Ready for PBEM Yet?

[elxaime]

I was interested in starting a PBEM campaign but am wary after reading these forums. Given how much time and effort a PBEM campaign takes, you want to make sure the big things are working right before plunging in. My opponent and I recall bad memories of the old WITP with Jap officers taking command of US task forces and units being transported by air disappearing enroute. Granted, no computer game will be flawless. But you'd like things as stable as possible.

Its hard to tell from reading some threads whether complaints are legitimate or not. So I will just throw these out for comment exaggerating for entertainment value:

PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT VERSION

- Japan has nuclear subs
- Japan can outproduce the Allies in aircraft
- Coastal guns overpowered
- Catalinas rule as long range torpedo bombers
- US B-29's not worth scrap metal
- PT boat armadas rule the waves
- Chinese army starves in place as Japan bombs their industry to stone age

So, bottom line, any truth to concerns? And that aside, would folks still recommend starting a PBEM? Or better to wait?

[Pratzen]

Japs subs (or maybe any subs with functional torpedos) are still nuclear.

And don't forget the Mershing road issue.

I'm sticking with non campaign scenarios for PBEM. But how many times can you play Guadalcanal???

[topeverest]

Do PBEM...you wont regret getting your jock handed to you...well not after you calm down and take your foot out of the wall.

1. All subs are powerful...always escort transports if only to get the enemy subs to suberge.
2. No, only very early in the game
3. Yes and no - be wary of any coastal defense guns. you will take a pounding in most cases if you go up against it.
4. No - whose smoking crack! They are way to scarce to be used up that way - and too slow and too easy to shoot down if they attack.
5. Dont know - not there yet, but I highly doubt that statement.
6. Yes in coastal waters only with good comanders. You are limited in #'s early.
7. most agree no strat bombing against either side in China.

[khyberbill]

- Japan has nuclear subs

Depends on your opponent and your skill. I am playing 3 PBEMs and dont have a real problem with Jap subs.

- Japan can outproduce the Allies in aircraft

I just dont know. I am up to 4/44 in one PBEM and rule the skies.

- Coastal guns overpowered

They can be nasty, depends on your skill. I have had some success in Darwin and that is it. Allies dont have many forts except I guess in Russia.

- Catalinas rule as long range torpedo bombers

Hasnt been the case with me, but I dont use them on naval attack early in the game and because i dont get enough to use them as such. I will bet the overall success is down to a few spectacular events and lots of lost PBYs


- US B-29's not worth scrap metal

Not sure yet, but you have to be careful with all your air assets. You cant send hordes of bombers like you could in WITP. In two weeks of continuous bombing of Rangoon, I have lost 2 B29 to ops, none to anything else. This is 10 squadrons of 7.

- PT boat armadas rule the waves

I wish. Not like WITP at all, I use them for harbor defense and in that role, they sacrifice themselves to the Gods of Jap Bombardment TFs


- Chinese army starves in place as Japan bombs their industry to stone age

What industry? Since Patch 2 or 3, I cant recall which, the China theatre is a quagmire and if Japan decides to pursue an active front there, then he is going to probably run short of supplies somewhere else. You just have to keep poking to find the soft spot.

This game is a lot better than WITP. I have erased WITP from my hard drive and the game is for sale for anyone who wants to buy it. There are warts and the developers work at correcting them, but the pluses way out weight the minuses IMHO (which isnt very humble). Way points, patrol zones (ASW patrol zones really can kill a lot of subs), a more realistic air to air game-although there are some who dont like it but this isnt an air to air combat simulator, it is war in the South Pacific- no more uber cap, no more planes on steroids flying forever, training ability etc really make this more fun than WITP. And I like the extra goodies one gets if a rambunctious Jap goes to far in India, Australia or New Zealand. As Japan, I took Australia in a WITP PBEM and I know I could not do this in AE although New Zealand is probably doable, especially in Scen 2.

So, bottom line, any truth to concerns? And that aside, would folks still recommend starting a PBEM? Or better to wait?

Your mileage may vary.

[witp1951]

I am new and into my first PBEM as Japan which is in April 1942. The game is not a perfect historical simulation (what is?) but I have become addicted to PBEM and may start another game.

ORIGINAL: elxaime

I was interested in starting a PBEM campaign but am wary after reading these forums. Given how much time and effort a PBEM campaign takes, you want to make sure the big things are working right before plunging in. My opponent and I recall bad memories of the old WITP with Jap officers taking command of US task forces and units being transported by air disappearing enroute. Granted, no computer game will be flawless. But you'd like things as stable as possible.

