Repair sends supplies all over the place

[Gargoyle]

I am playing Japan w/ Adv Supply and Auto Supply (not using Area supply).

I sent 5 supplies to Borneo to repair a resource. After I click the repair button I found that several areas had supplies shipped there for no reason.

I used undo on them all (some were in SE Asia, some on transports in seas areas).

I then sent no supplies to Borneo and used repair again. THE SAME THING HAPPENED. The repair was done, but supplies are been moved around to 3-4 areas for no reason at all!

Any one else seen this?

[5cats]

We hate auto-supply!
Just turn it off, it doesn't really help much since you have to fix everything at the end of the turn anyhow. Also it tends to freeze your transports for no particular reason, and doesn't account for Partisan duty (which needs 1 supply) or defensive supplies (which needs another supply).
Anyhow, it sux!

[Gargoyle]

ORIGINAL: 5cats

We hate auto-supply!
Just turn it off, it doesn't really help much since you have to fix everything at the end of the turn anyhow. Also it tends to freeze your transports for no particular reason, and doesn't account for Partisan duty (which needs 1 supply) or defensive supplies (which needs another supply).
Anyhow, it sux!

But I hate having to designate where the supply is coming from each time I move a Fleet. If you don't use auto-supply, how do you move 12 fleets and designate where the supplies are coming form each time without going crazy?

[carnifex]

yeah if you're going to use advanced supply then you're better off moving all those little trucks yourself

[5cats]

When moving fleets, it'll take supply from the first area you were in, if possible. So you just need to have the supply handy to one place, the starting spot, or can have it available along the way too.
If neccessary you can move it out to your transports too, and the fleets will use that, but then your transports can't move

[pzgndr]

We hate auto-supply!
Just turn it off, it doesn't really help much since you have to fix everything at the end of the turn anyhow. Also it tends to freeze your transports for no particular reason, and doesn't account for Partisan duty (which needs 1 supply) or defensive supplies (which needs another supply).
Anyhow, it sux!

I have been trying to understand how auto-supply works, but it sounds like it just doesn't work right and therefore defies understanding. So maybe it's not me? I don't really want to play with basic supply, and I don't want to micromanage supply trucks everywhere each turn. Auto-supply would be just right if it were to work as advertised. Is this being looked at for a future patch? 5cats identified three bugs right there that could use some resolution. It would be very helpful.

[James Ward]

I've never been a fan of anything but the basic supply rules as supply is so abstract that having units for it and having to move them is just a waste of time. I mean when you can take an unit halfway around the globe, invade numerous areas and move it back where it started all in the same turn, it seems pointless to moves little supply points around to allow it. If those transports can move all those troops then they sure should be able to move the supplies too!

[JanSorensen]

I was very sceptic about adv. supply at first too - but after having played a few games with it I have realized that its what this game is all about. With basic supply you can repair the Caucasus easily with supplies just build in Germany. With adv. supply its a game in itself to get the supply where its needed. Now I cannot see playing with basic supply at all.

Mind - I never use area or auto supply. I dont see the point.

[James Ward]

With basic supply you can repair the Caucasus easily with supplies just build in Germany.

If can I take a single infantry unit, invade 6 different places and return it back to where it started all in the same turn, why can't I send supplies through the same conduit to a place for repairs? What does it matter if they are in an adjacent province or 10 provinces away?
For me it's not worth the effort.

[JanSorensen]

You can send those supplies there - as long as you have the capacity to do so. Just like you can only send that infantery unit around the globe as long as you have the capacity.

For me the game is mostly about controlling that capacity - if its different for you thats good because it means the game can be played in different ways.

The fact that you cannot truly isolate pockets / theater from their supply with basic supply means its not an option for me though.

[Gargoyle]

The game is about Supply. As the Japanese this is doubly true. The power of the Japanese Fleet is purely based on how much and were your supply is. China is a tough nut but their supply situation mitigates the power of their numbers to conduct offensive opperations. They attacked and took one of my coastal holdings, but it used so much supply they can not mount another attack for years!

As for my original post, I turned off Auto-supply mid-game, and I don't miss it. I will not use it any more. But I still fine the game sending supplies to areas (like 5 per area) for no reason when I do repairs of resources in near by areas. So I have to manual undo these moves. Does not really harm anything, just a annoying.

[James Ward]

The game is about Supply.

I agree with that. But with 3 month turns it shouldn't be about where the supply IS.
If you have it available and a path to get it where you 'need' it, that's good enough for me.

[Gargoyle]

ORIGINAL: James Ward

The game is about Supply.

I agree with that. But with 3 month turns it shouldn't be about where the supply IS.
If you have it available and a path to get it where you 'need' it, that's good enough for me.

Path and CAPACITY. There's the rub. You must organize your transports and Repair your rail lines to facilitate getting ENOUGH supply to where its needed. And then there's bombing of infrastructure and subs hitting transports. That adds the necessity to PROTECT these routes. Now add in that all resources also must have a link to factories.

The system is MUCH more subtle than "Did I build enough supply and is there a path". To me, this IS what wins and loses wars.

[James Ward]

To each his own I guess. At least there are a lot of different choices about how you want to handle supply, it's not forced on you one way or the other.

[SeaMonkey]

I'm with Gargoyle, logistics is what it's all about.

Y'all wanted a good simulation of WW2 idiosyncracies, right? Well advanced supply is the best representation I've ever played in any WW2 game, board or otherwise.

Strategically, wars are won by logistics and infrastructure and the ability to manage them, pure and simple. Sure its more fun, the actual combat, the manuever of the forces, the application of combined arms, but its not as important.

I guess I'm just weird, or have read to many books, but I can't foresee ever playing WaW with any supply option other than advanced supply. It adds another dimension to the game not to mention the strategic feel. Frankly, I can't invision the logic 2by3 used to include the other supply options, a waste of time IMO.

[pzgndr]

Path and CAPACITY. There's the rub. You must organize your transports and Repair your rail lines to facilitate getting ENOUGH supply to where its needed. And then there's bombing of infrastructure and subs hitting transports. That adds the necessity to PROTECT these routes. Now add in that all resources also must have a link to factories.

I agree with this, which is why I prefer playing with the advanced supply to simulate the logistical limitations. But I still do not like to micromanage all those supply trucks every turn, which is why the auto-supply feature is so convenient. As mentioned, there are a few AI weaknesses with auto-supply that should be fixed. Players can always make adjustments based on their strategic plans, but at least have the computer do 90% of the routine grunt work. It needs to make sense though. Hopefully 2by3 is working on this for a future enhancement.

[Gargoyle]

ORIGINAL: pzgndr
I agree with this, which is why I prefer playing with the advanced supply to simulate the logistical limitations. But I still do not like to micromanage all those supply trucks every turn, which is why the auto-supply feature is so convenient. As mentioned, there are a few AI weaknesses with auto-supply that should be fixed. Players can always make adjustments based on their strategic plans, but at least have the computer do 90% of the routine grunt work. It needs to make sense though. Hopefully 2by3 is working on this for a future enhancement.

Well when I played WA, Auto-Supply was nice. But with Japan, every truck is gold, so I micromanage it.