Matrix Games Forums

Ok. So I've read and re-read the manual. Studied the various threads in the forums. Read the debates of various aspects of the weather. But to paraphrase a common saying (which I understand came from Samuel Clemons , AKA "Mark Twain") Everybody talks about the weather , but how do you use it?

I understand how predictions are used for tactical purpose (I use to brief aircrews on the tactical use of weather when I worked in Navy Tactical support centers/ASW operation centers) , but how do you use it in the game? How to hide your ships , and figure if he's hiding his. And how to use it to "smite" your opponent? (Or simply kick his butt!)[:D] Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

All I know it is raining Stangs and Bolts.

I haven't found it to be something you use effectively. More like it uses you for it's own sadistic pleasure. You're at the weather's mercy. It controls whether your recon or bombing missions fly. You can't plan reliably to have storms hide your task force. I do use the forecast to decide when to rest my bombers if the weather looks bad. That's about it for me.

Not really weather, but I do use the moonlight levels to plan surface raids once in awhile.

Anyone have a better plan?

ORIGINAL: Colonel Mustard
Not really weather, but I do use the moonlight levels to plan surface raids once in awhile.

This. Full moon is best time for clearing out PT boat infestations. And vice versa. This is fully predictable and difference is noticeable. Don't know if full moon also makes night bombing easier.

Also I check weather forecasts over the target sometimes when planning major air raids, clear skies are preferrable. But that one part of weather is so fickle...

OK, where do you check the moon[&:]

ORIGINAL: kaleun

OK, where do you check the moon[&:]

You need to be outside first, and at night.

Alternatively you could look along the top of the window.....


Roger

All I know it is raining Stangs and Bolts.

You need to be outside first, and at night.

That's just cold.[:D]

Alternatively you could look along the top of the window.....

Thanks, Roger.[:)]

Sorry Steve... my recollection from previous posts is weather is a random phenomenon, by hex. So you will not be able to "follow" a weather system to Pearl as the IJN did in December 41. Happy to be corrected if my (frequently addled) memory is inaccurate on this point.

So... you can see a by hex forecast but you'd need to be right there to leverage (or avoid) impact (I no longer even bother to try...). Something I do notice is never leave a CV task force circling in a single hex (I play 2 day turns)...seems to draw storm clouds. Likely just my pessimism drawing in the dark clouds but I seem to do better (with weather) when shifting around.

Happy gaming

Kevin

Very interesting. I wondered about this myself.

This post (below) with the emphasis best explained weather effects to me in addition to the manual.

<search advanced weather> Its a "poll thread about advanced weather usage in PBEM ~ on or off.

I admit to being inexperienced in this game; but I cannot see being able to "score" and truly differentiate a "coup-de-weather" movement among all the other variables (detection levels, spotting, subs, float planes, ad naseum)

However Roger I do appreciate the moonlight observation.

---

I also think there often is a misunderstanding what the advanced weather switch means.

With advanced weather on "weather forecasts always will be clear on turn 1 and partly cloudy thereafter".

The weather forecast tells you something about probability, not about actual weather.

We have 3 phases ingame per day, and weather can possibly change between every single phase. The chance distribution with advanced weather "off" always remains the same, with "on" it
varies from thunderstorms to clear.

But it still is a forecast, so you can sometimes run into a wall of clouds although the weather map stated "clear".

Thanks guys. Another mystery remains a mystery. [:D] I keep thinking every time I sit down to play this game I should sacrifice a chicken or something. [:D] But to whom? [&:] The high priests of Matrix? Or Henderson field? 2x3? Bill Gates? Gary Grisby? [:D] But thanks for your tries.

I think you can use the weather... a little.

At the junction points you can set a course into rain to attempt to avoid,minimize air strikes on fleets...or move to a better weather zone.

Hotkey 3 brings up the weather forecast.

I know of several players that have painstakingly used weather forecast to hide carriers in,with at least one notable success.

Also, I know players that track individual city weather day by day for those b29 strikes.

I tracked weather that way too.

It is very hard for torpedo bombers to make hits in thunderstorms. Also float planes don't like to fly in bad weather.

Low moonlight is great for close in naval fights at night; bad weather even better as the range is usually very limited. Low moonlight is also good for Iboats, running a gauntlet, lots and lots of uses.

