Scenario for Testing: Focus Pacific

[CaptBeefheart]

I did move in some forces that didn't start in Palembang, by the way. Maybe a battalion from the west and the Djambi base force. Java will be a tougher nut to crack, methinks.

If the Babes AA tweak isn't in this scenario, I do recommend it, as the Allies could use the help since CAP just gets shredded.

Cheers,
CC

[paradigmblue]

Thank you all for the feedback! Please keep it coming.

For those of you more familiar with DaBabes, did the flak/AA pass just affect device stats, or was there something more?

I'm also curious as to if their tweaked aircraft stats would be more of a help or hindrance.

[Lowpe]

Perhaps my seminal moment playing Ironman, was when the Admiral Lutzow showed up and sank 3 oilers and 2 destroyers. That ship, was a ghost. It would show up in unexpected places, and at one point I had the entire British Navy hunting her, and I could never find her.

I had thought AndyMac hardscripted her to show up and then disappear.

She was horrible.

Here, she makes an appearance off the west coast of Australia...unfortunately the target was very small.[:(]

[Symon]

Hello. Two things.

First, Flak/AA stats are in the Device file. The best parts don't show up in the editor, you need to look at the "special" columns (V, W, X, Y) in the WITPdev000.csv file.

Second, stacking limits are part of the map system. They are in a 'stacking limits' pwhexe file for both the stock and extended maps. A player may use or not use them as they wish, irrespective of a scenario.

Ciao. JWE

[Lowpe]

Commander Cody and I are moving right along in this game, up to Dec 20th or so.

Palembang fell. Looks like a defence in Luzon will be Bataan and Clark AF.

Allies getting some licks in with minefields.

Unmak has fallen, Dutch Harbor was bombarded by 4 IJN battleships (there are so many!).

Wake Island still holding out, but not for much longer I think.

Small carrier strike at Balikpapen takes out a couple of Dutch CLs.

One odd thing, is the repair shipyards at Manila are now heavily damaged, despite no attacks. Odd.

[Lowpe]

The Azuma starts pretty heavily upgraded, should be moved back to an earlier model I think.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

I did move in some forces that didn't start in Palembang, by the way. Maybe a battalion from the west and the Djambi base force. Java will be a tougher nut to crack, methinks.

If the Babes AA tweak isn't in this scenario, I do recommend it, as the Allies could use the help since CAP just gets shredded.

Cheers,
CC

Careful here, as there are serious additional Japanese static AA units in the Homelands, plus beefed up AA guns in individual units from the get go. I will have to check tracker, but there are lots of 88mm AA tubes for Japan, at start, not to mention the 12 cm goodies. Bombing the Home Islands is going to be hard and from high up I think.

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

The Azuma starts pretty heavily upgraded, should be moved back to an earlier model I think.

Thanks, I'll make the fix.

Instead of tweaking the AA values themselves, I may just add a few more allied early game AA units in some key locations- especially because I'm not comfortable messing around with the .csv files outside of the editor.

[paradigmblue]

I just wanted to check in and let everyone know that I'm still working on improvements. Here's what to expect with the next release. I'm crossing my fingers that I can get all these things wrapped up by Sunday evening:

* Extensive new air art for French planes, courtesy Madman Rick
* Improved French upgrade paths, including improvements of French air frames with US and British engines and armament that let the interesting French designs stay relevant later in the game. After doing some additional research, I think I may have sold the Breguet Br700 short, as its performance was supposed to be equal to superior to the Bf109, and was supposed to carry a very heavy gun load. With this in mind, I've renamed the Br700 airframe that was in the mod to Br697, which was the prototype for the Br700, and created the Br700 as an air frame that starts production in early 1942.
* Additional Dutch CD units that were in the editor but not functioning in the game properly - this should be fixed.
* Tweaks to Allied aircraft production
* Some additional allied AA assets in the Philippines and the DEI
* Additional allied training squadrons - this will help get some decent pilots in the allied pools faster
* Changed restrictions on some allied units on the West Coast to allow them to be bought out
* French Training Squadrons, located in the UK
* Added a CD regiment to Mersing - this won't stop or even slow down the Mersing Gambit, but it's something for the Japanese player to consider.
* Fixed the Azuma - it should not spawn with 1944 AA anymore.
* Added the P-50 Skyrocket to the game, with P-50, P-50A and P-50B models. After looking at a lot of "what-if" planes, this looked to be the one that was 1) The most plausible to actually have entered service if development hadn't been so troubled, and 2) The air frame that would have the greatest potential impact on the allies early-war air game.
* Tweaked the CAF a bit, added some more aviation support assets, and added CAF training squadrons in Chengtu.

