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Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 8:14:08 AM

Hunter2006

Posts: 13
Joined: 4/8/2006
Status: offline

Hello all,

Typical newbie stuff here... I was wonder if someone can give me some info on a few subjects....

1. Mine Layers... how come they never seem to reload? Even when in port and told to resupply several times?

2. What does the AE ship actually do?

3. How do you get "ship repair points" to a harbor? For Example, Sydney starts the May 42 senario with 0 ship repair points... how do I increase that and can I make Midway Island do the same? (Sydney is a Bitchin town BTW

4. Mine Sweepers are pretty crappy at ASW but there seems to be a plethora of them... do they have any redeeming qualities that I am missing out on (besides the obvious mine-sweeping)?

5. The Coalers... they have no range and seem to have no function, what am I missing? Are there some ships that need coal to run on, and if so, how do you tell?

6. Am I correct in assuming that "oil" is a resource and "fuel" is for both ships and planes? For example, if I have Guadalcanal loaded with fuel (and supplies) can I refuel my ships there as well as keep my planes in the air... Am i correct in assuming that oil is a necessity for production of some sort back at my home bases while "fuel" is good for both planes and ships? I dont think I quite understand all that 'production' biz.

7. What is the best way to figure out if Nakajima engines are better than Mitsubishi motors or Aytolla Tail Pipes and how the heck do you figure out what you are supposed to be making and equiping what on whom and where and when and why? (Damn, I got confused just typing that!) Is there a legible resource online that can tell me how to sort all this dastardly naval confusion out instead of just walking away from a reboot and delving into the soothing sacred scriptures as written by Heinz Guderian and Von Mellenthin mixed with Corona and lime?

8. I have never actually "finished" a game of WItP... do you get a cool screen shot or some unusually nice music or a body count stat sheet, or does the game just end and say "fini!"?

9. Can you insert your own background music into the game somehow? I looked around the directory tree and did not see any MPG files or anything else that looked promising.

10. If I ever get grognard-retentive enough to get really good at this game and decide to play PBEM, is somebody gonna clean my clock because they know a trick-play? If so, what are the common 'trick plays'?

Okay, I have hit the TEN Questions limit and I hope I haven't bored anyone to death... I sure would appreciate any replies and assistance in this winded reguard.

>>>>--------HUNTER----------->

_____________________________

"Terrorism, more often than not, comes from the quill of pen and not the barrel of a gun".

"If you cherish life over liberty, and are willing to live on your knees, please email me some pic's of your daughters."

Post #: 1

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 9:09:22 AM

06 Maestro

Posts: 3989
Joined: 10/12/2005
From: Nevada, USA
Status: offline

You can find answers to several of your questions in the PDF instructions. Unforunately, the instructions will leave a few areas unclear. I've had this game for 5 months, and am still learning some of the finer points; it just takes a little time and effort.
There is a great amount of info available from several fan sites. Many spread sheets and tools are available to make the game easier to play and understand. One great site for this info is Spooky's http://mathubert.free.fr/ . Check out that site and pick up a few items. Play a few small scenarios and then do searches here for your specific questions.
A few hours of playing, along with a few hours of reading and you will be on your way to you first great defeat.
This is a great game, but it is not the easiest to learn.

http://mathubert.free.fr/

(in reply to Hunter2006)

Post #: 2

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 9:16:45 AM

GaryChildress

Posts: 6830
Joined: 7/17/2005
From: The Divided Nations of Earth
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hunter2006

Hello all,

Typical newbie stuff here... I was wonder if someone can give me some info on a few subjects....

1. Mine Layers... how come they never seem to reload? Even when in port and told to resupply several times?

2. What does the AE ship actually do?

3. How do you get "ship repair points" to a harbor? For Example, Sydney starts the May 42 senario with 0 ship repair points... how do I increase that and can I make Midway Island do the same? (Sydney is a Bitchin town BTW

4. Mine Sweepers are pretty crappy at ASW but there seems to be a plethora of them... do they have any redeeming qualities that I am missing out on (besides the obvious mine-sweeping)?

5. The Coalers... they have no range and seem to have no function, what am I missing? Are there some ships that need coal to run on, and if so, how do you tell?

6. Am I correct in assuming that "oil" is a resource and "fuel" is for both ships and planes? For example, if I have Guadalcanal loaded with fuel (and supplies) can I refuel my ships there as well as keep my planes in the air... Am i correct in assuming that oil is a necessity for production of some sort back at my home bases while "fuel" is good for both planes and ships? I dont think I quite understand all that 'production' biz.

