Opinion Wanted

War Plan Orange: Dreadnoughts in the Pacific 1922-1930, from the team that brought you War in the Pacific.

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btaft
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Opinion Wanted

Post by btaft »

I have recently purchased Uncommon Valor and am starting to get familiar with it. It appears as expected that the air power is just so dominant. I have been looking at War Plan Orange as a possible alternative. The parts that appeal to me is the apparent greater focus on surface operations than necessarily air ops. Air ops are still present but they are not so dominant to make the Dreadnoughts obsolete (as history has taught us). Is this how WPO plays. Does the lesser amount of air power also lead to more unknowns with regards to the location of the enemy? Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks,

Brett
Williamb
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RE: Opinion Wanted

Post by Williamb »

It is a different game in that litterally fleets can go undetected for great distances.

The planes lack of range and lack of large amounts of aircraft leave gaps in where the enemy is and isnt.

Can really get some surprize hits in if you plan well enough.
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Rysyonok
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RE: Opinion Wanted

Post by Rysyonok »

And only in WPO can you see a fleet of battleships sneaking on two carriers and sinking them without being detected even by a single aircraft... :p
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Cmdrcain
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RE: Opinion Wanted

Post by Cmdrcain »

Uncommon Valor was the precusor to WITP, UC
covers the South Pacific, WITP which uses same engine
covers entire area of Pacific in WW II.

So if you want a larger area of action , WW II period you would want to get WITP (war in the pacific)


WPO is based on WITP but its about a war after WW I but before WW II, the Plan Orange that USA had in event of a war with Japan in the 1920-30's
so little air power, no real Carrier power, the few there are are what Carriers were originally thought of being... by the surface minded navy... SCOUT
ships.. to scout out surface forces to engage.

So WPO is more of a land combat and surface fleet game, with fleets able get in close to land before spotted and instead of air poer as in WW Ii it would been surface fleet power.

WPO like WITP covers entire Pacific.

If like air combat, carriers and such you want WITP, if interested in big surface fleet battles, no real air power and armies slugging it out you want WPO.

Me I take em both...


WPO is really more like a WW I game where japans the enemy instead of on side of USA.

[:D]
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greg_slith
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RE: Opinion Wanted

Post by greg_slith »

If you've been playing WitP then the change in the power of a/c will be almost overwhelming. Seeing my planes stuggle to make it 2 hexes takes a major shift in thinking after watching those B-29's fly 27[&o] hexes! When I finally was able to get a/c in range the results were sobering... little bombs=little damage. The only effective anti-shipping a/c are the torp planes. I am not complaining at all... it's just completely different[:D]. I've managed to park the Langley off of Wake and VT-2 has damaged several AK/AP's. They did scout the island until my BB's showed up and slaughtered the merchies[:D]. The game moves so much faster than WitP since there is reletively fewer a/c to deal with. Can't wait for War Plan Black or War Plan Red[&o][&o][&o]
btaft
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RE: Opinion Wanted

Post by btaft »

I want to thank everyone for their feedback. I have only been playing UV for a little while and in that respect only a couple of the scenarios still getting my feet wet. I have the following observations:

1) Unless you have complete air supperiority you are not going to accomplish anything. This is due to the ability of the AC to essentially see everything. There is no surprise invasion or similar events

2) a BB is essentially an oversized destroyer and surface-surface battles are for the most part non-existent.

3) Any marginal advantage in CVs quickly turns into a game winning advantage due to the constant barage of AC (I have been on both sides of this)

4) In WPO it looks like you can have major surface battles, break off contact if you are losing and still be able to salvage the ship and repair it to fight another day. This seems to be a very rare occurance in UV

Perhaps these observations are due to the relatively small aread of UV compared to WITP and WPO. In other words there is a relatively high concentration of forces in a very regional portion of the pacific so nothing goes unseen for long. I guess with a larger theater there is more strategic license.

I have enjoyed playing UV, but it seems like whoever gets in the first major strike on a carrier force wins. Granted the two scenarios I have played have been relatively short (approx 2 weeks). Do things get more strategic in nature in longer campaigns?

Also another question. I am curious, do most typically play 7 day turns or 1 day turns or is it more a function of when in the campaign the action is. Any insite is appreciated.

Thanks,

Brett
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DuckofTindalos
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RE: Opinion Wanted

Post by DuckofTindalos »

1 day turn. ALWAYS 1 day turn. You lose the ability to control what's happening in the campaign with any other setting.
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greg_slith
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RE: Opinion Wanted

Post by greg_slith »

I agree, 1 day turns only! 12 hour turns would be nice[:'(]. In Witp the aircraft has a tremendous amount of power (just like real life). That being said, surface combats are possible, especially at night (again, just like real life) but come daylight lookout. See the battles off Guadalcanal: bloody night slugging matches followed by mad dashes out of the area. I think that the game does a pretty good job in this regard. It's not perfect, or even close[8|], but it's kept my interest for 2 years[&o]
btaft
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RE: Opinion Wanted

Post by btaft »

Well wish ne luck. I just purchased it and downloaded it today. I guess I have alot of reading to do
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Cmdrcain
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RE: Opinion Wanted

Post by Cmdrcain »

UV is about same game as WITP with only difference being that its limited to south pacific and also doesn't have some things that WITP has.

But UV and WITP, its air power thats big.

WPO is surface power as in the pre WW II era.

Plus in WPO you can surprise invade... the other side isn't as likely to spot a fleet until its about to invade... and land air if any just isn't more then "mosquitos"







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