[paradigmblue]

I'm pleased to announce that the newest version of the mod has been posted on dropbox, with the changes detailed in the previous post, as well as a few others:

*The addition of ARDs to the mod
*The inclusion of the rest of the planned Alaska class CBs
*Additional base hexes in Alaska, including Prudhoe Bay, which has oil but no infrastructure. For a Japanese player having trouble in the DEI, this could be another options for getting Oil to the Home Islands - but shipping to and from Prodhoe in the winter will be murder on your tankers!
*An accelerated timeline for the Midway class CVBs

One thing I was not able to get to - adding all the French Air Art. I'm having significant difficulties putting the top and mask files in the correct slots and having them match up pixel-perfect. Part of my difficulty is that I'm very bad with photoshop, and struggle every time I have to edit these files. If anyone has a little more experience working with the top, side and mask .bmps that can help me add the plane art in, it would be greatly appreciated.

To upgrade to the newest version (if you've been keeping up on previous versions):

Download the new SCEN files
Download AnSide0499.bmp from the Art>AlliedShip_Back Folder
Download AnShil0499.bmp from the Art>AlliedShip_Transp Folder
Download A_PlaneSide.bmp, Aptop_Alpha.bmp and Aptop.bmp from the Art>Plane Art Folder

If you're new to the mod, use the instructions listed previously in the thread.

[paradigmblue]

I wasn't happy with a lot of little supply issues, so I made some changes so that some Allied bases aren't in the yellow for supply on the second turn. New SCEN files are available on Dropbox.

Overall, I'm a lot more happy with the allied air OOB now. While Japan still has a significant advantage, they must proceed more deliberately and work to establish air superiority before moving in. The 9 allied Skyrocket squadrons will have a lasting impact on the air game, and be an important tool for the allies up until the Thunderbolt enters service.

[paradigmblue]

General Patton caught some issues for me to clean up, new SCEN files with those changes on dropbox.

[Lowpe]

Commander Cody and I are moving along...we haven't upgraded yet to the new files, in truth a little worried it might kill the game.

The improvements look good![&o]

No problems with Japan being a steam roller.[:)] Sumatra falling, Luzon collapsing in on Clark, Baker Island just fell, Wake holding out, Port Moresby looks at risk, the Aluetians are falling. A huge IJA force seems to be building at Johore, and Pegu is threatened. In China, Sian seems at risk...

There are other moves going on but I don't think CC has cottoned on to them yet...so mom is the word.[8D]

Had some very nice small cl/destroyer sized battles recently...very fun. Also, it is so much fun trashing the French AF in China! A hoot![:D]

[CaptBeefheart]

Lowpe: I fired up the new scenario under a brand new WITP-AE install. I'll try to import a save of our game to that as an experiment and see if it works. If it does seem to work, we should then follow this process:

tm.asp?m=2233574

Paradigmblue: One thing I noticed, which the esteemed General Patton probably discovered, was that the 55,000 ton ARDs are doubled (there are two arriving at the same time and place under different names when it should be one). Also, the 55,000 ton ARD that arrives in Portland can't move from there as the Columbia River isn't wide enough, so you might change it to arrive in Seattle. That is, unless the map has been changed to allow big ship access to Portland.

