Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice)

[Canoerebel]

12/17/41

SoPac: Early in the turn, enemy carrier aircraft start lighting up my TFs, including Lex. The nightmare has come true!

[Canoerebel]

12/17/41

Sync Bug Version Only: This didn't happen in the actual game. It's cruel of me to show this, but it gives an idea of the torment I'm going through at the moment.

I thought I had patched -26a before running the turn, but apparently I haven't got stuff in the right file yet or somesuch. I'll figure it out eventually.

[modrow]

This is what your start screen should look like if you are set for playing under .26a patch. Pay attention to version ID in the upper right corner.

If you try to install 26a after 26b (download sequence does not matter, just installation sequence), it may just stick to the later patch and you are in fact still playing .26b

Hartwig

(edited for more clarity)

[Canoerebel]

While the game is far more interesting, here's some Sync Bug info. Here I'm loading the next turn that Dave sent. There's an error message. I don't see anything about an 1126a. Is he properly patched?

[Canoerebel]

Here's what I'm patched to (after the Grand Intervention by Ye Forumites). I think I'm good. Or do I need to re-download '26b?

[Anachro]

That is an old version of the game. Current patch I have is 1.8.11.26b. I believe the "a" would be the same except switching out "b" with "a."

[modrow]

1.7.11.24 is last official release IIRC. (The later patches are all beta).

Hartwig

[RangerJoe]

Taking a look at the map, I believe that both Savaii and Pago Pago to the SE of the Lady Lex have airbases. Pago Pago might have a base force with air support. If the Lady Lex were to make a high speed run 1 hex less than the maximum distance she can travel, she could disband. The one hex is insurance in case she gets more damage and reduces speed. The next turn, she could unload her air units. Right now, with a high DL, the spotting report (mouse over) would show all of those planes as disabled, which would be a giveaway as to the ship being the Lady Lex.

Combine that with combat runs with DDs to use up OPs points and she might be able to hide. You might be able to make high speed run and hide every turn for awhile if you get into the right area. Then the KB has to play "Wack-a-Mole" especially if you can put small, unimportant AKls into the dot base ports to get spotted as well.

If each incoming air strike also uses up ops points, put your float planes on night air strike with a search capability but only if they have pilots with 50 experience or higher, otherwise they are afraid of the dark. Who knows, they might get lucky. The same thing with your PBY units. Even breaking the squadrons into three pieces just to get more attacks in as well.

[Canoerebel]

12/17/41

The Wild Goose Chase: It really looks like its over unless I get really lucky. I'm casting about for the most unlikely, novel, fun way to pull an inside straight. But this has all the feel to me of "sorry Charlie."

[RangerJoe]

Oh, another thing as well. Check the weather at each base since, if I remember correctly [&:], the weather change will only get better or worse one step each turn. So severe storms would be the best for hiding since it would still be bad weather the next day as well.

[Canoerebel]

Dang it. How do I not know that? I've only been playing for 16 years, give or take.

[Canoerebel]

I think Dave will move Half KB South NW, to cover the Ellice Islands. I think he'll move Half KB North south, to cover any possibility of retreat to Pago Pago and points east.

Consequently, I plan to send Lex SW at flank speed, perhaps to a dot hex or perhaps just as far as her little feet will carry her.

That's my working plan.

[Canoerebel]

Or I might send her to disband at Wallis Island. She'd be following all the combat vessels that will be trying to intercept KB (and which are then scattering to flee SW and SE at flank speed).

[Anachro]

RangerJoe, despite being my peer in terms of age on these forums, seems far more knowledgeable and thoughtful about everything. A secret prodigy who only gives sage advice to those he deems worthy. [:D]

[Canoerebel]

[&o] I'm not worthy!

[RangerJoe]

You are worthy. I have learned a lot from you and not just about trees that you have seen on your walks. Sometimes I state what might appear to be obvious or what should be known because I do not know the extent of the other persons knowledge as well as a reminder. What is the first sign of old age? "I don't remember!"

I was also trained to observe and report. I have found that PT boats on a 100% moonlight night can get fairly close to Japanese transports off Luzon when there are severe storms. Sometimes the Japanese ships are so surprised and scared that they actually run into each other. One was sunk with the cause being listed as "collision."

I was also trained in putting on makeup. They covered it under "cover and concealment" AKA staying out of sight, and camouflage.

[Lokasenna]

OK, so you have 1124a.

That error message is not super specific. My guess is your opponent has 1124b. Can you ask him what his game screen says?

FWIW, not having matching game versions will always cause a sync bug. To my knowledge.

[Lokasenna]

I'd try to intercept KB and disband at the dot between Funafuti and Vaitupu. He might suspect you'd disband at an actual port, but not a dot. I don't know. Sucks that he caught up with you this turn. This is exactly why I would've risked an earlier disbandment at the first available island he wasn't likely to search - I would have gambled that he would've thought you just got away undetected somehow instead of hiding right under his nose.

It's worked for me a whole lot, especially in cases like this where your opponent doesn't know if the damage is very severe.

[ChuckBerger]

Interesting psychological game. You are both now in the position of trying to guess and second-guess what your opponent will do next. Eg, "my obvious move is x, but he knows that, and therefore will probably think I won't do x but rather y or z, and will plan accordingly... unless he's thought this through, and reckons I'll do x after all, precisely because it is the obvious move and therefore unexpected at this point in time ... unless..."

There's just no end to that kind of guesswork and psychological games, is there?

I don't know the game mechanics well enough to evaluate the options, but I reckon I'd do something nonsensical at this point, like not move at all. Or head due east at top speed.

Good luck, I feel like this is an old-time radio broadcast where the whole world tunes in, sitting on the edges of their chairs waiting to see what happened next!

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: ChuckBerger

Interesting psychological game. You are both now in the position of trying to guess and second-guess what your opponent will do next. Eg, "my obvious move is x, but he knows that, and therefore will probably think I won't do x but rather y or z, and will plan accordingly... unless he's thought this through, and reckons I'll do x after all, precisely because it is the obvious move and therefore unexpected at this point in time ... unless..."

There's just no end to that kind of guesswork and psychological games, is there?

I don't know the game mechanics well enough to evaluate the options, but I reckon I'd do something nonsensical at this point, like not move at all. Or head due east at top speed.

Good luck, I feel like this is an old-time radio broadcast where the whole world tunes in, sitting on the edges of their chairs waiting to see what happened next!

We should be making side bets (10 Quatloos says a Jap carrier takes significant damage).