Scenario for Testing: Focus Pacific

[paradigmblue]

I had a long and involved post written about this mod, but my phone fell on my keyboard and I somehow deleted the whole thing, so this is the short version.

This is less of a new mod and more of a combination and adaptation of the hard work of other community members, especially AndyMac and his Ironman scenario, Symon and his DaBabes team and his extended map hex data, Skyland and his French OOB and art in his War Options mod, John3rd and his RA/Treaty/BtS team and their fantastic alternate history ships and French OOB, JuanG and his AAP work, GaryChildress's amazing ship artwork, MadmanRick's air artwork and finally Chemkid and his stunning extended map with AAP. Thank you all for your hours of hard work.

This is a purely non-historical mod. There are phenomenal scenarios out there, like DaBabes, which create an amazing level of realistic historical detail and simulation. This scenario is not one of them. It is instead far simpler and more limited in scope - and could be rightly criticized in that it really just throws more toys to each side for them to play with.

The inspiration for this mod is based around some gameplay and historical "what ifs":
1) What if the Japanese player could continue to expand through the end of 1943 and beyond without being supply starved? What would the map look like? How would the American player cope? Could we create a scenario where the outcome of the war is not a forgone conclusion? What if the DEI didn't have to be the top priority for Japan?
2) What if at Mers el Kebir, the French were presented with another option from the British: the anchored French fleet could retain its autonomy if it left the Atlantic/Med and instead went to the Pacific to protect French colonial interests there, creating a precedent for the rest of the French navy? What if the scuttling of Toulon never had to happen? What if the Bearn, instead of being laid up with its cargo of brand new SBC-4s and Buffalos in the French Carribean, instead was allowed to make the transit to Tahiti with the rest of the navy?
3) What if the Dutch government listened to their internal recommendations for adequate military funding instead of sacking the advisory board and appointing a new one?
4) What if all the major belligerents saw the writing on the wall when it came to a conflict in the Pacific and were better prepared?

General features:
*Expanded Map
*No stacking limit

Features for the Japanese:

*Greatly expanded Japanese OOB, primarily drawn from AndyMac's Ironman scenario. Compared to stock, the Japanese receive:
7 additional CVLs and their corresponding airgroups
10 additional CVs and their corresponding airgroups
6 Additional CVEs and their corresponding airgroups
10 additional BBs
5 additional BCs/CBs
13 additional CAs
31 additional CLs
80 additional DDs
14 additional TBs
27 additional Es
42 addtional PBs
61 additional SSs
26 additional AMCs
13 additional DMSs
307 additional AKs
126 additional AKLs
42 additional LCIs
39 additional xAPs
178 additional xAKs
83 additional fighter groups
4 additional fighter/bomber groups
42 additional dive bomber groups
27 additional torpedo bomber groups
23 additional level bomber groups
21 additional patrol groups
96 additional float fighter groups (Ironman replaces many of the float plane groups with float fighters, giving many Japanese task forces organic CAP)
*Small organic aircraft production of key Japanese airframes
* Increased heavy and light industry both on Japan's home islands and in potential targets for conquest
*Increased resource and oil production on Japan's home islands
*Light industry on key Japanese bases such as Truk
The take-away for the Japanese player? The allies will not match Japan in carrier strength until the end of 1943 (!)

Before allied players cry foul, they get their share of toys as well. Features for the allies include:
*The French navy, including the Painleve and Joffre, which were laid down and never finished. In this scenario, they traveled to Tahiti with the rest of the French Navy in their unfished state. Players will need to move these carriers to a major naval base to finish their construction, which will take several months.
*Free French airforce, including pre-war purchased aircraft, existing contracts at the fall of France that in this scenario transferred to the Free French, and considerable lend-lease assets.
*The addition of the Between the Storms allied naval assets
*Additional British naval air power
*Greatly expanded organic aircraft production
*Some minor nation industrial aircraft production
*Juan's aircraft purchase system
*Better prepared and equipped Dutch forces in DEI
*The addition of Pondicherri as a new Free French base
*Additional allied airgroups of all types


Before I post the files for download (does dropbox work ok?), I wanted to get some feedback. I don't have any experience with Japan late game, so I was hoping to ask some of the more experienced Japanese players what their biggest obstacle is late game to continue to give battle to the allies (besides the enourmous allied OOB, of course). I know that in the AARs I've read, there seems to be a lot of difficulty in maintaining any sort of equivalancy in the air, especially when it comes to shooting down 4Es. Would moving select late-game airframes help?

