Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War in the Pacific: Admirals Edition

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Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War in th... - 7/23/2015 5:55:54 AM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

I have owned WitP:AE since 2009 (and regular old WitP before that), but I could never get a handle on it enough to play the grand campaign, so it has been sitting in a box in my closet, lovingly waiting for me to give it the attention it deserves. However, after a low-key weekend introducing my son to the classics Tora-Tora-Tora and Midway, I got the itch to give it another go. I started with the Guadalcanal campaign, and after getting my feet wet and perusing the sage advice in the forums here on Matrix, I decided it was finally time to give the Grand Campaign a shot.
In the posts that follow, I will attempt to document my game as the Allies (Dec 8th Grand Campaign) against the AI, as I think it will really help me to get comfortable with this game and its immense scope. I hope to create an AAR that is both easy to follow and an entertaining read. I’m sure I will have many questions for you fellow WitP players along the way, and feel free to comment with your observations, suggestions, and experiences. With your help, let’s see if I can replicate history or even…(GASP!!)…learn from it.

< Message edited by Schlussel -- 11/25/2016 9:17:19 PM >

Post #: 1

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/23/2015 6:03:48 AM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

Grand Campaign: Dec.8th 1941 – Allies

The Situation:
December 7th occurred as it did historically. With the Pacific fleet’s capital ships decimated by a surprise attack, my 3 fleet carriers will have to do what they can to curtail Japanese expansion in the vast expanse of the Pacific.

My Plan:
Weather the initial storm and build up key bases to check the Japanese advance (Noumea, Port Moresby, and Midway). Additionally, I plan to work South-West from Hawaii and develop Johnson, Baker, Canton, and possibly even one of the Ellice Islands to protect my vital supply line to Austrailia. In Asia, I will attempt a fighting withdrawl in Burma and hold Singapore as long as possible, since its capture looks un-avoidable.
In this initial ‘defensive’ phase of the war, I also will keep my carriers busy raiding exposed Japanese bases to get some battle experience and keep the Japanese guessing. However, I plan to keep them from a decisive battle with the KB, as my carrier aircraft are no match for their Japanese counterparts.
Once I can grab the intiative, and forces are available to go on the offensive, I plan to begin in the Coral Sea (surprising, I know!), then continue advancing on multiple fronts (as my force pool allows) to spread out the Japanese defenders and capitalize on the Allies’ advantage in men and material. I’ll definitely want to work toward the Marianas so I can begin carpet bombing the Home Islands; however, any plans beyond that that will depend on the strategic situation. In any event, I have some surprises up my sleeve….and with a little luck they’ll actually pan out.

Game Options:
-Scenario #6 December 8th-Full Campaign
-Japanese AI
-Fog of War: ON
-Advanced Weather: ON
-Allied Damage Control: ON
-Reliable USN Torpedoes: OFF
-Realistic R&D: ON
-No Unit Withdrawls: OFF
-Reinforcements: FIXED
-AI Difficulty: HISTORICAL

Without further ado, here we go…

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Schlussel)

Post #: 2

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/23/2015 6:08:22 AM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

Week One: Dec. 8th – Dec. 15th 1941

North Pacific: Quiet [Insert cricket chirping here]

Central Pacific: Engineers are on their way to Baker Island to help beef up defenses and develop the airfield there. With the Japanese landings in the Phillippines, I have decided to pre-emptively re-base some of the subs there to Midway, as it will be the most forward base in the Central Pacific area after the Phillippines eventually fall. To get things in motion, I have dispatched a few sub tenders to Midway and have my carriers shuttling in some fighters for base protection. A small garrison unit and some AA guns are on their way as well.

Southern Pacific: No activity [more crickets].

New Guinea/Solomons: Japan began bombing Rabaul daily starting on 12/12. Nothing I can do except run for cover….allied fighter presence in the area is non-existant.

