Air bal meaning?

[AirGriff]

I have read about "Air bal ####" in the pop up when you hold your cursor over a base, but I don't think I really understand what it means. When I read about it, I get the impression the number means something like how many friendly aircraft are within range of that base--higher the number the better. When I hold the cursor over a very distant target I still get a 3 digit number, and I'm pretty sure I don't have anything in range of that distant enemy base. Can anybody shed some light on this for me?

[donkey_roxor]

It's not "you" versus "enemy", it's "owner of base" versus the other side. So, for an enemy base, it's enemy air power versus yours.

[AirGriff]

Ok, but what exactly is the number telling you?

[Grotius]

A high (positive or negative) number means one or the other side has more air assets around there. A number close to zero means a relatively balanced situation.

As I understand it, it's as much for the AI as for players. I think AE is modifying or eliminating the air bal display.

[Yamato hugger]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

A high (positive or negative) number means one or the other side has more air assets around there. A number close to zero means a relatively balanced situation.

As I understand it, it's as much for the AI as for players. I think AE is modifying or eliminating the air bal display.

The air balance thing is as Grotius said. It shows who has a greater air threat over a given base. Its main purpose is for the AI.

As far as AE goes, currently its in there even more so than in WitP. You can see both sides air number over every hex on the map by hitting a hot key. This is there mainly for the AI and for the TF routing stuff. I believe the plan is to disable the hotkey before it goes gold, but the functionality will remain.

[Panther Bait]

As I understand it, it is also a little free intel for the Allied player at the moment.  Apparently, the air balance number the Japanese players sees are based on the previous turn's settings/deployments, but the air balance numbers the Allied player sees includes any changes that the Japanese player made during his turn (i.e. get recalculated when the Japanese player ends his turn).  I can't remember if AE "fixes" this or not.

[Yamato hugger]

Would be the same in AE with 1 big huge assumption:

Assuming the allies had flown recon on the base the Japs moved the planes to. The air numbers in AE are based on known enemy air units and some threat is generated by an airfield just being there even unoccupied.

2 things it does do that a player could use to his advantage is 1) You can find a previously spotted enemy CV force that you recently lost sight of, and 2 you can tell if your CV has been spotted.

In these screen-shots, the top one has the KB is withdrawing from the PH attack. I have PBYs at Midway and they are only 3 hexes away (the yellow circle based on the air numbers) yet I failed to sight.

In the bottom one, the Lex is #1 and the E is #2. The Lex launched attacks on the Wake landing forces so I know it was spotted, but look at the numbers around #2. This tells me the Jap has no idea they are there.

All of this is much to do about nothing though. This function I am 99% sure will be removed from the final product.

[AirGriff]

Wow, I didn't know you could check each hex.

What about the bases? I hold the cursor over a base close to the front lines and I usually get a 4 digit number, like 3247 or something. I hold it over a distant enemy base and it's usually something like 345. I have yet to see minus notations or anything with a dash. I'm playing BigB. Is that an issue?

[bradfordkay]

AirGriff, you can't check each hex in the present version of WITP, and the plan is to remove the hotkey function before AE is released. At present it is being used to debug the upcoming game, but should not be in the released version.
 
The number that appears over a base is the relative air strength for that base's owner. A large positive number means that he has a lot more aircraft that can project power over that base than can his enemy. I have regularly seen negative numbers in my games - this means that the owner of the base has fewer aircraft that can project power over that base than can his enemy.

[AirGriff]

So, the number is regarding the owner of the base--both players see the same thing?  I'll have to go back and check, but I think I held cursor over a nearby enemy base I'm sure does not have close by air assets and the number is positive and fairly big.  Shouldn't it be negative?  I have tons of air around.  Sorry to be such a bug, but I am very puzzled over this--can't believe I haven't been using it all this time.

[Yamato hugger]

What he said. You are talking about WitP - Im taking about AE.

Apples

Oranges.

ORIGINAL: AirGriff

So, the number is regarding the owner of the base--both players see the same thing? I'll have to go back and check, but I think I held cursor over a nearby enemy base I'm sure does not have close by air assets and the number is positive and fairly big. Shouldn't it be negative? I have tons of air around. Sorry to be such a bug, but I am very puzzled over this--can't believe I haven't been using it all this time.

As far as WitP goes if the number is positive its in your favor. If negative, its the enemies. Dont worry about them. I have played WitP for years, have known about this for years, and I dont bother with it. I know where enemy air power is, I dont need this to tell me.

Edit: It really isnt all that useful anyway. Doesnt make a distinction between types of planes. A mess of transports or a bonch of bombers. No idea which. Fighters or recon planes? Your guess.

[AirGriff]

Yes, I see it's of limited value as to specifics.  A neat little thing to look at, though.  Thanks for the clarification.