Dec 8th a worse disaster than Dec 7th!

[gunnergoz]

True, I only just started playing the game, but I now can be sure that AE is a different animal from plain WITP...on the 7th, I began rushing my various TF's back to Pearl to consolidate them into a worthwhile strike force. Surprise! The Crafty Sons of Nippon did not retreat back to Japan like they would have in vanilla WITP but instead hung around and cleaned my clock. On the 8th, they caught my 3 carrier TF's steaming back to Pearl and the cargo TF's I was sending out to Midway and Wake, and wreaked havoc upon them. I lost Enterprise sunk, the other two CV's burning and badly hit and a couple of cruisers to the bottom along with a DD or two. I won't even get into the AK's I lost from the supply convoys...

So GREAT JOB, Matrix...you #*&!$@'ers really outdid yourselves with the new AI...and I'm loving it! [:D] Money well spent! [&o]

[Ketza]

3 CVs?

[oldman45]

Saratoga, Enterprise and Lexinton

[Titanwarrior89]

I had to do a restart. Got too the 10th and the jap(ai) attacked again am and pm. Same for 7th thru the 9th. Not saying its to much and changes need to be made but all my battlesships gone almost all ca's, a good porition of my cl's and DD's.. Last but not least-at least 7 or 8 DM's.[X(][:-][&:]

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: oldman45

Saratoga, Enterprise and Lexinton

From my point of view simply Target #1, Target #2, and Target #3 for 12-8-41. [:D]

[Brady]

If your playing the Non-Historic start you can expect KB to throw some more love around.

[gunnergoz]

That was the 2nd turn of the regular Dec 7th campaign...i.e. the one where the results of the PH attack are randomized; this was not the scenario that starts on Dec 8th. 

Out of curiosity, I re-started the campaign.  I'm still processing my Dec 7th turn so I don't know what the morning will bring, but you can be darn sure I'm keeping my CV's away from PH! 
Not to mention that this time, the Japanese managed to sink 5 BB's and a bunch of smaller ships there, plus the PoW...I'm sure Repulse will be gone within the next 24 hours as well.  So not a good day for the good guys...[:'(] I'm lovin' this new AI all right.[:D] 

[John Lansford]

I started the Campaign game with the historical outcome option, and on the 2nd day the KB was still close enough to maul the TF with Indianapolis and the DMS in it.  The cruiser barely made it into port but only one of the DMS did with her; the others were all sunk.  Now the KB has vanished off the search screens somewhere around Midway while my CV's are over at Wake rescuing the Marines.  I don't know if they should go north before heading back to Pearl or south, but their fuel is starting to get low...

[Sheytan]

The historical start is random as well, it appears quite a few of us had the KB "camp". Frankly I have no issue with it, my second game is very entertaining. Frankly the air and naval combat resolutions are very very entertaining to watch, or better yet, watch the USN subs dent the sides of passing ships ;}. thank god for the Dutch in my current game, thier subs accounted for over twenty IJ ships so far, and I have yet to lose one of them.

[Avenger]

I am playing Historic and on December 8th they hit Pearl again. I ran this three times with three different saves and twice they Hit Pearl on December 8th. The time that I did NOT set my planes on Cap at Pearl they moved away without attacking. I went with that one and moved on.

[Sheytan]

Go South! :} [;)] worked for me. Use the waypoint system to detour slighty around the Air range of the KB. You can look up the IJN aircraft ranges to insure you have a safety margin.

KB just leveled Wake my last turn lol.

How did you fare around Tarawa/Makin/Rabul? Did you attempt to preempt there as well?

ORIGINAL: John Lansford

I started the Campaign game with the historical outcome option, and on the 2nd day the KB was still close enough to maul the TF with Indianapolis and the DMS in it.  The cruiser barely made it into port but only one of the DMS did with her; the others were all sunk.  Now the KB has vanished off the search screens somewhere around Midway while my CV's are over at Wake rescuing the Marines.  I don't know if they should go north before heading back to Pearl or south, but their fuel is starting to get low...

[Sheytan]

ORIGINAL: Avenger

I am playing Historic and on December 8th they hit Pearl again. I ran this three times with three different saves and twice they Hit Pearl on December 8th. The time that I did NOT set my planes on Cap at Pearl they moved away without attacking. I went with that one and moved on.

My second restart of the historical the KB sent a large Kate attack force very poorly escorted on the 8th. Amazingly my odd and end collection of planes destroyed about 35 of a 50+ plane strike. Then the KB took off.

But yep im sensing people would like a NON variable Historical start, along with what is currently offered scenario wise. At any rate im enjoying the game.

[Avenger]

That looks the same as mine. The KB moved away but only a little ways. Then they made full speed towards Wake. My submaries are trying to picket their path but I have yet to launch any torpedoes.

Another unexpected thing is that the KB is headed due West. My Carriers are also headed due west. I need to turn south pretty soon.

[Sheytan]

Patrol planes are your friend! [;)] thankfully the Midway PBYs tracked the KB for me, so I was able to plot a fairly safe path away from them with my carriers.

At any rate good luck!

[Avenger]

Same, and I have patrol planes all around.

[John Lansford]

[quote]ORIGINAL: Sheytan

Go South! :} [;)] worked for me. Use the waypoint system to detour slighty around the Air range of the KB. You can look up the IJN aircraft ranges to insure you have a safety margin.

KB just leveled Wake my last turn lol.

How did you fare around Tarawa/Makin/Rabul? Did you attempt to preempt there as well?

[quote]

I sent Louisville to disrupt the Tarawa landing; she sank the whole TF and killed over 1200 soldiers still on the ships. The Rabaul landing is happening on my current turn but my surface ships are too far out to stop them; there's a CL at Port Moresby but the rest are still at Australia.

[EUBanana]

I tried to intervene at Rabaul twice in two games now, it's a different kettle of fish there from Wake or Tarawa.

The Japanese bring a battleship to the party at Rabaul - Adelaide was blown away by it both times.  The other Aussies decided discretion was the better part of valour.

I think a human Japanese player would be advised to cover his landings in the northern Philippines with a battleship or battlecruiser, they certainly make short work of cruisers... Houston/Boise watch out!

[gunnergoz]

The wonderful thing about this game is that it does not feel like you are playing a game, but that you are experimenting with history.  I am just enthralled all over again...

[ruffels]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who lost Enterprise to the KB on the first Allied turn! I just couldn't stand to lose Halsey though and fortunately hadn't saved the game yet after my moves so was able to restart and send Enterprise, Lexington and the Indianapolis all straight south. Can't take this AI for granted. This is a REALLY good game!!