Carrier raids and how to enhance naval battles

[ncc1701e]

Reading this book, I recommend it. But I was thinking how to replicate these battles in the game.

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book.JPG (64.8 KiB) Viewed 1837 times

[ncc1701e]

And I was wondering if it won't be a good idea to allow a naval stack already at sea, and only a naval stack already at sea, to move 5 hexes max WITHOUT counting this as ONE naval operation point.

Let's see how it goes. The reconnaissance level in the game, when it is very low, allows to hide a fleet.

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Recon.JPG (56.15 KiB) Viewed 1835 times

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If you bring a carrier fleet around, in this very low reconnaissance hex.

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Enterprise.JPG (114.77 KiB) Viewed 1835 times

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This fleet is invisible for the enemy side.

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Japanese view.JPG (59.22 KiB) Viewed 1835 times

[ncc1701e]

Now, here is the point. If an air unit is on top of an island but not in Full Support mode, it won't try to intercept. So to try to perform an airfield attack, you need to:

1. move 5 hexes to be in range of the airfield. That's ONE naval operation point.
2. perform a carrier strike with your planes. That's TWO naval operation point.

And you are ready for a counter next turn because you are leaving your fleet in Fleet mode to intercept anything you don't want to intercept.

But, if the first 5 hexes moved is not counted as ONE naval operation point, you could move in range of the airfield for free. Then:

1. perform a carrier strike with your planes. That's ONE naval operation point.
2. escape from the enemy reaction. That's TWO naval operation point.

The hit and run tactics describes in the above book.

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5 moves to be in carrier based planes range.JPG (119.36 KiB) Viewed 1830 times

[ncc1701e]

Of course, if the naval stack already at sea decides to perform a carrier or a naval strike right away, the first 5 hexes free move is cancelled for the rest of the turn.

Another advantage I see to this is to increase the number of small naval battles during port blockade. Today, when a naval unit is doing a port blockade, it can be counter by another enemy naval unit.

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Port blockade 1.JPG (47.2 KiB) Viewed 1806 times

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Port blockade 2.JPG (52.91 KiB) Viewed 1806 times

[ncc1701e]

But, this is without any naval engagements. Indeed if one fleet is going to Fleet mode to attack, it will spend ONE naval operation point for just a 2 hexes move and then it will spend TWO naval operation point to perform its naval strike.

So, in fact, the enemy can't escape again to counter attack because of the automated interception you do not want.

Again, having the first 5 hexes move for free, given nothing was done before and that the naval stack is already at sea, it will give the opportunity to advance next to the enemy naval stack for free, perform a naval strike, and escape.

When I read the report of the battle of Savo island, that's basically what could be done.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Savo_Island

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Port blockade 3.JPG (54.73 KiB) Viewed 1805 times

[ncc1701e]

And since the idea is to impact the existing code at the minimum, I would just suggest to set a zero value when a one move is done 5 hexes or less.

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5 moves.JPG (98.91 KiB) Viewed 1787 times

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And once 6 hexes is spent, we are coming back to the existing ONE naval operation point spent. Something light and easy.

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6 moves.JPG (65.58 KiB) Viewed 1787 times

[AlvaroSousa]

I thought about this early on. The problem is WarPlan is a corp level game. So what would be the point of doing these tiny raids?

Another thing is the issues it creates. While I understand you intentions with this players can exploit it in big fleet operations removing their CVs from interception.

Also I think this would require a bit of coding changes and a lot of testing.

[ncc1701e]

Corps level game on the ground but all the capital ships are treated individually. This is what is losing me because all those tiny raids is what is making a Pacific game funny.

[DeepTyphoon]

I thought about this early on. The problem is WarPlan is a corp level game. So what would be the point of doing these tiny raids?

+1

These raid were strategically insignificant.

[AlvaroSousa]

Why single capital ships?
Flavor. Everyone likes sinking the Yamato and putting the dead husk of its paper counter on display to irritate the enemy.

[Nirosi]

Why single capital ships?
Flavor. Everyone likes sinking the Yamato and putting the dead husk of its paper counter on display to irritate the enemy.

+1

[ncc1701e]

I thought about this early on. The problem is WarPlan is a corp level game. So what would be the point of doing these tiny raids?

+1

These raid were strategically insignificant.

Yes, this is all about attrition. Pacific was a war of attrition. And if enemy planes are not in full support, attrition is hard to do at the end of the day.

[DeepTyphoon]

Why single capital ships?
Flavor. Everyone likes sinking the Yamato and putting the dead husk of its paper counter on display to irritate the enemy.

Yeah!

[AlvaroSousa]

When I had time to play world in flames we had a trophy case of all the named ships we sank in a special section on the table like an 1800's African hunter.

[ncc1701e]

Funny, I always hate losing The Enterprise.

[AlvaroSousa]

All Allied players hated losing the Enterprise. At the end of the game the Allied player would gloat the Axis didn't sink the Enterprise lol.