War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

[witpqs]

At least this way in about 4 1/2 more years my AAR will catch up to this one in hit count! [:'(]

[Canoerebel]

I want to give it a few more weeks, but I think the game is dead.

Two weeks ago, Steve assured me he didn't want to end the game. He asked me how often I wanted a turn. I told him whenever - "no expectations" and told him I'd have a turn back to him in an hour or two. Then I sent the turn. And I've never heard from him again. That was 12 or 13 days ago. I'll give it to around Thanksgiving, then I'll send him an email and start reading his AAR to see what persuaded him to "stand down" his offensive in the game just when he had reached the point where he could apply the coup-de-grace (I have no idea if I've spelled that correctly).

It took me a long time to reach the point where I was willing to see the game end, but I'm there now.

[crsutton]

Yep, it is like a toothache. It is just better to go ahead and have the tooth pulled rather than complain about the pain. By not doing anything PzH has already sent you a reply. There is no need to communicate with him any further. Wish him well and move on. My point is that it is better for you to end it now because in the end you will go through this again with him. I know when an opponent has lost heart. You might ask him to turn the game over to another willing player.

That said; we have to be realistic here when playing this game. I have a campaign going on now with Viperpol that has lasted three years. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have such a reliable and sporting opponent. However, in my ten years of playing this game, I have never had one go to the finish. There are many reasons but the reality is that to play a game that can last a year or four is pretty unique and takes an overwhelming commitment of time and energy. I don't think most players really understand it when they embark on a campaign. Failed games are the norm, not the exception. Just look at the AARs that are started and do not get past the first few months.

I wonder if it is just not better to agree to play the game in one year-or six month commitments. That is, you play for a year in game time then both mutually decide if you want to play longer. That way your expectation is limited to only one year.

I understand that there is a May 42 start scenario out there. You might just want to consider it for your next game. I think that my next campaign would be a purely historical campaign starting in May of 42 and perhaps ending one year later with the option to continue. This was really the most exciting time frame for me anyways in my current campaign.

One thing I am doing is making mental notes in my head about future opponents. I won't get into another campaign without careful consideration about who I am playing. In fact, perhaps the best course for me would be to send Viperpol a fruit basket and challenge him to another...[:D]

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I want to give it a few more weeks, but I think the game is dead.

Two weeks ago, Steve assured me he didn't want to end the game. He asked me how often I wanted a turn. I told him whenever - "no expectations" and told him I'd have a turn back to him in an hour or two. Then I sent the turn. And I've never heard from him again. That was 12 or 13 days ago. I'll give it to around Thanksgiving, then I'll send him an email and start reading his AAR to see what persuaded him to "stand down" his offensive in the game just when he had reached the point where he could apply the coup-de-grace (I have no idea if I've spelled that correctly).

It took me a long time to reach the point where I was willing to see the game end, but I'm there now.

Giving nothing away, but I don't think you'll get a lot of answers from the AAR. Whatever happened on his end is not in there. You already know about the details he did release/discuss.

[Bullwinkle58]

Let me "Me too" crsutton on the May 1942 start scenario. I can't imagine what it must be like for you to have played the first six Allied months three times in a row and had no "pay off." I'm sure the May start means re-jiggering a lot of things to suit, but you start with a semblance of an air force, and without a lot of the tedious withdrawing bits and pieces of Dutch units all over the place, the retreat down Malaysia, the Bataan stuff, etc.. You can do the first turn really thinking about strategy and not housekeeping.

[bradfordkay]

Wouldn't a "May '42 start" scenario rob the Japanese player of his fun?

I have no room to speak on this. I am in only my second PBEM. My first was a CHS game which ran until August 1944 when there was this massive alien abduction of one third of all our pilots (okay, the pilot bug hit us). We restarted with AE and are now in January 1944. I am one of the lucky ones...

