WitP Fantasy vs Reality
Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 8:27 pm
Because Luskan didnt want me to continue posting in his thread,
I have started a new thread, on the same subject.
No matter how good other aspects of the game may be,
if we assume an Mdiehl like posture with regards to IJN
capabilities, it will be a very poor simulation.
Yes you can kludge some type of 'victory conditions' together
and wave that in front of the player to claim that the Japs can win,
but that will be a hollow claim.
If we dont get actual control of the US production, the game
will be less than PacWar, which would be quite sad.
If we DO get control of US production, then the designer must anticipate what the impact will be.
The 'reality' is that plane attrition on four engine bombers was high. I am NOT talking about planes being shot down.
I am talking about planes being scrapped.
Again averaging 10% per month. (active planes only)
So a force of 1000 B-17 fully deployed and conducting operations
could be expected to lose 100 planes, regardless of enemy action.
The B-17 was an expensive weapon system. So much so that
it was phased out, and replaced by the B-24.
It was NOT casually sent to chase DD.
In certain critical combats like Midway YES it was commited,
and hit nothing.
THAT is the key point.
In the time frame on UV, exactly ONE DD was hit by a B-17.
I recall NO instance of ANY ship underway that was hit by a B-17.
Not even subs. Although in the Atlantic, the B-24 DID score impressive kills. I dont recall any IJN subs sunk by B-24,
although I am sure it must have happened.
Some people would pretend that the lack of any hits by B-17
is because the Japs kept their navy out of range. That is silly.
The Japs were on the offensive several times. They didnt
conduct the offensives with just transports!
I have seen an aerial picture of Rabual that clearly shows the Shoho in the harbor fueling. The assertion that the ships
never entered Rabual is silly. They did.
Did they stay? That isnt important. What IS important is the Harbor WAS used.
No, possibly not for extended repairs, or refits or drydocks.
But it WAS used. They ships DID go there.
If a strike from Cooktown could have sunk ships in
Rabual, I am sure it would have been done.
But Cooktown was NOT a major base for the USN, nor was Cairn.
They based out of Townsend. That tends to be ignored in UV.
Was there a reason? YES, the railroad was there.
Another thing, B-17s at extended ranges suffered MUCH greater
attrition. If you lose an engine or two, it is harder to get back
if your a long way from the airbase.
In summary, I cant say how the B-17 is modeled in WitP.
I am not in the playtest. No one is telling us anything.
But I can say that if it is a direct port from UV, and if the US player
DOES get total control of the production, it will be a problem.
I am more concerned about getting an accurate simulation,
than in playing checkers.
Checkers with a handicap at that.
I have started a new thread, on the same subject.
No matter how good other aspects of the game may be,
if we assume an Mdiehl like posture with regards to IJN
capabilities, it will be a very poor simulation.
Yes you can kludge some type of 'victory conditions' together
and wave that in front of the player to claim that the Japs can win,
but that will be a hollow claim.
If we dont get actual control of the US production, the game
will be less than PacWar, which would be quite sad.
If we DO get control of US production, then the designer must anticipate what the impact will be.
The 'reality' is that plane attrition on four engine bombers was high. I am NOT talking about planes being shot down.
I am talking about planes being scrapped.
Again averaging 10% per month. (active planes only)
So a force of 1000 B-17 fully deployed and conducting operations
could be expected to lose 100 planes, regardless of enemy action.
The B-17 was an expensive weapon system. So much so that
it was phased out, and replaced by the B-24.
It was NOT casually sent to chase DD.
In certain critical combats like Midway YES it was commited,
and hit nothing.
THAT is the key point.
In the time frame on UV, exactly ONE DD was hit by a B-17.
I recall NO instance of ANY ship underway that was hit by a B-17.
Not even subs. Although in the Atlantic, the B-24 DID score impressive kills. I dont recall any IJN subs sunk by B-24,
although I am sure it must have happened.
Some people would pretend that the lack of any hits by B-17
is because the Japs kept their navy out of range. That is silly.
The Japs were on the offensive several times. They didnt
conduct the offensives with just transports!
I have seen an aerial picture of Rabual that clearly shows the Shoho in the harbor fueling. The assertion that the ships
never entered Rabual is silly. They did.
Did they stay? That isnt important. What IS important is the Harbor WAS used.
No, possibly not for extended repairs, or refits or drydocks.
But it WAS used. They ships DID go there.
If a strike from Cooktown could have sunk ships in
Rabual, I am sure it would have been done.
But Cooktown was NOT a major base for the USN, nor was Cairn.
They based out of Townsend. That tends to be ignored in UV.
Was there a reason? YES, the railroad was there.
Another thing, B-17s at extended ranges suffered MUCH greater
attrition. If you lose an engine or two, it is harder to get back
if your a long way from the airbase.
In summary, I cant say how the B-17 is modeled in WitP.
I am not in the playtest. No one is telling us anything.
But I can say that if it is a direct port from UV, and if the US player
DOES get total control of the production, it will be a problem.
I am more concerned about getting an accurate simulation,
than in playing checkers.
Checkers with a handicap at that.