Matrix Games Forums

As one might surmise from the title, I dislike the rule change that made many formerly free IJA level bomber upgrades from 1 engine models to 2 engine models now cost 75 political points for each group. I think this is especially silly for the 12 plane chutai groups. You could change 30 or 40 air group leaders for that cost.

(edit: Realized the obvious workaround after a night's sleep for vs AI. The walls in our minds are the trickiest ones. [:)])

Also, I searched for and failed to find the discussion where someone concluded this was a good idea, and would be interested to see it. To me, this seems like a pretty significant gameplay change as it either affects proper level bomber production or dramatically reduces political points available for other uses.

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(edit: Added for fun)

(Scene: Hangar, 74th Chutai flight crews assembled)

(Quartermaster addresses the assembly)
Quartermaster: Tremendous news! HQ is shipping out brand new planes for you, you're being upgraded to the Ki-21 IIa.

(shocked silence)

Flight Leader: What! No! We are the elite pilots of the Ki-36. We have mastered the art of achieving maximum damage from its 4 mighty 30kg bombs. They can keep their new flying death machines.
(voice in the back): Yeah, I bet this new plane doesn't even have a camera.

Quartermaster: That's right. It's faster, has much better range, and eight times the payload. But no camera.

(general commotion breaks out)

(voices overheard): ...an outrage ... insult to our honor... what are they thinking ...

Quartermaster: OK! Ok. They are prepared to offer you all promotions, and consideration for your families back home. HQ knows how much you love your Ki-36s.

It's a new feature. I think it's reasonable and good one, and the cost is not that much really.

Also the PP cost applies to Allied players who like to switch from MB to HB
as well. Which I welcome from a balance perspective.

It does seem the cost should be staggered toward size of group. 75 makes sense for big groups, but for 12 planes seems steep. PP costs for LCUs seem staggered by the AV size or the importance of the unit. Why not this?

while I agree there should be a difference in cost if you change a small/big unit but in general this is a very well thought out change as it definitely should cost something to change the upgrade paths. I would even go further and put in cost for EVERY aircraft upgrade, no matter if in the same upgrade path or not.

To be honest, I'm not sure what to think about this feature.

My concern is that if implemented, wouldn't it imbalance the game in favor of the Japanese player?

After all, Allied production is fixed and provides only so many frames. Whereas Japanese player can boost production of any desired plane anytime.

Example:
In my current PBEM (as Japanese - early August 42), I'm in the process of switching 1E bomber squadrons to 2E FB (Nick). Whether it's a good idea or not is OT. Point is that before I hit 43, I'll be able to intercept Allied strategic raids with swarms of Nicks in all threatened theatres ( i.e Solomons, Burma and the DEI at the same time).

Since this is my first PBEM, and I haven't seen the Nick in action yet, I don't know if it'll make much of a difference. However, judging from the results I've had with the Oscar in Burma so far. I believe my opponent is in for a rough ride.
Sure! He can upgrade a number of Squadrons from LB to HB, but he'll still have to fill them up and keep them operational.

So, in short. Beside the PP cost, what impact will it have on game balance?

Like I said, I haven't landed on any conclusion yet, but like SeethingErmine, I am curious as to what the reasoning behind this feature is.

Can somebody provide a link to a thread where it has been discussed?

ORIGINAL: Atilla60

To be honest, I'm not sure what to think about this feature.

My concern is that if implemented, wouldn't it imbalance the game in favor of the Japanese player?

After all, Allied production is fixed and provides only so many frames. Whereas Japanese player can boost production of any desired plane anytime.

Example:
In my current PBEM (as Japanese - early August 42), I'm in the process of switching 1E bomber squadrons to 2E FB (Nick). Whether it's a good idea or not is OT. Point is that before I hit 43, I'll be able to intercept Allied strategic raids with swarms of Nicks in all threatened theatres ( i.e Solomons, Burma and the DEI at the same time).

Since this is my first PBEM, and I haven't seen the Nick in action yet, I don't know if it'll make much of a difference. However, judging from the results I've had with the Oscar in Burma so far. I believe my opponent is in for a rough ride.
Sure! He can upgrade a number of Squadrons from LB to HB, but he'll still have to fill them up and keep them operational.

So, in short. Beside the PP cost, what impact will it have on game balance?

Like I said, I haven't landed on any conclusion yet, but like SeethingErmine, I am curious as to what the reasoning behind this feature is.

Can somebody provide a link to a thread where it has been discussed?

Don't know if I read your post right but without paying PP for upgrades outside of the upgrade path would make it even easier for Japan to do those upgrades. [&:]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: Atilla60

To be honest, I'm not sure what to think about this feature.

My concern is that if implemented, wouldn't it imbalance the game in favor of the Japanese player?

After all, Allied production is fixed and provides only so many frames. Whereas Japanese player can boost production of any desired plane anytime.

Example:
In my current PBEM (as Japanese - early August 42), I'm in the process of switching 1E bomber squadrons to 2E FB (Nick). Whether it's a good idea or not is OT. Point is that before I hit 43, I'll be able to intercept Allied strategic raids with swarms of Nicks in all threatened theatres ( i.e Solomons, Burma and the DEI at the same time).

Since this is my first PBEM, and I haven't seen the Nick in action yet, I don't know if it'll make much of a difference. However, judging from the results I've had with the Oscar in Burma so far. I believe my opponent is in for a rough ride.
Sure! He can upgrade a number of Squadrons from LB to HB, but he'll still have to fill them up and keep them operational.

