AE vs "basic" WiTP

[jallison86]

I'm sure this is covered somewhere here but a search didn't turn up anything. Feel free to point to an existing FAQ or post!

I've been a WitP owner and player for several years but have not taken the plunge into AE. I've tried some of the other Grigsby games, notably WitE, but I find myself coming back to the Pacific. Can anyone give me a breakdown of what's different between the "basic" WitP and AE? As a WitP player can you dive in and pick up the differences as you go or is it like learning a new game?

Thanks.

- Jeff

[pontiouspilot]

Have you ever driven, or been unfortunate enough to have owned a Lada?....and then to own a new Cadillac XTS? They both have engines and tires, they both have windshield wipers but the comparison ends at about that point. You will know everything you want to know about the Lada in 2 hours whereas you will learn neat new thing about the stereo on the caddy years later. I played WitP when it was 1st out and would go without playing rather than go back.

Do they even made that hideous wreck called Lada any more?

[Alfred]

Far too many changes so there has never been a detailed list posted.
 
You can read this thread to get a feel for the changes but it only scratches the surface.
 
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2684904&mpage=1&key=classical%2CWITP&#2684922
 
In AE there are very significant changes in areas such as:
 

• naval movement - waypoints exist in AE to name one of the big changes
• no area delegation - you can't delegate any theatre to the AI
• limited minefields - limited mine production but minefield tenders to maintain them indefinitely
• mini subs
• ship repair completely rewritten - look up my "Ship Repair 101 Guide"
• rearming ships
• ship withdrawal
• sub transport
• new types of industry
• more aircraft models - Allied blimps are included
• manoeuvre bands for fighter aircraft
• availability of torpedoes for aircraft
• offensive air operations based on raid concept
• pilot training - much more detailed
• LCU movement
• ZOC
• HQs

The above is not an exhaustive list.  In short the opportunity to micromanage is much greater in AE.
 
Alfred

[wdolson]

Back when we were play testing AE someone was comparing WitP to AE playing turns side by side to make sure the AI wasn't worse. He kind of described the difference as WitP was sort of like a cartoon and AE was like the a live action version of the same movie (I'm paraphrasing). If you know WitP, it helps with the learning curve. A lot of the basics are pretty much the same, but everything has more features and more controls.

Bill

[jallison86]

Thanks for the input. I think I need to take the plunge

- Jeff

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: jallison86

Thanks for the input. I think I need to take the plunge

- Jeff

As an original WitP player, I can still recall the feeling from the very first time I loaded up AE. OMG. The complexity of the game itself can be intimidating since it's an order of magnitude greater, but especially for those converting over from the old game - the beauty of the map and the extra detail everywhere - well, ya can't go back after seeing that!

[jmalter]

And that michaelm fellow did tons of work improving AE w/ his unofficial beta updates, see post #2 in this thread:
tm.asp?m=3185062
which I gather his stuff is now included in the latest official update to AE. Buncha' tweaks, & bulk interface improvements.

jallison86 > I dig your Commissar avatar, I prob'ly created him in my former incarnation as countermanCX.

[Treetop64]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot
Do they even made that hideous wreck called Lada any more?

Yes new ones are being made, but now only with badly needed foreign intervention.