BCT
CONSTRUCTION SET

Creating an All New Scenario, Part II

We loaded an Iraqi Division and a US Armored Brigade. There are lots more units than we will need in our scenario. Gather the units you do not need off to the sides of the map. Then use Delete Enemy and Delete Friendly from the Unit menu to delete them. For step by step instructions, click here.

We are expecting the enemy forces to defend in our scenario, so the next step will be to add obstacles and holes. This simplest way to do this is using the Block Add functions. These functions allow you to add a large number of engineer works all at one time.

Select the Block Add Enemy function from the Obstacle menu. You will be prompted with an Obstacle Dialog, which will allow you to enter the data for the obstacles you wish to add. When you have entered this data, you will then be asked how many obstacles you want to create and how many rows you want them arrayed into. Once you have provided this information, you will be able to place the obstacles on the map. For step by step instructions, click here.

Select the Block Add Enemy function from the Hole menu. You will be prompted with a dialog that will ask if you are adding vehicle holes. If you answer "No", dismount holes will be added. When you have entered this data, you will then be asked how many holes you want to create and how many rows you want them arrayed into. Once you have provided this information, you will be able to place the holes on the map. For step by step instructions, click here.

You've now got all of the game play components required for this scenario. But it still won't make much sense to the scenario player. When this scenario is started in BCT, the player will see a blank map with his units sitting in the middle. He won't know what to do! We have to communicate to him where his units should start. We also have to tell him what his units must do. We are going to do this with Maneuver Graphics.

Note: Generally, a BCT scenario communicates the mission and limitations of a scenario to the player using all three components of the OPORD (Operations Order), Maneuver Graphics, an Enemy SITTEMP, and the Order. For the sake of brevity, we will only make Maneuver Graphics now.

Maneuver Graphics and other OPORD elements can only created using the BCT OPORD Writer. To start it, select the BCT OPORD Writer function from the OPORD menu. This will start the application. To draw graphics, you must have a map loaded. Select Open from the File menu in the OPORD Writer. Select the same map you used to create your scenario. This map will be loaded into the OPORD Writer. For step by step instructions, click here.

With the BCT OPORD Writer loaded, you can begin drawing your maneuver graphics. You will need to draw boundaries to tell the player where his forces may operate and where he will probably find the enemy. You should add an LD/LC (Line of Departure/Line of Contact) to tell the player what line his forces should start behind. Next, you should add a "Recon LOA (Limit of Advance)". This tells the player that his forces must start behind the line you draw. Finally, you should add an objective, so that the player will know where he must go. For step by step instructions, click here.

Now it is time to close the BCT OPORD Writer. To use the graphic you have created, you must load it into your scenario. To do this, go back the BCT Construction Set. Select the Open function from the OPORD menu and select the graphic file that you created and save using the OPORD Writer. You will be warned about overwriting your current graphics. Click "OK" and your new graphic will be added to the scenario. For step by step instructions, click here.

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