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Bradley7735 -> RE: CHS - Did allies get screwed in the air ? (10/18/2005 5:42:55 PM)
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AB is asking for playtesting results. I'll give you mine, but we'll see if my data is ok to use.
I play as allies vs AI. However, I mod the AI's stuff for a better play. That means that I add engines to the Japanese AI pool. I also slightly increase the production of certain types of AI planes. Japanese carrier bombers and Betties were increased significantly. And, I think I increased the Zero production by about 50. I also increase Japanese pilot replacements to 60 and 30 (army and navy, respectively).
I do this because in the stock games I've played, the AI breaks itself by about March 42.
Anyway, I have tried to play with Tom Hunter's method of air war. I put every allied fighter type into action. There aren't many US navy land based fighter groups, but I got what I had into action, so I could draw on the F4F pool. I put Wirraways into the fight. I got as many P-39's in there as well (they have the best allied USAAF replacement rates).
The AI had me very hard pressed up until the Brits started getting the newer Hurricane and the USAAF started getting the P-38G. Most of my groups were less than 50% full of planes. The P-39's would fall from the sky like leaves in the wind. Only the P40E, F4F and the Spitfires could actually get a 1-1 kill ratio. All other planes got creamed. However, the replacements of the P40E and Spitfires couldn't keep up with the losses. (100 zero's vs 25 P40E's would result in a month of rebuilding on my part, but it never lets up)
So, Here's my analysis. I have had a very fun game vs the AI. My air groups were getting to the full point by early 43. Once you get to the first production of the P-47, you can generally replace your losses across the board. (and, the AI has trashed it's front line units). It wasn't a cake walk for me, and by no means is the AI dead. It is producing better zeros, and they now do well vs anything except maybe the Corsair. In fact, I'm worried about what happens when the 3rd generation zeros come online. I bet they eat the Corsair, but can't confirm that yet.
Yes, I increased production. Yes, I increased Pilot replacements by double. But, I was playing the AI. It doesn't train it's pilots. When I got lucky and got a lot of kills, the AI would send the green replacements into battle the next day and I'd kill a bunch more. Eventually ,the AI will break it's skull vs your airpower. But, I have been thinking through my entire game that I would not be able to do much to stop Japanese air power if I were playing against a human. The AI only needed to rotate it's groups (it has a lot in backwater bases with 80+exp pilots.)
I really have a gut feeling that the Japanese planes perform better than the stock scenario. I also feel that there are just way too many replacements (take that with a grain of salt, as I increased production in my game) for Japanese planes.
I also feel that my example isn't a good enough to do anything with. You really need two players to play each other and switch sides and play again. Or have two players that have played each other a lot in the past and see what they determine.
bc
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