Its hard to tell from reading some threads whether complaints are legitimate or not. So I will just throw these out for comment exaggerating for entertainment value:

PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT VERSION

- Japan has nuclear subs

It seemed modestly so at beginning of my game, but my opponent has wised up and my success rate has gone down.

- Japan can outproduce the Allies in aircraft

I don't know about outproducing, but there is a price to be paid for increasing factories. Good pilots are a bigger problem for Japan

- Coastal guns overpowered

Darwin was devestating to my invasion fleet. Haven't run into too many problems elsewhere.

- Catalinas rule as long range torpedo bombers

I haven't seen this and have shot down a couple of them.

- US B-29's not worth scrap metal

Not there yet.

- PT boat armadas rule the waves

Definitely not.

- Chinese army starves in place as Japan bombs their industry to stone age

We have a no industry bombing in China house rule.

So, bottom line, any truth to concerns? And that aside, would folks still recommend starting a PBEM? Or better to wait?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: elxaime

PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT VERSION

- Japan has nuclear subs No. Subs are dangerous. Respect them and learn to deal with them.
- Japan can outproduce the Allies in aircraft Note sure, but probably not a major factor.
- Coastal guns overpowered Might be a little. Might get patched. Not a show stopper in any sense.
- Catalinas rule as long range torpedo bombers Huh? Unlikely. Plus, they are very valuable for naval search. Waste them at your peril.
- US B-29's not worth scrap metal The threads I've seen lead me to believe otherwise.
- PT boat armadas rule the waves No. Changed significantly in a patch. Much subdued now.
- Chinese army starves in place as Japan bombs their industry to stone age Also changed in a patch. Garrison and supply restrictions put in place, plus much Chinese industry removed and replaced with daily supply. This last simulates the highly dispersed nature of Chinese industry at the time.

I think you are being led astray by some spirited discussions. Jump in. You'll be glad you did. [8D]

[elxaime]

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful.

Reading forums to gauge a game can be iffy, since the folks who post the most are often the most generally disgruntled, while the contented players don't make an appearance. That's why I wanted to ask specifically on some of these things.

[topeverest]

I am quite content with the game as PBEM. You will too.

[bklooste]

ORIGINAL: elxaime
- Japan has nuclear subs
- Japan can outproduce the Allies in aircraft

1. IJN Subs still dont get the hostorical number of sinkings in the first few months..
2. Prob only in the first few months once the US factories start going in 43 it changes. Remember also Europe had priority.

[usersatch]

ORIGINAL: bklooste

ORIGINAL: elxaime
- Japan has nuclear subs
- Japan can outproduce the Allies in aircraft

1. IJN Subs still dont get the hostorical number of sinkings in the first few months..
2. Prob only in the first few months once the US factories start going in 43 it changes. Remember also Europe had priority.

IJN subs are still nuking my transports in June 43 (Ironman). If this isn't (a)historical, I'd hate to see real life.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: usersatch

IJN subs are still nuking my transports in June 43 (Ironman). If this isn't (a)historical, I'd hate to see real life.

Pardon me, but isn't the Ironman scenario ahistorical?

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: elxaime

I was interested in starting a PBEM campaign but am wary after reading these forums. Given how much time and effort a PBEM campaign takes, you want to make sure the big things are working right before plunging in. My opponent and I recall bad memories of the old WITP with Jap officers taking command of US task forces and units being transported by air disappearing enroute. Granted, no computer game will be flawless. But you'd like things as stable as possible.

Its hard to tell from reading some threads whether complaints are legitimate or not. So I will just throw these out for comment exaggerating for entertainment value:

PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT VERSION

- Japan has nuclear subs
- Japan can outproduce the Allies in aircraft
- Coastal guns overpowered
- Catalinas rule as long range torpedo bombers
- US B-29's not worth scrap metal
- PT boat armadas rule the waves
- Chinese army starves in place as Japan bombs their industry to stone age

So, bottom line, any truth to concerns? And that aside, would folks still recommend starting a PBEM? Or better to wait?

there´s some truth and more issues could be raised but nothing should be a game breaker. It was said that there´s only going to be bug fixing in future (perhaps this will change sometimes) so either you swallow those "issues" or will never be able to start a PBEM.

[terje439]

About the Catalinas as TBs;
I got the Philliphine ones to do so successfully, but I have yet to be able to achieve anything with the Catalinas later on, and as allready mentioned, they are far to few to be used in such a way.

About starting a pbem -> do it, you know you want to [;)]

Terje