7. What is the best way to figure out if Nakajima engines are better than Mitsubishi motors or Aytolla Tail Pipes and how the heck do you figure out what you are supposed to be making and equiping what on whom and where and when and why? (Damn, I got confused just typing that!) Is there a legible resource online that can tell me how to sort all this dastardly naval confusion out instead of just walking away from a reboot and delving into the soothing sacred scriptures as written by Heinz Guderian and Von Mellenthin mixed with Corona and lime?

8. I have never actually "finished" a game of WItP... do you get a cool screen shot or some unusually nice music or a body count stat sheet, or does the game just end and say "fini!"?

9. Can you insert your own background music into the game somehow? I looked around the directory tree and did not see any MPG files or anything else that looked promising.

10. If I ever get grognard-retentive enough to get really good at this game and decide to play PBEM, is somebody gonna clean my clock because they know a trick-play? If so, what are the common 'trick plays'?

Okay, I have hit the TEN Questions limit and I hope I haven't bored anyone to death... I sure would appreciate any replies and assistance in this winded reguard.

>>>>--------HUNTER----------->

1. Minelayers can only reload mines in a port that is size 9 or larger.

2. An AE isn't good for a whole lot until 1945 when they can replenish small calibur ship guns at sea. Until then they have to sit in port to do so which sort of defeats the purpose.

3. Ship repair poinst will automatically accumulate at harbors with repair yards. You don't need to do anything to stimulate the action. Harbors without repair yards can be turned into repair harbors only by placing an AR (repair ship) or two in it. Also ships will automatically repair some damage at any size port, although not as fast as the ship repair yard or a harbor with an AR ship. The bigger the harbor the better it is at repairing damaged ships.

4. Minesweepers make decent escorts when you don't have anything else to escort with. Other than that they can be valuable in clearing mines from bases your transports are landing troops on. Mines alone can rack up a pretty good tally of damaged ships if not countered.

5. If you are talking about AGs, they are actually landing barges, not coal ships. They aren't good for a great deal except that bombers tend to ignore them, so they can be used to ferry supplies to bases close by when the enemy has air superiority.

6. Ships use "fuel", planes use "supplies" (as do ground troops). "Oil" and "resources" are what keep your factories pumping out "fuel" and "supplies". Without oil or resources your factories stop producing anything.

7. There are several places in the intel screens and menus which tell you which planes use which engines, which tells you which engines you need to produce. Some of the factories are actually producing engines which no plane uses and should be turned off or retooled to a useful engine immediately. There is also a screen, I believe in the Intel menu at the bottom right which will include a list of how many engines you are producing/how many of each engine your current aircraft production needs to give each plane the right engine. Spare engines are stockpiled so it's not the end of the world to have a few excess, although Japan will scrap excess engines (I think) beyond a certain point. (I know they scrap planes, don't remember clearly about engines.) In any case, just make sure if the screen says your industry needs 400 Mitsubishi engines per month, that you produce at least 400 Mitsubishi engines per month, unless you want to start running out of engines.

8. Never gotten to the end of a game myself.

I'm not sure what it does. But the real enjoyment for me is the process of executing my grand strategies on screen. (or else loosing all my carriers, which my PBEM opponents will vouch for.)

9. I've tried hunting down the files for music too and couldn't find any. The closest I could come was the single .avi file with the intro. If you could cut a new intro file, then you could have some change. I was going to include some different music in a mod I'm working on, however, couldn't find out how to switch any music. The only way it seems to get different music is to turn "off" the game music and have your resident MP3 player playing in windows in the background.

10. Best thing to do is to find others who are at your level. Experience DOES count for a lot in the game. Also, reading formums where people have posted some of their victorious strategies helps to learn basic game strategies.

some main strategies are 1. mass ground troops to significantly outnumber your opponent in order to capture bases. Otherwise you'll be in for a long drawn out battle of attrition. 2. massing a/c will also have the same effect. a small number of fighters going up against a larger enemy force will normally get wiped out unless the differences in plane and pilot quality are substantial enough. and (my favorite) #3. never stick around with your carriers once you've lost the element of surprise and have no idea where KB is lurking!

Hope that helps.

Gary

(in reply to Hunter2006)

Post #: 3

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 9:16:49 AM

bradfordkay

Posts: 8683
Joined: 3/24/2002
From: Olympia, WA
Status: offline

Here are some of the answers:

1. Minelayers need to be in a level 9 or 10 port with sufficient supplies ( I interpret that as supply in the green) or a base with an MLE ship and sufficient supplies. The MLE must have no fire or float damage, less than 50% system damage and have Op points remaining for the reloading to occur.

