Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

I have highly trained pilots and either air parity or air superiority in every theatre presently and yet I got my A** handed to me last turn.

1. Burma: The same BS that has dogged my in this game through the ground war reared its head again this turn. Total lack of coordination made worse by horrific die rolls. I had about 125 planes attack a Fast TF off Ramree Island west of Burma. Did they come in in 1--2--3 attack groups? NO! They attacked in eight separate waves where each wave could be decimated by LR CAP flying over the TFs. NO damage to enemy shipping at all and I lose about 65 planes.

2. Aleutians: A supply convoy reaches Cold Bay. I have two Daitai of Zeros, two Daitai of kates, and one Daitai of Vals all ready to attack. What happens? Each Daitai attacks separately while only one Zero Daitai actually flies along for protection. Fighting only 20 American Fighters, I manage to hit two AKs in exchange for 50 planes.

3. Marshalls: The KB arrives and Dan does one of the most irritating things for a player to do. He breaks all his TF into single ship TF and scatters them fleeing eastwards. I waste over 250 sorties to sink a total of 3 AKs. GAMEY is what I call the single ship action. What a waste of Torps and Bombs...

I am closing my rant and shutting up before I grab something sharp here at home.

Here is the day's screenshot:

[Chickenboy]

John. I'm sensing an underwhelming amount of KILLING here this last turn. [:@] Your readers demand blood, damnit! I thought my post on this matter was clear?

[John 3rd]

Here is the screenshot east of the Marshalls. Am I wrong to think the way I do with this?

He lands and I will take those bases back killing American troops. He knows I am coming since the entire Kaigun is present in the area so he drops the troops, distracts, and then separates into 20-25 TFs where my killing power is fairly useless. There are about 5-65 more TF heading SE and South not shown on the screenshot. Picture:

[obvert]

1. Burma: The same BS that has dogged my in this game through the ground war reared its head again this turn. Total lack of coordination made worse by horrific die rolls. I had about 125 planes attack a Fast TF off Ramree Island west of Burma. Did they come in in 1--2--3 attack groups? NO! They attacked in eight separate waves where each wave could be decimated by LR CAP flying over the TFs. NO damage to enemy shipping at all and I lose about 65 planes.

Are you guys playing one of the more recent patches, or the last official version of game? As Jocke and I tested, and as others have noticed, in the newer patches coordination is tougher to achieve and usually requires an HQa with a good leader, close proximity to target, good group leaders and similar cruise speeds of planes, along with probably other details. Anyway, this kind of thing is what you would see. Maybe more historically accurate but somewhat frustrating if you're not used to it.

Here is the screenshot east of the Marshalls. Am I wrong to think the way I do with this?

Did he do this to get ships out of the Philipenes? It seems standard procedure there, but what rule could you make to prevent it? Even two ship TFs would limit your striking power against them.

I think the real question is more of strategic rather than tactical problems right now. Hitting a few more xAKs isn't going to hurt the Allies. You'd be better off hitting the troops on the islands to disrupt and ruin their moral and effectiveness in building things.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Are you guys playing one of the more recent patches, or the last official version of game? As Jocke and I tested, and as others have noticed, in the newer patches coordination is tougher to achieve and usually requires an HQa with a good leader, close proximity to target, good group leaders and similar cruise speeds of planes, along with probably other details. Anyway, this kind of thing is what you would see. Maybe more historically accurate but somewhat frustrating if you're not used to it.

To be fair my testing showed that cruise speeds have nothing to do with it. B25s were just as likely to link up with B29s as other B25s. What it did show pretty clearly is that there is very, very little you can do to actually effect coordination in the BETA patch. Air HQ seemed perhaps to help a little. But getting 20 fragments instead of 25 makes little difference. Most fun things was to watch the 100 plane escort attach itself to a 3 plane fragment so the rest of the 200 bombers arrived completely unescorted! (in 20 fragments) [:D]

Despite me running several tests that pretty clearly showed that the "coordination bug" that michealm found and removed broke coordination completely I was quickly declared the village idiot. Apparently we are not supposed to have coordinated bombing raids in the game. 200 bombers ARE supposed to arrive in 5-10 planes fragments. So I won´t go near the BETA patch even with a 10 foot pole. I dread the day the BETA goes official.

