The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: obvert

That's another major ride into the unknown with the KB there. Does this guy have any fear?

I have to hand it to John for making this one of the most entertaining and odd months in AE since I've been on the forums. Although a few of your other opponents have done similarly strange things, this is the most extreme. What is it about you Dan that lures out this frantic out on a limb for a fruit you can't reach Japanese play?

There is something in the psychology of your games where you decline to be flustered and it seems to send the other player into a frenzy. You've mentioned it before, and I actually didn't see evidence of this kind of mental state in the game at that time (from the bleacher seats) but I do now. You probably had much more insight and could sense it building from those little daily decisions you see in game. This is starting to remind me of Chez and PzH.

Anyway. You've prepared for this. Seems like it might could be time to add a little extra weight to that fragile limb. [;)]

I am not joking when I say that this AAR popped up briefly in my dreams last night. Dan, I was mad at you because John had sunk your last LST. Could not get over your carelessness. Sigh, I really need to get a new hobby..It would be a whole lot more interesting if I were dreaming about super models.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Today, my youngest son and I will be hiking 10 miles of Appalachian Trail from Woody Gap to Neels Gap in north Georgia. This is the only stretch he hasn't done between Springer Mountain and Hampton, Tenn. Once he has these 10 in, he'll have done the same 425 miles that me and his older brother have done. Then, in July, the three of us will do the stretch from Hampton to Damascus, Virginia. At that point, the boys will have covered 475 miles of AT from the start (Springer) to the Virginia line. That was our original goal as a family when we started this in 2007.

That is really cool.

+1

Any pictures from the hike?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: obvert

That's another major ride into the unknown with the KB there. Does this guy have any fear?

I have to hand it to John for making this one of the most entertaining and odd months in AE since I've been on the forums. Although a few of your other opponents have done similarly strange things, this is the most extreme. What is it about you Dan that lures out this frantic out on a limb for a fruit you can't reach Japanese play?

There is something in the psychology of your games where you decline to be flustered and it seems to send the other player into a frenzy. You've mentioned it before, and I actually didn't see evidence of this kind of mental state in the game at that time (from the bleacher seats) but I do now. You probably had much more insight and could sense it building from those little daily decisions you see in game. This is starting to remind me of Chez and PzH.

Anyway. You've prepared for this. Seems like it might could be time to add a little extra weight to that fragile limb. [;)]

I am not joking when I say that this AAR popped up briefly in my dreams last night. Dan, I was mad at you because John had sunk your last LST. Could not get over your carelessness. Sigh, I really need to get a new hobby..It would be a whole lot more interesting if I were dreaming about super models.

Maybe just as frustrating. [:D]

[Mike McCreery]

John is still in full blown attack mode. How many games has he played into 1944? I am not sure he knows another gear...

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

John is still in full blown attack mode. How many games has he played into 1944? I am not sure he knows another gear...

PzB vs Andy Mac, Greyjoy vs. Radier, your games vs. NJP72 all lead to the conclusion that the IJ have limited "operation points" or an abstraction of supply and fuel.
PzB showed us the maximum exploitation but still ran out of stuff in the end ...

SCLS (Sudden carrier loss syndrome) is possible with this aggressive approach (for both sides) but in the end I suspect the IJ will run out of steam early 1945 ..

The Marshalls Gilberts can be strategic and this AAR is showing how ....

[paullus99]

John is too aggressive to "do nothing."

It appears that he feels that if his carriers aren't out causing trouble, that somehow it is a bad thing.

At this point, once you are comfortable - plan an operation solely designed to bring out his carriers so you can kill them...he can be goaded, so use that to your advantage.

[AcePylut]

"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle"

That's what makes this a fun matchup to watch. Seems like both of you, through your multiple games played against each other, "know the enemy". Would John pull a move like this is John was playing Clone of John?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

John is still in full blown attack mode. How many games has he played into 1944? I am not sure he knows another gear...

PzB vs Andy Mac, Greyjoy vs. Radier, your games vs. NJP72 all lead to the conclusion that the IJ have limited "operation points" or an abstraction of supply and fuel.
PzB showed us the maximum exploitation but still ran out of stuff in the end ...

SCLS (Sudden carrier loss syndrome) is possible with this aggressive approach (for both sides) but in the end I suspect the IJ will run out of steam early 1945 ..

The Marshalls Gilberts can be strategic and this AAR is showing how ....

Definitely the right point about "operation points" in a standard (or slightly past standard) expansion game. In the rader v GJ game though rader maximized the economy to the fullest and milked China/India for all kinds of industrial fireworks not usually in the realm of possibility to the Japanese. He simply didn't keep a good watch on his backdoor. [;)]

The issue here is more about useless waste rather than over use. Those other Japanese players (and a whole bunch to numerous to mention) manage to do something useful strategically or tactically that at least somewhat balances the use of resources while stalling the Allied approach. If the KB were out of sight for the last 50 turns sitting in port I'd argue it would have been strategically more daunting for the Allies than it's recent streaker runs across the middle of the pitch.

[Canoerebel]

I'll be glad to share some photos from yesterday's outing on the Appalachian Trail. This may be a sudden departure for some, so any interested in just the AAR reports (a new one to follow in few minutes), skip ahead five posts.

A year ago, my youngest son, two friends, and I set out to backpack from Springer Mountain to Neels Gap, the first 31 miles of the AT. After 21 miles, one of the young ladies became sick, so we turned back and didn't complete the trip. Yesterday's outing was to finish it up. This last 10 miles included the long climb up Blood Mountain, the highest point on the AT in Georgia (at something like 4600 feet).

