Focus Pacific: Release

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HansBolter
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by HansBolter »

ORIGINAL: mussey

I'm ready to start #72 vs. Japan AI, and if time permits will provide some observations. Before I begin, a few questions:

1) Does anyone know how the AI will act against the Soviets? Will it initiate combat against them, or as the Allies can I ignore this theater?

2) Even though I've played Ironman before, I'm not sure how to begin as the Allies in 'Focus Pacific', except how I've usually done - to secure bases from PH through the S.Pac to NZ/Aus. But with French assets in N.Cal can I rely on them to hold out until reinforcements arrive....?

3) How I intend to play: Will any of these create more balance gameplay vs. AI or will they tip the scales too drastically to the Axis? Any comments or suggested alterations are welcome!
- x1 day tactical/operational turns. Every x5 days check USA Westcoast defences and set-up convoys and send LCU's etc. This creates a good game pace and slows down a bit US reinforcements. (same with India/M.East).
- no LCU can move until it has reached 10 prep pts towards its objective for US units, 20 pp's for Aus/NZ LCU's, 30 pp's for Indian/Brit LCU's. Slows Allied reaction times vs. AI.
- All Allied HI to remain on, fuel/resources convoys most be sent to supply it.
- In "My World", fuel from Abadan was for India and UK, thus I send it there only. (A game within a game).
- These constraints slow down Allied actions and help the Axis. How much? We will find out....


I played this scenario when it was first released and provided a lot of feedback. I made it to July '43.

There are no AI scripts dedicated for this scenario so it uses stock scripts.
This means it doesn't go after newly fortified bases such as Kwangchowan.
I was able to evacuate almost everything from Hong Kong to Kwang and made a fortress both air and land that was unassailable to the AI.

Yes, the Japanese AI will attack the Russians, but will do so as ineptly as it attacks the Chinese.

I had liberated all of Manchuria and conquered all of Korea by July of '43.
I was strat bombing Japan from Fusan.

My next game, once the updates for bug fixes slow down will be without the Soviets active.
The Allies already get more than enough new toys to take on the Japs without the need to have the Soviets also.
It was fun to actually play the Soviets, but against the AI they just steamroll over the Japanese.
Hans

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btd64
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by btd64 »

Thanks for answering the question Hans.

As far as Buin goes, I'm not sure. Will have to check. If not I will create the base for scenario 75 and I'm sure para will do the same....GP
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Peever
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by Peever »

What are people's feelings on basing French planes out of China? My opponent asked me this as it is obvious that soon Japan will take out the French base in China but what is the Allied player to do with those air assets? I know there were some US pilots in China at this time but did any other nation aid in the air war? What is Focus Pacific's stance on the cooperation between China and the other Allies?

I was thinking he should move those air units through China to Burma and India. The French can be freely based out of British airfields but not Chinese at least in the early years. Maybe by late 1943 the Allies can "return to China" and freely base units there? Or are the French allowed to go freely into China in this mod?
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by paradigmblue »

ORIGINAL: Peever

What are people's feelings on basing French planes out of China? My opponent asked me this as it is obvious that soon Japan will take out the French base in China but what is the Allied player to do with those air assets? I know there were some US pilots in China at this time but did any other nation aid in the air war? What is Focus Pacific's stance on the cooperation between China and the other Allies?

I was thinking he should move those air units through China to Burma and India. The French can be freely based out of British airfields but not Chinese at least in the early years. Maybe by late 1943 the Allies can "return to China" and freely base units there? Or are the French allowed to go freely into China in this mod?

I don't have an official stance on this, and instead think it's a question for house rules between opponents.

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btd64
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by btd64 »

If you move them to China, attach them to the China Air Taskforce. The PP charge is your cost to use them in China outside of a French or British base....GP
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BillBrown
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by BillBrown »

Dutch DB-7T upgrade to Dutch DB-7B. I think it should stay as DB-7T.

French DB-7 B-3 upgraded to the Dutch DB-7B

French B-25D upgrades to the USA B-25D
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by paradigmblue »

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

Dutch DB-7T upgrade to Dutch DB-7B. I think it should stay as DB-7T.

French DB-7 B-3 upgraded to the Dutch DB-7B

French B-25D upgrades to the USA B-25D

Thanks Bill.

