Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (Full Version)

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Cavalry Corp -> Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (10/9/2018 1:12:16 PM)

I'm playing the slightly modified focus pacific mod play by email two day turns as Japan now in April 42. And totally bogged down the allies feel strong as if it were early 43 (CV aside). That is even with the house will we have of no Russia until the end of 42. Neither Manila or Singapore have been taken despite several total failures.

Is anyone else playing this mod is so would like to chat with them about how you play as Japan.



dave sindel -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (10/17/2018 4:21:56 PM)

It doesnt appear that anyone has responded to your inquiry? My first PBEM game is winding down - we are in mid-September of 1944 and my forces are pressing Japan from all sides. I have completely conquered Hokkaido. Okinawa has been invaded and one of the two bases there has already fallen (Naha). Nago will fall within a couple of days.

My current opponent has suggested that for our next game we try Focus Pacific. So I am doing some research. Is this still an active Mod ?



btd64 -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (10/17/2018 5:05:25 PM)

Para is MIA. So I have a little bit newer mod but it needs some more balancing. In a month or 2 I may have some time to work on it. So PM me in December....GP



Cavalry Corp -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (10/19/2018 2:30:32 PM)

Firstly I am enjoying the RA the problem is the Japanese player has been able to build some very advanced fighters very early on and in very large quantity. We are still yet to make any significant advance by the end of 1943. Would be interested to exchange turns maybe sometime.

As regards the focus pacific we have it and I have a game of it going. This game is in April 1942 Russia is active it is scenario 75. The game looks quite good but the going is extremely tough for the Japanese as the Allied fighters are too good and there is generally too much Allied stuff on the map this early on. I have found it impossible to take Singapore and Manila though we are about to have another go. I'm not sure how much playtesting of this mod has been done. But certainly a lot of work has gone into it. You got to feel like this would be the situation if say there had not been the First World War and all nations have built up more significantly. Think of it as war in the Pacific 1955 but lower technology.




BillBrown -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (10/19/2018 3:05:08 PM)

I played Focus Pacific as allies until about mid 1943. My opponent retired since he could not find a way
to stop the Soviets in Manchucko.

I started another game against Para, but as GP stated above he has gone MIA. We got up to mid 1942, and we were playing a
somewhat modified version Para made which weakened the Allies some. I think there are still too many pilots available for
both sides( you can only have 70,000 total ). The Allies are pretty strong in the beginning and possibly too strong.

I think that GPs version, scenario 75, does cut back on the Allies in 42 some.



Rising-Sun -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (10/19/2018 4:11:16 PM)

Playing against AI would probably kill Japan early on, but with another player, that depend how experienced and how aggressive he/she is.

There are so many possibilities in that game, hard to rule out all of them. Just have enough DLs and do the best you can fight off the invaders. By end of 1944, not much you can do.



Lovejoy -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (10/20/2018 4:24:56 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

I think that GPs version, scenario 75, does cut back on the Allies in 42 some.


I play against AI Japan using a slightly altered version of GP's mod (Soviets turned off, PPs decreased, a few ship name changes). I like the weaker position of the Allies in 42 and the slower buildup of Allied power in 43.

FP is my favorite mod, and I don't think I've gone back to Vanilla since I downloaded it. The French as a more powerful Ally is a cool angle on the game, and Ive had fun against the beefed up Japanese. It also got me interested in learning how to mod the game.



Cavalry Corp -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (10/21/2018 10:43:37 AM)

Fair enough - we are in April 42 and for certain its not like anything else but i think the allies will prove too strong too soon.

we have agreed Russia cannot attack before end 44 unless Japan attacks first and that means a PH like strike at the end of 43 or the subs alone could kill us.



CaptBeefheart -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (10/31/2018 2:35:06 AM)

I dabbled a bit with that by PBEM and also did an AI campaign (Russia inactive) where I set it to computer vs computer until June 1942. It does seem like the Allies are overpowered, especially the French. I look forward to GP's mod.

Cheers,
CB



Cavalry Corp -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (11/1/2018 9:12:33 AM)

Do you mean Patton Mod Russia active- If so this is the one we are playing and has been out for a long time. Is there a new one ?

We are playing this and are now in April 1942 and Japan is almost at a standstill already except in China but even in China the allies are much stronger.

If I had more time and inclination to learn the editor there are a few changes that can be made to this mod to make it quite good in fact very good

The most important thing is that the allies are too strong to early even in the Patton. Which has apparently significantly reduced allied strength.... So would not bother with any of the others. I would like to have known these have been play tested a bit.

