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Saturday afternoon I started the new scenario 19. AI set to HARD, 120% commitment and me as the ALLIES this time. AI takes Gili Gili, Lunga and Tulagi all the first week and then stops for the most part. I got a bit cocky and went after his transports at GG after I spotted his carriers in the Slot. I sank a few and got a CA too but those subs put TWO torps into the Lexington!
The new combat description is excellent except when it is YOUR carrier experiencing "MASSIVE INTERNAL EXPLOSIONS"!

Well I got her back to port ok, good DC on that ship. I nearly had a cv vs cv encounter but bad weather stopped my strikes and he never seemed to notice me. I have been very cautious as frankly the Allies are very weak, more than I suspected those first three months. The IJN player should "run wild" those first months, esp. once those massive naval forces arrive in June. He has made no attempt at PM except one Tokyo Express that seemed to go ok for the AI, but my own version at GG ended up almost a disaster due to Betty's out of Rabaul. My air defense of PM is holding, though I can see a determined effort could knock out the base. I am just now getting the Enterprise and major surface reinforcements and I learn of this bombardment bug. I had a TF headed to Lunga to "give 'em a take of their own medicine" but in hindsight I may cancel such manuvers till the next patch.

I´m really looking forward to play #19. I guess, I will give the AI an even higher ship commitment level than 120%. I found that for every of my ships sunk, 10 of his go ...

Probably, for the AI to decide an invasion, several things have to be the case:

Basically, it seems that he must have intelligence from recon planes telling him that he has enough transports AND troops to ship in a given base to overwhelm one of my forward bases.

I think it probably was not by accident that he invaded shortly after I pulled the bulk of my troops out of Cairns.

What is more or less an accident is that he HAS this situation arrising for him, which is more due to his tendency to stack so much stuff in one forward base than to any actual strategic planning.

Why the AI decided to go for Dobradura of all places is beyond me, but it´s a nice surprise anyway.

Hartmann

Probably because it has an airfield SPS of 6.

Originally posted by von Murrin
Probably because it has an airfield SPS of 6.

I wonder whether there is actually some truth in this. It is still a fatal decision when I have PM, Gili Gili, and Buna. The AI still has much to learn.

Hartmann

That's why a competent human will beat the AI no matter what advantages it is given. Perhaps I should give the AI even more help (200%?) but I am learning the Allied position and am sure to be stumbling along. Besides if I am doing well, it will release all the assets it has to beat me, if not it won't need them. I may be giving away my strategy but it seems to me folly for the allies to launch any offensive attactions till the 1st Marine (and maybe even the 2nd Marine) arrives in July. And then only if the IJN has suffered serious CV losses. While it is tempting to take/hold Lunga or Gili Gili prior to that, that strategy welcomes disaster. A competent Japanese player in the no Midway scenarios will kill those garrisons. #1 priority is holding PM and AV positions.

Hope the patch is patched soon!

Originally posted by brisd
That's why a competent human will beat the AI no matter what advantages it is given. Perhaps I should give the AI even more help (200%?) but I am learning the Allied position and am sure to be stumbling along. Besides if I am doing well, it will release all the assets it has to beat me, if not it won't need them. I may be giving away my strategy but it seems to me folly for the allies to launch any offensive attactions till the 1st Marine (and maybe even the 2nd Marine) arrives in July. And then only if the IJN has suffered serious CV losses. While it is tempting to take/hold Lunga or Gili Gili prior to that, that strategy welcomes disaster. A competent Japanese player in the no Midway scenarios will kill those garrisons. #1 priority is holding PM and AV positions.

Hope the patch is patched soon!

I totally agree with everything. The reason I'm toying with the idea of giving the Japanese 200% in #19 is that I would like to get to know the extremes before settling for a balanced value (based on my experiences). I really would like to join in the PBEM community, but the problem is that I am too unreliable because of my job situation. Suddenly there may be issues which demand a full stop to all "social activities" etc. for a period of time. The AI does not notice whether the next turn is delivered after 30 minutes or two weeks!

Hartmann

Hartman - I can see your point and agree that the tougher the AI opponent the better you will be prepared for a human. I currently am able and ready for pbem but until these patches settle down (looks like today ) I will keep fighting the AI and learning.

I am looking forward to WITP because I intend as the Japanese player to take the South Pacific EARLY - it is nearly defenseless the first six months of the war and unlike Hawaii, the offensive can be supported by land based air. Much easier to take and hold than wait to assault when heavily defended in June 42.