I realize that the forum is full of campaign suggestions and concede that the Pacific campaign(s) will focus on UK/US against Japanese and that is cool with me!
HOWEVER, I believe the Soviet Manchurian campaign against the Japanese would be a very interesting and educational event :).
It is very little known in the West, however a quick search of the battles fought prove that there is more than enough information to fill in the squads with equipment and provide map inspiration.
Again, NOT a campaign suggestion but an event that could be handled similarly as April fool’s event or this War thunder event below for Khalkhin Gol!
Additional reasoning below…
The devs would have the option to use the given factions weapons/vehicles from any point in the war, considering it was August 1945. So if it requires “prototype” or “experimental” so be it, they basically have given us stuff like this already.
Japanese forces which is much requested
Chinese maps with temple complexes, mountainous highways, hill forts, oil refineries and rice paddies ETC…
large portion of player base is Russian, so a Pacific event paying homage to USSR forces which compliments the Allies’ Pacific campaign.
unique aspect of event could be large maps giving way to even more bolt action use, making use of armored cars or other obscure but speedy vehicles(horses?) used in this campaign. Could be a gimmick, but the event would only be for like two weeks anyways.
It would be historical to see even ONE FPS game in the world that could do this?
It would also be very interesting from the historical/ cultural perspective because the Manchurian area was a mix of Japanese, Russian and Chinese cultures all coming together.
Also, it would be EASY to balance it weaponry/ plane model and otherwise.
Yes Hasse , exactly!
This would definitely be a first in Historical Video game history yes. Another inspiration for this post was the WW1 game series of Verdun and Tannenberg. that explore little known battlefields but bring forth the units and weapons with great research and care.
The late war setting would definitely allow for decent balance, especially since this wont be like a 40 level campaign :).
Perhaps not bots if it is an event. The Pacific campaign may be early war so the opportunity to play late war Japanese squads may encourage people to try I believe it is an event in history worth telling in this medium!
The Japanese have anything which is able to kill a IS-2? Or to compete with the PPSh and DT madness?
Well… only if balanced.
Couldnt we also just make Sino-Japanese war here if we want Chinese maps or Burma?
Tbh people who only play USSR will play anything as long as they can play the Soviets (unless a wildMkb appears). I dont know if possible Japanese/ Axis players are ready to get sealclubbed though.
II would rather see the Battle(s) of Khalkhin Go. At least, both side would have similiar equipment and we could also include some Mongolian units. Also a pre-war event and underrepresented too.
As far as armor balancing, I admit there is not a lot that could take out Soviet heavies, some stuff could be included such as Type 4 Chi-To but even then could struggle. I think we can all agree that balancing the Japanese in general will not be an easy task for the devs. This is why I was suggesting a different angle, stuff like armored cars , APC’s on large maps. You bring up horses, also a fun idea for both Khalkhin Gol OR even Manchuria I would also strongly support Sino-Japanese War or Khalkhin Gol events as well, all are under represented and I’m sure a lot of people would like seeing them get some attention. All of these were considerable victories for the USSR and/or Chinese.
Problem is, the Soviets like the Germans mostly abandoned the idea of light tanks and scout cars until after the war. There is absolutely no way to balance soviet armor against the Japanese, even the Chi-Ri, which pushes the “If it existed we can add it” rule to the limit, would only barely be able to match a T-34 85, forget any IS tank or even one of the casemate TDs. Manchuria just wouldn’t work due to the differences how Japan and the Soviet Union set up their militaries and what they put their resources towards.
Well. Manchuria without tanks (and planes) would be better (or at least our biggest fear would be the PPSh which is fine for me). Such a concept should be discussed and would open a completely new battle style.
Soviet soldier on horseback. Both sides widely used them in this theatre. kind of gimmick transportation but unique to this event (Khalkhin Gol or Manchuria would both be great imo)
Kalkhin Gol would be a bit more balanced, but like many of the early war campaigns, I don’t know if you can get 40 levels out of that. I don’t think they are going to do a WW2 event, as events have always been things the devs wanted to do that fall outside of the scope of WW2, like the modern event or the moon.
urmo is proposing it as a event (though I will bet my ass that they could use this to create a campaign out of it. Would be a waste of time and ressources otherwise if you ask me). Mongolia as a event would be both unique and interesting without making it too unbalanced.
As an event, Kalkhin Gol could work, only vehicles being the BT 7 and the Chi Ha would be balanced enough, then it would just be Mosins against Arisakas and whatever automatics the devs decide they want to add.
The ideal vision I have for such an event map would be large and sweeping, armored cars and horses, bolt action dominant, with unique but rare equipment;
As a campaign, You could probably only squeeze like 20 levels out of it. There would actually only be one armored car if I remember correctly, that being the BA-11. However if the devs decided they were ok with a smaller campaign, it could work. Tanks would would probably go Ha Go against BA-11, T-26 against I Go, and BT-7 against Chi Ha. It could be fun with everyone being able pen everyone with ease.
I believe it is an event in history worth telling in this medium!
