Focus Pacific: Release

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Izumo would be a cool name if it's not already in the scenario.

By the way, that's an interesting looking "destroyer."

Cheers,
CC

What destroyer?....GP

[paradigmblue]

Sorry I haven't been active here for a while - my new position at work has absorbed every waking moment of free time lately. In addition to managing the 14,500sf liquor store, I now also am the wine buyer for the other 22 stores in the chain, and I'm swamped.

If there is a pressing bug that needs fixing, please pm me, as I won't be able to monitor this threat daily like I used to be able to. Thanks!

[btd64]

A promotion, congratulations....GP

[CaptBeefheart]

GP: If you click the link, the Izumo, a "helicopter destroyer," looks about as big as an Essex.

Cheers,
CC

[btd64]

Saw it. A little bit modern for WITPAE[;)]....GP

[wdolson]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

GP: If you click the link, the Izumo, a "helicopter destroyer," looks about as big as an Essex.

Cheers,
CC

The Izumo class is a bit lighter in displacement than an Essex, but they have a wider beam and about the same length. Much smaller complement too, partly due to the very small air group and partly due to modern automation.

Bill

[BillBrown]

British CVL Colosus has 0 armor values. Is this intentional?

[DOCUP]

Glad I could help GP. I think they add a nice flavor to the game. A couple of the old armored cruisers are listed as PGs for Japan also.

[Revthought]

ORIGINAL: paradigmblue

Focus Pacific Stuff

I really need an explanation of the alternate timeline before I'm capable of suspending disbelief (not really, but it helps!) [:)] I know you say in the original post that you'll detail these, but as far as I can tell haven't really yet. Do you still plan to do this?

[BillBrown]

Scenario 71, B19E Raider upgrades(?) to the B19D Raider.

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

Scenario 71, B19E Raider upgrades(?) to the B19D Raider.

Thank you Bill. It's on the list for 75 at the moment. Para will add as well.....GP

[BillBrown]

I want to thank all who worked on this mod. I am playing the Allies in scenario 71 and it is a blast.
We are at March 18, 1942 and there has been non stop action since day 1. To others who may be interested in
playing the Allies, do not be put off by how much Japan starts with, the Allies have plenty to defend
with and in a few years they will have enough to crush Japan. We are playing version 1.03 with no house
rules and no withdrawals.

[btd64]

Thank you Bill. It's hard to believe that paradigm blue and I started working together on this 2 1/2 years ago. I have a list of fixes and couple additions for the next update of scenario 75. Para can add as he seems fit....GP

[BillBrown]

Scenario 71

French mixed Colonial units use device #1340 60mm M1 1935 Mortar which is marked in the scenario file as available 9999 ( never )

They also use device #428 81mm Mortar which is also marked as 9999

They use device #1729 13.2mm mle 29 AAMG which has a build of 0 and no upgrade.
A number of other type units use #1729 also.

It is also interesting that the French use a number of Japanese DP and Naval guns in their CD units.
Of course there are no replacements for these which is probably correct.

[btd64]

Thanks again bill. I'll look into it and make any adjustments needed....GP

[paradigmblue]

Patton, what do you think about adding that Dutch Buccaneer that Gary created in place of the Dutch Vengeance DBs that we currently have in the game?

[btd64]

I looked at the art and like it. Yes, let's do it. I read about it as well. Looks like a cross between the original helldiver and a dauntless....GP

[btd64]

Para, Can you email the process you use to package your scenarios and later updates. Thanks dude....GP

[Joglinks1]

