AE PDF Manual Revision Part Two

[rustysi]

Alfred's Edition.

[:D]

[fulcrum28]

great work, thank you so much.

[Korvar]

Alfred,

I also want to express thanks for this effort. As someone who is learning WitP, having an updated, common point of reference will be immensely helpful and will speed learning the game considerably.

I'm eagerly looking forward to its release!

[Alfred]

A quick update plus a small sneak preview and audience feedback.  What more could one want.

Firstly the update.

Things are moving very slowly at the devs end.  Henderson remain very keen but getting Matrixgames into the act is proving somewhat, let us say, problematic.  One result of this is that the project is currently very much me with no dev cross checking.  This is expected to change in the future but no timetable exists.

Revising chapter 6 is proving to be a big exercise.  The revised chapter will bear little resemblance to what was printed with at least 90% altered.

The layout is quite different in the revision.  Basically the revision splits the chapter into 4 segments:

• everything to do re ships
• everything to do re task forces
• everything to do re naval logistical operations at port/beach
• naval combat

The idea is that by first understanding what each ship is for, what it can do, it is easier to then understand the purpose and capability of the different task force missions.  From task force missions it then becomes logical to see their operation at the logistical level and finally at the combat level.


Secondly, by presenting the chapter in this manner it allows for the chapter to be split into separate chapters.  Currently everything to do with naval units is lumped into chapter 6.  Except that it is also spread out in various other parts of the manual.  For those following the progress of the project, this is an opportunity for you to vote whether you want everything still lumped into a single chapter or would prefer to have 4 separate chapters.

Thirdly, a small sneak preview.  This is how I have altered the current printed section 6.2.16 of the manual.  Personally I think I have improved the explanation considerably but I might be mistaken.  It would be useful if players compared the existing with my revision and provided feedback.

Draft revision
 
[font=calibri]6.6 Supply Generated Ships[/font]
[font=calibri]Ship types which have ship pools (see s.5.1.4.8.1-5.1.4.8.2) mainly enter the game not through the production system but are purchased by spending supply points.  Provided there are ships in the ship pools, the minimum supply cost to purchase each ship is:[/font]
[font=calibri] [/font]





[font=calibri]SSX[/font]

[font=calibri]100 supply points[/font]


[font=calibri]LCT[/font]

[font=calibri]60 supply points[/font]


[font=calibri]PT[/font]

[font=calibri]50 supply points[/font]


[font=calibri]MGB[/font]

[font=calibri]50 supply points[/font]


[font=calibri]LB (large)[/font]

[font=calibri]35 supply points[/font]


[font=calibri]LCM[/font]

[font=calibri]25 supply points[/font]


[font=calibri]LB (small)[/font]

[font=calibri]20 supply points[/font]


[font=calibri]LCVP[/font]

[font=calibri]10 supply points[/font]
[font=calibri] [/font]
[font=calibri] If these ships have a tonnage greater than the supply cost shown in the above table, the supply cost increases to match the tonnage.  Thus a PT boat with tonnage of 57 will cost 57 supply points.[/font]
[font=calibri]When purchased, these ships will arrive in an appropriate TF containing up to:[/font]





[font=calibri]SSX[/font]

[font=calibri]4 ships[/font]


[font=calibri]LCT[/font]

[font=calibri]15 ships[/font]


[font=calibri]PT[/font]

[font=calibri]12 ships[/font]


[font=calibri]MGB[/font]

[font=calibri]12 ships[/font]


[font=calibri]LB[/font]

[font=calibri]15 ships[/font]


[font=calibri]LCM[/font]

[font=calibri]15 ships[/font]


[font=calibri]LCVP[/font]

[font=calibri]15 ships[/font]
[font=calibri] [/font]
[font=calibri]These ships can be purchased either at a suitable port or from a suitable TF as described in s.6.6.1 and s.6.6.2 respectively.  [/font]
[font=calibri] [/font]
[font=calibri]6.6.1 Port criteria for the purchase of supply generated ships[/font]
[font=calibri]Provided there are ships in the pools of the same nationality as the port, supply generated ships can be purchased at a port which is size 1 or greater and which has 10,000 supply points present.  The exception to the nationality test is that American supply generated ships can also be purchased at Australian ports.[/font]
[font=calibri]The supply cost to purchase these ships is provided in s.6.6.  Assuming there are 12 or more USN PT Boats in the pool, the purchase at an American or Australian port will cost a minimum of 600 supply points and the port supply level will decrease by this amount.[/font]
[font=calibri]These ships have low endurance and the historical relocation between bases is emulated in the game by the ability to both purchase them from the pools and return them back to the pools at a port.  Ships returned to the pool become available for purchase after a delay (see s.5.1.4.8.1).[/font]
[font=calibri]Suitable ports have the create buttons active.  If the criteria is not met the create buttons are not present.  To return ships back to the pool, the ships must be disbanded in the port.  A return to the pool button becomes available in both the port information screen (see s.xxx) and on the Ship Information screen of relevant ship types.[/font]
[font=calibri] [/font]
[font=calibri]6.6.2 Task Force criteria for the purchase of supply generated ships[/font]
[font=calibri]The criteria for the purchase of supply generated ships from a TF are much more extensive than those for a port.[/font]
[font=calibri]Only Fast Transport, Transport, Cargo, Air Transport, Amphibious, Tanker, Replenishment and Support [NEED TO CHECK IF BARGE, LANDING CRAFT ETC DO ALSO] TFs may meet the criteria to be a source for the purchase of supply generated ships.  The TF Information Screen (see s.xxx) of these TFs will have the activate buttons (=create buttons on the base information screen) available if the following criteria are met:[/font]
·        [font=calibri]The TF must have loaded supply at the National Base of the TF nationality.  The nationality of a TF is determined by the nationality of the flagship[/font]
·        The TF is docked at an on map base (not an off map base) which is not the National Base of the TF
·        The TF must contain at least one ship with a minimum cargo hold capacity of 1,000
·        At least 50 supply points must be loaded in the 1,000 minimum cargo capacity hold
·        The pools contain ships of the same nationality
[font=calibri]If the criteria are met, clicking on the activate buttons purchases the ships which then appear at the on map base.  The purchase cost is subtracted from the supply points carried by the TF.[/font]
[font=calibri]TFs which do not meet the above criteria can instead unload sufficient supply points at the base until the base itself meets the criteria listed in s.6.6.1.[/font]


