Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice)

[Canoerebel]

12/1/41

Philippine Sea: Mini KB is near Mindanao. IJN strike aircraft sortie, sinking a bunch of fleeing xAKLs and the like, probably expending alot of sorties in a frustrating way.

Those with incredible memories will recall my opening moves in previous games tended to be to send single TFs in every direction, even including towards New Guinea, Midway and Alaska. It was wild, it was fun, it was somewhat successful, and it made for a rip-roring ride as the Japanese player reacted.

In this case, I decided to send alot of the Manila contingent due south. Whenever possible - especially with larger vessels and those capable of higher speeds - I set them at flank speed. And then I kept a bunchof ships in port, so that the flight would be staggered.

THe hope is that enemy carriers would expend alot of sorties early, creating some space for others. We'll see if it works, but it largely did on day two.

CA Houston and CL Boise are making their way south into the Makassar Strait. THe four old USN DDs will probe south from Brunei (they have 63% ammo, no torps), trying for another intercept at Miri.

[Canoerebel]

12/8/41

SEAC: The vortex, as is usual in the opening days of our contests.

[Canoerebel]

12/8/41

CenPac: None of the USN combat TFs managed to intercept KB, but Dave had a bunch of his subs posted where KB had been. Crafty.

[Canoerebel]

12/8/41

SigInt: Little stuff.

[FlyByKnight]

Your last AAR was an amazing tale. I'll keep an eye on this one.

[Canoerebel]

Thank you, Charlie. I'm glad you'll keep an I on this one.

[Canoerebel]

Success! I did a Google search and found a link to a site by one "George" for an "IntelMonkey." The site says, simply download.

Since I am adept at downloading things, I feel a blush of excitement. So I cast around the site for a button or link of any kind that says or suggests in the slightest way "Download." There's nothing of that sort anywhere on the site, as best I can tell.

Why are computers like that? Why must they mystify and bedevil those of us who wish to lead simple lives?

[Anachro]

HERE YOU GO

p.s. at the bottom there's an arrow facing down on the right, to the right of the file name, size, etc. at the bottom

[Canoerebel]

Thanks! I found it. I downloaded it. I began reading the simple instructions. I now have a headache and a heartfelt desire to turn the computer off and never turn it on again. So many of the terms are "greek" to me. It's like reading instructions about how to install a new sink when you have no idea what a "wrench," "cut-off valve" and "right and left" are.

[Canoerebel]

I'm going turn off the computer. I'm going to read a book about symbiosis among epiphytes, saprophytes and parasites. Something simple, so that I can relax and get my brain working again.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Thanks! I found it. I downloaded it. I began reading the simple instructions. I now have a headache and a heartfelt desire to turn the computer off and never turn it on again. So many of the terms are "greek" to me. It's like reading instructions about how to install a new sink when you have no idea what a "wrench," "cut-off valve" and "right and left" are.

IntelMonkey is definitely uh.... not super non-programmer friendly to install. Great program otherwise, though.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I don't think the resources differences are that heavy.

I remembered a big deal being made of the petroleum when the game was new, so I went and looked.

12/8/41 in both cases.

Scenario 1 Oil: 3,223,861
Scenario 2 Oil: 4,823,621

Scenario 1 Fuel: 4,484,971
Scenario 2 Fuel: 6,525,272

Japan players will have to say how much of a breathing space those #2 numbers provide, but they look pretty different to me.

That's huge! But, in my opinion, the supply is the important thing to look at. Anyone have those numbers handy?

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

12/8/41

SEAC: The vortex, as is usual in the opening days of our contests.

Not sure if the 50% damage comment is entirely accurate. Miri (oil and refinery) and Brunei (oil) start with everything at 50% damage. If you mean 50% of how it started then yes, that's accurate. The oil and refinery at Miri both begin at 150(150).

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
That's huge! But, in my opinion, the supply is the important thing to look at. Anyone have those numbers handy?

Scenario #2 gives you additional +460 HI, +360 LI, +900 Refineries (although those are not really a bottleneck)

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
If you move the goalposts to "evacuate those Chinese LCUs close to the western border" then yeah, it's hard for Japan to stop them.

Aww, man, really? I never ever do these kind of things. And appreciate people actually reading what I wrote.
Sorry that you got caught strat moving. You should've marched out of Changsha through the northern hard roads instead.

ORIGINAL: GetAssista
...Note that I assume only the nearest Chinese running away (up to Changsha-Ichang cluster), others would fight.

ORIGINAL: GetAssista
...With half Chinese army running away to feast in India while other half performs the usual holding action who cares about Chungking reviving. Chinese squads will be produced anyway

[GetAssista]

double Oopst..

