Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Its not a massive secret or anything. I just think my opponent wants to inform his other PBEM opponent personally rather then to let him see here that he picked up another game. [:)]

Yeah, that can be a little like the dating world where one side finds out the other side WASN'T exclusive. They never had "that talk." Then there's tests, and doctors . . . [8D]

ORIGINAL: rook749

Yes, with PDU Off it will be far different from my ongoing game with the same mod. I am looking forward to the AAR.

What I can tell you is the modifications to the air was seems to allow the P-39D and P-40B/E to operate with some success against the Japanese (even vsKB) into at least June of 42. But you need to make sure you have 60 Exp Pilots with 70 Air.

I don't know that the PDU Off will really hurt your training but you need to make sure you keep very good tracks on the total number of air frames you need of each type for the next three months so you don't upgrade your to losing the use of airframes. Now, I spend hours moving my pilots around to train them and it has paid off for me. I suspect that with PDU Off you will need to move your pilots even more as you need those best pilots into the squadrons that fly the "current" fighter as you just can't upgrade the fighter group they are in.

Now that is a very good point. And you can´t downgrade squadrons once upgraded right? So if I upgrade a squadron on the WC to P40Es and 2 months later find out I need those on the frontline I can´t just downgrade them to P26 to free up the P40Es.

I micromanaged my pilot training in my other two games. Its not fun but you have to do it! But it will be a lot more hassle with PDU OFF.

I hope the Allies can be a bit more competitive in the air with PDU OFF and especially no "2nd best MVR band". In my last game once the Tojos arrived the P40 became utterly useless and stayed so for the rest of the war. Even the later models. That HR ruined the air war for both sides.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Yeah, that can be a little like the dating world where one side finds out the other side WASN'T exclusive. They never had "that talk." Then there's tests, and doctors . . . [8D]

Exactly! [:D]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

And you can´t downgrade squadrons once upgraded right? So if I upgrade a squadron on the WC to P40Es and 2 months later find out I need those on the frontline I can´t just downgrade them to P26 to free up the P40Es.

Correct.

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I hope the Allies can be a bit more competitive in the air with PDU OFF and especially no "2nd best MVR band". In my last game once the Tojos arrived the P40 became utterly useless and stayed so for the rest of the war. Even the later models. That HR ruined the air war for both sides.

I agree that one HR all by itself makes the P-40 useless once the Tojo is in play and as its such a large chunk of your air force IMHO it really destroys the game. Granted the P-40/P-39 still have major issues without that HR when the Tojo arrives but at least they can do something.

The more I look into this the more confusing it gets... [:D]

Looking at the 18th FG at PH for example:
19th FS = Upgrades to "N5" in 7/43
44th FS = "K" in 9/42
6th FS = Havoc (NF) in 8/42
73rd FS = P47D2 in 7/43
78th FS = "K" in 9/42

Since all of them are starting with P40Bs they will basically be unfit for frontline duty until the 44th and 78th upgrades in 9/42. This will change a lot for me and how I usually play. I think I will have to go through each FS on the map and see what upgrades to what and when. For example I usually use parts of the 18th to beef up defenses in SOPAC. Can´t do that now as they won´t have any planes to fly! [:D]

Priority will be to find what FS upgrades to P40Es and P39s and get them to where I need them. Having squadrons on the frontline flying P40Bs and upgrades to P47s won´t be of any use for me. This can turn out to be quite complicated but I need to get on top of right away!

Fun though but I guess this will invade my sleep! [:D]

EDIT: Anyone knows if someone made a spreadsheet or anything on all the upgrades by squadron? Or if its in Tracker? That would help! [:D]

Yeahbut, a P-40B can still shoot down a Nate or a Claude. [:)]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Yeahbut, a P-40B can still shoot down a Nate or a Claude. [:)]

But it has no pool to draw from, nor can he create a pool by changing frame types of other P40B squads to fill the pool.

The squad that has to wait for the P40N5 will be out of P40B frames long before the N5 arrives if he uses it in combat.

Basically it means he can fight with P40Bs only until the squads become depleted and then will only be useful for training until their upgrade frame type starts arriving.

Also means he can't prioritize upgrading the AVG to P40Es to send the H81A3s into the Chinese pool.

Lots and lots of drawbacks to PDU off. This is gonna be really interesting.

will be watching.

