New to the game, loving the complexity and challenges

[laramieela]

I have been involved in three pbem games so far and I am falling in love with the game. There is still so much I do not know. The forum has been very helpful in understanding play, charts and information and alternative such as why China is such a problem for Japan and how to use ships to counter other ships movements.
I find the challenge of playing Japan's opening moves in December 41to be a bit of a hit and miss on my part and would appreciate some suggestions on how to play the first three or four turns (including pointing me to an early post I might have missed). Also, was there some consideration in only allowing division or smaller units to occupy smaller islands?

[Nirosi]

Welcome to the game!

For opening moves, stjeand has posted good ones here:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 5&t=386324

and here:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 5&t=386495

Also, in the War room sub-forum, you will find more and general strategy ideas from players.

[laramieela]

Very helpful. This is very much what I wondered about.

Do any player use a player's agreement to limit land forces on very small islands to divisional ? Somehow, this seems appropriate to me.

[Nirosi]

Not that I know of, but maybe some do. However, small islands are easy to blockade (then again, once you control the sea, so are bigger islands). So the difference between a division or a corps is just a question of time, as they will both eventually disappear if blockaded.

If not blockaded (for whatever reason such as time or a surprise attempt), then yes, a corps will be hard to push.

On the other hand, if small islands are limited to divisions, one could argue I guess that the same should apply to the invaders on the beaches, so it kind of evens out maybe?

But players with more experience might have a better answer. I am more a Warplan Europe player (only on my second game for Pacific).

[stjeand]

No limits...because it would just cause the Japanese fall to happen faster.

They need armies in Truk and a few in the Solomon islands.


Outside that those locations get blockaded...remember places like Truk never fell.
That is not really possible in this game due to blockades and no supply storage but an army will disappear in what...6 months or so.

[AlvaroSousa]

Many players are under the impression Japan can move all their ships all the time everywhere constantly. Yamamoto said they have enough oil for operations for 18m they didn't mean this. They meant planned careful resource management.

Otherwise the Japanese can just send the deathstar where ever they want to go without consequence. Basically put every ship in a massive set of taskforces and push. Which is not realistic. Oil is the Axis limiting factor.

The port capture part of the game is the Allied limiting factor. They must capture ports to advance.

[laramieela]

I do love the six ship limit option for scenarios. But a navy can still monster with oil and multiple forces, which is not a problem at all.
Thanks to everyone for comments.
I do now understand why no need to limit force size and so much more.
This will be a favorite to play for a long time.

[stjeand]

If you are playing the AI keep in mind that will barely translate to PBEM...

The AI does not pressure China...and a human will hammer them
The AI does not pressure India much...a human will through 5 or more armies to attempt to push through Calcutta.
The AI does not interdict your ships as much as a human will.

So if you play the AI for a bit...keep in mind it will be a whole new learning experience against a human that will do crazy things.

[DeepTyphoon]

If you are playing the AI keep in mind that will barely translate to PBEM...

The AI does not pressure China...and a human will hammer them
The AI does not pressure India much...a human will through 5 or more armies to attempt to push through Calcutta.
The AI does not interdict your ships as much as a human will.

So if you play the AI for a bit...keep in mind it will be a whole new learning experience against a human that will do crazy things.

Yeah!

Like dropping paratroopers behind your lines into critical areas!

PARAJ.jpg (157.64 KiB) Viewed 953 times

[generalfdog]

We are having a couple good games now you have learned quickly!

[laramieela]

I never play against AI, so the information about what other players can do is very interesting.