First I'll introduce the hikers. The young man is my youngest son, Jackson (19). He's a veteran backpacker who is a great trail companion (easy-going and competent). The young lady in the blue shirt is Charissa, who is a 20-year-old college student. She's a cross-country runner and is extraordinarily fast on the trail. The young lady in the red bandanna is Reba, who is a 24-year-old college student. She's the one that got sick last year, earning the trail name "Little Deer that Pukes." She recently went to New York City to help open a Chick-fil-A restaurant there. The staff told her that she could not wear her bandana because it would identify her as a gang members. She's one of the finest young ladies I've ever met.

[Canoerebel]

The AT in springtime in Georgia is a green, green place. This stretch is between Big Cedar Mountain and Blood Mountain. The photo doesn't capture the abundant bird song, of course. I heard veery, barred owl, eastern wood pewee, indigo bunting, black-and-white warbler, black-throated green warbler, ovenbird, magnolia warbler, scarlet tanager, and a host of others. It was a colorful day, visually and audibly. It was also a bit cool and very windy.

[Canoerebel]

Jackson and Reba taken a morning break near Jarrard Gap.

[Canoerebel]

Jackson naps after lunch at Bird Gap. His "lounge" is much more comfortable than it might look. This was just before beginning the final climb to Blood Mountain's summit.
In fact, we're about to ascent to Slaughter Gap. Blood Mountain and nearby Slaughter Mountain are named for a supposed clash between the Cherokee and Creek Indians before the arrival of the white man.

[Canoerebel]

Looking southeast from near the summit of Blood Mountain.

By the way, these photos are lovely and do justice the beauty of the forest and the mountains in the springtime. They seem almost idyllic. They don't properly provide perspective: sweat, weariness, bugs, dirt, poison ivy, or the thousands of other little things that make backpacking no mere "walk in the woods."

[Anachro]

I've hiked the AT trail in Virginia. Beautiful.

[Canoerebel]

9/16/43

Thin Man: The two Steroid KB divisions reunited just south of Johnston Island. Almost certainly this ends the ride of JEB Stuart. No new air strikes today, so all Allied shipping seems to be out of harm's way. This raid basically netted John three empty xAKs. Where does KB go from here? I suspect John will retire in the direction of Wake Island, where Mini KB is posted.

Tomorrow he'll find that his most direct route may be contested. Death Star, now fully replenished on sorties, topped off with fuel, and each squadron full of aircraft, will move north tonight five or six hexes to a point just east of Wotje. This doesn't mean a clash is inevitable, but it will force John to consider whether he wishes to offer battle. If he does, he'll steam more westerly and a battle may well occur - he's fairly distant from Truk and I'm not too far from Pearl, so I'd accept, I think. If John decides against offering, he'll steam NW as thought to pass between Wake and Midway. My hunch is he'll prefer to avoid battle.

APAs at Pearl are to begin loading the next invasion force tonight. This TF will follow in Steroid KB's wake.

Kirishima showed herself a bit to close to Wotje. Beauforts sortied and found her without LRCAP, but missed all shots. Another example of the friction and opportunities being created by John's play. He hasn't paid a heavy price yet, but it might happen.

Every remaining Allied merchant ship in the Marshalls is empty. All supply and fuel has been delivered. All troops have been reshuffled or returned to Pearl. Supply is good: Tarawa (45k), Jaluit (75k), Mili (51k), Maloelap (70k), Ailinglaplap (13k), Wotje (22k). All troops are 100% prepped at each base. Forts are good. Some airfield and port building is ongoing. In other words, the main objective of Thin Man has been accomplished - to secure the Allied bases so that they can stand without the aid of the fleet if they should have to.

There is still the matter of Kwajalein. Stay tuned for what happens next.

Circus: While making its way slowly towards the West Coast, the Allied Northern Death Star (three CVEs) came across some probing/pickt xAKs far south of the Aleutians. Both were dispatched by TBFs. It suits me for John to know these CVEs are up here. He might or might not choose to pursue them. But they are going to briefly disappear before rendezvousing with Bunker Hill and Cowpens, which arrive on map tomorrow.

No other sign of imminent enemy action up here.

Burma: SigInt that 18th Div. is prepping for Ramree Island. That unit has been in Burma for most of the year, but did show up at Medan near the end of the Sumatra campaign. Ramree is held by 190 AV behind six forts. The hex to the east is held by 570 AV behind 4 or 5 forts.

John: I read with much interest your comments about John and his style of play. I read his emails and his thread titles and scratch my head since I see through a glass darkly. I told you two days ago he sent an email with this: "Shaking fists at the sky" or somesuch. He never explained it. Then he used it as a title for a post to his AAR. But I have no idea why he was shaking his fist or even if, indeed, he was referring to himself. I suppose there is no profit in trying to figure out such things. But I do think he's thus far engaged in profitless venturing with this latest JEB Stuart ride.

[Canoerebel]

9/16/43 Thin Man

[JohnDillworth]

thanks for the photos and background. nice to have company. took a similar, shorter walk in upper NY State last week. Whole different bunch of birds plus lots of beavers and muskrats. took a side walk by the Eire Canal and had a great conversation with the lock master and his assistant. The lock has not changed since 1910. They polish the brass, service the pumps and motors and clean last years grease from every gear and replace it with fresh grease. The locks are in perfect working order. I'm a City kid so it is nice to get out in nature

[ny59giants]

I would send a PB4Y-1P to recon Wake Island asap!! With KB doing a full speed run, he will need fuel. Does he have his fast AOs disbanded in port there? Will he keep his CVEs there if you head there? He needs to head towards his source of fuel, IMO. Can you can there first?

[Canoerebel]

I've had recon on Wake for three or four turns now. No sign of AOs.

[BBfanboy]

I also think his AOs must be in the Wake area, so my suspect now is the "Combat TF" shielded by Mini KB. John would almost certainly embed strong surface forces with the AOs to guard against a DD/CL raid such as you have done on occasion.