Finally gave in and took the plunge!

[Yskonyn]

Like Vasquez I bought this monster game during the sale.
Since my registration over at Wargamer.com forums WitP has been on my radar, but the price and theatre always kept me from buying it.
I could not hold out any longer with this nice sale so I went ahead and bought myself a copy. I hope I can find many hours of fun learning and playing it. It's reputation is huge and I hope I won't chicken out.

A little bit about myself first:
I am almost 30 years old, commercial airline pilot by profession and I have always been interested in military affairs and machines. I am born and raised in Deventer, the Netherlands, Europe. Rather close to Arnhem. WW2, especially, has always been a special subject of interest for me. The leaps in technology, tactics and industry are nothing short of extraordinary. Also, my home region has a big history concerning WW2.

The pacific theatre, maybe surprisingly, has always been a 'far away from home' thing for me, though. Despite the fact that the dutch navy and airforce has been very much active in that theatre.

The more I read about the war effort over there, the more interested I have become in the Pacific and I reckon there is no better game to compliment this interest than WitP:AE.
Eventhough I must admit that I am a bit reluctant in fear of losing my life here... [:'(]

I am no tactician or military expert at all. Many abbreviations and jargon (especially from the pacific) is still abracadabra for me, but generally I am a fast learner.

I think I will have to start with the smaller scenarios playing as the Allies against the Japs to get my bearings in the game first.

-Regarding that matter, are there any third party scenarios available for download which you would recommend playing first? (As I noticed the tutorial never made it in)

-Also, on a more general note, what are websites/books/documentaries you guys would suggest reading/viewing about the pacific theatre?

-Is the manual still up-to-date or not?

-Are the mods or utilities you think are must-have or just very nice to have I should get?

The long term goal, of course, is to play PBEM games, but for now I have to do some homework first. [8D][:D]

P.S. Are the any other dutch(speaking) WitP players here?

[Smeulders]

The best scenarios to learn are probably Coral Sea, Thousand Mile war and Guadalcanal. These are included in the game. Other interesting scenarios are Marianas and Buccaneer, which can be found at the following link. http://www.alternatewars.com/Mods/WITP_AE/Scen/Scenarios.htm

The manual is not always correct, if you are unsure about anything, ask it on the forums, a lot of people will help you.

As to utilities, get tracker, a thread about it is stickied on this forum. You will hardly be able to play the large scenarios without it.

Finally, I'm from Flanders, and there are a couple of other Dutch players hanging around here I think.

[LoBaron]

Welcome to the madhouse Yskonyn. [;)]

Re: Abbreviations: Never mind. Thats the easy part. This is not meant to sound discouraging, as a matter of fact if you had a general interest in
ww2 history and military hardware then you got enough basics to get the picture fast.
And the manual has a complete list of abbreviations on ship classes. For everything else you have the information in either the game itself or
useful secondary programs.

For a start I´d reccomend Coral Sea a few times to get the basics. Its kind of a tutorial. That should be a must in case you never played AE´s pedecessors.

Third party scens found in the mod seciton of the forums.

Manual is a must too, its not completely correct anymore but enough that you should read it. And I could not stress that less, the manual explains very important basic
information as ressources, supplies, industry, and so on. To play the grand campaign or even a smaller scen you should at least have read the basics on these topics.

Mods are really fun but I´d recommend you start with the basic version of the game, learning curve is not for the squeamish and you just lost your RL... [:D]

Have fun!! [:D]

[Chickenboy]

Hi Yskonyn,

Your countrymen are well represented here in terms of numbers. You should be able to find several other Dutchmen on these forums.

Welcome to the Forum and the game. You'll find the level of detail to be daunting at first, awesome in its depth. The Matrix team here is great too-fantastic support.

The manual is a rough guide only. Lots of deviations from the manual make this gaming experience a living experience. I recommend you:

1. Read the manual.
2. Start following some of the forum topics.
3. Play as Allies against Japanese AI in a short scenario.
4. Play as Allies against Japanese in a longer scenario.
5. Play as Allies against Japanese in a CG.
6. Play as Japan against the Allied AI.
7. Consider whether or not you want to get involved in PBEM.

In that order. Your mileage may vary, of course.

[Fokko]

Hi Robin,

Welcome , there are enough around from Holland here.
I thought i was well educated on the pacific theater , specially the Dutch part , but found a wealth of information
though others posting here and it made me search the web (and bookstores)constantly on subjects you encounter in the game .

Just play the AI for a while to get a feel of how the game works.
You can always drop me a PM if you want to know something and rather communicate in Dutch.

Fokko

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Hi Yskonyn,

Your countrymen are well represented here in terms of numbers. You should be able to find several other Dutchmen on these forums.

Welcome to the Forum and the game. You'll find the level of detail to be daunting at first, awesome in its depth. The Matrix team here is great too-fantastic support.

