The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Canoerebel]

3/31/44

On April's Fool Eve, the Pacific Theater of Operations is quiet. Allied forces on the move here and there don't encounter enemy opposition. Ships are moving forward in good order; recon is scouting; nav search is searching. The enemy hasn't closed. I don't expect John to do so, yet. He'll probably sniff around and look for an advantage. He'll probably want to get a better feel for what's going on, where, and when.

Fun House: Death Star and the Herd move into the Ceram Sea smoothly. Death Star Junior and Herd Junior are still at Shangri-Law. Death Star III and Herd III are proceeding methodically far away. Death Star IV and Herd IV are moving boldly not quite as far away. Death Star V and Herd V are lurking, seeking a likely opportunity to strike.

Last turn, I spent an hour clicking on every single TF to change the home ports. This turn, I spent about as much time fine-tuning aircraft squadron settings. But most of the tedious stuff has been done. I've really enjoyed the journeys, partly because it's the calm before the storm and partly because things have gone so smoothly. Early in the embarkations, ships were spread out and in proximity to big enemy airfields. But no enemy strike aircraft scored a hit. Enemy subs swarmed to the scene and badly damaged a CVE, but roughly five enemy subs were badly damaged or sunk and the going has been smoother since. Things will get more noisy soon. Five turns back, I looked at the map, flinched, and wondered, "Oh my. So much has to be done. So much has to go well. So much is at stake." But the past few turns, I've been perfectly at ease.

Celebes: What's going on in Celebes probably isn't relevant to Fun House any more. If any major IJA troops are still there, they should miss the opening act. 75% of 14th Kiwi Bde. has been extracted.

Burma: John suicided 59th Div., destroying about 1/3rd of its lingering strength. The Allies continue to maneuver position. Most air strikes are aimed at Prome, both to soften the target and to slow movement of any troops that might try to exit the hex.

KB: No sign of it or Kaigun. DS and several enemy merchant TFs are on collision courses. It'll be interesting to see if John diverts them or suicides them.

[Canoerebel]

A splash of color for your viewing pleasure on an otherwise quiet evening.

[BBfanboy]

Your Chinese MLR from Hanoi to Sian is awesome! John must have really neglected the land battles in China to let you get all those units parked so perfectly. [:)]

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Entering Vietnam triggers the Viet Minh divisions through 1942. After that there isn't any consequences, unless self-imposed. This invasion was small - two modest corps and a division of less than 100 AV. There were also two construction units, one HQ, and a base force. They were creating headaches for John - he was worried about Hanoi's safety, because he doesn't have it properly garrisoned. But the House Rules rule, so he can afford to not have northern Vietnam properly garrisoned. At the moment, at least.

There's another aspect here that's interesting. John boosted Allied PPs to 60 per day in this mod. He thought this would apply retroactively to our game. But it didn't. If the boost had applied, I'd have received an additional 4,500 political points by now (15 months x 10 pp/day.) I'd have been able to buy more restricted units, so that this wouldn't be an issue (well, I'd have been able to buy them had I thought about it, which I didn't until John asked me, "Hey, those dudes in Vietnam; they got their travel papers in order?"

I'm not complaining about it, but rather making observations as to why House Rules can become diseases worse than the cure, and why I tend to focus on the spirit of the rule than the rule itself (when my consciousness is alert to the rule, which wasn't the case with Vietnam).

Don't know a thing about how PP points affect the Japanese but I think the Allied allotment is spot on. I never have enough but do have enough to work with. I have come up with some creative work arounds with my Commonwealth Divisions so by 11/43 have managed to buy all of the important Indian and Australian units out. Only one Canadian and two NZ Brigades are purchased out yet but they are not as important in the overall scheme of things. I just don't think either player should have total freedom over everything. Commanders, air units and so on. Both sides should be forced into decision making. 50 points a day is all that the Allies should get in my opinion.

[Canoerebel]

Managing PPs is challenging and fun. We all probably agree that's the way it should be.

In stock, 50 may be enough. But John (and NYGiants) decided to boost the allotment just a bit since Japan gets so many extra goodies.

If you're using "creative work arounds," perhaps 50/day isn't quite enough?

[ny59giants]

In my current BTS Lite game vs Gen Patton, we boasted PPs to 100/day. I think this will be the PP allotment going forward in BTS, RA, and Treaty mods as it gives both sides some early flexibility. I'm seeing the Allies able to get troops away from WC much quicker and having to plan accordingly even with all the goodies Japan gets.

[Canoerebel]

Michael, I and every other player will love extra PPs. Oh, such feelings of luxury.

But I do think 100 pp today may prove exorbitant. I'm playing with 50 per day and have still managed massive invasions in late '42, throughout '43, and now into '44. While I'm always strapped - and therefore have to think ahead and plan well - I've never been unable to buy out enough troops to do what's needed to be done (and I also spend a heckuva lot of PPs to change out TF, infantry and air squadron commanders).

100 per day will probably mushroom out of control.

[Lecivius]

I believe a part of the PP increase was brought into play due to including Juan's potential purchase allocation of some advanced air-frames for the allies. That is not a part of your current game, boss [;)]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Michael, I and every other player will love extra PPs. Oh, such feelings of luxury.

