A Japanese Debacle - Sqz (J) vs. fcharton (A)

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Simonsez

Doesn't Miri start the game at 50% damage before a turn has even been played?

OK. Has any Japanese player taken it with >50% damage, or does it just stay at that level? It's always been 50% for me, like I said.

I've always seen just 50%. Not sure it's even been more damaged than that.

That said, it's usually undefended, isn't it? If you get "Miri occupied by the Japanese" then there's no chance for damage.

Miri starts the game with the oil and refinery both 150(150) to simulate an industry under development (expanding), which is handled just like damaged industry. An assault on Miri when it has troops there could conceivably add to the "damage" numbers.
Either side can repair the industry... if they have supply to burn!

[SqzMyLemon]

A couple of questions/opinions.

I should be in a position to attack Sydney with about 1800AV next turn. I'm running out of time and do not know if can launch two deliberate attacks before Sydney is reinforced. Do I dare try a shock attack first go if I hit Sydney with KB and a naval bombardment with everything I have? Is it worth the risk. Failure means I isolate Sydney and take more of the country. Success needs no explanation.

Australian troops are primarily militia and start the game with experience and morale at 30. They've had a month of course, but just how much stronger could they be?

I know there are those of you following both AAR's, so if you can't answer without breaking OpSec I understand.

[Lokasenna]

As for the experience of the units, I'm not sure if they start fully prepped for Sydney (or their various tarting bases) or begin at 0. If they start fully prepped, they might be up in the mid-40s by now. If no prep, then still low.

I'm not sure if I'd risk a shock attack. Any way you can block the hex outside of Sydney, from which reinforcements will come, by at least a couple of days? Even from a highly disruptive DA, you may only need 2 days to recover enough to try again (if you got good odds in the first one).

[Lowpe]

What is the latest intel on Sydney?

[SqzMyLemon]

I ordered a deliberate assault, not that is matters.

The Allies do as they please with impunity. He can do no wrong and might as well be playing the AI.

I totally don't care anymore. I feel as if my side has been completed nerfed. I will never play a Babes mod again. This is no longer fun when one side gets all the rolls.

It's January 1942 for !@#$'s sake and my forces are completely useless.

[spence]

I'm an Allied Fanboy but I have been following your AAR with a lot of interest. You seem to be complaining that the IJ Player can't do whatever he wants as far as his strategy is concerned. Sounds a bit like sour grapes to me.

IRL, for a variety of reasons, Japan could only barely supply 2 divisions forward of Rabaul. You've taken a chance launching an invasion force 2-3 times as large as that a further 3000 km forward of Rabaul. Moving all of the battleships (mostly) for the Midway Operation took a whole year's worth of the Navy's fuel and that was after the Japanese captured the DEI's oil. Perhaps the "bad roll" was logistics.

[Encircled]

This is probably the 2nd most risky IJA/IJN operation on here.

Its bound to have its ups and downs, and its been almost flawless so far.

Was it another issue in the DEI?

[SqzMyLemon]

Appreciate the comments spence.

I know it sounds like sour grapes. I don't expect everything to go my way, just some things and so far nothing is going my way so I'm frustrated. It's a game, I hoped it would be fun, it's not fun when your forces can't hit anything.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

This is probably the 2nd most risky IJA/IJN operation on here.

Its bound to have its ups and downs, and its been almost flawless so far.

Was it another issue in the DEI?

I am happy with events in Australia. I am simply tired of my LBA and submarines not being able to hit anything bigger than an xAKL. I just want a few hits to at least give Francois pause. We've talked, he knows it's a crapshoot on the rolls and he's playing more aggressively because of it. He doesn't have to fear anything I have other than KB, because he's not suffering any losses or setbacks against my LBA in the DEI. I can't be everywhere at once with KB and have to rely on assets, that traditionally have been reliable. They are not this time around.

Everyone thinks it's because of my Australian operation that I deserve what I get. Other than the lack of ground forces, I've used the LBA available to me primarily in the DEI and it has proved totally ineffective. What am I supposed to do? I rely on my LBA just as much as any other player, so what can I do when they attack and don't hit anything? You tell me and I'll stop crying.

[SqzMyLemon]

The Australian campaign is a failure.

I'm going to have to send KB to the DEI, because it's the only tool I have that is effective.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

The Australian campaign is a failure.

Not sure how you can say that, but you have all the info and I don't.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

The Australian campaign is a failure.

Not sure how you can say that, but you have all the info and I don't.

That's just it. If I had more time, I could certainly document every setback, report every failed search mission, every failed submarine attack, every failed bomber attack, every failed interdiction.

I'm competitive, and I've admitted in the past it's my worst fault. I don't expect a free ride, I don't expect things just handed to me. I actually enjoy earning success. In this game though, sometimes success hinges on luck. I honestly feel that things are quite one sided at the moment, that's my perspective at least. For followers I know exactly what it comes across as. I remain respectful of my opponent and he's playing a great game. I'm just saying luck is making it a little easier on him then it should be.