[Encircled]

Really sorry to hear this

Hope you can muster the energy to find another opponent soon

[Canoerebel]

Yeah, a May '42 start would rob Japan of most of the pleasure. And, truth be told, my favorite part of the game is December 1941 through the end of 1942. I love the feeling of being "on the edge of disaster and defeat." It's fun to reach 1944 to use all the goodies the Allies have, but the greatest thrill is being on the edge.

Thanks for all the nice comments, gents. I'll start another game eventually, but I'm gonna sit back for awhile and enjoy the forums and reading about other games.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Yeah, a May '42 start would rob Japan of most of the pleasure. And, truth be told, my favorite part of the game is December 1941 through the end of 1942. I love the feeling of being "on the edge of disaster and defeat." It's fun to reach 1944 to use all the goodies the Allies have, but the greatest thrill is being on the edge.

Thanks for all the nice comments, gents. I'll start another game eventually, but I'm gonna sit back for awhile and enjoy the forums and reading about other games.

Starting in May 42 would rob your readers as well. You do such a good job of framing this period and creatively finding ways to punch back early. It just feels odd to me to start later. You learn so much about your opponent during this period and have chances to really alter the expected course.

I'll be interested to hear your take on his AAR. While it leaves off quite early it'll be interesting reading for you I'm sure.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I want to give it a few more weeks, but I think the game is dead.

Two weeks ago, Steve assured me he didn't want to end the game. He asked me how often I wanted a turn. I told him whenever - "no expectations" and told him I'd have a turn back to him in an hour or two. Then I sent the turn. And I've never heard from him again. That was 12 or 13 days ago. I'll give it to around Thanksgiving, then I'll send him an email and start reading his AAR to see what persuaded him to "stand down" his offensive in the game just when he had reached the point where he could apply the coup-de-grace (I have no idea if I've spelled that correctly).

It took me a long time to reach the point where I was willing to see the game end, but I'm there now.

Giving nothing away, but I don't think you'll get a lot of answers from the AAR. Whatever happened on his end is not in there. You already know about the details he did release/discuss.

In my opinion the repsonses from PH slowed and then stopped after a posting tm.asp?m=3078021&mpage=18&key= from SuluSea:

"Hi PH, Do you have to buy out restricted units to move across borders?

I'm very interested in what you're doing with Manchukuo Garrison.

I see as of April 30, 1942 the Axis side gets 7,700 PPs , according to your screenie as of May 4, 42 you have 2393 in the bank.

Please don't take this as any kind of accusation and assuming you've done nothing but purchase AV from the Manchukuo I have trouble seeing how Manchukuo Garrison can be minus 3204 AV (at minimum)if the numbers are correct."

Then the game starts grinding down .. a death in the family .. and CR's posting here ...

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I want to give it a few more weeks, but I think the game is dead.

Two weeks ago, Steve assured me he didn't want to end the game. He asked me how often I wanted a turn. I told him whenever - "no expectations" and told him I'd have a turn back to him in an hour or two. Then I sent the turn. And I've never heard from him again. That was 12 or 13 days ago. I'll give it to around Thanksgiving, then I'll send him an email and start reading his AAR to see what persuaded him to "stand down" his offensive in the game just when he had reached the point where he could apply the coup-de-grace (I have no idea if I've spelled that correctly).

It took me a long time to reach the point where I was willing to see the game end, but I'm there now.

Giving nothing away, but I don't think you'll get a lot of answers from the AAR. Whatever happened on his end is not in there. You already know about the details he did release/discuss.

In my opinion the repsonses from PH slowed and then stopped after a posting tm.asp?m=3078021&mpage=18&key= from SuluSea:

"Hi PH, Do you have to buy out restricted units to move across borders?

I'm very interested in what you're doing with Manchukuo Garrison.

I see as of April 30, 1942 the Axis side gets 7,700 PPs , according to your screenie as of May 4, 42 you have 2393 in the bank.

Please don't take this as any kind of accusation and assuming you've done nothing but purchase AV from the Manchukuo I have trouble seeing how Manchukuo Garrison can be minus 3204 AV (at minimum)if the numbers are correct."

Then the game starts grinding down .. a death in the family .. and CR's posting here ...

