Post by L0ckAndL0ad on Mar 1, 2020 12:19:18 GMT -6
I've just finished a 1920-1950 campaign as USA (Super Large fleet size, Harsher peace deals, Treaty of Versailles, Washington Naval Treaty). Here's my feedback and suggestions based on this playthrough.
Minor:
1. Quite a lot of time between the turns I find myself spending time by looking at the strategic map, figuring out the current forces in various regions and their changes. Problem is that, UI-wise, "Strength bars" overlay does not give a quick indication of enemy composition in a given region. You have to hover over each region to find out what exactly is located there. As USA, I had to keep track of 6 regions like that, each turn.
An alternative strategic map overlay mode can be made that would show current fleets the same way they are transcribed by the tool-tip when you hover over specific region (like: 3 BB 4 CV 24 DD 8 KE), but without a need to actually hover over the region, and for all of them simultaneously. Information on ships in this mode should be visible in similar fashion to this.
2. Add country filter to "Turn messages" screen (to better focus on enemies during tensions or when at war).
3. Limit the amount similar "Surprise attacks" Japan can make. USA can cope with only a few surprise Pearl Harbor attacks. Also, 1935+ attacks (with carriers) maybe should be a bit less suicidal.
4. Allow ship refits (and maybe reserve/mothball status) at large bases, proportional to size. You should be able to refit ships in Pearl Harbor in 1944, for example.
5. I'm not sure if there were any "carrier raid" themed mission during my early playthroughs, but in my last one I barely had a chance to do carrier raids against enemy bases. "Coastal raid" missions were all cruiser-based and put so deep into enemy air envelopes I declined them all with decent VP loss (which is also strange).
Historically, carrier raids were the most frequent use of fleet carriers. Attacking enemy installations on shore, ships in harbor and retiring before you get caught.
Major:
6. I was having problems with:
a) being uncertain if BBs would be assigned to escort carriers in Carrier Force or in their own Main Force (with Circular AA screen tech researched), and thus decided not to use BBs at all, as a way of ensuring CVs get as much escorts as possible;
b) Scout Force taking up almost all heavy cruisers and decent chunk of destroyers from my roster, away from Carrier Force. Being able to order the lead division in Scout Force from "Independent" to "Screen Carrier Force" or "Screen Main Force" would help a lot here, so I don't have to manually guide them next to my Carrier Force all the time. Making the same kind of order available to the Main Force would be great as well (to tell BBs in the Main force go close by to carriers).
c) no way to increase the size of the "circle" while screening carriers. Radar Picket role (used by USN since 1944, at least; ref to "CIC" magazine, or "Admiral Halsey's Story" book), an outer screening circle may be a good solution for destroyers.
7. Doctrinal designation of scout plane priority. It is super important to know that the planes you most rely on being available for something won't take off for a recon.
8. "Send now!" or "Send new search" button is super desirable, to send a new aerial search immediately. Manual searches are hard to do over a featureless ocean, even with an overlay grid map.
9. Show current targets for airstrikes on tactical map. It's easy to forget where exactly you sent who, especially if you operate 6 carriers. Also, it would be easier to set up manual searches this way, because there are no references in the open ocean otherwise.
10. Rework of "Invasion range" mechanic is needed. Allow usage of allied bases as staging points for invasion. Current max range of 850 nm is very small for Pacific War or invasion of Europe/Africa by USA. Operation Torch (Africa), Overlord (Normandy), New Guinea and Solomons/Guadalcanal campaign initial landings - all were done either with the help of allied bases or from long range. Op Torch, The Western Task Force used transatlantic convoy, for example.
As USA, I can't even target Kamchatka with max Amphib Ops tech, while having bases in Alaska region, which is kinda ridiculous in comparison to actual WW2 USN operations. Not to mention being unable to invade German/Italian regions in Europe and Africa.
11. Tune down the way politicians go for peace without actually getting anything in return. Even with "harsher peace deals", I got nothing from Germany after beating her, and Fuhrer even declared "Total War" on us.
12. All countries feel very similar. Technology is spread very evenly. In my war against Japan, IJN had radars the same as me. Soviets built carriers in large numbers as everyone else. Strategies and tactics used are also very similar for all countries. If countries had really different research priorities, and tech did not propagate so quickly, and they were able to have different doctrines for how they employ they forces, they could feel differently to fight against.
