The Unwanted War - Xargun (J) vs AsuRob (A)

[Xargun]

My long time opponent AsuRob and I are back at it after a work related break on my part. We have decided to start a new game of Reluctant Admiral v8.1 and incorporate Andy's Variant Point rules as well. It will be a week or two before the turns start, as I am just starting to modify the database with our point choices. Rob is not 100% done with his, but I am, so I'm starting with mine first.

I was trying to decide between doing a normal AAR here, or continue with the video AARs I've been doing on my Youtube channel and decided its much easier to just do a conventional AAR on the forums than do all the video stuff so here I am. I do not know if Rob will do an AAR or not.

For House rules we are using the basic ones. Neither Rob nor I are into all these shenanigans of gaming the system and what not - the Variant Points are as much gaming we want to do. Also, since we are both sick and tired of taking forever and never getting into the good times of the game (1943+) we are starting the game with 2 day turns and will be stopping them in early 1943 when the going gets heavy. We will agree to a specific date before we start on which to stop the 2 day turns - I'm leaning towards 1/1/43 but we will see.

I will be posting some info on what I am spending my Variant Points on in the coming days and you can all see them and we can discuss them if wanted. We have decided on 400 points each so it will be quite extensive. I have a feeling the game will get brutal and bloody in 43 as our stuff starts arriving.

I have tried to make sure all my point expenditures support my main early game goal - Survive to 1943 with as much of my strength as possible and conduct a defensive war at that point. Here is a brief breakdown on where I am spending my points. To support my above stated goal you may be surprised how many of these points are spent to support the horrible logistics chain for the Japanese Empire.

Economy 77
Bases 33
Other 5
Air 42.5
Land 139.5
Naval 103

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

Personally, the Japanese should want the 1 day turns during their expansion especially with the landing bonus. Otherwise the expansion won't be as fast nor can the Allies react as effectively. This would also tend to keep hopeless shock attacks on the second turn at a minimum.

[Xargun]

Personally, the Japanese should want the 1 day turns during their expansion especially with the landing bonus. Otherwise the expansion won't be as fast nor can the Allies react as effectively. This would also tend to keep hopeless shock attacks on the second turn at a minimum.

I will talk to Rob about this. Maybe we do 1 day turns for the first couple months and then switch.

Xargun

[Xargun]

Alrighty... Here are some of my point expenditures.

Economy:
1. We are adding 8 new (size 30) R&D factories to help decrease our R&D times. Two of each of the following: Ki-84a Frank, N1K1-J George, J7W1 Shinden and G8M1 Rita

2. Adding a 50 point oil resource in Hirosaki (Location may change)
3. Add a new Repair Shipyard (Size 30) to Truk. Not sure if I want to split this between Truk and maybe Babel or not?
4. Add 300k Supply (Max allowed)
5. Add 300k Fuel (Max allowed)
6. Add 750k Oil (Max allowed)
7. Add 3M Resources (Max allowed)
8. Accelerate the Nakajima Ha-45 Engine from 9/43 to 3/43
9. Add 1M Naval Shipyard points to pool (Max allowed)


Bases:
1. Increase the AF potential of a base for the following bases: Truk to 6, Chichi-jima to 1, Babel to 6, Tinian to 6,
Saipan to 6, Iwo-jima to 3, Guam to 6
2. Increase the PT potential of a base for the following bases: Truk to 6, Palembang to 3, Miri to 1, Balikpapan to 2,
Babel to 4, Pescadores to 4, Nagasaki to 7, Hakodate to 6
3. Increase the actual PT size of a base for the following bases: Nagasaki to 10, Hiroshima to 10


Other:
1. Add 50 PPs per day (Max allowed)
2. Add 500 PPs at Game Start

Any comments? Questions? Should I split my new Repair Yard between Truk and Babel?

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

You can always expand the repair yards, your opponent can NOT do so. So that may encourage you to make more than 1 shipyard.

Usually, resources are not a problem unless you opponent concentrates on those targets later in the war in the strategic bombing.

If you add oil and/or a refinery at Fusan, it might make it easier to haul oil from Fusan to Japan. Someone who is much more of a logistical expert (Mike Solli) might give better advice on this.

Depending upon your preference, you might want to change some small CVLs to the CVL type that can carry 50+ aircraft. I haven't opened the game for awhile so I am unsure of the name although you have it at the beginning and it begins with a "R"! Each change will give you 20+ aircraft at sea and if they are all fighters later in the war that gives you a lot more defensive capabilities.

I don't really think that you need to expand the size of the ports in Japan unless it is one where a lot of resources will be dropped off. I would consider increasing Fusan if that is where most of your resources will be picked up for shipment to Japan.

An expert can tell you if you need to accelerate that engine, accelerating an airframe or two might work better.

[Xargun]

You can always expand the repair yards, you opponent can NOT do so. So that may encourage you to make more than 1 shipyard.

Thats what I was thinking. Maybe put a size 15 at both locations and slowly expand them to be able to accommodate my CVs.