[EHansen]

I would like to at least see the scenario files. Timing of arrival is important.

[paradigmblue]

I should have a link posted later today as soon as I get the dropbox link up and running.

Edit: Here you go. Please see my later post for instructions.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/skib7axjyp8o ... B1Mya?dl=0

[paradigmblue]

A little on how it plays differently than stock:

French: The addition of the French forces give the Allies a significant asset in the face of the Japanese powerhouse. The two French Battlecruisers and their cruiser squadron are powerful ships, and can be used early on to supplement the weak allied forces in the DEI. However, the three biggest assets that France bring to the table are its two Fleet Carriers and one CVL.

CVL Bearn starts out in a damaged state in Noumea. The allied player must choose whether to send it to a large friendly port like Sydney, taking precious days to repair, or to take it out in its battle-damaged state to try and disrupt the Japanese landings in the DEI and Pacific.

CVs Painleve and Joffre start at Tahiti, but are unfinished, with no systems, weapons or airgroups. The allied player must safely escort them to a large enough port - on the West Coast or Pearl - so that they can complete their fitting, which takes an additional three months. Once they are upgraded and receive their airgroups, they form an important addition to the allied carrier strength in 1942.

Most French reinforcements arrive either at Pondicherri India or Tahiti. Both present their own challenges for the allied player and opportunity for the Japanese player. Pondicherri is conveniently close to the front lines compared to Aden, allowing French units arriving their to quickly be used by the allied player. However, a determined Japanese player can easily drive into India in 1942. If Pondicherri is captured, those reinforcements instead appear in the UK - a two month trip for cargo ships before the Med is opened up in 43. This can create huge logistic problems for the allied player trying to ensure that those reinforcements arrive in theater in a reasonable amount of time - sending enough ships to the UK to pick up the units, and then back again. Tahiti has almost the opposite problem - it's an extremely isolated base, which means supplying it is a challenge. Unless additional airfields are constructed, most air units can't even transfer out of Tahiti, which again creates logistic problems for the allies. Tahiti is also weakly defended, which means if the Japanese sneak an invasion TF through, there's a good possibility that they can take Tahiti and force all Tahiti reinforcements to appear in the UK.

In the air, the French receive some very strong air groups, mostly made up of historical lend-lease planes such as the p-39 and p-63, as well as a few aviation base forces for Aviation Support.

On the ground, the French receive a few Colonial Infantry divisions that don't arrive until later in the game.

Dutch: The Dutch have more air support and air groups, but are still plagued by poor air-frames early in the game. They do receive more lend-lease airframes, as well as a larger pilot pool, which allows Dutch airgroups to continue to fight through the end of the war, but never with first-rate equipment.

The British: British carriers do not withdraw, allowing the allied player to create a strong, British focused air combat TF. They also receive CVL Ares, which is a sister ship to CVL Hermes, and CAVs Vindictive and Vengeful, along with more patrol squadrons. The British also receive training squadrons in the UK which allows for a small pilot training program.

Australia: In addition to the CAV Melbourne from BtS, Australia also receives more air-groups and air-frames, especially Hudsons and Catalinas, allowing them to better patrol their shores.

New Zealand: New Zealand receives the CAV Auckland from BtS, as well as additional naval airgroups.

United States: The United States receives the additional CAVs and CVLs from BtS on the sea, as well as the two CBs from that mod. On the ground, they receive additional base forces to help them support the greatly increased airgroups they field. They also receive an enormous air-frame production boost, which I included to try and off-set some of the heavy industry advantages I gave to the Japanese. These levels probably aren't final, I have a suspicion that I may need to revise them downward considerably.

Japan: Japan's updated order of battle was detailed in the first post, but the ability to field two full KBs plus a large CVE group in December of 41 is a game changer. In stock, the allied player has to keep their eye on the KB at all times, as the KB will dominate any battle space that it enters. Now the Japanese player can completely control two areas at once with the threat of a second KB - simultaneously putting pressure on central Pacific and DEI at the same time for example - with the knowledge that nothing the allied player has can stop them. This allows the Japanese player to continue expanding un-threatened for months longer.

Increased HI allows Japan to expand aircraft production to higher levels than in stock, and experienced Japanese players should be able to match allied production through the end of the war. Moreover, a small organic production of aircraft takes some of the pressure off Japanese factories early game, giving them some more breathing room to expand and research.

The Theatres:

China - Japan has good armor units, more airframes than in stock and doesn't have to worry about their supply situation as much, which means that China is ripe for the picking. Only a skilled defense by the allied player will let them keep Chunking. However, working in the allied player's favor, Chunking does produce more supply than in stock, which allows the allied player to stalemate the Japanese with resurrected units if they can slow them down enough.

