If/When I win as Allies in Scenario #1 for the first time, what next?

[Nezlezar]

No PBEM
Playing as Allies
Ahistorical is ok

I'm looking for more of a challenge. I understand the limit that the AI will always have with this and that is ok. I just want the Japanese side to be able to stay in the war for much longer...to push me to the brink and make me dig deep to come back from it. Should I be looking into Reluctant Admiral (Scen#50) or Ironman (Scen#10)? Another scenario I'm not aware of? Do you have any minor house rule suggestions I could create for myself?

[Yaab]

I play as Allies against Jap AI on Normal. I use lots of house-rules to help the AI. I want to keep the game as historical as possible.

My three main house-rules can be found here
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 1#p5145261

[Platoonist]

My issue with the Ironman scenarios is that they make the Japanese AI more competitive, yes. But in a premise that bears no relation to history as the resource-strapped Japan of the 1930s while mired in China discreetly cranks out a humungous military establishment on the side without crashing its economy and its future opponents doze through it all. However, if you want to be pushed to the brink that would be the scenario to pick.

Hakkō Ichiu (Scenario 2) is a bit milder. In logistics, Japan gets a larger stockpile of fuel and supplies at the beginning of the scenario, particularly at Truk, Kwajalein, Saigon, Takao. She gets more destroyers 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. 3 extra Agano light cruisers in the build queue. No extra carriers. However, the Shinano now arrives in late 1944 as a Taiho-class carrier instead of a modified Yamato, and the escort carriers come in with organic air groups attached. She also gets more oil tankers in the build queue.

There are a lot of additional ground units; primarily, 4 extra divisions in 1942 (4th,5th, and 6th Guards, plus 1st Gds Tank), plus extra paratroopers.

So, you don't receive a throng of capital ships like in Ironman, but you get more 2nd-tier stuff across the board which helps in logistics and staying power. It's Japan buffed up, not bulked up.

However, the AI's basic habits don't change regardless of Ironman or Hakkō Ichiu or even when it plays as the Allies.

[Nezlezar]

My issue with the Ironman scenarios is that they make the Japanese AI more competitive, yes. But in a premise that bears no relation to history as the resource-strapped Japan of the 1930s while mired in China discreetly cranks out a humungous military establishment on the side without crashing its economy and its future opponents doze through it all. However, if you want to be pushed to the brink that would be the scenario to pick.

Hakkō Ichiu (Scenario 2) is a bit milder. In logistics, Japan gets a larger stockpile of fuel and supplies at the beginning of the scenario, particularly at Truk, Kwajalein, Saigon, Takao. She gets more destroyers 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. 3 extra Agano light cruisers in the build queue. No extra carriers. However, the Shinano now arrives in late 1944 as a Taiho-class carrier instead of a modified Yamato, and the escort carriers come in with organic air groups attached. She also gets more oil tankers in the build queue.

There are a lot of additional ground units; primarily, 4 extra divisions in 1942 (4th,5th, and 6th Guards, plus 1st Gds Tank), plus extra paratroopers.

So, you don't receive a throng of capital ships like in Ironman, but you get more 2nd-tier stuff across the board which helps in logistics and staying power. It's Japan buffed up, not bulked up.

However, the AI's basic habits don't change regardless of Ironman or Hakkō Ichiu or even when it plays as the Allies.

Any experience with the Reluctant Admiral scenario?

[Platoonist]

I've never tried Reluctant Admiral. However, many of the mods such as RA are designed by players for who the interest lies in developing the alternate historical circumstances of the mod rather than in crafting AI scripting that works exclusively with the mod. You can try playing such mods with AI, but results can be wonky. Mods are usually meant to be played against human players in PBEM.

This game is a large investment in time. You'd hate to get a hundred days in to find that the AI has stalled out for some undetermined reason.

[RangerJoe]

Once you win as Allies, then you read about the WITP:AE Japanese economy and then play the Japanese side. If nothing else, it can tell you what is important and what to capture as the Allies. That can make you a better Allied player. If you want to play a PBEM, then learn without being sloppy like how I play.

[PaxMondo]

I've never tried Reluctant Admiral. However, many of the mods such as RA are designed by players for who the interest lies in developing the alternate historical circumstances of the mod rather than in crafting AI scripting that works exclusively with the mod. You can try playing such mods with AI, but results can be wonky. Mods are usually meant to be played against human players in PBEM.

This game is a large investment in time. You'd hate to get a hundred days in to find that the AI has stalled out for some undetermined reason.

I believe the authors have specifically stated that the AI does NOT work well at all with the RA mod as there are so many changes that the AI is not lined up to pull the correct units, and has no knowledge of the new units.

[btd64]

I know that you stated "No PBEM", but if you want a challenge play a human....GP