DEI/Phillippines: The Sir Robin is in full effect, warships and transports alike are fleeing south to the relative safety of the Java Sea, while the few DEI air assets begin to concentrate in Batavia and Soerbaja on Java to make a stand. Troop (AP) transports are scarce, so ground units are pretty much stuck in place.
In the Phillipines, the IJA has landed in northern and southern Luzon, pushing towards Manilla from both directions. Initially, the Japanese were targeting Manilla and Clark Field with un-escorted bomber raids, and what’s left of my air force made them pay. However, the Japanese wise up, and by the end of the week, Zeroes rule the skies above Luzon (and all of the Phillippines really). My ground units are entrenching and waiting for the Japanese onslaught. McArthur begins drafting his “I shall return” speech.
USN subs have intercepted many IJN transport/supply ships bound for the northern Luzon coast, but dud torpedoes are keeping them from scoring hits.

SE Asia/China: The IJN has landed in Malaya and is working its way south towards Singapore.
Where more modern aircraft failed, a squadron of ‘ancient’ Vildabeest biplane dive bombers scored a bomb hit against the BB Kongo supporting amphibious landings in East Malaya. Not sure on extent of damage, but she’s burning…a pixelated fire never looked so good.
Sporadic fighting in China, Hong Kong finally falls after repeated IJA shock attacks.

Notable Base Captures:
-Bataan Island captured by Japan (12/8)
-Makin, Khota Baru captured by Japan (12/9)
-Tarawa, Guam, Aparri captured by Japan (12/10)
-Hong Kong captured by Japan (12/13)
-Guam captured by Japan (12/14)
-Davao captured by Japan (12/15)

Campaign Overview:
Aircraft Losses to date:
Japanese: 150
Allies: 141

Ship Losses to date:
Japanese: 2
Allies: 32

VP Totals [Change]
Japanese: 2887 [+1080]
Allies: 10576 [-677]

(in reply to Schlussel)

Post #: 3

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/23/2015 6:15:40 AM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

I suggest you try the Marianas scenario before the Grand Campaign. Getting amphibious landings down pat is an essential art and you can run through the turns much quicker in that scenario, re-trying if you mess up. It also has a time pressure element where you really have to push with less than perfect prep to complete the main task of conquest of Guam, Tinian and Saipan.

Added to that the logistics is not really complicated but everything is at Pearl Harbour and you have too few hulls to move units and supply you would like to have across the enormous distances and limited staging locations to get set up. Really develops your planning and foresight to get the right stuff moving at the right time.

The air/sea battles are fun, but not central to the scenario. The landings are what counts and you have to act like Spruance and cover them before you go hunting.

Be warned that the GC requires a huge investment in setting up the thousands of units involved and maintaining them thereafter. If you are somewhat OCD you will be OK, but if you want fast action, it will not happen unless you ignore the details that are the difference between victory and disaster. I recently tried to start a GC and just attend to the naval part of the game, but it is all connected - you can't operate a fleet without supply and bases and you can't have them unless you attend to land and air parts of the game.

Whatever you decide - I hope it is enjoyable for you. Forumites will be glad to help if you post maps, combat reports and ask specific questions. Good Luck!

EDIT: When I started this post only your first entry was showing. After it posted your second and third entries were there. I guess the GC is on!

< Message edited by BBfanboy -- 7/23/2015 7:17:29 AM >

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Schlussel)

Post #: 4

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/23/2015 6:34:52 AM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

Thanks BBF!
Yeah, I did a Leroy Jenkins and already dove in to the Grand Campaign headfirst. I started about 10 days ago, and just finished the first game week today...it took most of that time to pretty much go base-to-base and give everyone orders and get supply convoys going, but the turns after that were relatively quick.
I noticed that the general consensus on these boards is against using auto convoy system, so I manually set up CS convoys. In your experience, is the auto convoy system really only useful for backwater bases?

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 5

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/23/2015 1:49:35 PM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

I don't use auto-convoys anywhere because there are no safe backwater areas from IJN subs (unless you can set them up off-map?). I also like to use ships to haul resources on the return trips to places that need resources like NZ, Southern Oz, and PH. For example, if a small xAKL goes to Hilo from SFO with supply, I get it to take resources to PH before returning to SFO. I don't know of any way to set that up on auto-convoy.

Another thing I find about AI controlled convoys is that they somehow "know" about threats ahead of them and start running away, often in the wrong direction. I find this annoying, both because the AI knows there is a threat where there is no SIGINT or visual sighting in the area and because it gets to decide where the convoy should go. Maybe I'm a control freak but I like to make the choice and I want to realistically sail into the unknown.