India - The addition of more AVG airgroups here makes this a tougher nut for Japan to crack, but if the Japanese player manages to push through and take Pondicherri, they will have added more than a month's delay to the arrival of French ground and air groups scheduled to arrive there.

DEI - Japan will face stiffer air and ground defense from the Dutch, but it's nothing that judicious use of a KB or two can't overcome.

Coral Sea - Australia begins the scenario with more material in the area, so taking Port Morseby will be a fight from the get-go. The Japanese player will also have to contend with the presence of a developed French airbase at Noumea that can provide support to the area.

Central Pacific - No change, with the exception of a little better allied search capabilities and a little stiffer defense. Japan has to be careful when assaulting Wake not to bloody their nose on the shore defenses there.

South Pacific - Other than the addition of a small seaplane base at Wallis Island, this area remains the same as stock, though supply traffic will be heavier with units and supply transiting to and from Tahiti.

Just a little while longer and I'll have a download link, just cleaning up some last-minute issues.

[paradigmblue]

Dropbox Link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/skib7axjyp8o ... B1Mya?dl=0

Instructions:

1) Make a fresh copy of your WitP folder for this scenario - I'd hate for it to mess up any of your existing games! Your current saves will not work with this mod unless you're already using the extended map without stacking limits.
2) Copy the files in the Scen Files folder to your SCEN file in your WitP folder
3) Copy the files in the Hex Data folder to your main WitP folder, overwrite originals
4) If you are not currently using extended map art with the AAP system, copy the files from the Map Art folder to the ART folder and overwrite
5) Copy the files in the Plane Art folder to your ART folder, overwrite originals
6) Copy the files in the Plane Art/Allied Planes folder to your AlliedPlanes folder
7) Copy the files in the AlliedShip_Back folder to your AlliedShip_Back folder
8) Copy the files in the AlliedShip_Trans folder to your AlliedShip_Trans folder

I've tried to keep everything in one place so you don't have to go to 3 different sites to get the necessary files to run the scenario.

This is still very much a work in progress, reinforcement levels and production is subject to change. If you are particularly masochistic, I could use someone to test this with me by PBEM so I can start working out the kinks.

If you see missing ship art, please let me know - i didn't want to copy the entire ship folder over so I may have missed some when I uploaded them to dropbox.

[CaptBeefheart]

It seems like nobody could beat a human IJ player with that roster. Any chance of writing AI scripts for the Japanese side?

Cheers,
CC

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

It seems like nobody could beat a human IJ player with that roster. Any chance of writing AI scripts for the Japanese side?

Cheers,
CC

At its core, the scenario is AndyMac's Ironman scenario, and I left the AI scripting intact, so you should have no problem playing vs the AI.

While the additional IJ roster looks (and is!) impressive, by 1944 the allied player will still have more ships, planes and AV on the field than the IJ player. Don't look at the roster and think "Look how much more the IJ player has", instead, look at the roster and think "Even with all additional ships, can the Japanese player survive 1945?".

I should have also detailed the improved Allied naval OOB, which is nothing to scoff at:

3 additional CVs with corresponding air groups
11 additional CVLs with corresponding air groups
2 additional CVEs with corresponding air groups
1 additional BB
4 additional BC/CBs
5 additional CAs
7 additional CLs
26 additional DDs
9 additional SSs
6 additional AMCs

The allies also have access to the aircraft purchase system, which is tweaked considerably from the BtS quantities, and allows much larger and cheaper purchases of additional air frames. Moreover, the allies also gain more PP per turn than stock, allowing them to buy out more divisions to help stem the IJ tide.

That being said, the Japanese player will be a steamroller for long enough that I certainly wouldn't play for points! I just think that the allies get enough toys that they will still be able to put up a fight.

Only one way to find out though - I need a tester to play against. The AI is just too predictable on either side for me to get a good feel for the current balance of the scenario.

[jakla1027]

Hello,

Looks like a very interesting project your working on!

I looked at your aircraft art for the allies & was curious on a couple things.

First with the addition of French forces are you planning on adding additional French aircraft into the game & their corresponding art?

Second, If your adding French aircraft, what are you planning on for the aircraft in French aircraft carrier air groups.

Anywho nice work thus far!!!![:D]

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: jakla1027

Hello,

Looks like a very interesting project your working on!

I looked at your aircraft art for the allies & was curious on a couple things.