Japanese ASW is almost 0 and the allies have an early upgrade to fix their torpedoes apparently. I am losing two or three ships every two days.
there are too many allied four engined bombers at the start of the game and only the Zero to stop them it's impossible
the Allied fighters completely outclassed the Japanese they have the P 38 and the French fighters that just shred the zeros. That said Japan has some amazing high level pilots but it makes no difference.. I thought it would but it didn't.
Unless of course I'm doing something totally wrong and stupid. I am certainly not a quitter and am trying to carry on but it feels like the Japanese should be on the defensive immediately after Pearl Harbour and only try and tackle Russia and China. The only good thing is that Japan has an enormous number of political points which means pretty much all the army can be mobile after probably the end of 42.

There is no point attacking the DEI it is too heavily fortified I cannot even take Manila or Singapore. Whether or not that is my fault I cannot say but I can tell you those fortresses that make their own supply have defeated the best of my army. The certain Singapore should not make its own supply really because the Japan basically defeated it by turning off the water supply from the mainland.

We have a house agreement that Russia cannot attack until it is attacked although its active for recon purposes. If that was not in place I would have already given up.



btd64 -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (11/1/2018 9:21:07 AM)

Calvary, I have started a review of the Allied side. Can you email me a list of things that you feel should be fixed? And include what you posted above. Thanks....GP



Cavalry Corp -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (11/1/2018 11:52:29 AM)

Thanks for this I will gather a list of recommendations but essentially its the start up that is the problem too much on for the allies and too much probably arriving too soon.



WingCmdr -> Focus pacific mod: Why isn't everyone playing? (11/7/2018 8:10:12 PM)

FOCUS PACIFIC is an absolutely unbelievable mod: earthshaking. The notes are really clear how the fleet sizes have changed for both sides. There should be steel reefs all over the map by 6/42 because now you have a lot more toys. I have gotten a month into mod 75 H to H (playing with myself) focusing on the air/ sub war. I went for the Dec 7 lets surprise the Soviets and sink some of their 30 – 40 subs, eliminate their fleet and then seize the oil, bump up the repair shipyard at Petropovlosk and with the oil being refined there its off for spring campaigning in Alaska: for 40 oil and some seal meat in AK.? What malaria? I will let you know how well 37mm hold up against T-26’s in a few game months. The Sov airforce is like stomping on Ants but they still get the flying Ronson’s. That’s why you have 200 Betty replacements, 100 Lily repl and production of 55B, 77L. I think this corner of the war would get a lot of interest as a small, China, SU only scenario, a lot of IJ armor, mech what-ifs, with pak 75 AT cannon on a Nick (any secure hard points?) and tungsten tipped rounds, coming by I boat from IJ off map area's and ... ahem, calm Winston.

In Post #10 it shows how you have to change strategy despite having far superior numbers. Mersing gets a CD unit (a dicey speed bump, against a few extra squadrons in Sing), you cannot get air superiority against the French at Kwangchowan (100 Oil/ 60 ref.), the DEI has slightly better defences, and the French airpower around there slows the advance through Ambon, a lot more tricky, and makes Rangoon a lot more difficult to suppress. Makes the Empire face better a/c versus their superior numbers and skill and the resources to sustain a prolonged campaign: if you don't use them up on the Sov.s. Also really gives the Allies something to do in Dec.

The term ablative armor is used on the forum these days, it’s the concept that there are other factors than just a weapons physical attributes and you need a whole ‘entourage’ of factors that make the weapon effective. For frontline Betty squadrons Avg pilot exp, 89 High 70’s all other key skills. Every pilot is an elite pilot,

HALF THE IJ AIRFORCE ARE ELITE PILOTS - That's a real Divine Wind to be respected, but as fragile as a cherry blossom

My re-sized Claude training squadrons have six elite pilots, I think only one pilot is needed for the elite benefit, but oh that avg exp. No pilot shortages, plenty of squadrons to upgrade to zero’s (176 repl, 126 prod), same with the Nate (90 Oscar I repl, 190 Production). 15 Mavis units. No early war buildout for the air factories required for the Empire; how long does it take the IJ to get to 300 ftrs/month in stock? I think its best to look at this as a 12/42 start with stockpiles. 9k pilots in the pool, with a monthly repl. rate of 420 for each service means there is no end to the skilled aviator pool.

Like any mod peeling off the layers can be like an apple or an onion: I keep crying at every new layer. Every AMC has 3 Rufe’s (at least 15, Rufe not in prod. yet), my 11 kt PBs have ASW 3, Type 95, SC boats have ASW 6, 8, DD upgrades, Big Ship changes etc….