I don't find managing convoys that much of a chore - I scan the entire map each turn and often find that I have missed something, like allowing a ship to retire after reaching destination but forgetting to remove a "Do Not Unload" setting that I put on while building and loading the convoy piecemeal in port. You will also run ships out of fuel occasionally, especially early on when a destination base does not have fuel to give your ships. You can reduce the demands on fuel in the outposts if you set your ships to "minimum fuel" so they only take enough to get back to base rather than top up unnecessarily.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Schlussel)

Post #: 6

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/23/2015 2:49:45 PM

biggins89

Posts: 9
Joined: 10/24/2004
Status: offline

Good luck with your GC and welcome to the beautiful world of WitP. Like you, I started a GC early on without much background play. It's been a great time. Actually, I did start with some previous experience, in that I owned Uncommon Valour and the original WitP. The learning curve was slightly less steep this time around. Some things I had to sandbox in between saves. It's been 11 months now since I downloaded and started playing and I am just now finishing off Okinawa.

Looking forward to following your experience.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 7

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/23/2015 11:10:08 PM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I don't use auto-convoys anywhere because there are no safe backwater areas from IJN subs (unless you can set them up off-map?). I also like to use ships to haul resources on the return trips to places that need resources like NZ, Southern Oz, and PH. For example, if a small xAKL goes to Hilo from SFO with supply, I get it to take resources to PH before returning to SFO. I don't know of any way to set that up on auto-convoy.

Another thing I find about AI controlled convoys is that they somehow "know" about threats ahead of them and start running away, often in the wrong direction. I find this annoying, both because the AI knows there is a threat where there is no SIGINT or visual sighting in the area and because it gets to decide where the convoy should go. Maybe I'm a control freak but I like to make the choice and I want to realistically sail into the unknown.

I don't find managing convoys that much of a chore - I scan the entire map each turn and often find that I have missed something, like allowing a ship to retire after reaching destination but forgetting to remove a "Do Not Unload" setting that I put on while building and loading the convoy piecemeal in port. You will also run ships out of fuel occasionally, especially early on when a destination base does not have fuel to give your ships. You can reduce the demands on fuel in the outposts if you set your ships to "minimum fuel" so they only take enough to get back to base rather than top up unnecessarily.

Thanks for the insight, especially the part about moving around resources (thought that was a Japanese-only problem), but that makes total sense. This is especially true in Australia and NZ, where their industry can reduce the need for supplies from the US...I don't have enough shipping to do everything I want right now. I know "cry me a river" right?

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 8

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/23/2015 11:21:42 PM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: biggins89

Good luck with your GC and welcome to the beautiful world of WitP. Like you, I started a GC early on without much background play. It's been a great time. Actually, I did start with some previous experience, in that I owned Uncommon Valour and the original WitP. The learning curve was slightly less steep this time around. Some things I had to sandbox in between saves. It's been 11 months now since I downloaded and started playing and I am just now finishing off Okinawa.

Looking forward to following your experience.

Thanks, I hope you enjoy the read.
I also had Uncommon Valor and loved it, I guess last time the jump to WitP was just too much. I think my problem before in the GC was the first turn...there was so much to do, I didn't know where to start. This time around I took some advice on the forums and attacked one area at a time and everything seemed to click. Also there have been some MAJOR improvements in the interface since I last played (kudos to the dev. team

). I can't put my finger on one specific thing, but everything just seems so much more intuitive this time around.

(in reply to biggins89)

Post #: 9

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/24/2015 2:41:13 AM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

quote:

Schlussel: ...everything seemed to click

And click, and click, and click-click and click some more ...

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Schlussel)

Post #: 10

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/24/2015 11:35:22 AM

HansBolter

Posts: 7704
Joined: 7/6/2006
From: United States
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Schlussel

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I don't use auto-convoys anywhere because there are no safe backwater areas from IJN subs (unless you can set them up off-map?). I also like to use ships to haul resources on the return trips to places that need resources like NZ, Southern Oz, and PH. For example, if a small xAKL goes to Hilo from SFO with supply, I get it to take resources to PH before returning to SFO. I don't know of any way to set that up on auto-convoy.

