Defenseless: Between the Storms Japan

[John 3rd]

Hot List emailed

Imperial Conference SCHEDULED with you today!

[RangerJoe]

Someone who I don't see on the boards anymore did testing on emergency reinforcements. Here is the thread for the West Coast.

https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=191289

[John 3rd]

Not often one finds a lone, crippled BB on the high seas...

1-3-42 Valiant.png (902.3 KiB) Viewed 316 times

[PaxMondo]

Same as the ones you posted!

Whew!! Sorry I 'm so slow!

[RangerJoe]

Same as the ones you posted!

Whew!! Sorry I 'm so slow!

Some women like slow men.

It happens to even the best of us.

[John 3rd]

I am NOT Going to ask my wife on her opinion on the above commentary!

[John 3rd]

Happy Thanksgiving Dear Readers!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 3, 1942

Gregg is nearly done with a massive business project and he has PROMISED to really pick-up the pace next week. I, for one, CANNOT WAIT!

NoPac
A small STF of 2 old CL and 4 DD bombard Umnak while another STF sweeps into Dutch Harbor and finds nothing there.

CenPac
LOTS of TFs moving to Midway and Wake for jumping off. Figure the GO order will be given on the 10th of January. Going to gather EVERYTHING between Midway and Wake then advance east. My opponent won't know where, exactly, I am going so I hope to get close enough and then divide and hit all targets on the same day. This will take some planning. I will do my best o make this look like and late-43/early-44 American invasion blob all moving in one hex...

SoPac
Kido Butai moves back towards New Caledonia.

The Imperial Guards Brigade will hit Rabaul in three days. Don't have anything for CAP and that makes me a bit nervous...

DEI
Boela falls

Oosthaven falls

Muntok falls

My CA TF that pummeled a convoy on the 2nd gets right back to work on the 3rd. In two encounters, the warships sink 3 AMc, 2 TM, 2 TK, and 3 AKL. As shown on the screen above, the crippled HMS Valiant gets hit by 18 shells (mainly 8") and a single Long Lance. Might have sunk...might not...will sweep again tomorrow.

KB-Lite will arrive at Kendari tomorrow and reprovision then move right back out...

Malaya
Port Swettenham falls

Ordered and Shock Attack at Singapore tomorrow.

China
LOTS Happening...

Capture Loyang, hex 90,38, and hex 87,57. Inflict 283 squads destroyed. Have 13 units pinned in the hex next to Loyang and I hope to CRUSH it next turn.

Hengyang
We cross the river with an ID and 2 Artillery units and get a 3-1 assault! Forts go down to ZERO. Hope to take it next turn. If so, I have breached his main defensive line and we might see some serious movement.

[RangerJoe]

I am NOT Going to ask my wife on her opinion on the above commentary!

Do you always have to wait for your wife? Do you try to hurry her up by letting her know that you should have left how long ago?

Edited for:

Happy Thanksgiving!

[John 3rd]

Once AGAIN...I cannot comment to that commentary!

[ny59giants]

John can only push Paula so far before that German temper/nastiness rears its ugly head.
Their verbal "King of the Hill" leans heavily towards the female side in his home like others.

[RangerJoe]

I didn't know any of that, all that I know is that he is a REDHEAD!

So just click your heels together and while bowing, say "Jawohl, mein Frau!"

[John 3rd]

John can only push Paula so far before that German temper/nastiness rears its ugly head.
Their verbal "King of the Hill" leans heavily towards the female side in his home like others.

Michael KNOWS. He has spent much time with the Cochran Household.

[PaxMondo]

Combat Report
January 3, 1942

Gregg is nearly done with a massive business project and he has PROMISED to really pick-up the pace next week. I, for one, CANNOT WAIT!

My opponent never gives me that excuse ... but she does make magic moves, so ...

CenPac
LOTS of TFs moving to Midway and Wake for jumping off. Figure the GO order will be given on the 10th of January. Going to gather EVERYTHING between Midway and Wake then advance east. My opponent won't know where, exactly, I am going so I hope to get close enough and then divide and hit all targets on the same day. This will take some planning. I will do my best o make this look like and late-43/early-44 American invasion blob all moving in one hex...

On edge here ...

SoPac
Kido Butai moves back towards New Caledonia.

The Imperial Guards Brigade will hit Rabaul in three days. Don't have anything for CAP and that makes me a bit nervous...

As long as he doesn't have carriers around, I think you're safe. At this point, I don't think his LBA is effective enough to stop you.

China
Capture Loyang, hex 90,38, and hex 87,57. Inflict 283 squads destroyed. Have 13 units pinned in the hex next to Loyang and I hope to CRUSH it next turn.

Just don't kill any until you take CK .... right?

[PaxMondo]

John can only push Paula so far before that German temper/nastiness rears its ugly head.
Their verbal "King of the Hill" leans heavily towards the female side in his home like others.

Michael KNOWS. He has spent much time with the Cochran Household.

[John 3rd]

Been promised turns and that SHOULD begin tonight...

...so I was told.

[John 3rd]

So...I think I mentioned earlier that I did some updating on the Mod. In many ways, this game is a Beta Test to see what works and what does not.

I found that since this is a CV heavy Mod, the remaining build ships are all CA-CL-CLAA and they do not draw enough expanded shipyard build points. Currently I have all eight of the late-war (44-45) Hiryu's accelerated and I am still running a slight surplus in building points. Add to that I have CV Hiyo and CVL Ryuho also accelerated and one can see that this will get out of hand pretty quick.

Once this was realized, I went back through my building timetables for the main Japanese slipways and figured that another set of B-65 BC could be built with them coming in in early-43 and late-43. Am also considering adding a second pair of CC to the mix that would come in in late-42. The combination of these four additions SHOULD serve to force the Japanese player to make CHOICES on what he wants to build. The goal of my Mods is always to force the Japanese or Allied player to make choices--particularly in early-to-mid 1942. The CV build SEEMS right but must be handicapped with some escort options.

This is my thinking at least...

This issue doesn't exist on in either of the other Mods. In BTS--Heavy, you have the two late-war Yamatos eating up points while in BTS--Balanced, you have a pair of Owari-Class BB doing the same thing.

[John 3rd]

Just loaded a fresh copy of the Mod and those additions serve to really mess around with the shipyard building numbers. Should really FORCE the Japanese player to make choices throughout 1942 into early-43.

Better...

[RangerJoe]

If you adjusted the submarine build cost downward to be more realistic, then that were the excess shipyard points may be coming from.

[John 3rd]

I am the most bored player on the face of the EARTH right now!