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I've had WITP for about a year now, and have only played PBEM as the Allies. I've found that despite the game's age, it's easily one of my favorite strategy games. My favorite aspects are the submarines and counter-mobility (read: mines). What's your favorite aspect of the game?

I'm fond of sub warfare too. This is the rare strategic game where it feels like it's being simulated correctly. In most games at this level you just move them around grouped in big blocks as if they're a tight-knit squadron of surface ships instead of as individual operators.

On a individual game aspect level I'd have to say subs are good as well, I also like the shipping subgame.

What really draws me in to WITP:AE is how well (for me at least) it puts you in the shoes of Chester Nimitz and staff, coming up with operations, giving the coordination of them and then having to "let them go" and hope your digital boys do their best to execute them. Sometimes they balk at the weather or the odds of success, or maybe they were involved in a coordination SNAFU and get their collective noses bloodied for their efforts. It is this lack of control that I find compelling- some may rail against it, being used to playing so many omniscient 'god mode' wargames.

Not sure if I am in the minority on this aspect or not to be honest. Curious though.

I also like the uncertainty of die rolls and incomplete intel/FOW. For me this plays out in surface naval clashes where the enemy TF composition is not clear, the interception is not certain and the combat can go much better or much worse than expected. Sometimes David just hits Goliath in the scrotum and scoots away!

It is not just Nimitz but also other leaders. You are actually put into the place of Rooseveldt, Churchill, and Chiang plus later Stalin on one side while the other side has the IJA and IJN. If you really want to have more of a challenge even against the AI, try to keep your respective units in their organizations operational areas although loaning some assets for important tasks may be allowed such has the 3rd fleet helping SWPAC in the Philippines and the New Guinea areas. But do things like North Pacific units don't go to SWPAC or SEAC!

I also enjoy all the aspects everyone has mentioned, including the intelligence and fog of war system (although I think the intel system could have some enhancements).

I appreciate this game in that you can crush your enemies and hear the lamentation of their women.

Planning logistics, individual pilots and ships....GP

pnzrgnral wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 3:35 am I appreciate this game in that you can crush your enemies and hear the lamentation of their women.

Orphan Anne hides her lamentations well behind "2 carriers, a battleship, and numerous cruisers and destroyers".

Real historical individual pilots and dogfights against each other. You read about them in books and they are in the game. Same with army navy and air commanders of course. Just amazing.

Lots to like, I could have mentioned any of the previous and been happy but my favorite part of the game is when the Allies are making headway in Centpac in 43 & 44, Building/setting up bases, moving everything forward, prepping for the next. Hey we have as many toys as a spoiled kid on Christmas, might as well have fun with them.

As Japan here are a few of my favorite things
1) Converting merchants to ACMs and then sending them to bases to maintain minefields - just imagine those sailors hard at work servicing those dangerous mines!
2) Watching my highly skilled fighter pilots die in droves intercepting unescorted 4E bombers, while never managing to shoot one down.

Opps wrong list.

Here are my favorites.
1) Making strategic plans on where to invade, defend, retreat from and then trying to make it happen.
2) The randomness that is life and war. Just because you should win a battle, does not mean you will.
3) The sweaty palms I get while watching Carrier TF's attack each other
4) Heart palpitations during night time surface combat replays
5) The joy of receiving another turn from a PBEM opponent

Definitely China.

Coming up with new hare-brained schemes to save KMT China from a total collapse.

The manual that when the last patch will be released will be to my third reprint.

I hope also that the last manual release will retain the original layout