Pacific War: Matrix Edition Released

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 9:14 pm

Hi Guys

Pacific War v2.3 is released so let us know what you think.

ftp://ftp.matrixgames.com/pub/PacificWar/PacificWarMatrixEditionv2-3.zip

Denniss · Post by **Denniss** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 9:39 pm

Game is running but i found some erros/Bugs :

1941 and Marianas Mandalay has 5 Oil and Rangoon none but in all other scenarios Rangoon has this 5 Oil like in the original game .

1942 and Guadalcanal are 100 TBM Avengers in pool but it should be the TBF Avenger as the TBM is not available for a long time .

The nice japanese transport L3Y is not listet in japanese pool but in allied ?!?

In the V2.3 changes.txt are some different values fo some planes listet as used in the game :
B17E is listet with 55load and 8range but in game is 30/6 .
A6M2 Dogfight 23list 22game
F4F Wildcat range 2list 3game

Another thing :
US fighter group are allowed to use land based fighter planes only but marine fighter groups can use all marine and land based ?

Blackhorse · Post by **Blackhorse** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 10:41 pm

First impressions (based on Campaign 41 PBEM scenario) . . .

Great work! Kudos for the following "fixes"

* Beautiful country ship flags
* More depth to the CBI theatre
* MTB/PTs are gone, gone, gone. (sorry, JFK)
* More allied ground leaders in the early war
* Fewer land paths! Sea invasions will be more important.

Other observations:
* LBA has been consolidated. Fewer, larger air units. Since, all things being equal, one 60-plane group can decimate 3 20-plane groups, this change should make LBA more dangerous to air combat task forces.
* Transports are fewer, and larger. And there are fewer transport groups. A submarine sinking a large troop transport (capacity 250) will take out a sizeable chunk of a division. The IJN will no longer have lots of extra transports sitting around -- they will have to carefully plan invasions.
* The reduced number of transports, and the clever use of at-start isolation, means the Allies can't start off the war by evacuating Singapore and the Philippines.
* MacArtur has an initiative of "4". I can't imagine him staying around long as Commander of SWPacific.
* Wavell is in at game start, and Matsunaga is now a Rear Admiral -- although I still can't assign him to a TF/base. Anyone else with this problem?

Other Questions:
* There is an icon called "must read notes." I don't know what file this relates to. What's important to be read?
* The AV Langley has a capacity of "0". If this is intended, why bother including the ship?
* Do the historic IJN conversions still take place? (Shinano built as a CV, the Ise BB's, and the Nisshin AVs to CVLs)
* Now that the OOBs have been overhauled, can Major Tom or someone list on the board, or set up a download file, with the arrival dates of reinforcements?

Thanks to one (Major Tom) and all (Rich, others) for another fine job of taking care of your fans.

[ January 20, 2002: Message edited by: Blackhorse ]</p>

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 2:38 am

The Isuzu is a CLAA Cruiser at the start in Dec. 1941.
I don't know if this is intended but it is historically not correct as far as I know.

Isuzu was modified from Jan-May 43 in the following way:
Removement of Nos5 & 7 14-cm guns
Addition of 1X II Type 89 12.7-cm HA
and 2x III 25-mm mg (for a total of 2x III and 2x II)

She was further modified from Jan - Sep 1944 to mount the following armament:

6 x Type 89 12.7-cm HA
50 x Type 25-mm mg
8 x Type 92 61-cm torpedo mounts

Major Tom · Post by **Major Tom** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 3:01 am

1. Historically, Mandalay had a series of oil fields, and Rangoon did not. Rangoon should have the oil since non port bases with oil are useless. I am not sure what happened there.

2. I guess the 1942 TBF/TBM thing was just a little mixup.

3. The space that has the L3Y was formerly the Vultree. I guess that is a 'cranky space' since as an allied aircraft it would only appear in order to change aircraft in the Japanese pool, but as Japanese, its pool is only visible in the Allied...

4. Things in the information TXT file are slightly different from those in the OBC files since there were many changes in the OBC files after I wrote the TXT.

5. Since the original version USMC FG could only use USMC aircraft.

6. The USS Langley Class should have a capacity of 30.

7a. Shiano is a CV, but you will notice that it is a better CV than in previous versions. It now has a capacity of 84 (instead of 54). This is because historically it could carry a large air group, but had a lot of space left over because it was to be used as a fleet supply carrier (like the HMS Unicorn). Seeing that by 1945, in most games, the Japanese would be in dire need of fleet carriers, in reality if used the Shiano would not have all this extra space left empty, but used as a full fleet carrier.

7b. According to my knowledge, the ISE BB's do not transfer over to their alternate versions. This has been around since the original...

7c. The Chitose class conversions occur in December 1943 with the Chitose, Chiyoda, Mizuho and Nisshin, if they survive.

