Some Observations on New Patch

[anthonykevinluke]

As the title states I would make the following observations on the new patch (and many thanks for the ongoing great work!); I note that these thoughts are based on only 11 turns into the 1943 Long campaign playing as Axis against the AI.

The AI seems much improved in that it is not conducting endless unescorted B17 raids into Axis territory; the flip side is that despite almost continued good weather they have only flown twice, once to the Ruhr and once to bomb a 2 point steel factory on Belgium ... this seems exceptionally quiet? They also seem very hard to intercept? I attacked a raid in the Med and had over a hundred axis acft up, at higher altitude and positioned in front and they failed to engage at all despite trailing them all the way from south of Rome to Viteberio Afld and back to Rome ...? and Other observations are that the allied defensive fire on 2E acft seems much more effective and even allowing for the 'average' robustness of the ME109 they seem to fall out of the sky more readily than I have ever seen.

These are just some early thoughts and may be just a different series of random events that I have not seen before; certainly the lack of B17 activity is a first.

Cheers,

AKL

[mark dolby]

Hi AKL.
This is something I also observed when testing this patch.
However it seems both events can be 'linked' to the better AI and improved routines for experience.
The escorts are far more adept at keeping the LW away and those LW pilots are originally experienced enough to not get jumped by the escorts. Hence a standoff unless an advantage can be created.
The defensive fire will initially be better as those crews are far more experienced than the replacements available. Persevere and down enough of the bombers to make a difference.
The changes to combat routines especially regarding pilot quality especially makes themselves known in ways players of the game for years will see straight away.
Richard would probably be able to better explain those but things do even themselves out.
Mark.

[simovitch]

What Mark is saying is essentially all true but also since time immortal the AI was not assigning close escorts to it's missions; only high escorts. Now it does and the allied combat box is a little harder to get at.

Regarding the missions, until the Allies develop the longer range escorts the AI will be cautious and the choice of prime targets is limited. The EDBTR AI is not as savvy as a human player but It's a long war ahead.

[anthonykevinluke]

Evening Simovitch, Mark and co,

I have hit 04 Sep 1943 in Long campaign, Axis, and thought an update might prove interesting. Please note that these are just observations to enable you guys to consider and reject/use as appropriate.

Total Axis losses to date - 295 (98 x BF109)
Total Allied - 1,113 (142 x B17, note 92 in one raid; 240 x 4E night bombers)
Current Allied Score - 1/1/10

Thoughts: Night air to air combat seems to be pretty good in all aspects, great work! However, Bomber Command have launched every day, bar two, since game start, moon phase seems irrelevant; and for the last 9 days they have used two bomber streams - one always to Berlin and one to either Frankfurt or Munich/Augsburg. Berlin raid is costing them due to distance, flak and better german interceptors with the 212 Radar (can follow stream longer and get more contacts).

8th Airforce B17s have only flown five times in total. Twice to Ruhr, twice to shallow very minor tgts in Belgium, and once to tgt cluster at Nantes on the Bay of Biscay. Whilst this is smart force preservation in one aspect it could be a real issue for Sudden Death closing game down due to lack of points ... to be seen.

One issue I have is for love or money I can rarely get my ftrs to attack escorting ftrs (so as to peel back the escorts) rather than bombers. Even positioned early, with significant height advantage, and told to intercept the ftrs, they just hit the bombers (sometimes seeming to fly past the escorts to hit the bombers!). Anyone else seen this?

Hope this is of some use to your ongoing development. Thanks for the efforts to keep improving this game.

Cheers,

AKL

[Computerblue]

Currently 12/10/43, turn 116, I am axis (human!).
Score: 2/-1/14

Yes, Industry negative, at one point negative 2. I guess all that scrap metal falling to the ground is economic stimulus. Just wanted to add that after a slow Allied start (as mentioned previous posts), the raids are coming hot and heavy. Seems the AI is willing to take it slow at the beginning ... which is fine gives me time to re-arrange my flak. I am not having any trouble with intercepts once I can break up the bomber box a little bit. I think game mechanics are improved at night (more intercept activity and losses), but I don't track night as closely.

I still cannot change axis production (as I have done many times in previous versions, since I am a sucker for micro-management). Could somebody out there humor me ... and fire up there 1.06.66 ... and tell me whether they can actually change BTR axis production?

[simovitch]

I seem to recall that production is hardwired computer controlled for the first X number of turns. Harley did all the production code modifications so I would have to sift through the code from square one to get a real answer. Any old veterans remember this that can help out?

[Johntxic]

'43 Long Campaign - just noticed something weird...

8th AAF just attempted to bomb a railyard in the Ruhr; target clagged in, so diverted to secondary target. Whilst still over the original target, I get the message "XXX bombing Deelen Airfield" - but whilst still over the original city.

I then got a Damage Report relating to the secondary target 100 miles away. Strange; I've had the report before, but never one stating damage has been inflicted.

[simovitch]

A similar report came out of beta testing, but it was from running an older campaign through .66. Is your a new campaign started with .66?

[Johntxic]

Yes - I bit the bullet and started afresh.

[mark dolby]

As per the older campaign I just want to add that on 24/10/44 I had 3 separate FB missions hit targets labelled 'Dora I through III. These were empty target areas just South of 1567 Leeuwarden radar and 237 Steenwijk airfield. The only references I know of relate to sub pens in Norway! Also the 800mm railway gun but even that did not stretch to several miles!
Mark.

[simovitch]

The Dora sites are V-weapon sites that appear October 22, 1944. Are you saying it is before this date and/or there are no V-weapon icons at these locations?
Also, @johntxic, if you are playing as Axis, there may be a low-level attack going on at Deleen that never shows up for you until after the attack.

Does that shed any light?

[mark dolby]

No, the first attacks were on 24th October and now on 27th Dora V is hit ESE of Twente radar station 1559. No locations are visible on the map for any of the Dora sites.