Well, there one huge "oopsie" on the rules as well which I think blew up a whole corner of his macro strategy.

[JocMeister]

Isn't/wasn't this a "no HR" game as PjH told Zulu?

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

Wouldn't a "May '42 start" scenario rob the Japanese player of his fun?

I have no room to speak on this. I am in only my second PBEM. My first was a CHS game which ran until August 1944 when there was this massive alien abduction of one third of all our pilots (okay, the pilot bug hit us). We restarted with AE and are now in January 1944. I am one of the lucky ones...

[crsutton]

Yes, in that he is not going to overrun OZ and India but you will get a more historical flavor to the game.

[CaptDave]

Just a reminder that the game's not officially over, yet. We shouldn't be posting anything from PjH's AAR. It'll come out soon enough.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58




Giving nothing away, but I don't think you'll get a lot of answers from the AAR. Whatever happened on his end is not in there. You already know about the details he did release/discuss.

In my opinion the repsonses from PH slowed and then stopped after a posting tm.asp?m=3078021&mpage=18&key= from SuluSea:

"Hi PH, Do you have to buy out restricted units to move across borders?

I'm very interested in what you're doing with Manchukuo Garrison.

I see as of April 30, 1942 the Axis side gets 7,700 PPs , according to your screenie as of May 4, 42 you have 2393 in the bank.

Please don't take this as any kind of accusation and assuming you've done nothing but purchase AV from the Manchukuo I have trouble seeing how Manchukuo Garrison can be minus 3204 AV (at minimum)if the numbers are correct."

Then the game starts grinding down .. a death in the family .. and CR's posting here ...

Well, there one huge "oopsie" on the rules as well which I think blew up a whole corner of his macro strategy.

Well I was not going to get into this in depth .. as we got chasitized ealier in this AAR [8D] But I did find a huge change in attitude and attention after SuluSea's posting ...

I do think that an Alaska first point accumulation strategy combined with a focus on maximizing VP's either IJ gain or Allied loss of VP's could produce automatic victory in Scenario #2 .. I think PJH had a good start, but the plan needs some tweaks in execution. One of which is the balance of air losses and unit losses because that rate caused a greater need to accumulate Base VP's, which risked forces that had to kill x4 times the numbers, which is near impossible to keep pace with AV ratios .... wash rinse repeat ... with the final moments close but no cigar ...

[Canoerebel]

With the "ship dead in the water," I ordered her "scuttled." Last night, I send an email to PzH that the game is officially over.

I've skimmed through PzH's AAR. I didn't find out a whole lot that I didn't already know or strongly suspect, but I did enjoy this post by John Dillworth: "CR is the most verbose SOB on the forum. Best send an message to discuss. Be forewarned, he is excruciating honorable, even if the ships went into the wormhole while automatically fleeing a threat, CR will serve them up on a silver platter in the spirit of fairness."

I am verbose to a fault.

After I finish skimming PzH's AAR, I may post a final thought or two about the game, but most anything would be unnecessarily verbose. This horse has been ridden to the point of death.

Thanks for reading, encouraging, and contributing, gents. This game was very tense for me, given the quality of my opponent, but with auto victory no longer a worry in the game, I think I'm kinda glad it's over.

[veji1]

Ah well too bad Canoerebel. I suppose with such monster games as WITP AE, burnout is always a possibility and maybe PZH suffered from it, without admitting it.

Good game anyway.

[Bullwinkle58]

You do see the rules "oopsie" I was referring to? I think a big part of his auto-vic calculus went out the window with that. He shoulda, woulda invaded Oz instead.

[Canoerebel]

You mean him thinking he could strat bomb Indian industry? I caught that particular gaffe on his part, though I don't think that made a huge difference for him, since he ended up holding Calcutta (which wasn't part of his plan until I retreated like a scalded dog).

I think I could've successfully defended Oz up to the point where I determined he was committing to India. At that point, I committed all my reserves to India, which left Oz wide open. I made the right call there, but I wasn't positive for awhile.