Exp from combat - where is it?

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Exp from combat - where is it?

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> Tech Support >> Exp from combat - where is it?

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Exp from combat - where is it? - 10/19/2010 2:19:49 AM

chuckj118

Posts: 110
Joined: 12/7/2007
From: SC, USA
Status: offline

I have started my first WitP AE PBEM game with a friend. I am noting some differences from the older version of WitP, however.

The most glaring difference seems to be experience gains from combat. We have had two significant multi-day combats around Australia and it doesn't appear that my pilots are learning anything.

For instance, in one combat 18 F4F's fought twice in one day with around 30 Zeroes from enemy carriers. At the end of the day 9 F4F's remained and I had pilot losses of 2 dead, 5 wounded. They were lucky enough to kill one zero. During this fiasco the only pilot to have a green exp gain was the one that shot down the zero. No one else gained any exp or boosts of any kind.

I would think that living through such an experience would gain them all a good deal of experience.

In another example 16 RAF P-40's fought it out with 23 Zeroes over Darwin. The first day they lost 4 planes to no kills of zeroes. 1 dead, 1 wounded. No visible gains.

Next day they lost five more planes but succeeded in downing 3 zeroes. Only those with kills gained exp.

The next day I added 50 USA P-40s and pulled the Brits out. Losses and exp gains continued as before.

This is repeating itself in other air combats around Australia. Am I missing something?

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Post #: 1

RE: Exp from combat - where is it? - 10/19/2010 3:22:40 AM

vonTirpitz

Posts: 511
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: Wilmington, NC
Status: offline

One of the ways I've heard it explained, Nalamin, is to think of pilot experience as an extension of an already properly trained combat pilot with varying degrees of combat experience (from none to a lot). So basically even a pilot with 35 xp will know how to shoot down your plane and get back to base without getting themselves killed.

A pilot with 70+ experience would generally reflect a pretty good pilot who has been flying (and surviving) combat missions for many months, if not years.

From my experience, pilot skills and experience take a significant amount of time to build up (i.e. months of game time) and I don't think the success or failure of a couple of days of intense combat will jump these numbers significantly as they are being weighed against fatigue and the expectation that your pilot may be shooting down planes but not actually learning much in the way of doing it better each time.

In game terms I can see how this tends to balance out extremes over time. (i.e. If you have a squadron of pilots shooting down bombers and/or transports for weeks at a time it won't necessarily translate to doing very well running up against capable enemy fighters for the first time).

quote:

ORIGINAL: Nalamin

I have started my first WitP AE PBEM game with a friend. I am noting some differences from the older version of WitP, however.

The most glaring difference seems to be experience gains from combat. We have had two significant multi-day combats around Australia and it doesn't appear that my pilots are learning anything.

For instance, in one combat 18 F4F's fought twice in one day with around 30 Zeroes from enemy carriers. At the end of the day 9 F4F's remained and I had pilot losses of 2 dead, 5 wounded. They were lucky enough to kill one zero. During this fiasco the only pilot to have a green exp gain was the one that shot down the zero. No one else gained any exp or boosts of any kind.

I would think that living through such an experience would gain them all a good deal of experience.

In another example 16 RAF P-40's fought it out with 23 Zeroes over Darwin. The first day they lost 4 planes to no kills of zeroes. 1 dead, 1 wounded. No visible gains.

Next day they lost five more planes but succeeded in downing 3 zeroes. Only those with kills gained exp.

The next day I added 50 USA P-40s and pulled the Brits out. Losses and exp gains continued as before.

This is repeating itself in other air combats around Australia. Am I missing something?

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(in reply to chuckj118)

Post #: 2

RE: Exp from combat - where is it? - 10/19/2010 11:56:59 AM

topeverest

Posts: 3376
Joined: 10/17/2007
From: Houston, TX - USA
Status: offline

Pilot experience / skill go up over time with training and/or executing specific skills in combat. 90 days of training - give or take - with the right mix of training pilots and methods should push out good pilots. Combat experience and skill awards - generally speaking - are small in nature and reflect the broad set of 'skills' a pilot needs in his / her particular field. Fighters will go up for kills, bombers for...etc. Dont expect pilots of any sub-type to go up just because they flew a mission.

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Andy M

(in reply to vonTirpitz)

Post #: 3

RE: Exp from combat - where is it? - 10/19/2010 1:25:59 PM

wdolson

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline

When pilots gain skills, you will see that stat in green the next turn. Pilots who have gained in the last week will have numbers in orange. Pilot skills accumulate more realistically in AE, so don't expect super aces in a short time. Training pilots at rear area bases will prepare them for combat and they will be less likely to get killed the first day on the job.

Allied skills are going to suck at the beginning, if you resist the urge to throw away unskilled pilots and train them right, by late 42 you will have a strong force with good skill levels. If your opponent is foolish enough not to set up a training program, you will eat his lunch over the long haul.

Bill

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WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer