IRON MAN SCENARIO

[Reiver67]

It had been a while since I played WITPAE and have started a new play through, I chose the Iron Man scenario to make it more challenging. Now I have started playing I have found that the AI has a lot more ships, planes, troops etc - so any tips on how to take on an enhanced Japanese Empire?

[RangerJoe]

It had been a while since I played WITPAE and have started a new play through, I chose the Iron Man scenario to make it more challenging. Now I have started playing I have found that the AI has a lot more ships, planes, troops etc - so any tips on how to take on an enhanced Japanese Empire?

Do it very carefully!

[Reiver67]

Indeed - and thanks for the response!

[zebrazwo]

Be a punching bag for a while, then hold the line, then push them back.

I suppose the beginning is about not losing too much, too early.

[pbiggar]

Remember that the AI is short on "I". The scripts are good at the start of the war, but less effective the longer the war goes. Just stay out of the way until you are strong. You can look forward to beating Ironman a few months later than you would on Scenario 2.

[PaxMondo]

Remember to play on VH setting.

The Ver 1 of Ironman is pretty much just as described above: wait out the onslaught and then counter. Ver 2 requires more careful play (and more aggressive defense early on) as you cannot afford to lose too much or you may run out of time. Ver 3? I've never played the allies in Ver 3, so not sure. I generally play the "Beware of the Dorniers" Ironman (IJ side) and the Ver 3 takes a lot of nerve and luck. The Dorniers really are a HUGE problem.

In any AI game, the one rule you cannot break is: no Hail Mary's. No deep incursions. Like taking Palembang in Dec as the IJ. If you do, you win, but you do so by breaking the AI. You have to be methodical. This is the biggest drawback of scripts ...

Otherwise, enjoy!

[Reiver67]

Thank you all for your responses.

I have been playing a very cagey game thus far, as the IJN carrier force seems to wander around in a doom stack!

Its Dec 42 now and I am about to launch the Marines at Guadalcanal - going to land at Tassafaronga as there does not appear to be much of an enemy presence at that location, then overland to Lunga. The allies appear to have the edge in the air war.

Follow up OPS for Tulagi, Port Moresby, Milne Bay and Terapo

[btd64]

I would go for Lunga. Recon Lunga and try to build a airfield closer in so you can sweep the Lunga airfield. bombard with available ships until the airfield is shutdown. Then let the B-24s and other bombers hit the troops and airfield. Preparation prevents poor performance. Also prep your troops while all of this is going on....GP

[Sardaukar]

BTW, playing VH setting skews combat die rolls in favour of AI.

So, it kind of deducts from combat resolution realism.

[PaxMondo]

BTW, playing VH setting skews combat die rolls in favour of AI.

Yes, but NO.

So, it kind of deducts from combat resolution realism.

Sorry, not playing at VH what is unrealistic.

Per Andy MAC, VH is balanced. Why? Lots'a reasons. Like for example the AI doesn't know how to use HQ's (Command, corps, or area), human players do. It also doesn't know how to use commanders, and all those other little variables that players can and do use.

On VH, the AI gets a bonus that somewhat represents a portion of all of these bonuses that the player can get. Besides combat bonuses, it also gets a lot of other bonuses to compensate for all the other things that it can't do. Is it perfect, heck no. I haven't seen the code, but amazingly I choose to believe the DEV and follow his guidance in this matter. I have been playing on VH since he first stated this, over 7 years ago and I get good games. Challenging ones.

As a player you can choose whatever level you want, but the DEV has stated that VH is balanced.

[Ian R]

BTW, playing VH setting skews combat die rolls in favour of AI.

So, it kind of deducts from combat resolution realism.

Don't forget, you also see supplies magically deposited on isolated islands, further negativing any semblance of realism. The Japanese do not "wither on the vine".

[PaxMondo]

BTW, playing VH setting skews combat die rolls in favour of AI.

So, it kind of deducts from combat resolution realism.

Don't forget, you also see supplies magically deposited on isolated islands, further negativing any semblance of realism. The Japanese do not "wither on the vine".

