Need a bit help getting started

[ParaB]

Finally got to buy WitP and spent the last to night with this monster of a strategy game. Enjoying it very much, although half the time I don't know what I'm doing and the other half apparently doing my best screwing up horribly...

[:D]

A couple of points:

Is there a tutorial somewhere that walks you through a smaller scenario? The manual mentions one but I don't see such a scenario nor the documentation in the various game folders. Am I missing something?

The manual is certainly nice, but it describes the various features rather than how to actually play the game. And most of the AARs I've browsed so far, although highly entertaining and interesting, are focussed on the grand campaign and are a bit overkill for a newbie like me. n01487477' very helpful tutorials do help though.

Is there some info that describes what exactly all those ship classes translate into and how to use them effectively? I do know about CVs, BBs, CAs and the like but the plethora of transport and supply vessels thoroughly confuse me.

I've played the Coral Sea scenario half a dozen times (since it seemed to be the smallest scenario) and finally managed a decisive allied victory. Sunk the Shoho, 2 CAs, a CL, and most of the Japanese transportation fleet while losing an oiler and 54 aircraft. Go me! [:D]

My problem is that this victory came at the cost of literally running away from the Zuikaku and Shokaku. No matter what I tried these two Japanese fleet carriers smacked my CVs really bad. No matter what tactics I tried (keep Lex and Yorktown together or apart, concentrate all CAs and DDs of the scenario with the CVs, maximize CAP, maximize air strike escorts, go for the invasion force 1st or try to hit the carriers 1st) the Japanese eventually punched trough my defences with 80 aircraft raids wrecking my carriers while my raids got badly mauled by Zero CAP and then failed to hit their targets, even with 50+ dive and torpedo bombers.

Any tips how to deal with this situation would be greatly appreciated.

Another question: what are Devastators exactly for? Because they can't be intended to engage major warships for sure. They die in droves and fail miserably in hitting their targets.

Also: why sometimes raids seem to get launched without fighter escort? Seeing 15 Dauntlesses without escorts running into a dozen Zeroes makes me sad.

And: can you court-martial commanders? In one of my games I managed to sneak a SC TF of 5 CAs, a CL and 6 DDs into the Japanese carrier TF (2CVs, 2 CAs, 5DDs) at night and both forces evaded... [:-]

Other than that I'm loving the game. You know it's good when it's suddenly 3 AM and you realize you have to get up in less than 4 hours...

[8D]

[jeffk3510]

In the WiTP game, there is a tutorial, complete with the manual on a computer document.

[Banzan]

You bought WitP or WitP AE ?

[ParaB]

I bought the admiral's edition.

So, there's no tutorial for the AE?

[Richard III]

Scenario 004 Guadalcanal will give a feeling for moving ships, creating and load/unloading amphib. and supply TF`s, setting recon, creating air strikes, and many other aspects of game metrics, on a small map, and with a **reasonable time investment**. Resist the temptation to start a GC.

Reading many. if not most of the current AAR`s from T 1, is desirable. Keeping a list of questions from your game to ask about in the general forum, so as not to waste time by asking one at a time, is a good thing.

I also copy- paste- print informative threads and posts by a few people who know the Game well, Nemo 123 and Alfred & Bullwinkle and Hans Bolter come to mind at once but there are a few others. ( I`m up to 4 thick binders BTW )

As a desperate last resort[;)] read the manual & patch notes.



Good Luck, your life has just changed......

ORIGINAL: ParaB

I bought the admiral's edition.

So, there's no tutorial for the AE?

[dr.hal]

There are a number of threads that give you tips on getting started, do a key word search. But one of the best ways of doing things is by doing them via a small scenario.... and don't try to win, try to DO things, such as load ships, escort, patrol and see the results.... test things out.. THEN read after action reports to get a feel for "the big one"...

