ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft
LOL I like it
There are enough slots in the database for entire fleets of Graf Zeppelins, or indeed Italian CVs (what was it going to have been called?).
I think some serious tweaking of the ASW weapons will be in order to even do the Battle of the Atlantic badly.
ETA for initial crude map is about 3/4 days BTW.
1. At some point you might want to check with Tankerace, because I think they have done some serious work on this for WPO. I am not sure if this was data changes, program code, or both.
2. As far as a Battle of Atlantic map, the old GNBNA map did not extend too far inland. You can basically make Europe impregnable, but have bases for land based air, ports, etc... Of course, the convoy routes to Northern Russia need to be on the map, which will call for some creativity on your part.
3. Also, the game does not HAVE to extend past June 44, but that comes much later.
4. Apart from the ASW changes, a Commerce Raider mission (or a suitable alternative), would have to be added. This of course, can only be done by Matrix, unless there is a way to do this already. (I am not that experienced with WitP). Basically the commerce raider will prey on defensless convoys, and try to avoid convoys that are defended.
5. In real life, obsolete capital ships were eventually added to convoys, which is a great excuse to use and have them in the game.
6. Carrier warfare would of course be limited if not non existant. The British would have a few, of course, replete with Stringbags (keeps the players laughing). The AI would seem stronger because there is really no carrier warfare and the whole engagement (Battle of the Atlantic), is not as dynamic and changing as the War in the Pacific.
7. Also, convoy AI is more straight forward and the auto convoy system would be more meaningful and greatly assist the Allied player.
8. SigInt stuff would have to pumped up to provide a ton more information, that will make the German player acutally use the information to detect where the convoys are and whether or not they are defended, etc.. Again something only Matrix can do.
9. And just a reverese for WitP, British and American capital ships would be whisked off to Med and/or the Pacific that are not part of the game.
10. The game could be almost a duplicate of GNBNA minus the "tactical" mode which jumped you from the war room to the fleet for some real time 3D combat. Most of the time players would have the computer auto run the tactical engagement and players would simply stare at the guages and counters while the battle proceeded. With the WitP system a 2D combat graphic would be MUCH BETTER, and would make much more sense than the 3D tactical mode.
11. Get some community people to help you so you don't feel alone or overwhelmed. Once the map is functional (i mean just a few bases). Include a few British, America, and German (use Japanese for now), for a proof of concept.
12. Don't get sucked into modelling the entire ETO/MTO/WIR on the same map, etc.. Go for Battle of Atlantic first. Its easier, much fewer units, and can still be really cool. The game should retail for $29 - $39 bucks.
Regards,
Stwa
