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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Uncommon Valor - Campaign for the South Pacific >> Newbie Questions

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Newbie Questions - 6/6/2003 2:50:43 AM

Synjin

Posts: 46
Joined: 6/6/2003
Status: offline

Picked this game up about a week ago and I've already logged WAY too much playing time. I'm completely hooked. I've made a lot of mistakes, and run into a lot of problems, but most of them I've figured out on my own (like why I couldn't trasport an entire Base Force by C-47... **** radars). But I do have a few questions about things I've run into...

1.) Why is it when I tell a TF to "Patrol/Do Not Retire" on a Bombard mission, they go bombard that hex for 1 turn (1 day), switch to Surface Combat mission and then start sailing back to Noumea? Is there a way to get them to sit in that square for more than 1 round of bombardment? I'm trying to soften up Gili Gili a little bit before I send the troops in and it's a bit frustrating to keep telling that TF to return to Gili Gili for a bombardment every turn. No, none of the ships are damaged or even close to out of fuel/ammo.

2.) Something similar happens when I tell my carriers not to react to enemies, yet they still react. I am hoping to stay out of range of the massive 4+ IJN-CV task force just north of Shortland, but still be in striking range of Gili Gili and Rabaul, but my CV-TF keeps moving towards them, sending all of the planes they have at that IJN-TF and getting shredded by the 90-something zeros they have on CAP. And when I say shredded, I mean about 90% of my bombers get destroyed, with maybe only a hit or two against the IJN ships. Is there a way to make them stop going after the IJN carriers?

3.) Is it me, or are my sub chasers horribly inept? Their record is about 2-14 vs. IJN subs.

4.) Is it me or are the IJN torpedo bomber and dive bomber attacks a lot more accurate/effective than mine? And my CV's sink a LOT easier than the IJN ones. I hit the Zuikaku with 9 bombs and 2 torpedos... it still limped back to Truk. My Enterprise Hornet get hit with half of that and they both sink.

Post #: 1

- 6/6/2003 3:42:34 AM

Mr.Frag

Posts: 13410
Joined: 12/18/2002
From: Purgatory
Status: offline

We'll start with your simple questions first:

Take a look at the ship skill levels and you'll know why your SC's are absolutely useless when the game starts. They need some warmup work running around before they have a use.

As far as Computer vs You (CV's), I presume you are learning the lesson that the AI generally gets the best of you in CV encounters. Japan drops a lot more torpedoes then the USA based on the type of aircraft involved. While dive bombers hurt and do lots of damage, torpedoes are the bane of ships. Floatation damage sinks ships, not fires. Just for fun, you'll get exactly the reverse if you switch to Japan, where your CV's sink and theirs don't.

The great CV step feature where CV walks 1 hex per phase towards enemy CV can be disabled by telling your CV group to follow another group instead of having it by itself.

Bombardment missions automatically switch to surface TF's and scoot for home after delivering a round or so of ammo. The duration of their stay is based on the size of their guns. I too wish I could tell the turkeys to stay until they had no ammo at all left at times, but the wise commander always needs to be thinking of that surface group that he will run into on the way home. Think of sending a group of BB's in and they use all their ammo up. On the way out, they run into some CL's that can now close to 1000 feet and sink the BB's because the BB's have nothing left to shoot back with. Not a good situation to be in. If you want to live on the edge, place an agressive commander in charge of the task force, but being as you've only been at it as week, you probably haven't gotten that deep into the game yet.

(in reply to Synjin)

Post #: 2

Re: Newbie Questions - 6/6/2003 3:50:01 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Synjin
[B]Picked this game up about a week ago and I've already logged WAY too much playing time. I'm completely hooked. I've made a [/B][/QUOTE]

I'll attempt a few answers for you and hopefully get the more experienced members to fix my mistakes :)

1. retreating bombardment TF:
This is a feature not a bug :D The bombardment mission is a sprint in and out - by definition really. Because the game changes the tf to a surface version it also gives it the default settings of retire. Now I can't be sure if I have this right but if you happen to have a transport Tf in the harbour you are bombarding - the usual reason you want to have the big boys stay in the hex - you can set your bombardment TF to FOLLOW the transport tf and that way the surface TF will stay there after bombarding..... I think - read it but never tried it.

2. reacting air TF on no react:
Even on no react your air tf will react ONE hex. Not sure the exact reason but I think it is a range thing. His range is better than yours: 10 vs 9 so if you are at 10 range I think you try to react 1 closer. The moral of the story stay out of the 10 hex range area - or go the whole hog and get really close so the useless windindicators actually have a chance to get shot down rather than sunk!!

3. inept SC's:
At the beginning of the game they are targets. This is because of experience (and it goes for all ships and planes for that matter). If you look at the stats of your ships you will see night and day XP. Wrapped up with the commanders capabilities and the ships XP, within the phase of the attack (night vs day), will be your chance of attacking subs. As the most useful pointer make sure your SC has above 50% XP without it they wont attack! Once they get above 50% they actually become excellent sub killers! Being in an unsuccessful attack - sub hits you miss - will raise the XP of the rest of the ships; so 10 SC's loose 4 have 6 capable ones - they are almost throw away ships anyway.

