CommC wrote:Perhaps the UV and WiTP air and CD model could be improved with some tweaking, but I think both of these are minor issues compared to some of the other problems.
As has been rehashed at length in other posts, UV and WiTP lack two features that really hamper gameplay:
1. A loss tolerance setting for air groups on naval attack. There should be at least three possible settings: 1)do not press attacks into heavy cap 2)attack into enemy CAP only if escorted or 3) attack into enemy CAP regardless of losses.
2. A ship type priority setting for air groups on naval attack. They should always attack enemy carriers if detected (this is already in UV) . . .
This is
not already in
UV per my post a week ago on the action off Irau. Thank you.
It
should be the case, though. (If you didn't read that post my planes on Irau went for unimportant transports (which were empty--leaving Lunga not arriving) for two turns in a row instead of the enemy's CV TF parked just four hexes off Irau which had been spotted by everything in the area two days running, this to include scout planes from the USN dive-bomber squadrons which nevertheless hit those transports instead.
What the designer is trying to model with this sort of action is the "fog" and "friction" of war, but the implementation is so capricious that the result often leaves the player with a saccarine taste in his mouth.
This problem rears its ugly head because of the poor AI. My idea is to ditch the AI except in those few cases where it is
absolutely necessary to rely on it. The developers seem to feel the game is more "fun" to play when these sorts of ridiculous actions ensue.
. . . then they should attack other (spotted) ship types according to the player's setting. Sometimes the priority should be supply ships, sometimes tankers, sometimes troop transports and sometimes surface combat ships. This setting is essential for the player to execute his strategy and was clearly spelled out for commanders by their superior officers historically.
Without these settings, the game is nearly unplayable, or at least it is very difficult to execute a coherent strategy.
We really need these features in WiTP.... 2by3, please consider including them.
I most certainly agree that the CD issue is of relatively minor importance compared to some of the other problems that plague the model. But that's a sad story in its own right.
Your suggestions re a hierarchy of air-attack commands are interesting. I wonder, though, if Gary's AI is capable to implement these. Good ideas all, though.
Re coherent strategy: I agree again. The simulation plays so hit and miss now that you might as well just be flipping a coin turn to turn for the results.
My newest PBEM partner, playing the Japanese, had a flight of his Bettys veritably slaughtered when they attacked my TF on Tulagi from Rabaul without a single Zero as escort, just for example. These torpedo-bombers were met by my carrier Wildcats on CAP from one hex out and they didn't stand much of a chance. That was, however, the worst defeat I've seen for Japanese air assets, escorted or no--in my experience a few Bettys usually "leak through" somehow and score.
This AAR is from that same game--I received it this morning. I haven't saved the previous AARs though I suppose I could retrieve them if necessary. This is the fourth turn out of five Tulagi has been the recipient of night attacks out of Rabaul. My night CAP is usally a couple of squadrons strong, one P39s the other P-40s set to 8000 feet (the Bettys at night always fly in at 6000 feet). Thus far I haven't done much damage to these bombers but the bombers have done plenty of damage (superficial but damage nevertheless) to my ships at anchor--these are the transports and DDs and such which were mauled by the CDs on Guadacanal three weeks prior in the game.
I can't prove it but there seems to be a bug in the code whereby a squadron set to long-range CAP at night gets switched over to Sweep with a setting of 90% CAP at its base. I've seen this three times now. At first I thought I must have hit the wrong button when assigning orders, but I'm watchful for that now so it's probably the game screwing up afterall.
Finally: I've mentioned that long-range CAP does not accrue the same fatigue hit as regular CAP. The planes in question above (this last turn I had four squadrons flying night CAP over Tulagi out of Lunga) seem to have accumulated no fatigue at all from these missions, indeed, might have actually dropped some fatigue along the way--they all stand at 9-12 fatigue with the exception of a P-39 FBS which ran up to 25 fatigue after its defeat--this squadron I transferred back to Irau and replaced with another fresh Wildcat FS off a carrier stationed at Segond Channel.
Anyway, fatigue in general is a joke and night fatigue seems more screwed-up still.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/30/42
Weather: Rain
Air attack on Tulagi , at 38,39 (
Note: night attack.)
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 33
P-39D Airacobra x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
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Air attack on Tulagi , at 38,39
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
G4M1 Betty x 12
Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 4 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5 damaged
LTJG W.Murakami of F2/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 2
SLDR L. Jackson of No. 75 Sqn RAAF is KILLED
Allied Ships
AP Zeilin, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
Port hits 1
Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x G4M1 Betty at 15000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Tulagi , at 38,39 (
Note: these "Zeroes" flew escort--all 42 of them!--for an "Irving" on recon and they ended up conducting a sort of "sweep" against my P-40s on CAP.)
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3 Zero x 18
J1N1-R Irving x 2
Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 29
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
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