Matrix Games Forums

y'all,
I've got an idea that might fly along the lines of the Combined Historic Scenario. Aside from British withdrawal, Allied units that serve in the Pacific and then are transfered elsewhere ahistorically remain in the game after they appear on the board. Why not come up with a text companion to the scenario that lists when these units were transfered. not unlike the spawning CV solution - where extra ships are "stored" at SF - these units would be taken from wherever they are at the time and transfered to SF. They would once again become usable if they transfered back to the theater (example: Nevada). This would work for land, air, and naval forces. In fact, withdrawing land forces would serve as a minor (albeit very minor) ease on the overabundance of allied shipping that was mentioned in another thread - the APs and AKs to withdraw the LCU or air group has to come from somewhere.

I don't have half the resources that y'all have, so this would be a little much for me. However, if y'all think this might be a worthwhile project, give me a directional start and I can try to at least make some headway until someone with more experience in the era can take the ball and run with it.
bs

I've been advocating a more universal withdrawl for maybe a year now. Expand the RN withdrawl to include merchants and lesser ships smaller than DDs. Include USN, US merchant and USN lesser ships smaller than DDs. Panama and the Atlantic were major draws of naval assets, be it for defence, battle damage repair on east coast or simply moving goods (merchant withdrawl). Make it non specific like the RN one (no need to use names, just type) but make it closely match the historical numbers and type regarding capital ships. Allow damaged ships to fulfill requirement to simulate ships going to East Coast yards for repair. Make it more small ship demanding as many older ships such as Omaha class CLs and Clemson class four stack DDs were transferred to Panama zone for months and years at a time. Include in the list of ship types submarines in order to simulate the USN practice of withdrawing older boats to training duties to so that the massive demand for trained crews to man the warbuilt Gato/Balao/Tench is simulated.

This is more than just chrome. Four main reasons for adding to the withdrawl feature.

One...with the current HQ/PP model, the Allies only seem to need to bother managing their PP for a few months, then they are flush with more PP than they know what to do with. It will give more ooompff to a rather toothless HQ/PP model.

Two...It will help remedy the excessive amounts of merchant shipping the Allies have in the game, not to mention warships. It will take some of the pressure off the Japanese player by keeping the Allied OOB more in line with what was historically available.

Three...expanding the ship class beyond capital ships and DDs will alleviate the problems we are having with excessive demands on RN destroyers by allowing lesser ships as escorts as well.

It will slow the pace of the game down as less PPs will be available to the Allied player if requirements are not voluntarily met.

Yeah, I went to bat with you on that topic a few patches ago. We begged and pleaded, but it doesn't seem like something they're willing to work on. Pity. It would be a fine addition to the game.

My idea might work for realism nuts like myself, but having to check a multipage checklist to see if any units are withdrawn would bug the hell out of many players (then again, it would be optional). And it might be a simple case of a decent idea that simply isn't worth the effort it would take to get it right. Take Don's detailed info on the Hawaiian Division and the 298th and 299th RCTs for example. Some of the units that aren't included could be added and some that are included, but stay longer than they really did, could be withdrawn. However, I wouldn't have had the resources to find the kind of detailed information he presented and Don, yourself, and the other handful of active moders involved in the project who do have this kind of information probably have bigger fish to fry. Now if there was a shortcut on the net, I may could get the ball rolling, but if you remember, I tried that with the AKs and I didn't even know what a freakin' Hog Islander was until Don explained it to me [:(].
bs

ps. Hog Islanders: the other white fleet? [:D]