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How do I start? - 9/19/2018 2:48:26 PM

kris279

Posts: 28
Joined: 9/19/2018
From: Austria
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Hello together, as a HOI/Decisive campaigns player, HOW do I start to "tacle" this monster of a game?

Any advice from seasoned players?Thank you!

Post #: 1

RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 2:54:08 PM

Lecivius

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From: Denver
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Start on a small scenario first. Coral Sea is a good one. And be patient, this game is HUGE compared to HOI

And ask questions. This forum is great to new players trying to get the hang of it.

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 2:54:55 PM

btd64

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Welcome to the forum. You want to start with the Coral Sea scenario. It has the fewest units and is just ships and aircraft on the allied side....GP

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 2:59:09 PM

kris279

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From: Austria
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Wow, that was fast! Thank you very much gentlemen.

Will follow the advice and start with coral sea....

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Post #: 4

RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 2:59:33 PM

Canoerebel

Posts: 21100
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Start by playing smaller scenarios against the AI.

The good news is this: If you're familiar with WWII Pacific Theater history, you start with a working knowledge of the strategic situation, OOB, and force capability. For instance, if you play the Guadalcanal scenario, you know the Japanese are typically the aggressors, that the two sides don't have certain aircraft carriers available, and that the Wildcat can hold its own against the Zero if the pilots are of good quality.

The second good news is this: This game is so immense that you'll be learning things about it years and even decades from now. I am, anyhow. It hasn't grown stale after all these years.

The bad news is this: The game is immense and sometimes a bit wonky, has elements that work counterintuitively (the Japanese air force can be the equal of the Allied air force in 1944 or later, for example) or requiring knowledge or applications you might not particularly enjoy (such as the click-fest of pilot training).

Truly, you can begin playing this game immediately. You may be a prodigy that masters it in weeks or months. More likely it will take a year or longer to really have a handle on everything. And there will always be the challenge of those expert players with years more experience than you have.

And read the AARs and the Forum, where you'll pick up hundreds and then thousands of little things important to game play.

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 3:03:18 PM

btd64

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quote:

ORIGINAL: kris279

Wow, that was fast! Thank you very much gentlemen.

Will follow the advice and start with coral sea....

We don't fool around here.

....GP

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 5:42:44 PM

rustysi

Posts: 7472
Joined: 2/21/2012
From: LI, NY
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What Canoerebel said!!!!

quote:

More likely it will take a year or longer to really have a handle on everything.

Pfft!!! Longer, much longer. Well for me anyway. Then again I'm one of those 'special' people. Ya, know... Better not say more, before I get in trouble.

Seriously though, its a great game if you're willing to commit. Let me see if I can put it in perspective. You ever have a significant other in your life that says you don't commit? Like that only to the n'th degree.

Play, restart, read, ask question. RTFM

, and such...

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 6:07:56 PM

Jorge_Stanbury

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smaller scenarios are usually hard.
I would just play the smallest scenarios a couple times to get a handle on the most basic aspects like TF management, setting air missions and land combat; Coral Sea for example, Aleutians is another good starting point.

I would then jump to a Japanese player grand campaign, but the key is to focus on one topic at a time and just for a few months. You can ignore all the economy and still be OK for 5 to 6 months, and you have all the advantage in these early months, overall you start with overwhelming superiority; you have the numbers and your troops will be very experienced fighting against 3rd rate enemies, moreover, Japan starts with several amphibious TFs already created/ on transit, you can let them go and see how the invasion turns out, focus on Malaya or Philippines, ignore the rest. Just play, make mistakes, restart once you are ready for the next lesson

< Message edited by Jorge_Stanbury -- 9/19/2018 6:16:19 PM >

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Post #: 8

RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 6:51:50 PM

Oldguard1970

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1. Unlike other games, you will never "master" WITP-AE. There is always more to learn! This frustrates some people, but it is what keeps the game alive for me.

2. The joy of the game is in the playing, not in winning the whole game. (Heck... the campaign game lasts so long I imagine few have really reached the end.) Each turn gives me a chance to add a bit more or a bit less to my sense that I am improving my situation.

3. The game will surprise you. (Why didn't that squadron do what I wanted it to do?) (How come some of my units did A instead of B?) I treat those situations as examples of real-world behavior of subordinates who did not understand or as examples of Murphy happily lousing things up. (Of course, I also check the forum to try to learn what I can do to improve my ability to control or to influence performance.)

As you can tell from the forum, this game is captivating. Have fun and welcome!

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 7:12:34 PM

m10bob

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You will never know everything about this game..You will learn really nice new things about this game every time you play it, either while "in- game", or from your new friends here in this forum.

I "started" this game maybe 10 times and never got more than a week into the first campaign I ever played, because every time I "started", I learned of all these great new things which I knew would help me as soon as I applied them in my "next" new start.

