Need beta testers - SOPAC scen for AE ready!

[Fishbed]

Thorongil, from the French community, just finished his new SOPAC scenario for AE (May 1942-Feb 1943). It mixes different aspects from the current Nik's Guadalcanal scenario (thanks to him!), the older WitP version and even some stuff from the UV original scenario (including A-24s ): live and die in the South Pacific between May 1942 and February 1943, with the uncommon chance to use the complete Kido Butai in an all-out dash against the SOPAC area. Naval, land and air OOB were completely reworked, in order to provide the same kind of experience the old WitP classic used to provide.



We all know that was a long-awaited scenario, so here's Thorongil's take the thing. Please try to be merciful. He'd be happy to have some players trying it for game balance and debugging, anyone feels like trying?

You can download the first beta version here
http://cid-50004fd6cec612ae.skydrive.li ... chUpload=1

Feedback would be MUCH appreciated by the author.

Thanks in advance!

[packerpete]

Computer idiot alert!!!!!

I could not find the scenario and I am going to need instructions to load it[:(]

[chesmart]

Thanks Fishbed looks good, tell Thorongil thank you for the scenario.

@Packerpete

You have to have a windows live account and then click on each image to download.

[packerpete]

Thank you che200 but I do not want to sign up/pay for this service.

Fishbed: Can this eagerly anticipated scenario be posted on this site? I have 6, count them, 6 days off that the empire will soon, hopefully, regret!!!!

[Fishbed]

well I think the place can be accessed without a live account. Let me put it on mine.

I'll download it all and put it in folders to make the installation easier, gimme 5 minutes.

[chesmart]

Windows live is basically hot mail, its free.

[Fishbed]

Put it online in a zip with the good folders (ART stuff in ART, SCEN stuff in SCEN). I think it should work easier now. File is 1,26Mb, zip format.
You can download it here.

Download link

Here's the original SOPAC scen description Thorongil kept.

SOUTH PACIFIC (Hypothetical)

1 May 1942  -  28 Feb 1943

The Japanese initiate their drive into the South
Pacific, Operation "MO".

With the cooperation of the South Seas Army Detachment
and the Combined Fleet, the Japanese plan to occupy key
areas in Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby) and the Solomon
Islands (Tulagi and Guadalcanal). If successful, this
operation will allow the Japanese to establish new air
bases, possibly in French Polynesia, Fiji, or Samoa that
will strengthen their air operations in the South Pacific
area, threatening the lifeline between North America and
Australia.  Australia itself may well be at risk.

Allied intelligence has uncovered Japanese intentions,
and a major effort will be made in an attempt to thwart
the Japanese plans.



(Designer's Note: In this scenario, the Battle for Midway
is assumed not to occur. All ships historically lost in
that battle may become available in this scenario.
Production is 'off' for this scenario)

[packerpete]

che200: It may be free but when I noticed the words "fees" and "account balance", my suspicion antenna gets a little bit twichy. I will wait as long as it takes for Fishbed to work his majic.

Fishbed: Out of curiousity, how historically accurate was the original scenario? If I remember correctly, TF-16 with the Enterprise and Hornet enter the game 45 days after start, but historically they were present on 10 May east of Efate.

[packerpete]

post deleted.

[Fishbed]

Fishbed: Out of curiousity, how historically accurate was the original scenario? If I remember correctly, TF-16 with the Enterprise and Hornet enter the game 45 days after start, but historically they were present on 10 May east of Efate.

That should be the case, but the scenario is built after the WitP model, which was rather about balance than complete historicity: in 45 days two other carrier divs arrive, while the US won't achieve carrier parity before late july. Needless to say the Allied player is the underdog. But I think that Thorongil is completely opened to suggestions on that point: he did it so it could look like the former scenario, but if you think another kind of arrangement is needed for the reinforcements, this can be easily discussed.

[Fishbed]

ORIGINAL: packerpete

So you extract the files and drop them into there respective folder? Or just scenario 29 folder?

When you unzip the file, put the content of the SCEN folder in your own SCEN folder, and the same thing for your respective ART folders, et voila [:)]
Windows is also bright enough to merge them easily.

[packerpete]

Post deleted.

[packerpete]

I think it would at least be a very interesting variation of the Scenario. It is the first time in the war that the US showed up "The firstest with the mostest" and held the element of surprise. That being said, the US should in the beginning: have their fuel and tanker availability severly restricted, no LCU's with enough power to enable an early major offensive, and the allied player would have be very careful to husband the number of their carrier aircraft because trained pilots and aircraft are available.

[packerpete]

Post deleted.

[chesmart]

Where do i leave the feedback?

[Fishbed]

Packerpete -> some of the files go the your SCEN folder, some others to your ART folders - if you don't put the ART stuff where it belong, it may not show in the scenario list!

che2000 -> you can put it here [:)]

[chesmart]

He needs a new script as japan does not do land attacks that means the script he has is not working. There is to much supply for allies and fuel as well that means that there are no limitations. Data i am still looking at it but looks good.

[Andy Mac]

It looks like the AI file is just the old Guadalcanal one probably wont work for this scenario

[Andy Mac]

A tip to help any later AI builders is to group your units by geographic location especially LCU's and Air Groups.

e.g. have all the units you want the AI to use in say New Guinea in a certain range with reinforcemsnts lower in the list.

Same for air groups its a bit of a PITA now but it will save you days later when doing the AI file.

p.s. looks like an outstanding bit of work.

[packerpete]

First off I am computer stupid/afraid. My wife (not very computer smart either) gave me the idea to make it work.

Now that we know I am computer stupid and a fairly FNG to this game here is what I found.

1st test: I played computer versus computer to May 15 and found that virtually no ships left port. A couple of subs 4? left Truk and 2 CA/DD surface forces left Rabaul and tooled around Buna but that was about it. No ships of any description left Truk at all, No AK', AP's just subs.

For the US: convoy/supply ships were the only thing that moved. No CV's, CA's, or DD's. The was alot of air activity around PM and was shocked when the JAPS ran out of Zeros and bombers without me touching any settings at all.

2nd test: I took the US CV group all the way to TRUK with 50% SDB and TBD's on Naval search all the way to Truk and found nothing. I used a port attack on Truk and hit both carriers in port. Shokaku 7 times.[:D]