Thank you for your awesome work!
Minor:
1. Quite a lot of time between the turns I find myself spending time by looking at the strategic map, figuring out the current forces in various regions and their changes. Problem is that, UI-wise, "Strength bars" overlay does not give a quick indication of enemy composition in a given region. You have to hover over each region to find out what exactly is located there. As USA, I had to keep track of 6 regions like that, each turn.
An alternative strategic map overlay mode can be made that would show current fleets the same way they are transcribed by the tool-tip when you hover over specific region (like: 3 BB 4 CV 24 DD 8 KE), but without a need to actually hover over the region, and for all of them simultaneously. Information on ships in this mode should be visible in similar fashion to this.
2. Add country filter to "Turn messages" screen (to better focus on enemies during tensions or when at war).
3. Limit the amount similar "Surprise attacks" Japan can make. USA can cope with only a few surprise Pearl Harbor attacks. Also, 1935+ attacks (with carriers) maybe should be a bit less suicidal.
4. Allow ship refits (and maybe reserve/mothball status) at large bases, proportional to size. You should be able to refit ships in Pearl Harbor in 1944, for example.
5. I'm not sure if there were any "carrier raid" themed mission during my early playthroughs, but in my last one I barely had a chance to do carrier raids against enemy bases. "Coastal raid" missions were all cruiser-based and put so deep into enemy air envelopes I declined them all with decent VP loss (which is also strange).
Historically, carrier raids were the most frequent use of fleet carriers. Attacking enemy installations on shore, ships in harbor and retiring before you get caught.
Major:
6. I was having problems with:
a) being uncertain if BBs would be assigned to escort carriers in Carrier Force or in their own Main Force (with Circular AA screen tech researched), and thus decided not to use BBs at all, as a way of ensuring CVs get as much escorts as possible;
b) Scout Force taking up almost all heavy cruisers and decent chunk of destroyers from my roster, away from Carrier Force. Being able to order the lead division in Scout Force from "Independent" to "Screen Carrier Force" or "Screen Main Force" would help a lot here, so I don't have to manually guide them next to my Carrier Force all the time. Making the same kind of order available to the Main Force would be great as well (to tell BBs in the Main force go close by to carriers).
c) no way to increase the size of the "circle" while screening carriers. Radar Picket role (used by USN since 1944, at least; ref to "CIC" magazine, or "Admiral Halsey's Story" book), an outer screening circle may be a good solution for destroyers.
7. Doctrinal designation of scout plane priority. It is super important to know that the planes you most rely on being available for something won't take off for a recon.
8. "Send now!" or "Send new search" button is super desirable, to send a new aerial search immediately. Manual searches are hard to do over a featureless ocean, even with an overlay grid map.
9. Show current targets for airstrikes on tactical map. It's easy to forget where exactly you sent who, especially if you operate 6 carriers. Also, it would be easier to set up manual searches this way, because there are no references in the open ocean otherwise.
10. Rework of "Invasion range" mechanic is needed. Allow usage of allied bases as staging points for invasion. Current max range of 850 nm is very small for Pacific War or invasion of Europe/Africa by USA. Operation Torch (Africa), Overlord (Normandy), New Guinea and Solomons/Guadalcanal campaign initial landings - all were done either with the help of allied bases or from long range. Op Torch, The Western Task Force used transatlantic convoy, for example.
As USA, I can't even target Kamchatka with max Amphib Ops tech, while having bases in Alaska region, which is kinda ridiculous in comparison to actual WW2 USN operations. Not to mention being unable to invade German/Italian regions in Europe and Africa.
11. Tune down the way politicians go for peace without actually getting anything in return. Even with "harsher peace deals", I got nothing from Germany after beating her, and Fuhrer even declared "Total War" on us.
12. All countries feel very similar. Technology is spread very evenly. In my war against Japan, IJN had radars the same as me. Soviets built carriers in large numbers as everyone else. Strategies and tactics used are also very similar for all countries. If countries had really different research priorities, and tech did not propagate so quickly, and they were able to have different doctrines for how they employ they forces, they could feel differently to fight against.
Thank you for your awesome work!