Return of the Sheep! - JocMeister(A) vs. MrKane(J)

[obvert]

Another thing I have been doing, and I'm not sure if it's something others do or not, is to turn off replacements until a unit repairs all of its disabled. In combat the disabled are just more likely to be destroyed and until they repair there's no need to add more troops. I've only got replacements coming into a select 4-5 Corps in the reserves.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Another thing I have been doing, and I'm not sure if it's something others do or not, is to turn off replacements until a unit repairs all of its disabled. In combat the disabled are just more likely to be destroyed and until they repair there's no need to add more troops. I've only got replacements coming into a select 4-5 Corps in the reserves.

You should read my posts on this point in Bullwinkle's AAR v 1EyedJacks.

Alfred

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: obvert
Another thing I have been doing, and I'm not sure if it's something others do or not, is to turn off replacements until a unit repairs all of its disabled. In combat the disabled are just more likely to be destroyed and until they repair there's no need to add more troops. I've only got replacements coming into a select 4-5 Corps in the reserves.

I usually do the same. Only have replacements on for a few Corps at Chungking. At least early on. Once things start to look critical I usually turn it on for any Corps that is in semi good shape.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]India/OZ[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

I´m pretty certain my opponent is going to come for either India or OZ at some point. My bet is India. Why? Because the gains are greater and its a lot closer to home. Once Singers is gone it will provide an excellent base to stage from. OZ on the other hand is much farther away and getting Eastern OZ requires that the allies make quite a blunder of it. Nonetheless I have to prepare for both.

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India
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I can´t defend everything here. Simple as that. Its too much land to cover and too few troops. There are some key locations though. Calcutta, Bombay and Karachi. Calcutta is exposed but its a UH hex with lots and lots of rail connections. Main priority will be to fortify said 3 locations with some decent forts before doing anything else.

Ceylon is a deathtrap but I will send whatever I can spare here to buy time. Socotra and Mashira will receive substantial garrisons ASAP. I´m considering sending the Singapore reinforcement to those two locations. They will be absolutely critical in case of a full blown India invasion. Thoughts?

Actually pretty nervous about a swift attack into India. The Indian is a kitten in early 42. That being said we have seen a lot of failed attacks into India with only one successful one that I know of.

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OZ
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Many Jap player seem to think western OZ with Perth is some kind of critical allied hub. Never understood why to be honest. Losing western OZ would mean a little longer route from CT but nothing more. I would probably also loose a supply convoy or two but nothing earth moving. I´ll send some forces here but it won´t be priority early on.

Eastern OZ on the other hand will be a priority. Sydney and Melbourne will be absolute priority. I want forts and as much AV as possible here by March. By then most of the Australian squads should be upgraded to 42 squads. Backed up by US troops I would almost impossible due to the UH terrain.

If my opponent doesn´t strike deep into SOPAC early on I will try and get some kind of garrisons into Suva and Pago Pago. Nothing too fancy though. Initially I´ll use my "safe" convoy routes. Havn´t lost a single convoy yet and I hope I won´t this time either. Knock on wood...

I might get the first turn tomorrow if we are in luck. Then its a quick sendback for me as I can only move existing TFs and sort out China. After that comes the monstrous allied 2nd turn. Yuck!

Really excited to get going! [:)]

[obvert]

Sounds good. One thing to think about is not just a full play for either India or OZ but a collection of various places with big point differentials for Japan as a method of going fro AV. Looking at my game I thought from the first few weeks when Nic's para-drop on Malaya opened a chance for an early Singapore, which collection of bases can bring the Japanese close to AV. With PDU-off the Japanese have an even greater advantage early in the air war. This could make it tough for the Allies to start the offensive early enough to pull back lost VPs.

1. China - A full collapse in China is a LOT of VPs between troops, initial base VPs and the gains from building infrastructure here. If Chungking goes that is a huge turn around in points.

2. East India - Just this area alone has a bunch of industry, it has some oil and a good amount of VPs that once taken are not so easily rolled back before 1/43, especially with PDU-off for the Allies.

3. SW OZ - A lot of VPs from Perth plus industry and it's hard to take back before 1/43, pre-Hellcat and with a KB intact.

4. So Pac - Has some bases with big modifiers, like Noumea, Fiji, Pago, etc.

5. No Pac and Alaska - Unless there is a big Allied investment early, it would be easy for Japan to roll all of the way through Anchorage, which has a big modifier, as do some of the smaller bases nearby.

[JocMeister]

Good post Erik! I´ll look into it later tonight! [:)]

[JocMeister]

I have been going through saves from our game and the game vs Joseph.

Man, there is a lot of VPs to be found in China...I lost something like 8k VPs in destroyed units alone in the game vs Joseph. And by then I had at least 40% of the army still intact. AND Chungking (200x) and Chengtu (100x). Add some bases in India and OZ together with something in SOPAC and it can actually become close to VP.

Does anyone know of any game that actually ended in a Japanese AV?

[catwhoorg]

Good luck Joc.

I'll be following with interest.

[Encircled]

Quixote v Cannonfodder I think ended in an AV for Japan

KB in the DEI and then a swift invasion of India and parts of Oz if I remember correctly

[princep01]

Joc, so glad to see you back in the game. I loved your last AAR. It was both very entertaining and educational for me. We don't see that many late war games and even fewer with PDU off (as the game should be played in my opinion). The staking limits may end the Manilagrad/junglegrad type battles. Best of luck! And, oh, that is one Baaaaaaaad looking sheep! I'll not try shearing that one!

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: catwhoorg

Good luck Joc.

I'll be following with interest.

