Flipping Bases

[LGKMAS]

Now that I am on the offensive as Allies, I sometimes get a message that a base has flipped to the allies. This only applies to those that do not have a garrison. Nearly all are bases although I just had a dot base flip.
Some flip when I am four or five hexes away. But others , mainly islands, that are right next door, do not flip.
Does anyone have any idea on what basis a base may flip?

[JanSako]

There is a section about this in the manual, but here is the gist why a base would 'flip' control:

- the balance of power between you and the enemy 'in the area'
- random rolls

Basically, bases 'to the side' and 'behind' you are more likely to switch if there are no enemy forces nearby. It simulates the fact that usually small patrols are sent out around the area of operations, contacts with local civilian authorities are made etc. that cause the 'control' of an area to switch between the sides.

Occupied bases never auto-switch AFAIK.

[BBfanboy]

Enemy bases do not even have to be occupied by troops. Disbanded ships will keep it from flipping too. Not sure about disabled aircraft, but I expect they will also inhibit flipping.

[rockmedic109]

Enemy bases do not even have to be occupied by troops. Disbanded ships will keep it from flipping too. Not sure about disabled aircraft, but I expect they will also inhibit flipping.

OK, new idea.

Create some LCTs send them to all the nearby islands {with ports} and disband them into the port to force the enemy to make a landing?

Smells kinda gamey. Not sure it would be worth the effort. And the value of the islands would have to be greater than the VPs lost when the ship is scuttled.

[BBfanboy]

I am not advocating for that kind of thing at all. But I had one situation in which I took one of the islands just outside Tokyo Bay and to my astonishment the port of Shimizu flipped immediately after! (AI is random on how it garrisons bases, I guess!). This was a toehold on the island of Honshu so I immediately sent a ship there and disbanded it in the hope that it would keep the base from flipping back. I immediately loaded an APD or two with some troops and sent them there to claim the base officially and offer the Mayor of Shimizu some Spam.

[rockmedic109]

I am not advocating for that kind of thing at all. But I had one situation in which I took one of the islands just outside Tokyo Bay and to my astonishment the port of Shimizu flipped immediately after! (AI is random on how it garrisons bases, I guess!). This was a toehold on the island of Honshu so I immediately sent a ship there and disbanded it in the hope that it would keep the base from flipping back. I immediately loaded an APD or two with some troops and sent them there to claim the base officially and offer the Mayor of Shimizu some Spam.

Drop an xAK in there fully loaded with ice cream for the mayor! Invasion beaches will never come any cheaper than that!

[LGKMAS]

Looking at the manual, section 9.2 states that "ground units must ordered to attack an enemy base in order to get control of it."
That is all I can find in the manual about bases changing sides. It still does not help in explaining why a base flips. In fact, it seems to suggest that bases cannot flip unless they are attacked?????

[BBfanboy]

If there are enemy troops (including planes or ships) at the base, then an attack would be necessary to take it. Does that manual section mention an empty base before that statement?

[LGKMAS]

No. Nothing about occupied or unoccupied. I have had dot bases flip as well as flagged bases. I have never had an occupied base flip.

[BBfanboy]

So I presume that section of the manual was written with the capture of occupied bases in mind, and the flipping phenomenon was covered elsewhere or not at all. There are a number of things in the game that are not covered in the manual, at least not thoroughly.

[LGKMAS]

Yes. I g=agree.
It probably looked like a good idea at the time, for reasons others have suggested. Enemy forces next door in overwhelming force, no own force units handy, suddenly finding yourself well behind the front lines, all of the above.
But there is only so much you can put in a manual. I used to try and write very technical manuals for one of those three letter organisations. The higher ups used to try and cut down the size of the manual on the claim that the new recruits would already know that subject. But for someone off the street without twenty years of corporate knowledge, it was essential to take them by the hand and gently lead them through the little steps needed before the light bulb suddenly lit up.
It was like a bushman from the Kalahari being told to turn on the lights when they had no idea such a thing as electricity even existed!
I have great tolerance for manual writers. As someone once said, even a fool can ask a question that a wise man cannot answer.