The Reluctant Admiral

[John 3rd]

Is this what you want?

I thought it had to be correct since it includes what appear to be FatR's work. All the hcanges I had made earlier before sending the files are present...

[John 3rd]

Juan---I am beginning to think you are right. After the last posting, I saved and clicked out of the Editor. Now I cannot find the Scenerio in the Editor. It shows in the original AE Folder with all the changes I made today but I still see Jacks being produced and none of our other aircraft...

CRAP! (NOT the word I am thinking)

How can I not find the Scenario in the Folder?!! I checked both the new Folder and the old AE Folder. Paula and I saved the files you sent and REPLACED the old ones with what you and Stan did. Ideas? I've been saving the whole day. Where can the files be within the Editor when I can pull up the partial work in the actual Scenarios?

Might have a minor breakdown at 4:30am...think I'll go back to bed and think some HAPPY thoughts...

Here is the Mini-KB:

[John 3rd]

...and the CA Myoko...probably without Juan's changes...

[FatR]

OK, the desctiption of aircraft changes.

This scenario assumes, that with Yamamoto assuming the position of the Aeronautics Department's head in 1936 and becoming the Naval Minister later, he intensifies Japanese naval aviation development a bit, and attempts to optimize the utilization of limited engineering and production resourses. Chief engineers of aircraft design teams are given slightly greater input in formulating development directions and cooperation between various aircraft manufacturers is assumed to be somewhat improved.

In particular, the concept of dedicated land-based interceptor is abandoned and the Mitshubishi fighter design team under Jiro Horikoshi remains free to concentrate all of its efforts on modifying A6M and creating its successor A7M. Horikoshi's proposal to install the more powerful Mitsubishi Kinsei engine on Zero is approved in 1942, instead of late 1944, and A7M is developed to use Mitsubishi Ha-43 engine, as he desired, from the beginning. A6M3 is developed into a whole line of Zeros that sacrifice range in favor of superior armament and pilot protection, and eventually are officially designated as pure land-based models. IJN maintains the policy of sticking to just one single-engine fighter airframe, until Kawanishi team develops N1K1-J Shiden as a private initiative (this happens slighltly earlier than in RL, because alternate projects of land-based interceptors, that tied Kawanishi resourses, do not exist). It is adopted as a stopgap measure until availability of A7M.

As a side effect of greater effort put into development and production of Mitsubishi Kinsei (Ha-33) and Mitsubishi Ha-43 engines, several planes that historically used these engines are added to the mod (if they existed only as prototypes by the war's end), or accelerated.

Aircraft weapon development is streamlined, with a push for unification with IJAAF in this area (historically, IJN and IJA did cooperate in aircraft weapon production, in this scenario their cooperation becomes much broader). Instead of attempts to produce licensed German machine guns, that ultimately failed to provide the fleet with sufficient numbers of them, IJN switches to the more powerful Army 7.7 catridge and eventually adopts 12.7 Ho-103, the first aircraft HMG developed in Japan. This allows for improved armament on some planes, mostly 2E bombers.

This scenario also assumes mild overall boost to Japanese aircraft industry (at the cost of reduction in starting resources). As a result, several planes that historically faced severe problems with transition from prototypes to mass production, such as B6N, D4Y and G4M2, become available a bit earlier. G8N1, the Japanese 4E bomber that was successfuly tested but not mass-produced in real life, becomes available in 1945.

In addition, there are many minor tweaks to various aircraft, intended to make their statblocks and performance closer to historical. The changes that can affect gameplay most noticeably include:
-Early Japanese fighters (Ha-35 Zeros and Ki-43) have their high-altitude MVR reduced.
-G4M has slightly better durability, G3M sligtly worse, to give G4M an edge over the older plane it historically had.
-E16A1 Paul no longer has artificially reduced normal range.
-Ki-44 uses Nakakima Ha-34 engine, instead of Ha-35, for historical accuracy.
-Late Ki-61 versions are slightly improved. Ki-100s are significantly improved. In RL they were supposed to be good, particularly Ki-100, but in AE they are very underwhelming.
-Ki-67-Ib does not lose the ability to carry torpedos.
-Old Russian fighters no longer have unparalelled MVR. Their clear superiority to Nate has to go.


Following aircraft were added to this scenario (all but new Zeros and G3M4-Q existed in RL as prototypes or even production models):

-A6M3b Zero. Replaces A6M3a and emphasized armor and weapons instead of range.
-A6M4, A6M4-J, A6M8-J. Successors to A6M3b that follow the same design philosopshy but use Mitshubishi Ha-33 engine.
-A7M3. The historical successor to A7M2. Carrier-capable and features 6x20mm armament. A7M2 factory upgrades to it, instead of A7M3-J.
-B7A3. The historical armored successor to B7M2. Uses Mitsubishi Ha-43 engine.
-D4Y5. Mitshubishi Ha-43, armor. D4Y3 upgrades to it. (D4Y4 was a kamikaze plane in RL.)
-G3M4-Q. ASW patrol version of Nell.
-G8N1. Fast, tough, long-ranged 4E bomber.
-J6M1. IJN version of Ki-83.
-N1K4-A. Carrier-capable Shiden.
-N1K5-J. High-altitude interceptor Shiden. Uses Mitsubishi Ha-43 engine.
-Yasukuni. IJN version of Ki-67. "Yasukuni" might actually be the name of the naval unit, that employed these bombers in RL, but I can't find any other designation for them.

