Allies Set-up Spreadsheet for AE

[BillBrown]

ORIGINAL: Gandalf

Seeking Kull clarification

I'm trying to ascertain the spreadsheet's aircraft ASW Patrol, Search 260-280 Level 40, Alt 5k Training 20 meaning?

Once selected, does it mean to override the default ASW arc setting to use the Search arc settings instead?

There are dozens of ASW aircraft using these or very similar shorthand settings.

That says to put the air unit on ASW mission, 40% on ASW and 20% on training, altitude 5,000 feet and search arcs 260-280.

[Gandalf]

That seems to make the most sense, but under ASW Patrol (Group Mission), there are (Patrol Levels) of ASW, Search (my emphasis), Train, and Rest, all choices to choose search arcs for. I would be inclined to go for ASW also, but I'm wondering if the OT author had a particular reason to stress "Search" in the shorthand

[nashvillen]

That is ASW patrol mission, search under that mission at 40% at the vectors listed. Searching while doing ASW. That is how I have interpreted it.

[BillBrown]

See post #32 in this thread, Kull explains this.

[Gandalf]

Maybe I should refine the question to ask what the difference would be in the ASW Patrol mission if Search and accompanying arcs are chosen instead of ASW and accompanying arcs?

That's really what the question is about. (and whether ASW weapons such as bombs, depth charges would be in play in ASW and NOT in Search.

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

See post #32 in this thread, Kull explains this.

Thanks for pointing that out. I missed it for some reason. Now we know what the spreadsheet shorthand means, but the above question is really the root of why I was asking in the first place. I've searched all thru the manual for clarification to no avail.

[nashvillen]

Looks like I have not been doing it how Kull intended. Will remember that the next game I play as his spreadsheets are a great start guide! I change some things to suit my play style, but for the vanilla stuff it is great to have it all written down where you can just check it off as you go!

[Gandalf]

Yes, although it's very useful for getting a first turn layout, it's also very useful to see the various different ways he goes about accomplishing some movement settings. One that really hit me between the eyes because it was so obvious is moving cargo/transports from like say Sidney to Los Angeles. He accomplishes this with Remain On Station (at Los Angeles) and keeps the Home Port setting at Sidney. At first when playing, I would see all the RED and think uh oh, better switch the home port to Los Angeles and voila... everything is green again, then check again later for rerouting back to Sidney (but forgetting that it came from Sidney in the first place.

edit> Hmmm, looks like Kull's post #53 thinks the home porting idea is the way to go and he intends to revise the spreadsheet at some indeterminate time in the future, so maybe it doesn't refuel in Los Angeles just because its Remaining On Station.
So maybe home porting with a message description re: where it's from would be the better way?

[Korvar]

Kull's spreadsheet really got me started on the grand campaign. I remember it took hours to finally finish, but by the end of it I knew the interface well enough to continue on my own.

When I finished the first turn, I saved it to have a copy on hand.

[Gandalf]

ORIGINAL: Korvar

Kull's spreadsheet really got me started on the grand campaign. I remember it took hours to finally finish, but by the end of it I knew the interface well enough to continue on my own.

When I finished the first turn, I saved it to have a copy on hand.

I had the same idea last week after taking all week to process it, BUT then I ran across the ongoing unofficial public beta 1126a thread here!

That proved to be a non-issue because a saved game will ask to update to a later version. So, okay saved game is valid anyhow

BUT then I discovered the unofficial data scen updates thread here!, where not only the scenario database is updated, the AI is reworked.

For some reason, my saved game above did not want to accept the scenario database/AI changes AND I really wanted the improved AI, SO I decided to go thru Kull's spreadsheet again just to fine tune it for myself anyhow. I'm retired now anyhow... What the heck, LOL

[Yaab]

I use a 30-page Word document for the Allied first turn. It is a detailed checklist I have been developing for the last few years. I just go through the motions. I use around 30 saves slots for the first turn. PP expenses, ship conversions and unit loading on ships is always done at the very end of the turn, so it can easily reverted.

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: Korvar

Kull's spreadsheet really got me started on the grand campaign. I remember it took hours to finally finish, but by the end of it I knew the interface well enough to continue on my own.

When I finished the first turn, I saved it to have a copy on hand.

Bolded for truth! That was the primary intent of having the spreadsheet tackle so many areas on Turn 2. As AE veterans know, you can be fairly lackadaisical as the Allied player, since time is absolutely on your side. BUT, by the time you actually go through the spreadsheet and do all these things, it builds the "muscle memory" on using the interface. On subsequent turns not only is there less to do (at least initially), but mainly you have a fairly good feel for how things work.

But yes...hours...it's dreadful while you're doing it, but in the long run the pain is worth it!

