Wild Sheep Chase - obvert (J) vs JocMeister (A)

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: Olorin

ORIGINAL: obvert

Since I see the numbers going up I assume someone besides myself is actually looking at this. Curious why input has dropped to almost nothing. Is it that many are reading both AARs and don't want to give anything away unintentionally?

Anyway, pretty quiet and boring without contributions from others. I like writing this, but I'd really love some ideas from anyone else. This is my first time through this far and i have no idea what I should be doing in late 44 other than frantically swinging.

Ok. Back to updates.

I feel the same sometimes. But the view count suggests that there are people reading AARs.

Ditto with my AAR. Maybe it's a trend for most AAR's!

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Yes. I also read every update but I'm an almost exclusively Allied payer so can't offer much advice from the Jap side[:)]

Comments from Allied players are often the most interesting. It would be great to know if some of the stuff going on looks normal, or if the defense is either weak or strong during the last months. I read a few late AARs, but there aren't many to choose from and it's hard to see the 'plan' of defense through the daily struggles. Strategic and other ideas about the late game are very welcome.

From my perspective it looks to be a decent defence overall. Depending on how the early to mid-war game goes, obviously, influences the late war game but assuming a standard set of early/mid war battles you reach a point as the Japanese player (as you know) where there's only so much you can do. If the Allied player wants somewhere and dedicates enough force to it they'll take it. It's then a matter of how much you can attrite him.

If I put myself in your opponent's shoes and I was facing the results and battles I read my views would be:

You've done well to attrite with what you have: Subs and MTB's (I HATE MTB's by the way). I think you were caught off guard with how quickly and deep Jocke could and did invade up through the SRA though.

As an Allied player I've learnt over the years how important the psychological and mental side of the game is. For example, playing the Allies can be tough in 42 and especially against a good player when it can seem the Japs have unlimited numbers of good divisions, unlimited numbers of Zeros and good pilots, CV's etc. The reality is the Japs are relatively fragile in 42 as in if you can get a CV or 2 and can get into a war of attrition early on it's actually a good thing (IMO) even in 42 as Allies.

I mention the above as the reverse can happen as the Japs IMO. In that you can feel safe behind a strong frontline of bases, troops and forts but you have to find that balance between having enough force in reserve and strength in depth. For example you're building up Luzon (good) but are you also building up Formosa and Okinawa?

Some of the late war planes you get can be crazy good. What are your pilot pools like?

[obvert]

Thanks of call of the comments guys. Very assured now that the numbers going up were not just me all along! [:)]

I'l answer each note in turn. Some great questions.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Olorin

ORIGINAL: obvert

Since I see the numbers going up I assume someone besides myself is actually looking at this. Curious why input has dropped to almost nothing. Is it that many are reading both AARs and don't want to give anything away unintentionally?

Anyway, pretty quiet and boring without contributions from others. I like writing this, but I'd really love some ideas from anyone else. This is my first time through this far and i have no idea what I should be doing in late 44 other than frantically swinging.

Ok. Back to updates.

I feel the same sometimes. But the view count suggests that there are people reading AARs.

I'm definitely reading yours too. Interested to see how the Burma situation goes there. I'll be dipping in and adding feedback as it goes.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

I am here. Some nice small victories for you there. Very puzzled as to why you are still in Burma at this point though.

Ha! Well, mainly it was to use a relatively small force of mine to be able to hold off a very large force of the Allies. Also though, and maybe just as important, was to keep Palembang out of range of the B-29s. It is now in range from the DEI so I'm pulling back slowly.

I wanted to see how Jocke would deal with the river crossing. If he came right at me it could have been a disaster for him. That would have allowed me a hassle-free retreat. Now he's moved there, taking a lot of time, and I have troops landing to my rear. So it's time to think about moving on.

Stil curious to see what he does near Moulmein. Until he threatens my rear along the coast I have a pretty clear retreat path to Pisanoluke and back along the rail as long as I keep containment on Allied troops from Tavoy. I think I can do that and buy just a bit more time here. Then a run for Indochina.

Also, the closer he comes to the Singapore area the sooner I lose that port was a staging ground for oil/fuel transport and other things. I was hoping to hold and keep sending a lot back until at least 1/45. Now I'm not so sure.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: MrBlizzard

Hi Obvert,
Still following you your AAR isn't boring at all I prefer it than reading newspaper:
I'm on holiday in Mallorca beach so a little lazy [8D] [:D] at posting...
More I've reached only jan 43 in my game so not expert in late war.
One thing I noticed is that in islands you defend at most with minor units: i mean rgt, bgd, etc...
If you can reform some divisions they can stand much better against allied. The smaller the unit the bigger the damage that receives.
Another thing, you also lacks AT and heavy art in islands, so enemy tanks can eat your infantry alive...
I don't think you need AT btns in burma, divisions have already enough AT power enbedded,
if you can airlift in islands they could much more useful!
Strategically I guess allied next move will be against luzon so to block oil transport towards HI.
Keep on! much fun with your AAR[;)]

Thanks.