But I´m not bitter! [:D]

On a more serious note:
The only thing that did seem to matter is having a air HQ at the airbase. I found nothing else to be of any noticeable impact. I did not test impact of range. And my test was land to land. But I think you will just have to come to peace with the fact that you won´t get the usual raids of one big chuck and then 5-6 fragments but rather one small chunk and then 20 fragments. Having groups/squadrons attached to the same HQ did not seem matter so don´t waste PPs.

[crsutton]

Yeah, my opponent and I have both observed and commented on it (coordination) in our long going game. It now is very hard to coordinate massive LBA attacks on strong carrier forces. I sort of like it since it has a more historical feel and as I am now approaching the Japanese homeland have been worried about those 1,000 plane kamikaze attacks...It takes some getting used to.

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Yeah, my opponent and I have both observed and commented on it (coordination) in our long going game. It now is very hard to coordinate massive LBA attacks on strong carrier forces. I sort of like it since it has a more historical feel and as I am now approaching the Japanese homeland have been worried about those 1,000 plane kamikaze attacks...It takes some getting used to.

It would be interesting to see how the kamis work out in a campaign game.

In Downfall you still get 4-500 kami attacks from 4-5 widely spread bases (Could be the scenario settings for the HQs)

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Yeah, my opponent and I have both observed and commented on it (coordination) in our long going game. It now is very hard to coordinate massive LBA attacks on strong carrier forces. I sort of like it since it has a more historical feel and as I am now approaching the Japanese homeland have been worried about those 1,000 plane kamikaze attacks...It takes some getting used to.

We will probably have to switch too eventually. I´m just afraid it will mess things up in the long run. Its a very big thing to change on the fly without any kind of testing. [X(]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Yeah, my opponent and I have both observed and commented on it (coordination) in our long going game. It now is very hard to coordinate massive LBA attacks on strong carrier forces. I sort of like it since it has a more historical feel and as I am now approaching the Japanese homeland have been worried about those 1,000 plane kamikaze attacks...It takes some getting used to.

We will probably have to switch too eventually. I´m just afraid it will mess things up in the long run. Its a very big thing to change on the fly without any kind of testing. [X(]

It's a very real concern of yours and you're right-a very big thing to change on the fly with limited testing. This has happened before with the betas though-that's why I don't use 'em.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: obvert

Are you guys playing one of the more recent patches, or the last official version of game? As Jocke and I tested, and as others have noticed, in the newer patches coordination is tougher to achieve and usually requires an HQa with a good leader, close proximity to target, good group leaders and similar cruise speeds of planes, along with probably other details. Anyway, this kind of thing is what you would see. Maybe more historically accurate but somewhat frustrating if you're not used to it.

To be fair my testing showed that cruise speeds have nothing to do with it. B25s were just as likely to link up with B29s as other B25s. What it did show pretty clearly is that there is very, very little you can do to actually effect coordination in the BETA patch. Air HQ seemed perhaps to help a little. But getting 20 fragments instead of 25 makes little difference. Most fun things was to watch the 100 plane escort attach itself to a 3 plane fragment so the rest of the 200 bombers arrived completely unescorted! (in 20 fragments) [:D]

Despite me running several tests that pretty clearly showed that the "coordination bug" that michealm found and removed broke coordination completely I was quickly declared the village idiot. Apparently we are not supposed to have coordinated bombing raids in the game. 200 bombers ARE supposed to arrive in 5-10 planes fragments. So I won´t go near the BETA patch even with a 10 foot pole. I dread the day the BETA goes official.

But I´m not bitter! [:D]

On a more serious note:
The only thing that did seem to matter is having a air HQ at the airbase. I found nothing else to be of any noticeable impact. I did not test impact of range. And my test was land to land. But I think you will just have to come to peace with the fact that you won´t get the usual raids of one big chuck and then 5-6 fragments but rather one small chunk and then 20 fragments. Having groups/squadrons attached to the same HQ did not seem matter so don´t waste PPs.

