Alternate WNT Scenarios (v11 Released)

[Texas D]

My vote is for the Enhanced CV version first, please

[JuanG]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I want the Enhanced, but that is the way I've felt since the beginning of your mod proposals.

If anything, when it comes to the Enhanced mods, I think an increase in AO/TKs for both sides are needed. All those large ships drink fuel in big gulps. [;)]

Well, the Enhanceds dont really add any more large ships compared to the standards. Its more about better technology and industry.

I did consider adding more AO's to the Ultimate BB mod, but left it as is for now. I'll see about that later.

CV variant does include a much better fleet train for the IJN, in both versions.

[Historiker]

The experience from my tests was, that the KB can only deliver small punches in ultimate BB. In some tests against PH, no ship was sunk at all.
Is that intended?

[JuanG]

Yes. Its a combined result of 4 factors;

1) Lower expereince for the Japanese airgroups
2) Slightly higher dud rate for Japanese aerial torpedoes
3) Much tougher targets in Pearl Harbour
4) More targets in Pearl Harbour

The 10 or so tests I ran, saw 1 BB/BC/CV sunk on around half of them, with 2 to 4 badly damaged (1+ year repairs), and the rest in varying states (one game had both Lexingtons ready to go, which I used to intercept KB - that didnt go so well...). The other half of the games had no sinkings, but still had ships out for a while.

The best result I saw was 3 ships sunk, though admittedly one was from a magazine explosion.


If you're playing Japan, it may be worthwhile to consider striking Singapore instead. Then again, can you really afford to leave the USN free reign with an intact battle line in the Pacific?

[Akos Gergely]

Can't wait to play the first turn today evening . Actually as Juan pointed out earlier, we wanted to give the battleship a status that i would have had barring an early WT, so with carrier aviation much less developed due to funding going mainly into the big ships.

Also I agree with Juan that attacking Singapore and taking out the two BCs there might be more worth for the planes lost. PH has a relatively big repair yard with plenty of supply so one can be sure that any ships not sunk right away will make a comeback sooner or later, and here BBs worth more, especially in 1942 (later we will see, but seeing the AA ratings and the reduced effectiveness of aerial torps it might be different from stock).

Finally it might worth a try to do a BB bombardment of Pearl with the 4 Yamatos at least, they might do much more damage (well in version b that's why Juan added the 18" coastal defense guns ).

[gajdacs zsolt]

This may be a silly question... Can i play against the AI on this scenario?

[JuanG]

Yes, the scenario includes all the AI scripts from Scenario 1.

However, as the AI cannot use ship conversions, none of these will occur. This means no AA refits for Japanese ships, no CVL/CVE conversions, and no rebuilds of the USN BBs. Apart from that it should work alright. I have admittedly not played the AI beyond the middle of January for Scen 44, so if something does crop up please let me know.

The AI may have some problems if playing as Japan due to the lack of a long range fighter for the first few months.

[ny59giants]

Nice job on the new mod and updated versions.  [&o][&o]
I just installed the latest versions. I was looking for what you did with Engineer Vehicles. Ind Eng Rgt will now fill out to 48 Engineers and 20 Engineer Vehicles [:)], while the Naval and AF Construction have Engineer Vehicles increased to 12 total. Japan is set to produce 100 Engineer Vehicles/month. More early war decision making for Japan. Who gets priority to fill out, Luzon, Malaya, or some headed for the SRA?? Those Ind Eng Rgt in Manchuria will get even a higher priority for PPs.
I love it. [;)]

[Historiker]

I'll ask my opponent whether he agrees to mod it in a historic way: A that strong Japanese Battleline would seek the descisive battle with its battleships, so turn one may see PH empty and the USN out at sea...

In your mods, Japan starts weaker than the allied side, especially as they get many strong carriers, soon. IMO, the Jap player MUST have a window of opportunity at least till may 42. I see this window in danger, now...

Anyway, that's just my opinion and can easily be modded by me. The work itself is amazing![&o]

[JuanG]

Hm, well, while I would agree that Japan has less room for mistakes, in all 3 of the scenarios Japan has clear advantages over the allies in '42;

BB Variant - A strong battleline backed by a strong CV force, with more CVs on the way. Your battleline is unmatched until '43, but the allies will eclipse your CV force by the end of '42 unless you sink some of them. Aggression required! This scenario has the least room for mistakes as Japan.