This is my AAR. I'm sorry if people are tired of my complaining. Don't follow if it bothers you. I'd hoped it would be a fun game to follow, but events have proved otherwise. Too many disappointments on my end and I have a right to not like the mod and voice my opinion.

[PaxMondo]

Joseph,

Don't have details on the LBA in DEI, but you know the drivers for successful naval attack are all based upon DL. Using Netties for NavSearch, you also know that you need at least 3 independent 'hits' to achieve high enough DL (>6) to have good odds for a launch great leaders on the LBA groups.

I'm suspecting that because you are so thin that you don't have this. In most games by now you would have the mini-KB operating in the DEI and those search patterns ( at least 3 separate ones if not many more) along with the LBA search gives you the DL you need.

It gets back to the OZ operation: it was a big risk. We discussed it at length. I would not pull the KB out yet as OZ is not yet decided. Changing your strategy mid-run is generally unsuccessful. If you are able to take Sydney, the allies are really hurt and you are going to pick up quite a nice gain.

With respect to the DEI, you've got to abandon normal tactics. You have 3 or 4 critical targets that you must take. That's what you do. Ambon is NOT one of those targets, nor is Ternate, etc. You know what I mean. You need to take Miri, Bali, and Palem. Walk right across the north side of Borneo and do it. Don't get caught up in the rest of the DEI at this time. You do not have the force ratios to do it.
Using the north side of Borneo, you then have LBA in Saigon and CRB to support you all the way.

Just my thoughts ....

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I ordered a deliberate assault, not that is matters.

The Allies do as they please with impunity. He can do no wrong and might as well be playing the AI.

I totally don't care anymore. I feel as if my side has been completed nerfed. I will never play a Babes mod again. This is no longer fun when one side gets all the rolls.

It's January 1942 for !@#$'s sake and my forces are completely useless.

No strategy comment, but so far as I know no mod can affect rolls. They're all in the EXE file, off limits to modders.

It's a little funny to me as I'm playing a DBB mod as Allies and I think the Aussie Army has been nerfed. [:'(]

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I ordered a deliberate assault, not that is matters.

The Allies do as they please with impunity. He can do no wrong and might as well be playing the AI.

I totally don't care anymore. I feel as if my side has been completed nerfed. I will never play a Babes mod again. This is no longer fun when one side gets all the rolls.

It's January 1942 for !@#$'s sake and my forces are completely useless.

No strategy comment, but so far as I know no mod can affect rolls. They're all in the EXE file, off limits to modders.

It's a little funny to me as I'm playing a DBB mod as Allies and I think the Aussie Army has been nerfed. [:'(]

Everything is one's own perspective on events [:D]. I know the rolls aren't effected, that's just luck. I really do find the game plays differently under DBB, which it should, I just feel the changes compound the luck factor even more, and without it you are at the mercy of the AI.

I know I'm making an ass of myself. Things are just wrapped a little tight these days and every setback seems monumental right now. It's frustrating for me, that's all I can really say.

[FeurerKrieg]

No worries about complaints from me. If you can't vent in your own AAR that would be rather unfortunate. I find it interesting to read a year or two later and see how I was feeling compared to what I know in hindsight.

Regarding DBB, I agree the mod makes some things a bit trickier, but I think the luck thing is the same way mod or not. Everyone has their own perspective and I personally have enjoyed the challenge of DBB.

Good luck and thanks for the time spent on the AAR!

[SqzMyLemon]

DEI

[SqzMyLemon]

Sydney Theatre Jan. 7/42:



Too lazy to correct the spelling error. KB will attack the defenders of Sydney prior to the assault. Barring bad weather, this will be the second day in a row that Sydney's troops have been bombed. I thought about sending every surface ship I had on a bombardment of Sydney, but decided against it.

KB is running out of sorties so it must begin to retire towards Rabaul, regardless of the assault results. I will target Brisbane's airbase for bombing as KB passes by. KB will support a second amphibious landing at Rockhampton, either reinforcing the base, or capturing it if the Allies successfully retake the base. KB will then sail for Rabaul to refuel/replenish. If it can't replenish sorties at Rabaul, it will have to sail for Truk.

If Sydney does not go well, I will concentrate on securing the east coast of Australia and Port Moresby to secure my LOC.

[Mike McCreery]

DBB makes the AA much more effective which can certainly tilt the game in the Allied players favor. They are no longer required to have CAP over every base to protect it.

Depending upon the mod the reduction in shipping capacity, the breakout of naval units and other things also pose a challenge.

I played Japan for 21 days against another player and threw in the towel. It was simply too much to attempt all in one go for me.

Sometimes when I am having a streak of bad luck I hope that I am getting it all out of the system ;]

[SqzMyLemon]

I will do my best to curb my complaining. I know it doesn't leave a good impression. Since none of you can know fully what is, or isn't, happening on my side, I'm afraid you'll just have to put up with my displeasure until the AI evens things up a little.