Loosing myself in the game

[Vixel]

Hey,

I’ll start with the question to make the rest more clear:

How do I not lose myself in the game and learn to enjoy it for what it is?

I’m a relatively inexperienced player who went through a US PBEM campaign until July 43’, against a very good Japanese player with whom I had a lot of fun until I got lost in the game and lost the will to play, then I felt it was better to stop and surrender the PBEM that I was also loosing because I didn’t want to disrespect my opponent by not putting my 100% into the game, many turns had been spent half-heartedly.

I’ll start with what drew me to WITP:
- obviously the depth of simulation and player agency
- the logistics and infrastructure of the pacific
- the era of warfare
- naval operations on both oceanic and very localized levels
- the kind of “roleplay” you can have by micro managing and giving character to ships, task forces etc…

But now in 43’ and to be honest even before but it wasn’t obvious, I have everything bottle necked everywhere, I decided to move things forward in safe hubs in proximity of hot areas but that only moved the bottleneck ahead for a new one to appear where it previously was. Bottle neck of transports/cargo, LCU, the sheer size of work that is tracking and replacing every pilots during their training, that I should then put on other training to give them multiple skills.

My philosophy was to push everything forward but that I just couldn’t keep track of what asset ended up where and for what purpose, every couple of turn ended up feeling like I was re-discovering things and counter ordering myself from the past.
At some point I considered making an excel database of “assets” to keep track but I found myself at the foot of a massive wall.

I’m not asking for any specific in-game advice relating to the situation in 42-43, I think the problem is more of mindset, approaching the game, the right tools for the job, probably playing against AI to not be rushed by the rhythm of PBEM turns, etc…

The complexity that I liked took over my enjoyment of the game I think.

Open for discussion anyways!
Thank you for bearing through all this. I hope it makes sense.

[RangerJoe]

Loosing or losing?

Take it easy. As Allies, in the middle of 1943 you are just starting to get your big hammer. It will hit hard in 1944. Just build up supplies to the maximum that you can in the forward areas, dump a lot into Australia, India, and the Hawaii group of islands, build up your infrastructure everywhere you think you need it and elsewhere as well. Have divisional sized units with artillery and armour preparing for invasions in the Pacific. Prepare to bypass central Burma and invade farther down the coast. Prepare to jump into the DEI, from the east you will have Australia as your base. Your SEAC command can plan for the western DEI. But if you can cut the shipping lanes in the Pacific then that can be easier to cut the oil and fuel flow to the Home Islands.

Don't worry about doing all of your pilot training every turn, once a month might be enough.

If needed, name your supply convoys to indicate where they are going. A convoy of escorts and merchantmen (of the same type/speed) up to 100 in number can carry a lot of supplies to Australia. Or any other place with a large enough port and unlimited supply storage.

[Vixel]

You’re right, “losing”

I don’t really have any issues with not beating my opponent, regardless of the year it is because that’s I think a second step in my progression as a player.

The first step I’m really not getting together is placing the foundation of a victory or even an enjoyable game that goes forward and not sideways or back.
Having methods for handling pilot pool and their training with all the squads I have, the LCUs, squadrons, task forces and ships around, keeping track of supply and fuel movement. My logistics are all over the place, I have pushed LCUs forward from their spawning areas but now they are massing in some islands with crushing stacking limits, and so on.

I hope it’s not too shallow of an explanation, because in my mind this is a fundamental step I’m not getting through to then play a competitive game of WITP.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Well, it is a monster game and the number of ships, air units and ground units to manage and keep track of is mind-boggling.

Splitting the map in sub-theatres and then treating each sub-theatre one by one may help.

It is a pity that changing of HQs consumes political points even for unrestricted units, otherwise it would be easier to keep a clean ORBAT and HQ allocation, which would help with tracking and management.

You need to learn about the map, the bases sizes and stacking limits to find the "good locations" for hubs and staging areas. Japan cannot defend them all in strength - hit them where they ain't.

Historically, the major operations of the US starting in 1943 in the CentPac and SWPAc areas required multiple staging areas due to the size of the forces involved and the limited infrastructure available.

And no worries about SNAFUS in the game, the happened in real life as well. For example, I have read somewhere that the Navy base at Fall River, Massachusetts once received a shipment of supplies and materials it had not requested. Turned out the stuff should have been delivered to Milne Bay, New Guinea. The code name of Milne Bay was "Fall River"

[Vixel]

I should have like a record book/journal of what I’m doing and what’s in progress.

Can’t imagine any other game where I’d need it but I probably can’t survive without something like that to back me up.

[RangerJoe]

Maybe you should have regimental units with support units forward for defense while your divisions are defending your major bases with larger stacking limits. These divisions can be preparing for offensive operations so when the time is right, then you can attack. Remember that early in the game, when the cat (KB) is away then the mice (the Allies) can play!

[btd64]

I should have like a record book/journal of what I’m doing and what’s in progress.

Can’t imagine any other game where I’d need it but I probably can’t survive without something like that to back me up.

I use a notebook....GP