The manual is a rough guide only. Lots of deviations from the manual make this gaming experience a living experience. I recommend you:

1. Read the manual.
2. Start following some of the forum topics.
3. Play as Allies against Japanese AI in a short scenario.
4. Play as Allies against Japanese in a longer scenario.
5. Play as Allies against Japanese in a CG.
6. Play as Japan against the Allied AI.
7. Consider whether or not you want to get involved in PBEM.

In that order. Your mileage may vary, of course.

Great advice.

And welcome aboard ! I have found this to be a very entertaining game, and an interesting and active group of forum members.

[KenchiSulla]

Welkom... welcome!

[:)]

[USSAmerica]

Welcome aboard, Yskonyn! [8D]

It's great to see the Blitzkrieg Attack Sale is bringing in a few new players to this wonderful game. [:)]

[d0mbo]

Indeed, the sale is working!

And even a fellow Dutchman!

Feel free to PM if you want to know anything about the game. Not that I know all, but then again, who does?!

[Buck Beach]

We gotch now. Your life is ours.

Welcome

Buck

[oldman45]

Its always good to see players from the "other side of the pond" Welcome aboard!

[DeriKuk]

I am born and raised in Deventer, the Netherlands, Europe. Rather close to Arnhem. WW2, especially, has always been a special subject of interest for me. The leaps in technology, tactics and industry are nothing short of extraordinary. Also, my home region has a big history concerning WW2. P.S. Are the any other dutch(speaking) WitP players here?

Did you ever play games at the Cafe de Fiets in Nijmegen on Sundays? Is it still in operation? Does a certain Niek van Diepen still play [naval] games there?

Are the any other dutch(speaking) WitP players here?

Yes, although I'm not one of them. I do, however, speak Afrikaans; so I'll be able to follow the Ice Rabbit and his mates. [:D]

Beware of PBEM games. The game will take up a huge chunk of your life, and as a pilot you'll have to play it on the fly [pun intended]. Hope for a mature, reliable opponent who does not have a fragile ego when things in the game - inevitably - go wrong.

[Pascal_slith]

Welcome to the Collective. You have been assimilated. Resistance is Futile.

[jomni]

ORIGINAL: Yskonyn
I am almost 30 years old, commercial airline pilot by profession and I have always been interested in military affairs and machines.

Just curious, are you allowed to play computer games in the cockpit just to pass time in long flights? Airbus cockpits has a lot of space to use a laptop.

I am born and raised in Deventer, the Netherlands, Europe. Rather close to Arnhem. WW2, especially, has always been a special subject of interest for me. The leaps in technology, tactics and industry are nothing short of extraordinary. Also, my home region has a big history concerning WW2.

The pacific theatre, maybe surprisingly, has always been a 'far away from home' thing for me, though. Despite the fact that the dutch navy and airforce has been very much active in that theatre.

The beauty of the game is that it teaches you a thing or two about the Dutch. Or at least makes you want to read more books about the topic.

Eventhough I must admit that I am a bit reluctant in fear of losing my life here... [:'(]

Just take your time. I lost more of my life playing endless Call of Duty multiplayer than WITP. Anyway, I recognize your name from the Wargamer forums. I'd like to thank you for introducing me to Microsoft Flight Simulator. So far this is what's sucking my life these days.

I am no tactician or military expert at all. Many abbreviations and jargon (especially from the pacific) is still abracadabra for me, but generally I am a fast learner.

Fighting is only half the battle. Logistics is the bigger issue.

I think I will have to start with the smaller scenarios playing as the Allies against the Japs to get my bearings in the game first.

-Regarding that matter, are there any third party scenarios available for download which you would recommend playing first? (As I noticed the tutorial never made it in)

Guadalcanal scenario is just right for beginners. Not too complex but not too simple either.
Coral Sea scenario is very simple.

-Are the mods or utilities you think are must-have or just very nice to have I should get?

You need WITP Tracker tool but is more important if you play Japan Grand Campaign. You're fine without this if you're playing small scenarios.

[Yskonyn]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!
All the tips are greatly appreciated.

ORIGINAL: hjalmar99

Did you ever play games at the Cafe de Fiets in Nijmegen on Sundays? Is it still in operation? Does a certain Niek van Diepen still play [naval] games there?

I am sorry, but I've never been there, so I wouldn't be able to tell you. [:)]

ORIGINAL: jomni
Just curious, are you allowed to play computer games in the cockpit just to pass time in long flights? Airbus cockpits has a lot of space to use a laptop.

Officially: no.
Un-officially: it depends on who the captain is, but we only fly to European and North African destinations (longest flight 5:30). Still, that would cater nicely for playing a game, but I've never seen it so far. iPhone or Nitendo DS games, yes, but never 'real' games on a laptop. It's still the good old book, newspaper, magazine or... a real shocker: aircraft operating manual mostly.
Although some bring their laptop to watch a movie on a long flight.
Good question indeed, now that I think of it, it seems like there is a taboo on playing games...

ORIGINAL: jomni
The beauty of the game is that it teaches you a thing or two about the Dutch. Or at least makes you want to read more books about the topic.

Exactly, that's why I was asking wether you guys have some tips about good background articles, books or documentaries?

