Just starting out! (Full Version)

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Rhizy -> Just starting out! (1/14/2009 9:07:20 AM)

Well I took the plunge and purchased WitP - am I mad :).

Just finished downloading and am now printing the tutorial guide and the manual is next. So how to get into this thing and start the climb to some level of mastery. Any suggestions? Of course I'm not going to tackle the full campaign so which scenario is best for a complete newbie. I'll prob just play around with the AI for a good few months and leave PBEM until the AE comes out. I'll prob head over to Amazon and order a few books on the Pacific war as well.

Any threads I should take a look at that are aimed at the newbie experience in tackling this thing?

Looking forward to eventually fronting up for a PBEM campaign :)

Cheers,



DivePac88 -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 10:46:32 AM)

Welcome to the ultimate operational game around, and say goodbye to your spare time. I started off doing the tutorial (Saipan) about 20 times, then did Coral Sea a-few times as Allied, before switching to Japanese. Started Grand campaign as Allied before switching to Japanese because I love their Industry. I then found this Site and have never looked back. You should read the MUST READ THREADS, lots of info in there. Also should read the AARs, they will fill-in most of the gaps. [;)]



Rhizy -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 10:55:55 AM)

Thanks DivePac88, I've found the Must Read threads links and started reading a few. I'll give a few of the AARs a read as well. In the meantime back to the tutorial. I'll prob have heaps of questions - I will check the manual and search the forum for answers, but prob will also ask those dumb newbie questions on here as well ;) I guess I should leave any plans for PBEM games (even scenarios) until after the AE comes out?

Cheers,



DivePac88 -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 11:16:32 AM)

No such thing as a dumb questions, all questions deserve answers. I woundn't wait for AE, might be A-while, and AIs only for learning. [:'(]



wild_Willie2 -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 11:27:00 AM)

Welcome to the madhouse.

Play the tutorial a few times and then either play a campain or plunge into the deep as the allies in a full campain. The first time you will loose bigtime from the AI so you will probally restart the scenario once you get your @ss handed to you by the AI (usually somewhere around february 1942) after 2 restarts you will most likely be able to keep up with the AI and after having played the game for a month of 4-5 you will most likely run circles around the AI.
Then you could concider playing a PBEM game, against the AI this game is a good way to kill some time, agains a human opponent however it's addictive like heroin, you only want just ONE MORE turn...

Dont forget that "soon" the AE "expansion" will be released, promissing even more units, and a even STEEPER learning curve...[:D][:D][:D]



cantona2 -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 11:57:04 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Rhizzy

Well I took the plunge and purchased WitP - am I mad :).

Just finished downloading and am now printing the tutorial guide and the manual is next. So how to get into this thing and start the climb to some level of mastery. Any suggestions? Of course I'm not going to tackle the full campaign so which scenario is best for a complete newbie. I'll prob just play around with the AI for a good few months and leave PBEM until the AE comes out. I'll prob head over to Amazon and order a few books on the Pacific war as well.

Any threads I should take a look at that are aimed at the newbie experience in tackling this thing?

Looking forward to eventually fronting up for a PBEM campaign :)

Cheers,


Insanity will set in soon



Terminus -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 12:47:23 PM)

Welcome to the Dark Side. Personally, my recollections of time before WitP are growing increasingly hazy.



rockmedic109 -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 1:33:12 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Welcome to the Dark Side. Personally, my recollections of time before WitP are growing increasingly hazy.

There was a time before WITP? Oh, you mean that time I spent training for WITP.

And welcome to the club. Here's a few tips.

1. Cancel your Cable/Satalite TV unless your are married. There only use in your future will be to distract your wife so you can get more WITP time.
2. Having a standing order for Pizza to be delivered is a time saving option that can get a few more minutes every day for WITP.
3. If you are married, standing order for roses to be delivered to your wife will keep the distractions down while you play WITP.
4. Design a WITP room...otherwise known as the War Room. It must have a toilet, well stocked mini-fridge {full sized fridge if you have the space}, your computer with internet access, and a wall where you can put the WITP game map up and make silly notations all over it signifying future plans, ideas and notes on how to get one more turn in a day. With a George Foreman grill you can even cut out the standing order for pizza.



RevRick -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 2:04:15 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Rhizzy

Thanks DivePac88, I've found the Must Read threads links and started reading a few. I'll give a few of the AARs a read as well. In the meantime back to the tutorial. I'll prob have heaps of questions - I will check the manual and search the forum for answers, but prob will also ask those dumb newbie questions on here as well ;) I guess I should leave any plans for PBEM games (even scenarios) until after the AE comes out?

Cheers,


By and large, I think you will find those of us who have struggled through the learning curve (at least as far as we have progressed) will not consider any question about this game dumb. It is like peeling an onion, there are layers and layers of this game that each have their own different concepts and challenges. I have been playing operation games for 34 years.. and this one has held my attention since it's arrival in my home four computers ago, just as its predecessor (Uncommon Valor) held my attention until WitP. Welcome aboard...



stuman -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 2:41:33 PM)

As a new player myself I say welcome. You are going to enjoy this game a lot I bet.  I have found these forums the best, most helpful, and interesting that I have ever come across. I think that I will spend a little time over the weekend pulling together and posting a listing of threads I have come across that address a lot of the questions new players seem to need help with. 

I played the tutorial once, then played a few different scenarios for a couple of game weeks on easy with fog of war off all the while stopping and researching. I played those fast, to get a feel for how the game flows, and focused on a few different aspects. I have now started a full campaign as Allies, and although it is taking me a long time becuse iIam playing very methodically, it has been both great fun, and very interesting.



