new player needs help

[dabeach]

hi all i just bought the game and dl ed it until my hard copy arrives. i knew this was going to be a big learning curve , however i cant find the game tuturial in my matrix files and the manuel is not very clear at how to play the game or so it seems to me. can sombody point out to me where i can find the tutorial in the files and are there any posts on how to start to play this game for sombody new that hasnt played the earlier versions of witp. im not even sure how to move my pieces or start a attack. ive read the online manuel over and over and it almost seems like you need a knowledge of how the earlier versions where played. this is not a flame as i really want to learn this game im just not sure where you start any help would be apprecited thanks jim

[BigJ62]

as yet no tutorial. Start with a small scenario and concentrate on only one thing such as logistics. Read some of the AARs for some insight to playing the game.

[rockmedic109]

It's information overload.  Lots of detailed info that you need to keep in the back of your mind while at the same time you are trying to get a grasp on a map that spans half the world in 40 mile hexes. As daunting as it seems, it does all come together and make sense.  You will make mistakes, even once you've mastered the game {I usually call it a communication failure or rogue tf commander doing something you did not want him to do}, but the game a LONG.  At daily turns, you can forget to have a tf move from Tahiti for 2 weeks {the crews get some extended R & R} and it won't make that much of a differnce in the long run. 
 
My idea would be to be to jump into the campaign game for a month or two {game time} till you get comfortable with the system and then restart for the actual game.
 
It will make sense, you will learn the game and you will find it addicting and enjoyable {and your wife will curse it's existance}.  It takes a little while, but stick with it.  AE is not just a game, it is a way of life.

[dabeach]

thanks for replies i guess im lost at the start when i read manuel it says sequence of play--- the japenese gives orders during order phrase. here is where im stuck ? the manuel doesnt say how to give orders ? if i go to a taskforce how do i get it to attack or move. do i click on individual ships in the tf or try to issue orders to whole tf. do i need to give separate orders to plans on carriers . these are probably dumb questions but have never played a matrix game i need to learn the very basics of how to give orders , ie movement, attack, etc. i guess i need a tutorial lol or maybe a walkthough how to set orders thanks all jim

[ckk]

As far as movement you can a give a task force movement orders and all ships in the task force will comply[:)]

[olperfessor]

Dabeach, this great game provides a lot of pleasure while you're learning, and even those of us who have played WitP for years, and AE for many hours, are still learning. Start a game, play it for a few turns as you note your mistakes or omissions, then restart . . . this is fun, not failure. I too recommend you go straight to the campaign game.

Much to be learned is nuanced and detailed, but nothing that you need to master in order to enjoy the game. At first, all you want to know are the mechanics of certain operations, like getting supply to a small port (don't use large cargo ships), or managing a base's air operations without exhausting your pilots.

I recommend that you develop and write down your own sequence of actions for each turn to feel less overwhelmed. For example, Start by reading the sigint report, reviewing the combat report, and scanning the ops report. Every few turns, check the ships list (sort by sys damage, for example, to see what ships need to be called back to port).

Then issue orders. I start with actions that I learn need to be done because of the ops report (e.g. if a base's port has been expanded, I check to see if the engineers should now be ordered to expand the airfield, or if a ship that has finished its routine repairs needs to be shifted to the shipyard for major repairs).

After that, go around the map in the same sequence (e.g. start at Capetown and work your way to San Diego). Do what needs to be done (see that ships are docked and undocked as you want them (e.g. unloading troops should probably have priority over unloading supply), see if your aircrews need to rest or get to work, see that troops that have reached their destination are changed from move or strategic move mode to combat or rest. Note which bases are running low on supply, reroute task forces to avoid new enemy threats, etc.

And if you screw up, so have most of history's most celebrated commanders. Unlike them, you get to start over.

And keep this in mind: your goal isn't to finish the campaign game as a victor so much as it is to enjoy and learn from each turn. The complete campaign game is really countless small and interesting games (e.g. defending Wake Island, the risky effort to get a squadron of fighters safely to a critical forward position, the surprise encounter between opposing carrier task forces).

Learning this game beats playing other games.

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: dabeach

thanks for replies i guess im lost at the start when i read manuel it says sequence of play--- the japenese gives orders during order phrase. here is where im stuck ? the manuel doesnt say how to give orders ? if i go to a taskforce how do i get it to attack or move. do i click on individual ships in the tf or try to issue orders to whole tf. do i need to give separate orders to plans on carriers . these are probably dumb questions but have never played a matrix game i need to learn the very basics of how to give orders , ie movement, attack, etc. i guess i need a tutorial lol or maybe a walkthough how to set orders thanks all jim

Thinking about doing some amateurish type video tutorials for some of you noobs ... There aren't many yet. It ain't great, but I have a bit of a holiday coming up and I thought I'd start looking at making some which deal with the basic mechanics of this great game.

Criticism is welcome, and suggestions ignored[;)]

http://sites.google.com/site/n01487477/

[Rainer]

Damian,
I think this is a great way to show how things are done.
And your style of talking is also great I feel.
Hopefully there will be soon much more of this.
The only (mild) criticism - in both movies there is a high pitched noise in the background which distracts a bit when carefully listening to your explanations.

[hunchback77]

Good job Damian, these video tutorials will help the newbies a lot and us veterans may learn a thing or two along the way.

[dabeach]

thanks all for the replies they are helping alot and ty for the videos. im going to try campaign and move some tf s around and maybe see if i can figure out how to attack with ships and planes. this game looks awesome i just wish it was more clear how to get started , but replies are helping ty jim

[mg62]

Hi Dabeach. 
 
I started off with Witp and was overwealmed at first.  I started off with a small scenerio and would suggest Guadacanal or the Coral Sea.  Both of these are good starting points, less units, smaller area, not as much logistical supply issues, and quicker action.  I found it easier to figure out what was going on and when I did make a mistake I didn't have to wait for the day to run in the entire Pacific Theater.  This helped me get the mechanics of the game down.
 
Even though it is WitP I would suggest looking at the following thread to get an idea of some stategy tips.  Also looking at the AAR's is very helpful for getting an idea about what stategies & tactics can work.
 
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1274014
 
I'm just getting into my campaign against the IJN AI with Patch 2 and am enjoying the challenging experience. 
 
Good luck and keep reading the forum (my best source of info).

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: Rainer
The only (mild) criticism - in both movies there is a high pitched noise in the background which distracts a bit when carefully listening to your explanations.

Thanks to all, unfortunately the onboard mic picks up the heat-fan on my laptop -- I'll have to see about getting a microphone.

I agree that playing and reading the forum is the best source of knowledge, these are just designed with functionality in mind for noobs.

Added a few more here, will continue until I run out of space