I notice the Soviet Navy is scheduled to be included in CHS & RHS. A great idea in principle, but has any thought been given to how it will work out in practise?
Specifically:
1) If the AI is playing Allies, how do you stop it using the ships?
2) If the AI is playing Axis, how do you stop Japanese airgroups from targeting the ships in port?
Great question.
Since I am a test guy (originally an electronics technician, then a test technician, then a test engineer, then a field engineer, then a computer engineer, and finally an independent consulting engineer - before becoming an administrator of an electronics company) - I did test this - and now I have a file set running again (I converted it to 1.8)
I am testing again.
Answer: there is a problem if AI controls the Soviets. IF active, the Soviets are aggressive - wether or not Japan is. There is a WORSE problem EVEN IF the Soviets are Passive: the AI thinks Soviet Subs are active!!!! Aggressive buggers, they like to hang out within 5 hexes of the Tsushima Straits (near the bottom of Korea for you non-geographical types). Japan hunts them without mercy, but they do score - so we know the subs work!
Solution:
1) I am issuing scenarios in which the Soviets are passive or active. In the case of a passive Soviet scenario (which means it must be under AI control) - there are NO Soviet submarines (they are 9999 ed out if you speak editor). In the case of an active Soviet scenario, you are told the safe thing is to leave your ships disbanded in port. You get to work out how you deal with naval movement: you can move units and supplies to Magadan, the Komandorskies, the Kamchatka Penninsula, or over by the tip of Eastern Siberia (where there is a base under construction). You also can set planes to do things other than recon. But these are risky activities. Japan is also well advised to set planes near Russia on training or recon - but as in real life this is not actually required. Japanese planes do not seem to be half as aggressive as Soviet ones are - FYI. It probably is in the code: the code assumes if the Soviets are active they must fight (and Japan may activate them). It also assumes the Japanese probably are not fighting the Russians (which, since they can elect to do that, gives players total control).