Now for the allies. I will stop here because the new aircraft designs speak for themselves. Who doesn’t want to fight (and win) with a plane that looks like DUMBO or unique and innovative engineering designs: to be used with care. The modders even gave you pretty pictures and a great narrative and explanation of their changes. And if all this does not suit the player who wants it all, they give you three different scenario’s so you do not have to winter in Siberia or face The Empire on 21st Century Steroids.



Cavalry Corp -> RE: Focus pacific mod: Why isn't everyone playing? (11/8/2018 1:21:59 PM)

Dear Wing Commander

You will see much more problems if you are playing by email with an experienced Allied player.

I will however acknowledge that I have tried to play as per the normal expansion programme for Japan which has been wrong. The offensive is totally mired down with a large host of Allied land units and massive airpower. From what I see Japanese land units are very weak in comparison to the Allied and the air force quality is inferior in terms of its planes.

If I had attacked Russia at the beginning of the scenario I think the game would already be at the stage of a siege of Japan.

Have you managed to capture Singapore and Manila?

The suggestions put forward to improve things

Allow the allies reinforcements to arrive slower slower maybe starting around the summer of 1942
allow some better Japanese planes you cannot stop the four engined bombers with zeros all your elite cherry blossom is dying in droves.
The French air force is capable of taking on most of the Japanese by itself. This is ridiculous. Also remember the four engined bombers are available in some quantity it seems by the summer of 42 and are unstoppable.

The Navy is very strong I admit that but it has almost no antisubmarine warfare capability and once the allies upgrade their subs there is a large amount of casualties.

I did not remember seeing any scenario notes/ tactics suggestion. It's easy for the allies to learn as they just have to deploy their roadblocks while they build up strength Japan easily makes some fundamental errors that will never be corrected. Obviously the second time you play this scenario you know what not and what to do.



WingCmdr -> RE: Focus pacific mod: Why isn't everyone playing? (11/9/2018 12:36:32 PM)

My results are actually pretty similar to yours, I just haven't gotten far into '42. The Elite bomber pilots still "flinch" in the face of AA and a few fighters, so that closing airfields with bombers is really difficult. That's why I sandboxed this one with elite pilots: I think 60 GB skill Bomber pilots can do the same job as elite, in high attrition situations. My focus was north so Sing and Manilla take longer. However with all those extra Betty Squadrons it sure makes a nice air blockade of those ports. I wanted to cut the RR to Vladivostok, and create a Sevastopol II in the pacific. I was slow, no para.s, on Dec 8 250k supply showed up in Vlad.

ASW is really problematic for the IJ and in this scenario there are no elite, search or ASW pilots, and I have no success at actually causing damage, only spotting and suppression. Is the armed merchantman defence considered too gamey: run some single xAKL CS convoys: running them empty or like ASW TF to sit on a siteing is gamey. The BB force has to be used against airfields and there is a lot more oil in the water as a result. I said this game is a 12/42 start and the allies have not been idle in that extra year. The complete lack of a suitable anti-bomber fighter in 42, may be the biggest roadblock in this game and you identified it. What plane(s) should the modders accelerate to keep you in the fight? I am also Sandboxing this game to try and find a solution to Allied armour. I think the only ground solution is for the AT guns to have better ammo or pak 75s.

I looked closer at the allies starting units in Scen 2 compared to Scen 75 and your comments are justified, but why not actually help the modders with details? I count at least 200 extra engineers (Clark Field 140), 300 extra AAA 1st USMC 124 vs. 11. This AAA is 12.7 and 37mm. 80k supply Clark Field, 90k Manilla at start, don’t blame the LI factories when the starting supply is four times greater to support the massive engineer increase. Yes, 200 LI vs 100 in scen 2 but the 60 HI in Manilla is a real bonus, that you can build out with those 200LI. The defenders are also better prepped and a little more armor. Maybe the strategy is to use those divisions you buy out and don’t use them in China: maybe you have to actually use the only level 3 port on Luzon to change the direction and speed of your attack and bypass Lingayan and San Fernando: oh, but they have 21LI and 40 LI respectively. Not someplace Dugout Doug will want to return to. How did you spend your 2k PP at start, do you feel you need more? These quasi Ironman games hold a lot of surprises, you have to do your pre-game reconnaissance and adjust your strategy.



durnedwolf -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (11/12/2018 5:31:58 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: cavalry

I'm playing the slightly modified focus pacific mod play by email two day turns as Japan now in April 42. And totally bogged down the allies feel strong as if it were early 43 (CV aside). That is even with the house will we have of no Russia until the end of 42. Neither Manila or Singapore have been taken despite several total failures.

