Scn 1 Coral Sea Balance.

[Champagne]

Is this scenario balanced for human to human play?

[borner]

Very short, with almost everything depending on the carrier exchange. It's good to get your feet wet against a real player if nothing else.
 

[Champagne]

How do the Allies keep the IJN from taking Port Moresby?

I've seen the IJN lose the carrier exchange, but, win the game with a Marginal Victory by taking PM.

That's why I'm wondering what others think about the balance of the scenario.

It is a nice short scenario!

Thanks.

[borner]

c-47's can fly in more troops, or additionalfractions of a base force, and you increase the bombers there. Without carriers, the AP's coming around G-G are without fighter cover, and easy prey. (usually). If you are looking for a US opponent for it I would be happy to give it a go with you.
 

[Kingfisher]

Assuming the Japanese player keeps at least a token force in Rabual, he doesn't make an attempt at Buna and Gili Gili, and he doesn't draw from other forces in the area (Lae and Shortlands) he can put ashore a force worth about 220 assault points at PM. This is also assuming all the APs make it past the gauntlet of allied LBA at PM and the Australian bases.

To counter that the allies have at PM 113 assault points entrenched in a level 2 fortification, plus enough air lift to bring in another 2 brigades at 109 points each before the Japanese ships reach PM.

I'd say the allies stand a really good chance of holding PM even if the carrier battle doesn't go their way.

[borner]

I usually get one group of C-47's transporting a base force there for a turn or two, then push in the shorter ranged LBA. B-25's ad B-14's can base out of Northern Australia.
 
You will usually get two good shots on the slow AP's groups as they come in, then at least one more when they start to unload. Japan does not have the LBA power to shut the airfield down early on. If you have the carrier battle close to PM, and your carriers are disabled; those groups land at PM, start pounding anything in range, and that is that. (unless playing a longer senario, in which case you rule the area until the KB arrives)