Scratching my Head

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Scratching my Head

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> Scratching my Head

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Scratching my Head - 4/15/2012 3:32:24 PM

sajer

Posts: 61
Joined: 7/4/2011
Status: offline

Just got this game today. Does it take a year to learn it and a year to play a full game?

I am totally lost - does it get easier????????????????

Post #: 1

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/15/2012 3:34:36 PM

dorjun driver

Posts: 631
Joined: 4/20/2006
From: Port Townsend: hex 210,51
Status: offline

Yes.
Yes.
No.

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(in reply to sajer)

Post #: 2

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/15/2012 3:37:39 PM

Commander Stormwolf

Posts: 1531
Joined: 2/19/2008
Status: offline

WITP AE steps

1) see game
2) buy game
3) watch the intro
4) learn how to play it
5) complain about the things wrong with it
6) download patches and mods
7) complain some more on the forum
8) make your own mods with the editor
9) make a cool signature about the game
10) argue on the forum about the game

no one actually *plays* this game

the good news is you won't have to buy any other games for a long while..

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"No Enemy Survives Contact with the Plan" - Commander Stormwolf

(in reply to sajer)

Post #: 3

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/15/2012 4:04:27 PM

bradfordkay

Posts: 8183
Joined: 3/24/2002
From: Olympia, WA
Status: offline

Sajer, the forum is loaded with good advice and people willing to answer your questions. Yes, the learning cliff is steep, but the game does get easier to play once you begin to understand. Yes, it takes a long time to play out a full campaign - when playing by e-mail it can take longer than the war actually took (assuming less than one turn per real day). You will never completely know everything about the game - but then the leaders of the forces in the war never completely knew what was going on either, so don't sweat it. You will not find a better depiction of the Pacific Theater of WW2, so dive on in.

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fair winds,
Brad

(in reply to Commander Stormwolf)

Post #: 4

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/15/2012 4:10:52 PM

Roger Neilson 3

Posts: 246
Joined: 4/12/2012
Status: offline

I'm still learning it.... it sure doesn't stop the enjoyment.

Roger

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Post #: 5

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/15/2012 4:21:40 PM

tocaff

Posts: 3980
Joined: 10/12/2006
From: USA now in Brasil
Status: offline

To play this game takes longer than a year if it's the GC. Learn vs the AI and then really learn in PBEM.

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I never thought that doing an AAR would be so time consuming and difficult.
www.matrixgames.com/forum/tm.asp?m=2080768

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Post #: 6

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/15/2012 4:21:48 PM

dr.hal

Posts: 1370
Joined: 6/3/2006
Status: online

Sajer, Bradforkay is right, this forum is loaded with good advice as well as a substantial amount of hot air. You will soon learn the difference. Start out with the easier scenarios such as the Coral Sea and watch what goes on WITH the manual in hand! It does get easier as long as you don't get TOO frustrated. The AI is not very intelligent but right now is MUCH better at the game than you are.... run against it until you start beating it, then ask for one of us to play against, after that you are hooked... say goodbye to your social life! Hal

(in reply to bradfordkay)

Post #: 7

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/15/2012 4:35:31 PM

mike scholl 1

Posts: 1174
Joined: 2/17/2010
Status: offline

One piece of advice. When you go to play WITP-AE for real (against humans), consider looking for several players and starting a "team game". Yeah, it takes longer and is more trouble to organize---but it reduces the load on each individual player to a managable level, and gives you a teammate or two to discuss play, strategy, and questions with. Plus if you lose, you have people to blame!

(in reply to dr.hal)

Post #: 8

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/15/2012 5:34:47 PM

Chickenboy

Posts: 14913
Joined: 6/29/2002
From: Twin Cities, MN
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: sajer

Just got this game today. Does it take a year to learn it and a year to play a full game?

I am totally lost - does it get easier????????????????

That's totally off base!

It takes SEVERAL years to learn how to play and can take as many as five years to play a full game.

It gets easier-a bit-compared to the beginning. The learning curve flattens out just a bit. After about 10 years in this game 'system' you'll feel more comfortable-a bit-too.

ETA: Start small, start versus the AI in scenarios, haunt the forums and listen a lot, read AARs and you'll pick up some good advice.

< Message edited by Chickenboy -- 4/15/2012 5:36:51 PM >

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Post #: 9

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/15/2012 5:49:05 PM

sandman455

Posts: 165
Joined: 7/5/2011
From: 20 yrs ago - SDO -> med down, w/BC glasses on
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Commander Stormwolf

WITP AE steps

1) see game
2) buy game
3) watch the intro
4) learn how to play it
5) complain about the things wrong with it
6) download patches and mods
7) complain some more on the forum
8) make your own mods with the editor
9) make a cool signature about the game
10) argue on the forum about the game

no one actually *plays* this game

the good news is you won't have to buy any other games for a long while..