Two points: the AI cannot create TF's to run supply. It IS still realistic, just think about blockade runners. Even Stalingrad had supply coming in. There is no such thing as an iron-clad blockade, even today.
And certainly 80 years ago ...

Yes, yes I know, they couldn't run 1000 tons of supply onto an isolated atoll 500 miles from anywhere, but if you are REALLY all about this, you're not an AI player anyway.

[RangerJoe]

BTW, playing VH setting skews combat die rolls in favour of AI.

So, it kind of deducts from combat resolution realism.

Don't forget, you also see supplies magically deposited on isolated islands, further negativing any semblance of realism. The Japanese do not "wither on the vine".

Two points: the AI cannot create TF's to run supply. It IS still realistic, just think about blockade runners. Even Stalingrad had supply coming in. There is no such thing as an iron-clad blockade, even today.
And certainly 80 years ago ...

Yes, yes I know, they couldn't run 1000 tons of supply onto an isolated atoll 500 miles from anywhere, but if you are REALLY all about this, you're not an AI player anyway.

Stalingrad? Or do you mean Leningrad?

[Sardaukar]

BTW, playing VH setting skews combat die rolls in favour of AI.

So, it kind of deducts from combat resolution realism.

Don't forget, you also see supplies magically deposited on isolated islands, further negativing any semblance of realism. The Japanese do not "wither on the vine".

Two points: the AI cannot create TF's to run supply. It IS still realistic, just think about blockade runners. Even Stalingrad had supply coming in. There is no such thing as an iron-clad blockade, even today.
And certainly 80 years ago ...

Yes, yes I know, they couldn't run 1000 tons of supply onto an isolated atoll 500 miles from anywhere, but if you are REALLY all about this, you're not an AI player anyway.

Skewed "combat dice rolls" deducts from "realism" more. On Hard, AI gets logistical advantages (aka supply) but combat resolution is balanced and "fair".

As far as I know, AI does use ships to transport supplies. Otherwise lot of xAKL, LB and bigger ships moving constantly would not make sense.

On Hard, one can starve AI troops, on VH, not so much.

[PaxMondo]

Don't forget, you also see supplies magically deposited on isolated islands, further negativing any semblance of realism. The Japanese do not "wither on the vine".

Two points: the AI cannot create TF's to run supply. It IS still realistic, just think about blockade runners. Even Stalingrad had supply coming in. There is no such thing as an iron-clad blockade, even today.
And certainly 80 years ago ...

Yes, yes I know, they couldn't run 1000 tons of supply onto an isolated atoll 500 miles from anywhere, but if you are REALLY all about this, you're not an AI player anyway.

Skewed "combat dice rolls" deducts from "realism" more. On Hard, AI gets logistical advantages (aka supply) but combat resolution is balanced and "fair".

As far as I know, AI does use ships to transport supplies. Otherwise lot of xAKL, LB and bigger ships moving constantly would not make sense.

On Hard, one can starve AI troops, on VH, not so much.

Sar, you're a regular AI players, you should know all of this by now ... I'm stressing this for others who may not:

Per Andy Mac*, balanced is on Very HARD, not Hard. Anything lower and the player has advantages. The attack bonuses given to the AI reflect that the AI does not know how to use HQ's (amoung a whole host of other things like training, etc). VH attack bonus evens that up (assumes that the AI would have an HQ present for bonus.)

The AI transports supply when it transports troops because it happens normally (AI does not know about the "Turn on Load Troops Only button"). But the AI cannot create a supply only TF, it only knows how to move troops.

Below VH, it is pretty easy to starve AI troops, which a PBEM player can prevent. They can use Air or Sea supply transport to mitigate. The AI does not know how to do this. Thus on VH, it "assumes" that it could. Are there situations where this might not be true? Absolutely, but MOST of the time a player can get supply to his troops if he wants to. Thus on VH, the AI can too.

Again, if any of this upsets you, GOOD. Play PBEM and ignore these threads. These are for AI players. We don't need PBEM players telling how lousy the AI is. It is what it is. We (AI players) accept this.



*ALL HAIL THE ANDY MAC!!!!!