Is anyone else playing this mod is so would like to chat with them about how you play as Japan.


I've got a copy and play it a bit on the side. I'm playing against Joe in another mod right now with Italian and German assets on the board; that's kind of fun too.

I like the early game of Focus in the Pacific with Russia enabled. I play as Japan and I like the challenge. I'd love to play against a live opponent but I'd only be able to generate a turn or two a week. One of the concerns with the game in the later phases (so I've been told) is that it burns through the pilot pool pretty fast. And there are a couple of allied fighter models that are a little over-powering for an early start in the game (The P-50 comes to mind - that sucker kicks the snot out of the A6M2).



DOCUP -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (11/14/2018 1:32:19 AM)

Thanks Mike. I am paying attention to what is being said here. I have several things that are similar to Focus in the Pacific mod. I am making changes as I see fit. Also thanks for the plug on my mod.

I will also say that Mike is a great opponent. I recommend him as a PBEM partner.



BillBrown -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (11/20/2018 4:28:40 AM)

For what it is worth, here are the latest scenario files I got from Bruce. He toned down some things, but I am not sure how much.




Cavalry Corp -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/8/2019 2:14:59 PM)

I am in MAY 42 AS Japan and an update soon and its not good, No Singers and no Manilla ( though that may fall soon) - no expansion into DEI allied are and ground too strong.

How easy is it to use the editor and does anyone mind may have a go myself as it needs to be done from those that have played it do we not all think?...
Or happy to leave it to Mr Patton I guess.



btd64 -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/8/2019 2:32:02 PM)

Hi all, I have a little bit more to do with the mod. It will be scenario 78. I'll shoot for the weekend for completion. Thanks for the patience....GP



paradigmblue -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/8/2019 5:11:52 PM)

I'm ashamed for completely flaking out on everyone. There's absolutely no excuse for my actions - while my workload precluded me from working on the mod or playing, there is no reason I couldn't have dropped those I was corresponding with a note. All of you deserve better than that. BillBrown, General Patton and others have been great partners and friends on this mod, and my disappearance was disrespectful to them in the extreme.

I've waited too long to jump back into the WiTP:AE community because I was embarrassed and ashamed of how I disappeared. I know things can't go back to the way they were, but I hope I'll be able to contribute to this fantastic community again.


To contribute to the thread, I'm of the opinion now that to play a "balanced" game of Focus Pacific in its current state, you have to do so with the Soviets off. That change frees up a lot of Japanese AV for China, and more importantly, allows Japan to use all of that airpower that was slated for the Soviet theatre for its conquest of PI and DEI instead. Soviets Off also prevents the allied player from flooding Japan's home waters with effective subs from turn one, before Japan has the ASW to deal with it. Later versions of Focus Pacific also toned-down the French air groups at Kwangchowan and removed the American P-50 Skyrockets from Clark Field, which ensures that Japan has air superiority in that theater.

I should note that Kwangchowan is only formidable from the air - a couple of good naval bombardments will wreck the airfield there and destroy those valuable French planes. I would recommend any Japanese player sending a bombardment TF there on Dec. 7 as part of the surprise attack package. It turns what could be a thorn in the side for a Japanese player to an afterthought.




btd64 -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/8/2019 5:50:06 PM)

Email sent......[:)]
I thought one of those Earth Quakes got ya....GP



BillBrown -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/8/2019 6:01:55 PM)

Hi Bruce, glad to see you are OK. I didn't know what happened to you.

I have given some thought to a Focus Pacific Light, but it will take a good bit of work and my plate is pretty full
right now. Plus I always felt I should find some way to get your permission to do so.

email sent



durnedwolf -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/14/2019 4:32:28 AM)

So the files in post #17 by BillBrown are the latest rendition?

So if you start with the Russia off, can I still attack Russia at a later date and bring them into the war?



Cavalry Corp -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/17/2019 1:35:49 PM)

Dear all,

If need be we can send you files of a game in progress. We are in May 1942 two day turns I am playing Japan.

The game feels very lopsided in favour of the allies to me. I note the comments above from the author.. You are very welcome back please do not apologise...

Certainly Russia needs to be inactive or alternatively made active say at the end of 1944. In our game I had agreed to attack Russia at the end of 1942 and at the moment we are allowing reconnaissance flights from and into Russia as a sign of temporary aggression some of the flights of course are shot down by CAP - makes things feel quite tense.

In my game without Singapore and Manila having fallen as yet the allies are looking at auto victory at the end of 1942!!!!!!!

Other big issues.

