Forlorn Hopes: John III vs. Canoerebel

[paullus99]

Well, sounds like his "Charge of the Light Brigade." Wouldn't surprise me, though it would be disappointing, if this was the game-stopper. How many fighters did you have on CAP?

Sounds like he might have tried to hit you with the KB - which would also explain his desire to turn back the clock.

[Canoerebel]

Eniwetok had a pretty stout CAP, which has been in place for two or three months of game time.  Here is the combat results:
 
Day Air attack on Eniwetok , at 77,78
 
Japanese aircraft
B7A Grace x 283
 
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25
F6F-5 Hellcat x 3
P-38J Lightning x 20
F4U-1 Corsair x 19
P-38L Lightning x 38
 
Japanese aircraft losses
B7A Grace: 266 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 damaged
F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 damaged
P-38L Lightning: 1 damaged
 
Allied Ships
AS Howard W. Gilmore, Bomb hits 1
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 1 x B7A Grace bombing at 9000 feet

[wbm4x]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Japanese aircraft
B7A Grace x 283

Isn't the Grace his KB torpedo bomber? Armed with bombs, KB is probably at extended range from Eniwetok, set to port attack. Why they came in without any escorts is puzzling. Perhaps he is hoping to catch you in a CAP trap over KB?

[Q-Ball]

That would be too bad if this ended, I told John in his AAR I understand why he would ask for a re-do. On the other hand, I don't like to grant them, and I've made plenty of setting mistakes in TFs or planes that ended up being costly, including range errors (which you really have to watch as Japan, and is very easy to screw up).

I think it really depends on if you want to continue the game. If not, may as well end it, but if you do, I would probably give it to him, because you're winning anyway, and it won't affect the outcome. Contingent of course on him not changing ANY other settings at Balikpapan, etc.

[Canoerebel]

Here's the message I just sent to John:  "I don't like do-overs, but considering how faithful you've been to the game through thick and thin, I concede the point. I'll send you the file in just a little while."

[Canoerebel]

Per John's request, I agreed to re-do that last turn.  I sent him the file late Thursday, didn't hear from him, and sent him an email yesterday asking him to let me know one way or the other whether we're still playing.  He replied that he's feeling "ambivalent."  I guess he's trying to decide, so for now I'm unsure whether the game is over or not.  I wish he'd decide yay or nay so that I wouldn't keep looking for a new turn.

[bigbaba]

its a good idea to reroll. if someone has the stamina and plays the japanese for this long time like john, he earns at least one re-do.

hopefully john will play it to the end.

[JeffroK]

John has another game running, and is seeking a PBEM player for a scenario.

Maybe this one has lost his interest now its his turn for a drubbing.

Plus its his second "mulligan", remember his snafu with the Jacks!

[paullus99]

One of the main problems with the majority of these PBEMs - it is perfectly fine for the Japanese to drum the crud out of the Allies for the first couple of years, but as soon as the overwhelming might of the Allies is unleashed in late 1943/1944, the war kind of petters out.

I know it isn't cool or fun to get pounded - but you'd think, if the Allies have to put up with it at the beginning - the Japanese should finish out the game the best way that they can.

[Nemo121]

John likes to crow about his strategic and tactical nous but, in reality, he makes a lot of strategic errors ( India etc ) and tactical ones ( not CHECKING things before sending turn files).
 
If he failed to check something which he could have corrected then it is right that he should suffer the necessary consequences. In the long run this will make him check things more, get a more rational perspective as to his strengths and weaknesses and help him improve his play ( which should be what he aims for instead of glorying in his successes and blaming the game and opponents for his failures ).
 
He needs to develop an internal locus of control wherein he is responsible for success and failure and so does the work necessary for the former rather than an external locus of control in which the game and opponents cheating results in failure for plans which were theistically pre-determined to be successful ( in his mind ).

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

John likes to crow about his strategic and tactical nous but, in reality, he makes a lot of strategic errors ( India etc ) and tactical ones ( not CHECKING things before sending turn files).

If he failed to check something which he could have corrected then it is right that he should suffer the necessary consequences. In the long run this will make him check things more, get a more rational perspective as to his strengths and weaknesses and help him improve his play ( which should be what he aims for instead of glorying in his successes and blaming the game and opponents for his failures ).

He needs to develop an internal locus of control wherein he is responsible for success and failure and so does the work necessary for the former rather than an external locus of control in which the game and opponents cheating results in failure for plans which were theistically pre-determined to be successful ( in his mind ).

