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WPO: First impressions

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:25 am
by watchtower
well its 26% downloaded[:D] Will post my first thoughts in a hour or so.

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 3:45 am
by watchtower
ok been playing it for the last couple of hours. Started as allies scenario 1 1922-26. First of all liked the music! The turn resolutions are very quick, much more so than Witp. Took about 3 mins from ending a turn to starting a new one. Seeing air phses take a few seconds was a bit of a shock after Witp. In two hours I got about 4 turns in which is much faster than Witp but then I was rushing things a bit!

On the second turn my 20 surface combat ships bumped into a japanese invasion force on its way to Vigan and a 20 US vs 35 Jap Dreadnought slugfest took place - fantastic fun.

Coastal guns seem to do more damage than in Witp with more hits.

Excellent manual BTW as well by the looks of it. Ship art and art in general is very nice.
Will report more later. After a bit ok a kip[:D]

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 7:04 am
by Cmdrcain
Yup, it seems go faster, without all the many air units/battles..

I do observe also theres less air search results too,
so that loads gone down and also your not going see easy enemy TF's... in one turn sudden the japanese were at like Davao, no warning, no sighting...

Its going be coastwatchers mainly that will spot fleets on the move and alot more fog I would say..in guessing where any spotted are headed.

Ships also move slower so its even slower to move
to problem spots.

Japanese player can hit faster given shorter distance from japan to like Phillipines,
4 turns and a BB fleets still otw to pearl from Mainland.


RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 2:25 pm
by sprior
Guys, you have to start using submarines and destryers on patrol as your eyes and ears here. Think more North Sea 1916 and less Pacific 1942. Your ships on patrol should have timid skippers who will run away when faced by over whelming odds so they more realistically fulfill their assigned duties as lookout. Also don't forget the IJN does not have its first turn move bonus.

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 3:55 pm
by Mike Solli
This is going to be a great way to pass the time while waiting for WitP turns.[:)] (27% downloaded) What is the rough size of the Japanese fleet? I'm already preparing my spreadsheets for this game.[:D]

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:15 pm
by watchtower
ORIGINAL: sprior

Your ships on patrol should have timid skippers who will run away when faced by over whelming odds

Run away!!! NEVER! Full ahead and keep the shells comming.[:D]

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:19 pm
by watchtower
ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

What is the rough size of the Japanese fleet? I'm already preparing my spreadsheets for this game.[:D]

Dunno can't find it. They are there one turn and then the buggers dissapear! Realy hard to find TF's with no air recon. The odd coastwatcher spots things and as sprior mentioned subs make good but slow spotters.

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:23 pm
by DuckofTindalos
ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

This is going to be a great way to pass the time while waiting for WitP turns.[:)] (27% downloaded) What is the rough size of the Japanese fleet? I'm already preparing my spreadsheets for this game.[:D]

Rough size of the Japanese fleet, he says...[:D] Well, since there are two seperate campaigns, starting four years apart, that's a bit difficult. But the Japs have about 35 battleships and battlecruisers, including pre-dreadnoughts.

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 5:05 pm
by Mike Solli
ORIGINAL: Terminus

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

This is going to be a great way to pass the time while waiting for WitP turns.[:)] (27% downloaded) What is the rough size of the Japanese fleet? I'm already preparing my spreadsheets for this game.[:D]

Rough size of the Japanese fleet, he says...[:D] Well, since there are two seperate campaigns, starting four years apart, that's a bit difficult. But the Japs have about 35 battleships and battlecruisers, including pre-dreadnoughts.

Smart *&%. 35 eh? Sounds like fun. Up to 67% downloaded, not that it matters much. Still 6 more hours of work left.[:@]

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 6:44 am
by Cmdrcain
ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: Terminus

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

This is going to be a great way to pass the time while waiting for WitP turns.[:)] (27% downloaded) What is the rough size of the Japanese fleet? I'm already preparing my spreadsheets for this game.[:D]

Rough size of the Japanese fleet, he says...[:D] Well, since there are two seperate campaigns, starting four years apart, that's a bit difficult. But the Japs have about 35 battleships and battlecruisers, including pre-dreadnoughts.

Smart *&%. 35 eh? Sounds like fun. Up to 67% downloaded, not that it matters much. Still 6 more hours of work left.[:@]


eep!

Your still downloading?

Dialup?

On a multi Hundread Meg D/L...

Ouch..

I got it in minutes... on Cable [:'(][:'(]

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:55 am
by Andy Mac
I love the individual Bns of the British Army very very nice touch Tankerace !!!

