To buy or not to buy?

[Long Lance]

Hi folks,

been ashore for months, but now I'm in the mood to lead Kido Butai to bring destruction all over the pacific.
I'm thinking about getting AE (I'm familiar with WitP), but I don't know if this game is the right one for me.

For example, I'm not in the mood to toy around with different types of ships to bring supplies, raw materials oil, fuel etc.
to the home islands or forward bases. And I do not want to care about the landwar in China.
I also was a bit disappointed about the air war model in WitP. IRL, F4Fs were more than vcitims to Zeroes, and Zeroes with experienced Pilots had also their chance against F6Fs; not so In WitP.

So I'd like to ask these questions about AE compared to WitP:

- Is there something that can be called Artificial INTELLIGENCE regarding automatic convoys/ASW-Patrols?
- Is there something that can be called Artificial INTELLIGENCE regarding the war in China?
- Is Aircombat/the course of the Airwar more dependant on the abilities of the Jap Player to conserve his pilots and make
gains with minor losses?
- For someone who has max 2 hrs. per day for AE, does it make sense to him playing AE?

Do you think I could enjoy AE? Should I buy it?


Thank you for your comments!

[Shellshock]

ORIGINAL: Long Lance


- Is there something that can be called Artificial INTELLIGENCE regarding automatic convoys/ASW-Patrols?

They can be put on a automated routine. There is no AI behind it. Not something I'd trust for most situations.

- Is there something that can be called Artificial INTELLIGENCE regarding the war in China?

None at all. However, you can pick a quiet China scenario where little goes on there.

- Is Aircombat/the course of the Airwar more dependant on the abilities of the Jap Player to conserve his pilots and make gains with minor losses?

Have to pass on this one as I've never played the Japanese [:D]

For someone who has max 2 hrs. per day for AE, does it make sense to him playing AE?

You should be able to squeeze out a solid turn per hour. However, the first turn(s) is the worst in terms of time consumed.

Do you think I could enjoy AE? Should I buy it?

Yes. It's so much better than the original WitP. Just wait for a sale.

[Canoerebel]

WITP:AE is the best game I've ever played by far. I am pretty sure I could be satisfied playing it and nothing else for the next ten years or so. Thanks to plenty of play testing and patches, most serious issues have been ironed out so that with minimial house rules opponents can engage in amazingly complex and tense and enjoyable games.

To be honest, you sound like a guy who wants to cruise around the map firing off your big guns as often as possible with as little work as possible. That's not AE. AE makes you earn the right to go around the map shooting off your big guns.

[TulliusDetritus]

It's curious, you want to avoid the part of the game I like the most: logistics [:)]

Auto-convoys (I never used them, see above) seem to work pretty well for your rear areas. That's what other players said.

As for ASW, no, you will need to micro-manage it. BUT once everything is in place (ASW planes that should cover important parts of the ocean + ASW ships -max react = 6- in the vicinity of these air bases with ASW planes), it's sort of "automatic".

[KenchiSulla]

After playing 521 turns in my PBEM with Arnhem I can only say - buy it..... Just study the logistics and you will even enjoy that part of the game with the ability to rush ships and modernise your IJAF and IJN...

[warspite1]

Off Topic - TulliusDetritus - The video in your signature is brilliant!!!! [:)]

On Topic - To the OP, you will probably not like WITPAE based on what you said about China - but depending on your financial situation, I would take the chance. It is an incredible game and if you should happen to like it, then it will have been money very well spent.

[TulliusDetritus]

Warspite, and today we have the match between possibly (in my opinion) the two best football clubs in the world right now: Manchester United vs Barcelona [X(] Maybe we will see again Ferguson chasing balloons... it all depends on the terror... er referee!

[TulliusDetritus]

Warspite, there is a quiet China scenario [:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

...... the two best football clubs in the world right now......

Warspite1

Tullius, I think you are mistaken, Tottenham Hotspur are not playing tonight [;)]

[Buck Beach]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

It's curious, you want to avoid the part of the game I like the most: logistics [:)]

Auto-convoys (I never used them, see above) seem to work pretty well for your rear areas. That's what other players said.

As for ASW, no, you will need to micro-manage it. BUT once everything is in place (ASW planes that should cover important parts of the ocean + ASW ships -max react = 6- in the vicinity of these air bases with ASW planes), it's sort of "automatic".

I too like the logistics the most.

[oldman45]

I hate to say it but the heart of the game is building the logistics to take the war to the enemy. Playing as the Allies angainst the AI you can do shoe string ops and most of the time get away with it but AndyMac built in 13 different AI routines and each one is different. The current game I have I tried to pull off two shoe string ops and as luck would have it the IJN paid me a visit both times much to my dismay.

