Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Thanks Mynok. I think they are going to come in handy, especially for the level 3-4 ports. Three (plus escorts) to a lvl 3 port load in a day and 6 (plus escorts) can load in a day in a lvl 4 port.

Here's the spreadsheet. Remove the .txt. Yesterday was the first day in about a month that I finally fired up AE. RL really sucks sometimes. [8|]

I must be doing something wrong. I can't download the attachment. It simply comes up in a new window with gobblygook. Suggestions?

Chez

left click to bring up the window then
right click to dl, rename it something and use the extention .xls. be sure to change the bottom of the dl screen from txt files to all files right below where you rename it.

OH yea, Mike nice spreadsheet thanks for sharing [&o]

there's a thread on what to do the first allied turns.

considering playing the allies is a cakewalk compared to playing the japanese (like real men do) is there some sort of thread on what are considered to be good things to do (tm) in the first 3 turns?

Thanks. I had finally figured it out with the help of USS America.

It was the renaming with .xls that I was screwing up on.

Chez

bump..

   A question: is eliminating J2M and its upgrades from research in favor of getting N1K/late A6M sooner worth it? In real life this plane was a mistake, and in the game it comes on the same month as N1K, but isn't as good. Yes, it has way better climb, but its maneurability at high altitudes is actually inferior, and its slight speed advantage  comes at the price of range and armament. Moreover, its upgrades, although they come relatively early, are unimpressive. N1K2 comes way too late, but is an all-around improvement. So, do you get some J2M-exclusive units, that make keeping it necessary, and can you still get them, if you just research original J2M1, but not its upgrades?

    And another question: do you actually have any factories that make Alf at the beginning of the game and if yes, where they are? WitP Tracker sure cannot find any.

ORIGINAL: FatR

   A question: is eliminating J2M and its upgrades from research in favor of getting N1K/late A6M sooner worth it? In real life this plane was a mistake, and in the game it comes on the same month as N1K, but isn't as good. Yes, it has way better climb, but its maneurability at high altitudes is actually inferior, and its slight speed advantage  comes at the price of range and armament. Moreover, its upgrades, although they come relatively early, are unimpressive. N1K2 comes way too late, but is an all-around improvement. So, do you get some J2M-exclusive units, that make keeping it necessary, and can you still get them, if you just research original J2M1, but not its upgrades?

You get one group of 36 * J2M3, the J2M2 upgrades to the J2M3. There are 2 units available to upgrade to the J2M2, and 4 groups including the delayed that upgrade to the J2M3 (3*36 + 1*27)planes. All this info is avail in Tracker.

   And another question: do you actually have any factories that make Alf at the beginning of the game and if yes, where they are? WitP Tracker sure cannot find any.

There are none Tracker is correct.

   Well, can you skip researching J2M2 and go straight to J2M3 then? Is it possible to skip upgrades in general? For example A6M8 and A7M2 come within one month of each other, assuming you managed to last that long, but second is clearly superior, can you just concentrate on A7M2?

ORIGINAL: FatR
Well, can you skip researching J2M2 and go straight to J2M3 then? Is it possible to skip upgrades in general? For example A6M8 and A7M2 come within one month of each other, assuming you managed to last that long, but second is clearly superior, can you just concentrate on A7M2?

Sure can, but they are a long way out ... don't expect to see any miracles with your R&D for some time. There was a thread some time back where I and others debated the issue extensively.

The other thing to note is that only CV fighter groups upgrade to the A7M2, more groups upgrade to the A6M8 Just check in the Airgroups Panel ... special filter "Upgrade to"

Are the upgrade paths for the groups fixed or is there some latitude for the player?  Let's say I want to move an A6M2 group to the A6M3, even though it will make it no longer carrier capable, but I want/need the better plane earlier.

If PDU is on, yes.

OK, thought so, but haven't gotten that deep yet.

Even with PDU on, there are only a number of upgrades available and these are defined in the editor by the scenario designer ... 

Are you crazy if you look forward to the next supply taskforce you have to create for the Japanese economy? Now that I've figured out how to create "continuous supply" taskforces I'm feeling a lot better and actually enjoying creating them. That doesn't mean I still won't run the Japanese economy into the ground though [:)]

I thought about starting a new thread to ask this question, but this is the place to be for finding out about running the Japanese war economy [8D]

When expanding the Japanese economy, is it better to focus on Oil/Fuel with more oil producing/refining capabilities, or production upgrades to HI/LI to create more HI points and supplies? I anticipate bringing in oil/fuel assets from the conquests in the DEI obviously providing I got it home, but just looking at my early supply situation that seems to be where I see possible short comings in the future. I've just started a PBEM game as the Japanese, so interested in seeing what others may suggest. My first inclination is HI/LI and some small refining upgrades to smaller plants. Crazy?

