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Holy smokes this is a tough game! I'm used to wargaming at a much lower level so I'm having a really hard time grasping the tactics required. There's so much to think about my poor mind is exploding. Any tips for an absolute newb?

I'm on my first battle, just taking baby steps in getting used to giving orders to move various units around. Not trying any tactics at the moment so my ships are being sunk, my planes shot down, my soldiers killed and my bases overrun!

Any chance it might be open sourced so we can retro fit a better UI?

Thanks

ORIGINAL: crivens

Holy smokes this is a tough game! I'm on my first battle, my ships are being sunk, my planes shot down, my soldiers killed and my bases overrun!

Sounds like you are playing the Allies in 1942. Keep your head down and hold out for reinforcements. The best thing you can do is get your air zones established with B-17s and Catalinas, keep your Carrier TFs within them with a reaction range of 15 set, and hope the Japs send their Carriers in your air zones. The japs do not have radar in 42, so suprise can be achieved this way - although it will still be tough to avoid a slaughter even with it. Without Corsairs and P38s life is tough for the U.S.

ORIGINAL: crivens

Any chance it might be open sourced so we can retro fit a better UI?

Why, what's wrong with it? [;)]

ORIGINAL: crivens


Not trying any tactics at the moment so my ships are being sunk, my planes shot down, my soldiers killed and my bases overrun!

Something to remember: Land units with experience ratings of 20 or less are actually worse than useless. They suck up supply, and turn their squads into Japanese victory points whenever attacked. Evacuate all such units to the rear, and wait for them to build E.P.

When I first started this game, I was overwhelmed same as you. Play a few games, not all the way through of course, but start in the 41 campaign as Allies (no better way to learn then to get your butt kicked a few times). Play until March 43 or so to see how things work, then, start over in 41. Wash, rinse, repeat until you have gotten then hang of it. Remember, until late 42, the US CVs are just about useless in larger groups then maybe 2... 3 at MOST if you are lucky. Try to play a delying action and wait until mid-late 43 when you start getting some better ships and planes.

Place your army on Midway, Attu Island chain, Port Moresby area, Guadalcanal. In the West, keep all the british ships there and try to hold on to Mandaly until you can counter attack and take Rangoon back. Use the ships there to also bomb Rangoon to smitherines.

Use the Army you evacuate from Surubaya area (yes, evacuate ASAP, you have NO way of holding these anyway and it is better to have these troops elsewhere). Try to get all your troops from Singapore north to Mandaly for back up support.

China area is totally useless, dont bother with it. At most, place troops (3 or 4 troops) at the bases that can be attacked via land routes (use the "path" command to see which ones).

Phillipines, you are pretty much lost here as well. My suggestion is to evacuate all planes to Mandalay area and put all the army here to either Clark Field (cant be bombarded by ships) North Luzon (so you can sneak a supply in now and then) or Manila (same as North Luzon, just not as easy).

Get ALL the other ships (EXCEPT British ships) the hell out of the Phillipines/Surubaya area. It will soon be over run and the small Asiatic Fleet has no chance for survival. Instead, pull these forces out to help you play a delaying action near Port Moresby. It wont be long and the Japs will be knocking on the doors around this area, as well as Wake and Attu area. Put troops here ASAP to help you defend.

I noticed a flaw in the Jap AI. They almost never land troops anywhere you have 2 or more troops to defend an area.

Once 43 rolls around (or you have sunk at least 4 CVs, 6 CVs prefered) start going on the offensive, and in a big way. Target the islands north of Australia (assuming you had troops in the north Aussie bases to make sure no Japs land) for landings. While you are doing that, also commit some forces to the Guadalcanal area. You more then likely will HAVE to take Rabaul (and a few other islands in this area) back from the Japs. Work on taking the islands over here that have large airbases (4 AF or higher). Once that is done, use your imagination for your next strike.

GL with this. This way pretty much how I learned. Once you get better, you will not need this advice, as you will have started your own way to do things. This is just a simple way to preserve as many forces as you can without getting too beat up.

The approach offered by the previous writers will help you to a certain win in mid - end 1945.
However, if you are looking for winning in early 1945 or even 1944, you have to be far more agressive. Never forget that US sqn lost will be replaced soon with little loss of experience. You have to take your oponent out of balance by attacing him where he does not expect it. [:)]
I have done this, got a fast win and doing it right now playing Isoroku. End of 1942 I am pushing him back on several fronts.

Cheers

I'm starting to realise that I really don't know where some of these places are! I spend most of my time scrolling around trying to find them! [:D]

Lmao, you will learn fast, or die faster... your choice [;)] Seriously though, just take your time and learn the game, there is a very lot to learn and you have forever to learn it. Its not like this is real war. [:D]

I am working on my 3rd game. Game 1 I lost 3 CVs by Jan 42.  Game 2 took on the KB on Dec 9 not smart
Game-3 by 3-15-43 sunk Shokaku, Akagi, Kaga,Hiryu,Soryu,Hiyo,Junyo,Shoho,Zuiho, Ryuho, the other Rh, hit Musashi and other BBs but haven't sunk them---I am smacking the KB around but they won't come out and fight--
all of those BBs were at Truk I got some damaged ships still struggling to repair Lex after 2 months 20 Flt 15 Sys
Once I get Cvs ready going after Munda, Vela,and maybe Rabaul if I can get those damn Aussies out of Aus,
gonna hit Rangoon soon-- I have Tarawa and Makin in Gilberts, retook Wake and took Marcus,
repair takes forever-- next time I will try not to lose The Repulse and Prince of Wales--although they tore up 3
amphib forces before the Bettys got them.  I love this game!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I must ask... what the heck is KB?

ORIGINAL: Remenents

I must ask... what the heck is KB?

KB stands for Kido Butai - the 1st Air Fleet, Japan's Carrier Strike force. Although it's composition varied as Carrier Divisions were detached to attack Wake and Port Moresby, it basically is Nagumo's TF that attacked Pearl Harbor.

Your Newbie status has been confirmed [;)]

ORIGINAL: Remenents

I must ask... what the heck is KB?

It's also referred to as the KB Death Star, since for the first several months of the game (and in WitP as well) it's pretty much invincible.

ORIGINAL: klhbekool

I love this game!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah, another addict has been hooked - welcome, brother!

I never heard it refered as KB. I know about it, I just was a "noob" to the whole "calling it KB"