Matrix Games Forums

I'm relatively new to witp (but not to simulation wargaming), but having played a few PBEM games, I'm beginning to get frustrated by a number of the game mechanics. Is there something up?

The 3 most pressing questions that what I want to know is why is it that:

(1) My Japanese ASW patrol don't want to engage submarines in costal hexes.
(2) My CAP patrols don't want to attack lone bomber groups
(3) No LBA with naval strikes want to attack MTBs

ORIGINAL: ChrisR

I'm relatively new to witp (but not to simulation wargaming), but having played a few PBEM games, I'm beginning to get frustrated by a number of the game mechanics. Is there something up?

The 3 most pressing questions that what I want to know is why is it that:

(1) My Japanese ASW patrol don't want to engage submarines in costal hexes.
(2) My CAP patrols don't want to attack lone bomber groups
(3) No LBA with naval strikes want to attack MTBs

1. you sure, coastal hexes are death traps for my subs
2. no idea
3. you have to set them on lowestr alititude for them to attack MTB's (i think)

Ok..
Here we go:
 
1) Spot the subs with AC first, then send in a killer ASW force consisting of AT LEAST ONE experienced ASW platform (Japanese APDs are the BEST ASW platforms in the game, put at least one of these in each ASW TF...)
 
2) The game is designed to give "small" bomber groups, 3-4 planes an advantage in avoiding CAP, representing the RL difficulty of intercepting small bomber groups..
 
3) ok, bombers will ONLY attack MTB's when set to attack 100 feet( they strafe MTB's).... It is much safer and more effective to use fighter/fighter bombers at 100 feet to do this. They are more maneuverable an have cannons to hit MTB's more effctive....
 

So the allies in the early part of the game split their formations in smaller groups to avoid CAP.  And there is little that can be done to stop these formation sneaking in...eh!
 
Thank you about the need to drop attitude limits for MTB strafing, I'll give it a go, likewise I stiffen up my ASW patrols with ADPs and see if these will engage costal hugging subs.

no, there's a carrier air group penalty rule that breaks up incoming strikes a bit if the overall size of the strike is large enough. Land based airgroups do not have such a rule. Raids can in general break up or come in small depending on a variety of checks, including distance to target, weather, is the airfield overloaded or not....and the presence or absence of an air HQ (which helps create better and more consistant strikes)