First with the addition of French forces are you planning on adding additional French aircraft into the game & their corresponding art?

Second, If your adding French aircraft, what are you planning on for the aircraft in French aircraft carrier air groups.

Anywho nice work thus far!!!![:D]

Yes, French aircraft and their art are added in this scenario. The French air-art that I'm utilizing is all from Skyland's WarOptions mod.


French aircraft include::
Curtiss H-75A-4P, the Hawk model imported by the French before the fall of France
Morane MS410 Fighter
Glen 167F, the bomber that was imported by the French before the fall of France
Curtiss CW-77, which was the export model of the SBC-4 Helldiver that was loaded onto the French Carrier Bearn immediately before the fall of France
Dewoitine HD-780, a suprisingly good float fighter
Latecoere 298, which was a float dive bomber
Breguet Br700 Fighter
Potez 452 Float Plane
Breguet 514 Bizerte Float Patrol

The Bearn starts with its historical load-out of 6 Buffalos and 22 CW-77 dive bombers, which is what was on board when the French Armistice was signed. For Painleve and Joffre, which won't be repaired by the player until 9/42, they will also carry Buffalos and the CW-77. The AV Commandant Teste has a complement of Dwoitine HD-780s and Latecoere 298s, and is a fun ship to park at an out of the way dot base and fly naval interdiction from - the Latecoere's are slow but deadly.

After mid 1942 the French supply of historical French aircraft dries up, and lend-lease airframes become available. For the carrier groups, the Buffalos will eventually upgrade to Martlets and the CW-77s to SBD-3s.

Unfortunately, I'm not very good with art, so I haven't re-skinned the lend-lease aircraft to French paint-schemes, so most of the later aircraft wear British or American colors.

Here's a picture of the Latecoere 298 in game:

[jakla1027]

ORIGINAL: paradigmblue

ORIGINAL: jakla1027

Hello,

Looks like a very interesting project your working on!

I looked at your aircraft art for the allies & was curious on a couple things.

First with the addition of French forces are you planning on adding additional French aircraft into the game & their corresponding art?

Second, If your adding French aircraft, what are you planning on for the aircraft in French aircraft carrier air groups.

Anywho nice work thus far!!!![:D]

Yes, French aircraft and their art are added in this scenario. The French air-art that I'm utilizing is all from Skyland's WarOptions mod.


French aircraft include::
Curtiss H-75A-4P, the Hawk model imported by the French before the fall of France
Morane MS410 Fighter
Glen 167F, the bomber that was imported by the French before the fall of France
Curtiss CW-77, which was the export model of the SBC-4 Helldiver that was loaded onto the French Carrier Bearn immediately before the fall of France
Dewoitine HD-780, a suprisingly good float fighter
Latecoere 298, which was a float dive bomber
Breguet Br700 Fighter
Potez 452 Float Plane
Breguet 514 Bizerte Float Patrol

The Bearn starts with its historical load-out of 6 Buffalos and 22 CW-77 dive bombers, which is what was on board when the French Armistice was signed. For Painleve and Joffre, which won't be repaired by the player until 9/42, they will also carry Buffalos and the CW-77. The AV Commandant Teste has a complement of Dwoitine HD-780s and Latecoere 298s, and is a fun ship to park at an out of the way dot base and fly naval interdiction from - the Latecoere's are slow but deadly.

After mid 1942 the French supply of historical French aircraft dries up, and lend-lease airframes become available. For the carrier groups, the Buffalos will eventually upgrade to Martlets and the CW-77s to SBD-3s.

Unfortunately, I'm not very good with art, so I haven't re-skinned the lend-lease aircraft to French paint-schemes, so most of the later aircraft wear British or American colors.

Here's a picture of the Latecoere 298 in game:

Good news to hear! glad you've thought out the French carrier groups & the airframes they'd use. Totally would be understandable that after 42 French units would start to use lend lease airframes.

If you're looking for art for the French ac, (you might already know this) try the War in the West Mod by Dali. He has a bunch of the French ac art included.

Maybe if someone could make the art for the planed French designed ac that were to be used on the Joffre class carries. Planed was a navalized versions of the French D-520 ( called the D-790 in naval service)& a version of the Br-693 ( Br-810 in naval service) Both these airframes would be a unique aspect of the French naval air arm that could serve well into early 43 until being upgraded to lend lease airframes. It could be a nice 3 tiered upgrade path as well, Buffalos (start of war till 5/42)then the D-790 ( 6/42-6/43) then the Martel, Hellcat, or corsair to finish out the war. Just a thought/suggestion If somebody could make the artwork that is.