Grotius -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 3:00:23 PM)

Rhizzy, welcome to the party! By all means, do the tutorial and short scenarios first to learn the basic mechanics. When you finally fire up the grand campaign, don't be put off by the enormity of Turn 1. The game is so huge that it takes hours (or days) to set up your first turn -- but after that, things go much quickly, since things are already in motion. Subsequent turns typically take me 30-45 minutes each.

Stuman, I like your idea of pulling together some threads to help with questions from new players. Come to think of it, we don't have a WITP FAQ in this forum.



stuman -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 4:32:10 PM)

I will have time to do so this weekend.



2ndACR -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 5:44:34 PM)

Look up top at the "Must Read Threads". There is just about all the info a new guy needs. You will have to wade thru it though. Then ask away. It will help with the curve/cliff.



Rhizy -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 10:05:22 PM)

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Stuman, I look forward to that list of threads for newbies. Just reading through this forum over past few days seems to be a fantastic community that has formed around this game, this was one of the factors that convinced me to purchase WiTP. I've worked as a community relations manager for a games company in the past and know how valuable an active and supportive online community is. I worked on the Trainz project - a train and rail simulation that succeded largely due to the support of a very active community of online train and rail fans.

I've read about half-way through the manual and my head is already spinning! Think I also need to get a couple of decent books that provide a good overview of the Pacific War - any recommendations for say two to start out with?

Cheers,



crsutton -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 11:35:53 PM)

Seriously, one piece of advice. Find a human opponent and play by email. It is lots more fun and easy to do. 

And playing againts the AI for any length of time will just teach you bad habits that you will have to quickly unlearn when you finally go up against someone via email. Just ask for a game in the opponents wanted section and let everyone know you are new. Enjoy.



n01487477 -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 11:48:14 PM)

Grotius - A FAQ ? - Remember there is the WITP encyclopaedia as well ...
http://witp.kodapa.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

Rhizzy - good to have another Brisbane lad.

Welcome new guys and keep asking q ... it only furthers the discussion and expands our knowledge of this great game.

Damian



Mifune -> RE: Just starting out! (1/14/2009 11:52:11 PM)

"Well I took the plunge and purchased WitP" Welcome to the world of WitP of which your wife will be forever jealous.



ool -> RE: Just starting out! (1/15/2009 12:07:26 AM)

Ae will come out about the same amount of time it took Axel Rose to put out Chinese Democracy! Not in the near lifetime I suspect.

As for the AI? Use it to learn basic rules. It is hopeless otherwise as an opponent.

Automatic convoy setting? Don't! Not unless you want your auto convoys routed to Soerbaja planning refueling stops at Pearl. It is useless!

To get real opposition think of this as PBEM game.

It is addictive as hell!



Rhizy -> RE: Just starting out! (1/15/2009 12:29:39 AM)

Ok, I'll use the AI for learning the basics then jump into a PBEM game. Would you suggest starting out with the grand campaign and just learning as I go or playing one of the smaller scenarios as PBEM first?

I'm heading out to pick up a copy of Costello's The Pacific War from the local borders. Also trying to get hold of Toland's The Rising Sun, Parshall's Shattered Sword, Wilmotts Barrier and Javelin, and maybe Frank's Guadalcanal as all seem to be highly recommended in various threads here. Might have to hit amazon for these soon.






TOMLABEL -> RE: Just starting out! (1/15/2009 1:35:31 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Rhizzy

Ok, I'll use the AI for learning the basics then jump into a PBEM game. Would you suggest starting out with the grand campaign and just learning as I go or playing one of the smaller scenarios as PBEM first?

I'm heading out to pick up a copy of Costello's The Pacific War from the local borders. Also trying to get hold of Toland's The Rising Sun, Parshall's Shattered Sword, Wilmotts Barrier and Javelin, and maybe Frank's Guadalcanal as all seem to be highly recommended in various threads here. Might have to hit amazon for these soon.






Hey Rhizzy, WELCOME!!! [:)]

The books you mentioned are good ones to expand your knowledge of the Pacific War. Frank's Guadalcanal is a great read on the early days in the South Pacific.

TOMLABEL



Grotius -> RE: Just starting out! (1/15/2009 3:18:36 AM)

Costello's book is a fun read, if not the most scholarly source. A good place to start.

n0148, thanks for the reminder about the encyclopedia. :)



LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Just starting out! (1/16/2009 2:34:52 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rockmedic109

quote:

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Welcome to the Dark Side. Personally, my recollections of time before WitP are growing increasingly hazy.

There was a time before WITP? Oh, you mean that time I spent training for WITP.


LOL! Yes, there was a time before WitP - the ancient era of 'Guadalcanal', 'Battles of the South Pacific' and 'TF 1942', the medieval era of 'Burning Steel II & III' and 'Pacific War', the early modern period with UV. Then came the industrial revolution with WitP.
Or to put it another way - basic training, advanced training, military academy, Command & General Staff College. AE will be the War College - and only then we are prepared to start playing in earnest - with WitP 2.


@Rhizzy: So, WitP has claimed another victim [:D]. To the books already mentioned I would add Bergerud's 'Touched with Fire' and 'Fire in the Sky' which deal with the land war resp. air war in the South Pacific and Spector's 'Eagle against the Sun' as a good one-volume summary of the entire Pacific War. Have fun!



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