War in the Pacific - Admiral's Edition

[AngusJS]

Reading John Toland's The Rising Sun has sparked my interest in this title.

Does anyone have any experience with this game? How is the AI? Is there an active PBEM community?

Thanks

[TheSatyr]

All I can say is that I've had that game for over 3 months and I still can't figure it out...lol

[Herman]

The WiTP AE forum over at Matrix is extremely busy. It may be the single-most busiest area there. The folks are generally very helpful (with the odd curmudgeon thrown in ;)).

The AI isn't too bad, but the real challenge is from the PBEM games.

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tt.asp?forumid=528

[Takeda Shingen]

Been playing it for awhile now. The AI is pretty good, but it will stray from history. Playing the US side, for example, I had Pear Harbor bombed repeatedly for the better part of a week. In terms of gameplay, it is deffinitely a micromanagement game. It takes a long time to play, and you are going to have to keep a journal of what you do and when to keep it straight. Otherwise, you're not going to be able to keep the countless number of convoys that you will assemble straght, let alone your military assets and operations. And it is pretty decent in terms of overall realism; playing the US side, you're going to be on the defensive for awhile, and will start the game by getting the snot kicked out of you.

In short, it is a game for the most patient among us.

[Egan]

Probably the finest game of its type available. I just finished my first full campaign about a week ago as the Allies versus IJN AI and it was a blast.

There are some things to keep in mind. Although there are a number of smaller scenarios now, available both with the game and for download, the real meat is the full campaign. I started in March/April last year and just finished. I might not have played it every day but I think you can safely say you are looking at at least six months for an AI game if you are playing with one day turns on and playing several turns a day.

I would agree with Takeda with regards to the AI but would add that the more ahistorical you play it, the more ahistorical the AI is likely to act. It doesn't always do brilliantly when it has to "think" out of the box but, even given that, it's still a good opponent.

The game mechanics reward players who actually prepare and form a plan of action, both short term and long term. In fact having a plan is pretty essential, be it training troops to land at an atoll or simply organizing supply convoys to go where you need them too. In my campaign I decided early on to go through the DEI in order to deny Japan access to oil and gain ports and airbases for my eventual assault on the Philippines. This meant I was always working towards certain short term goals: Securing Darwin, building up several other bases in order to provide air cover for convoys, making sure that there was always enough supply moving into the ports I loaded the convoys into. Later on it became a question of troop training and recon before the assault on Koepang...from that point on it started getting complicated..:)

I never found the game as complex as others have claimed. yes, there is an awful lot to remember but the basics are pretty easy to master. Once you get a few months into a campaign a lot of stuff becomes almost second nature. Of course, mastering the system is a whole different thing.

There are 'features' of the game I am not a fan of: Pilot training is brutally boring and fiddly but is essential of you wish to gain air superiority, and - a personal bugbear of mine, Japan's late war ASW skills are quite simply too good. I got to March 44 and it was like someone throwing a switch. Seriously, I had lost 15 US boats during the entire war up until that point and afterwards - wow. I think the worst I had was 6 lost on the same day.....

There are a couple of other niggles here and there but nothing that really detracts too much from the game. Land combat isn't brilliant but does the job well enough. All the little problems with the game are pretty much forgotten the first time your carrier fleet goes up against the Kido Butai ....man, Thats a rush better than any FPS I've ever played. My midway moment was north east of Hollandia in '43. I sunk 4 of the IJN carriers over two days without losing any myself. Good stuff.

I would recommend you go over to Matrix and read through some of the AAR's. In particular I would read the two AARs by Canoerebel (His current AAR against Q-ball is great but looks like it may be stalling. His previous entry against Miller is worth looking at.) If you have the time I would also take the time to relax in the deep and penetrating analysis of WW2(b) that can be found in Cap Mandrake's classic 'Bring me the head of Diego Garcia....and the mayor of Addu Atoll too!'. It's the closest I've ever seen to pure genius in a military games forum and I cannot wait for it to be green lighted as a movie!