[crsutton]

Hey Dan, Have not been around much lately but wanted to share this with you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHDfC-z9YaE

As for this scenario, I played the Allies in a full campaign with Viberpol and can say a few things.
The Japanese real power in this scen. is "front loaded." That is to say that the force against you in 1942 is really overwhelming. Japan has the supply and oil to ramp up production much faster and as I recall some nasty aircraft come on line fast and plenty. The extra four division are there at the start which creates a great imbalance vs your already overtaxed land forces. Basically, unless he makes a big boo boo (unlikely) then he is going to be really powerful til mid 1943.

As for the extra ships, the Shinano comes on as a much better Taiho class CV for some reason, and there are more DDs and PC but it is not the ships but the air power that is painful. Not the end of the world though. A good Allied player can adjust and win. And, if not careful it is very easy for the Japanese player to burn up all of his resources too fast. I think the "pilot penalty" was never removed from this scenario and it can catch the Japanese player unaware.

You know my Allies golden rule. Don't screw up and lose your carriers early and you will win the game. Have fun.

[crsutton]

As i recall the last patch affects this game as well. Your AA is strong and your subs will not get toasted by the super E class boats like they did in the early days.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I don't think the resources differences are that heavy.

I remembered a big deal being made of the petroleum when the game was new, so I went and looked.

12/8/41 in both cases.

Scenario 1 Oil: 3,223,861
Scenario 2 Oil: 4,823,621

Scenario 1 Fuel: 4,484,971
Scenario 2 Fuel: 6,525,272

Japan players will have to say how much of a breathing space those #2 numbers provide, but they look pretty different to me.

That's huge! But, in my opinion, the supply is the important thing to look at. Anyone have those numbers handy?

That is a much larger difference than I thought. I thought it was on the order of about 1/3 of that. Some of that increase is eaten up by the increased cost of ships sailing around (slightly more industry to feed = more xAK trips; more DDs and useful Shinano = more fuel spent) so it's not all going into industry and supply generation but the vast bulk would be.

Per Mike's inquiry, I'm not sure on the supplies. I know CRB and Truk have some stockpiles of supply that aren't there in scenario 1, but I don't know what the global total difference is. I haven't noticed anything major other than those 2 bases having some more at the start (about 200k?), which leads me to speculate that if there is also substantially increased supply (which really wouldn't be necessary as Japan starts with a few million anyway) it could just be in Japan.

[Grollub]

Good to see you start a new AAR!

Interesting plan that you stated in the picture (attached). In one of my PBEM games, I sent Lex/Ent westwards from day one under total EMCON, sneaked into the Philippines Sea from the east between Iwo Jima and Pagan.

Coming from the east, I managed to surprise the Mini-KB in the Celebes Sea, sinking the Ryujo and severly damaging a CA. Since the plan went well, I bought myself much needed time in the DEI being the "king of the hill" in the area for some time before the KB could intervene.

But ... it's a risky move, and if you do this you have to;

1/ Plan on what to do in case you're detected and thus have "bug out" plans for escaping either northwards towards the Aluetians or S/SW towards NE Australia.

2/ Get together some high-fuel transports and/or the low capacity dutch AOs to refuel the CV TF as "far forward" as possible. The CVTF will be very low on fuel coming into the area. You will not have enough fuel to make any full speed sprints or sailing around too much.

Good luck with the game!

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
….
Not sure if the 50% damage comment is entirely accurate. Miri (oil and refinery) and Brunei (oil) start with everything at 50% damage. If you mean 50% of how it started then yes, that's accurate. The oil and refinery at Miri both begin at 150(150).

Thanks, Mike. Then no damage was done, because boht are 150(150).

Question for the Peanut Gallery: On 12/9/41, B-17Ds from Mindanao targeted Miri's oil, scoring about 12 hits that knocked oil down by about 13 points.

Is there any reason for an Allied player to avoid or minimize these kinds of raid? Any kind of well-reasoned analysis that it shouldn't be done, because it puts too much pressure on Japan early?

I know Obvert (Erik) pursued this campaign heavily in his game with Lowpe. Erik sets an impeccable standard of sportsmanship, so I'm assuming that there's no doubt about the tactic (early targeting of industry in the DEI).

My general rule of thumb for "gaminess" is: (1) could it have been done in the real war, and (2) is there a reasonable counter? If the answer is "yes" to either, then its probably a legit tactic. I think the answer to both questions is "yes."

Contrary to the claims of one Forumite who veers into the hysterical, from time to time, I am open to discussion and input. As long as the discourse is polite and doesn't veer into Social Media namecalling or frothing.