[John 3rd]

Very nice Sir.  Consider that set!  I'll put it into something as all the pieces are assembled for the Mod.
 
Am not going to touch anything today until I figure what is happening with the files and know where we are at.
 

[John 3rd]

I've had a chance to get some sleep (woke up at 3am and didn't get back to sleep until 4:30am) and will now try to figure out exactly what is going on witrh my Mod files.  I saved like a madman yesterday as I worked through stuff yet earlier this morning I couldn't FIND the entire Scenario.  Perplexing to say the least.  Now that I have had two cups of Darjeeling (starting number 3) and have my kidlets at school I go in search of the mystical Mod files.  Let us hope that, as Juan fears, all my work yesterday was for naught...
 

[John 3rd]

Gonna have to redo everything from yesterday. As Juan feared, I pulled up the copied Folder I made and the 070 files are dated at 9am yesterday (these are the Juan and Stanislav files). Seeing that I then shifted over to the AE Standard Folder and found this:





All the work is useless since it went into the files SENT to Juan and FatR. CRAP!

I still need to find the files so I can go back to work on what I've already done. Going on search right now.

[John 3rd]

Found the files and now starting ALL OVER! [8|] Here is the Myoko as Juan intends it to be:

[John 3rd]

Got everything sorted out this morning and got back on the horse.  Had to redo everything from yesterday!  [:-] 
 
The good news is that it took less then half the time to redo everything.  Guess it helps a lot when you've done it once.  All I have left now is the Ship Upgrades and Air Formation Changouts.  Odds are the Mod will be completed tonight or tomorrow.  Juan has graciously agreed to check everything and make sure I haven't missed anything essential.
 
NOTE to Self:  Check Red Lancer's Aircraft Artwork and Juan's Ship Artwork.
 

[John 3rd]

A highly successful day comes to a close as I post a Screenshot of Kagoshima on Dec 6, 1941. It is the HQ of the newly created 9th Air Fleet, 2nd Air Flotilla, 92nd Base Force, and several training Daitai (Nell, Claude, Mavis). The AF has been enlrged to 6 from 4 reflecting the increased needs of the base prior to the war. Unfortunately all the units listed above are at about 50% TOE and 50% in skill level. Given time, they will be a potent addition to the Japanese OOB.

All is complete for the Mod except the Ship Upgrades. There are a couple of nagging things but they will be handled quickly. Juan--How do you write the commentary for the Mod Description when you click on Scenario 70? How can I add a picture? Does anyone have a good site for a picture of Yamamoto?

Here is what I just described at Kagoshima:

[John 3rd]

Odds and ends to do with questions:
1.  How do I stop Shinano so she draws NO construction points?
2.  Where do I create the Introduction to the Mod on the Scenario selection screen?
3. How do I attach a picture of Yamamoto to the Scenario selection screen?

Plan to finish the Mod this afternoon during Nap Time.  Only have to do the Ship Upgrades. Shouldn't take too long at all. Michael will be VERY excited to know this since he has days off coming and wants to PLAY!

Juan--I will send you the final files for a look-see.  Concerns:
1.  Can you make sure all the device/ship/air group changes have been fully implemented to the actual units?  Think I've done that using the technique you wrote me about but please check.
2.  Did you add the ship Artwork for the new Shos and BCs?
3.  Could you make sure that Red Lancer's work has been loaded and attached as well?
4.  Need your written description of your standard Mod changes regarding Torps, additional Ammo on ships, etc...

FatR--Thanks for the Air Development descriptions.

Credits (as a Historian) are quite important to me.  At this point the Credits for the Mod go to:  Stanislav, Juan, Red Lancer, BK, and myself.  Did I miss anyone who feels like they have contributed to the Mod?  Do not feel shy!  Want everyone to be mentioned.  How does everyone want to be listed?

FatR?
Juan Gomez
Red Lancer?
BK?
John Cochran 

[John 3rd]

It is done!
 
With the exception of the above stuff (Shinano and other minor questions) everything is complete.  Upgrading was tedious but no big deal.  Just had to worry about being consistant and rational. 
 
Juan--I am sending it for a final re-check.
 

[JuanG]

John, I'll try and get a look at it ASAP but I'm currently travelling in the US and might not get a chance until tommorow. The same goes for writing up that little peice on my changes and an explanation of artwork changes.