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Post #: 10

RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 7:19:07 PM

Lecivius

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury
I would then jump to a Japanese player grand campaign

Wow, talk about jumping into the deep end

Attachment (1)

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 7:34:27 PM

kris279

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From: Austria
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Thank you again guys. I never expected to receive so much feedback on one of this usual questions someone new would ask. Very active and more importantly, friendly, community.

Understood. And actually already anticipated. Start, try, do your first big mistake, check it out, have a look into the manual(is the printed version any good, still did not receive the hardcopy?), check forums, try again, rinse, repeat. I actually did that already a lot in my HOI games(2 mainly, sometimes 3, never could convince myself to actually start 4) and never reach "the end".

As this one here is a much, much , much bigger scale(even that HOI is trying to simulate a world conflict but at the end it is much smaller)I expect it will take me a while and then into retirement(^^) to be close to "master" it.
Still wonder about the genius that actually managed to program all this what we(at least me) try to understand.

I will follow your advice and see how far it brings me. But I assume micromanagement will be the final key(which is not really realistic but fine by me). Glad I decide to get this gem.

< Message edited by kris279 -- 9/19/2018 7:36:35 PM >

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Post #: 12

RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 7:51:28 PM

Lecivius

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And ask questions. As you have found out, there is a lot of enthusiasm for this game

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 7:54:21 PM

Lokasenna

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For the record, I started immediately with a full campaign.

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 8:10:34 PM

pws1225

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As did I. You can learn the game either way.

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 8:18:25 PM

HansBolter

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Oldguard1970

2. The joy of the game is in the playing, not in winning the whole game. (Heck... the campaign game lasts so long I imagine few have really reached the end.) Each turn gives me a chance to add a bit more or a bit less to my sense that I am improving my situation.

As you can tell from the forum, this game is captivating. Have fun and welcome!

Gereat point.

I started with this game engine in Uncommon Valor, progressed to WITP and then took up AE when it was released in '09.

I have played well over 20 games into late 42. I am currently playing the first game I ever made it to 44 in and am now in April of '45.

This one will go the distance and I will play it through to somehwere in '46 when it ends. Have no idea what end date is but can gues by when reinforcements run out.

It has taken me nine years to get a game played through to completion and I have never been bored with it.

Every now and then I stsrt a sencario in different game and after a few days I abandon it and come back to playing this.

Once you're hooked no other game will satisfy.

Welocme aboard.

< Message edited by HansBolter -- 9/19/2018 8:19:05 PM >

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 8:19:13 PM

btd64

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

For the record, I started immediately with a full campaign.

Yeah, me too. But I have a working knowledge of the PTO. That helped a lot....GP

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 8:21:03 PM

HansBolter

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quote:

ORIGINAL: btd64

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

For the record, I started immediately with a full campaign.

Yeah, me too. But I have a working knowledge of the PTO. That helped a lot....GP

Same here as well, but I had been playing UV and WITP prior to moving to this.

I've never played the smaller scenarios and would likely find the Coral Sea scenario lacking after having played Uncommon Valor.

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 8:22:44 PM

kris279

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

For the record, I started immediately with a full campaign.

Was actually thinking about it......

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Post #: 19

RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 8:32:09 PM

Lecivius

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quote:

ORIGINAL: kris279

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

For the record, I started immediately with a full campaign.

Was actually thinking about it......

If you are comfortable with the history of this time period, that may not be a bad idea. do bear in mind the first turn will be a bear

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 9:05:39 PM

rustysi

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quote:

You can ignore all the economy and still be OK for 5 to 6 months,

Here we go again, someone 'stealing' my thunder.

That's exactly what I did my first two or so games. When stuff started to run out I started over. Added a new facet every restart. Made it easier to take it all in. BTW, always the campaign game. Only played one scenario, and that was face-to-face with a friend. Don't think he's gonna get into the game.

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 9:11:58 PM

rustysi

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quote:

have a look into the manual(is the printed version any good, still did not receive the hardcopy?)

Yeah, and useful, but if you're like the rest of us here it'll fall apart pretty soon.

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 9:16:37 PM

rustysi

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quote:

It has taken me nine years to get a game played through to completion and I have never been bored with it.

I came late to the'show' for various reasons, so say around '12. Didn't get serious 'til about '14. So that's about six years. It takes me about one-and-one half days to complete a turn. So you do the math...

I should probably get there in about what? Twelve years.

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 9:19:23 PM

rustysi

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quote:

Every now and then I stsrt a sencario in different game and after a few days I abandon it and come back to playing this.

Once you're hooked no other game will satisfy.

Yeah, until the crash of '17.

My system crashed and I lost a lot of stuff. Fortunately I had a save on a 'stick' and only lost about a month. Hey, that reminds me, I need to do an offline again.

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 9:20:28 PM

rustysi

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quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

quote:

ORIGINAL: btd64

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

For the record, I started immediately with a full campaign.

Yeah, me too. But I have a working knowledge of the PTO. That helped a lot....GP

Same here as well, but I had been playing UV and WITP prior to moving to this.