Another thing I find about AI controlled convoys is that they somehow "know" about threats ahead of them and start running away, often in the wrong direction. I find this annoying, both because the AI knows there is a threat where there is no SIGINT or visual sighting in the area and because it gets to decide where the convoy should go. Maybe I'm a control freak but I like to make the choice and I want to realistically sail into the unknown.

I don't find managing convoys that much of a chore - I scan the entire map each turn and often find that I have missed something, like allowing a ship to retire after reaching destination but forgetting to remove a "Do Not Unload" setting that I put on while building and loading the convoy piecemeal in port. You will also run ships out of fuel occasionally, especially early on when a destination base does not have fuel to give your ships. You can reduce the demands on fuel in the outposts if you set your ships to "minimum fuel" so they only take enough to get back to base rather than top up unnecessarily.

Thanks for the insight, especially the part about moving around resources (thought that was a Japanese-only problem), but that makes total sense. This is especially true in Australia and NZ, where their industry can reduce the need for supplies from the US...I don't have enough shipping to do everything I want right now. I know "cry me a river" right?

A quick look at the industry interface will help you identify the handful of Allied bases that don't have what they need for their industry.

Unlike BBFanboy I set up dedicated CS convoys for those needs.

An xAKL working from Hilo to Pearl in CS mode keeps the industry in Pearl working efficiently.

I do this where it is easy and makes sense.

Christchurch needs a little fuel for its heavy industry. I move a short legged low capacity tanker to Auckland and about once every two weeks I ship a bit of the fuel I'm stockpiling in Auckland there.

Those are just a couple of examples.

< Message edited by HansBolter -- 7/24/2015 12:37:37 PM >

_____________________________

Hans

(in reply to Schlussel)

Post #: 11

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/24/2015 1:10:17 PM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

Schlussel: ...everything seemed to click

And click, and click, and click-click and click some more ...

Bingo!!!

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 12

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/24/2015 1:25:06 PM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

A quick look at the industry interface will help you identify the handful of Allied bases that don't have what they need for their industry.

Unlike BBFanboy I set up dedicated CS convoys for those needs.

An xAKL working from Hilo to Pearl in CS mode keeps the industry in Pearl working efficiently.

I do this where it is easy and makes sense.

Christchurch needs a little fuel for its heavy industry. I move a short legged low capacity tanker to Auckland and about once every two weeks I ship a bit of the fuel I'm stockpiling in Auckland there.

Those are just a couple of examples.

Thanks Hans, you are one of those people that I was referring to when I mentioned the "sage advice" I got here on the forum. I always appreciate your insight.

(in reply to HansBolter)

Post #: 13

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/24/2015 1:28:08 PM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

Week 2: Dec. 16th – Dec. 22nd 1941

North Pacific: Quiet [Insert cricket chirping here]

Central Pacific: Engineers land and begin developing Baker Island.
The IJN decided to try and raid Midway with a CVL (Zuiho) 3 CA’s, and 3 DD’s. Much to their surprise, they ran into the Saratoga, Enterprise, and Lexington (+ escorts), who had just dropped off squadrons of Buffalo fighters and Dauntless DB’s to the island. The result was a one sided battle and the IJN task force was wiped out. Definitely helping matters was the fact that the Japanese carrier was sporting older Claude fighters, so my Hellcats had a fighting chance. While it’s only a light carrier, the victory is a welcome one, with all the dissapointments elsewhere. I noted that the morale of my carrier aircraft is now maxed out at 99, so they definitely enjoyed the target practice.

Southern Pacific: No activity.

New Guinea/Solomons: Japan still bombing Rabaul daily, runway and service damage are both topping 70. Noumea and Port Moresby received engineers to begin the laborious task of malaria-zone base expansion.
Japanese subs make an appearance off Horn Island and Sydney, sinking a tanker and a few xAK’s retreating from the DEI. Currently rounding up some DD’s for ASW duty.