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: Gandalf

Yes, although it's very useful for getting a first turn layout, it's also very useful to see the various different ways he goes about accomplishing some movement settings. One that really hit me between the eyes because it was so obvious is moving cargo/transports from like say Sidney to Los Angeles. He accomplishes this with Remain On Station (at Los Angeles) and keeps the Home Port setting at Sidney. At first when playing, I would see all the RED and think uh oh, better switch the home port to Los Angeles and voila... everything is green again, then check again later for rerouting back to Sidney (but forgetting that it came from Sidney in the first place.

edit> Hmmm, looks like Kull's post #53 thinks the home porting idea is the way to go and he intends to revise the spreadsheet at some indeterminate time in the future, so maybe it doesn't refuel in Los Angeles just because its Remaining On Station.
So maybe home porting with a message description re: where it's from would be the better way?

One reason I kept the original home ports was just out of curiosity - it was interesting minutiae to see where all these different ships were coming from as they arrived in LA. Speaking purely of the US-Australia convoys, you ALWAYS refuel convoys in the US continent ports. In the opening few months, I try to keep them from fueling up in Australia or any of the non-Pearl ports, but eventually Australia will be swimming with fuel, especially once you get those big Tanker TFs making regular runs.

[Gandalf]

ORIGINAL: Kull

One reason I kept the original home ports was just out of curiosity - it was interesting minutiae to see where all these different ships were coming from as they arrived in LA. Speaking purely of the US-Australia convoys, you ALWAYS refuel convoys in the US continent ports. In the opening few months, I try to keep them from fueling up in Australia or any of the non-Pearl ports, but eventually Australia will be swimming with fuel, especially once you get those big Tanker TFs making regular runs.

I thought maybe that was your reason for using Remain on Station (Tracking purposes). Wasn't sure if it was for curiosity or whether you wanted them to really return to their original home port with whatever they were eventually loading up with. I eventually went ahead and used the Set Home Port change but used the TF info box to note where they came from [From Brisbane] for example, cuing myself to check Brisbane to see what it needed before cutting return orders later in the game. I even amended my copy of your spreadsheet in those cases to ensure that I did the same thing if I ever had to go thru the spreadsheet again.

[BBfanboy]

Personally I don't like the composition of many of the at-start TFs. Too many have dissimilar ships in speed, capacity or range. I try to get most of them to a few relatively safe big ports and then reallocate them to more homogeneous TFs where possible.
I particularly hate having a bunch of empty (fully unloaded) ships sitting in a vulnerable port while the one or two bigger ships in the TF are still unloading.

[Korvar]

ORIGINAL: Kull

Bolded for truth! That was the primary intent of having the spreadsheet tackle so many areas on Turn 2. As AE veterans know, you can be fairly lackadaisical as the Allied player, since time is absolutely on your side. BUT, by the time you actually go through the spreadsheet and do all these things, it builds the "muscle memory" on using the interface. On subsequent turns not only is there less to do (at least initially), but mainly you have a fairly good feel for how things work.

But yes...hours...it's dreadful while you're doing it, but in the long run the pain is worth it!

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for taking the time to put together the spreadsheet - I'm sure it took you many more hours to do so.

Yes, you make a good point specifically mentioning muscle memory - running through your spreadsheet reminded me of learning to type on a computer keyboard - I was pretty decent at the 'hunt and peck' method of typing with individual fingers; the habit was broken through sheer brute force / rote memorization to acquire the muscle memory necessary for proper typing.

Not only did your spreadsheet teach the essential actions necessary to get through the orders phase, but through it I also acquired an intuitive sense to 'grok' interface features that were introduced in later patches and/or are less frequently used. Thanks again!

[CrackSabbath]

I'll join the chorus of thanks! THANKS!!!

I'm getting a new PBEM underway, and I found it especially helpful in China. I really struggled there in my first PBEM game (which is about to conclude); I got routed there by mid-late '42, and the LCU's freed up have caused me endless grief ever since (compounding my other newbie PBEM gaffes). I still may get smacked down in China, but should put up a more coherent fight.

I take BBfanboy's approach with Cargo/Tanker TF's as I organize them by speed; <10knots, 10 knots, 12 knots, 13-14 knots, >15knots. However, the suggestions of where to disperse them to was helpful.

Thanks again! [&o]

[haegint]

That is a most useful tool to have, especially as Newbie. Thanks so much, Kull!

[btd64]

BUMP....GP

[Steven545]

I have owned this truly magnificent game for over 5 years but never taken on the daunting task of playing a campaign until now. With the help of this fine piece of work I have managed to start understanding how to get the game working for me. So thank you Kull [&o][&o][&o].

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: Steven545

I have owned this truly magnificent game for over 5 years but never taken on the daunting task of playing a campaign until now. With the help of this fine piece of work I have managed to start understanding how to get the game working for me. So thank you Kull [&o][&o][&o].

My pleasure man! Anything to help folks up the first stage of the learning cliff. Sometimes it feels like you'll never get everything done on T2, but you're learning all the while and Turn#3 is going to be sooooo much easier!