Couldn't agree more. Also anything John does that is on the "gamey" side is good tactics. Anything his opponent does that is the least bit ahistorical is "gamey". Two posts come to mind immediately. The first is when Dan invaded Georgetown and he LRCAP'd his RN CV's with P-38's. He went on and on how the Allies never did anything like this and how ahistorical it was. Then when Dan's NAVSEARCH LBA started creaming his AK's off Triv, he screamed about the game system and how screwed up it was. Yet, John bragged incessantly about how many Allied subs he sunk with LBA using the same "screwed up" NAVSEARCH routine. He rips all his DB off his CV's and replaces them with TB and gloats at what a great move it is even though this may be one of the most ahistorical moves in the game (oh, and a favorite one of almost all JFB's).

John has announced the game was over. I want to thank you Dan for a most etertaining AAR. Kudos to you for stickig with this game when things looked so grim for so long.

[pat.casey]

Just wanted to say this AAR was a pleasure to read (from both sides). Sorry to see it end, but it sounds like it was time.

[Nemo121]

Aye, kudos to both players for their AARs.
 
Vettim - Aye, I do the DB thing and putting fighters onto CVs etc too but the difference is I think turn-around is fair game when the Allies do it to me also

[thegreatwent]

I've enjoyed both AARs thanks for the work and education from both sides. Fair wind and following seas[:)]

[Canoerebel]

Gents,

Okay, so I'm exaggerating a bit with the title to this post.  But after a eighteen months of intense battle, John and I have decided the game can end here.  While questions remained to be answered (what would happen to the KB?  When would the Allies win?), there was no doubt that the Allies were going to achieve auto-victory in 1945. John had walked the extra mile in sticking with the game so faithfully and so long, and I think we're both ready to close the chapter on this contest and move on.

Thanks first to John.  I have already dealt with this in detail in other posts, so I won't dive in again other than to reiterate that my esteem for my opponent is like a brotherly affection that far exceeded the irriations that sometimes arise when two people engage intensely in a contest for so long.  John is a good man, a faithful opponent, and a crafty strategist.  I've been fortunate in my two WITP games to square off against him and Miller.

Thanks to all you guys who followed this AAR.  I well remember the early, dark days of the war when I was registering about 14 hits per post, and half of them were mine.  I didn't know what I was doing in the game, and the utter catastrophe the Allies faced in 1942 eventually attracted onlookers who were curious as to how somebody could so badly mismanage a war. 

Many, many of you posted helpful and considerate comments.  Q-Ball merits special mention because he helped me, back in 1943, think through some of my early plans to try to mount a comeback.  He never crossed the line into providing detailed advice, but rather would pose the occasional question:  "Have you thought about whether you'll need this or that" when I mentioned a plan.  He later "retired" from this semi-advisory capacity when it looked like I might have a chance to win and when he teamed up with John in their "First Team" game.

Among those others who come to mind as faithful readers who offered helpful and encouraging comments:  Paullus, Vettim, JeffK, Tocaff, string, Nemo, Kereguelen, witpqs, and lots of others.  Terminus even posted once - a rather hilarious comment following the great Battle of the Gulf of Alaska back in '42.

Thanks also to Matrix for offering an incredibly challenging and complex game that is so intuitive that even newbies have a fighting chance.  Great game.  Too great, in fact, as I'll detail in another thread sometime soon.  I'm addicted and I have no willpower!

So, tonight I go to bed knowing that there won't be a turn in my inbox to get the day started right.  It's going to take me awhile to adjust to life without WitP.  I'm afraid I'm going to be like the old lady in "To Kill a Mockingbird" who goes cold turkey to overcome her morphine addiction. 

Good night, gents.

Dan Roper

[MrPlow9]

Great Game!

[NormS3]

I will truly miss your AAR. I congratulate you on your fantastic game and am more than willing to take back my comparison with your tactics and Lee's at Gettysburg! It was fantastic to watch/read your comeback and hopefully I have learned how to play this game better through your AAR.

[EWGuttag]

Dan,
 
I echo everyone elses' comments, a great AAR from you and John.  Good luck in the future and Good Hunting!

[Misconduct]

Rebel, congrats on your excellent game and thanks so much for posting these AAR's, I learned enough reading your AAR I applied most of it to my game in my first game as allies.

[stldiver]

You did very well and I also from the backrow enjoyed reading your AAR.


Best of luck on your next game.