Allied subs should not have effective torpedoes before the realistic date in my opinion. This is because Japan has very little ASW.
Japan has no good fighter in 1942, certainly nothing to take on Allied air power which looks more like 1943..
the allies have too many superior aircraft to make conquering the DEI impossible
too many allied bases make too much supply making them impenetrable to even siege.

Japanese units feel very weak against the vast Chinese units XXX . In fact Japanese army units feel very inferior to just about everything.



BillBrown -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/17/2019 1:44:58 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: durnedwolf

So the files in post #17 by BillBrown are the latest rendition?

So if you start with the Russia off, can I still attack Russia at a later date and bring them into the war?


Yes, these are the files that Bruce and I were testing. You can set Russia to be inactive and if you attack latter they will then activate.



btd64 -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/17/2019 2:47:06 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: cavalry

Dear all,

If need be we can send you files of a game in progress. We are in May 1942 two day turns I am playing Japan.

The game feels very lopsided in favour of the allies to me. I note the comments above from the author.. You are very welcome back please do not apologise...

Certainly Russia needs to be inactive or alternatively made active say at the end of 1944. In our game I had agreed to attack Russia at the end of 1942 and at the moment we are allowing reconnaissance flights from and into Russia as a sign of temporary aggression some of the flights of course are shot down by CAP - makes things feel quite tense.

In my game without Singapore and Manila having fallen as yet the allies are looking at auto victory at the end of 1942!!!!!!!

Other big issues.

Allied subs should not have effective torpedoes before the realistic date in my opinion. This is because Japan has very little ASW.
Japan has no good fighter in 1942, certainly nothing to take on Allied air power which looks more like 1943..
the allies have too many superior aircraft to make conquering the DEI impossible
too many allied bases make too much supply making them impenetrable to even siege.

Japanese units feel very weak against the vast Chinese units XXX . In fact Japanese army units feel very inferior to just about everything.



Michael, thanks for this post. I will add these items to my list....GP



CaptBeefheart -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/18/2019 7:19:32 AM)

ParadigmBlue: No need to apologize. Good to have you back. You did some good work which we can all appreciate.

Cheers,
CB



paradigmblue -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/18/2019 5:41:35 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: cavalry

Dear all,

If need be we can send you files of a game in progress. We are in May 1942 two day turns I am playing Japan.

The game feels very lopsided in favour of the allies to me. I note the comments above from the author.. You are very welcome back please do not apologise...

Certainly Russia needs to be inactive or alternatively made active say at the end of 1944. In our game I had agreed to attack Russia at the end of 1942 and at the moment we are allowing reconnaissance flights from and into Russia as a sign of temporary aggression some of the flights of course are shot down by CAP - makes things feel quite tense.

In my game without Singapore and Manila having fallen as yet the allies are looking at auto victory at the end of 1942!!!!!!!

Other big issues.

Allied subs should not have effective torpedoes before the realistic date in my opinion. This is because Japan has very little ASW.


The latest (unreleased) version of the mod provides some additional naval ASW assets to the Japanese player. I would also note that Japan starts with far more air assets that can be used for ASW, as well as training squadrons. I do think that using the KB-2 to strike Manilla on Dec. 7 is very important in this mod.

quote:


Japan has no good fighter in 1942, certainly nothing to take on Allied air power which looks more like 1943..

Allied air-power has been toned down a bit in the newest version, and I've found that Japanese air can be dominant if they ramp up their production early. Having the Tojo almost immediately helps.

quote:


the allies have too many superior aircraft to make conquering the DEI impossible

I don't know about "impossible", but yes, it makes it tougher than it should be. Allied aircraft in this theater, particularly Dutch aircraft, have been adjusted to arrive later and in smaller numbers. I've also added additional Japanese assault divisions to one of Japan's main staging bases for the conquest of the DEI or the Philippines, providing more easily accessible AV. The addition of this 1200 additional AV to either your Singapore or Manilla assault forces will tip the balance in your favor.
quote:


too many allied bases make too much supply making them impenetrable to even siege.

Japanese units feel very weak against the vast Chinese units XXX . In fact Japanese army units feel very inferior to just about everything.


See above, the additional assault divisions go a long way to address this.
quote:

The game feels very lopsided in favour of the allies to me. I note the comments above from the author.

I'll see if I can scrounge up my scen files and send my latest version to Gen. Patton, so that he had the changes listed above. It is doubtful that I'll release a new .exe version of the mod myself.



btd64 -> RE: Focus pacific mod anyone playing? (1/18/2019 6:13:16 PM)

Para, No need to send files. I have a set that I'm using to make the fixes. What I can't figure out is how you did the torpedoes upgrade so I can reverse it. That is one edge that people have been on. Well, I have something to do, later....GP



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