Hope this helps.

[Arclight]

Ah right, SimHQ review: http://www.simhq.com/_naval/naval_037a.html

[Zad Fnark]

Hi,

First time poster. I was prompted to join here after picking up SH4. Being a WITP player made me interested in this sim. (S-Boats forever!)

Andy Mac, who developed the scripting for WITP-AE, created a rather active Japanese AI opponent. It's probably a bit more far reaching at times than in real life, but then if all the trains ran on time, what fun would that be? The better players can deal with the AI fairly quickly, but to someone starting out with the series, it can keep you busy. The Allies just have to little to stop the steamroller. I thought I could make a stand at Rangoon, but paid heavily for that choice.

Despite having the whole series going back to Uncommon Valor back around 2002, I'm only on my second PBEM game. My other one is in UV against my long-resisting brother, who's hooked now. My opponent ran an aggressive strategy against the Philippines, and two weeks in, I'm down to Manila, Bataan and Clark AB. Of course, he isn't moving much in Malaya.

Most people, given the chance, evacuate Task Force Z at the start, if possible. My only gripe in the game is that if you use the Historical start, (basically 1st turn on autopilot), TF-Z gets hit by Netties at sea on Dec 7. Historically, they were at Singapore. It was a miracle that his aircraft failed to spot my ships at the start. Being slightly slavish to history, I sent them on Dec 8 to Khota Baru to resist the landings. Repulse got beat up, but survived, PoW was untouched, and Haruna went down.

Small moral victory. The downside was that only two BBs survived Pearl Harbor, and they'll be laid up for at least a year.

It's an excellent game with a whole theatre at your fingertips. At Matrix, there are plenty of good after action reports. The two by Canoerebel are the ones I follow closely. Like my PBEM game, his use Scenario 2, which assumes a better prepared Japanese situation before the war starts. It's a bit harder to attrit their pilots than in the more historical Scen 1.

Sorry for rambling,

ZF-

[Egan]

Welcome, Zad! :salute:

Against the Ai I lucked out with the PH strike. I didn't lose a single BB, although I lost a lot of other ships. In my game, Force Z went on to become a 'pirate' fleet and put a severe dent in the IJN at the start of the war before I they headed out to join up with the USN.

My warship losses during the whole campaign were, in actual fact, light; I never really played that cautiously but only lost a handful of capital ships and not one of my heavy carriers, although several of them ended up in dry dock for substantial periods of time.

[Zad Fnark]

Thanks!

My opponent and I are up through Dec 21, 1941.

He seems to be taking a slow methodical approach. Besides the Philippines, he's now on the British part of Borneo. He seems to be going out of his way to land troops on some of the islands between Borneo and the PI. I don't know what the rush is there. In addition, he's made three landings along the Chinese coast.

In the meantime, I'm building up fortress Java. I'm putting the Aussie infantry division jigsaw puzzles together, and have the two units in Singapore enroute to Moresby.

It is a big game, but after turn 1, it's very managable. (China's still ugly, though.)

ZF-

[Egan]

Thanks!
It is a big game, but after turn 1, it's very managable. (China's still ugly, though.)

ZF-

Yes, I agree entirely. It's famous complexity is relative and quite manageable. I frequently see people commenting on the hours they spend on each turn but I find that I cope perfectly well with a fraction of that time. Every so often I'll spend longer because there is something I need to do but if you are checking pilot training or every one of your subs every turn it's not a game you need...:DL

China sucks big time, this is very true.

[Happy Times]

Got the game and got hooked.:D

Tooks a few days to get a hold of it all but now ive started my first GC game as Japan.

Im still reading the manual and the forums every day but im confident enough to start a PBEM game also.

So any volunteers to play as the Allies?

At first it would probably be of slower pace but im sure it will pick up soon as i get exprience more of the game mechanics.
I dont mind personally how long it takes to finish..

I allways prefer the most historical game settings possible and im open to discussion about what those should be.