Usually, resources are not a problem unless you opponent concentrates on those targets later in the war in the strategic bombing.

If you add oil and/or a refinery at Fusan, it might make it easier to haul oil from Fusan to Japan. Someone who is much more of a logistical expert (Mike Solli) might give better advice on this.

I didn't think of that. I will drop some Oil there at start and begin the process.

Depending upon your preference, you might want to change some small CVLs to the CVL type that can carry 50+ aircraft. I haven't opened the game for awhile so I am unsure of the name although you have it at the beginning and it begins with a "R"! Each change will give you 20+ aircraft at sea and if they are all fighters later in the war that gives you a lot more defensive capabilities.

I have not posted my Air, Land or Naval expenditures yet and those are covered in the Naval spending. Almost all of my 100+ points spent in Naval is for ship conversions.

I don't really think that you need to expand the size of the ports in Japan unless it is one where a lot of resources will be dropped off. I would consider increasing Fusan if that is where most of your resources will be picked up for shipment to Japan.

An expert can tell you if you need to accelerate that engine, accelerating an airframe or two might work better.

I expanded Nagasaki to size 10 - which cannot be done in game - as the bulk of resources/oil/fuel are imported through there. Also, a large number of reinforcements are shipped out of there. I expanded Hiroshima to size 10 for the boost to repair. The bulk of ship repairs will be done in Nagasaki and Hiroshima so the size 10 port will help in there regard.

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

A refinery at Fusan will draw oil there but having some oil production there will assist CS Convoys.

I usually use another port for my resources in Japan, the one that is 2 hexes away from Fusan. I try NOT to have my convoys sail through deep water. With my play testing for WIS and other issues, I haven't opened my game for awhile so I have forgotten some of the names. I am somewhat waiting for the new and final .exe to be posted to start again.

[Xargun]

A refinery at Fusan will draw oil there but having some oil production there will assist CS Convoys.

I could put that 50 oil resource at Fusan instead of Hirosaki. If I wanted a refinery there I would need to rearrange points to free up 1 point to buy 50 'factories' that I can split up wherever/however I want.

I usually use another port for my resources in Japan, the one that is 2 hexes away from Fusan. I try NOT to have my convoys sail through deep water. With my play testing for WIS and other issues, I haven't opened my game for awhile so I have forgotten some of the names. I am somewhat waiting for the new and final .exe to be posted to start again.

You are referring to Fukuoka (sp?) I believe. hmmm... I will look at that port this evening. I'm at work and don't have access to the game itself on my company laptop.

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

A refinery at Fusan will draw oil there but having some oil production there will assist CS Convoys.

I could put that 50 oil resource at Fusan instead of Hirosaki. If I wanted a refinery there I would need to rearrange points to free up 1 point to buy 50 'factories' that I can split up wherever/however I want.

I would put them on Honshu at a base with lots of protection that is away from the coast.

I usually use another port for my resources in Japan, the one that is 2 hexes away from Fusan. I try NOT to have my convoys sail through deep water. With my play testing for WIS and other issues, I haven't opened my game for awhile so I have forgotten some of the names. I am somewhat waiting for the new and final .exe to be posted to start again.

You are referring to Fukuoka (sp?) I believe. hmmm... I will look at that port this evening. I'm at work and don't have access to the game itself on my company laptop.

Xargun

Yes, Fukuoka is the port. Two hexes away and it is just a short hop to and from Fusan. That will save fuel and it is a good place for those xAKLs in CS convoys.

[Xargun]

Yes, Fukuoka is the port. Two hexes away and it is just a short hop to and from Fusan. That will save fuel and it is a good place for those xAKLs in CS convoys.

Yeah I usually run convoys from Fusan and Shanghai into Fukuoka as Nagasaki is usually full. As for xAKLs I have a plan for all those crappy ones - but thats in the Naval Section

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

Yes, Fukuoka is the port. Two hexes away and it is just a short hop to and from Fusan. That will save fuel and it is a good place for those xAKLs in CS convoys.

Yeah I usually run convoys from Fusan and Shanghai into Fukuoka as Nagasaki is usually full. As for xAKLs I have a plan for all those crappy ones - but thats in the Naval Section

Xargun

If at all possible, get as much to flow to Fusan where it costs less to ship plus you can mine the Tsushima Strait.

[chaos45]

400 points is alot of changes, was looking at what you could do with even like 100 points and its quite abit that can change the game up lol

The issue is the allies can do some pretty nasty stuff as well with 400 points...again even like 100pts they can add alot of airframes which the main allied weakness in the early years.

[Xargun]

400 points is alot of changes, was looking at what you could do with even like 100 points and its quite abit that can change the game up lol

The issue is the allies can do some pretty nasty stuff as well with 400 points...again even like 100pts they can add alot of airframes which the main allied weakness in the early years.