So, in short. Beside the PP cost, what impact will it have on game balance?

Like I said, I haven't landed on any conclusion yet, but like SeethingErmine, I am curious as to what the reasoning behind this feature is.

Can somebody provide a link to a thread where it has been discussed?

Don't know if I read your post right but without paying PP for upgrades outside of the upgrade path would make it even easier for Japan to do those upgrades. [&:]

Okay, re-reading my post I can understand your confusion.
So, to clarify, IMO, if this feature is to be implemented (from BETA to official upgrade). It should come with a PP cost. How much, and how it should be calculated is one aspect.

Another aspect is what impact does it have on game balance? That's what I was (trying [:)]) to adress.

Does it cost the Japanese the same 50 PPs it costs the Allies to change many 1E fighters to a type outside thier scheduled path?

With a cost of 50 just to change the path of a 1E fighter, 75 doesn't seem out of proportion (at least to me) for a change from 1E to 2E for a bomber.

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Does it cost the Japanese the same 50 PPs it costs the Allies to change many 1E fighters to a type outside thier scheduled path?

With a cost of 50 just to change the path of a 1E fighter, 75 doesn't seem out of proportion (at least to me) for a change from 1E to 2E for a bomber.

Under the version I'm running (1108r6c), it's free to change a fighter's upgrade path. I believe the same goes for my opponent.

However, changing the upgrade path of a single engine bomber from LB to FB cost 270 PP.

Being able to change a group's upgrade path goes against what the OOB designer's originally intended in trying to show historical upgrades.

Putting some cost behind the LBA upgrades helped to alleviate their concerns.
We are trying to balance allowing players to change the upgrades against what could be considered reasonable.

I remember looking at one save where almost every second land-based air group for Allies was a 4E bomber.[:D]
If the carriers could carry them, I am sure the VS/B groups would have had 18 B-29/B-17[:@].

I believe the number of PPs assessed should be based on the number of planes in the group. Smaller groups should cost less. A group of nine should not cost as much as a group of 41.

ORIGINAL: michaelm

If the carriers could carry them, I am sure the VS/B groups would have had 18 B-29/B-17[:@].

Hmm, the big brother of the Doolittle Raid. I like that idea, will it be added to the next beta ? [;)]

Maybe we could do some R&D and get B52s. That would make for a great Doolittle raid! I wonder how many PPs for that upgrade. I better start saving now!

Michael, how about basing the PP cost on something like
2 * [max # of a/c in unit] * [# of eng of the new a/c] / [# of eng of the old a/c]?

Based on the above formula upgrading from

16 max a/c Banshee Group (1 eng) to B17 (4 eng) would cost
2 * 16 * 4 / 1 = 128PP

16 max a/c Marauder Group (2 eng) to B17 (4 eng)
2 * 16 * 4 / 2 = 64PP

27 max a/c Susie Group (1 eng) to Helen (2 eng)
2 * 27 * 2 / 1 = 108PP

and so on.

Would make upgrading to an airframe with more engines more expensive than
upgrades to same number of engines, while taking number of a/c to be upgraded into account.

ORIGINAL: Atilla60

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Does it cost the Japanese the same 50 PPs it costs the Allies to change many 1E fighters to a type outside thier scheduled path?

With a cost of 50 just to change the path of a 1E fighter, 75 doesn't seem out of proportion (at least to me) for a change from 1E to 2E for a bomber.

Under the version I'm running (1108r6c), it's free to change a fighter's upgrade path. I believe the same goes for my opponent.

However, changing the upgrade path of a single engine bomber from LB to FB cost 270 PP.

I'm running 1108r6e and it costs 50 PPs to go outside the scheduled path for many of the Allied fighters.

Doesn't seem to be the case for every squadron and I have not yet discerned the formula for which ones get hit with the cost and which ones can be done for free.

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: Atilla60

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Does it cost the Japanese the same 50 PPs it costs the Allies to change many 1E fighters to a type outside thier scheduled path?

With a cost of 50 just to change the path of a 1E fighter, 75 doesn't seem out of proportion (at least to me) for a change from 1E to 2E for a bomber.

Under the version I'm running (1108r6c), it's free to change a fighter's upgrade path. I believe the same goes for my opponent.

However, changing the upgrade path of a single engine bomber from LB to FB cost 270 PP.

I'm running 1108r6e and it costs 50 PPs to go outside the scheduled path for many of the Allied fighters.

Doesn't seem to be the case for every squadron and I have not yet discerned the formula for which ones get hit with the cost and which ones can be done for free.

I think with the Japanese the number is more like 75 pps.

The interface with the military industrial complex is a very political animal. One must consider that many of the engines and airframes had already been ordered. The industrialists making these aircraft and engines had connections and political pull. To change what was ordered , planned or contracted would require spending some sort of political capital to change.

And why I need to pay 100PP to change a USMC squadron of 18 F4F-4 Wildcats to F4U1 Corsairs and then pay another 100PP to changed it back?

It's one time change for Japs to change 1 sentai of zeros to George and use it for 2 years.

But given the scarcity of Allied plane production, Allied player have to play around with whatever planes they got. Squadrons may need to switch between several type of planes frequently.

And this feature is really a waste of Allied PP thus created a unbalanced PP consumption.

Hmmm, as a normally Allied player, I don't think I like the sound of this PP charge at all, particularly if changing between different types of Naval fighters or other similar ac types.