Very early Early impressions

[ZOOMIE1980]

Well, after three false starts I finally got into the main campaign this weekend (#15) as the Allies vs the Computer as Japan. Played through the end of '41. Just some overall impressions

1) Escaping ships from SRA

Easier than I thought. Got several crusiers (CA and CL) and about a dozen DD's and almost 70 AK's, and a handful of TK's, even a few ML's and MSW's. Used Tillijap as a "collection point" although any of the other reasonably large DEI bases would do. I chose that one because from there I can still strike back some at Japan, but it offers a quick escape out of theater when the time comes. Used the ML's to start setting some mines at areas I know the Japs are going to hit via choke-points. Got 100% of my ships out of Singapore and even those three DD's at Hong Kong. Not scratch.

2) PH attacks were a bit weak. One BB sunk up front and one sank on the way back to the West Coast. But the survivors are still out for a long time.

3) Combat resolution is a bit slow, but then again, I'm using a slow computer.

4) Takes three weeks to get everything consolidated as forces are ascatter all over creation. Gotta be careful with LA and San Diego as they have no West Coast Base Force units there. If you get suckered into moving those Central Pacific buys north to SF for deployment, you end up with NO aviation support in LA or SD!! Poor infantry troops get to spend three weeks marching across India and Australia to get to their positions. Most of the Australian INF units are in the south, so I marched most of them north where they could oppose any surprise Japanese landing in Oz....

5) Auto-Convoy for the Allies is a complete waste of time. I can see it being of some use keeping Pearl supplied once the action shifts well west of there (like after the Mariannas are recaptured) but I'm not interest in keeping these bases at barely usable levels; they need to have MASSIVE supply amounts as the basis for moving things up front. That and the time it takes to get the needed supplies, if the base doesn't make request until it "needs" supply, if it is far away, it could "Go Red" before the AK's ever get there!!

6) Computer AI tends to attack too soon in many instances. Long before it has built up troops to a sufficient level to take bases. I forced Japanese retreats twice at Naga in the PI. It is Dec 30, 1941 and it looks like the Japanese are still a month or more away from taking Singapore. Still battling at Kuala Lumpur.... And I knock them off of Wake within the first 10 days! (Even though they took Wake on turn 1 in my first 3 false starts).

7) But in the South Pacific they are running wild. Gilberts fell in the first week, took them about a week of fighting to finally root out the Aussies holding on at Rabaul. Landed at Lae already!! And units are already moving down into the Solomons. I have yet to get a single land unit deployed to Noumea! And that brings up my impression that the map is HUGE. Takes TF's seemingly FOREVER to get anywhere! But then again, these are single day turns whereas PACWAR was one week turns. Haven't decided if I like the glacial pace 1 day turns gives you. Overall, with the exception of this one area, the AI plays pedantically. No real complaints yet because they are slowly getting the job done and I haven't played long enough to try anything that might confuse it....

8) Haven't seen hide nor hair from any Japanese Carrier, save one lone CVL at the PI, since Pearl. Guess it takes awhile to get home.

9) Japanese are asleep in China. A few light airraids, but that's it. They haven't made one single move at all. I suppose that was historic.

10) India has no oil and can't get any from anywhere I've been able to see. Guess Indian HI is going to be hamstrung the whole war....

11) Just too much to do so far to think about manual ops for subs. I find ASW pretty boring so I don't care that much, but if my guys don't start doing something useful, soon, I'm going ro have to bite the bullet and take over control, as much as I don't really want to....


12) No real bugs to speak of, other than the noted OOB problems, some mispellings in the manual, and one minor game freeze along the line.


Well, time to restart as I know I have totally dorked my transport system up, trying to fiddle with the useless Auto convoy system. I've also totally dorked trying to move my land forces and aircraft units to the South and SouthWest Pacific. And what's with at B17E unit that shows up on the West Coast attached to the SouthEast Asia command???? Talk about an effort to ever get the poor guys over there.... And is it worth it moving those useless B-18 Bolo units into theater before they can upgrade to something useful? Not to mention useless BiPlane fighters and such.... At least I have a few P40's to use....

[kaleun]

Actually my Bolos got some hits on the Zuikaku! (To everyone's surprise, their own mostly).[:)]