Simple Balancer Fantasy (SBF) Mod

[GaryChildress]

And without treaties, Guam and other forward bases will also be strengthened. Maybe Singapore and Hong Kong will get a boost too.

[Shark7]

The USN and USMC were busy fortifying Wake Island when the war started. That is how 98 civilian contractors ended up as POWs. Imagine if all that had already been done due to an out of control arms race. The first 6 months might not have been so easy for the IJA/IJN, especially if the USN and RN had been preparing for the conflict since the early 1920s.

[GaryChildress]

Now for the $60,000,000.01 question: Does anyone think this mod will be worth playing? Is it too far out? Too far fetched? Or do some of my new toys look appealing? Overall what do others think of a no naval treaties world where there is plenty of license to fabricate new ship types.

Honest answers are most welcome.

Thanks.

[dwg]

Does anyone think this mod will be worth playing? Is it too far out? Too far fetched? Or do some of my new toys look appealing? Overall what do others think of a no naval treaties world where there is plenty of license to fabricate new ship types.

Seeing as I'm intermittently working on something similar myself (but with deeper changes than just the Treaties), I'm going to say it's definitely interesting, whether it is worth playing is a question for the individual person and their own preferences, some people are focussed on historicity, some are more open to what-iffery.

A different, Naval Treaty-less, world will necessarily lead to different design choices, and on that basis the stuff you're proposing doesn't seem too outre. I'm going down a slightly different path, keeping existing designs largely as is, but focussing on the Cherry Trees and other designs that never saw the light of day. One thing to bear in mind is that those naval changes won't happen in isolation, they'll be matched by similar changes in ground and air deployments. The opportunity to see FM-1 Airacudas taking on Japanese strikes over Clark Field, or Airabonitas flying off the Yorktown, or Reapers in the air over Singapore, has a definite attraction. I can't say if I'll ever play the mod if you release it, but I'll certain probe the living daylights out of its database for ideas I can use for my own mod, ditto for ship or aircraft illos.

Ultimately it doesn't matter what anyone else feels, it's a hobby, and the only question that needs answering is whether working on these changes entertains you?

[GaryChildress]

Honestly, the most fun for me is making the whacky ship art. Actually getting into the database and coming up with stats is the laborious part.

[dwg]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

Honestly, the most fun for me is making the whacky ship art. Actually getting into the database and coming up with stats is the laborious part.

Honestly, the most fun for me is making the whacky plane art. Actually getting into the database and coming up with stats is the laborious part

With a background positing a two decade long arms race, I've got a bunch of air units to add, I'm currently working my way through the Dominions and minor colonies (sadly I don't think I can justify giving the North Borneo Company its own air arm). I ran up the scenario last night just to check on what I'd added so far, and was treated to the spectacle of Khota Baru launching 99 Hudsons against the Japanese invasion fleet. Wonder of wonders they actually hit something! (Lest anyone think I've gone completely over the top, those squadrons are meant to be scattered all over the map and I don't think any are even meant to have Hudsons, I'd just happened to clone the Khota Baru Hudson squadron to create the new ones and hadn't yet gotten around to setting individual locations and aircraft yet. Did make me smile, though).

[CaptBeefheart]

This sure is interesting. I like the "what-if" stuff a lot. My question would be on the AI. Would it be possible to get Andy Mac to do some AI script work on it?

Cheers,
CC

[dwg]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody
This sure is interesting. I like the "what-if" stuff a lot. My question would be on the AI.

I'm not sure how much would be necessary if you leave things so the existing AI can function. I ran a few more turns into my test scenario and saw a couple of sensible moves out of the computer that I hadn't been expecting. I also got to see what Force Z can do if it runs into an unescorted invasion convoy - 16 ships sunk and 26,000 ground troops reported lost - ouch! Need to check and see if that was a AI-scripted convoy, or if the computer was innovating on its own.

[Shark7]

You'll also notice if you really look at the scripts that in truth you need only tell the AI how to use its LCUs and Air groups. The AI as is will use any ships you give it.

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

Honestly, the most fun for me is making the whacky ship art. Actually getting into the database and coming up with stats is the laborious part.

Since you already making new ships from scratch, you could use new Devices for all weapons in one turret (like 3x16 in, or 25mm AAMG(3)), with better hit/damage statistics and check how it would play.

For the beginning US-Japan battle on Philippines water (small map) with all those new ships, or invasion of Indochina with support of British, for French naval forces.