Bill Brown and I have been playing the mod for a while now. We are at the 9th of April '42.
We are playing Scen 071, Russ active, no withdrawal of units, PDU on. The only house rule we had is I was not to invade Mersing on my first turn.
As we all know, Japan needs to start an all out attack to gain the resources and point to win the game. I don't think the Axis player is able to archive this in scen 071. I am a average player having played several stock games and some of the other mods. Some I won some I lost.
Air war:
At this date I have lost 7900 planes to 2900 on the allied side. My IJN pilot pool is depleted to the point where I have only 700 pilots in training on the first cycle (month) All other pilots are in fighting units. I added the max to the IJN training squads and have 200 pilots in the training command. My + 80 pilots in my land based AF squads are depleted. On a normal sweep I lose 3 to 1 planes to the allies, mainly USSR. I have tried high level, low level best altitude for the plane I employed to no avail. My fighters get slaughtered.
There are probably several reasons:
1.No armour on the Japanese planes.
2.Skill of allied pilots is set to high
3.Weapons in the Ki43c are useless against all but the most obsolete allied fighters in 1942. The Ki43c is a good plane in stock but here it seems the guns just don't make the kill. The A6M2 fears slightly better but is lacking the high level mvr values. Only with 70+ pilots can I get a balances 1 to 1 loss ratio.
4.Bill has not started a strategic bombing campaign towards Manchuko and northern Japan. If he would do that I have no plane that would be able to stop him except the A6M2. It would be costly for him due to the short legs of the Russian escort fighters but the damage he could inflict would knock me out in a years time.
Suggestions:
1. Bring the Ki44 online earlier. It is equipped with 20 mm canons like the A6M2 and will have a better chance to make the kill against the armourd allied planes
2. As Japan is at war with the USSR, the assumption could be that it was on the bequest of her German ally. One can further assume that this was planned for some time and the Germans lend a hand in developing better protected planes, convincing the IJA/IJN that protection of the pilots is imperative. This can result in having armour added to the existing Ki43/Ki44 and A6M's or in a newly developed plane(s) like the ME109 or FW190.
3.Increase the pilot pool and replacement rate for IJN pilots. The downside here is that it cost HI points every month to have them in the training pool. Therefore HI production would need to be increased.

Land war:
The IJA inf squads are too lightly armed to stand up against the improved allied troops in the DEI/PHI/Malaya.
At this point I have captured Singapore in March (later then historical), Phi was captured early (February)
I have not taken Java, Batavia and Surabaya are still in allied hands. I have not landed on Sumatra.
I took Burma, the usual Chinese cities, the south pacific islands and even moved into the New Hebrides and took some other small islands that were not defended. They didn't take many troops to take so I discount them here.
Suggestions:
1. Improve device stats for Japan. Better AT capability and soft target to compensate for the higher exp and morale of the allies.
2. As under air war, assume German - Japanese cooperation to form Panzer Div along the German line instead of penny packing them in independent Regiments. With the USSR in the war, it becomes more a land war like war in the east.
3. More Artillery would help to counter the Soviet superiority in that area.

Navy:
ASW: The Russian subs are active and roaming the Home waters of Japan. The current ASW capability with the Type 95 and 95-2 DC does not reach the deep diving subs. The PB converted from small AK's do not upgrade the the better type 2 DC in the game which makes them next to useless in open water ASW patrols. Either have them equipped with the type 2 DC or change the parameters of the Type 95 DC to reach greater depth.

Industry:
My industry had a massive expansion to increase AC and Navy production as well as vehicle and armament points. That has drained my Supply point pool to a point where no offensive operations are possible. The IJ forces had such an increase in units but the industry cannot fill them and replace war losses.
I am still ok on the Oil and fuel side and i wont run out of it until later 43 with the current sources I have available.
With the battles more intense, a large amount of resources, oil and refineries were destroyed and need rebuilding costing precious supply points. The destruction is a consequence of the improved defense capability of the allies.
Suggestions:
Increase output of supply to 2 on LI or to 3 on HI. If you like increase the input of resources but leave the fuel input as is. Another options is to increase the HI in Japan.
To cope with the losses, japans air industry needs to be ramped up. That could be done by having more air and engine points under constructions and increase the supply that is available at the start. I think that is better than having full production running.
With the increase in re-enforcement the manpower points are running out whenever a large group of units come online rendering the troops useless until fully equipped which can take a while. Consider increasing the MP to reflect the higher demand.

All in all we like the Mod and keep playing. I look at it as a test for you guys and provide feedback whenever I can.
For Japan to have a fighting chance, it still need to occupy the usual area speedily and then decide to move into India, Australia or just slug it out and get enough points. With the current set up the speed required is not archivable. I will be taking the places eventually but at a very high cost that give the allied player enough points to make it impossible to win for the Japanese player.

With the USSR active Japan would have planned differently and would have cooperated with their Axis partners to improve their war making capabilities.

Bill, pls post any comments from your side as I don't have an insight of your situation.

Back tot he war then
J

[Joglinks1]

one more thing.
when you increase the resources, oil and fuel production in ports, it might be worth to consider increasing the max port size that can be built.
Sorong and Balikpapan are good examples. With the max port size limited to 5/4 respectively, you cannot dock enough shipping to ever transport the produced goods to wherever you need them.