Scen 1 vs Scen 2

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Q-Ball
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Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by Q-Ball »

I am curious what everyone thinks of the gameplay of Scen 2 v Scen 1.

In my game vs. Canoerebel he asked for Scen 2; maybe I am biased as Japan, but I think it gives a more balanced game than Scen 1.

I was a stickler for historical force levels, but I have softened on that a bit, as overall it's just a game. I'll probably ask for Scen 2 in my next game.

Obviously Scen 2 departs from history, and I would argue gameplay in general favors Japan vs. history in any scenario (not VPs though), but I'm talking purely from gameplay.

What do you guys prefer, and why? (And instead of Scen 2, substituting any alternative IJN is stronger mods)
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VSWG
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RE: Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by VSWG »

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I was a stickler for historical force levels,
I still am, but so many new PBEMs use Scen. 2 that I would really like to know more about this scenario.
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Q-Ball
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RE: Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by Q-Ball »

From a ground level, here is what you get Scen 2:

1. FUEL: You get more FUEL and SUPPLY at-start, particularly at Truk, Saigon, and other key places
2. WARSHIPS: You get more DDs early (4 more at-start), plus more in the queue; about 6-8 extra in 1942, and a whole Shimakaze-class later in 1943/44. You also get 3 extra AGANOs in the queue. You have to pay for all this of course with HI.
3. CVs: You don't get ANY extra CVs; however, SHINANO is now a Taiho-class CV, and the CVEs come in with organic airgroups (useful!)
4. AIR: You get lots of extra air units, particularly the IJN AIR is expanded, with more Zeros, Bettys, and other stuff in particular
5. PILOTS: You get more added to the pool every month; this is actually a MINUS, though, as you get more than you really need, and it chews up piles of HI.
6. LCUs: There are lots of extra LCU goodies; primarily, 4 extra divisions in 1942 (4th,5th,and 6th Guards, plus 1st Gds Tank), plus extra PARAS.
7. MERCHANTS: You get more Tankers in the queue

So, you don't really get extra capital ships (unlike, say, Reluctant Admiral), but you get more 2nd-tier stuff accross the board which helps in logistics and staying power.
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VSWG
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RE: Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by VSWG »

I'm fine with most of these changes in general, but some of them happen to early IMO. Why boost Japan in 1941/42 (especially the extra divisions), when it is dominant already? After 1942, a stronger Japan should make for a better game, I agree.
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Djordje
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RE: Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by Djordje »

Q-Ball said it nicely, I'll just add:

8: PATROL SQUADRONS - Several large and really useful Mavis squadrons
9: PILOT EXPERIENCE- Lots of really good pilots added to several squadrons, including some with experience of 90. My estimate is that you have at least 300 pilots capable of going into TRACOM at start.
10: KB SQUADRON SIZE - KB have squadron size fixed to certain dates, first size change is in June 42. That is a really big MINUS as you are stuck with 6x18=108 Zeroes in KB instead of usual 150 or so, which is reduction of about 30%. Because of that KB is much more vulnerable to air strikes. And no, increased pilot experience does not make up for it from my experience in PBEM.
11: FACTORIES - Japan gets additional small unrepaired 0(5) factory for every plane type in production on December 41. It does not give additional production but allows for a much more flexible industry planning.

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ny59giants
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RE: Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by ny59giants »

10: KB SQUADRON SIZE - KB have squadron size fixed to certain dates, first size change is in June 42. That is a really big MINUS as you are stuck with 6x18=108 Zeroes in KB instead of usual 150 or so, which is reduction of about 30%. Because of that KB is much more vulnerable to air strikes. And no, increased pilot experience does not make up for it from my experience in PBEM.

I easily counter this by pulling the Vals off Hiryu and placing a 36 plane Zero air group on board.
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RE: Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by Smeulders »

I'm not categorically opposed to stronger Japan mods, but I'm no fan of scenario 2. My main problem is the 4 early extra divisions, these seem to give a very big advantage to the Japanese in large-scale land campaigns. Any Japanese player worth his salt will use that advantage which will create large-scale slogging matches on the ground, if I wanted that I'd be playing War in the East. I'd also vote for more goodies arriving later, especially ships (maybe even some capital ones), somewhat faster plane development etc... Maybe even more ground troops, but of the smaller kind to give better garrisons to islands. Like VSWG I think a good stronger Japan scenario would lengthen the period of parity, not give steroids to the expansion phase.
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Q-Ball
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RE: Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by Q-Ball »

If we try and marry an enhanced-Japan scenario with reality, it would be easier to hypothesize different ship construction priorities, than it would creating 4 new divisions, I agree; after all, it's not like the IJA wasn't in an expansion mode.

If you wanted to make Japan stronger in 1943 (a good goal for play balance I think), maybe the way to go is to assume:

1. SHINANO and HULL 111 are never started.
2. Air Advocates win more internal IJN political battles, resulting in:
a) Building of 2-4 UNRYU-class CVs in the two dry-docks from the cancelled YAMATOS. Have two completed in early 1943, with another pair in mid-1943.
b) Additional R&D resources fix problems in JUDY and JILL quicker, accelerating those planes
c) Air advocates win additional resources toward creation of 2 more AIR FLOTILLAS in late 1942
3. BETTER FUEL PREPARADNESS (still more fuel at start)
4. Cancel MIDGET program to save resources
5. Allow for immediate conversion of CHITOSE, NISSHIN classes to CVL. Most players would do this, resulting in CVLs available in late 1942.
6. Maybe cancel OYODO and throw in another UNRYU.

These would seem like realistic changes that would be attainable if the IJN had 20-20 vision in it's priorities.
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RE: Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by Canoerebel »

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

If we try and marry an enhanced-Japan scenario with reality, it would be easier to hypothesize different ship construction priorities, than it would creating 4 new divisions, I agree; after all, it's not like the IJA wasn't in an expansion mode.

If you wanted to make Japan stronger in 1943 (a good goal for play balance I think), maybe the way to go is to assume:

1. SHINANO and HULL 111 are never started.
2. Air Advocates win more internal political battles, resulting in:

Resulting in what???? On your post it looks lke a thin black line results.
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RE: Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by Cavalry Corp »

For me I would like this for no other reason than Japan needs the flexability to build a lot more DD. In both my games of WITP the main one now in FEB44 my biggest problem is lack of DD.

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RE: Scen 1 vs Scen 2

Post by vonTirpitz »

It may just be me but I've found that balancing the Japanese economy is a little more interesting in Scenario 2 (mostly due to the ~36000 HI that gets consumed for pilots each month). Careful growth of the industrial base to support these needs as well as those of the extra units seemed to be a requirement in the first 6 months.

As my game now moving into August 1942 it will be interesting to see if too much or not enough economic growth exists to carry Japan into the later years of the war.
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