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foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:30 pm
by wga8888
A longtime opponent and I are in the early months of a Uncommon Valor and will start a WITP full campaign in parallel, dedicating years it will take. Given WITP is 60 NM/hex, AE is 40 NM/hex and Pacific War was 100 miles/hex, AE has an attraction due to hex size closer to UCV (30 NM/hex). Does the additional complexity of AE make a full campaign (3 days/turn; still 350+ turns) any less feasible than WITP? Do other people play campaign games vs human opposition without withdrawing from the human race?
Over the years we have completed campaigns of SPI War in the Pacific, SPI War in Europe, AH The Longest Day; Squad Leader Campaign Games, SSI War in Russia. If one is to dive into the pool, may as well go deep and play the campaign game. Playing a real live thinking gamer is the only way to go.
Likely to add campaign games of a Matrix/Grigsby War in the East, War Between the States, and one of the Ariel Bombing campaign (Talonsoff/12 O'Clock high which we have else Matrix/Eagle Day). Am looking forward to retiring soon and join the Professional Wargame Tour.
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:43 pm
by dr.hal
Greetings Bill and welcome aboard this fantastic ride! To my view, AE is light years ahead of WITP. The detail is what makes is so great. I play single day turns as I just think its fun to guide things alone (control freak?). Thus it is a LONG term commitment and can be intrusive, you just have to manage your time and expectations to both your partners (one in the game and the other in the house!). If you really want to be competitive and offer up good opposition skills I would argue that you might want to play a few smaller scenarios as test runs as the rules and capabilities are not the same as the old WITP. But no matter what you do, this is going to be a fun venture for you. Hal
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:08 pm
by Puhis
It's better to forget original WitP and start game using AE. AE is just so much better, like hal said, light years ahead.
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:49 pm
by Chickenboy
Hi Bill,
I agree with Puhis and Dr. hal. Don't waste your time on WiTP "vanilla". It was a fun game, but AE is so much better, I don't even know where to start. Strongly advise you get involved with AE instead.
ETA: Yes, you can still have a life with PBEM against a human opponent. Limit yourself to one game and it's quite manageable. Two or more games and you're asking for a nervous 'episode'. [;)]
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 7:54 pm
by Commander Stormwolf
AE has lots of problems , the air combat system is still a bit out of whack
BUT
WITP original:
- pilot 20,000 limit bug
- submarines don't really function
- UBER CAP
- surface units don't really function
- replacement rates innacurate
so play AE...
an amazing achivement in research, and the best pacwar game ever made
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:56 pm
by crsutton
Luke, come over to the dark side. It is your destiny.[8D]
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:49 am
by Disco Duck
The User interface is just so much better in AE. Convoys with up to three waypoints is a huge improvement. The way the ports work is so much better. I probably have lost track of all of the improvements. Come to the Dark side.

RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:01 am
by Hanzberger
Don't walk to AE, RUN~!
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 4:27 am
by Itdepends
If you play AE make sure you update to the latest patches- huge interface improvements
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:41 am
by LoBaron
Don´t even think twice. I can only echo what already has been said.
The UI improvements make more than up for the increased complexity, so actually you will be spending less time searching for stuff than
in WitP.
I reccommend you try WitP AE DaBabes, or BaBabesLite, which removes/reduces many of the DB errors still present in the stock version, and
improves a lot of combat algorithms.
Also, installing tracker and combat reporter might be a good idea, but is not a must if you are playing Allies.
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:49 am
by KenchiSulla
AE.. by miles!
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 10:23 am
by Grfin Zeppelin
* Dances into the thread and sings* " AE AEeeee" *Dances out of the thread*
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:57 pm
by LoBaron
ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin
* Dances into the thread and sings* " AE AEeeee" *Dances out of the thread*
Ah, Gräfin, must fit perfectly to
Tibetan Throat Singing...
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:06 pm
by Treetop64
(WITP vs WITP AE) = (Ford Cortina MkI vs Ford GT)
Both are great but the latter is soooooo much newer and better. A no brainer.
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:12 pm
by Grfin Zeppelin
ORIGINAL: LoBaron
ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin
* Dances into the thread and sings* " AE AEeeee" *Dances out of the thread*
Ah, Gräfin, must fit perfectly to
Tibetan Throat Singing...
Hell yes [:D]
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:33 pm
by millersan
Howdy from Houston. I've also played SPI WiTP a few times. Even re-did all the rules. AE is way ahead of even the new decision games WiTP. Now playing my first game (PBEM) and as the Jap it's overwhelming but a dream come true. The US player has a much easier time early on so whoever plays the Japanese had better have 3-5 hours of free time a day (assuming one day turn and making one move a day). The first few turns can take as much as 8 hours to get everything moving.
As mentioned, be sure to get the new patch (over 500 fixes). It also appears most folks on the Forum are very helpful and there is tons of info on this site not found in the rules.
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 10:45 am
by wga8888
I am in NE Dallas. [Millersan, one of my UCV opponents is in Houston.]
Thanks all for the input. Given I am to embark on likely a 3+ years playing the 1 turn/day game; it seems wise to play AE (ordered one) as it is the one currently supported and will have ongoing updates.
I realized this forum will be more biased towards AE. My only concern is I play scores of game titles as am primarily a boardgame tournament player (in person and in various PBEM ladders/tournaments. Similarly I play the the lower 4 Squad Leader games as Advanced Squad Leader is a lifestyle. I am not to dedicate my life to playigng WITP-AE.
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:26 am
by wga8888
I wish they had server play mode, would speed small games along if both players have the day at home rather than checking email. But with routers, firewalls, AI, etc, may be a technical challenge But Vassal does it.
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 12:48 pm
by USSAmerica
ORIGINAL: wga
I am not to dedicate my life to playing WITP-AE.
That's funny right there! AE is a harsh and jealous mistress. She does not tolerate other games, (or families, social lives) very well. [:D]
Welcome aboard, Bill! [8D]
RE: foolish question; WITP vs WITP-AE
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:37 pm
by dr.hal
Bill, we may be "biased toward AE" as you point out. But it is not biased out of ignorance, as many aspect of being biased are, almost all here have played and are very familiar with WitP and we make the recommendation based upon that experience.