While the coordination is different (yes, tougher), my experience with the Betas is not nearly so extreme as you are reporting seeing. If you like I could zip up my combat reports and send them all to you.

[FatR]

What I observed regarding coordination in the current beta:

1)AI will try to attack as many target TFs as possible in each phase, with little regard to their actual value. I predict that using trash TFs as bait will become a staple of carrier battles under this model.

2)Otherwise coordination works as it did in carrier raids.

3)LBA bomber units very rarely coordinate with each other during naval strikes. LBA fighter escort units only attach to one bomber unit flying from the same base, most likely picked randomly, and will never split to provide escort to several raids, unless that unit fragments. More than one fighter unit might attach to one bomber unit, no matter how many other bomber units are present. This makes chances of penetrating strong CAP with an LBA raid very slim - unless you can provide sweeps/LRCAP to batter it down, you can only hope for attrition. I think that setting fighters airgroups on naval attack at high altitudes, to whittle down CAP and draw it up and away from usual torpedo/LowN raiders should be considered instead of escorting, if you try to attack a well-protected fleet at open seas.

[JocMeister]

First of all, sorry John for cluttering your AAR! [:)]

Perhaps this is not the best place to discuss this. But the forum being what it is there is no room for a discussion. Just hinting at that something might not be working very well will instantly spark a witch hunt on whoever dares say such atrocities. Its a shame because I think this is a very important discussion. But for the last two years even discussing things are not tolerated. Sadly this forum is not what is used to be. [:(]

Witpqs, I documented it pretty well. Although the number of test were a bit too low it was pretty conclusive. This was in an earlier BETA though so I guess its possible michaelm has tweaked this without writing it down in the change log. I´ll drop you a PM with my email. Would be especially interested in big LBA strikes using 4Es. This is were I saw some extreme fragmentation. Using 200 bombers 15-25 fragments always happened. I was told this was due to different air HQs of the groups, different airspeed, poor leaders (all were over 60 in air except one). My test later showed that at least the two first have no noticeable impact (in my tests). Again this was on an older BETA but after micheal "fixed the fix".

This might be how the game was intended to be from the beginning but its not sure it will work with the game we have now. The air model have been tweaked and balanced since the beginning and this is now to a large extent undone from one day to another. This is NOT how you implement far reaching changes that effect many, many other aspects of a game that has been on the market for several years. Many games that has been ongoing for years and this can upset the balance in those games. Its just not proper patching procedure. Yes I know the BETA is optional to use but at some point it will become official. And people that don´t want to risk their ongoing games with gameplay changes miss out on pure bugfixes like the HQ fragment bug.

Just look at the behavior of escorts. This is a clear indication that something is not working correct. If it is then something has to be done to the escort mission. My experience is the same as FatR describes in point 3). The escort is just as likely to attach itself to a small 3 plane fragment as anything else. And the fact that the escort doesn´t fragment together with the bombers speaks volumes. Even the bomber squadrons themselves fragments into pieces!!

I can make a list a mile long with things that might be effected by this. No one can answer with certainty what this change really brings and that is why I´m worried. My main point remains valid. This is way to big to chance and I think beyond the scope of what should be changed at this stage of development. Bug fixes? Yes. Major gameplay tweaks/changes? Absolutely not. I never got an answer to how long this bug has been present in the game despite a direct question. I believe this bug might be something that has been present since the very first release or at least for a very long time. If so it means that ALL tweaking that has been done over the last years to balance the air war is instantly undone and we are now back to square one.

It might be that this is indeed a very good change to the air war. I´m not saying it isn´t. And I will probably be forced to switch over to it at some point. I know Erik is itching to. But the fact remains that we won´t know that for quite some time what implications this change has. And just to make it perfectly clear. I don´t mean for this in any way as any criticism against michealm. I applaud his work and is eternally grateful for the work he is doing. He is doing a fantastic job! [:)] I´m just not so sure the bug he found with air coordination should be fixed at this stage. It just has to many unknowns with it.

And any personal insults/poo throwing/raging aimed at me is better sent via PM. You know who you are...[8|]

[John 3rd]

No apologies needed Sir.