2. The AE ship will replenish non-torpedo, non-mine ammo that has an effect less than 60 (mostly 5" shells and smaller). Before 1945, the ships in volved must be in an friendly base with a port of at least size 1. The same damage and Op restriction apply as with MLEs.

3. Ship repair points are provided by shipyards. Only certain shipyards exist - they are permanent and cannot be created or moved. The shipyards will be listed among the icons across the bottom of your screen when you have selected a port which has one (such as Pearl Harbor, or Sydney).

4. Most minesweepers have some ASW capability, and thus can provide escort to slow convoys. While their MSW capability seems of little use (especially against the AI) when playing PBEM they are, apparently very useful in this role.

5. I have always been amused by UV/WITP's use of the AG designation. In the game, these are barges, useful for carrying supplies to exposed bases. They don't carry much, but they are of very low value if sunk (Jap AGs are worth zero points, IIRC). In WWI era, AGs were coaling vessels, and of as much import to the navy in their day as oilers were in WW2.

6. Fuel is only for ships. Planes get their AVGAS from supplies. It's an abstraction that most of us have come to accept. Oil is a resource, and needs to be transported to a city with heavy industry.

7. Particular aircraft use particular engines. If you don't plan on changing aircraft production from the default settings, then don't change engine production either. If you do intend to change aircraft production, then you will want to make sure that you will be producing enough of hte right types of engines for the aircraft you are now producing. EDIT: apparently the default has some mistakes that need to be addressed...

8. I have never seen the end of the game yet, either - and I was one of the first five purchasers of the game!

9. Never tried. I turn off all music and listen to my stereo...

10. I'll leave this to the PBEMers...

< Message edited by bradfordkay -- 4/8/2006 9:19:06 AM >

_____________________________

fair winds,
Brad

(in reply to Hunter2006)

Post #: 4

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 9:18:52 AM

bradfordkay

Posts: 8683
Joined: 3/24/2002
From: Olympia, WA
Status: offline

Four bloody seconds!!!! Gary, you're just that much quicker than I!!!

_____________________________

fair winds,
Brad

(in reply to bradfordkay)

Post #: 5

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 9:26:56 AM

GaryChildress

Posts: 6830
Joined: 7/17/2005
From: The Divided Nations of Earth
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

Four bloody seconds!!!! Gary, you're just that much quicker than I!!!

(in reply to bradfordkay)

Post #: 6

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 9:33:10 AM

wild_Willie2

Posts: 2934
Joined: 10/8/2004
From: Arnhem (holland) yes a bridge to far...
Status: offline

quote:

Mine Layers... how come they never seem to reload? Even when in port and told to resupply several times?

Need a level 8 port, or a level 3 port with an MLE present and 10K supplies

2. What does the AE ship actually do?

Until 1944, they can reload large caliber shells from port level 1-3, after 44, they can also resuply small shells (AA ammo) AT SEA.

3. How do you get "ship repair points" to a harbor? For Example, Sydney starts the May 42 senario with 0 ship repair points... how do I increase that and can I make Midway Island do the same? (Sydney is a Bitchin town BTW

Ships with a repair yard generate these, ONLY available and usefull at this port (to repair a ship, you need durability of ship times repair points + 20 extra points)

4. Mine Sweepers are pretty crappy at ASW but there seems to be a plethora of them... do they have any redeeming qualities that I am missing out on (besides the obvious mine-sweeping)?

As the jap, use them as escorts and hope for the best...

5. The Coalers... they have no range and seem to have no function, what am I missing? Are there some ships that need coal to run on, and if so, how do you tell?

No coal, just fuel.... One size fits all.

6. Am I correct in assuming that "oil" is a resource and "fuel" is for both ships and planes? For example, if I have Guadalcanal loaded with fuel (and supplies) can I refuel my ships there as well as keep my planes in the air... Am i correct in assuming that oil is a necessity for production of some sort back at my home bases while "fuel" is good for both planes and ships? I dont think I quite understand all that 'production' biz.

Planes and troops need supplies to operate, only ships need fuel to run on. OIL and recources are needed by heavy industrie. 1.4 recource points (or something) + 1 oil point produces 1 HI point, 2 fuel points and 1 supplie point.