Wow! Enjoy the beaches!

Yes, the smallish units were the only ones available to send to places like the Marianas. Some of the brigades can combine to form divisions, and that was the plan. I would have a division on all of the big islands if I had the PPs to buy the other half of the brigades, but no go so far. Once he brings 4-5 divisions though it doesn't really matter what I have. I might slow him another 2 weeks with larger units, but I can't afford more than 800-900 AV on these islands anyway.

As for the tank guns, the ones I can I'm sending to islands as well. There are two on Saipan now. No big arty, but the CD guns were massive, and they have done very well. I have some big arty elsewhere, but I prefer to use it where I can stop whole armies, like in Burma, Luzon, Maybe Indochina later, and then he can't pound me due to counter-bombardments. Again, when the Allies can drop 4 Marine arty units on one base PLUS the embedded stuff in the divisions, I'm not sure it matters on the islands. I would like to have ten, but I think it's all a matter of how much he brings. If I slow him there hell most likely drop another Marine division or something!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Yes. I also read every update but I'm an almost exclusively Allied payer so can't offer much advice from the Jap side[:)]

Comments from Allied players are often the most interesting. It would be great to know if some of the stuff going on looks normal, or if the defense is either weak or strong during the last months. I read a few late AARs, but there aren't many to choose from and it's hard to see the 'plan' of defense through the daily struggles. Strategic and other ideas about the late game are very welcome.

From my perspective it looks to be a decent defence overall. Depending on how the early to mid-war game goes, obviously, influences the late war game but assuming a standard set of early/mid war battles you reach a point as the Japanese player (as you know) where there's only so much you can do. If the Allied player wants somewhere and dedicates enough force to it they'll take it. It's then a matter of how much you can attrite him.

If I put myself in your opponent's shoes and I was facing the results and battles I read my views would be:

You've done well to attrite with what you have: Subs and MTB's (I HATE MTB's by the way). I think you were caught off guard with how quickly and deep Jocke could and did invade up through the SRA though.

As an Allied player I've learnt over the years how important the psychological and mental side of the game is. For example, playing the Allies can be tough in 42 and especially against a good player when it can seem the Japs have unlimited numbers of good divisions, unlimited numbers of Zeros and good pilots, CV's etc. The reality is the Japs are relatively fragile in 42 as in if you can get a CV or 2 and can get into a war of attrition early on it's actually a good thing (IMO) even in 42 as Allies.

I mention the above as the reverse can happen as the Japs IMO. In that you can feel safe behind a strong frontline of bases, troops and forts but you have to find that balance between having enough force in reserve and strength in depth. For example you're building up Luzon (good) but are you also building up Formosa and Okinawa?

Some of the late war planes you get can be crazy good. What are your pilot pools like?

Yeah, it's been interesting to go through the war with Jocke and have a good rapport. We've been able to work through things, but I've also been aware how much early difficulties impacted his attitude toward the game. Now it's nice to see him having some fun, and I'm still having fun too!

As for pilots, the kami pool are massive, the bombing pools are decent, the fighter pools are great for the IJAAF, but the IJNAF is at rock bottom. I just got some new groups which are training away, and now in a month I should be okay again. Still good quality on all sides though. Lots of 70-80 exp guys in the fighter groups. I've been over my bases for most of the war, so even though I lose a lot of planes, not as many pilots.

I am building al of the Ryukus and other islands near Japan. The troops are only just now arriving to begin adding garrisons. I should be fine on those soon. Formosa has now two divisions and some smaller units, and it will have 4-5 divisions in the near future, I hope.

[Historiker]

I'm reading, too

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

I'm reading, too

Interesting to be going through two different invasions in the same area two years in game distant!

Glad to see you're around here. Picking up tendencies and weaknesses to exploit no doubt. [;)]

[Historiker]

Nah, I'm way too lazy for that.

I just like the style you write your AAR in. Organized and with intersting pictures. Nothing repells me more than long lists of combat reports. I don't go through 15 pages of unsorted combat reports...

[witpqs]

Is it that many are reading both AARs and don't want to give anything away unintentionally?

Yes for me. [:)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Nah, I'm way too lazy for that.

I just like the style you write your AAR in. Organized and with intersting pictures. Nothing repells me more than long lists of combat reports. I don't go through 15 pages of unsorted combat reports...