ORIGINAL: jomni
Just take your time. I lost more of my life playing endless Call of Duty multiplayer than WITP. Anyway, I recognize your name from the Wargamer forums. I'd like to thank you for introducing me to Microsoft Flight Simulator. So far this is what's sucking my life these days.

You're more than welcome. MSFS was my number one game/sim for years and years before I actually started flight academy. After that the appeal just went away. You start to see the many annoying little flaws in the sim (eventhough its very VERY good) and after spending a whole day in a real cockpit you have no desire to sit in a virtual one afterwards. I rarely fire it up anymore nowadays. Sometime to pull off weird stuff or try some challenges. I am waiting for the PMDG 737 FSX version, cause I fly the 737NG in real life as well. It's nice for procedural training.

I have been totally addicted to Battlefield Bad Company 2 with 4 mates. It even got so bad that things around the house were left for my girl eventhough she had worked all day and I was off. It started to put a strain on my relationship and there we both drew the line. It creeps up on you unexpectedly, but I pulled the plug just in time. Able to play it casually with friends now, without the need to stay top of the rankings anymore. Me and my fiancee are doing well again now.
I guess many gamers have been there once. The addiction factor is always there, waiting to strike. It's even more dangerous when, like us, your partner has no interest in games whatsoever.

ORIGINAL: jomni
Fighting is only half the battle. Logistics is the bigger issue.

Yes, probably. I am still buried in the manual and haven't played a single turn yet. But I really like what I read in there.

ORIGINAL: jomni
Guadalcanal scenario is just right for beginners. Not too complex but not too simple either.
Coral Sea scenario is very simple.

Thanks!

ORIGINAL: jomni
You need WITP Tracker tool but is more important if you play Japan Grand Campaign. You're fine without this if you're playing small scenarios.

I have that Tracker tool installed. Actually, several times to have one for every savegame slot so I don't have to keep editing the config files all the time. [:)]
I also saw something about ART mods? Are there mods which alter the graphics of the game, if so, what do they do?


Thanks again for all the input so far, guys! I am sure many more questions will come in time.
What is the general consensus about how to post new questions? Is it preferable to keep them in one thread (this one in my case) or if search doesn't turn up anything post a new thread to make searching for others more convenient?

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: Yskonyn

I have that Tracker tool installed. Actually, several times to have one for every savegame slot so I don't have to keep editing the config files all the time. [:)]

... just to reiterate, witptracker loads multiple turns from the game; so you only need one installation per game ongoing...

Cheers and welcome to AE.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Yskonyn

I have been totally addicted to Battlefield Bad Company 2 with 4 mates. It even got so bad that things around the house were left for my girl eventhough she had worked all day and I was off. It started to put a strain on my relationship and there we both drew the line. It creeps up on you unexpectedly, but I pulled the plug just in time. Able to play it casually with friends now, without the need to stay top of the rankings anymore. Me and my fiancee are doing well again now.

Utoh...I forsee terrible trouble. [;)] You will have to discipline yourself.

Here is an idea, when you start to get some friction, tell her you are taking her on a vacation to the tropics. Then you can take her to Borneo, Sumatra and the Lesser Sundas and visit all the Dutch East Indies battle sites (Balikpapan, Ambon, Kendari, Palembang etc, etc)...just dont tell her what you are doing....and take soem pictures if you find old shore batteries or rusted aircraft. [;)]

[Yskonyn]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Yskonyn

I have been totally addicted to Battlefield Bad Company 2 with 4 mates. It even got so bad that things around the house were left for my girl eventhough she had worked all day and I was off. It started to put a strain on my relationship and there we both drew the line. It creeps up on you unexpectedly, but I pulled the plug just in time. Able to play it casually with friends now, without the need to stay top of the rankings anymore. Me and my fiancee are doing well again now.

Utoh...I forsee terrible trouble. [;)] You will have to discipline yourself.

Here is an idea, when you start to get some friction, tell her you are taking her on a vacation to the tropics. Then you can take her to Borneo, Sumatra and the Lesser Sundas and visit all the Dutch East Indies battle sites (Balikpapan, Ambon, Kendari, Palembang etc, etc)...just dont tell her what you are doing....and take soem pictures if you find old shore batteries or rusted aircraft. [;)]

Lol, yeah that's actually a very good idea! [:)]
As I said, everything is under control. Usually I do have a very good grip on balance between hobbies and R&R with the girl. It was merely to illustrate that once in a while something called 'addiction' creeps up on you.
Nevertheless, your advise is going in the books here. Thanks! [&o] [:D]

[bretg80]

Don't forget to check out combat reporter in the Mods section and welcome to the club. Take it slow and don't get frustrated. This is a game you'll be playing for years and years.

Bret

[bradfordkay]

"Good question indeed, now that I think of it, it seems like there is a taboo on playing games... "

Just tell them that it isn't a game, it's a graphical study of the War In The Pacific. If you are playing a PBEM you can spend the whole time on the flight in the order phase and your compatriots will never hear the game sounds so they might just buy the lie... [;)]