7. What is the best way to figure out if Nakajima engines are better than Mitsubishi motors or Aytolla Tail Pipes and how the heck do you figure out what you are supposed to be making and equiping what on whom and where and when and why? (Damn, I got confused just typing that!) Is there a legible resource online that can tell me how to sort all this dastardly naval confusion out instead of just walking away from a reboot and delving into the soothing sacred scriptures as written by Heinz Guderian and Von Mellenthin mixed with Corona and lime?

All engine powers are the same in this game, only they are only TYPE specific per AC. Zero, uses mitsubishi while Tonie uses kawasaki. note, there are only 4 engine types you need as the japanese, while there are 6-7 in the game.

8. I have never actually "finished" a game of WItP... do you get a cool screen shot or some unusually nice music or a body count stat sheet, or does the game just end and say "fini!"?

Popup saying "AUTO victory" with small variation (actually NEVER finished a game in 27 months)

9. Can you insert your own background music into the game somehow? I looked around the directory tree and did not see any MPG files or anything else that looked promising.

Yes, dont now exactly how though. Wait until rest of community wakes up

10. If I ever get grognard-retentive enough to get really good at this game and decide to play PBEM, is somebody gonna clean my clock because they know a trick-play? If so, what are the common 'trick plays'?

No trick's, but you can GAME the system. Put 800 AC on lunga, or 2 million troops. The game has NO limits build in, that's why some simple houserules are used to keep things in balance (look in the opponent wanted section for the most common houserules). If you start with a small scen PBEM against a newby, you will do fine....

Okay, I have hit the TEN Questions limit and I hope I haven't bored anyone to death... I sure would appreciate any replies and assistance in this winded reguard.

The community will undoubtelly walls over my answers, but I had to do this quickly, have to go to work in 15 minutes

_____________________________

In vinum illic est sapientia , in matera illic est vires , in aqua illic es bacteria.

In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is strength, in water there are bacteria.

(in reply to 06 Maestro)

Post #: 7

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 9:33:45 AM

wild_Willie2

Posts: 2934
Joined: 10/8/2004
From: Arnhem (holland) yes a bridge to far...
Status: offline

DRAT, beaten again.......

_____________________________

In vinum illic est sapientia , in matera illic est vires , in aqua illic es bacteria.

In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is strength, in water there are bacteria.

(in reply to wild_Willie2)

Post #: 8

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 9:50:09 AM

Hunter2006

Posts: 13
Joined: 4/8/2006
Status: offline

Wild Willie2 says...

"No trick's, but you can GAME the system. Put 800 AC on lunga, or 2 million troops. The game has NO limits build in, that's why some simple houserules are used to keep things in balance... {snip}

Hmmm, this is damn interesting! what impact does "air capacity level" have on the game? If Lunga has an "air capacity raiting" of say 3, what does that mean if there are no limitations?

Am I right in thinking that this means that I can station 65 infantry divisions on the island of Midway.... that seems kinda screwy!

Can anyone Splain me more about deez heer "house rulz"?

Also, WOW, thanks for all your responses, they have been a huge help to me! Mucho Appreciado!

H

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(in reply to wild_Willie2)

Post #: 9

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 9:54:06 AM

Hunter2006

Posts: 13
Joined: 4/8/2006
Status: offline

Duh, sorry I overlooked where you said "LOOK HERE" for more info ... WildWilly.

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Post #: 10

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 10:01:38 AM

bradfordkay

Posts: 8683
Joined: 3/24/2002
From: Olympia, WA
Status: offline

When you overstack aircraft on a base, fewer aircraft will join each mission. I am sure that you are aware that each airbase level gives that base the ability to hold 50 aircraft. If the number of aircraft on a base is greater than 50 times airbase size, the number of planes that will launch on any given mission will be reduced by 25%. If the number of aircraft at the base is greater than 100 times airbase size, the number of aircraft launched on any given mission is reduced by 25% a second time.

What this means in real terms is that if you only slightly overstack the base, you will be heavily penalized. However, if you go WAY overboard, the sheer numbers of aircraft will negate the penalties to some extent (and it may prove to be a reasonable way of keeping aircrew fatigue levels down). Warning, if this is a coastal base, your enemy might be willing to risk a naval bombardment mission against that base. They have been known to be quite effective, especially if your bombers are concentrating on land targets.

Yes, you are correct in assuming that you can stack unlimited numbers of troops on a tiny atoll. Most of us keep it to a reasonable level by mutual agreement... (even if the agreement is only with ourselves!).