I do love the game and after a while I really enjoyed the early war challanges of setting up my defence and building the bases and logistics train to support my counter attacks. The Babes mods has really up the enjoyment level.

If the thought of logistics turns you off this might not be the game for ya.

[Long Lance]

Thanks so far for the answers!

Just to clarify - as opposed of what of what some of you might think, I love logistics, setting up my TFs, orgaizing my Airfields etc. But the things like City X directly NW of Tokyo has 50 factories that are damaged, but recieves no supply because no land forces are based there although Tokyo has plenty really drove me off starting a new campaign - as did the air combat model.

Are there any comments regarding air combat? Still 14 F4U Exp 67 attacked by 84 A6M3 Exp 85 resulting in 1 F4U damaged und 134 Zero shot down, 92 damaged?

[USSAmerica]

LL, I don't know of any existing supply issues, etc, like you describe above.  Most of the "quirks" of WitP have been fixed in AE and there are TONS of enhancements. 

The air combat model is completely new, and as far as I'm concerned, light years ahead of WitP!  Take the plunge, I don't think you'll be even slightly disappointed.  [:)]

[Long Lance]

ORIGINAL: USS America

LL, I don't know of any existing supply issues, etc, like you describe above.  Most of the "quirks" of WitP have been fixed in AE and there are TONS of enhancements. 

The air combat model is completely new, and as far as I'm concerned, light years ahead of WitP!  Take the plunge, I don't think you'll be even slightly disappointed.  [:)]

That was the statement i waited for! Quirks ironed out, Air combat model overhauled. Perhaps I won't find enough time to play the game, but that's enough said to know that at least I want to own it..

Thank you Ok, I'm moving to the DL-Area!

[KenchiSulla]

Have fun!

[DeriKuk]

I'm not in the mood to toy around with different types of ships to bring supplies, raw materials oil, fuel etc.

Avoid this game. It is not for you. Do not commit yourself to a PBEM game of any serious quality. You'll be doing your opponent a disfavour by wasting his time.

Go play some 20-minute FPS with lots of noise and flash.

[Pascal_slith]

This is a game that requires committment in time, learning and knowledge to get the full benefit. If you're really into WWII Pacific history in all its details, you'll get a lot out of it and the forum. The forum activity and topics are a great way to find out about how plunged everyone here is in the abyss... [:)]

[HexHead]

ORIGINAL: Pascal

This is a game that requires committment in time, learning and knowledge to get the full benefit. If you're really into WWII Pacific history in all its details, you'll get a lot out of it and the forum. The forum activity and topics are a great way to find out about how plunged everyone here is in the abyss... [:)]

If I want to know how many foot-pounds were specified for the torque on the manifold bolts for an F6F, this is this first place I would click on.

'Cuz most folks 'round here are seriously deranged [:D]

[ilovestrategy]

ORIGINAL: hjalmar99


Avoid this game. It is not for you. Do not commit yourself to a PBEM game of any serious quality. You'll be doing your opponent a disfavour by wasting his time.

Go play some 20-minute FPS with lots of noise and flash.

Damn dude. No need to insult him. He's being upfront with his playstlye and he just said he's going over to the DL area.

[Fallschirmjager]

ORIGINAL: Long Lance

Hi folks,

been ashore for months, but now I'm in the mood to lead Kido Butai to bring destruction all over the pacific.
I'm thinking about getting AE (I'm familiar with WitP), but I don't know if this game is the right one for me.

For example, I'm not in the mood to toy around with different types of ships to bring supplies, raw materials oil, fuel etc.
to the home islands or forward bases. And I do not want to care about the landwar in China.
I also was a bit disappointed about the air war model in WitP. IRL, F4Fs were more than vcitims to Zeroes, and Zeroes with experienced Pilots had also their chance against F6Fs; not so In WitP.

So I'd like to ask these questions about AE compared to WitP:

- Is there something that can be called Artificial INTELLIGENCE regarding automatic convoys/ASW-Patrols?
- Is there something that can be called Artificial INTELLIGENCE regarding the war in China?
- Is Aircombat/the course of the Airwar more dependant on the abilities of the Jap Player to conserve his pilots and make
gains with minor losses?
- For someone who has max 2 hrs. per day for AE, does it make sense to him playing AE?

Do you think I could enjoy AE? Should I buy it?


Thank you for your comments!

In all seriousness based on what you just said, I don't think this game would be for you. It sounds like you dislike much of the core of the game. It also takes some serious time investment.
If the game was far cheaper I might suggest it on chance, but at the current price I would avoid it.

You can maybe wait for the holiday sale in December and see if you can get it for about $25 cheaper than what it is right now. Doing that will make it less of a risk if you do not like it.

Or if you want to chance on buying it, what is the Matrix policy on reselling games? I have not read the complete EULA in a while. I am not sure if you could sell the game or not.