Correct. Even 100 points can really unbalance the game. For Japan the points are a godsend, allowing you to plug a lot of holes in the Japanese OOB and tailor their forces to your playstyle. For the allies they can easily overpower the game - it all depends on how they spend it. Rob & I are old time players, starting over 30 yrs ago on the original Pacific War, and while we both want to win, we are more interesting in the challenge in playing against a human player. The days of mid 1943 through mid 1944 is where that happens.. If Japan can protect their forces, they can actually put up a decent fight during these days, until the overwhelming numbers and superior technology of the allies overwhelm the Japanese.

I'm not sure what Rob's reasons are, but for myself I want to see if I can do better than Japan did historically and fend off the allies longer and possibly inflict more damage to them. If I can keep the Allies from winning the game along the historic dates, then in my mind I have won. Not the war, but the game. Everyone knows Japan can never actually Win the Game (just like the war) and its a matter of prolonging the inevitable.

Xargun

[Xargun]

Here is the rest of my point allotment. Feel free to comment or ask questions...

Air:
1. Add 10 XP to pilots for 1942 and 1943
2. Add 100 replacement pilots (per month) to the Navy (1941, 1942)
3. Add 3 size 25 sentais to OOB in late 1942
4. Ad 2 size 75 sentais to OOB in late 42
5. Add 50 A6M2 Zeros to starting pool
6. Accelerate air device by 6 months - H-6 Radar from 6/44 to 6/43)
7. Acccelerate air device by 6 months - N-6 Radar from 10/44 to 10/43
8. Add 4 Training Sentais to OOB (Size 48, or 3 x 16 each)


Land:
1. Add new Inf Bde (Based of the 45th Ind Mixed Bde) in late 1942 x15
2. Add new Inf Bde (Based of the 45th Ind Mixed Bde) in 1943 x15
3. Add new Tank Bde (Based of the 6th Ind Tank Bde) in 1943 x6
4. Add new AA Bn (Based of the 40th AA Machinecannon Bn) in 1943 x6
5. Change unit from Perm Restricted to Temp Restricted x6 (All Air HQs)
6. Add 50 Aviation Support to a base force x31
7. Add 50 Engineer Squads to a base force x31
8. Add 50 Engineer Squads to a unit x9
9. Change upgrade path of one land device (Device 745 to 756) [70mm Gun to 15cm Howitzer]
10. Change upgrade path of one land device (Device 778 to 784) [Type 95 Light Tank to Type 3 Medium Tank]
11. Change upgrade path of one land device (Device 707 to 710) [IJA Infantry Squad to IJA Hvy Infantry Squad 43]
12. Change upgrade path of one land device (Device 1473 to 1461) [Sound Detector to Ta-Chi 1 Radar]
13. Change upgrade path of one land device (Device 730 to 766) [75mm AA to 12.7cm DP]
14. Change a single line on any LCU (45th Ind Mixed Bde) [Change device 707 to 709]
15. Change a single line on any LCU (45th Ind Mixed Bde) [Change device 720 to 699]
16. Change a single line on any LCU (45th Ind Mixed Bde) [Change device 721 to 1486]


Naval:
1. Change 8 CVs to Shokaku-kai class
2. Change 2 BBs to Yamato class
3. Change 5 CVLs to Aso class
4. Change 2 CVEs to Taiyo class
5. Change 39 DDs to Akitsuki class
6. Change 24 Kiso-E xAKL to Ansyu class PB
7. Change 5 Kiso-E xAKL to Akashi class AR
8. Change 48 Kiso-E xAKL to Miyake class E
9. Change 68 Diagen xAKL to LSDs
10. Change 4 Miyate class xAK to Lime class AKE
11. Change 31 Ku-dai & 8 Ha'chi xAKLs to Aden class xAK
12. Change 25 Type-1 TS TK to Type-N TL TK
13. Change 9 Kujira xAKL to Ansyu class PB
14. Add 3 knots to Type-N TL TK
15. Add 100 troop / 900 cargo capacity to Aden class xAKs


Xargun

[Xargun]

If at all possible, get as much to flow to Fusan where it costs less to ship plus you can mine the Tsushima Strait.

Do I want to put Refineries or Oil production at Fusan to help with the magic highway?

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

If at all possible, get as much to flow to Fusan where it costs less to ship plus you can mine the Tsushima Strait.

Do I want to put Refineries or Oil production at Fusan to help with the magic highway?

Xargun

Refineries will draw the oil there from other locations, oil production will not draw oil there.

To increase fuel demand there, have a large TF located elsewhere have Fusan as the home port but don't move it there. The farther away the TF is and the more fuel hungry that it is, the more fuel will be drawn there to be hauled to Japan.

[Xargun]

Refineries will draw the oil there from other locations, oil production will not draw oil there.

Cool.

To increase fuel demand there, have a large TF located elsewhere have Fusan as the home port but don't move it there. The farther away the TF is and the more fuel hungry that it is, the more fuel will be drawn there to be hauled to Japan.

I have already added that to my notes

I hope to have all the Database changes for Rob and Myself done this weekend. Then I can start Turn 1 on Monday...

Xargun

[chaos45]

Can you post what the allies picked for choices?