Welcome back! Glad to have you with me this time around too [:)]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Joc, so glad to see you back in the game. I loved your last AAR. It was both very entertaining and educational for me. We don't see that many late war games and even fewer with PDU off (as the game should be played in my opinion). The staking limits may end the Manilagrad/junglegrad type battles. Best of luck! And, oh, that is one Baaaaaaaad looking sheep! I'll not try shearing that one!

Thank you! [:)]

I repeat me earlier statement. There will be no shearing of sheep if I can help it! [:D]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]First turn![/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

It was in my inbox when I woke up this morning. [&o] Some technical issues though as we got a pwhex differs and my opponent was running a slightly older BETA then then latest (x4 instead of x7). Hope to get that sorted tonight though.

Now for the ominous part! [X(]

Are we going for total war, all dirty tricks allowed? Or there is something you consider gamey etc ... like for example taking LA in Jan '42

I answered that anything goes. Wonder what he is up to! [:D]

I do expect a full Mersing gambit and a massive attack on Singers. I expect to lose it long before 41 is up. So force Z will make a full speed run to Mersing during the night. Not much I can do besides that.

I hope the technical stuff can be sorted and I can get the turn back to him before I head to bed tonight. In China I´ll fire up Maidens "Run to the hills" while doing the turn... [:D]

[witpqs]

Psychological warfare! He aims to have you drooling and talking to yourself within a week. [:D]

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Psychological warfare! He aims to have you drooling and talking to yourself within a week. [:D]

He might succeed! [:D]

[ny59giants]

To Cape Town and eventually India via Eastern USA:
1) American 40th & 41st Division - need PP, but are decent troops
2) about 4 FA that have 24 x 155mm guns - some will be withdrawn in late 43 and/or early 44, but worth the cost
3) 1 or 2 CD units - not so much a priority, but needed to guard coast from BB TFs to some degree, especially in 43 counterattacks
4) 2 to 4 SBD groups - with just a few TB groups in India, these are sorely needed to help counter any invasion. Many Allied players send enough American fighter groups, but not DBs as the level bombers don't often hit any type of shipping.
5) EAB - I send most of these here and keep the SeaBees in Pacific

Fort building in India - I've learned this the hard way, just forts at first at Calcutta and no AF building until level 5. I then build AF at Delhi to 7 rather than at Bombay or Karachi to allow air groups to upgrade.

Just reminders you may have overlooked, to some degree. [;)]

[obvert]

Your opponent sounds aggressive. I doubt it's just a psych ploy. Consider the permanent restricted troops on the West coast and the AA and make sure you do have LA covered, but of course that is a huge long shot. I've put two divisions there and covered all landing areas below SF with troops. It's fun to have to think as the US did have to early in the war, that virtually anything was possible and had to be defended against.

From Cape Town those troops and engineers NY59Giants is talking about can go West or East, whichever out of OZ or India might be most in need. Good advice. Wish I'd planned a bit of that sooner!

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Your opponent sounds aggressive. I doubt it's just a psych ploy. Consider the permanent restricted troops on the West coast and the AA and make sure you do have LA covered, but of course that is a huge long shot. I've put two divisions there and covered all landing areas below SF with troops. It's fun to have to think as the US did have to early in the war, that virtually anything was possible and had to be defended against.

From Cape Town those troops and engineers NY59Giants is talking about can go West or East, whichever out of OZ or India might be most in need. Good advice. Wish I'd planned a bit of that sooner!

One need to watch the movie 1941 to get into the right mindset for this. [:D]

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister


I repeat me earlier statement. There will be no shearing of sheep if I can help it! [:D]

On board to watch the show. Both the game and the luminous group of those I see are watching as well. Also looking forward to seeing who Player X is.

Good luck

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: obvert

Your opponent sounds aggressive. I doubt it's just a psych ploy. Consider the permanent restricted troops on the West coast and the AA and make sure you do have LA covered, but of course that is a huge long shot. I've put two divisions there and covered all landing areas below SF with troops. It's fun to have to think as the US did have to early in the war, that virtually anything was possible and had to be defended against.

From Cape Town those troops and engineers NY59Giants is talking about can go West or East, whichever out of OZ or India might be most in need. Good advice. Wish I'd planned a bit of that sooner!

One need to watch the movie 1941 to get into the right mindset for this. [:D]

I hope they guard HORRYWOOD!!!!!!!!!! Wild Bill Kelso on patrol....

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

To Cape Town and eventually India via Eastern USA:
1) American 40th & 41st Division - need PP, but are decent troops
2) about 4 FA that have 24 x 155mm guns - some will be withdrawn in late 43 and/or early 44, but worth the cost
3) 1 or 2 CD units - not so much a priority, but needed to guard coast from BB TFs to some degree, especially in 43 counterattacks
4) 2 to 4 SBD groups - with just a few TB groups in India, these are sorely needed to help counter any invasion. Many Allied players send enough American fighter groups, but not DBs as the level bombers don't often hit any type of shipping.
5) EAB - I send most of these here and keep the SeaBees in Pacific

Fort building in India - I've learned this the hard way, just forts at first at Calcutta and no AF building until level 5. I then build AF at Delhi to 7 rather than at Bombay or Karachi to allow air groups to upgrade.

Just reminders you may have overlooked, to some degree. [;)]

Good idea on the SBDs to India. I´ll do that! I do the same thing with EABs as you do. So I guess I got that from you! [:D]

40th and 41th are always priority for me to buy out. But I usually divide them. One to OZ and one to India...not so sure this time. I hope I might get some inkling to where he is heading before I have to decide.