But I do think 100 pp today may prove exorbitant. I'm playing with 50 per day and have still managed massive invasions in late '42, throughout '43, and now into '44. While I'm always strapped - and therefore have to think ahead and plan well - I've never been unable to buy out enough troops to do what's needed to be done (and I also spend a heckuva lot of PPs to change out TF, infantry and air squadron commanders).

100 per day will probably mushroom out of control.

100 might be a little high, but I don't think it's too terribly high. Especially if these mods include the aircraft purchase system.

For Japan, I don't think PPs matter much. At least in stock. Although I recently dipped below 10K PPs in my game, I suppose. Got a lot of reinforcements that I wanted to move around.

[ny59giants]

Mini-thread hijack - What amount of PPs would you like to see? If 50 may not be enough and Dan things 100 is too much.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Mini-thread hijack - What amount of PPs would you like to see? If 50 may not be enough and Dan things 100 is too much.

Having no experience with the aircraft purchase system, I don't really know. I don't think 100 is an awful starting point. It might be just right, or it might be just a little too high. If I tested it and felt it were too high, I'd probably drop to 80. I definitely wouldn't go lower than 70, I think.

[palioboy2]

Five months of reading and I have finally caught up! Of course it happens as I am waiting for my girlfriend to get her hair cut!

Great read CR. AND great info from all your contributors. I have played a game against the AI the time line of which has almost matched my reading.

I am just starting a PBEM and I think I am officially inspired to start an AAR as well!

[Canoerebel]

Thanks for reading, palio. I hope you'll continue to enjoy doing so. Good luck with your match and AAR. [:)]

[Canoerebel]

4/01/44

April Fool's in the Pacific! Fun House is aimed strait at the heart of Hokkaido and is 14 hexes away without detection.

None of which is true. April Fool's!

As mentioned earlier, all factoids provided regarding Fun House are true, though mixed with white space or negative space or presented in such order or fashion that the whole truth remains uncertain and concealed.

Fun House: Death Star and the Herd rumble into the far southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, ending the turn two hexes from Taulaud-Eilanden. From whence do they go from here? Stay tuned.

But the day went very smoothly, without interaction with enemy forces. All indications lead me to believe that the op will achieve strategic surprise, though probably not operational surprise. If John wants to stop this, he'll have to attack. But I know he doesn't want to risk his carriers and capital ships in a banzai charge. So I think he'll continue to hang around the edges, looking for an opportunity that gives him an edge.

One of the most satisfying aspects to this point is how tight the grouping of ships in - just two hexes (and that was simply a choice). When the move began ships were spread out from Merauke to Townsville with the LSTs far in front. But it was timed pretty well so that all drew close together by the Banda Sea. One thing that helped was that I left behind all the short-legged ships (SCs with 1500 endurance) so that refueling wouldn't be a continual drag on progress.

Death Star Junior and Herd Junior, which are the second most powerful, remain in Shangri-La, their mission undisclosed for the moment. Death Star/Herd III through V are similarly remaining "in the shades," as Greyjoy would say.

Celebes: John's army hasn't reached Palapo yet. I was right that distance between bases was my biggest asset on Celebes, from the aspect of that campaign serving as a distraction. 100 AV of 14th Kiwi Brigade has been pulled out, with 20 AV remaining.

Burma: The Allies moved behind John's MLR at the same exact moment that enemy units did. So no real advantage gained there, yet. 59th IJA Div. vanished today. 12th Div. remains hung up in the jungle.

Minutae: There have been several critical behind-the-scenes decisions, deployments, and configurations that I won't go into. Some of these are in the nature of very important "rocks - paper - scissors" decisions, where making the wrong one could be lethal. Some of these don't have a right or a wrong answer - it's a matter of whether I choose "scissors" and whether John chooses "paper" or "rock."

April Fool's Day should be the last quiet day in what has been a blessedly tranquil move through the Gulf of Carpentaria and across vast reaches of the Pacific. Things will begin happening tomorrow.

Rocks. Paper. Scissors.

[Canoerebel]

April Fool's Day in the far reaches of the SW Pacific.

[Lokasenna]

Just about nailed it [;)]

[Dirtnap86]

well if you are landing on Borneo, you can rescue those poor dutchmen that have been living off monkeys and grubs! Guys probably look like Grizzly Adams by now.

[Canoerebel]

Bear in mind, gentlemen, that I have made a vow to tell the truth. That vow did not extend to "the whole truth."

[Canoerebel]

Meaning this: the map details are right; that is Death Star and the Herd; I did stand down my reconnaissance aircraft; they resumed flying today, continuing to feel out all those bases; and those bases are weakly held or vacant.

All those things are the truth. They also suggest (imply?) something, leading the reader to make certain conclusions. But those conclusions may not be correct.

All this hocus-pocus stuff will become much clearer when John makes his next post.

[:)]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Meaning this: the map details are right; that is Death Star and the Herd; I did stand down my reconnaissance aircraft; they resumed flying today, continuing to feel out all those bases; and those bases are weakly held or vacant.

All those things are the truth. They also suggest (imply?) something, leading the reader to make certain conclusions. But those conclusions may not be correct.

All this hocus-pocus stuff will become much clearer when John makes his next post.

[:)]

Maskarovka to get John to pull KB into the Sulu Sea area while you trundle off NNE. Then John will think Luzon is the target and rush to cover that.
Every day KB is out of position is a day of free movement for your herds. Lookin' good here!