ORIGINAL: HansBolter
But it has no pool to draw from, nor can he create a pool by changing frame types of other P40B squads to fill the pool.

The squad that has to wait for the P40N5 will be out of P40B frames long before the N5 arrives if he uses it in combat.

Basically it means he can fight with P40Bs only until the squads become depleted and then will only be useful for training until their upgrade frame type starts arriving.

Also means he can't prioritize upgrading the AVG to P40Es to send the H81A3s into the Chinese pool.

Lots and lots of drawbacks to PDU off. This is gonna be really interesting.

Exactly. Hadn´t realized this before I started looking at the FS. The only way to "free up" P40Bs for example is to upgrade them. But since only P40Es and P39s will be available I have to find the squads with P40Bs that upgrades to either P39s or P40Es. If there is any...

Adds a whole new layer of complexity. This will severely limit me early on I think. It will be a little easier on the Jap side since they will have number around at least.

EDIT: Aaah, some mistakes on me regarding the 18th FG thank god. They actually ALL upgrade to the "E" before the upgrades I listed takes place...

And even more happy news. This info is available in tracker!

Sometimes I´m a little bit more in love with the tracker guys then usual... [:D]

Whooops! [:D]

Awesome. The sheep is back!!!

More like a full grown ram with some gnarly curled horns now.

I'm so glad you're playing a similar game to me a you can figure out all the little stuff like air group upgrades that I simply haven't had time to do yet! This is fantastic!

I´ll race you to Tokyo! [:D]

Good to see you back in action, JocMeister.

Cheers,
CC

What the last post said.....

Roger

[font="Verdana"]China[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

This is my usual problem spot. I thought I had a better grasp of it in my second PBEM but SL changed that. Initially I thought it would be a great help but retreats caused unwanted overstacking burning what little supply I had. So in the end I think it hurt more then it helped.

I also diverted whatever British AA I thought I could spare to China and that didn´t help much either. China is impossible to hold as the Allied if the Japanese makes the effort. But I need to delay him as much as possible here.

One of my main concerns is how to place my forces tactically to avoid supply loss due to overstacking caused by retreats. I don´t want to leave a hole behind the MLR just to avoid that. Any advice or ideas?

I´ll send half the AT assets to the Sian sector and the other half to Changsha. I´ll try to use the AVG as aggressively as possible. I hope PDU OFF will lessen the relentless bombings in China with thousands of casualties each turn. I havn´t looked at the Japanese bomb groups though but I know Erik said he spent a lot of PPs to change 1Es to 2Es. That won´t be possible with PDU OFF.

British bombers will be sent to China and be used as recon. This helps a little.

This is a rough draft on what I think I´ll do. Advice as greatly appreciated.

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I´ll race you to Tokyo! [:D]

It's on!!![:D]

Thanks Roger and Cody! [:)]

Well, I like your plan in China. If he commits large air forces combined with armor we know it'll be tougher, but I thikn in China you'll like the SL. It means you have to really consider what you can get into a hex for the SL cost. Some of the bigger units are better left in reserve as the number of disabled squads makes them less efficient in the beginning, and this also lets them repair more quickly in a rear base. I learned quickly from GJ that even in good territory if I didn't quickly get spent units out and rotate new ones in I would have a tough time holding.

I sent the AVG here as well, and that at least forced the use of decent fighter groups instead of the Nates that will be in the Chinese groups to start. There will be mostly 1E IJAAF bombers and they are very fragile.

ORIGINAL: obvert

Well, I like your plan in China. If he commits large air forces combined with armor we know it'll be tougher, but I thikn in China you'll like the SL. It means you have to really consider what you can get into a hex for the SL cost. Some of the bigger units are better left in reserve as the number of disabled squads makes them less efficient in the beginning, and this also lets them repair more quickly in a rear base. I learned quickly from GJ that even in good territory if I didn't quickly get spent units out and rotate new ones in I would have a tough time holding.

I sent the AVG here as well, and that at least forced the use of decent fighter groups instead of the Nates that will be in the Chinese groups to start. There will be mostly 1E IJAAF bombers and they are very fragile.

Good point about the larger units and holding them back. I´ll do that. I´m 80% sure my opponent is going to go all in for China so I don´t have much hope of holding on. But I need to delay enough that he can´t grab China AND do another major OP (OZ/India). Slim hope but I have to try!