Edit: Fixed the DB-7T and the French DB-7 upgrades. I had caught the French B-25 upgrade issue and fixed it already in the editor, all three changes will be in the next patch, which I hope to get out this weekend.
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BillBrown
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by BillBrown »

I am doing my Dec 8, 1941 turn as Allies and I will post what I catch.
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mussey
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by mussey »

Thanks Hans and GP for the feedback. I found and read some comments by y'all about the AI in the initial older thread. Now I understand better how the older scripts interacts with newer units created in these scenarios. Another poster mentioned that he tested a AI vs AI game where JAPAN had yet to conquer the DEI by Nov 42?

I'm going to 're-read the top post on #75 to see if GP's game will give a Japanese AI a better run.

Thanks all[:)]
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paradigmblue
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by paradigmblue »

ORIGINAL: mussey

Thanks Hans and GP for the feedback. I found and read some comments by y'all about the AI in the initial older thread. Now I understand better how the older scripts interacts with newer units created in these scenarios. Another poster mentioned that he tested a AI vs AI game where JAPAN had yet to conquer the DEI by Nov 42?

I'm going to 're-read the top post on #75 to see if GP's game will give a Japanese AI a better run.

Thanks all[:)]

In general, the AI does better on defense than on offense, so is generally more of a challenge when the human player is playing as Japan. Be sure to set the difficulty to its highest setting.
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Peever
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by Peever »

A note for Japanese players: The Soviets auto-occupied Fuchin from me. The base starts with no units so it's possible for Russia to take it without effort. There are no factories or resources there and the airfield is only size one so it's not like a huge loss but something that players should be aware of.
Image

The house rules in my game prevent the Soviets from advancing beyond starting borders at this point so I don't have to worry about them actually using the base but I am sending a small unit to take it back and garrison it.
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HansBolter
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by HansBolter »

I recall it took only a few turns for the Russians to cross the river and advance on that base.
Hans

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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by paradigmblue »

Focus Pacific Patch 1.04 Preview

I'm putting on the final touches for this patch, I'll edit this post to be the official patch notes with a link once it's up.

Balance Changes

Japanese Economy

Additional tweaks have been made to Japanese resource production, further increasing the time the Japanese player has before the resource situation on the Home Islands becomes dire. This should give the Japanese player the time to begin serious resource importation efforts.

Japanese Aircraft Production

Japan now receives organic replacements of the G5N2 Liz, G5N3 Liz and G8N1 Rita.

Soviet Air Experience Adjustment

Starting Soviet Air Experience was a touch too high. It has been lowered from 40 to 30.

After a lot of discussion and deliberation, I've made the decision not to change the Soviet aircraft weaponry for now, as the devices seem to be working as the original WitP:AE designers intended. I'm a little torn on this - in one game I'm playing, my Soviet Air Force is being trashed by my opponent, but in another, my bi-planes are the terror of the skies. I'm withholding judgement for now.

Japanese Navy

Japan now starts with additional DMS ships, as well as more LSDs, increasing their early-game amphibious capability, as well as ensuring they still have some amphibious capability once their bonus wears off.

French Navy

Additional French naval assets have been added in the form of sub-chasers and some older destroyers along with the mine-laying cruiser Pluton. The AV Gauchet has been moved from Kwangchowan to Tahiti.


French Leaders

France had a significant shortage of both naval and air leaders. They now have 20+ additional leaders of each type of varying quality.

Dutch Navy

It always struck me as strange that the Java-class Dutch cruisers had no options for modernization. They now have an option to convert to CLAAs. The Netherlands also receive the third planned ship of the class - the Celebes.

Dutch mine-layers carry far fewer mines in game then they were able to historically. This has been fixed.

Art Changes

French Ship Art

La Feir Torpedo Boats, De Grasse cruisers and St. Louis cruisers all have new, better art, thanks to Cardas and Gary Childress

Map Changes

Buin

Buin has been added as a base in Shortland's former position. Shortland has been moved south.

Bug Fixes

Aircraft armament placement

Many aircraft had incorrect armament placement in their extended range configuration. Known instances of this have been fixed.