One more suggestion: Since you have created a unique pwhex file, one that has stacking limits would have to be created especially for this scenario. I don't have any idea how much trouble that would be, but might be something to think about in the future as an option to players (i.e. offer a limits or a non-limits choice).

I like those Skyrockets and the performance boost to some of the French airframes. That should help the balance a fair amount.

Cheers,
CC

[Lowpe]

I have never had a problem upgrading to the latest beta release using that protocol.

Thanks CC.

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Lowpe: I fired up the new scenario under a brand new WITP-AE install. I'll try to import a save of our game to that as an experiment and see if it works. If it does seem to work, we should then follow this process:

tm.asp?m=2233574

Paradigmblue: One thing I noticed, which the esteemed General Patton probably discovered, was that the 55,000 ton ARDs are doubled (there are two arriving at the same time and place under different names when it should be one). Also, the 55,000 ton ARD that arrives in Portland can't move from there as the Columbia River isn't wide enough, so you might change it to arrive in Seattle. That is, unless the map has been changed to allow big ship access to Portland.

One more suggestion: Since you have created a unique pwhex file, one that has stacking limits would have to be created especially for this scenario. I don't have any idea how much trouble that would be, but might be something to think about in the future as an option to players (i.e. offer a limits or a non-limits choice).

I like those Skyrockets and the performance boost to some of the French airframes. That should help the balance a fair amount.

Cheers,
CC

Thanks CC. I did notice the 2 ARD's. but not the river being wide enough. If I remember correctly from a scenario 1 game I played 2 to 3 hundred years ago,[:D] the USN gets a few ARD's in mid to late 43, I think, at Seattle. SO, Para, Maybe have them appear at Seattle....GP

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

the esteemed General Patton
Cheers,
CC

Hey, did you guys see the new book about me.[:D] "Killing General Patton".[:D] Not sure I like the title, but my wife is buying it for me on fathers day....GP

[Lowpe]

We are going to upgrade to the latest scenario files this weekend...any tips.

I got this from C-C: Also, I tested a save from this (not the end turn save) and found out it works, but the game is stuck with the original map and reinforcement units. If we update as described in the forum, would the new reinforcement units and map details show up, or are we stuck? I have to admit I'm not very knowledgeable on that aspect of this game.


C-C & I are celebrating Christmas in our sample game...so I gave him a present, a surprise CV raid! So far this mod is immensely entertaining for Japan...[:D]

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

We are going to upgrade to the latest scenario files this weekend...any tips.

I got this from C-C: Also, I tested a save from this (not the end turn save) and found out it works, but the game is stuck with the original map and reinforcement units. If we update as described in the forum, would the new reinforcement units and map details show up, or are we stuck? I have to admit I'm not very knowledgeable on that aspect of this game.

Unfortunately, I believe ship reinforcements and map changes can't be made once the game has been started. However, the additional allied air frames will be present. So while Cody won't get the new P-50 squadrons, he will get production of the P-50 that he can then upgrade some squadrons to. He'll also get access to the new Br700, which is an absolute beast of a plane, and the Morane MS450.

I'm actually toning down the early-war P-50s a little bit - while I want them to be strong, they are outright overpowered for 1941. I've toned down their speed and added an intermediary version between the P-50 and P-65 that upgrades in early 42, pushing the P-65 back to October of 42. Without this change the allies would have a 414mph fighter in early 42, which I think we can agree is a bit too much.

Don't worry AFBs, the P-50 is still the best plane in the allied arsenal in the early game by a wide margin.

I also toned down the experience of the pilots in Hawaii and the West Coast to more reasonable levels.

[CaptBeefheart]

We will know this weekend once we do an update whether those P-50s or other new airframes show up. They didn't when I ported the save file to a new Focus Pacific install.

I'm not sure it's realistic, as that area would have been ice-bound for much or all of the year, but I do like the Prudhoe Bay idea. That brings the Aleutians much more into play.

Cheers,
CC