[Egan]

Got the game and got hooked.:D

Tooks a few days to get a hold of it all but now ive started my first GC game as Japan.

Im still reading the manual and the forums every day but im confident enough to start a PBEM game also.

So any volunteers to play as the Allies?

At first it would probably be of slower pace but im sure it will pick up soon as i get exprience more of the game mechanics.
I dont mind personally how long it takes to finish..

I allways prefer the most historical game settings possible and im open to discussion about what those should be.

I'd love to take you up on that but I don't really have the time just now. It eats your life. I'm clearing space for CMBN coming out next month as well.

Tell me, are you using Tracker? a lot of people swear by it if they're playing as Japan. It's not really needed for the allies and I could never get it to work anyway.

[Happy Times]

I'd love to take you up on that but I don't really have the time just now. It eats your life. I'm clearing space for CMBN coming out next month as well.

Tell me, are you using Tracker? a lot of people swear by it if they're playing as Japan. It's not really needed for the allies and I could never get it to work anyway.

Shame, lets hope someone else takes up on the offer.:)

No im not, ive just eyed it a bit and see that it could be a useful tool.
Havent had the time to really get in to it yet.

[Slyguy3129]

*Gulp* Ever had that feeling you bit off more than you can chew? That's me right about now. Just purchase WitPAE and I need serious help, looked over the manual but honestly couldn't make heads or tails of it. Are there any video tutorials or anything in that regard, as there is no tutorial in game.

I think I can really love this game, I just need I big big big push in the right direction.

[Torplexed]

*Gulp* Ever had that feeling you bit off more than you can chew? That's me right about now. Just purchase WitPAE and I need serious help, looked over the manual but honestly couldn't make heads or tails of it. Are there any video tutorials or anything in that regard, as there is no tutorial in game.

I think I can really love this game, I just need I big big big push in the right direction.

It is indeed a monster of a game. There is a on-going newbie thread on the WitpAE forum that may help some. I don't know of any video tutorials.

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2580654

I'd definitely start with the small scenarios like Coral Sea.

[Happy Times]

*Gulp* Ever had that feeling you bit off more than you can chew? That's me right about now. Just purchase WitPAE and I need serious help, looked over the manual but honestly couldn't make heads or tails of it. Are there any video tutorials or anything in that regard, as there is no tutorial in game.

I think I can really love this game, I just need I big big big push in the right direction.

Useful Info for Beginners
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2576157

Video tutorials
http://sites.google.com/site/n01487477/Home

[Slyguy3129]

Yea I started out with the GC, bad idea. After fooling around a bit I kind of get some of the info on the screens but more importantly I can issue commands!

I am currently playing BotCS as USA to see what I can do then I play as Japan.

Thanks for the tips. Of course I set Sub Ops to player control :D

[Egan]

*Gulp* Ever had that feeling you bit off more than you can chew? That's me right about now. Just purchase WitPAE and I need serious help, looked over the manual but honestly couldn't make heads or tails of it. Are there any video tutorials or anything in that regard, as there is no tutorial in game.

I think I can really love this game, I just need I big big big push in the right direction.

It'll seem overwhelming to start with, and no matter how many times you play one of the smaller scenarios, the first time you kick up a GC with a dec 7th start you will feel swamped. That's just the way it is.

Things will become second nature, though, I promise. It never really gets any less than full on but it will get easier. If you have any questions please feel free to ask one of us. I'm certainly no expert but have a bit of experience with it under my belt now, and the forums over at Matrix games are invaluable. Go over there and read Sardukar's beginner guide AAR, even if you are not playing as the allies there will be stuff in it that will be useful to you. read lots of AAR's: There is a lot of information buried in them. They are, for the most part, a good crowd over there and will be willing to help.

My own personal check list for playing the allies is: Keep up with pilot training. Work out a decent convoy system. Get the carriers. Get the carriers. Get the carriers. :DL

[Slyguy3129]

Hmmm well BotCS didn't work out to well the Lex got heavy damage and so did the York but I hit thier CVs early or so I thought

[Slyguy3129]

Whew I know Wildcats are heavy slow maneuvering planes but man those A6 Zeros ate my lunch. Restarted the Scenario and I might be doing a bit better, didn't lose any CVs on the 5th so lol. I can see how this game is additive!