4. IJN naval planes and damage:
In the early monthes the Japs have excellent planes and pilots - as we've discussed, the planes have better range and especially the Kate has awesome ship killing capabilities (however, their form of attack is almost suicidal so expect heavy losses - they will quickly loose effectiveness because of....). Experience - again - look at the average XP and individual pilot XP - it is high. This translates into effectiveness - they will hit more often. Train your bombers on soft targets - attack Jap undefended base hexes - their XP will rise and they will be better when it comes to CV hunting time.
As to damage - I think you got unlucky. In my experience it is the other way around - the Jap ships sink if you look at them funny and the allied ships are mnade of Titanium. Allied ships also have better damage control so fires are put out way faster. What may have worked against you is the Kates and their torps. The torps are the real big ship killers

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Post #: 3

On CV Reaction: - 6/6/2003 4:26:13 AM

Admiral DadMan

Posts: 3627
Joined: 2/22/2002
From: A Lion uses all its might to catch a Rabbit
Status: offline

Keep in mind, if your [I]opponent[/I] has his CV TF set to "React to Enemy", then [I]his[/I] CV TF will come charging at you, triggering the battle you wanted to avoid, as well as setting off the 1-step reaction for both...

The moral (as opposed to morale) of the story is, if you don't want to tango, stay the H.E.L.L. away from the dance floor!:D

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Scenario 127: "Scraps of Paper"
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CVB Langley:

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Post #: 4

- 6/6/2003 5:17:01 AM

Synjin

Posts: 46
Joined: 6/6/2003
Status: offline

Thanks for the help guys...

And yes, I've noticed that my pilots are not the most experienced in the world (though some of the Wildcat pilots aren't half bad).

Speaking of training up pilot experience by bombing undefended enemy hexes... which have you found to be a faster exp boost? Setting mission to "training" while in the rear (e.g. a new B-25 sqn that just arrived in Brisbane), or actually having them bomb some hex that is Japanese-owned, but empty of units?

(in reply to Synjin)

Post #: 5

- 6/6/2003 5:39:40 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

definately bombing!! if you can get it. training seems to stop being effective at about 70% The level your naval bombers start at anyway.

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Post #: 6

- 6/6/2003 6:49:54 AM

CapAndGown

Posts: 3206
Joined: 3/6/2001
From: Virginia, USA
Status: offline

Suggestions on how to handle bombardments and how to stop the one step feature of carriers are included in the FAQ on this forum.

(in reply to Synjin)

Post #: 7

- 6/6/2003 12:06:24 PM

Synjin

Posts: 46
Joined: 6/6/2003
Status: offline

OK... I actually hit the Zuikaku with the following...

turn 1: 3 bombs, on fire

turn 2: 1 bomb, on fire

turn 3: 1 torpedo, 19 bombs, on fire, heavy damage

5 turns later... it is STILL not sunk.

Meanwhile, my York and Lex are sunk with about 2-3 torps and 3-5 bombs.

I can understand that torps are more powerful, but seriously, I knocked the CRAP out of the Zuikaku and it's STILL not under water. 19 bombs in a single turn and it's not sunk?!

What gives?

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Post #: 8

- 6/6/2003 5:08:17 PM

AmiralLaurent

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline

Hi, Synjin,

so you too became an UV addict... I'm sorry but there is no possible cure. When you will be tired of the AI try PBEM, at least you will no more be able to play more than one turn at the time and so have some time for real life.

....

Regarding CV battles, a CV can take a lot of bombs and not sink.
In the example you gave, your pilots reported 23 bombs hits on an IJN CV. The real figure should be between 10 and 20. It's certainly enough to sink a CV but it may also have survived.

In a PBEM CV battle, I had Yorktown hit by 8 bombs. At the end of the day, it was only at SYS 20, FLT 0, FIR 10. Two days later, it was launching its Devastator against the PM invasion force, sinking a DD and a CA (before going south for repairs).

The best probability is that Zuikaku has sunk but your intelligence services have not confirmed it. Enemy sinkings may be confirmed up to two months after the real loss.

Especially against AI, a heavy damaged ship is likely to sink as they seem to try to reach their home base rather than going to the nearest big base to patch the damage before sailing back to Noumea/Truk.

However, I advice you to read the FAQ here :
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31024

Regarding bomber experience, I use training up to 70 % (US medium bombers start at 50-60 %) then I like better ASW and naval search than bombing empty enemy dots. Because 1) it will usually bring you under enemy range 2) there are less operationnal losses 3) the more planes you have on ASW and naval search, the better it is !

For CV battles, the follow option is a good mean to control your CV but if you don't want a CV battle don't sail less than 20 hexes of your opponent's CV TF. And if you want it, as USN, accept it only near your base and try to fight as close as possible. You need torpedoes to win a CV battle. Also a CV TF having bombed ground target for some day will be less efficient (because of planes unavailable and fatigue of units).

(in reply to Synjin)

Post #: 9

- 6/7/2003 10:26:11 AM

Synjin

Posts: 46
Joined: 6/6/2003
Status: offline

quote:

The best probability is that Zuikaku has sunk but your intelligence services have not confirmed it. Enemy sinkings may be confirmed up to two months after the real loss.

Interesting...

I solved the matter be reloading a saved game and scooting towards Shortland to catch some IJN AP's in harbor instead of engaging CV vs. CV. When the IJN turned to engage me up there, I got lucky and hit them all enough to set them ablaze and on the run... then spent two turns harrying the fleeing TF's, sinking the Soryu in the process. My 2 CVs weren't so damaged that I had to send them back to Pearl, so I enjoyed the two weeks or so that I had to raid all their shipping lanes. I've sunk well over 20 of their AP/AK/TKs now. Things are looking better now that I've taken over Gili Gili and Lunga.

...just not looking forward to when the IJN CV's are repaired and back in the fray along with the Akagi et. al.

Thanks again for the help... the FAQ was good stuff. I figure once I can beat the AI from both sides, then I'll try my hand at PBEM =)

Cheers,
--Synjin

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Post #: 10

- 6/7/2003 10:52:07 AM

Drex

Posts: 2524
Joined: 9/13/2000
From: Chico,california
Status: offline

PBEM will be a whole new experience. Victories will be sweeter but defeats will be a bottomless pit of gloom. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

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Post #: 11

- 6/7/2003 11:29:51 AM

BillBrown