People still play this?

[bradk]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

11) Mid game, if Allied player holds Port Moresby, IJ AI will destroy the IJN trying to take it.

Interesting: that hasn't been my experience, and I've managed to hold Port Moresby for at least the last three games I played against Japanese AI. I did note one thing: Once I managed to put enough troops on Timor to hold it. (The Dutch division eventually went to an exp. of 90 from the repeated ground combat.) The AI continually ran in light SCTF's, but never committed more than one or two heavy cruisers. Most of the time it was CL's only, which were merrily dealt with by Boise, Houston, and the Dutch cruisers.

I think AI was stronger in SSI.

[Ranger-75]

I'll only play zeke99 if he provides me his moves in advance! [:'(]

[zeke99]

Hi Ranger, were is the fun in that [:D]

[Ranger-75]

Just reinforcing the ability of the US / UK codebreaking effectiveness. [:D]

From your avatar, i presume you like to play as the Japanese - I have a few self imposed rules with wargaming. 1; I NEVER play the russians. 2; I almost never play the japanese; 3. i don't like playing the germans against the US.

Being in the US Army for this long, having friends who's fathers' were at Bataan, and having my best friend's wife's family german refugees from the soviets at the end of WW2 kind of colours my perspective a bit.

[zeke99]

See your point but it would be a boring game [;)]

You still can use SIGINT, tells you most of destinations anyway.

[Ranger-75]

Sigint is a poor implementation of exactly how much the US & UK were able to read of the Japanese (and German) signals traffic.

With a few gaps, mostly due to routine changing of code sets by the Japanese, the US could pretty much pinpoint the locations of all major IJN ships all the time.

I'm just having a little fun here anyway.

It's all cool as long as you're not one of those "axis fanboys" that were popping up a few years back.

[zeke99]

"axis fanboys"

[&:][&:][&:]

Anyway, I prefer playing Japs because I find it more challanging.

[orabera]

I still love this game, even with the limitations. I'd pay for this game if it was upgraded to Windows and problems fixed.

WITP's a great game, if you want to be every staff officer in the Pacific, all at the same time.

[bradk]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Is it possible to ever win this game as the Japanese?

It used to be possible because of the Kill Point Multiplier. But in the latest version, the KPM doesn't start until 1945, and doesn't reach the 2.0 X level until 1946. A very poor decision, IMHO.

There are two problems with winning as IJ. One is the kill points multiplier as you observe. The other is devalued kill points. Matrix increased control and production for both sides which resulted in depreciating the value of kill points to near zero. Even with the original SSI 1944 kill multiplier, its near impossible for IJ to win with Matrix. I posted asking if anyone had ever won as IJ. No positive responses except by someone who just for grins made allied forces about as effective as a 16th century Army and Navy and took the whole map.

I don't understand the reasons. Blatant example. There was never a shortage of US Army tac bombers in SSI. Yet Matrix production through turn 150 is 250% of SSI. Why?

Consider the following.

IJ, Control And Production, Matrix 42.235, SSI 21,920
Allies, Control And Production, Matrix 70,415, SSI 32,840.
Total first turn Control and Production, Matrix 112,650, SSI 54,750

All these extra control and production points overwhelm kill points to the point their value is functionally zero.

This is why my revised scenario has values close to SSI, in addition to a kill multiplier that applies Jan 1944.

I am amazed the Matrix version is popular without a very important factor being present, that being a reasonable doubt as to the outcome. Is it really reasonable that by Jan 1944, IJ can take the whole map except for a few Australian bases, the US West Coast, destroy the RN, the original USN, and most of the 1943 USN replacements and NOT win? Yet that's what happens with Matrix. Actual game available to prove it.

You can find a statement in the original game documentation that Grigsby said he believed it was not possible for IJ to win (historically) but he gave IJ a chance to make for a BETTER GAME.