I've never played the smaller scenarios and would likely find the Coral Sea scenario lacking after having played Uncommon Valor.

+1

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 9:23:38 PM

rustysi

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quote:

do bear in mind the first turn will be a bear

And a half. Add to that the more you understand about the game the worse it gets.

I dread the day when I start my next game. It will be PBEM however, so that's something to finally look forward to.

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 9:48:57 PM

dasboot1960

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Starting a Grand Campaign as IJ is a Brain Buster. I'd recommend Allies first because you have such limited resources the game moves faster and you get the basics down. IJ industry/production/R&D/AC training has been a real eye opener for me going first time as the Emperor. Plus all the 'little' questions. A working knowledge of history is a great help; beware of pre-conceived notions...

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RE: How do I start? - 9/19/2018 9:50:47 PM

kris279

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

quote:

ORIGINAL: kris279

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

For the record, I started immediately with a full campaign.

Was actually thinking about it......

If you are comfortable with the history of this time period, that may not be a bad idea. do bear in mind the first turn will be a bear

To be blunt honest. I am VERY comfortable with history in the Atlantic/European/Russian Theatre of this time being an Austrian and VERY interested in history in general but of this time in particular.

As the Japanese where not "really"(meaning that they had their own interests in that conflict and the germans - and vice versa - only where a convenince then a "real" ally) axis from german point of view, even tech exchange was tried for a bit(e.g. Fighters sent to Japan but really never got further) it never really succeeded.
Even the Pacific war always was interesting to read about(e.g. Coral Sea)it was never really a main interested of me. So, my understanding of the Pacific war is, nicely said, very basic. I know what each side did, how the other side countered, which battle was the turning point of the entire conflict, but that's it, basically.

So, I think I have to figure it out the "hard" way which actually is something I am looking forward to(e.g. not knowing if Japan will throw CV's at me at some specific battle is actually something that is good in my opinion - same goes for if I will meet BB Yamato or Musashi in any given area).
So, no, I do not know which fleet movements they did in which area of the war(which I know roughly for the german side at any time during the european part of that WW, but again, their fleet movements where very small compared to that ones in the Pacific - which is most likely the reason why I was always somehow fascinated about that part of the conflict). And of course me placing as a kid SSI's fantastic(but very basic) "War in the South Pacific" from 1986 on C64 if I rememeber it right. Bought that nicely carton box from a dealer in my hometown in the Alps(had it most likely in his shelf catching dust for ages^^) because I saw ships and fighers and a lot of action at the outside of that box.
After opening it up and playing it on my C64 it was a hard wakeup but I decided to push through and was all catched up a few hours later trying to push back the IJN. I think it all started there.

I guess I will try with "trial and error"(reading up now what exactly happened at which time feels almost like cheating on the AI for me).

< Message edited by kris279 -- 9/19/2018 10:01:38 PM >

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Post #: 28

RE: How do I start? - 9/20/2018 12:11:37 AM

Mike Solli

Posts: 15792
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

smaller scenarios are usually hard.
I would just play the smallest scenarios a couple times to get a handle on the most basic aspects like TF management, setting air missions and land combat; Coral Sea for example, Aleutians is another good starting point.

I would then jump to a Japanese player grand campaign, but the key is to focus on one topic at a time and just for a few months. You can ignore all the economy and still be OK for 5 to 6 months, and you have all the advantage in these early months, overall you start with overwhelming superiority; you have the numbers and your troops will be very experienced fighting against 3rd rate enemies, moreover, Japan starts with several amphibious TFs already created/ on transit, you can let them go and see how the invasion turns out, focus on Malaya or Philippines, ignore the rest. Just play, make mistakes, restart once you are ready for the next lesson

That's exactly what I did way back in 2004 with the original WitP. I was in a unique situation though. I had just deployed overseas when it came out. Actually, I was at the mob station and downloaded it over a phone line overnight.

I had no internet access with my laptop and this forum was blocked on my military computer. So, I had a year to learn it in isolation, but lots of free time in the evening. I probably spent a good 3-4 hours a day on it for a solid year. I'd start the grand campaign (I've still never opened a scenario), play a couple of weeks focusing on one aspect then restart and add another aspect. Fast forward a year later and I got on the forum, found an opponent (the same guy I'm playing now) and off we went. We restarted a couple times in WitP, then restarted in AE and restarted AE a couple of times because of patches and business from one or both of us. I'm sure we'll finally finish this one, probably in a couple of years.

< Message edited by Mike Solli -- 9/20/2018 12:17:49 AM >

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RE: How do I start? - 9/20/2018 12:15:16 AM

Mike Solli

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quote:

ORIGINAL: rustysi

quote:

do bear in mind the first turn will be a bear

And a half. Add to that the more you understand about the game the worse it gets.

I dread the day when I start my next game. It will be PBEM however, so that's something to finally look forward to.

As the Japanese, the first turn takes me about 100 hours to complete. Yep, it's a bear, but the best bear you'll ever come across.

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Post #: 30