_____________________________

Gary S (USN 1320, 1985-1993)
AOCS 1985, VT10 1985-86, VT86 1986, VS41 1986-87
VS32 1987-90 (NSO/NWTO, deployed w/CV-66, CVN-71)
VS27 1990-91 (NATOPS/Safety)
SFWSLANT 1991-93 (AGM-84 All platforms, S-3 A/B systems)

(in reply to Commander Stormwolf)

Post #: 10

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/16/2012 9:18:29 AM

LargeSlowTarget

Posts: 2529
Joined: 9/23/2000
From: The deepest, darkest pit of hell
Status: offline

J'adore

quote:

ORIGINAL: sajer

Just got this game today. Does it take a year to learn it and a year to play a full game?

I am totally lost - does it get easier????????????????

This is not a game, this is a second job.

AE must be one of the few games for which special tools (e.g. Tracker, Combat Reporter, WitpStaff) have been developed in order to help "playing" it.

Quite a few people use a second screen or second computer in order to play - one for the game, one for the tools and Excel spreadsheets etc.

Learning the game is actually like education - and it takes years to advance from elementary school to postgraduate level.

But don't be afraid - it is the best game ever made.

< Message edited by LargeSlowTarget -- 4/16/2012 11:02:32 AM >

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WitP AAR "Six Years of War"

(in reply to sajer)

Post #: 11

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/16/2012 10:43:14 AM

sajer

Posts: 61
Joined: 7/4/2011
Status: offline

hehe... Didn't expect so many responses. This seems like a friendly forum.

I don't work. I've been permantly disabled since 1969 - can't walk..so you see I have plenty of "face" time for the game and computers in general. So you see I'm an OLD hand at wargames - played board games till around 1982 then played simple games on my Tandy 1000 LOL

I do have one burning question that will save me loads of time in learning the game. Is there a button that minimizes the game screen so I can read the adobe manual then go back to look at things???

I've just fresh off the experience of playing Gary Gribsy's War in the East. Took me eight months to master that game. Got boring - so I though I would tackle this one.

quote:

Sajer, the forum is loaded with good advice and people willing to answer your questions. Yes, the learning cliff is steep, but the game does get easier to play once you begin to understand. Yes, it takes a long time to play out a full campaign - when playing by e-mail it can take longer than the war actually took (assuming less than one turn per real day). You will never completely know everything about the game - but then the leaders of the forces in the war never completely knew what was going on either, so don't sweat it. You will not find a better depiction of the Pacific Theater of WW2, so dive on in.

Your right I feel like a ship's cook who is summoned by his superiors and told that he has command of the Pacific Fleet.

quote:

One piece of advice. When you go to play WITP-AE for real (against humans), consider looking for several players and starting a "team game". Yeah, it takes longer and is more trouble to organize---but it reduces the load on each individual player to a managable level, and gives you a teammate or two to discuss play, strategy, and questions with. Plus if you lose, you have people to blame!

Good Idea. Sort of like MacArthur and Nimitz.

quote:

That's totally off base!

It takes SEVERAL years to learn how to play and can take as many as five years to play a full game.

It gets easier-a bit-compared to the beginning. The learning curve flattens out just a bit. After about 10 years in this game 'system' you'll feel more comfortable-a bit-too.

ETA: Start small, start versus the AI in scenarios, haunt the forums and listen a lot, read AARs and you'll pick up some good advice.

LOL - good one Chickenboy

Oh and by the way LargeSlowTarget that is on hell of a signature. How about getting rid of your moniker on that picture it perfectly covers all the good parts - damn the censors!!! hehe

Okay anyone who is interested I did get shot - several times in a land in Southeast Asia. But that's all I really want to say about that...

Thanks one and all..and Oh BTW please answer my question I posed earlier in my post.

sajer

< Message edited by sajer -- 4/16/2012 10:46:50 AM >

(in reply to LargeSlowTarget)

Post #: 12

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/16/2012 11:00:17 AM

LargeSlowTarget

Posts: 2529
Joined: 9/23/2000
From: The deepest, darkest pit of hell
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: sajer

I do have one burning question that will save me loads of time in learning the game. Is there a button that minimizes the game screen so I can read the adobe manual then go back to look at things???

You can run the game in windowed mode - makes it much easier to Alt-Tab between the game and other applications.

