Naval Movement Routines

JECrossNav · Post by **JECrossNav** » Mon Mar 05, 2001 11:47 pm

Hello all,

I just happened upon this revamped classic about a month ago and am reliving a bit of my youth. I may not be up to speed on all the changes from a decade ago. So I have a question or two if I may.

1. I thought I read somewhere that the restriction of Naval Movement on predetermined lines was done away with in Ver 2.2 Is this the case? Does it only effect user created Task Forces or does it also apply to to routine convoy routes? I'm kinda curious due to submarine patrol placement impact.

2. How does the routine convoy system make use of escorts? Specificly, how does the code allot allied escorts? I notice that the IJN routine convoys seem to use vast amounts of escorts while human controlled allied convoys seem to waste valuable escorts.

3. Is there any way to make use of MCS to transport LCU's? It seems that this should be allowed for historical reasons. Perhaps the unit should take a HUGE readiness loss or hard equipment loss. Is this possible?

4. And finally, what is the latest information on War in the Pacific? I noted that it is slated for release sometime in the winter of 01. I can hardly wait. Any information on how it is similar and different to PacWar would be GREATLY Appreciated. Heck, where can I pre-order the thing?

Fair Winds and Following Seas

John E Cross

Mike Wood · Post by **Mike Wood** » Tue Mar 06, 2001 8:42 am

Hello...

In answer to your questions:

1. I thought I read somewhere that the restriction of Naval Movement on predetermined lines was done away with in Ver 2.2 Is this the case? Does it only effect user created Task Forces or does it also apply to routine convoy routes? I'm kinda curious due to submarine patrol placement impact.

Yes, we removed the predetermined lines. This effects all task force movement, because they no longer exist, in the code. For submarine placement, you should most likely move a submarine unit once they have attacked an enemy fleet, because for the next turn or two, the AI will usually reroute around the hex where the attack took place.

2. How does the routine convoy system make use of escorts? Specifically, how does the code allot allied escorts? I notice that the IJN routine convoys seem to use vast amounts of escorts while human controlled allied convoys seem to waste valuable escorts.

If the AI is sending out a routine convoy, it looks in Los Angeles and Calcutta harbors for escort ships. If it finds any, it assigns escorts to these convoys.

3. Is there any way to make use of MCS to transport LCU's? It seems that this should be allowed for historical reasons. Perhaps the unit should take a HUGE readiness loss or hard equipment loss. Is this possible?

There is no way in PacWar to load troops into an MCS. You can load them into a cargo ship in Uncommon Valor: Campaign for the South Pacific and War in the Pacific: Struggle Against Japan, but these games are not completed, yet. In these two games, it will take longer to load and unload troops from cargo ships than from troop transports.

4. And finally, what is the latest information on War in the Pacific? I noted that it is slated for release sometime in the winter of 01. I can hardly wait. Any information on how it is similar and different to PacWar would be GREATLY Appreciated. Heck, where can I pre-order the thing?

We are currently working hard on Uncommon Valor. It will be finished long before War in the Pacific. We will allow pre-orders, but David will have to decide when it is time to begin this.

Originally posted by JECrossNav:
Hello all,
I just happened upon this revamped classic about a month ago and am reliving a bit of my youth. I may not be up to speed on all the changes from a decade ago. So I have a question or two if I may.
[snip]
Fair Winds and Following Seas
John E Cross

Thanks a lot for your interest. Got to go back and code...

Michael Wood
Lead Programmer,
Matrix Games

[This message has been edited by Mike Wood (edited March 05, 2001).]

Knaust · Post by **Knaust** » Tue Mar 06, 2001 9:38 pm

well...removing predetermined movement lines makes me a little dubious!
2 computer-controlled TF's moving from Port Moresby to Palmyra crossed directly New Guinea!

Mike Wood · Post by **Mike Wood** » Wed Mar 07, 2001 6:09 am

Hello...

Although predetermined movement was eliminated, the path finding routines still check to see if a hex can be traversed by the fleet, before entering. Fleets cannot pass over land. There may be some coastal hexes which graphically appear to be land, however.

Originally posted by Knaust:
well...removing predetermined movement lines makes me a little dubious!
2 computer-controlled TF's moving from Port Moresby to Palmyra crossed directly New Guinea!

Have Fun...

Michael Wood

Warpup · Post by **Warpup** » Wed Mar 07, 2001 10:24 am

My observation in a human vs. human 41 campaign is that TFs are ending turns on hexes that didn't have movement paths under the old system. But the Japanese routine convoys must still have at least a higher probability of running over the old paths, because US subs are tearing them up even in late 42 along the old paths. Then again, there aren't that many hexes to traverse between Japan and the oil and resources and major bases that need supply. For the Japanese subs it's a much bigger ocean...

Knaust · Post by **Knaust** » Wed Mar 07, 2001 2:31 pm

Thx Mike....but the US Carrier Force was just on a New Guinea definitely land hex....anyway I will control if this case will appear again.
I posted another bug on a Maj Tom thread...my Jap LCU's are checked to be on TF's by the HQ Unit routine, however when I check those TF's I see no LCU. Simply those LCU's are disappeared from map!

Warpup · Post by **Warpup** » Thu Mar 15, 2001 9:33 am

I ran the start to the Marianas scenario a couple of times to see if the colored dots which splash across the screen during the routine convoy phase follow the old Pac Paths. I noted that the colored dots don't follow the old paths, so removal of the paths from the hardcode affected routine convoys as well as TF movement. Sometimes the routine convoys seem to follow the most direct path and other times they follow a much more indirect path. This definately makes hitting the routine convoys with subs more difficult.

Mike Wood · Post by **Mike Wood** » Thu Mar 15, 2001 7:11 pm

Hello...

Now, I do not want this to become routine, as I do not have time to program my projects, work with the other Matrix Games programmers on thier projects, work with 2x3 Games on our projects plus read and answer a lot of unsolicited emails.

But, please send me a zipped copy of your saved game and I will look at it. I tried and cannot reproduce this bug.

Originally posted by Knaust:
Thx Mike....I posted another bug on a Maj Tom thread...my Jap LCU's are checked to be on TF's by the HQ Unit routine, however when I check those TF's I see no LCU. Simply those LCU's are disappeared from map!

Don't tell any one, but one of the icons above this post will allow you to email me, directly. Move the mouse around on them, until you find the right one and send me your saved game file. I will try to see what the bug is and fix it for the next patch.

Please be patient, as it may be several weeks before I can get to it, but I will get to it and post my response.

Thanks for Your Interest...

Michael Wood
Lead Programmer,
Matrix Games