War in the Pacific is supposed to be a very accurate simulation of the Pacific and Asian theatres of war in World War Two. While the game forces and orders of battle are modelled very accurately, the map has several major inacuracies. The biggest inaccuracies, and the ones that prompted me to make the map, are the transport infrastructures in Australia and North America.

Many distances in the original map are also not accurate, and while I could not eliminate all of these distance errors, or even most of them, I did manage to get the map more accurate distance-wise overall.

Finally, I wanted to add a few bases that were not present on the official map to see how they would affect the game, such as the Society Islands in the South Pacific, and Addu Atoll in the Maldives, Indian Ocean.

No, it is not. The modified map is not just different map graphics. The map data is also changed, and many bases are no longer in their original positions. Scenarios must be specially converted (mainly adjusting the location data and adding the new and modified base data) to enable them to be used with the map.

What this means is that games started from scenarios that are not modified for use with the map will not work with it. To use the map, a new game needs to be started from a modified scenario.

No. Existing games can still be played using the official map. A batch file utility ("ModSelect") is provided with the map package. This utility can be used to select which map - my map or the official map, will be loaded into the game, so that it is possible to swap between them. It is necessary to exit from the game and to restart it to make the map change work, however.

For example, if you are playing two games, one using the official map and one using the modified map, then you would do the following to play them:

1. Without the game being started, run the "ModSelect" utility, which is located in the game folder, and choose to load the modified map. This map will then be used when the game is run.

2. Start War in the Pacific, then load and play the game started with the modified map.

3. When you want to switch to the other game, save the current game and exit from War in the Pacific.

4. Run the "ModSelect" utility again, and choose to load the official map. This will load the official map so that it will be used when the application is started again.

5. Start War in the Pacific, then load and play the game started with the official map.

6. When you want to switch to the other game, save the current game and exit from War in the Pacific. Then use the same procedures as above to continue switching the maps.

No. I don't know of any way to modify saved game data.

Yes you can, although there are varying effects depending on which version of the map you were using previously.

If using version 5, there should be no problems with using map version 6.1. The only thing to make sure of is that there are NO task forces in any coastal/"river" hexes adjacent to Nanking or Shanghai (having TFs IN Nanking and/or Shanghai is OK).

If using version 5 or earlier, there are a few new bases on the version 6 map, as well as some changes to the road/rail network. These will result in a mismatch between the saved game and the new map. These should not be critical to prevent the game from continuing, but they may be an annoyance from time to time.

New bases only become available if starting a scenario that has been converted for use with the new map version. They will not appear in games that have already been started.

The modifications to the map graphics and the map data, however, will affect all games that are played using the map, even if they were started with a previous version. This means that hex type data, hexside data and transport link data will be updated for all games using the map after version 6.1 is loaded.

However, scenario modifications, such as the OOB changes, fixes to base locations as well as new bases, will not be included in saved games. Only new games started after version 6.1 of the map is loaded will benifit from the scenario updates.

Several official scenarios have been converted and are available as separate downloads. The CHS scenario (Combined Historical Scenario) is also designed for use with the map. Besides these, there are also several other scenarios made by others that are designed or converted for the map.

These scenarios are available from my WitP Scenarios page.

When time permits, other official scenarios will be converted and made available.

Not until it is converted.

No. However this does not matter.

The LCU movement mod is not required anyway, however, as the map data file that I provide with the map contains the same changes that I added to the official file in the LCU movement mod. In other words - the map comes with its own version of the LCU movement mod built in.

Note that as of War in the Pacific patch 1.6 the LCU movement mod fix has also been incorporated into the map data for the official map, so the mod is basically redundant now.

At the moment there is only one map data file supplied with the map, which contains the LCU movement mod fix. If I ever get a request to provide one without the LCU movement mod applied, then I will consider making one. I have never received such a request, however.

Note that as of War in the Pacific patch 1.6 the LCU movement mod fix has also been incorporated into the map data for the official map, so the mod is basically redundant now.

Subchaser's excellent map art is intended as a replacement for the official map art. Sadly, it cannot be used with this map.

There have been some variations of the map art for my map that have been created by CobraAus, however. Look for them on Spooky's UV and WitP Fan Site.

Subchaser has created a version of my version 4 map, which is available from my website. If time permits this map might get updated to be compatible with my version 6.1 map data.

