Matrix Games Forums

DesertWolf101 wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 3:32 am

PaxMondo wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:18 pm

DesertWolf101 wrote: Tue Aug 19, 2025 3:36 am
Yeah I focus on boosting my engine production in 1942 to facilitate my huge expansion in airframe production starting in 1943. Here is my engine production/pools:

Screenshot 2025-08-19 133449.png

So, your Ha-32/33 numbers look quite reasonable. In fact, only your Ha-35 number surprises me, I've never gone above 450. So, you're obviously building a ton of Oscar in the early war. I get it: numbers matter is the air war ... even a mediocre plane like the Oscar, if pilot exp is roughly equal, then numbers can determine the outcome overcoming almost anything else.

Not so much Pax, I only produced less than 500 Oscars for the entire war so far (it is January 1943 now). In general I was on a shoestring budget on airframe production throughout 1942. I use the engines for research and to stockpile them for my massive increase in aircraft production from 1943 to 1945.

Wow!! Interesting. I see less than 3000 engines worth of Ha-35 in your list, so the 700 factories just means you REALLY wanted some of those REALLY early.

I have to think this through some more. THANKS for sharing ... it is some of the most interesting build data that I seen in a LONG time.

Chickenboy wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 1:30 pm

DesertWolf101 wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 3:34 am Here are the aircraft I have used so far (and the numbers):

To each their own and there's no accounting for taste and all that. But I only produce a handful of Oscar IIa, preferring the Ki-44-IIc in nearly every way. If'n it were me (and it ain't), I would not be producing any Ki-44-IIa, would cut my Ki-43-IIa Oscar production by 2/3 and bump up the Ki-44-IIc production to >100.

Why no love for the Ki-46-II Dinah? These guys are a mainstay of reconnaissance well into 1943 (until they're replaced with the Ki-46 III). No production?

No D4Y production yet? By 1943, the D3A series is woefully outdated IMO.

Lastly, do you have any IJAAF (yes, IJAAF) ASW platforms you prefer? I will usually use (after requisite training of course) Ki-49-IIa Helens for this task, as their halved normal range (10) still gets me decent ASW range out to 5 hexes.

I like the Oscar for escort and low CAP duties. Both the Tojo and the Oscar have a place in my lineup. The Ki-44a is superior to the ki-44c in mvr and equal to it in speed, but has weaker firepower and lacks armor.

I did produce the Ki-46, it just didn't fit into the table I shared - I built and used 140 of them and have already transitioned to the Ki-46 III.

No D4Y production yet because I am going straight for the D4Y4 - will have it online in a couple of months. The Jill just entered procution this turn.

Yes, same as you, I use Helens for ASW work. With the IJNAF I like Kates, Netties, and Judies for that role.

PaxMondo wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 5:47 pm

DesertWolf101 wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 3:32 am

PaxMondo wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:18 pm
So, your Ha-32/33 numbers look quite reasonable. In fact, only your Ha-35 number surprises me, I've never gone above 450. So, you're obviously building a ton of Oscar in the early war. I get it: numbers matter is the air war ... even a mediocre plane like the Oscar, if pilot exp is roughly equal, then numbers can determine the outcome overcoming almost anything else.

Not so much Pax, I only produced less than 500 Oscars for the entire war so far (it is January 1943 now). In general I was on a shoestring budget on airframe production throughout 1942. I use the engines for research and to stockpile them for my massive increase in aircraft production from 1943 to 1945.

Wow!! Interesting. I see less than 3000 engines worth of Ha-35 in your list, so the 700 factories just means you REALLY wanted some of those REALLY early.

I have to think this through some more. THANKS for sharing ... it is some of the most interesting build data that I seen in a LONG time.

Sure thing Pax

The game keeps chugging along, now in February 1st 1943. A few interesting flashpoints:

1) Delhi, the last beseiged Allied garrison in India, seems ripe for the taking. I bombarded this turn and barely had any losses. Looks like the garrison is running low on supply - that's another 2k AV to eliminate.

2) In Australia we had a couple of days of air battles. With the George coming online I decided to sweep him and despite the presence of the Spit VIII juggernaut (which he received as part of the Indian emergency reinforcements) I inflicted significant losses on his top of the line airframes (Spitfires and Lightenings) and forced him to withdraw his fighters back to Sydney.

3) Near Alaska (a key front currently in our game) submarine I-2 intercepted a USN cruiser force and put a torpedo into CA Vincennes. She engaged again and put another torpedo into Vincennes. The USN destroyers engaged I-2 and heavily damaged it, forcing it to surface. While they were finishing her off, I-2 launched another salvo at Vincennes while surfaced and struck Vincennes, sealing her fate.

4) Deep in the Southern Ocean near the Antarctic the convoy battles continue. This past turn, CVE Copahee took two torpedo hits (one a dud). The working torpedo triggered an ammo explosion and the CVE is listed as having heavy fires. Hopefully it will go down, as the CVEs are pretty fragile ships.

Great story telling! Thank you for sharing.