[Slyguy3129]

I've been watching and re watching the Search Patrols video trying to figure out what he is saying. I can't tell what button on the keyboard allows you to see the patrol zone for the Naval Search mission he assigns. Something like the zip-pup on your keyboard?

Anyone know?

[Torplexed]

I've been watching and re watching the Search Patrols video trying to figure out what he is saying. I can't tell what button on the keyboard allows you to see the patrol zone for the Naval Search mission he assigns. Something like the zip-pup on your keyboard?

Anyone know?

I'm pretty sure it's the "z" key that allows you to see the aerial search arcs.

[Slyguy3129]

Just had what I would consider my first successful go of it. It's the 8th in the BotCS and I have devastated the invasion fleet without out any damage to my CVs. I'm going to loiter around MO and look for the CVs but stricly defensively.

Man I can taste blood in the water. I might try full GC after this.

[Torplexed]

Just had what I would consider my first successful go of it. It's the 8th in the BotCS and I have devastated the invasion fleet without out any damage to my CVs. I'm going to loiter around MO and look for the CVs but stricly defensively.

Man I can taste blood in the water. I might try full GC after this.

The secret to winning the Coral Sea scenario is to cripple the Japanese invasion fleet so they won't have enough troops to take Port Moresby. However, once that is done your best option is to duck the Japanese carrier fleet. Any even contest between US and Japanese carriers in 1942 in this game invariably tends to go poorly for the USN. They sometimes still go poorly even when the US has more.

[Slyguy3129]

Yea I just leaned that the hard way. Didn't help they outnumbered me like 5:1 in carriers.

They corned me (my fault) near MO and just rattled me. Yorktown is practically dead in the water and the Lex is banged up and needs to head back to port. Going to give it another turn or two just to see what happens then I'm going for broke in the GC, I can pull myself away from it.

Any way to actually attack the bombers incoming? I've been outnumbered 32:7 in fighters but still managed to get into attack range. I must not understand something because I thought those Devs and Dau were going to get picked off.

Oddly enough it looks like the IJN is pulling back! I only scored a few hits on one of their CVs maybe I got lucky and broke contact. If so man did fate smile down on me lol.

Well it appears the Yorktown is cursed I know she went down at Miday but thought she just might make it till then, apparently shallower to much water.

Oh well that was fun now I'm going to try my hand as the Japs in a GC.

[Slyguy3129]

Hmmmm as much as I would love to get into this game there just seems way to much to do.

Damn I should have known better to purchase an $80 game.

I don't know the first thing I need to get started as the Japanese. If I transport material from point A to B and C is connected via land will it transport material by itself or would I need to tell it to do so?

What about updating aircraft? Do I need to load the new aircraft on my CVs? For that matter how do I do that?

So many question so much information so many clicks, so much to try and remember.

This game desperately needs amdevote this to AI feature ala HOI3 so you can learn to understand it a piece at a time. I mean setting the altitude of attack for an X amount of aircraft? Jesus it's micro he'll or heaven depending on how you look at it.

I'm sure this game is awesome but I don't know if I have enough time in a lifetime to sit down and full comprehend every little detail. I feel comfortable with the BotCS scenario, maybe I should try the Gadalacanal Scen and see if I can learn something else.

[Raptor1]

Hmmmm as much as I would love to get into this game there just seems way to much to do.

Damn I should have known better to purchase an $80 game.

I don't know the first thing I need to get started as the Japanese. If I transport material from point A to B and C is connected via land will it transport material by itself or would I need to tell it to do so?

What about updating aircraft? Do I need to load the new aircraft on my CVs? For that matter how do I do that?

So many question so much information so many clicks, so much to try and remember.