Re:Shinano, you mean remove her from the build list entirely? Since I assume the 3rd and 4th Yamato's were never laid down in this reality. To do that just go to Shinano in the "Ships" section, select her, and hit "Cut".

[John 3rd]

It is DONE!
 
BANZAI!
 
The files are done and I've gone through my checklist 3-4 times.  Don't think I missed anything...(even remembered to change the engines on Mr. Tojo as FatR asked!).
 
All that I have left to do is write the scenario description and find my Yamamoto picture.
 
Am sending the complete files to Michael and Juan.  FatR, BK, and Red Lancer---would you like to look and see your handiwork?
 

[FatR]

Want everyone to be mentioned.  How does everyone want to be listed?

Stanislav Bartoshevitch aka FatR.

Thanks for the files sent, John, I'll look at them today. Right now I have way too much free time on my hands, so if anyone want to take on the evil empire under my command, I can prepare the first Japanese turn in a few days.

[FatR]

As about the scenario:

- Wasn't Taiho supposed to be removed from building program in favor of Shokaku-Kai carriers?
- Katsuragi and carriers following her have an uneven number of 25mm single mounts on left and right sides. Moreover, are they supposed to be single mounts? Also, just adding extra 25mm guns in place of AA rockets on late-war Japanese carriers to their main groups and deleting extra entries would have looked better.
- Added CVs and BCs do not normally appear in places dictated by their class and time of their availability in the list of available ships. Shokaku-Kais are listed below CVEs by default.
- I hope that upgrading to A6M3 or A6M3b will open all land-based fighters in the upgrade list when playing with PDU ON. Otherwise, they don't show up. And, while this does not seem to be my fault, if the first upgrade in the default PDU OFF upgrade line does not open a certain category of planes, won't this category be forever blocked when playing with PDU ON, or will the upgrade to it appear eventually? For example, see Tainan Ku S-1, which upgrades to A6M5 then A6M4-J (land fighter) and A6M5d-S (nightfighter). When playing with PDU ON, only carrier capable-fighters show in the upgrade list. Can anyone clarify, whether A6M4-J will appear in its upgrade list after upgrading to A6M5?
- Also, I think that units of 9th Air Fleet should be temporarily restricted to Home Islands, reflecting their status as unfit for overseas deployment at the beginning of the game.

[John 3rd]

Stanislav:
1.  Thanks for your name.  I'll get it into the credits.

2.  HA!  I was so focused getting rid of Shinano that I forgot to delete Taiho.  What does that say?  [:'(]

3.  I was wondering as to the building que as well.  The 3 Shokaku-Kai are listed under the CVEs.  Just figure that had something to do with the slot number in the Editor.  They ARE there so that is important.

4.  Have NO IDEA as to your question regarding PDU 'on' and 'off' issues with Fighter development.  Can anyone chime in on that?

5.  Thought the 9th Air Fleet units wouldn't be deployable if I started them at 50% of strength.  How about I lower that to 25% reflecting them being cadre training units?  Noone in their right mind would deploy them for at least a couple of months until they have filled out.  Course I just did state that a Japanese player would be in their 'right' mind.  Not really sure if that applies! 

Is there anything else you've seen or have questions on?

BK and Red Lancer--Would you like to take a look and see?

Damian--Michael suggests you have a look from the Tracker perspective.  Are you interested?

[eloso]

Easy way to check the PDU thing would be to add some of those fighters to the pool at start to upgrade an existing on-map unit. Then fire up the game and check it. Just don't forget to remove them once you confirm that it works.

[FatR]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Stanislav:

5.  Thought the 9th Air Fleet units wouldn't be deployable if I started them at 50% of strength.  How about I lower that to 25% reflecting them being cadre training units?  Noone in their right mind would deploy them for at least a couple of months until they have filled out.  Course I just did state that a Japanese player would be in their 'right' mind.  Not really sure if that applies! 

I totally see players immediately sending new Claude groups to China, if releasing 2nd Air Division on day 1 could be seen as an exploit (because it sort of is) or directly forbidden by HRs. New Nell units can be used to bomb Allied troops wherever heavy resistance is not expected, and in early months that's alot of places. Finally, crews of new Mavis groups are comparable in experience to average Allied Catalina pilots. I suggest to make pilots, except for 1-3 veterans per group totally green. If you meant this, then I agree. And probably make new Mavis group start with no more than half their normal number of aircraft - a limited pool means that a player cannot immediately fill them out.

[FatR]

ORIGINAL: OSO

Easy way to check the PDU thing would be to add some of those fighters to the pool at start to upgrade an existing on-map unit. Then fire up the game and check it. Just don't forget to remove them once you confirm that it works.

Why I didn't think of that[&:]? Anyway, I checked, and yes, pre-defined upgrade chains remain available (as long as you follow them exactly) and open up new categories of planes.