French Cruiser Armament

Some French cruisers had incorrect armament - a relic of when I first started the mod and didn't understand how the game handled ship guns. Known instances have been fixed.

Incorrect Aircraft Upgrades

Some Dutch and French planes were upgrading to the wrong models. This has been fixed.

Fuchin Base Force

Fuchin starts without a Japanese force in it - it shouldn't. It now should start with a Japanese border fort unit. It looks like this may have been a legacy bug from stock. This will prevent the base from auto-flipping.



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ny59giants
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by ny59giants »

In RA/BTS, I had Japan start with more xAK-t rather than have to go through finding a size 6 port and await 6 or more days for the conversion to take place. Akasi, Ehime, and Toho Class xAKs were the ones I've used. Maybe more ACMs at start to tend to all of their minefields they start with.
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BillBrown
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by BillBrown »

My opponent and I have comments about the mod. Do you want them here are should be start a separate thread?
paradigmblue
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by paradigmblue »

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

My opponent and I have comments about the mod. Do you want them here are should be start a separate thread?

Here is great, thanks Bill.
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by paradigmblue »

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

In RA/BTS, I had Japan start with more xAK-t rather than have to go through finding a size 6 port and await 6 or more days for the conversion to take place. Akasi, Ehime, and Toho Class xAKs were the ones I've used. Maybe more ACMs at start to tend to all of their minefields they start with.

Any other Japanese players want to comment on this? I think it's a good idea, but I want to get some more feedback before making the change.

Edit: Holding off on the patch as people comment - please weigh in on the Japanese OOB and I'll slip in what changes I can before I release the patch.
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by Joglinks1 »

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

In RA/BTS, I had Japan start with more xAK-t rather than have to go through finding a size 6 port and await 6 or more days for the conversion to take place. Akasi, Ehime, and Toho Class xAKs were the ones I've used. Maybe more ACMs at start to tend to all of their minefields they start with.

The ACM is a good point. I converted my 12kn xAK's to PB and the 11kn xAK to ACM. With the Soviet subs around better or more sc are needed. The PB's will address this to an extend but some 15 or 19kn sc's would be good. They can outrun the subs while the PB's are a bit slow.
paradigmblue
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RE: Focus Pacific: Release

Post by paradigmblue »

ORIGINAL: Joglinks1
ORIGINAL: ny59giants

In RA/BTS, I had Japan start with more xAK-t rather than have to go through finding a size 6 port and await 6 or more days for the conversion to take place. Akasi, Ehime, and Toho Class xAKs were the ones I've used. Maybe more ACMs at start to tend to all of their minefields they start with.

The ACM is a good point. I converted my 12kn xAK's to PB and the 11kn xAK to ACM. With the Soviet subs around better or more sc are needed. The PB's will address this to an extend but some 15 or 19kn sc's would be good. They can outrun the subs while the PB's are a bit slow.

Do you have a particular class of ACM and SC in mind that you think would be appropriate?
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First 6 turns as Japanes plaer

Post by Joglinks1 »

Have suffered 460 plane losses in 3 turns mainly over the USSR.
It looks to me there are 2 causes.

1. Coordination was bad. Many strikes went in un-escorted despite having escorts groups of the same branch. My stock of Netties has been wiped out. It might be that with Russia active some of the early war bonuses that the Jap player has are not there. As this would be in the code, onle the dev could answer this
2. Looking at the plane data for the soviet AF they are even stronger in stock. The MG in question has an accuracy of over 100 in stock. I think the overkill lies in the abundance of planes and the skill of the pilots.
3. Prep of Japanese: A few more air HQ on the mainland and in Manchuko might improve coordinated strikes. They have no combat value but provide the logistics to coordinate the strikes better.
4. Remove planes from the allied groups. They should be produced and then fill out the groups. With the additional Russian front Japan is stretched to defend the home islands and mount an attack that quickly secures the DEI and other resources areas.
5. French City in China. I fear that will become a bulwark never to be taken.
6. Better distribution of units. Since Russia is active, I would move AA, AF support and AIR HQ's on the home islands to be able to cover the sea of Japan. Also have the home island airfields developed to level 2 to allow LR escort mission to fly cover of the convoys.

All for now. Will post more when the next turns have been played :)
J
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