New Rule for Surface Combat and Carriers

[Gregor_SSG]

ORIGINAL: freeboy

If I can get that close to the enemy, before radar.. is there a chance for night surface action? If yes do those wonderfull JAP ships with a ton of torpedoes get to use them, ships and torps? I always thought if you could afford a race with two or three surface groups against a known spotted enemy tf you could give an early war US player tough chioces, attack Jap Carrier or the closing surfase forces.

Yes, there is a chance for night surface action and Japanese torpedoes are significantly better than US torps. However, sightings decay at night, and since the CVs have presumably finished recovering planes by nightfall, or shortly thereafter, they're probably not hanging around where they last were, so it's not at all easy to bring them to action.

Gregor

[freeboy]

do you do anything for surface action, or does the program play out and show you the results? IE do we have choices?

[David Sandberg]

ORIGINAL: freeboy
do you do anything for surface action, or does the program play out and show you the results? IE do we have choices?

You did have decisions to make during surface action in the old versions of CAW (albeit relatively abstract ones), so I presume you still will in the new game. My recollection of the old game is that, from round to round of surface combat, you mainly chose which groups of ships in your TF to order to close range, hold range, or attempt a withdrawal. So, for example, if a carrier TF is attacked, you would certainly attempt to have the carriers retire, while possibly pushing forward your screening forces to cover said retirement.

One problem back then was that, mere minutes after such a battle ended because all of your ships had either retired or been sunk, a new surface battle with the same groups would kick off (I suppose because they were still within the same hex on the map). So you would get this repeating series of actions, probably with your screening forces more and more damaged each time until they could no longer protect the carriers. (It sure would be nice if that didn't happen anymore in the new game.)

[freeboy]

I remember playing microprose "Task Forse 1942" I think that ws the name.. really increaible for its day, had searchlights for night action plus flares smoke long lance torps etc.. too bad these games are not being revisited too.. ok, thanks ,, ssg products have always played well and have gone towards abstract /playability.. I am sure I will be happy..

? Can we adjust the difficulty levels to help the ai?

[FAdmiral]

ORIGINAL: alexs

Hi Guys,
   Heavy cruisers, battle cruisers and battleships are counted as capital ships for game purposes (and are eligable to screen carrier groups).
Light cruisers, light AA cruisers, destroyers, destroyer escorts and torpedo boats are considered minor ships for game purposes (and are not eligable to screen carrier groups).

Alex

Can I assume then that the minor ships would be classified as "ESCORTS" and
protect all the Carriers and capital ships as an outer limit barrier?

JIM