DEI/Phillippines: All sea worthy vessels have evacuated the DEI, and I am preparing to make a stand at Java with ground and air forces there. I also have the old force Z based at Darwin just in case its battleships can lend some assistance.
In the Phillipines, the IJA continues pushing towards Manilla from the north and south. Clark field’s air force has been neutralized, as my collection of allied fighters based there just can’t match up against the vaunted Zeroes.

SE Asia/China: The IJN is working its way south towards Singapore, and has reached the outskirts of Kuantan.
Except for an occasional air raid, Burma is quiet. I am attempting to assemble Indian units on their side of the border (I have imposed a house rule on myself: restricted units can’t leave the country without paying political points to change their command).
Sporadic fighting in China.

Notable Base Captures:
-Alor Star [Malaya] and Naga [Phillippines] captured by Japan (12/16)
-Victoria Point [Malaya] captured by Japan (12/17)
-Georgetown [Malaya] captured by Japan (12/20)
-Atimonan [Phillippines] captured by Japan (12/21)

Campaign Overview:
Aircraft Losses to date (change]:
Japanese: 242 [+92]
Allies: 210 [+69]

Ship Losses to date [change]:
Japanese: 12 [+10] Notables: CVL Zuiho, CA Mogami, CA Mikuma, CA Suzya
Allies: 39 [+7]

VP Totals [change]:
Japanese: 3,272 [+365]
Allies: 10,989 [+413]

Other Notes:
-I actually bested the Japanese in VP gains this week, mostly because of the 300+ points I recieved from sinking the CVL task force near Midway (ships + aircraft).
- Betty and Lilly bombers are over 60% of all Japanese aircraft losses.
- In sub warfare news, I am beginning to seriously dislike the phrase “Hit but no explosion”. If I had a nickel for every time I saw that on a combat animation…

(in reply to Schlussel)

Post #: 14

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/24/2015 4:23:17 PM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

Nice luck on eliminating that CVL and, more importantly, three of their big CAs. Those things are deadly in SCTFs so getting them before they blast your CAs/CLs is golden!

OT, I think Noumea might be temperate climate - most smaller islands are. Note that Noumea produces resources which Australia and NZ can use, if you have empty ships there and do not have to move them urgently.

It is just as well that the IJN gets a reprieve from US torpedoes for a year or so - the coming masses of subs with good torpedoes will massacre Japanese shipping. For now, look at every dud attack as a training exercise that will raise your crews' experience for later use.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Schlussel)

Post #: 15

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/24/2015 4:33:08 PM

witpqs

Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

quote:

ORIGINAL: Schlussel

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I don't use auto-convoys anywhere because there are no safe backwater areas from IJN subs (unless you can set them up off-map?). I also like to use ships to haul resources on the return trips to places that need resources like NZ, Southern Oz, and PH. For example, if a small xAKL goes to Hilo from SFO with supply, I get it to take resources to PH before returning to SFO. I don't know of any way to set that up on auto-convoy.

Another thing I find about AI controlled convoys is that they somehow "know" about threats ahead of them and start running away, often in the wrong direction. I find this annoying, both because the AI knows there is a threat where there is no SIGINT or visual sighting in the area and because it gets to decide where the convoy should go. Maybe I'm a control freak but I like to make the choice and I want to realistically sail into the unknown.

I don't find managing convoys that much of a chore - I scan the entire map each turn and often find that I have missed something, like allowing a ship to retire after reaching destination but forgetting to remove a "Do Not Unload" setting that I put on while building and loading the convoy piecemeal in port. You will also run ships out of fuel occasionally, especially early on when a destination base does not have fuel to give your ships. You can reduce the demands on fuel in the outposts if you set your ships to "minimum fuel" so they only take enough to get back to base rather than top up unnecessarily.

Thanks for the insight, especially the part about moving around resources (thought that was a Japanese-only problem), but that makes total sense. This is especially true in Australia and NZ, where their industry can reduce the need for supplies from the US...I don't have enough shipping to do everything I want right now. I know "cry me a river" right?

A quick look at the industry interface will help you identify the handful of Allied bases that don't have what they need for their industry.

Unlike BBFanboy I set up dedicated CS convoys for those needs.

An xAKL working from Hilo to Pearl in CS mode keeps the industry in Pearl working efficiently.