Thanks in advance, I have to say I am learning tons from the forum and the collective knowledge of everyone willing to share their thoughts and expertise. The learning curve is getting a little smaller everyday. A great group of people here!

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I thought about starting a new thread to ask this question, but this is the place to be for finding out about running the Japanese war economy [8D]

When expanding the Japanese economy, is it better to focus on Oil/Fuel with more oil producing/refining capabilities, or production upgrades to HI/LI to create more HI points and supplies? I anticipate bringing in oil/fuel assets from the conquests in the DEI obviously providing I got it home, but just looking at my early supply situation that seems to be where I see possible short comings in the future. I've just started a PBEM game as the Japanese, so interested in seeing what others may suggest. My first inclination is HI/LI and some small refining upgrades to smaller plants. Crazy?

Thanks in advance, I have to say I am learning tons from the forum and the collective knowledge of everyone willing to share their thoughts and expertise. The learning curve is getting a little smaller everyday. A great group of people here!

Not crazy at all, although I'd be neglecting any repairs or expansion into LI. HI gives you more bang for the buck so to speak. I'd look into increasing the smaller HI plants in Japan and then some other strategically placed where there is enough fuel production and resources to cover the production.

I had the total production figures (potential on map - SRA) for the GC, but it seems to have been misplaced at the moment. Obviously fuel production is also of importance, but that can be normalised once the SRA is captured - but you should check out how much Oil/Fuel production capacity exists on map, and not go beyond that for HI expansion.

Luckily the GC is very easy to manage HI production as you are already in surplus, even with Pilot training.

In the beginning, I tend to deal with some very small changes in HI/ORef, the planes / engines etc and around Feb start looking at my other Ind. expansion. Given that I haven't already wasted too many supplies. This game is all about supplies/logistics, the Allies have a load, we (JFB's) don't & must use them sparingly. Even some of the game mechanics about the 20K threshold, poses more problems for the Japanese. "You can't always get what you want", Jagger knew that .. make note of what you need and can achieve within the economic framework you develop.

There isn't one way to skin a cat ... make small changes, take note of the numbers in game / tracker / staff and plan where you want to be in 12 months time. This game isn't about quick fixes or solutions in some ways and economic policies take time to implement and reap the rewards.

Good Luck. BTW - I haven't started a game yet, cause I'm still programming Tracker and playing WITP, but I know the process well enough to suggest looking at Mike Solli's posts / AAR until I get a game going [;)]

When expanding the Japanese economy, is it better to focus on Oil/Fuel with more oil producing/refining capabilities, or production upgrades to HI/LI to create more HI points and supplies?

I guess I wouldn't expand either HI or LI. Especially early before you know how much oil/resources you'll capture intact. If you get to the point where you're actually running a resource surplus (I'm not there yet....) you might consider some expansion.

In my PBEM I'm in 6/42, and have generally had the HI for what I needed so far. I haven't expanded any HI. (Well, I guess I did double a 50 HI factory in Muoran early on, but if I were to start over I wouldn't do that).

Erstad,
I guess it depends on your prodution needs, I agree with you, determining Oil/Fuel is very important, but I'm always looking for more supplies cause they drive the war effort.

--Damian--

I agree with erstad and Damian.  Be very cautious with HI increases, especially early on.  You're going to expand your airframe and engine facilities.  After they are completely expanded, take a look at your HI surplus.  If your HI surplus is at least 1000 per day, you're good.  That 20k bite from the the pilot training program will eat up most of that.  Also note that in 1943(?) your pilot training program expands quite a bit so your 1st of the month bite will increase quite dramatically.  You may need more HI factories, but they're a worthless waste of supply if you don't have enough resources/fuel to feed them.

Yet another question: I've expanded my facilities for key planes and switched the main Ki-27 plant to Ki-43 at the beginning of the game. Repair is ON everywhere. Now it is December 26, and factories do not show any signs of actual expansion - all added production potential still counts as "damaged". Did I forgot something?