Is it wise to set all facilities to expand at start?

[Scotters1]

Just wondering. I plan on playing as the allies.

[Tophat1815]

 As the Allies? Australia may well be a problem,the USA proper you'll be fine. All the little dots scattered all over creation in need of engineers,baseforces and supplies let me know how it works for you. As the Japanese setting all to expand is probably suicidal.

[Scotters1]

So you mean that I would be low on resources in Australia, and the many small bases scattered throughout the Pacific would not expand until they had the right amount of supplies, engineers, etc?

[USSAmerica]

Correct, Scotters.

Setting all to Expand at start is the same as going to every individual base, one at a time, and clicking Expand Port, Expand Airfield, Build Fortifications.  If you turn these on at any base where there are no engineers, absolutely nothing happens.  If there are engineers present, they will try to spend some supply and start expanding.  If there is not enough supply there, nothing will happen.

This is a good way to eat up a lot of supply.  For the Allies, it can be a problem early in the game, when many areas don't have mega-tons of extra supply laying around.  Like Tophat mentioned, for Japan, who are chronically short on supply, it is likely suicidal.

I play as the Allies, and I turn off all expansion at start, then, on Turn 1, I start expanding base by base, for the locations that I want to build.

BTW, I generally do the same thing for airgroups and LCU's for "Accept replacements" at start. If you leave everyone on the map turned on at the start, you will drain most of your replacement pools in a heartbeat. [;)]

[Scotters1]

Thanks for the info guys. One last question. (I hope.) Would it be a good strategy as the allies to set all facilities to expand on the first turn, and then after the first day of Japanese attacks turn off expansion in areas where you don't want to spend the supplies. Or would it be more effecient to start with no expansion, and then after the first day of Japanese attacks choose which bases to expand?

[USSAmerica]

That question is why the switch is available at scenario start.  [:)]
 
It really depends on whether you plan to expand more than half of the bases or not.  Which will end up being less work for you, turning off bases you don't want to expand, or turning on bases you do want to expand?  Then, set the switch to start that way. 

[Scotters1]

I gotcha , so what do you guys recommend? Do a majority of players do it one way, or the other way? Or is it split 50-50?

[USSAmerica]

I'm an "Expansion, Air replacements, LCU replacements OFF" guy.  Others will be different.  Don't know what the majority do. [:)]

[Scotters1]

This has been very helpful, thanks!

[88l71]

Usually IMHO easier to set expand to OFF and pick the bases you want. At least that way I know I won't be improving the facilities in an area likely to be taken by the enemy. Air replacements usually ON as there's so many air groups I know I will forget one or another, probably one that's important. I try to turn LCU replacements off for Malaya, Phillippines, DEI, Rabaul, etc.

[wdolson]

I usually expand all bases in the US and Canada.  Supply is essentially unlimited there.  I turn off expansion everywhere else except where I think it's necessary.  I turn on fort build anywhere I know the Japanese are going to attack soon.

Bill

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: Scotters1976

Thanks for the info guys. One last question. (I hope.) Would it be a good strategy as the allies to set all facilities to expand on the first turn, and then after the first day of Japanese attacks turn off expansion in areas where you don't want to spend the supplies. Or would it be more effecient to start with no expansion, and then after the first day of Japanese attacks choose which bases to expand?

My experiance in testing AE is that it is wiser to turn everything you can "off" to start..., then bring the ones you need and can afford back on-line over the first few turns.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: USS America

Correct, Scotters.

Setting all to Expand at start is the same as going to every individual base, one at a time, and clicking Expand Port, Expand Airfield, Build Fortifications.  If you turn these on at any base where there are no engineers, absolutely nothing happens.  If there are engineers present, they will try to spend some supply and start expanding.  If there is not enough supply there, nothing will happen.

This is a good way to eat up a lot of supply.  For the Allies, it can be a problem early in the game, when many areas don't have mega-tons of extra supply laying around.  Like Tophat mentioned, for Japan, who are chronically short on supply, it is likely suicidal.

I play as the Allies, and I turn off all expansion at start, then, on Turn 1, I start expanding base by base, for the locations that I want to build.

BTW, I generally do the same thing for airgroups and LCU's for "Accept replacements" at start. If you leave everyone on the map turned on at the start, you will drain most of your replacement pools in a heartbeat. [;)]

With most of them going to patrol, transport and other non-essential air groups. With Japan, this is once again a suicidal move, as you usually can't get the good pilots back out of the units they are sucked into. Having a 90+ rate pilot in a transport Daitai sucks (speaking from experience).

[Mike Solli]

As a Japanese player, I never have anything set to expand at start.  That is all done on an individual basis and is logged to keep track of it.  It's too easy to over tax the supply system by expanding too many things at once.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: USS America

That question is why the switch is available at scenario start.  [:)]

It really depends on whether you plan to expand more than half of the bases or not.  Which will end up being less work for you, turning off bases you don't want to expand, or turning on bases you do want to expand?  Then, set the switch to start that way. 

One thing I will say from the JFB point of view. It is probably best if you don't expand with the switch, but do it manually.
There are certain bases you need to expand, but the vast majority of the little islands scattered through the central Pacific aren't worth it for 2 reasons:

#1 You can't hold or adequately supply them.

#2 Turning over a level 4 airfield to the allies in range of the Home Islands is bad. Make them build it up and supply it.

[bradfordkay]

Are there any experienced players who turn that switch on? After my very first WITP game I have always triple checked to make sure that expansion switch is turned off. 

[Shark7]

I'd have rather had that expansion switch removed and gotten our sub doctrine switched back TBH. Just leave expansion off by default.

[Mynok]

Expansion switch and the computer-controlled sub switch need to be removed. Both are useless.

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: Scotters1976

I gotcha , so what do you guys recommend? Do a majority of players do it one way, or the other way? Or is it split 50-50?

I learned the hard way. I now have everything turned off at the start. I turn " on " the various replacements/expand bases buttons individually only when I have a plan.

[dasboot1960]

I was wondering if omitting the ijn sub doctrine button was an embarassing error, I immediately noticed sub attacks vs merchant shipping off the uswc. I'm sure as allies I'll be able to cover either way.......... but I was suprised to see it gone.