8. The Isuzu CLAA was added because the other IJN CL were somewhat useless in regards to AA value. The Isuzu was changed in 1944 to a CLAA, but since I cannot change any of the code to get the ISUZU to be a CLAA this was the best thing I could come up with.

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 3:21 am

Thanks for the heads up fellas, the Rangoon/Mandalay oil and Langley capacity goofs are easily fixed with the (shiny new) editor.

Great work Major Tom/Mr Heath/et al. It looks great.

Bulldog61 · Post by **Bulldog61** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 3:24 am

Do my eyed deceive me or have the Japanesse base icons changed? Also it looks like a lot of the ship icons have been re worked -- Looks Good!

I'm still trying to figure out how when I sent a damaged BB with a destoyer group as escorts, from PH to SF it appear off the coast of China to be pounced by hordes of Japanesse A/C. I don't mean it moved there taking several turns, I mean appeared as in fell through some sort of black hole.

Also, Singapore is gone by Jan 18 1942 turn, but Hong Kong is holding out! so much for this report.

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 3:26 am

Ahhhhh sneaky..

now Japan takes Wake on the first turn of campaign 41 when using historical start.
<img src="smile.gif" border="0">

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 4:47 am

Hi Guys

We release an update once some more gamers downloaded and give the game a spin.

The thanks for this version really rest on Jeremy (Major Tom) and Rich Dionne.

Rich Dionne is also the man behind our scenarios for Uncomming Valor and they are great.

crusher · Post by **crusher** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 6:03 am

hi: i tried to download ver. 2.3 fom your update page and even though it says ver 2.3 i got ver. 2.2 is there somewhere else to get ver. 2.3

Bulldog61 · Post by **Bulldog61** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 6:09 am

Are the Dutch Admirals gone? when trying to assign a TF commander to the Dutch TF's I keep getting Generals. This happened once with a US TF also.

Just wanted to add Jeremy and Rich have done an awesome job! Thanks Guys!

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 12:33 pm

Originally posted by crusher:
hi: i tried to download ver. 2.3 fom your update page and even though it says ver 2.3 i got ver. 2.2 is there somewhere else to get ver. 2.3

I did the same and got the same - v2.2. Crusher, it seems that you must use the link David has provided in the first post of this thread.

LST

Denniss · Post by **Denniss** » Mon Jan 21, 2002 7:39 pm

Some other issues with V2.3 :
1)With some TF wrong Flak calculation
Japanese TF39 and Allied TF56/90 have problems with the Flak strength - each time i click on these TF a different Flak strength is displayed .
I think I tested all TF and these are the only ones .

2)Another Flak issue :
If i have a TF with a single MCS unit with 10 ships only 6 of them are counting for Flak ?!? > from original game maybe not changeable .
San Diego issue? :
In all campaigns/scenarios except marianas I get a factory there producing Catalina I (which is the britisch version of the PBY) . The factory is listed : a) Heavy Industry b) Catalina I c) Shipyard d) PBY Catalina which makes me think of this beeing an error(maybe should be Artillery or Armor factory??) .
In Marianas scenario there's an additional factory producing 40 B24Liberators but not switching production to B29 as the others do . > The factory is listed between shipyard and PBY .

Bulldog61 · Post by **Bulldog61** » Tue Jan 22, 2002 2:21 am

I'm not sure if this is a bug But I've gotten a message "TF26 Reaction movement" in response to the lone britsh destroyer fleeing from Hong Kong.
The Line of movement streches all the way to the east edge of the map right through CONUS.
I think I know what happened to my black hole TF movement, it happens when I leave the chinesse HQ in Computer mode. It appears to snag a TF and move it to the coast of China.
It appears that the AI is playing a more aggresive game!

vlar · Post by **vlar** » Tue Jan 22, 2002 2:40 am

Why isn't there a small file to update 2.2 to 2.3?
I don't know about the rest of you but with my old 56k it'll take half an hour or more to download the full program.

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Tue Jan 22, 2002 3:14 am

Ditto here on the funny reaction move clear across the conus. Havent seen anything funny like that after the first turn.

I dont mind the download time.. just be sure to use a download manager like GetRight in case the connection drops. I DL'ed SPWAW over 56K modem.. now that took a LONG time.

Blackhorse · Post by **Blackhorse** » Wed Jan 23, 2002 10:58 pm

More observations from my "shakedown cruise" of v2.3:

technical notes:
1. The game "double-clutches" when I try to choose which scenario/setting to play -- it kicks me back the first time I try, then accepts my selection on the second attempt.
2. I can access the OOBs for all the scenarios with the editor, except two: "obsol" and "obmari" are not recognized paths.