This game desperately needs amdevote this to AI feature ala HOI3 so you can learn to understand it a piece at a time. I mean setting the altitude of attack for an X amount of aircraft? Jesus it's micro he'll or heaven depending on how you look at it.

I'm sure this game is awesome but I don't know if I have enough time in a lifetime to sit down and full comprehend every little detail. I feel comfortable with the BotCS scenario, maybe I should try the Gadalacanal Scen and see if I can learn something else.

Try The Thousand-Mile War scenario, it lets you perform some larger operations but doesn't have the massive unit count of the Guadalcanal campaign.

[Slyguy3129]

I'll give that a shot. I honestly do not think I have ever played a game that had so much detail to it. It looks like it would be a very rewarding experience to get into it's just so massive in scale. And I thought HOI3 was overwhelming at times :D.

I wish there were a way to literally take the game apart and learn it on at a time, rather thN having to learn a scenario.

I'm going to keep trying, just for the sake of getting my moneys worth but man it might be a month before I'm able to learn all that I need just to play it correctly.

[Egan]

There are a number of smaller scenarios that I think got added to the game in one of the more recent patches. They are available over at the Matrix boards too.

Playing a GC as Japan is probably not the easiest thing to do first time out. The industry management adds a huge extra burden. If you mean to do it, get WiTPtracker from the matrix site to help you. It's pretty much indispensable.

My best advice for the GC is to play as allies first time out. It will enable you to learn a lot of useful lessons about logistics, upgrades, defence and attack without the extra stuff the Japanese game throws at you.

Nothing is undoable in it; everything is a question of priorities

This ain't HOI3..:rotfl2:

[Torplexed]

This ain't HOI3..:rotfl2:

Yeah...I always thought it should be called "Quartermaster of the Pacific" as so much of your time is devoted to shuttling supplies, troops and resources. :D

I'd definitely read a few AARS to get a feel for all you should consider before starting a GC.

[Slyguy3129]

Hmm maybe I will try an allied GC what all does Quiet China do?

I am more familiar with American equipment so that should take a huge load off and maybe they don't have near as many units to try and move about right off the bat. That and China, good God, so many units so stretched out. Whew.

[Egan]

Yeah...I always thought it should be called "Quartermaster of the Pacific" as so much of your time is devoted to shuttling supplies, troops and resources. :D

I'd definitely read a few AARS to get a feel for all you should consider before starting a GC.

Lol...It certainly feels like a logistic simulator at time - with the occasional battle thrown in.

Slyguy: Quiet China should make life there a little bit easier on that front. I haven't played it so I'm not positive of the effects but I think the IJA AI is a little bit more forgiving. I don't think you will get strategic bombing, for example, and From what I remember reading the AI will only respond to things you do rather than launch their own offensives, but I might well be wrong about that.

[Slyguy3129]

Well the allied GC looks a lot more easier to handle. Though I'm a bit nervous about the 1 CV.

Does that mean I can leave China alone? I pretty much plan to as that is just to much to micro manage. The Brits will have to fend for themselves as well I guess the best way to learn is take a GC a step at a time. For this one I'm going to get familiar with what I need to do as the States and how to fight a defensive front for most of the war. While occasionally diving into something else.

I guess overall that's going to be the best way for me to learn.

[Torplexed]

Well the allied GC looks a lot more easier to handle. Though I'm a bit nervous about the 1 CV.



But you have three CVs to start. Enterprise & Lexington near Hawaii and Saratoga in San Diego.

However, I'd keep them well away from trouble in the first few weeks.

[Slyguy3129]

Huh must have missed them. Right now I'm in the process of trying to evac the Luzon. Every time I think I've got it all planing done for the turn I remember something else I need to do. Guess it's kinda gamey to know where about the invasions are coming from but I doubt there is much I can do.

I know mk14 torps suck off the bat so it's a good thing a favor the Sboats anyways lol. I'm sending every fleet boat in Manilla out to try and interdict the blasted unstoppable invasion with the hope of getting lucky enough to slow down the advance so I can evac.nbut that looks grim.