I do this where it is easy and makes sense.

Christchurch needs a little fuel for its heavy industry. I move a short legged low capacity tanker to Auckland and about once every two weeks I ship a bit of the fuel I'm stockpiling in Auckland there.

Those are just a couple of examples.

Me too. Schlussel, you will also see that you can give a CS convoys waypoints (optional) to be followed in both directions (optional) so that they don't follow a direct course. That can be helpful in routing them through safer waters.

_____________________________

Intel Monkey: https://sites.google.com/view/staffmonkeys/home

(in reply to HansBolter)

Post #: 16

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/25/2015 5:08:08 AM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Nice luck on eliminating that CVL and, more importantly, three of their big CAs. Those things are deadly in SCTFs so getting them before they blast your CAs/CLs is golden!

OT, I think Noumea might be temperate climate - most smaller islands are. Note that Noumea produces resources which Australia and NZ can use, if you have empty ships there and do not have to move them urgently.

It is just as well that the IJN gets a reprieve from US torpedoes for a year or so - the coming masses of subs with good torpedoes will massacre Japanese shipping. For now, look at every dud attack as a training exercise that will raise your crews' experience for later use.

Luck?!? Pffffft!!! That was all skill and strategery. Spruance himself couldn't have sprung a better trap.

I'm hoping for better sub results in 1942. I'll take the experience, but I'd prefer torpedoes that weren't just really expensive lawn darts.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 17

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/25/2015 5:19:32 AM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Me too. Schlussel, you will also see that you can give a CS convoys waypoints (optional) to be followed in both directions (optional) so that they don't follow a direct course. That can be helpful in routing them through safer waters.

Yeah this is one of those nifty improvements in Admiral's Edition. If I remember, when you wanted to do a waypoint in the old WitP, you had to set the TF destination as a spot in the ocean and the home port as your actual destination. It worked in a sort of roundabout way. The current way you describe is much more-better!

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 18

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/25/2015 5:22:00 AM

witpqs

Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Schlussel

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Me too. Schlussel, you will also see that you can give a CS convoys waypoints (optional) to be followed in both directions (optional) so that they don't follow a direct course. That can be helpful in routing them through safer waters.

Yeah this is one of those nifty improvements in Admiral's Edition. If I remember, when you wanted to do a waypoint in the old WitP, you had to set the TF destination as a spot in the ocean and the home port as your actual destination. It worked in a sort of roundabout way. The current way you describe is much more-better!

Yes, and what I was pointing out is something that most people don't realize at first, namely that you can assign waypoints to CS convoys just like you can to other TFs. Very useful.

_____________________________

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Post #: 19

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/25/2015 5:49:56 AM

Schlussel

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quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Yes, and what I was pointing out is something that most people don't realize at first, namely that you can assign waypoints to CS convoys just like you can to other TFs. Very useful.

Agreed! I find the more I know about WitP:AE, the more I know that I don't know...you know?

_____________________________

You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.

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Post #: 20

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/25/2015 6:09:10 AM

witpqs

Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
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But you're closing in on it!

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Post #: 21

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/26/2015 5:45:57 PM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

But you're closing in on it!

Yeah, baby steps. I figure by the time I master this game WitP:2 will be out.

_____________________________

You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 22

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/26/2015 5:52:07 PM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

Week 3: Dec. 23rd – Dec. 29th 1941

North Pacific: Quiet [Insert cricket chirping here]

Central Pacific: Hoping to build off my initial success in the region, I had the Saratoga, Enterprise, and Lexington continue from Midway and raid Wake. After two strikes, there was a reported 2,000 casualties to the Wake garrison, sounds a little exaggerated.
Later in the week, an IJN 3 Carrier Task force is spotted approaching Midway. As my own carrier fleet is out of position near Wake and is low on sorties, I evacuate all cargo/tankers unloading @ Midway, but not before the IJN sinks 2 AK’s loaded with supplies. The raid destroys half my fighter CAP (Buffaloes) but only does minimal runway damage. The IJN task force withdraws westward before I can organize a proper reception.
On the 29th, the Yorktown arrives in San Diego. Due to the heightened IJN sub activity on the west coast, she will have to wait 3 or 4 days for proper DD escort before departing for Pearl Harbor.

