DaBigBabes questions

[sfatula]

So, seems interesting. I read their site, but, I don't see anywhere anyone has discussed how it plays differently than stock scenario 1. So, they say data files have changes, and they say "Many other modifications have been made in order to make things smoother and more rationally related to one another". Not very specific. Not looking for precise and exact details, I know those take forever.

What I am wondering is this. If someone played stock scenario 1, and, DaBigBabes 28, what would they actually notice and have to account for at a strategic level? Does it change the victory possibilities at all? Easier for one side or the other?

Just wondering what the overall impact is to the game. Not what unit specifics happen to change. Just trying to figure out why I would want to play or decide it's not something I would be interested in in other words.

[wdolson]

The DaBabes scenarios come with stacking limits as an option (you need to change the pwhexe file). They also change the composition and OOB for the base forces which change the picture a bit. The way you use support units changes a bit. I don't recall if it was added to the stock scenarios or not, but submarines have their tubes divided up so you don't just get a group of 6 tubes forward and 4 back for example, you get 3 groups of 2 forward and 2 groups back which allows for torpedo salvos of two torpedoes at a time. The code has some target value calculations that fires a number of tubes based on the values of target. A freighter would only get a single pair of tubes fired where a CV would get a full spread. DaBabes was the first scenarios to use this salvo ability by changing the class descriptions to take advantage of it.

DaBabes is sort of stock enhanced. Especially DaBabes A.

Bill

[Yaab]

Some comparisons:
- AA fire is more deadly in BigBabes than stock
- there is fewer aviation support available in BigBabes which slows down the operational tempo
- bombs from bombers are dropped in sticks in BigBabes which makes air bombing less lethal than stock
- you get some small ships classes in BigBabes which are not in stock
- units have lower engineer values in BigBabes which slows down base development

[sfatula]

Thanks Yaab. A few follow ups if you have the time.

What is the impact to the Japanese expansion with AA being more deadly, less aviation support, and, less engineering? Sounds, without knowing, like that a big nerf to the attack? Does the "sticks" mean 4E are somewhat less effective in bombing role? Just as hard to shoot down I suppose, kill just as many fighters too? And the AI handles the new units?

Just curious as to the effect on the early and mid war.

[Yaab]

I only play Allies in DaBigBabes, can't advice on the Jap side. Less aviation and engineers affects both sides. Japs lose more aircraft to Allied AA for sure. B-17s - less deadly. I haven't seen any Jap fighter shot down by B-17s yet. Unit handling by AI - cannot comment, nothing out of the ordinary. The only strange thing is lack of fighter sweeps by the AI. It does escort, CAP and probably LRCAP but no sweeps.

I think the changes were to slow down the game a bit, so more games last until the historical end date.

[sfatula]

Was trying to find some AARs for DaBigBabes, but only found a few small ones. Was hoping to see one written by the Japanese side to see what troubles they encountered. Maybe few play it I guess.

[Yaab]

Jap side, DaBigBabes B
tm.asp?m=3733049

[sfatula]

Does Palembang make supply in DaBigBabes?

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: sfatula

Does Palembang make supply in DaBigBabes?

Ne refineries do so far as I know. It changes assumptions in certain places.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: sfatula

Does Palembang make supply in DaBigBabes?

Ne refineries do so far as I know. It changes assumptions in certain places.

Yep, in Babes if you want to build a fortress Palembang you have to ship supply in to sustain it.

[Zigurat666]

I am playing DaBabes for the first time and I can say there are a lot more changes "I believe" to the unit adjustments than just additions etc.
What I mean is I am finding casulties are EXTREMELY high for normal attacks. For example I just invaded an empty base hex in mid 42 as the Jap and took 1400 casulties just stepping off the boat.Other examples like doing a mere deliberate attack with 4 or 5-1 AV against disrupted chinese will yield you around 3-4 thousand casulties to a mere 1-2 hundred loss on the chinese side.As this is my first time I was also not used to the supply issues. It appears as though the roles are reversed for fuel versus resources. I have fuel all over the place in abundance but am almost depleted resources in mid 42 even using 90% of my mechant fleet shipping them.Also hard to believe that in the whole hemisphere that Japan is basically your only source for supply so as you expand into Aussie or India make sure you bring loads and loads because its a month long trip to bring more if you can find the ships since most of them are trying to stop the resource suck of the home islands.
To be continued...

[HansBolter]

Resurrected on old thread I see.

I have to say that after playing Babes for some time I will likely never go back to stock.

I even convinced AndyMac to create a Babes version of his well known Ironman scenario: Ironman Ported to Babes.

Both extreme mods I have been playing recently, Between the Storms and Focus Pacific are based on Babes.

Babes, Babes based Mods, extended map and full stacking limits all the way!!!

[Yaab]

The India invasion may be tricky. If you take Calcutta you get a nice amount of LI there, but the LI is fed with resources coming from several bases in the vicinity of Calcutta, namely Asansol, Sambalpur and Jamshedpur. If Allies hold these bases, Calcutta' LI will not produce supplies for the Japanese. I guess this is why India looks supply-starved in the Japanese eyes.