Blowing sunshine...

[aprezto]

I just want to convey, like many others had, my appreciation for the beautiful little idiosyncrasies of the game the developers have created.

Background:
I am playing a PBEM versus Ironwarrior (sorry mate about not gaining your approval before posting this).
We are playing the Guadalcanal scenario, he as allies, and me in the very unfamiliar role of Imperial Japanese Liberator.
I'll make one comment on the scenario: it is damnably hard as the Japanese. With Port Moresby already held and Lunga about to be taken (I cannot see how you can stop this), at scenario start. The fact that all the points are about these two locations, and that the Allies have 4 CVs to the Japanese 2, makes the odds so long as to be next to impossible.
I know this is the historical reality, and that this was what Nik was trying to emulate, but I'll admit to a weakness about playing games: I like to win. I think it is almost impossible for the Japanese to do this.
Anyway, thankfully I think the beauty of this game, including WitP and UV before them, is that it is an amalgam of many battles. You can still, as the Japanese, gain your victories, you just can't win the war. There is a certain amount of 'wake up and smell the roses' about this. A Japanese player should resign himself to the fact he cannot win, and enjoy my second point.

Man, have I got off topic. So, back on.

The situation:
I had noted that Ironwarrior had heavily reinforced his takeover of Lunga, so I had no chance of taking that back with the lift capacity in the Jap arsenal, so I decided to try against Port Moresby - the other big point location. Here's my make or break moment. If I can take PM, and hold it, its massive points value is on my side. Of course, this is early days and my ability to hold it is very questionable indeed (gotta take it first bozo). Ironwarrior had not, to my knowledge (I haven't actually conducted a land attack there yet) reinforced it.
So, we are about 5 days into the battle. Ironwarrior had noticed my target and responded appropriately - he's thrown everything at me.
3 days of massive battles, and it is these, and the beautiful little additions I want to share my praise to the developers over.

Surface combats where the ships were low on ammo:
Allied TF has had a massive battle the previous day, smashing a Jap surface combat TF built around two BBs. They are now low on ammo.
Radar sitting at 30K feet and they manoeuver to escape - it's a DMS. How clever is that, they don't know what it is but anything could unhorse them now.
Another low ammo surface combat TF finds a retreating Jap carrier TF - oh oh I think. But again, they only gain radar contact and they don't have ammo, they don't close and the carrier TF is able to evade.
During the aforementioned surface combat. The Haruna and the Kongo are up against the Washington and her heavy escort of CAs. First blood to the Japanese, a 36cm strike on Australia, then two 36 cm strikes on Washington. The Australia strike reportedly does large damage, but importantly, the two Washington strikes do not. The battle swings around completely when the Washington lands a double strike on Haruna and a singleton on Kongo, all are good hits and the Japs are in trouble. Ultimately a decisive allied victory.

In the air:
Japs have a bombardment TF in PM harbour. It has metted out some hurt on the base such that it is on longer functional. Allied strike from carriers comes in. Most of the planes target either troopships (ouch) or Yamato.
The bombs are bouncing off the big monster but then a flight of 4 Avengers line her up and launch: thunk, thunk, thunk - how soul destroying for Ironwarrior, but how magnificently realistic.
A large Jap carrier strike against a surface combat TF that has CAP out of Milne Bay in support. The Japs take heavy losses in fighters and bombers, and are so disrupted that they only land one bomb hit on a CL.
However, instantly following this attack is a flight of 4 unescorted Betties out of Rabaul. The Betties somehow get passed the CAP and put 3 torps into the Washington (alot happens around this TF). I wondered how this could be with the allied CAP that was still present - upon reading the combat details you can see that the CAP was high and out of position, presumably (but not stated) because of the earlier attack. I mean Brilliant!!!

Sub on sub attacks

the ammo and position of air combat

The incredible FoW (I mean, I think I've sunk allied ships, I have no trust in that any more).

The bloody uber complicated transport, load and unload rules (sheesh, these hurt my brain).

The new repair and ammo reload rules.

You've done a wonderful jobs. Congratulations.

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: aprezto

During the aforementioned surface combat. The Haruna and the Kongo are up against the Washington and her heavy escort of CAs. First blood to the Japanese, a 36cm strike on Australia, then two 36 cm strikes on Washington. The Australia strike reportedly does large damage, but importantly, the two Washington strikes do not. The battle swings around completely when the Washington lands a double strike on Haruna and a singleton on Kongo, all are good hits and the Japs are in trouble. Ultimately a decisive allied victory.

Cool. Reminiscent of Kirishima vs. South Dakota and Washington.

However, instantly following this attack is a flight of 4 unescorted Betties out of Rabaul. The Betties somehow get passed the CAP and put 3 torps into the Washington (alot happens around this TF). I wondered how this could be with the allied CAP that was still present - upon reading the combat details you can see that the CAP was high and out of position, presumably (but not stated) because of the earlier attack. I mean Brilliant!!!

It's like a Backwards-Midway. Instead of the CAP all down low concentrating on Torpedo Bombers (allowing the Dive bombers an unmolested run), here we see the reverse. Very nice.

[IronWarrior]

Hey no problem, the more I can learn from my mistakes the better. [:D]

It has been a very enjoyable game, even if frustrating at times... like when your carriers evaded my surface TF three times last turn! [:@][;)] I hadn't noticed if it was because of low ammo, thought they had only been in one battle previously, but you might be right.

Truly a gem of a game!

[aprezto]

It was/is so like theatre. I find myself captivated like being at the movies: whatever next???

ORIGINAL: Kull

ORIGINAL: aprezto

During the aforementioned surface combat. The Haruna and the Kongo are up against the Washington and her heavy escort of CAs. First blood to the Japanese, a 36cm strike on Australia, then two 36 cm strikes on Washington. The Australia strike reportedly does large damage, but importantly, the two Washington strikes do not. The battle swings around completely when the Washington lands a double strike on Haruna and a singleton on Kongo, all are good hits and the Japs are in trouble. Ultimately a decisive allied victory.

Cool. Reminiscent of Kirishima vs. South Dakota and Washington.

However, instantly following this attack is a flight of 4 unescorted Betties out of Rabaul. The Betties somehow get passed the CAP and put 3 torps into the Washington (alot happens around this TF). I wondered how this could be with the allied CAP that was still present - upon reading the combat details you can see that the CAP was high and out of position, presumably (but not stated) because of the earlier attack. I mean Brilliant!!!

It's like a Backwards-Midway. Instead of the CAP all down low concentrating on Torpedo Bombers (allowing the Dive bombers an unmolested run), here we see the reverse. Very nice.

[aprezto]

ORIGINAL: IronWarrior

Hey no problem, the more I can learn from my mistakes the better. [:D]

It has been a very enjoyable game, even if frustrating at times... like when your carriers evaded my surface TF three times last turn! [:@][;)] I hadn't noticed if it was because of low ammo, thought they had only been in one battle previously, but you might be right.

Truly a gem of a game!

Actually, I don't know that's the reason for certain, only you can answer that. But the fact, in each occasion, you sight me from 30K yards and then I evade without knowing you are there, I had assumed this was the reason. If not, then this might not be so poetic.