Southern Pacific: No activity.

New Guinea/Solomons: Japan still bombing Rabaul daily, runway and service damage are now topping 90. Base facilities at Noumea and Port Moresby are coming along, slow but steady.
Japanese subs are sinking at least two ships a day off the East coast of Austrailia. ASW forces don’t seem to protect convoys or score hits. The good news is the IJN subs will eventually run out of torpedoes…

DEI/Phillippines: DEI area was mostly quiet.
In the Phillipines, the IJA continues pushing towards Manilla and has reached the city outskirts. Clark field, Manilla and Bataan are on the receiving end of daily bombing raids.

SE Asia/China: IJN is working its way south towards Singapore, and have reached Kuala Lumpur. Repeated frontal assaults have reduced the city’s fort level to zero. Kuantan has been bypassed and my forces there are cut off. I’m amazed at how fast the Japanese move through the jungle, and when they encounter my ground units, they strike hard.
Burma is mostly quiet, exept for daily air raids on Rangoon.
Sporadic fighting in China.

Notable Base Captures:
-Taiping [Malaya] captured by Japan (12/23)
-Lucena [Phillippines] captured by Japan (12/28)
-Lingayen [Phillippines] captured by Japan (12/29)

Campaign Overview:
Aircraft Losses to date [change]:
Japanese: 280 [+38]
Allies: 228 [+18]

Ship Losses to date [change]:
Japanese: 18 [+6] Notables: CVL Zuiho, CA Mogami, CA Mikuma, CA Suzya
Allies: 71 [+32] All ships are auxillaries,tankers, or coastal AK’s.

VP Totals [change]:
Japanese: 3,662 [+390]
Allies: 11,170 [+181]

Other Notes:
-Lots of transport losses from IJN subs. I get DD ASW upgrades in early ’42, hopefully that will help. I’ll just hang on for now.
- Had a minor issue where a garrison unit wouldn’t fully embark at Milne Bay, even though the TF was Amphibious. I took the unit fragment in question (a ‘sound detector’) back to Noumea in hopes it can return once Milne Bay’s port size increases.
-Some of my sub skippers have resorted to surfacing and using their deck guns to engage IJN cargo ships. They must realize their torpedoes are as useless as the failed USN submarine screen door retrofit program.

_____________________________

You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.

(in reply to Schlussel)

Post #: 23

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/27/2015 5:39:18 AM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

You can help your ASW ships by having aerial search to detect the subs. This will help the ships close in on them and get attacks going.
The 1942 upgrades will help a great deal. Your DDs also need captains with 65+ Naval Skill.

Don't worry about that sound detector - it is next to useless. Hopefully it will upgrade to a radar set.

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No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

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Post #: 24

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/27/2015 12:14:58 PM

HansBolter

Posts: 7704
Joined: 7/6/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

But you're closing in on it!

Think of it in mathematical terms of approaching a limit.

You reduce the distance by half with each step but will still never reach the limit.

We will all be "working on" mastering this game for the rest of our days.

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Hans

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Post #: 25

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/27/2015 12:18:57 PM

HansBolter

Posts: 7704
Joined: 7/6/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You can help your ASW ships by having aerial search to detect the subs. This will help the ships close in on them and get attacks going.
The 1942 upgrades will help a great deal. Your DDs also need captains with 65+ Naval Skill.

Don't worry about that sound detector - it is next to useless. Hopefully it will upgrade to a radar set.

Don't forget to give your ASW TFs a decent reaction range as well.

It does work and works great.

For most games against the AI it clusters about 20 sub s around Pearl at game start before sending some on to the WC.

For the first two weeks of the game I take great pleasure in watching my plethora of nearly toothless ASW TFs react all over the place to the aerial spotted subs even though I lose more ASW platforms than I get hits on subs.

Gotta start getting the XP right outta the starting gate.

< Message edited by HansBolter -- 7/27/2015 1:20:32 PM >

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Post #: 26

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/29/2015 5:45:45 AM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
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quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

But you're closing in on it!

Think of it in mathematical terms of approaching a limit.