Anyway, nice work & planning for the French.[&o]

[btd64]

Wish I had time for a third PBEM. This looks like a street fight.
One question;
Are the additional IJN ships the same ones from Andy's Scenario 60 or from the Iron man 10 scenario? If your additional ships are added by you, They may not function without some AI scripts written for them.

I am going to download and run the game to the end of june 42. I'll keep you posted. It may take a little while though....GP

[btd64]

paradigmblue,
The following files appear to be missing from the scenario folder;
wpa071.dat and wpc071.dat

Scenario will not load.
PM or email me if you wish....GP

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: General Patton

paradigmblue,
The following files appear to be missing from the scenario folder;
wpa071.dat and wpc071.dat

Scenario will not load.
PM or email me if you wish....GP

Thanks for the catch! I've added both those files to the dropbox folder and you should be able to download them now.

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: General Patton

Wish I had time for a third PBEM. This looks like a street fight.
One question;
Are the additional IJN ships the same ones from Andy's Scenario 60 or from the Iron man 10 scenario? If your additional ships are added by you, They may not function without some AI scripts written for them.

I am going to download and run the game to the end of june 42. I'll keep you posted. It may take a little while though....GP

The vast majority of the additional Japanese ships are from scenario 10. I tried to keep that intact as much as possible so the AI would still function. However, because the AI can't really take full advantage of all the new Japanese advantages, playing vs the Japanese AI is little too easy for the same reason that playing against the AI in the regular Ironman scenario is easy - it doesn't matter how much stuff they have if it keeps running into your well prepared defenses.

[traskott]

Suscribed. Interesting...

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: paradigmblue

ORIGINAL: General Patton

Wish I had time for a third PBEM. This looks like a street fight.
One question;
Are the additional IJN ships the same ones from Andy's Scenario 60 or from the Iron man 10 scenario? If your additional ships are added by you, They may not function without some AI scripts written for them.

I am going to download and run the game to the end of june 42. I'll keep you posted. It may take a little while though....GP

The vast majority of the additional Japanese ships are from scenario 10. I tried to keep that intact as much as possible so the AI would still function. However, because the AI can't really take full advantage of all the new Japanese advantages, playing vs the Japanese AI is little too easy for the same reason that playing against the AI in the regular Ironman scenario is easy - it doesn't matter how much stuff they have if it keeps running into your well prepared defenses.

I'll set it to very hard and see what happens. I have to finish up my orders for RHS after dinner, then I'll redownload and install the two missing files. Will post here if there is any other issues....GP

[btd64]

Para,
Started to look at the art of allied naval units that start on map. There is a bunch missing. I am currently putting a file together with many of the missing pieces for you to install in the mod. PM me your email, and when I finish with the units from CV to DD, I will sent it to you....GP

EDIT; The unzipping did not move the ship art. I let you know..

EDIT 2: The art did move. So I will continue building the art file for you..

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: General Patton

Para,
Started to look at the art of allied naval units that start on map. There is a bunch missing. I am currently putting a file together with many of the missing pieces for you to install in the mod. PM me your email, and when I finish with the units from CV to DD, I will sent it to you....GP

EDIT; The unzipping did not move the ship art. I let you know..

EDIT 2: The art did move. So I will continue building the art file for you..

Thank you so much. I should have kept better track of all the new ships that I added and whether they needed the new art or not. Let me know and I'll add the necessary art to the dropbox link. Unfortunately I didn't think ahead to keep a clean stock install of WitP without any new art so I could simply compare the two.

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: General Patton

Para,
Started to look at the art of allied naval units that start on map. There is a bunch missing. I am currently putting a file together with many of the missing pieces for you to install in the mod. PM me your email, and when I finish with the units from CV to DD, I will sent it to you....GP

EDIT; The unzipping did not move the ship art. I let you know..

EDIT 2: The art did move. So I will continue building the art file for you..

I think I fixed most of the missing art issues - please check the dropbox link again for new art files.

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: paradigmblue

ORIGINAL: General Patton

Para,
Started to look at the art of allied naval units that start on map. There is a bunch missing. I am currently putting a file together with many of the missing pieces for you to install in the mod. PM me your email, and when I finish with the units from CV to DD, I will sent it to you....GP

EDIT; The unzipping did not move the ship art. I let you know..

EDIT 2: The art did move. So I will continue building the art file for you..

I think I fixed most of the missing art issues - please check the dropbox link again for new art files.

Will check in a few minutes....GP