Back Story?

[SurrenderMonkey]

Look, I'm a big WitP fan with a (relatively) fat wallet, but I'm really ambivalent about this one. What's the setup, politically and (a)historically? I'm trying to decide whether to buy it or not.

To paraphrase that actor in the TV commercial ... "Uhm, excuse me - what's my motivation?"

[Tankerace]

Here is a basic rundown of the backstory (such as it is).

World War I ends normally, (with the exception that the British complete their last three Hoods).

The United States starts proceedings for the Washington Treaty, but Japan does not agree to the 5:5:3 ratio, and withdraws from the conference. The United States and Britain, realizing that Japan is building new dreadnoughts and battlecruisers, also leave the conference, and continue their large building plans. On May 30, 1922 (for the 1922 scenario) the Japanese sever relations, and seize any and all British aircraft in Japan. They sever relations because of diplomatic resentment and friction over the treaty.

Now, assuming it is a PBEM game, VPs are equal so it doesn't necessarily have to be a Japanese aggressor. However, in the AI game, the Japanese follow the assumption of the real War Plan Orange, where they invade the Philippines, and will attempt to seeize the vital coal bases of Guam, Wake, Midway, and even Pearl Harbor.

For the 1926 campaign the backstory is the same, except that American-Japanese relations continue until about 1926, and then break down. War then finally breaks out, along the same lines.

The backstory is further explained actually in the game, but this is a general summary of it.

[RUPD3658]

At least with the whole game being ahistorical we won't have to hear complaints about people not playing historically![:-]

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: RUPD3658

At least with the whole game being ahistorical we won't have to hear complaints about people not playing historically![:-]

D'OH! You didn't just post that, did you?[X(]

[RUPD3658]

The game is only a day old. Might as well start the flame war now and get it over with. [;)]

[DuckofTindalos]

You couldn't have waited until after Turkey Day?

[Mike Solli]

Are you kidding? Matrix releases the game the day before Thanksgiving. You can bet that all of us who purchased it are going to spend all of Thanksgiving Day playing it. My wife doesn't even know about it yet. She'll think I'm playing WitP....[:D]

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
Are you kidding? Matrix releases the game the day before Thanksgiving. You can bet that all of us who purchased it are going to spend all of Thanksgiving Day playing it. My wife doesn't even know about it yet. She'll think I'm playing WitP....[:D]

Wow, I hadn't thought of that, but this does make for an excellent stealth purchase. [8D]

[Mike Solli]

Well, I just learned that a WitP turn is sitting in my inbox. WPO will have to wait an hour or so.[:)] Ahh, such problems.[:D]

[watchtower]

Erik, you at least have the 'I gotta do this important work for Matrix' excuse!

[CMDRMCTOAST]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Are you kidding? Matrix releases the game the day before Thanksgiving. You can bet that all of us who purchased it are going to spend all of Thanksgiving Day playing it. My wife doesn't even know about it yet. She'll think I'm playing WitP....[:D]

LOL.....
My thoughts exactly and you must be reading minds cause thats what I said to myself yesterday when I heard it was released...

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

Here is a basic rundown of the backstory (such as it is).

Justin is it again "Japanese vs rest of the planet" or do they have someone at their side this time, or at least neutral? Are all forces immediatelly in war, or some are frozen (a la USSR in WITP)?

Now that I mentioned USSR, what do they do (if anything) in WPO?

Oleg

[CMDRMCTOAST]

Russia is frozen until attacked..
Japan against the world..

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: CMDRMCTOAST
Japan against the world..

Would you want it any other way?

[Oleg Mastruko]

My god do they stand a splinter of chance? It's hard enough in WITP where they at least:

a) Have KB to roam the seas as Death Star for as long as it lasts
b) Have Indochina at start
c) Have mandate Pac islands at start
d) Have solid foothold in China at start
e) Have long range torpedo a/c Nells and Betties

In WPO I guess they attack PI and that's it. I guess they will in most games usually fail right then and there, but lets assume they succeed for the sake of argument. What next?

O.

[DuckofTindalos]

Actually, the risk of failure isn't as high as you might think. The Allied army in the Philippines is almost non-existant, there are no aircraft, and the Japanese have a crushing local naval superiority.

[Tankerace]

ANd the British army is greatly reduced, and the RN doesn't arrive until the end of the game, where for about 3 years it is almost dead even between US and Japan. Plus Japan has the bulk of their army up front, whereas it taks time for the US to get one. So Japan has a lot of advantages, that the Allies don't negate.

[DuckofTindalos]

That was actually one of the thorny issues that came up during one of the beta cycles: what to do about the British?

It would have been easy to transport the entire British army in Burma, India and Malaya to the Philippines and squash the Japanese. Nowadays, it is *sort of* possible, but due to the very high disablement rate, the units won't be effective AT ALL.

[Tankerace]

Besides, in terms of VPs, just Luzon will give Japan a ton of VPs (and Luzon is lightly defended.). The Allies won't even have the same size army as Japan until about the middle of the third year (1924/1928). Navy size, Japan has more ships than the US until about the end of the 2nd year, and from then on (not counting losses) is about superior. If the war drags until 1925/1929, then the RN will arrive and tip the balance. However, if the US fleet has been destroyed, then parity will be restored.

So, I guess what I am trying to say is Japan stands about an equal chance of "winning" as do the Allies.

[CMDRMCTOAST]

Russia will fall in a few weeks if you want it..
The force dispersment makes this game quite exciting
looks to be a challenge for both sides and the fact that
you are on equal ground to begin with makes it that much
better..