Forlorn Hopes: The Japanese Respond

[John 3rd]

I remember once when I rushed EVERYTHING to Tarawa to save a CVL.  The damned ships couldn't decide if it was going to sink or float.  I posted daily flooding numbers and in the end it survived.  Thoroughly understand how you feel.

Got a turn to do so I'll post some screenshots after that.

[John 3rd]

Well we might be done.  The last turn was moving along nicely when suddenly ALL my Grace's decided to attack Eniwetok at RANGE TEN and all 284 of them were shot down.  As this AAR will testify, I never set the ranges of those planes to anything but six so the DB and Zeros fly along.  Don't know why the game choose to do this but I sent the turn file to Dan so he could see what happened and backed up a day to try it again.  These were the response that I got from him today:
 
I looked at the replay again to see if I could tell where your bombers came from - they flew a bearing that falls between Marcus and Saipan,
so I assume they were carrier-launched. Thus, my belief that you had overloaded Marcus is wrong and I apologize
for saying you had violated that HR.

If you had those bombers set to range of six and they flew anway how do we fix that?  I don't want to go back a turn because I spent a good
hour on that and there was alot of action that might not be correctly duplicated (the raid on Nagoya, the strike on shipping at Balikpan, and
alot of fairly small air sea battles.  What's to stop them from doing it again?  Do we now have to play the entire game with the notions that
do overs happen whenever something inexplicable or contrary to what we want occurs?
 
Guess it sort of speaks pretty clearly.
 

[Q-Ball]

I hope you guys continue, but understand if you don't. Honestly I don't know where I stand on granting replays, I don't like them, but on the other hand hate to see a game end because of it.

I've made plenty of errors and not asked for re-dos, including one I can think of that cost a BB, and a few that resulted in needless aircraft wastage. Nothing on that scale though, losing 280 Graces in one day is BAD. You must have had the range set too high somehow, it's unfortunately very easy to screw that up.

[vettim89]

I find myself VERY conflicted on this one. I, on principle, would be against replaying turns unless it was directly related to a confirmed game bug. That said, I have to believe that if I was in your position, I would be asking for it also. Would be very sad to see this game end on such a sour note. This is somewhat similar to back in 1942 when Dan lost his CV's trapped against the map edge. IIRC, you offered Dan a replay and he declined. I guess you might consider that in your final decision

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Well we might be done.  The last turn was moving along nicely when suddenly ALL my Grace's decided to attack Eniwetok at RANGE TEN and all 284 of them were shot down.  As this AAR will testify, I never set the ranges of those planes to anything but six so the DB and Zeros fly along.  Don't know why the game choose to do this but I sent the turn file to Dan so he could see what happened and backed up a day to try it again. 

Planes do not reset their range orders on their own in WITP (with the exception of CAP leakers, but this is a completely different issue and not related to range settings). Well, at least this would be a hitherto unknown bug. Only explanation for this is that you've accidentially set their ranges to 10. But you're certainly not the first player who did this. It's not always the game engine that screws things up.

[John 3rd]

The more I think about it the more confused I am as to what happened.  As noted in previous entries I had everyone set for Range 6 to hit Midway.  I confirmed that by looking at an old turn file.  The Fleet moved back to Marcus, refueled, and reprovisioned then moved SW in preparation for the strike at Eniwetok.  The only thing I changed in settings was to Port Attack--Eniwetok.  Didn't touch anything else...
 
These planes and pilots have been trained and hoarded since Dec 7, 1941.  Many of them had Experience in the high-80s.  My Zeros suck but my Judy and Grace pilots are formidable.
 
I won't move forward unless something can be done.  It is obviously something that no one would have done purposefully and is totally out of my Command Character for Carrier Operations.
 

[FeurerKrieg]

When you set a port (or airfield) attack that automatically sets the range at whatever required to reach that target.

If you don't want them to attack, you would have to go through and reduce each to range 6.

[ny59giants]

FK is correct. Whenever you select a specific target, the AI automatically set the range to reach that target. Once your CVs get close enough, it will go through its checks and launch. Its more micro-management for you, but necessary if you want to avoid this from happening.

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

When you set a port (or airfield) attack that automatically sets the range at whatever required to reach that target.

If you don't want them to attack, you would have to go through and reduce each to range 6.

Correct:

p. 117 of the ebook manual:

The Maximum Range sets the maximum range in hexes that the squadron will travel in order to reach the target. The air unit will not exceed this distance when picking a target using Commander's Discretion whether the target is for a strike mission, escort, or Long-range CAP. However, if the air unit is assigned a specific target (base or TF), then the air unit will ignore this max range setting.