If you want to use the map in PBEM play, then BOTH players MUST use the map. Remember that it is possible to switch between my map and the official map, so that it is possible to play some games with one map and others with the other map.

Alternatively, some people have TWO separate installations of War in the Pacific installed, with my map added to one of them, so that they do not have to swap between the maps to play any game.

It is probably because you are not using a scenario that has been converted for use with my map.

The map is not just redrawn graphics - the map data is also different. Many of the base locations are different for my map than the official map. Because of this only converted scenarios can be used with my map. Part of the conversion process is making sure that all bases and units are moved so that they will appear in the right place.

It is not possible to use scenarios that have not been converted with my map, including all of the official scenarios supplied with the game, i.e. scenarios 1 to 16.

It is probably because you have the wrong map data file (pwhex.dat) loaded. Verify that you are using the correct map data file (supplied with the map package). This can be done by using the '1', 'F6' and 'R' keys, to show terrain, hexsides and transport links respectively, and compare the data to the map graphics - they should all match.

This happens when you (and/or your PBEM opponent if you are playing PBEM)  is using the wrong map data file (pwhex.dat) for the extended map. You need to do the following to fix this problem. If you are playing PBEM, BOTH players MUST follow this procedure to fix the problem:

1. Exit from the game.
   

2. Load the map data file (pwhex.dat) for Andrew Brown's STANDARD (NOT extended) map into the folder where WitP is installed (usually "C:\Program Files\Matrix Games\War in the Pacific"). This can be done either using the ModSelect utility and choosing the standard map from the choices, or by manually copying the "pwhex.dat" file to the WitP folder from the standard map package zip file, or the folder where the art files and map data file are stored ("ART\Maps_Modified_vn" where 'n' is the major version number of the map).

   If you can't find the file, you can download a copy from Andrew Brown's War in the Pacific Map page (look for the "Standard map data file").

   If playing PBEM, BOTH players MUST do this before continuing the game.

3. Start the game and continue playing. The TF in the prohibited area can now be given orders to move into a sea area or one of the blue channels.

4. Start processing turns until the TF makes it into a blue sea or channel hex. During these turns, do NOT create new TFs near the prohibited areas or sail other TFs into the areas. It is best to "freeze" all other naval activity near the prohibited areas until the stuck TF(s) have made it to blue sea or channel hexes. Also during these turns, it will not be possible to load or unload troops, supplies, resources etc at Aden or any base in Panama. It will also not be possible to move LCUs or rebase air groups to these bases.

5. Once you are certain that ALL TFs are in blue sea or channel hexes at the end of a turn, exit from the game and reinstall the map data file for the extended map. This can be done either using the ModSelect utility and choosing the extended map from the choices, or by manually copying the "pwhex.dat" file to the WitP folder from the extended map package zip file, or the folder where the art files and map data file are stored ("ART\Maps_Modified_vnX" where 'n' is the major version number of the map).

   If you can't find the file, you can download a copy from Andrew Brown's War in the Pacific Map page (look for the "Extended map data file").

   If playing PBEM, BOTH players MUST do this before continuing the game.

6. Verify that you are using the correct map data file for the extended map. This can be done by using the '1', 'F6' and 'R' keys, to show terrain, hexsides and transport links respectively, and compare the data to the map graphics - they should all match. Check the grey "prohibited" areas near Aden and Panama especially. The prohibited areas should all have red (blocked) hexsides, which will prevent task forces from entering the hexes and keep them in the blue "channels" instead.
   
   If playing PBEM, BOTH players MUST ensure that they are using the correct map data file before starting the game again.
   

7. Continue playing. The Aden and Panama bases should now opereate normally, and TFs will no longer stray into the prohibited areas.

Not fully, although it has been tested quite a lot. Some people have been using the map for a while now and report that it is working fine. I have run an AI vs. AI game to March 1946, without any major problems becoming evident at any stage of the game. Over time, several map data errors have been reported and fixed (See the Version Changes page for details). However there may still be problems with the map that have not been discovered yet.

The "extended" map is a version of my map with two "off map" areas included - The Middle East and Panama/Galapagos Islands. This version of the map was created for use with the CHS scenario. It is not required to play CHS however, as there is a version of CHS for my "standard" (without off map areas) map. The "extended" map is available in a separate downloadable map package.