[crsutton]

Here is an easy one. Go to the opponents forum, advertise for another newish player and play a small scenario. No better way to learn than by doing. Come back here and ask all the lame questions that you want. Most of us don't mind.

[zuluhour]

Welcome to the matrix.[:D]

[Dadekster]

I feel ya ParaB, just got the game 2 days ago as well and have been plowing through the manual as well as clicking around on various things and some of this stuff is pretty dense. [&:] I figured out Aurora though and this game has tons more documentation then that so I'm not giving up. [:)]

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Dadekster

I feel ya ParaB, just got the game 2 days ago as well and have been plowing through the manual as well as clicking around on various things and some of this stuff is pretty dense. [&:] I figured out Aurora though and this game has tons more documentation then that so I'm not giving up. [:)]

I've been playing this game since the end of feb 2011 for at least 3 hours/day...every single damned day that God gives us.
And yet i understand only the 60% of his mechanics

Welcome to hell[:'(]

[ParaB]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Welcome to hell[:'(]

Your AAR was one of the reasons for me buying the game, so you're at least partly to blame.

[;)]

@all: thanks for the suggestions and encouragement.

[Dadekster]

Same here. I tend to buy a game after a lot of reading about it and while I make a decent living WitP:AE has always been just a tad rich for my blood especially in light of many other great games to be had. The AAR's were definitely a big movitater not to mention the discount. [;)]

[Treetop64]

Welcome to the club, ParaB.  In starting to play WitP AE, you have most definitely fallen down the proverbial rabbit hole.  Kiss whatever you called a "social life" goodbye! 

One of the kool things about this game is that you can play it for years, and still continue to learn new things about it, and new ways to play it.

[crsutton]

ParaB, allow me to introduce you to Dadekster...Dadekster, meet ParaB. OK, now that the formalities are done with. Why don't you two hook up and start a small scenario. It could be the start of a beautiful friendship. [;)]

[Dadekster]

That would make for a pretty funny looking punchdrunk fight I would reckon with all of you lol'ing your collective arses off I bet! [:D]

That said I have no problems engaging in a PBEM game as soon as I figure out at least the basics of the game since I am sure it would be a very enlightening experience. Hit me up ParaB if you are so inclined.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Dadekster

That would make for a pretty funny looking punchdrunk fight I would reckon with all of you lol'ing your collective arses off I bet! [:D]

That said I have no problems engaging in a PBEM game as soon as I figure out at least the basics of the game since I am sure it would be a very enlightening experience. Hit me up ParaB if you are so inclined.

Good on you mate! Let us know if it happens.

[ParaB]

ORIGINAL: Dadekster

That would make for a pretty funny looking punchdrunk fight I would reckon with all of you lol'ing your collective arses off I bet! [:D]

That said I have no problems engaging in a PBEM game as soon as I figure out at least the basics of the game since I am sure it would be a very enlightening experience. Hit me up ParaB if you are so inclined.

Sounds like fun!

[:D]

And yeah, need to figure out the basics of the game 1st, but then we could definitely do a little PBEM.

I'm currently playing the Guadalcanal scenario and I'm slowly getting to grips with the game. I still have the feeling that for everything I understand 10 new questions arise, but I'll get there. Eventually.

[8D]

[Banzan]

Edit:

After thinking about it for some time, i think you would go better with Dadekster for a start. [:)]

The timezones shouldn't be much of a problem, i think GreyJoy and rader have no problem with it at all.

[Dadekster]

I live in CA so you two might make a better match as far as zones go although not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing as far as pbem games go? Is it better to be on opposite sides of the globe to allow smoother turns or is it better to be in the same time zone?

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ParaB

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Welcome to hell[:'(]

Your AAR was one of the reasons for me buying the game, so you're at least partly to blame.

[;)]

[:D] So you are well prepared to get your arse kicked around for many many months of RL? I tell you: the first months are discouraging...you feel hopeless and impotent...
but then you get better and you really start to feel the power in your veins[:)]