[John 3rd]

Didn't know that.  I will wager that is exactly what happened.  I changed the Port Attack target and the range AUTOMATICALLY changed.  Always learning things about this game.  Has anyone told Dan this on his AAR?

[ny59giants]

More lessons, eh Grasshopper. [:D]

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Didn't know that.  I will wager that is exactly what happened.  I changed the Port Attack target and the range AUTOMATICALLY changed.  Always learning things about this game.  Has anyone told Dan this on his AAR?

No, it hasnt appeared.

I would suggest that you explain your stuff up to Dan personally

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Didn't know that.  I will wager that is exactly what happened.  I changed the Port Attack target and the range AUTOMATICALLY changed.  Always learning things about this game.  Has anyone told Dan this on his AAR?

No, it hasnt appeared.

I would suggest that you explain your stuff up to Dan personally

Very nice tone. Of course I wrote him as soon as this was figured out. Had a decent chat about it. We're cool. What I meant was this discussed in his AAR? Doesn't really matter I think we're letting stuff settle will then make a final decision within a few days.

[thegreatwent]

When you set a port (or airfield) attack that automatically sets the range at whatever required to reach that target.

If you don't want them to attack, you would have to go through and reduce each to range 6.

Well I just learned something. Can't express how much this AAR has taught me so far, thanks.

[John 3rd]

I too have learned so much as well.  We've had a great ride for the last 18 months playing this through.

[John 3rd]

This was the morning exchange of emails between Dan and I:

Dan (we have been talking about several good Civil War and other Military History Books):

I didn't think the movie version of "We were Soldiers" was particularly good, but the book is the single-best work of military history that I've ever read.

I take it that our game is over? That really does suit me fine, but I just want to make sure. I'd like to know with certainty one way or the other so that I can move on. I would prefer that we not drag on playing an occasional turn. I see that you've begun a new game, so you should have your hands full.

[/i]
[/size]Me:

Having not read the book, the movie stunned me.  I had NEVER heard of that fight or Hal Moore.  Damn but it was something to watch.  I will read the book eventually.  Cannot help but think it will be superlative to one-up the film!  That is usually how I like to do it.  If a movie comes out based off a book I have NOT read then I always watch it and THEN read the book.  Sort of erases disappointment in going the other direction.

I think we should just call it.  Your comment about Sir Robin and what would have happened if the Allies OR Japanese had not given decisive battle really scored a couple of points with me.  I hadn't thought of it that way whatsoever but it is totally true.  Considering my well and often stated contempt of Sir Robin it really hit me hard that THAT was exactly what I was playing with the Fleet at this point.  Sort of blew me out of the water.

Started a new game because I wanted to go to the Dark Side and see what an aggressive Allied Defense would be like.  Ought to be entertaining until my Hearing and life is finally settled.

Mr Dan Roper:  I cannot thank you enough for all you have done in helping as a sounding board with the case and ideas/thoughts regarding it.  Your Legal Perspective was a great aid and help.  This stupid campaign was started when I was living in a basement terrified of what life might bring 18-20 months ago.  Thank you for the dozens of hours of distractions, high moments, depressing moments, and sometimes suicidal moments!  :> 

I'll keep you up on everything and if you ever want to go again....

Cheers!
John

I would now echo those thoughts to all of you who have faithfully written, read and contributed to this experience.  You have also been there during a dark time of my life and have been great to suggest, contemplate, cheer, and critique this campaign for 20 months.  Thank you for the time, effort, and thought.  There have been times when I have been strident and--perhaps--rude to several of you and I apologize.  It has not been the best time in my life and this campaign has served as an outlet for me to focus and vent about things.

If interested please join or keep reading The First Team AAR for a far different Japanese Campaign with my brilliant and most able conspirator in crime Brad OR check out The Fleet the Gods Forgot where I go to the Dark Side and play the Allies...

For one last time on this Thread "Forlorn Hopes" I provide a heartfelt:  Banzai!  BanZAI!!  BANZAI!!! 

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[vettim89]

Thanks again John for a most entertainig AAR and game. I know I speak for all of us that wish you the best in your current struggle on the personal side. God bless and Happy Easter!

[pat.casey]

Thanks John, this AAR was a pleasure to read.

Best of luck with your legal issues.

[thegreatwent]

Thanks for the AAR John, and good luck from a fellow Coloradan.

[MrPlow9]

As I said in Dan's AAR aswell, Great Game!