For this, you have to edit the options of the launch icon.

Right-click on the icon and select the options.

Then look at the line containing "[install path]\War in the Pacific Admiral Edition.exe" (I think it is in the "Target" line - not sure, I have German Windows)

Behind the .exe", add a -w for windowed mode.

You can also specify a screen resolution - example: -w -px1600 -py0900

_____________________________

Carpe Cerevisiam

WitP AAR "Six Years of War"

(in reply to sajer)

Post #: 13

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/16/2012 1:20:16 PM

Sardaukar

Posts: 5493
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Finland/now in Malta
Status: online

This forum is generally very friendly, I suspect that this is because of older and more mature population (OK, latter is not true with me).

I have been playing this game (and predecessor WitP) since release and I am still discovering new things and correcting some of my misconceptions.

Something to consider, don't trust game manual TOO much, since it was obsolete before release. It's good for basics, but there is lot that has changed. I'd like to point out one thread:

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2353946

Or you can do it like I did and jump straight into Grand Campaign vs. AI..and find out how bad commaner you actually are....

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(in reply to LargeSlowTarget)

Post #: 14

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/16/2012 5:26:10 PM

Yaab

Posts: 315
Joined: 11/8/2011
From: Poznan, Poland
Status: offline

Satan was drunk and created WiTP:AE. I exclusively play the Allies and I still want to commit seppuku sometimes.

(in reply to Sardaukar)

Post #: 15

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/16/2012 5:40:47 PM

Encircled

Posts: 622
Joined: 12/30/2010
From: Northern England
Status: offline

There is an first couple of turns Allied player AAR thats a good place to start, but I can't remember the name of it, though the author was Sardaukar.

They seems to be quite a few of us drifting over from WiTE to here btw

(in reply to Yaab)

Post #: 16

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/16/2012 7:56:25 PM

Knavey

Posts: 2962
Joined: 9/12/2002
From: Valrico, Florida
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Encircled

They seems to be quite a few of us drifting over from WiTE to here btw

Its only natural...thats how the world rotates after all!

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USN 87-93
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Post #: 17

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/17/2012 12:59:56 PM

barkorn45

Posts: 229
Joined: 1/17/2010
Status: offline

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2564541.it takes awhile to setup first turn but when your done save it and you can always restart.Very good tutorial.
sorry link did'nt work the post is sardaukers newbie aar for newbie players it's on page 2 of aar section.

< Message edited by barkorn45 -- 4/17/2012 1:04:18 PM >

(in reply to Knavey)

Post #: 18

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/17/2012 2:17:41 PM

crsutton

Posts: 6203
Joined: 12/6/2002
From: Maryland
Status: offline

Started my campaign with Viperpol just after the game came out 2 and a half years ago. We are at July 1944. Over 5000 posts on the forum. We generally play a turn a day. I am estimating that we have at least a year to go. My wife thinks I am an idiot, I can't get any work done on my house, I spend too much time thinking about the game, too much time on the forum, know way too much about the Pacific War and its geography. Yet find my self oddly at peace with it all...The game is just too great.

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Post #: 19

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/17/2012 2:32:06 PM

vettim89

Posts: 3234
Joined: 7/14/2007
From: Toledo, Ohio
Status: offline

AS to the learning "cliff", there are sharp jagged rocks at the bottom. So even if you make your way down, you're still in trouble. Seriously, I have played this game and WITP for five years andI am still learning new things about how the system works. Recently a little piece of info surfaced that even hard core old timers didn't know about. It is said in science that there are no answers; only new questions. I think this game is like that at times. The more you know, they more you realize how little you know.

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Post #: 20

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/19/2012 10:19:46 PM

CaptDave

Posts: 469
Joined: 6/21/2002
From: Federal Way, WA
Status: offline

There is also a wiki that should be easier to use than trying to search for old threads in the forum. Unfortunately, it doesn't get updated much (a few of us try), but it's not at all useless.

War in the Pacific Admiral's Edition Wiki

(in reply to vettim89)

Post #: 21

RE: Scratching my Head - 4/19/2012 10:27:56 PM

Mike Solli

Posts: 13698
Joined: 10/18/2000
From: the flight deck of the Zuikaku
Status: offline

Hands down the best game ever made. I've been playing since Uncommon Valor came out in 2002, I think? Can't remember that far back. The old WitP came out as I was deploying overseas in 2004. I spend a year in isolation learning that game. No access to this site. Met my current opponent (tc464) in 2005 when I came home and have been playing ever since. Some day we'll finish, then we'll probably start over.

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