_____________________________

fair winds,
Brad

(in reply to Hunter2006)

Post #: 11

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 10:07:06 AM

MarcA

Posts: 1181
Joined: 3/2/2005
From: England
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hunter2006
8. I have never actually "finished" a game of WItP... do you get a cool screen shot or some unusually nice music or a body count stat sheet, or does the game just end and say "fini!"?

Reportedly you just get a screen saying you won/lost and the scores. No bells, whistles or fireworks. The enjoyement is in the achievement. What could they program which could match that.

_____________________________

(in reply to Hunter2006)

Post #: 12

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 10:21:38 AM

Hunter2006

Posts: 13
Joined: 4/8/2006
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

When you overstack aircraft on a base, fewer aircraft will join each mission. I am sure that you are aware that each airbase level gives that base the ability to hold 50 aircraft. If the number of aircraft on a base is greater than 50 times airbase size, the number of planes that will launch on any given mission will be reduced by 25%. If the number of aircraft at the base is greater than 100 times airbase size, the number of aircraft launched on any given mission is reduced by 25% a second time.

What this means in real terms is that if you only slightly overstack the base, you will be heavily penalized. However, if you go WAY overboard, the sheer numbers of aircraft will negate the penalties to some extent (and it may prove to be a reasonable way of keeping aircrew fatigue levels down). Warning, if this is a coastal base, your enemy might be willing to risk a naval bombardment mission against that base. They have been known to be quite effective, especially if your bombers are concentrating on land targets.

Yes, you are correct in assuming that you can stack unlimited numbers of troops on a tiny atoll. Most of us keep it to a reasonable level by mutual agreement... (even if the agreement is only with ourselves!).

Oh okay! I get it now! Thanks bradfordkay! That explains why my 36 plane group of fighters set to 100% cap over a nearbuy fleet got smoked by that realtively small USN CV task force of Wildcats! It all makes sense now! My airbase level was too low (as well as my supply level) and therefore only a small percentage of those aircraft got airborne to try and intercept the USN... okay, it all makes sense now and I feel pretty stupid. Thanks for the ephipany and the humble red face that goes with it!

Thank you for your help!

PS... too bad about that unlimited stacking rule thing... seems like with the venerable "hex based" system you could tag attributes that limit occupation levels... Seems like if you could determine "resource waste" on a global scale, you could also incorporate a "overstacking" waste too... especially with a hex based system. Oh well, grognard whining I suppose.
HOWEVER! It sure beats the hell out of rolling dice and consulting charts and using lots of erasers and flow charts... Oh my God, how old am I?

_____________________________

(in reply to bradfordkay)

Post #: 13

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 3:12:37 PM

tsimmonds

Posts: 5498
Joined: 2/6/2004
From: astride Mason and Dixon's Line
Status: offline

quote:

2. An AE isn't good for a whole lot until 1945 when they can replenish small calibur ship guns at sea. Until then they have to sit in port to do so which sort of defeats the purpose.

If you have an AE loaded with supply in a replenishment TF sitting in a port, and you have another TF in that hex and on that TF info screen you click "replenish at sea", that TF's non-torpedo ammunition (all sizes) will be replenished using supply points from the AE rather than from the base.

_____________________________

Fear the kitten!

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Post #: 14

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 6:54:50 PM

Black Mamba 1942

Posts: 510
Joined: 12/7/2005
Status: offline

So why bother with an AE in a Replenish TF?

Surface TF's will load ALL sizes of ammo when at any port anyway.

(in reply to tsimmonds)

Post #: 15

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/8/2006 8:00:16 PM

MarcA

Posts: 1181
Joined: 3/2/2005
From: England
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Black Mamba 1942

So why bother with an AE in a Replenish TF?
Surface TF's will load ALL sizes of ammo when at any port anyway.

It saves using base supplies and also allows replenishment from bases with no supply. Not wildly useful but that's what they are.

_____________________________

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Post #: 16

RE: Newbie needs help!!! - 4/9/2006 5:46:50 AM

Platoonist

Posts: 1342
Joined: 5/11/2003
From: Kila Hana
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: mantill

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hunter2006
8. I have never actually "finished" a game of WItP... do you get a cool screen shot or some unusually nice music or a body count stat sheet, or does the game just end and say "fini!"?

Reportedly you just get a screen saying you won/lost and the scores. No bells, whistles or fireworks. The enjoyement is in the achievement. What could they program which could match that.

Yup...for those who have never laid eyes on the underwhelming victory tally screen, it sure backs up the old idiom that the journey is more important than the destination....