Weather,something I don't check enough, but I probably check more than most.

Forecast rain; moonlight less than 50%. Send in the MTBs....

Yeah, I don't know how that's gonna work. That weather map is a forecast of the following day so... The instance you allude to was probably just pure dumb luck. Now IRL I agree that you could follow a weather front. Of course you couldn't be 100% sure that the front would not just dissipate, but... Doubtful this would be possible within the game.

P.S. There is a hot key that will show you the current weather forecast, but not the weather in individual hexes. F7 will show that, but to my knowledge it moves like IRL so...

ORIGINAL: Macclan5


Very interesting. I wondered about this myself.

This post (below) with the emphasis best explained weather effects to me in addition to the manual.

<search advanced weather> Its a "poll thread about advanced weather usage in PBEM ~ on or off.

I admit to being inexperienced in this game; but I cannot see being able to "score" and truly differentiate a "coup-de-weather" movement among all the other variables (detection levels, spotting, subs, float planes, ad naseum)

However Roger I do appreciate the moonlight observation.

---

I also think there often is a misunderstanding what the advanced weather switch means.

With advanced weather on "weather forecasts always will be clear on turn 1 and partly cloudy thereafter".

The weather forecast tells you something about probability, not about actual weather.

We have 3 phases ingame per day, and weather can possibly change between every single phase. The chance distribution with advanced weather "off" always remains the same, with "on" it
varies from thunderstorms to clear.

But it still is a forecast, so you can sometimes run into a wall of clouds although the weather map stated "clear".

The above quote comes from LoBaron. Made on 20 March 2012 in this thread.

tm.asp?m=3037535&mpage=1&key=weather%2C ... t&#3064194


More on point re the OP question is this 8 August 2009 post from theElf

tm.asp?m=2197981&mpage=1&key=weather%2C ... t&#2197981

albeit it is limited to air operations only.

Alfred

Thanks Alfred, that is a great post by theElf.[&o]

It is also interesting to see how players react to Advanced Weather. A lot of players get upset when they lose control, i.e. planes don't fly and to reduce that chance they turn advanced weather off.

I have done a complete 360 on this during my playing career. At first I liked it on since it seemed to imply a more sophisticated & accurate game; then for a while I got concerned about float planes not flying and suffering naval setbacks at sea, but for a long time now I have loved it.

It does slow the operational tempo down.

It cause uncertainty.

I think it makes the game more realistic.

It allows for a deeper use of tactics.

Of course some of it is luck...but how often is the day to day forecast right even now? The weather forecast gives you another piece of information to help the player manufacture his own luck.

Thanks guys! This definitely some of the Data I was looking for! [&o][&o][&o]

I would like to take this discussion a step further Steve if I may! There are three aspects to understanding the weather (I don't include the moon cycle as that is not "weather" but the spin of celestial bodies!). First is the "Weather Map" that Lowpe has posted. I don't use this and I'm wondering if I should... I've never seen it to be a determiner of hex related weather, although it might influence that hex's direction concerning weather. I would be interested to know player's views on the utility of this screen.

Second is the posted weather in the hex itself. I assume it is talking about the NEXT move's weather in that 40 NM region. Is it an absolute predictor? If so, it defies every forecaster's dream of 100% accuracy. On the good side it tells me if I want to fly aircraft into that hex (usually for transport purposes). But I find it guides me in very few, if any other decisions. How do people use it?

Finally, there are the clouds which can magically be turned on or off. As I recall in the BOARD game (yes I'm that old) that a close association of clouds in adjacent hexes meant storms and thus reduced combat at sea and in the air. Does this hold true? How do players use the clouds to guide their tactical decisions?

"all the world wonders"!!!!! Hal

How do players use the clouds to guide their tactical decisions?

TBH the only thing I use about the weather is the F7 hotkey, and then only to see if I want to attempt to launch air strikes. Seems to assist in keeping op losses down. Or maybe they're down because I have fewer planes in the air?[&:]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

How do players use the clouds to guide their tactical decisions?

TBH the only thing I use about the weather is the F7 hotkey, and then only to see if I want to attempt to launch air strikes. Seems to assist in keeping op losses down. Or maybe they're down because I have fewer planes in the air?[&:]

You should get in the habit of doing it on squadron transfers too.