Game notes (from playing the PBEM version of Campaign '41. Japanese under full human control; Allies set to human, but with all HQs under full computer control.)
3. I ran the Pearl Harbor historic first move twice -- sank 5 BBs and several auxillaries both times. The King George and the Prince of Wales each escaped, once.
4. During both historic first moves, the marines on Wake surrendered to a 3:1 attack. The forces on Guam survived longer.
5. The first air strike against Clark Field is launched from Keelung. Keelung's fighters (Nates) don't have the range to escort, so the bombers get whacked.
6. "Phantom Headquarters" are an irritant. Keelung starts off attached to the 10th Area Army. Some invasion units are part of the yet-to-be-formed 17th Army -- they capture bases then have 0 preparation points.
7. The AI can "overload" troops into transports. As BigE noted on another thread, LCUs tend to be just a few points bigger than the transport capacity of the APs. Since there are limited numbers of APs now available, this affects operations (for humans, at least.)
8. The Chinese port cities and Port Arthur are ungarrisoned. Major Tom indicated in another thread that he already plans to garrison them in v2.4. Korea is handled well -- left in the game to provide needed theatre depth for Japan, but with port zero so no garrison is needed.
9. Upgunned strafing runs work well. Fighters now sink a few -- but only a few -- of any unprotected merchant ships that blunder into range.
10. What's with the Solomons? Instead of the Southwest Pacific, its Southwest Airlines! "$89 buys you a direct one-way fare to Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Shortland, Green Island or Milne Bay (all size 3 airbases). Or, for $69, you will fly through our traditional hubs at Rabaul and Port Moresby, or via our new facilities conveniently located at Bougainville, Wewak and Lae (all size 4)."
This can't be right!
11. Are reinforcements arriving on time? The British 18th Division is supposed to arrive on turn 2, according to the editor, but I didn't see it show up until January (turn 5 or 6).
12. While I watched Japanese carrier planes pound British merchant ships in Columbo, I wondered, how come ships in port, and ground units, don't have any flak?
13. In the last week of February, 1942 the Japanese "hit the wall" on preparation points -- combined fleet dropped below 60 PPs -- and I had to reduce the tempo of fleet operations. That seems about right.
14. Except in the CBI -- where it appears the British ground forces are now too strong, the changes to Allied forces and dispositions now give a better "feel" for the early months of the war, IMHO. In my game, the Allies put up a much better fight in the Philippines, Malaysia and the DEI. The Japanese still met or beat their historic timetable of conquests, but it took effort and the commitment of a lot of troops -- as it should. [I was using a "house rule" of no amphibious invasions of Manila and Singapore, because of their coastal defenses.]
14. Combat checks are based on the experience rating of the LCU listed first. As the Japanese I twice captured allied bases (Singapore, Rangoon) when the Brits rolled over with a "two-squad" defense -- in the case of Singapore, it was my first attack on the city! In both cases the allies' defenses included units with 50+ experience, but the "top unit" was under 50.

Major Tom · Post by **Major Tom** » Wed Jan 23, 2002 11:53 pm

4. This occurs because Guam is an island (where land combat is prolonged) and Wake is an Atoll (where land combat is speedy and rarely goes after one turn). I have ran the game multiple times, and 3/4 of the times Wake surrenders.

5. Not much I can do about this, since the Ki-27 did not have the range to escort.

6. The 10th Army is no longer there. The 17th Army will be there in december 1941.

7. There are fewer AP's, but they hold more, I really don't see the problem here.

8. This is how the game was, check the original game files from the 1992 game, and most of the Chinese port cities are ungarrisoned. The fact was, there were not that many divisions used to garrison them (but Brigades, that I added).

10. The reason that I increased the air base size is that the Japanese AI NEVER sent Engineers to upgrade the airfields in New Guinea/Solomans, so the Allied player could just overwhelm the IJNAF/IJAAF.

11. Never noticed this.

12. This was something that never occured, even in the Original 1992 game.

14. CBI slows down because of the Rangoon supply bug, not LCU strength.

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Thu Jan 24, 2002 1:06 am

7. It hurts to have fewer AP's to use and then also need to use 2 of these precious AP's to move a single ENG with a size of 108.

beyond that, it works well as I seem to have to work harder to get all the US troops I need into the Solomons for protection and in time for an Aug 42 counterattack. That feels historical.

BigE · Post by **BigE** » Thu Jan 24, 2002 1:15 am

Major Tom:
The problem with the APs is not that they are fewer or that they have higher capacity, but that their capacity and the "cargo value" of the troops doesn't match at all. For example, two of the new Henderson class APs are required to lift a lousy engineer unit, because it has a 108 size now instead of a fine 100.
Even more seriously, the 250 point Wakefields and Duke Whatever are continously oversized for any troop movement. In V2.2, you could rely on it that Liners would be able to lift a division of troops (say size 790) from the West Coast to Pearl with pretty little underloading. I usually got something around 108% or so capacity. Now, I regularly have to employ a mixture of Hendersons and Wakefields to get anything CLOSE to that, or else Hendersons alone. Even that results in 180% capacity loads as in the mentioned engineer example. It's a problem with so little transports available.