Hopefully all the other turns in game won't take near as long still working on my first turn! I'm afriad to hit end for fear I have forgotten something.

[Slyguy3129]

Well I played till the 11th and so far it does seem easier.

I've got 4 BBs that will be in dry dock for about 3 months so not to terrible.

Found the Lex and Enter closer to Wake and sent them to intercept the invasion. Had I arrived on station 24 hrs earlier I believe I could have stopped it. But that overran it, only after I desimated the fleet. Sank 2 of the troop ships and serverly damaged the rest. Now they are on a long looping course south to avoid the Pearl Harbor attack fleet. I've got a few Catilinas keeping an eye on it and it looks like I will pull it off. Send them back to PH for some trainning and I think I'll retake Wake sometime in January so I can have a closer sub base. It appears my subs out of PH want reach Japan and back without running out of fuel, and well I'm going to heavily use my subs.

[Happy Times]

I guess i have to go find an PBEM opponent on their forums, i hoped to find someone i "know" from here.:-?

[Egan]

I guess i have to go find an PBEM opponent on their forums, i hoped to find someone i "know" from here.:-?

You know, a pair of big puppy eyes and I would have probably said yes.:)...I'm wavering.....Got lots I really need to do in real life................got Dragon Age Awakenings coming too with CMBN preordered.....

Weakening...........

Ok, drop me a PM mate and we'll see if we can get something going. Can't promise a huge glut of turns but we'll have a chat about house rules and stuff and see what's what. We'd need to make sure both versions are patched the same as well, I guess. There are so many beta patches just now it's difficult to keep track.

I'd be happy taking the Allies if you were still wanting to play Japan. I can't get tracker to work on my system so would rather not have to deal with their economy. My incompetence should even up any late game advantage.

BTW, are you using the name Greyjoy over at Matrix?

[Happy Times]

You know, a pair of big puppy eyes and I would have probably said yes.:)...I'm wavering.....Got lots I really need to do in real life................got Dragon Age Awakenings coming too with CMBN preordered.....

Weakening...........

Ok, drop me a PM mate and we'll see if we can get something going. Can't promise a huge glut of turns but we'll have a chat about house rules and stuff and see what's what. We'd need to make sure both versions are patched the same as well, I guess. There are so many beta patches just now it's difficult to keep track.

I'd be happy taking the Allies if you were still wanting to play Japan. I can't get tracker to work on my system so would rather not have to deal with their economy. My incompetence should even up any late game advantage.

BTW, are you using the name Greyjoy over at Matrix?

PM sent.:salute:

[Egan]

Hopefully battle will soon be joined!

[Slyguy3129]

Might I request an AAR? Just for kicks and giggles, might help me learn ambit to as ultimately I would like to join a fellow Admiral in battle. Nothing fancy of course just a quick this and that happened and someone kicked butt and chewed bubblegum for of thing.

[Happy Times]

Might I request an AAR? Just for kicks and giggles, might help me learn ambit to as ultimately I would like to join a fellow Admiral in battle. Nothing fancy of course just a quick this and that happened and someone kicked butt and chewed bubblegum for of thing.

I wont promise but did think about it also.
If Egan wants to do one he can trust i wont use it for intelligence.:salute:

[Egan]

Lol..well...I was toying with the idea and was planning to post it across at Matrix, but I guess I could think about one for here instead. Probably wouldn't be day to day, or even updated daily, but I'd try to put down the major events and my thought processes.

We'll see. :hmmm:

[Happy Times]

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/782/350akagi001.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/350akagi001.jpg/)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUdKEaTLl_c

:salute:

[Happy Times]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/TanakaMemorial1.jpg

In order to take over the world, you need to take over China;
In order to take over China, you need to take over Manchuria and Mongolia.
If we succeed in conquering China, the rest of the Asiatic countries and the South Sea countries will fear us and surrender to us.
Then the world will realize that Eastern Asia is ours





Tensions between the Greater Japanese Empire and the ABCD encirclers have grown strong and all options are now open, even military ones..