Task force detection by naval search missions

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> Task force detection by naval search missions

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Task force detection by naval search missions - 10/27/2021 6:29:52 PM

rmeckman

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Joined: 8/18/2019
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I have so far been learning the game by playing against the AI. One question I have is related to the hexes in which a task force can be detected by aircraft over the course of a 24-hour period. In both the night and day resolution phases, it appears that each TF moves for 12 hours before any air operations are conducted. Does this mean the only hexes that matter for aerial TF detection are the hexes occupied by a TF at the end of each night and day resolution phase? Therefore, will morning and afternoon naval search missions both detect a particular TF in the same hex?

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RE: Task force detection by naval search missions - 10/27/2021 6:42:31 PM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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My understanding is that the algorithm calculates all the potential interactions before it starts working through the steps in the game sequence. Therefore in the morning "Air" step, it will have calculated whether the TF was detected in the Night Phase or the morning ASW, Naval and Air phases. It will then show action, if any, during the morning air phase or calculate that an attack could not occur before the Afternoon Air phase.

So the potential for attacks is determined first and the resolution of the attacks is carried out during the appropriate step in the turn sequence. Similarly, during actual combat (as seen in animations), the IJ side usually gets its shots first (unless it is surprised) and the Allied side shoots second but the computer treats it as simultaneous combat. So a ship that is hard hit by the Japanese in the opening shots will have its pre-damage return fire "reserved" and shown during the Allied fire part of the same combat interval. Keep in mind that naval combat seems to have an interval of about 5 minutes and can go several intervals during the same combat until the forces break off.

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RE: Task force detection by naval search missions - 10/27/2021 7:00:33 PM

geofflambert

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I do a lot of night searches and I've seen TFs moving in the course of the night and being spotted in multiple hexes. Perhaps by separate searchers (from separate search squadrons), I'm not sure.

< Message edited by geofflambert -- 10/27/2021 7:04:17 PM >

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RE: Task force detection by naval search missions - 10/28/2021 4:23:46 AM

BBfanboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

I do a lot of night searches and I've seen TFs moving in the course of the night and being spotted in multiple hexes. Perhaps by separate searchers (from separate search squadrons), I'm not sure.

Yes, that would match with the idea that the AI plots all possible paths crossing and rolls for detections.

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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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RE: Task force detection by naval search missions - 10/28/2021 5:22:11 AM

Alfred

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Task Force movement is on a hex by hex basis.

Alfred

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RE: Task force detection by naval search missions - 10/29/2021 12:36:37 AM

rmeckman

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I guess what is confusing is the way the steps in Section 3 of the manual are reported during turn resolution. First, there is a message about coastwatcher checks being completed, a later one about TF movement, and then messages related to air operations. If these steps are completed sequentially only once during each 12-hour pulse (as indicated by the screen messages), then coastwatchers could only detect TFs at their initial positions when the pulse starts, and air operations could detect TFs only at their final locations after 12 hours of movement. The code likely embeds many of the steps listed in Section 3 in a loop that repeats some number of times over a 12-hour pulse, but this looping just isn't reflected in the screen messages.

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