This is a GREAT discussion and it is what I like to see in my AARs. This has been the problem with this one due to my being so flipping busy and not able to write much for discussion. Does anyone remember the VAST discussion we had on the Japanese Economy in Dan and I's original game? MAN: It was something.

Just got home from 36 hours of quality----no children with us--Husband and Wife time in Denver. NICE!

We got another 8-10" of snow today. It is beginning to almost feel like Colorado again with three similar storms in four weeks.

Running turn and will add more in a bit.

[John 3rd]

This is the note I sent Dan in a separate email after I sent the turn yesterday. Dan's Response starts this so begin at the bottom:

As a fellow player of this complex, massive, fascinating, thrilling, irritating game, I empathize with the need to vent.


-----Original Message-----
Subject: Response


Opening War Plan:
Did you COUNT the number of IDs committed to Luzon at war’s start? I placed no less then SIX there to take out Luzon ASAP. This worked in Lew’s game to the tune of being done here by mid-January 42. The quick fall of Manila seemed to point to this same thing happening but then I got a series of the worst die rolls I could ever imagine at Clark. The Stacking Limits CRUSHED my attack values and left such a mess afterwards I was forced to drop the assault down to two ID. Terrible to watch.

Singapore was meant to take some time as I wanted to have the DEI and Cocos quickly. The Java and Cocos part worked but your troops stubborn resistance at Singers itself defied the imagination. How many times did I attack when your Forts were at ZERO? I believe the answer is six or seven. Once again the worst result I’ve ever seen. Each time I had a single ID take nearly ALL the casualties. When Imperial Guards crossed over the strait and went to Singers it lost 65% of its combat power and didn’t do a thing. Lots of Forum imput: Do you have Southern HQ close? YES. Do you have everyone prepping for the target? YES. It went on and on...

My AAR clearly states my frustration by Feb 1st that I was throwing in the towel and starting all over from scratch when it came to planning.

Current:
Your single ship TF drive me nuts. You force me to use up 40-50 sorties to kill a single ship. Out go the TTs and nothing is left to replace it.

How about the air-to-air last turn? Not a single location (Aleutians, Burma, Marshalls) launched a single coordinated attack! AWFUL. I lost 115 planes for NOTHING. Last turn sums up this campaign in a nutshell...

Done with venting....

Up early and then on to Denver for some healthy time with my wife.
John

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister
I´m just not so sure the bug he found with air coordination should be fixed at this stage. It just has to many unknowns with it.

+1. These things have been going on since the advent of the game. Usually the developments are positive. Sometimes they take a real step back.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Just got home from 36 hours of quality----no children with us--Husband and Wife time in Denver. NICE!

I'm jealous as hell, John! [;)] That's a very rare reward-glad you were able to partake.

[ny59giants]

I've noticed in my game vs Olorin (Nick) that he gets 60 to over 70 Oscars to fly as escorts for his Helens attacking my troops in Burma on a daily basis. But, I then see neither one of us getting more than one air group to fly sweeps from the same base at the same time. Large number of escort fighters, but low number of sweep fighters. Why?!? [&:]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Just got home from 36 hours of quality----no children with us--Husband and Wife time in Denver. NICE!

I'm jealous as hell, John! [;)] That's a very rare reward-glad you were able to partake.

Sure doesn't happen often enough. There are times when it is NICE to REMEMBER why one got married...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I've noticed in my game vs Olorin (Nick) that he gets 60 to over 70 Oscars to fly as escorts for his Helens attacking my troops in Burma on a daily basis. But, I then see neither one of us getting more than one air group to fly sweeps from the same base at the same time. Large number of escort fighters, but low number of sweep fighters. Why?!? [&:]

Michael! Haven't talked in FOREVER! Must correct that ASAP. How 'bout I call tomorrow after church?

[John 3rd]

Just got the June 5th turn done. Not much happened.

On the very bright side, the Japanese got to take Liuchow for FREE. NICE!

Got to refuel KB tomorrow. Following commentary above, I order Kates to Naval Attack--Ground Attack or AF Attack at Tarawa and Makin. BB TF moving in to hit Tarawa tomorrow. Will counter-land in 2-3 days with the 14th ID.

La Foa fell so we'll have Noumea in 2-3 days...