Many of the tables are being reworked and broken down into smaller tables.  An example of the task is that for the natural and cross loading explanations I spent a couple of days drafting and redrafting and it still didn't flow as I wanted.  And then I came upon the idea of using the term "raw" which meant I could redo the redraft to flow how I wanted it to.

Alfred

Edit: the formatting has not transferred over properly. The draft has a couple of tables which have not come out well above.

[Yaab]

Great stuff!

One caveat.

I would add the information about the Allied barge pool's activation in January 1943. It was very frustrating to be able to create barges as Japan from the start while the Allied's barge button was greyed out all the time.

[btd64]

Great work Alfred. However one other thing;
I have been able to purchase allied PT's and MGB's in smaller quantities when the pools had less than 12....GP

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: General Patton

Great work Alfred. However one other thing;
I have been able to purchase allied PT's and MGB's in smaller quantities when the pools had less than 12....GP

Which is why it already says

"When purchased, these ships will arrive in an appropriate TF containing up to:"[;)]

Alfred

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Great stuff!

One caveat.

I would add the information about the Allied barge pool's activation in January 1943. It was very frustrating to be able to create barges as Japan from the start while the Allied's barge button was greyed out all the time.

Not appropriate to be said as it depends on the scenario designer. The reader has already been drawn to an earlier cross reference of how to see what is in the pool.

Alfred

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Assuming there are 12 or more USN PT Boats in the pool, the purchase at an American or Australian port will cost a minimum of 600 supply points and the port supply level will decrease by this amount.

Alfred,
The above line reads to first time readers as; You need a minimum of 12 PT's in the pool to purchase.

How about changing to something that says the same as above but adding that your PT's TF size may vary depending on the number of PT's etc in the pools. But 12 is the max you can purchase AT ONE TIME for ONE TF. Multi TF's of 12 can be purchased at one port if pool numbers and supply are available.

Now you are asking for input, So here is mine.

Now it is early here and I didn't sleep well last night so don't take this the wrong way. Try to answer questions with a friendly word. Your answer to me was not in a friendly tone. Except for the smiley face. I respect your work and support to this game, But we all need to open our minds and answer questions in a manner that doesn't cause new or veteran players to feel that they made a mistake just posting their question. I always read new stuff like i'm new to the game. Comprehension of written words is not easy for all. I always write stuff as easy as possible for anyone to understand as well. Well my two cents. By the way, did you get my last two emails to you?....GP

[blueatoll]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Assuming there are 12 or more USN PT Boats in the pool, the purchase at an American or Australian port will cost a minimum of 600 supply points and the port supply level will decrease by this amount.[/color][/i][/font]

My re-write (as someone who has written technical manuals for 26 years).

For example, if there are at least 12 USN PT Boats available in the pool, creating PT Boats at an American or Australian port will minimally cost 600 supply points and 12 PT Boats will be created. The total supply cost will be deducted from the current Port Supply Level.

Note: Creating PT Boats larger than 50 tons will further reduce Port Supply Level by 1 supply point per ton for each PT Boat created over 50 tons.

[bobdina]

I don't take it like that at all. I see no problem with the way Alfred has it worded.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: bobdina

I don't take it like that at all. I see no problem with the way Alfred has it worded.

I would change it to something like "For example" instead of "Assuming there are 12 or more", because that does imply that you have to have 12 or more PTs in the pool to create them - even if it doesn't say that farther up.

[Macclan5]

Greetings Sir - Alfred.

I realize I a very comparative newbie but I do have 1 minor suggestion implemented across two points.

Simply a "picture" is worth a thousand words ~ or so goes the old adage.

1) Ship withdrawls.

I would strongly recommend a "bitmap picture" image of the exact location of that "darned little button while disbanded in port" in the next iteration of any manual.

I cannot recall one and I have read the manual at length. This question does seem to regularly re-occur among new players.

2) Air Squadron Disband verse Withdrawl decision tree.

Again a persistent question among new players. A picture decision tree would likely be immensely helpful.

I have actively studied the in game and manual effects. I think I have reasonably mastered it.

Never the less I was surprised that when withdrawing a squadron in some instances I can opt out of the Points instant gratification in favor of having units and pilots return to the pool - a much more valuable option to me (PDU Off player).

I fully agree that it is well described in game... but a picture decision tree would potentially be posted in the FAQ and liberate thousands of forum data lines

Warm regards in this endeavor.

[Alfred]

The number of screenshots in the draft chapters has increased exponentially.  A major factor in the "blow out" in size and time.
 
However this is all still subject to the exact requirements of the publisher, aka Matrixgames.
 
Alfred

[Dili]

Can't you release an electronic version with all?

[drw61]

Alfred,
Was curious how this is going? It is a huge undertaking and I really appreciate you doing this.

Thanks Daryl

[floyd17]

Thanks for the great work. Is there any update? Thanks

[Yaab]

Any updates?

[Chuske]

Hoping this hasn't been shelved.... [:(]

[BBfanboy]

Amen! I need all the guidance I can get, organized a little better than the current manual + forum searches. [:)]