You reduce the distance by half with each step but will still never reach the limit.

We will all be "working on" mastering this game for the rest of our days.

Exactly! I remember in school we derived the equation (see below) that represents mastery of WitP:AE as a function of time. Either that or it's the area for a circle of infinite size...I can't remember which.

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.

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Post #: 27

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/29/2015 6:06:35 AM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
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quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Don't forget to give your ASW TFs a decent reaction range as well.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBFanboy

You can help your ASW ships by having aerial search to detect the subs. This will help the ships close in on them and get attacks going.

My current strategy is to manually direct the ASW TF's to known sub sightings and give them a reaction range of 0. The thought was that the ships would be less likely to stray from the hex I ordered them to go. But I see your point, especially when it is used in tandem with aerial spotting. I'll give that tactic a try, thanks guys!

quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

For the first two weeks of the game I take great pleasure in watching my plethora of nearly toothless ASW TFs react all over the place to the aerial spotted subs even though I lose more ASW platforms than I get hits on subs.

Gotta start getting the XP right outta the starting gate.

So its similar to what BBFanboy said about the dud torpedoes. You may not hit anything, but the act of trying nets you some experience points.
Practice makes perfect!

_____________________________

You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.

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Post #: 28

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/31/2015 5:04:22 AM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

Week 4: Dec. 30th – Jan. 5th 1942

North Pacific: Quiet [Insert cricket chirping here]

Central Pacific: IJN subs active along West Coast and near Pearl Harbor. I finally had some ASW success when a task Force off Pearl sunk an IJN sub. It was in shallow water, which probably helped.

Southern Pacific: Base building on Baker and Canton islands continue.

New Guinea/Solomons: Japan still bombing Rabaul daily, runway and service damage are both topping 95.
Base facilities at Noumea and Port Moresby are coming along, slow but steady.
Japanese subs are sinking at least two ships a day off the East coast of Austrailia. ASW forces don’t seem to protect convoys or score hits. The good news is the IJN subs will eventually run out of torpedoes.

DEI/Phillippines: DEI area was mostly quiet.
In the Phillipines, the IJA continues pushing towards Manilla from the north and south. Lead IJA elements attack Clark field and Manilla. They are repulsed at Clark, but by the end of the week, repeated attacks have reduced Manilla’s Fort level down to 0...its capture seems imminent. Daily bombing of Manilla, Clark Field and Bataan.

SE Asia/China: IJN is working its way south towards Singapore, and captured the Malayan capital of Kuala Lumpur. The IJA is currently 45 miles north of Johore Bharu.
Burma is mostly quiet, exept for daily air raids on Rangoon.
In China, Japan siezes strategic port city of Wenchow, I withdraw dispersed ground units inland to prevent being cut off.

Notable Base Captures:
-Kuala Lumpur [Malaya] captured by Japan (12/30)
-Wenchow [China] captured by Japan (12/31)
-Iba [Phillippines] captured by Japan (1/1)
-Temuloh [Malaya] captured by Japan (1/2)
-Malacca [Malaya] and Ternate [Moluccas] captured by Japan (1/3)
-Cagayan [Phillippines] captured by Japan (1/4)

Campaign Overview:
Aircraft Losses to date (change]:
Japanese: 332 [+52]
Allies: 268 [+40]

Ship Losses to date [change]:
Japanese: 24 [+6] Notables: CVL Zuiho, CA Mogami, CA Mikuma, CA Suzya
Allies: 97 [+26] Notables: CL Durban

VP Totals [change]:
Japanese: 4,279 [+617]
Allies: 11,212 [+42]

Other Notes:
-All Allied ship losses this week were sunk by IJN subs. My top naval advisors

have suggested a new tactic (air search and ASW reaction range changes) that I have begun using...and I finally got my first confirmed IJN sub kill. Anxious to see if this change produces more results in the coming weeks.
-Multiple Intel reports suggest IJN is preparing for an attack against Baker Island, considering sending a small carrier TF to investigate.

_____________________________

You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.

(in reply to Schlussel)

Post #: 29

RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War i... - 7/31/2015 5:08:14 AM

Schlussel

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline

Here's the updated situation report as of January 1st 1942: