What should my expectations be?

[BlackSnack80]

Hello humans!

I've been going back and forth with this game and I've never been able to go more than a couple months in any scenario. One reason why I believe I'm rage quitting is because I don't know my expectations. With other games it's easy, I know by the end of the mission, scenario, or w/e, I should conquer a majority of the area. But with WitPAE this isn't necessarily the case.

Specifically with the Guadalcanal scenario, what should my end goal expectations be (I like playing as Japan)? If I'm really good will I be able to take back the whole Guadalcanal area? Should I focus on one base only? Should I split my attention to Port Mosbley? Letting me know what some reasonable (and unreasonable) expectations will help me actually finish this scenario and move on to some PBEM!!!

Thanks in advanced fellow humans!

[Bo Rearguard]

Conquer the whole map, no. As Japan you probably just want to hang on to Tulagi and Lunga (or regain them if lost) and capture Port Moresby if possible. That by a historical standard would be victory enough for Japan.

In the campaign game (against a human player) you want to grab a defensive perimeter and then hold out against the inevitable Allied counter-offensive. Against the Allied AI you can generally win the game simply on points through auto-victory by sinking the vast majority of its navy and by conquering most of China. The AI tends to conduct offensives piece-meal making them easy to defeat.

[btd64]

Hello humans!

I've been going back and forth with this game and I've never been able to go more than a couple months in any scenario. One reason why I believe I'm rage quitting is because I don't know my expectations. With other games it's easy, I know by the end of the mission, scenario, or w/e, I should conquer a majority of the area. But with WitPAE this isn't necessarily the case.

Specifically with the Guadalcanal scenario, what should my end goal expectations be (I like playing as Japan)? If I'm really good will I be able to take back the whole Guadalcanal area? Should I focus on one base only? Should I split my attention to Port Mosbley? Letting me know what some reasonable (and unreasonable) expectations will help me actually finish this scenario and move on to some PBEM!!!

Thanks in advanced fellow humans!

I suggest that you read some AAR'S. Some of the players writing them are new players and some are veterans. But you will get a feeling for what you can and can't do....GP

[BBfanboy]

In most cases getting control of an area starts with Air Superiority. Japan has more land based air in that scenario and brings in carriers a couple of times but their planes are fragile. The Allies have more rugged aircraft but with less range and less experience than most IJ ones. Whittle down the Allies before risking your transports too much. Carriers are for escorting troop convoys and sinking enemy ships, not for bombing ground troops.

Not sure how many PP you get to play with but review your leaders and allocate PP to change the ones that matter the most. Most merchant ship captains can be replaced without using PP and a better captain might avoid bombs or keep a damaged ship afloat to complete the mission.

Use your subs to stake out likely areas where enemy carriers might be or troop convoy routes.

Don't worry about Port Moresby until you have Lunga - that airfield is the key to the whole campaign.

[RangerJoe]

Quite simply, you should expect to enjoy the game and have fun.

[rockmedic109]

This game is complex. It takes a while to learn the system. It takes time to learn what works and doesn't. This last part takes experience. We learn more from mistakes than we do from doing it right so good decisions usually come from a foundation of bad decisions.

Start a game as a learning experience. Do not have any expectations, use the game to learn how to play the game.

Reading this forum will provide a wealth of information on the game. The hard part is finding the nuggets of useful information from everything else. Personally, I found posts on the game from Alfred to provide a staggering amount of information and clarity.

Good Luck.

[zebrazwo]

A lot of my games have ended because I got to the point where I said, "Well, let's not do that again".

And the next game starts with a Monty Python idea, and now for something completely different.

Have FUN.

[PaxMondo]

...
Specifically with the Guadalcanal scenario, what should my end goal expectations be (I like playing as Japan)? If I'm really good will I be able to take back the whole Guadalcanal area? Should I focus on one base only? Should I split my attention to Port Mosbley? Letting me know what some reasonable (and unreasonable) expectations will help me actually finish this scenario and move on to some PBEM!!!

Thanks in advanced fellow humans!

Generally, I concur with BBFB ... Holding Lunga is key, as is taking out the allied CV's. You want to replay this scenario several times, increasing the AI difficulty to Very Hard.

Once you are able to win the scenario on VH, then I would work on the Coral Sea Scenario. Same thing with Coral Sea, key is being able to take out the allied CV's. Once you can do that on VH, go to either Scen 1 or 2, strap yourself in and enjoy. As IJ, you will absolutely need to use Tracker ... so get that up and running.

Feel free to ask questions here. Some good players are almost always around to help.

[LargeSlowTarget]

I disagree on Tracker being absolutely needed. It may he helpful if you really want to "optimize" the numbers game, but the game is perfectly playable without it.

[BlackSnack80]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I'm going to mess around with the Guadalcanal scenario for a few more weeks/months and then try my hand at some PBEM!

If I have any questions I'll definitely ask! Reading thru some of your AAR's kinda makes me wanna do a Guadalcanal Scenario thru the eyes of a Newb ?

[PaxMondo]

I disagree on Tracker being absolutely needed. It may he helpful if you really want to "optimize" the numbers game, but the game is perfectly playable without it.

As I said, feel free to ask questions, there are a lot of really experienced players around who are happy to help ... BUT ...

don't expect us to agree on everything

[PaxMondo]

Reading thru some of your AAR's kinda makes me wanna do a Guadalcanal Scenario thru the eyes of a Newb ?

Can't wait to read about it!!!

[RangerJoe]

I usually recommend playing the Coral Sea scenario a couple of times doing both sides before playing the Guadalcanal scenario.

[BBfanboy]

I usually recommend playing the Coral Sea scenario a couple of times doing both sides before playing the Guadalcanal scenario.

For someone learning the game this is quite true - the Coral Sea scenario has very little potential for land/air-land combat while the Guadalcanal scenario has all that. Logistics is also a big feature of the Guadalcanal scenario and much smaller for Coral Sea.

[PaxMondo]

I usually recommend playing the Coral Sea scenario a couple of times doing both sides before playing the Guadalcanal scenario.

For someone learning the game this is quite true - the Coral Sea scenario has very little potential for land/air-land combat while the Guadalcanal scenario has all that. Logistics is also a big feature of the Guadalcanal scenario and much smaller for Coral Sea.

Yep, but as he was already playing the Guadalcanal scenario... I recommended the Coral Sea after, even though a bit backwards, because it is a direct CV engagement of relatively equal forces. Guadalcanal can be, but doesn't have to be, and most importantly isn't always one*. And you definitely need experience in those before taking on a GC.

* My solution for the Guadalcanal scenario never involves an equal CV fight as the IJ. As the allies, I always want the 1:1 fight.

[BBfanboy]

I usually recommend playing the Coral Sea scenario a couple of times doing both sides before playing the Guadalcanal scenario.

For someone learning the game this is quite true - the Coral Sea scenario has very little potential for land/air-land combat while the Guadalcanal scenario has all that. Logistics is also a big feature of the Guadalcanal scenario and much smaller for Coral Sea.

Yep, but as he was already playing the Guadalcanal scenario... I recommended the Coral Sea after, even though a bit backwards, because it is a direct CV engagement of relatively equal forces. Guadalcanal can be, but doesn't have to be, and most importantly isn't always one*. And you definitely need experience in those before taking on a GC.

* My solution for the Guadalcanal scenario never involves an equal CV fight as the IJ. As the allies, I always want the 1:1 fight.

Guess I wasn't clear on my post - I was supporting the idea of doing the Coral Sea scenario first because it is more focused on carrier engagement and gets new players used to the interface controls. Playing it once as Allies and once as Japan gives the player a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of each side. That in turn affects tactics and operational moves.