Newbie - Problems with Coral Sea

[RS_Cheese]

I'm a WitP: AE newbie. I've read the (awesome) manual up to Logistics (n/a for this scenario) - first time I've had to read a manual for a game in years hehe.

Anyway, the forums pretty much all say to start with the Coral Sea scenario, so I've done just that. The problem is that so far I have been shredded in all 3 games that I've played.

Granted, losing isn't unexpected. But what is surprising is that I have YET to even see the Japanese carrier TFs in *any* attempt so far! (Oh, good point - I'm playing as American).

First attempt I pretty much did nothing and let the TFs cruise along however the computer decided. (They seemed to always be going somewhere). 2nd and 3rd attempts I steered them myself and tweaked the Naval search radii a bit.

Still nothing. My fleets are getting pounded by wave after wave after wave of carrier planes and yet I can't seem to even find his carriers.

Any ideas what I am doing wrong in this regard?

[Ghertz]

You need to search for him - use some of your dive bombers to search.  Narrow the aircraft search patterns to where he has to go.  You know where he is going go, your fleets and planes don't.  The IJN has to attack Port Moresby (PM).  The IJN is going to sail East of and then South of Milne Bay.  His transports have to get to PM. 

[RS_Cheese]

I don't have time to try it now ... but upon further research I may have an idea what I am doing wrong.

Amazing how many times you search forums only to miss something you then find after you post!

Anyway, all my reading says that you set the percentage of planes searching. I took that to mean that they WERE searching. Something I read a little while ago makes me believe that I may not have actually SENT THEM OUT lol. It was talking about being able to see search arcs and such. Ummm I've never seen anything! [8|]

Guess I'll know tomorrow if that is what I am missing. But I have a sneaking suspicion hehe

[:D]

[findmeifyoucan]

Also, I tend to set searches manually rather than random searches. I go to search by map and then refine the range using the 0 to 360 guage. I had no problem as the Japanese finding the Yorktown week one with my KB in one game!

[Mundy]

IRL, how many aircraft on a USN CV would be searching at any one time?
 
In my games, I've been setting the VS squadron to 40%, while leaving none of the VBs searching.
 
I'm trying to keep it historical, but can only take my best guess..
 
M-

[findmeifyoucan]

I usually use 10 to 20% of each bomber air group and it seems to work pretty well! My house rule is less than 20 planes in air group 10%, more than 20 planes 20%.

[RS_Cheese]

Still no time to *test* it, but I re-read that section of the manual last night.

Am I correct in that your squadrons are "always" searching (when not stood down, etc) as long as the percentage is > 0?

And if so ... I think my problem may have been that I never changed the search arcs. This means that the 10-20% or so of my planes have been searching 360 degrees ... so it would take a whole lotta days to make a complete sweep hehe - leaving probably days between each sweep of the area where the Japanese probably are!

So my next attempt I'll have to see what focusing the arcs does for me.

[fflaguna]

ORIGINAL: RS_Cheese
I think my problem may have been that I never changed the search arcs. This means that the 10-20% or so of my planes have been searching 360 degrees ... so it would take a whole lotta days to make a complete sweep hehe - leaving probably days between each sweep of the area where the Japanese probably are!

It's my newbie understanding that each day they begin the search arcs all over again. Which means if you only have enough planes to search 0' to 90' one day, on the next day they will just search 0' to 90' again.

[findmeifyoucan]

I believe this is true which is why I am very specific every day with each and every search especially regarding Carriers since they are always moving and so is everything else.

[Ghertz]

ORIGINAL: fflaguna

ORIGINAL: RS_Cheese
I think my problem may have been that I never changed the search arcs. This means that the 10-20% or so of my planes have been searching 360 degrees ... so it would take a whole lotta days to make a complete sweep hehe - leaving probably days between each sweep of the area where the Japanese probably are!

It's my newbie understanding that each day they begin the search arcs all over again. Which means if you only have enough planes to search 0' to 90' one day, on the next day they will just search 0' to 90' again.

You can set the arc being searched. For example 330 - 30. As I recall, he starts out somewhere around 315 degrees from you. You could start the game as the Japanese playing the AI and check. Once you know for certain where his forces start and where they have to go, you have a pretty good idea of where to search.

[findmeifyoucan]

To just put my two cents worth in. This game I decided not to play a small scenerio as this game is so monster in size and complexity so I started with the Campaign. Why waste time on a small scenerio and may as play the real thing and the whole thing and learn as I go along with lots of help from these forums. Of course I do have 3 years previous experience plalying WIP so it really isn't so bad. Also have about 20 years experience of playing the big monster board games for this time period as well so have a pretty good idea of what each side is capable of doing.Still learning the game and all the little things and all those rules, wow, what a manual!!! And it still missed lots of stuff in detail. I am sure they will be updating this game constantly like they did with WIP for the last 3 years. OH and yes I did enjoy WIP along with all my friends!!!