New player saying hello and looking for some advice at the same time.

[sdhundt]

It might be painful but the best knowledge you sometimes gain is when you make a huge mistake that costs you some very valuable assets, such as a CV task force.  When you do something that costs you huge or if you forget to do something that again costs you a valuable fighting unit you tend to remember that mistake and then you will have learned to never do it again.....I very much agree with your nastiness comment.  This forum is for everyone, not just the ones who think they own it.

[Sardaukar]

BTW, if it's not mentioned, Search function works if you tick "Less precise match" inder the text field. At least works fine for me that way.

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: Yskonyn

I think part of the 'problem' with my so-called 'uneasyness', if you will, in playing this game is all the expectations you have from it. It has a tendency to trigger some paranoid feelings in my head, making sure I did check up on everything I know for now given a certain turn.
Its reassuring to know that I can give it some more room though.

More questions will no doubt follow.

In the GC you will forget things and set a unit to do something it should not from time to time. There is so much to do that it is not really possible to go without missing something. Things like this are forgetting to set a TF to unload, and other easy to miss details. As far as a paranoid feeling, I have heard that from others and experienced it myself. I think that is another product of having so much to do. Sometimes I sit there trying to remember what it was that I "forgot". Eventually I have to force myself to end turn and send it to my opponents. Hoping, of course, that I really hadn't missed something important.

[rockmedic109]

You might want to go through the Readme files.  They contain a lot of little gems and changes that you might want {need?} to know about.  The support for this game is phenomenal and many small game changes take place in updates. 

[nashvillen]

I keep a yellow note pad on a clipboard next to my keyboard when running a turn and keep notes on things that come up during the turn to take care of. When the turn is done, I send the combat file off to my opponent (I am a JFB) and then run tracker on the turn as it exists now. I use tracker to see if there is anything else I need to do with either alerts or my industrial aspects.

I use numerous spreadsheets to keep track of operations. What units are set to go where, and after that operation is done, where they are going to next, and then again where they are going to after that. I hope to keep a fast pace. In my current game with rjopel I didn't do that and am losing the initiative in September 1942 and not taking everything I wanted to. If I had just kept things moving, it would have been quicker and I would have had more opportunities. I spent too much time moving units hither and yon!

My next game should be better, I am currently working on setting that up now. It is taking a lot of time to do as I have stuff spread all over and I am glad my opponent, rusty1961, is patient!

[sdhundt]

As the Allies, at least for the first year when your units are limited, you might not need to write everything down but from what I can see here if you are playing the Japs. it's much more daunting of a task so a lot of note taking and planning is needed.

[mg62]

I play as Allies against the AI Japanese.   When I started I didn't worry about every detail.  For example I am into the summer of '43 in my GC and have really not focused on the Pilot Training.  Playing against the AI is easier and allows for some inefficient handling of your forces.
 
I am getting ready to start a new GC and will work on the Pilot Training in this new GC. 
 
Also I think everyone has thier own tracking sheet or method of play.  I always start a turn by reviewing combat/op reports and intell (although the intel is less of an issue for me in at this stage of my GC).  I then work counter clockwise arround the map starting in China ending up on the West Coast & Cent Pac.  Some tasks I handle on a weekly basis; like sub patrols.
 
All in all this game has kept me interested for several years.  I had WitP for a couple of years and now find AE an excellent challenge.
 
 
 

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: jeffk3510

Yskonyn - I don't know what sdhunts problem is but:

2. The search function DOES actually work

It works OK with the less-than-precise box checked. It doesn't work as well as it used to before the forum redesign. However, as several helpful posters have outlined in other threads, Google works VERY well for searching the archives if you instruct it properly. I use Google most of the time these days.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Yskonyn

Thanks for the welcome, guys.
I will start with Guadalcanal and go from there. Questions will certainly pop up as I go.

As others hve said, welcome.

A suggestion: if you're haivng trouble with basic switchology and button pushing the Guad. scenario might be a hill too far. I'd start with Coral Sea and 1000-Mile and work up. They will allow layering of knowledge. Guad dumps you right into amphib ops, sub ops, intense air ops, etc. from the get-go. It's also long enough for you to get in the middle with a pretty substantial time commitment and realize you have no idea why certain things are happening. That way brings frustration.

The manual is dense, but an excellent resource as you learn. Start at the beginnning and read through Section 5.0 inclusive. Ignore hotkeys for now; do everything the hard way. That will give you enough to get through the two scenarios above. I don't think AARs are that useful until you have a basic grasp of what the game does, and what it doesn't do for you.

[Oldguard1970]

Welcome!
 
You mentioned some of the uneasiness and worry that comes from not having your arms around all of the details... You are quite right!  However, the AI does a fine job as a sparring partner to help you learn the basics and become generally comfortable with the routines that will work for you.
 
I think all of the old hands have come to recognize a player will never master all of the details of this game, so do not fret. 
 
I find this game to be astonishing in its ability to capture a player's intense interest and focus.  Once you move into PBEM, the tension rises to incredible levels.  What Fun!