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:50 pm
by Gem35
I am thinking this game was made for a guy like me.... I love WitP but the air power was a bit overwhelming. The fact you can use TFs without worrying about that KB will make for many a fun night, but tough morning at work the next day. [:D]

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 6:11 pm
by Mike Solli
I'm making some spreadsheets of the Japanese fleet right now (waiting for a couple of WitP turns [:@]). This game definitely needs a different mindset than WitP for the Japanese. It could be lots of fun. Thanks, Tankerace.

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:21 pm
by Arkady
ORIGINAL: Gem35

I am thinking this game was made for a guy like me.... I love WitP but the air power was a bit overwhelming. The fact you can use TFs without worrying about that KB will make for many a fun night, but tough morning at work the next day. [:D]

well, after first 14 days in Pacific Jutland Scenario against Allied AI I must say that correct name for this game is Submarines in the Pacific [:D]

Just small scirmishes between my light scouting forces and british dreadnoughts, around 10-15 submarines attacks per day though

Hit ratio is 20-25% but I lost one CL and several DDs, two british dreadnought was hit by sub's torpedo

Airgroups gained up to five points of experience...best of them have 35 [:)]

14th Army (two infantry brigades, two naval battalions, combat engineers and three heavy artillery units) just landed at Hong Kong, heavy casualties between ships, dreadnoughts was ineffective againts Coastal Defense and some of them was damaged (small fires only)

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:53 pm
by CMDRMCTOAST
After playing it for a day it seams to be a nice
change from WITP and looks to be quite challenging..

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:55 am
by jwilkerson
I'm trying scenario 1 ( 1922 ) as the Allies against the AI ... and I agree about submarines in the pacific - though it is refreshing to see submarines actually act a bit like submarines ! I've gotten 9 hits in 12 attacks in the first several days !!! Only one actual sinking reported though.

And yes it is also refreshing not to worry so much about the planes. I can drive merchant ships around in P.I. and be pretty safe - at least from Betty's or carriers.

But I can see that it will be a long while before I can push enough supply near the P.I. to even try to make a fight of it. Trying to figure out where farther south to actually make a stand will be different as well.

But the crowning touch - was when I saw the commander of the Corregidor Batteries was none other than Major M. Scholl !!! [:D][:D][:D]

( for those who don't know - Mike has made a habit of complaining about the poor representation of the major US Coastal Artillery units in WITP - so we see him "honored" here !!! )

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 5:15 am
by CMDRMCTOAST
ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

[:D]But the crowning touch - was when I saw the commander of the Corregidor Batteries was none other than Major M. Scholl !!! [:D][:D][:D]

( for those who don't know - Mike has made a habit of complaining about the poor representation of the major US Coastal Artillery units in WITP - so we see him "honored" here !!! )


Great now blast them off that rock...[X(]

Looks to be a fantastic game that I will be enjoying emenseley..
Tankerace a congrats to a fine job sir...[&o]

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 5:05 pm
by watchtower
Well after a few days I have decided that ' This Game Rocks'

As my mouse pointer hovvers over the WitP icon on my desktop it seems to always click on WPO instead - can't leave it alone at the moment even to continue my long running Witp against AI as Jap on Hardest setting.....

Must start a PBEM soon

RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 5:18 pm
by jwilkerson
Well I've finished two weeks of Allies against AI in scenario one ( 1922 campaign ) and my subs continue to get hits - including 2 torps into Kongo. But still only 3 confirmed sinkings ( by subs ) on about 15 hits total. But "Submarines in the Pacific" is still rolling along !

Trying to figure out where to "draw a line in the sand" and thus where to build up the major rear area base is still the major strategic challenge - for the Brits it is easy - for the US not so easy. Everything is far far away - and will take a long time to get lots of supply there.

Also - not so good - looks like the main theater may really be China. I'm seeing 17 new Japanese "units" have recently landed in China - so looks like a major campaign shaping up there.

So the main question I have is what are the supply sources for the Allies .. may be only Karachi and the US West Coast ports. All the WITP "auto-generators" seem to be turned off. I assume the Japanese have some kind of supply source in the Home Islands - but not sure about the Chinese - if they have none - then we'd better start shipping them some supply !!!


RE: WPO: First impressions

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 6:12 pm
by Tankerace
THe main supply bases are The US (which doesn't have nearly as much or gain as much as in WitP), Karachi, Some in Australia (not a lot), and some Chinese.

The Japanese also produce a fair amount of supply, but their best means of aquiring it is capturing it.



With the submarines in the Pacific, to originally counter it I had high dud rates, but the betas weren't fond of them. If need be we can go back to higher dud rates. Also, turning the sub doctrines on will help too.

Glad to see everyone likes the game!