Matrix Games Forums

Hi everybody - And Merry Christmas to youall and hopes that the holidays find you and yours in good spirits!

Now, for the serioua stuff. After having been away from pacWar for several months, I started a game with the thought that I'd try a few new techniques. I started being more agressive early in the game when I notices that the Japanese were taking islands with noting more than a couple destoyers and a handful of troops. Using the two infantry divisions and a few undamaged battleships fom Pearl I easily kicked out the landing party on Tarawa and Maloelap. I also sent some Australian troops to Ambon Island and began contesting it.

As the game wore on, it bacame apparant that Ambon must be a ketstone to the Japanese strategic plans because both sides have been pouring troops and planes into the battle. I think I've had more surface actions in this game than is normal for 10 games. It's really bloody. I've lost all but one of the British carriers. It's August of 43 now and we're still going at it over this worthless piece of real estate. But that's not all. The japanese advance has stopped halfway down the New Guinea peninsula, the KB has been thrown into the Battle for Ambon, the drive up the Malay peninsula has stopped and done nothing. My 4 carriers are stampeding through the Central pacific and I'm preparing to take Eniwetok after establishing myself firmly on Kwajalein. But strangest of all, the japanes have gone through the Phillipines like a firestorm, as usual, but refuse to land on Panay. They keep several bomber groups in the PI that do nothing but bomb the 4 guns and 31 squads that remain there.

I was wondering if somebody else would explain this and if possible, give it a try.

Correction to my original post: It's August 30, 1942, not 43.

That sounds very familiar - as I recall in the SSI version, the AI would always proceed from Singapore thru Palambang to Batavia.  If Batavia could be held (and often times it could be) the AI would continually impale itself in penny-packet tactics trying to take it, to the expense of all other efforts (such as the South Pacific and Papua New Guinea).

It seems the Matrix version likes to cut off Java from Australia first by taking Ambon and Timor.  Sounds like you were able to stop the AI in its tracks. 

The main problem is the 2-factor airfield - presumably you got engineers to Ambon?  The only one available early is the Indian unit in Singapore (very worthwhile to rescue!) or the U.S. Engineers at Pearl Harbor.

Merry Christmas to all PacWar gamers!

As the game wore on, it bacame apparant that Ambon must be a ketstone to the Japanese strategic plans because both sides have been pouring troops and planes into the battle. I think I've had more surface actions in this game than is normal for 10 games. It's really bloody. I've lost all but one of the British carriers. It's August of 43 now and we're still going at it over this worthless piece of real estate.

I've seen something similar in one or two of my games. Note that Ambon in Version 3.2 is no longer worthless: it's got Oil, Resources, and can be turned into a Level 6 airfield. (Remember that Gettysburg was fought over a stock of shoes.) I will grant you the AI overestimates its worth, but you can't ask for really good AI in a DOS-based program.

Yeah, I noticed now a few times that the allied CP liked to garrison Guadalcanal early (Mar '42) with the Americal. In my latest game I decided to get there first!

I am very exited to know about Strange Games. i hope its interesting.
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