[Misconduct]

ORIGINAL: OldGuard1970

Welcome!

You mentioned some of the uneasiness and worry that comes from not having your arms around all of the details... You are quite right!  However, the AI does a fine job as a sparring partner to help you learn the basics and become generally comfortable with the routines that will work for you.

I think all of the old hands have come to recognize a player will never master all of the details of this game, so do not fret. 

I find this game to be astonishing in its ability to capture a player's intense interest and focus.  Once you move into PBEM, the tension rises to incredible levels.  What Fun!

On my 4th PBEM (3rd as Japanese! amazing I lasted this long) and millions of frustrations later, I still am seeking to tame this game. I am no veteran, heck I had to ask my opponent for a restart of my last turn because sending a dozen ships past singapore doesn't work when the shore batteries are still up! oops!

He had a good laugh when he seen my entire smaller KB getting slaughtered, and had a feeling I would politely ask, and he had no objection to "ending the war early" haha

Good luck, and if anyone has any questions to ask feel free to use the search or ask here, were glad to help

[Yskonyn]

Great feedback keeps on coming! Again thank you. [&o]
I am glad many people admit having been where I feel I stand right now. It's also quite reassuring that in order to have fun and at least a little knowledgde of what goes on why does not need you having read everything there is on this game. [;)]
Wasn't the Coral Sea battle a 2 days only conflict? Does this scenario end after two turns?

[Misconduct]

ORIGINAL: Yskonyn

Great feedback keeps on coming! Again thank you. [&o]
I am glad many people admit having been where I feel I stand right now. It's also quite reassuring that in order to have fun and at least a little knowledgde of what goes on why does not need you having read everything there is on this game. [;)]
Wasn't the Coral Sea battle a 2 days only conflict? Does this scenario end after two turns?

Nope! Each Scenario has a timeline, and its not for 2 days! 2 Turns? That would really not be fun to play! Coral Sea is from 1st May to 15th May I believe, if you read the scenario selection it will show you the time line of the scenarios

[Yskonyn]

[;)] That's what I was suspecting as well, but just to be sure I thought I'd ask.
I didn't notice the timeline yet, thank you for pointing it out.

[CaptDave]

Another thing to remember when beating yourself up over your mistakes -- the real-life admirals and all made their share, as well!  And you're trying to play the roles of everyone in the chain of command, without a staff to help you.  Baby steps, baby steps...

[Yskonyn]

I have started the Coral Sea scenario today.
First resolution was quite devastating for one of the JTFs coming from the NE. Two destroyers sunk, the rest of the ships in the TF on fire. No Allied losses in that attack, nor aircraft damage.

I decided to put the plug into the NE advancement after many allied subs reporting TF contacts in the N, seemingly racing to Port Moresby. The two large CV's en-route to a cental overwatch/attack position in the Coral Sea.

Upon closing the efforts for today, though, all of a sudden there have been quite a few enemy subs spotted between Brisbane and my more N positioned TFs!

Should I engage these subs? Or do they pose little threat?
I have noticed you can open Intelligence report screens which will give you hex locations of spotted activity or radio contacts, but I find it hard to make out where exactly those reports refer to with the map being obscured due to the screen itself.
Do you just have to jot all that info down?

[Mac Linehan]

ORIGINAL: sdhundt

Yes, after you give orders to every unit that needs orders then it might be several turns before you need to do anything of great substance.  Having said that "I" always go back over most units every turn to make sure I didn't miss anything.  This is easy to do in a short game but in a GC I just usually make sure my TF's are still headed to the correct locations and to make sure they aren't headed into dangerous waters that might not have been dangerous the last turn.

sdhundt -

You are a Man after my own heart!

Mac

[Mac Linehan]

ORIGINAL: OldGuard1970

Welcome!

You mentioned some of the uneasiness and worry that comes from not having your arms around all of the details... You are quite right!  However, the AI does a fine job as a sparring partner to help you learn the basics and become generally comfortable with the routines that will work for you.

I think all of the old hands have come to recognize a player will never master all of the details of this game, so do not fret. 

I find this game to be astonishing in its ability to capture a player's intense interest and focus.  Once you move into PBEM, the tension rises to incredible levels. What Fun!

OldGuard -

This is so true.

Several evenings ago, I was watching the combat replay from the current turn, and was making comments and observations out loud (some of which were not polite), when I realized my wife and daughter were watching and listening to me with amusement - from the doorway behind me.

Oh well -

Mac

[CaptDave]

ORIGINAL: Yskonyn

I have noticed you can open Intelligence report screens which will give you hex locations of spotted activity or radio contacts, but I find it hard to make out where exactly those reports refer to with the map being obscured due to the screen itself.
Do you just have to jot all that info down?

Either make notes or view the report in an external editor (such as Notepad) and toggle back and forth. The most recent report is in the file asigint.txt (jsigint.txt) for the other side) and can be found in the SAVE folder. Older reports are available, as well -- they have dates in their filenames.

[PaxMondo]

combatreporter is invaluable.  has a map that shows you where the activity took place ... very handy.