after action report----not good enough for pbm?

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after action report----not good enough for pbm?

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> after action report----not good enough for pbm?

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after action report----not good enough for pbm? - 8/7/2020 12:09:28 AM

joliverlay

Posts: 635
Joined: 1/28/2003
Status: offline

Anyone else feel this way? I'm too good for the AI, even against the Iron Man mods, but, and this is a big one, I'm not nearly good enough for PBM!

Husbanding Allied resources without any significant losses until June 1942, I decided it was time to try and help stem the overland invasion of India. Cox Bazar is under threat and I'm getting hit by 6 Japanese divisions and 1:1 odds. His losses are disruptions and mine are kills as 4 Divisions (British and Australian) are melting away. (The Australian Divisions have no infantry left!) The Japanese are moving into Esprito Santo and intel reports preparation for attacks all over the south pacific and Oz, so I figure KB is waiting for me to move to support my marines in New Caledonia. Wrong!

I send all the British BBs and CVs (Big B mod, 6 and 4 of each) into the Indian Ocean to kill the transports unloading at Cox Bazar, and thereabouts to stem or slow the overland advance.

But, of course, KB is lurking out of sight and trounces me. Over 3 days I lose 6 BBs, 3 CVs, 1 CVL, and numerous cruisers to air and surface actions as I try to escape. My naval (and many land) aircraft are lost without a single successful hit. Not one. I do manage to kill 2 BBs in a surface action and 80 KB pilots to flak. My best performers were the AAA and the old british BBs.) But my land and naval air were worthless, and the RN is more or less gone now. And no impact at all on the land side. Maybe the 80 pilots will make a difference when I commit my 6 US carriers after they finish upgrading their torpedo bombers, but its still very demoralizing.

I can easily beat the AI, most of the time, even on hard, but I can't seem to do much against a live opponent, at least as the American player. I need a better AI, or to play only against new players. What I don't understand is why I like the game so much. It constantly reminds me that I'm impatient and a poor looser. I need a better AI, but maybe not to much better.

Post #: 1

RE: after action report----not good enough for pbm? - 8/7/2020 12:35:50 AM

geofflambert

Posts: 14863
Joined: 12/23/2010
From: St. Louis
Status: offline

Things are always tough for the Allied player early on, but if you are careful you can have spectacular successes, even against a human. And remember, humans can't cheat while the AI does. If you're easily beating the AI you are very much ready to play against a human. Stay away from gorns though.

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(in reply to joliverlay)

Post #: 2

RE: after action report----not good enough for pbm? - 8/7/2020 1:35:46 AM

RangerJoe

Posts: 13450
Joined: 11/16/2015
From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part.
Status: offline

You are apparently impatient. You also have to have effective Naval Search. You also might need to use your LBA to counter his ground units.

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Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
― Julia Child

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 3

RE: after action report----not good enough for pbm? - 8/7/2020 2:55:28 AM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

Play the AI on very hard, 2 day turns.

Don't cheat against the AI. Don't resize squadrons for example. Don't abuse known AI weaknesses.

(in reply to RangerJoe)

Post #: 4

RE: after action report----not good enough for pbm? - 8/7/2020 4:12:27 AM

RangerJoe

Posts: 13450
Joined: 11/16/2015
From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part.
Status: offline

Your pilots are not trained enough yet to fight the KB. You have to attrition the KB while playing defence. You attacked too soon and you did not know where the KB was. Read some AARs, read more if you need to, and pick up some things to be aware of against a human opponent. You have not lost the game yet, it is a long game, but you do need to be careful now. With no threat from the RN, he can concentrate against the Americans or do even more against India.

Do not give it up, think of this as an opportunity to learn. A player lost almost all of India, he was still fighting in the Solomons in the beginning of 1944 - then he launched an invasion of Hokkaido. The Japanese collapsed their defence to forestall him.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
― Julia Child

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 5

RE: after action report----not good enough for pbm? - 8/7/2020 5:12:13 AM

Alamander

Posts: 147
Joined: 4/29/2020
Status: offline

Against the AI, there is only 1 level of tactical planning involved. You need only to think about what you are trying to accomplish and what you need to do it. Against a human opponent, you should try to put yourself in his place. Look at the map and think of yourself as Japan. What would you do in this situation? In this way, try to anticipate your opponent's moves, have a plan to counter his plan to counter your plan, and so forth. Try to stay one step ahead. When you find yourself reacting all the time: bombers frequently hitting important locations you did not cover with CAP, ground units outflanking you, SAGs coming from vectors you did not expect, CVs appearing where least expected, these are all indications that your opponent is one step ahead of you.

Think back on all the things that he did and try to find patterns. Keep notes if necessary. Then anticipate his actions, be in position to counter his moves, and turn the table. Above all else... search, recon, then search and recon some more. Try to know where everything is around every area of engagement so that you have the information necessary to put yourself in your opponent's position and anticipate his plan.

Be careful with the allied signal intelligence. It can be very helpful, but not so much so as in the real war. The difference is that your opponent knows that you have "cracked the Japanese code," whereas the Japanese did not. An experienced Japanese player will send false signals by assigning false objectives to inconsequential units. Pay attention to the major Army HQs and divisions. Where are they? Would it make sense to assign that unit such an objective?

As the allies, you can take substantial losses and still recover. Stay with it and use it as a learning experience.

< Message edited by Alamander -- 8/7/2020 5:17:39 AM >

(in reply to RangerJoe)

Post #: 6

RE: after action report----not good enough for pbm? - 8/8/2020 10:44:37 PM

Bif1961

Posts: 2014
Joined: 6/26/2008
From: Phenix City, Alabama
Status: offline

Sounds like you need to get your feet wet in a smaller scenario against a human opponent, that way if things go terribly wrong it will be over soon and you can evaluate your play sooner and make adjustments for the next scenario and opponent.

(in reply to Alamander)

Post #: 7

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