Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: the1henson

I’m trying to learn Japan right now to start a PBEM someday and the attention to detail required on day one is just extraordinary. Having played the earth tones in the past, you can sorta wing it for a while and find ways to disrupt the pacing of expansion (at start). As the red guys, you have to set the pace. No reacting allowed.

I’m a program manager by trade, and I think this may be more mentally taxing than my actual projects. I kinda love it.

You are correct that the Japanese must set and sustain a blistering pace before their landing bonus runs on on April 1, 1942.
But while you are dealing with the short-term tactical and operational problems of the expansion, you must also set up the economy for the long term run of the game - everything from deciding which aircraft you want most, which ships you need, and how much supply you must produce.

Fortunately there are some very good guides created by Japanese side players to picture how the economy operates and the plane manufacturing guide. I haven't bookmarked these because the Japanese side is a bit too much detail for my taste, but I am sure if you ask for info you can get a lot of references from the denizens of the forum.

Problem with playing Japan is that early mistakes can cost you way more dearly than mistakes done as Allies. Some major mistakes can really ruin your game, especially when it comes to carriers. Also, some economical mistakes and failure to capture enough oil can send your production to crash.

Thus, I recommend new players start as Allies, getting hang on game dynamics and system. When having bit of experience how system works, then Japan is viable side.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: the1henson

I’m trying to learn Japan right now to start a PBEM someday and the attention to detail required on day one is just extraordinary. Having played the earth tones in the past, you can sorta wing it for a while and find ways to disrupt the pacing of expansion (at start). As the red guys, you have to set the pace. No reacting allowed.

I’m a program manager by trade, and I think this may be more mentally taxing than my actual projects. I kinda love it.

You are correct that the Japanese must set and sustain a blistering pace before their landing bonus runs on on April 1, 1942.
But while you are dealing with the short-term tactical and operational problems of the expansion, you must also set up the economy for the long term run of the game - everything from deciding which aircraft you want most, which ships you need, and how much supply you must produce.

Fortunately there are some very good guides created by Japanese side players to picture how the economy operates and the plane manufacturing guide. I haven't bookmarked these because the Japanese side is a bit too much detail for my taste, but I am sure if you ask for info you can get a lot of references from the denizens of the forum.

True words. Were it not for this forum I would open Japan, look around for a couple of minutes, and walk straight back to the green team, whistling...

I do suspect that my time wrestling with Japan has made me a better Allied player, but don't have any data for that.

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget

Veterans use to caution newbies about the "learning cliff" [:D]

With no bloody warning signs, caution indicators, or "You'll be sorrrry!" memes either!

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

I started to play Pacific War ages ago, I think original WitP came out 2004 and WitP-AE 2009. And I still find new things in game.

AHA! Another victim.
As a now a retired pastor and former English teacher, which means I have a multitude of boxes of books (and games!!!) occupying the southern wall of my 'study! I can play more often - unless Mama wants to go somewhere. Most of the stack is 2 deep. Some where in the midst of this avalanche of boxes is the one box which includes my game purchase discs. I really doubt if the Pacific War desk would even be recognized as some attempt at a cyber game.... but IT IS THERE somewhere.
Just for grins...

My best friend from way back in Junior College (that equals almost 50 years and before PC gaming, or PC's for that matter - we still had to learn how to sit and produce punch cards for simple programs!) Back on track!! We had the Pacific War game you set up in the basement which took 2 sheets of plywood and some really long arms to play. And we had to kitty proof the room or we would find that some of the units had been translated off the earth and onto the floor! We played on and off for 12 years before the PC games came out, by which time I had gone a state away to seminary, and he was a dept mgr at home depot. We are trying to figure out how to work the game between his Mac and my PC. Not sure it will work. Yoiks, and away!!!!

You should be able to play the game if he uses a Windows for Mac program like Parallels, then starts the game in that window.
As long as the Parallels app creates a Windows standard file system, you should be able to exchange files.

Just for reference, my host machine is an iMac, 40 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, 6 cores. I use VMWare and created a Win 10 VM, with 16 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD, and 4 cores. Got WITP-AE, WITE2, WITW, DG CWIE2, SPWW2 and SPMBT plus 50-70 JTS/WDS games installed and everything is lovely.

ORIGINAL: Zovs

Just for reference, my host machine is an iMac, 40 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, 6 cores. I use VMWare and created a Win 10 VM, with 16 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD, and 4 cores. Got WITP-AE, WITE2, WITW, DG CWIE2, SPWW2 and SPMBT plus 50-70 JTS/WDS games installed and everything is lovely.

That is a beast! I am unsure if Apple's new CPU will run Parallels (which would have been designed to run with Intel CPUs). Apple may have done a different version of Parallels for its new chip, but I don't know one way or the other.

My Mac is an intell chip, 2019 model.

ORIGINAL: Zovs

It as any hiker will tell you (wink wink) each climbs hill, scaled cliff, hiked mountain when you reach the peak the view is breathtaking and the sense of mastery of that hill, cliff or mountains is well worth the effort and alas so is our beloved WITP-AE masterpiece!

DAT's right! The Agony, Misery, and Heartbreak are all worth it! You look back down and you see all of those poor sods struggling to make it to the top, you feel a sense of elation, then you realize just how much farther that you have to go and your "dogs" just start barking!