Now, sorry if this sounds silly, but what's the meaning of "(with stacking limits)"? Aren't limits already part of the vanilla game?

Also, are you playing this scenarion with 1.8.11.28 version or something earlier?

konstpan wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 5:38 pm Great story telling! Thank you for sharing.

Now, sorry if this sounds silly, but what's the meaning of "(with stacking limits)"? Aren't limits already part of the vanilla game?

Also, are you playing this scenarion with 1.8.11.28 version or something earlier?

The vanilla game sets stacking limits only on some smaller islands. The mods have stacking limits on every land hex.

konstpan wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 5:38 pm Great story telling! Thank you for sharing.

Now, sorry if this sounds silly, but what's the meaning of "(with stacking limits)"? Aren't limits already part of the vanilla game?

Also, are you playing this scenarion with 1.8.11.28 version or something earlier?

As BB notes, stacking limits is where we add stackign limits to every land hex.

We are playing Scenario 2 on the 26B version of the game.

I forgot to mention - the stacking limits on every land hex is a map feature. Some mods have the map built-in but if you use the vanilla 1126a or 1126B, you have to get the modified maps. Check the modding forum for this game to find links to alternate maps. Before installing a new map save the entire map folder from the vanilla game in a different subdirectory or back it up off your computer. The data the computer reads for the map is in 3 files and the rest is artwork to please our eyes - gif files IIRC.

BBfanboy wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 12:25 pm I forgot to mention - the stacking limits on every land hex is a map....

Got it. Thank you both.

konstpan wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 10:30 pm

BBfanboy wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 12:25 pm I forgot to mention - the stacking limits on every land hex is a map....

Got it. Thank you both.

It can make it more challenging, especially when playing against the AI. It helps to nullify the large "Death Stacks" beating up on everything.

RangerJoe wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 11:00 pm

konstpan wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 10:30 pm

BBfanboy wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 12:25 pm I forgot to mention - the stacking limits on every land hex is a map....

Got it. Thank you both.

It can make it more challenging, especially when playing against the AI. It helps to nullify the large "Death Stacks" beating up on everything.

It makes ALL games more challenging; AI or PBEM.

The Gulf of Alaska is seeing some intense action as both Jansako and I strive to dominate the area.

Alaska is mostly under Japanese control, but Kodial is Allied territory and Jansako is using it to block the flow of supplies to Alaska. KB escorted in a resupply convoy and beat off a number of air attacks, only to suffer half a dozen bomb hits from 4E bombers coming in from very long range at 1,000 feet. Despite dense CAP all the way down to 3,000 feet, the bombers largely slipped through without a problem.

Jansako tried to take advantage of the situation by sending powerful surface task forces to intercept KB, but I sidestepped his onslaught and the following turn set strikes on him while he was low on fuel and trying to shelter under Kodiak's CAP. Unfortunately, only a fraction of KB's strike aircraft flew (a common theme fighting in the far north in winter) which damaged CA Wichita and put two torpedoes into BB Washington (a third was a dud).

February 14th, 1943

That's a wrap on India:

Tenno Heika!

February 16, 1943

In the Gulf of Alaska I went in for a full bombardment on Kodiak.

My task forces streamed in to bombard, but either he has an extremely dense minefield there, I got unlucky, or there is a strait there or something because I got wrecked with mines - losing half a dozen DDs outright. The bombardment however made up for it, destroying 130 aircraft including 86 lightenings/corsairs.

I also engaged a whole bunch of riff raff, including subchasers, PT boats, etc., but this was the most notable one:
I suspect it might be some kind of tank battalion, but not clear

Possible to get a screenshot of India with meatball flags all over the place? A rare sight!

LargeSlowTarget wrote: Sat Sep 13, 2025 8:12 am Possible to get a screenshot of India with meatball flags all over the place? A rate sight!

Sure. I can't fit it in one screenshot though:

DesertWolf101 wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 3:43 pm The game keeps chugging along, now in February 1st 1943. A few interesting flashpoints:

3) Near Alaska (a key front currently in our game) submarine I-2 intercepted a USN cruiser force and put a torpedo into CA Vincennes. She engaged again and put another torpedo into Vincennes. The USN destroyers engaged I-2 and heavily damaged it, forcing it to surface. While they were finishing her off, I-2 launched another salvo at Vincennes while surfaced and struck Vincennes, sealing her fate.

D___ed good captain in the sub, I hope he survived.

DesertWolf101 wrote: Mon Sep 15, 2025 5:41 am

LargeSlowTarget wrote: Sat Sep 13, 2025 8:12 am Possible to get a screenshot of India with meatball flags all over the place? A rate sight!

Sure. I can't fit it in one screenshot though:

SWEET!!!!

PaxMondo wrote: Mon Sep 15, 2025 2:56 pm

DesertWolf101 wrote: Mon Sep 15, 2025 5:41 am

LargeSlowTarget wrote: Sat Sep 13, 2025 8:12 am Possible to get a screenshot of India with meatball flags all over the place? A rate sight!

Sure. I can't fit it in one screenshot though:

SWEET!!!!

To be printed as a poster and put on a wall