I like to have a few CR to highlight some of the details, and I even wonder if I put too many sometimes. Sometimes I read someones AAR and the details are completely different than in their opponents' AAR, and neither has any actual reports. I feel like I should back things up just a little, the good and the bad.

I love finding the pics. I've found a few great archives as I've been doing this. love the old merchant pics. Found a bunch recently from Vancouver, BC, taken by a man named Walter E. Frost. He photographed seemingly every ship that came to Vancouver to pick up timber, plus a few others.

He took this shot of HMS Hood from before the war, obviously. I think that's CL HMAS Adelaide in the background

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Is it that many are reading both AARs and don't want to give anything away unintentionally?

Yes for me. [:)]

Understand. Thanks!

[zuluhour]

[;)]
Reading along. It would be criminal for me to offer advice.[:D]

[Encircled]

Read both, and really like your AAR style

[obvert]

Thanks guys. Wow, now I feel silly for bringing it up!

[Cpt Sherwood]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Since I see the numbers going up I assume someone besides myself is actually looking at this. Curious why input has dropped to almost nothing. Is it that many are reading both AARs and don't want to give anything away unintentionally?

Anyway, pretty quiet and boring without contributions from others. I like writing this, but I'd really love some ideas from anyone else. This is my first time through this far and i have no idea what I should be doing in late 44 other than frantically swinging.

Ok. Back to updates.

One is me, I am reading both and not making any tactical comments in either.
I will make one comment, as an Allied player I always change out the USN commanders on the APs and AKs of all
types. The USN gets a ton of Captains with stats in the 50s, much better than the default ones with 20s and 30s. It costs 0 to 2 PPs each, mostly 0, so it just takes some time. I am sure it lessens the collision chance and the crew experience gain.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Cpt Sherwood

ORIGINAL: obvert

Since I see the numbers going up I assume someone besides myself is actually looking at this. Curious why input has dropped to almost nothing. Is it that many are reading both AARs and don't want to give anything away unintentionally?

Anyway, pretty quiet and boring without contributions from others. I like writing this, but I'd really love some ideas from anyone else. This is my first time through this far and i have no idea what I should be doing in late 44 other than frantically swinging.

Ok. Back to updates.

One is me, I am reading both and not making any tactical comments in either.
I will make one comment, as an Allied player I always change out the USN commanders on the APs and AKs of all
types. The USN gets a ton of Captains with stats in the 50s, much better than the default ones with 20s and 30s. It costs 0 to 2 PPs each, mostly 0, so it just takes some time. I am sure it lessens the collision chance and the crew experience gain.

I've done a lot of that as well, but not all. Mostly with the 18 knot AKs and the AO/TKs. Every single combat ship and sub though is meticulously changed to good commanders.

Too many things to use PPs for right now, and big infantry units are the top choice, probably for the rest of the game!

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]TROOP TRANSPORT[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to everyone popping in and giving a wave or a word today!

Jocke sent a rather upset email about transports not being intercepted and pulling half of 50k troops out of Davao over the past week or so. (I hadn't realized it was so much, actually, but I guess he's right!). I have to say I understand, but it's just one of those things in game I believe approximates the many way troops could be moved stealthily. I certainly can'y use barges in game, transport subs don't carry troops, and fast transports are really troublesome and risk valuable ships for inconsistent results.

He's been LR CAPing from 2 hexes away and hitting some but not a lot of the many transports flying. I wonder though if there are some issues in settings. In his test he used 15k, and I fly at 1k. This affects my crews' moral adversely, but I hope is harder to detect and intercept. He doesn't know this, so I wasn't able to help him. Also, I wonder if the patrol versions of the Emilys are shooting back and clearing a path, giving damage to fighters, sending them home, and letting other transports through freely.

He could also close the port and I'd be screwed, but I'm not sure if he's realized flying boats use the port, not the field. I'm not trying to be glib or spite him here, he's a very good player. I just think if he understood that the 150-200 bombers closing the airfields daily might also hit the ports.

He's pretty angry, and even seems to be losing sight of the fact that he's doing really well and getting almost ahead of historic schedules. I guess the naval incursions, sub hits and general chaos I'm trying to create in the Marianas might be playing a part, but he hasn't mentioned that to me.

On the other hand he could be completely on to something. I mean, why would the LR CAP be different against other types of missions than it is against transports? Yet it is.

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The Emily should be a beast against opposing fighters with several 20mm turrets and a 26 gun value in game. I can't remember having ever seen a pilot with a kill in my game. Has anyone else gotten one of these to hit something defensively?[/font]
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[Captain Cruft]

Yes me remember.