Enhanced BB Variant - An easier time because of the additional CVLs, higher pilot training rate, high pilot experience, and early radar/AA. Improved ASW and troop combat ratings will help later on. More room for error. Improved aircraft performance will also help.

Ultimate Battleships - You have to rely on your battleline and land based air during the first 2-3 months, which requires a new way of thinking. Your carrier forces are superior to the US ones, though only slightly. Japan will have an upper hand with regards to CVs from mid-late 42 because of the new arrivals and superior aircraft, and the allies cannot afford major losses until late 42. The British will be a major annoyance, and should be removed ASAP.


Both my game with csatahajos and ny59giants game with FatR show the Japanese advancing well, though it will be interesting to see when the tide changes in my game. Probably not for another 3-4 months (it is 1st April now), but I'm still wary.

Of course, you're welcome to adapt the scenarios for your own games, and if you do make any changes, I look forward to hearing about them and their effects.

[Smeulders]

Hey Juan, was browsing to the Ultimate BB scenario and it seems that there is no delay to go from the original Wasp to the Wasp(AA) version. Is this WAD or have I missed a downside to this ?

Also found the "Price of Wales" instead of "PriNce" as a reinforcement for the Allies. *Insert a joke about the value of Wales*

[JuanG]

Thank you.

The Wasp issue is only a problem with the 12/41 conversion. The other take the correct amount of time, 40 days.

The Prince of Wales has been correctly named now.

I'll release a version 11d later, there are 3 further changes right now;

1) Increased cargo capacity of US C2 Lassen AE to 5500 (from 5400) -> This affects all scenarios
2) Added Dragon AE class to the US (Capacity 7920, 4 units available)
3) Corrected F2F-3 arrival date from 1/41 to 2/42

[c_m_kwong]

I vote for enhanced CV as well!
Thanks the mods!!

[ny59giants]

Juan,
Can we change the Mike fighter to Army?? It would be nice to have an Army fighter in 42 that can at least have a chance in killing B-17s. Only the Zeros has enough firepower to kill them and they are spread thin already.
 
If this is possible, you can restrict the Japanese abilty to overprodue them early by restricting the number of engines available. Since the Allies can have "WS Convoys" unload devices in Cape Town, is it possible for an AK or two to do the same at Tokyo with these engines until late 42 when actual engine production starts??  

[JuanG]

Probably wont happen, unless I do a scenario specifically aimed at better Army/Navy cooperation.

Interest in the He-100 was shown by the IJN, not the IJA. The lack of a solid fighter for the IJA in 42 is also one of the most interesting dilemmas the IJ player faces, as it means you must solve this issue one way or another.

One way to do this is to rely on the IJN units where the fighting is thickest, but this will drive up start wearing down your forces. You could also mass IJA fighters, even the Oscar can annoy B-17s in enough numbers, and the Tojo will quickly become lethal.

Make sure you upgrade all your Oscars to the Ki-43c variant ASAP, as it is notably superior to the -43a, and the the -43b.

[Historiker]

Why have the Me-109s now armour?

[JuanG]

The J2He (based on the He-100) does not have armour in its early versions, as the assumption was that the Japanese would strip it from the aircraft to increase performance. The J2He2 model and onwards do have the same rudimentary armour as all of the later Japanese fighters.

On another note, I've started work on the CV Variant. Ill put up some ship images and details later this week.

[FatR]

J2He has a quite vulnerable liquid-cooling system. If it can have armor at all, then only on late-war models, when we can pretend that this flaw was fixed.

Anyway, I have a question: In my current game, I cannot set reaction greated than 1 for Allied sub (and only sub) task forces. Is this a bug?

[ChickenOfTheSea]

ORIGINAL: FatR

J2He has a quite vulnerable liquid-cooling system. If it can have armor at all, then only on late-war models, when we can pretend that this flaw was fixed.

Anyway, I have a question: In my current game, I cannot set reaction greated than 1 for Allied sub (and only sub) task forces. Is this a bug?

This is a change implemented in the latest patches and affects stock and all mods, not just these.

[FatR]

Didn't know that, thanks. I hope, this restriction will be lifted later in the war.

As a side note, I believe, that CV intended to be named Leyte is spelled "Letye" in scenario 43.