interested in WWII back in the 1960's I became fascinated by the war in North Africa. I later received a copy of Avalon Hills Afrika Korps for my thirteenth birthday.  I have a dream, a vCoH Mod based on the North African Campaign(s).

The Concept: Develop a vCoH mod that will incorporate the historical aspects of the North African Campaign while still being balanced enough for PvP with vCoH style alternative factions. TO&E's will be historical with the capability to upgrade obsoleted units. Research Options will unlock later technical developments. The Logistical difficulties of North African Operations will be prominently featured.

• Three factions are contemplated: Axis, Commonwealth, Amis. One HQ for each faction will incorporate "Allied Forces" Initial selection of a "Command Element" will further qualify this, (Italian/ Vichy for example). A similar initial selection of "Logistics Squad"/"Supply Yard" will toggle an "Afrika"/ "Conventional" Logistics system for PvP Balance.

• Each Faction will have available Battle Group Call-ins available similar  to Amis And PE. The composition and cost of Battle Groups will vary over time to reflect the current Tech Levels and Operations which were so much a part of the see-saw nature of combat in the Theater.

• Doctrines will include: Prioritize Afrika", "Capture Malta", "Italian War Machine", "Increased Commonwealth Involvement", "Unconventional Warfare Section", "F.C. Fuller". Faction units that were actually produced will be available for use in Afrika, but with restrictions. The "Logistics/Supply Yard" option may be used to introduce Pz V's, Firefly/Comets, etc for PvP Play.

• Anti-Tank/Tank Warfare will be highlighted. Each Faction will have the ability for global passive tactical upgrades: Camouflage, Hulldown, sand mobility, smoke screens, etc. Dual purpose weapons will all have AP/HE selector switches, (no cost but radically different performance vs hard/soft targets).

• Engineer units will be two-part types when upgraded. Defensive operation upgrades will split the squad into a HMG/Build Squad with lock-down. Assault Engineers will become SMG/flamethrower squads, Engineering support squads minesweeper/demolition squads.

• Half tracks will all be individually upgraded to various weapons platforms/ abilities.

• Infantry weapons upgrades will be overhauled. AT weapons in particular need addressed. Vanilla AT rifles with tread breaker ability will replace the Shreks, Panzerfausts and Piats of 1943 onwards. All mortars will have a passive smoke barrage with a long cool-down rate. Only one BAR/LMG per squad. ATRs, SMGs, MGs upgradable as appropriate. Squads will be able to recover weapons even if they can't use them.

• Veterancy is to be PE/Soviet style hybrid.

• Maps will be several types. Campaign Maps, Historical type maps, and good/interesting PvP maps. I wish to try out some asymmetrical resource maps for PvP use as well. No 4x4 maps will be considered in general.

• Persistant Campaigns of of two types are being considered. OF style campaigns and a solitaire switch campaign where if you lose a scenario you switch to the opposing faction for the next scenario.

Well that sums up the basic concept. Whether I ever get the DAK Mod off the ground is moot at this point. No Development Team is currently planned. AND I HAVE NO INTENTION OF STARTING OFFICIAL WORK UNTIL EF_OSTHEER BECOMES DOWNLOADABLE. There is a limit to the number of animators, modellers and skinners available. EF needs You now! Mappers who wish to try their hand at Afrika suitable maps or A.I. Coding Weenies should contact me. Comments?

[Killar]

There is already a afrika corps mod in development

[Ryxxen]

There is 2 i think

[Max 'DonXavi' von B.]

I'd be in for mapping, that's for sure.

[Blackbishop]

There is 2 i think

Only one.

There was an Afrika Korps mod but was abandoned. Two different teams decided to make it, then merged into one team and now are pushing Afrika Korps for CoH.

http://www.moddb.com/mods/company-of-heroes-afrika

EF doesn't needs the Afrika Korps, besides the current Afrika Team has very talented modders, and I'm confident they will make a great job.

Same reason we don't need to make japanese, chinese or italian factions, there are already beeing developed on other fronts and let's be honest, our "business" is the Eastern Front theatre .

[HyperSniper999]

The current mod for the African Theater looks promising and very high quality. Maybe you should just join them instead.

[Otto Halfhand]

Gentlemen,
The CoH_Afrika Mod does indeed appear to have much to offer. I doubtless will involve myself in the project in some way. However there is one problem CoH_Afrika Mod has that cannot be denied. It is a total remake of CoH. As such it is a stand alone Mod. It cannot be played with other vCoH factions. It's marketability is thus constrained. One of the great strengths of the EF Mod is its flexibility and accessibility to the wider PvP market of vCoH players. There is a non-obvious benefit as well. Once a single faction is released the Mod can be played during development. Sound familiar?

[HyperSniper999]

Gentlemen,
The CoH_Afrika Mod does indeed appear to have much to offer. I doubtless will involve myself in the project in some way. However there is one problem CoH_Afrika Mod has that cannot be denied. It is a total remake of CoH. As such it is a stand alone Mod. It cannot be played with other vCoH factions. It's marketability is thus constrained. One of the great strengths of the EF Mod is its flexibility and accessibility to the wider PvP market of vCoH players. There is a non-obvious benefit as well. Once a single faction is released the Mod can be played during development. Sound familiar?

I'd think the vCoH factions would be out of place anyway. Besides, I'm pretty sure they can recycle most models and animations, making the production faster for both factions.
The vCOH factions are '44-based. The African theater closed in 1943, before a lot oft the stuff of vanilla factions was seen and used. I rather they keep it with the DAK and Desert Rats. At least be happy there's finally a promising Africa mod that actually looks like it will suceed instead of die like the rest.

[vonklaus]

Gentlemen,
 However there is one problem CoH_Afrika Mod has that cannot be denied. It is a total remake of CoH. As such it is a stand alone Mod. It cannot be played with other vCoH factions. It's marketability is thus constrained. One of the great strengths of the EF Mod is its flexibility and accessibility to the wider PvP market of vCoH players. There is a non-obvious benefit as well. Once a single faction is released the Mod can be played during development. Sound familiar?

It would be cool if we could have a 4v4 game with a brit, a desert brit, usa, soviet vs wehr, pe, ostheer, and afrika corps on a mini version of Europe and Mediterranean.

[Desert_Fox]

I love desertic battlefields! 

[Cranialwizard]

I'd much rather see a Mediterranean battlefront instead of Afrika Korps but they are all very good areas to depict fighting. I'm working on a map in Italy, so I'd doubt a mod like Afrika would take it into consideration but I could submit it if they want

[HyperSniper999]

I'd much rather see a Mediterranean battlefront instead of Afrika Korps but they are all very good areas to depict fighting. I'm working on a map in Italy, so I'd doubt a mod like Afrika would take it into consideration but I could submit it if they want

You might have some luck. After all, Africa led directly into Italy. I'm sure a few DAK vets that managed to escape were sent to Italy.

[Blackbishop]

In fact he's not lucky at all, they are going to represent the Afrika Theatre, and Italy was not part of it .

[HyperSniper999]

In fact he's not lucky at all, they are going to represent the Afrika Theatre, and Italy was not part of it .

Well true, but both are connected, at least. Although you're right. The DAK wouldn't belong in Italy, and the Wehrmacht and SS wouldn't fit in Africa.

What about that France and Italy mod?

[Cranialwizard]

Oh! Forgot about them. I'll have to look into mapping for them.

(Though don't worry I'm not gonna balance for em'. Balancing one mod is a ton of work as it is I can't imagine doing both )