Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Part of the problem may be my style of play. Against both Q-Ball and PzH, both very experienced and aggressive players, I employed a very soft defense, trading real estate for time. I just wanted to make sure I lived to fight another day. But, unfortunately, playing so softly may incite an equal and oppositve level of boredom in a Japanese player. (But in May 1942????)

It's still possible this game will get back on track, so let's just leave it at this and wait a bit to see what comes of this. Perhaps I'm being too pessimistic.

I must say that from reading the AARs it was clear from QBalls point of view that the style of play issue played a role. Here the case might be different indeed.

What I would say is that to some extent this psychological "real life" aspect of the game, ie "do not play to much like the russians against Napoleon while waiting for all those 4Es and CVs or the jap player will get bored and quit" counterbalances the fact that there is no ingame mechanism to force the allies to make a stand and fight it short of menacing to topple India or Oz... That non existent constraint is in a sense replaced by that real life human aspect...

Not excusing PJH here (nor criticizing him, I don't know the situation), but for the ride to be enjoyable for both players there needs to be some fight going on. A Jap player feeling like he is chasing Shadows till late 42 and hasn't even sniffed an american CV until early 43 is bound to get demoralized.

Steve just sent a turn with an apology for being sporadic. So, we'll see how things go.

Hopefully this game continues, I'm having fun watching the action from your side CR.

ORIGINAL: veji1

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Part of the problem may be my style of play. Against both Q-Ball and PzH, both very experienced and aggressive players, I employed a very soft defense, trading real estate for time. I just wanted to make sure I lived to fight another day. But, unfortunately, playing so softly may incite an equal and oppositve level of boredom in a Japanese player. (But in May 1942????)

It's still possible this game will get back on track, so let's just leave it at this and wait a bit to see what comes of this. Perhaps I'm being too pessimistic.

I must say that from reading the AARs it was clear from QBalls point of view that the style of play issue played a role. Here the case might be different indeed.

What I would say is that to some extent this psychological "real life" aspect of the game, ie "do not play to much like the russians against Napoleon while waiting for all those 4Es and CVs or the jap player will get bored and quit" counterbalances the fact that there is no ingame mechanism to force the allies to make a stand and fight it short of menacing to topple India or Oz... That non existent constraint is in a sense replaced by that real life human aspect...

Not excusing PJH here (nor criticizing him, I don't know the situation), but for the ride to be enjoyable for both players there needs to be some fight going on. A Jap player feeling like he is chasing Shadows till late 42 and hasn't even sniffed an american CV until early 43 is bound to get demoralized.

I don't know if it would be enjoyable for me to engage in a fight I can't win, so I would rather move into a position where I actually can fight and WIN the fight. If this means there would be some "boring" months then be it.

To springboard from what castor troy just said, it wasn't like you planned to never fight PzH. There were plenty of times you were prepared to commit your forces if he made that one extra push, but the push never materialized. So I wouldn't place too much blame on your style of play, if he read your AAR versus Q-Ball he knew what he was getting himself into as well as your mentality.

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Miller

I think a lot of Jap players have trouble coming to terms with the fact their advance has reached its limits......then it becomes a case of logistics and setting up defences for the Allied comeback which can be rather tedious. Then come late 43/early 44 if the Allies win the decisive CV battle.........quitsville for many.

So sad. Not really fair to play the good years and never give your opponent a chance to realize their plans.

Just to be fair, it should be pointed out that there are just as many Allied players who get pasted in 1942 and then vanish. It has always been a problem. I admire the Japanese players who can hang into 1945.

ORIGINAL: veji1

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Part of the problem may be my style of play. Against both Q-Ball and PzH, both very experienced and aggressive players, I employed a very soft defense, trading real estate for time. I just wanted to make sure I lived to fight another day. But, unfortunately, playing so softly may incite an equal and oppositve level of boredom in a Japanese player. (But in May 1942????)

It's still possible this game will get back on track, so let's just leave it at this and wait a bit to see what comes of this. Perhaps I'm being too pessimistic.

I must say that from reading the AARs it was clear from QBalls point of view that the style of play issue played a role. Here the case might be different indeed.

What I would say is that to some extent this psychological "real life" aspect of the game, ie "do not play to much like the russians against Napoleon while waiting for all those 4Es and CVs or the jap player will get bored and quit" counterbalances the fact that there is no ingame mechanism to force the allies to make a stand and fight it short of menacing to topple India or Oz... That non existent constraint is in a sense replaced by that real life human aspect...

Not excusing PJH here (nor criticizing him, I don't know the situation), but for the ride to be enjoyable for both players there needs to be some fight going on. A Jap player feeling like he is chasing Shadows till late 42 and hasn't even sniffed an american CV until early 43 is bound to get demoralized.

There shouldn't be a problem with this. Every player who takes up the Japanese side knows it's possible, and should have a contingency plan to keep them interested. China, for instance, is a place where the Japanese can focus energy no matter what the Allies choose to do.

5/10/42 and 5/11/42

Steve and I had a frank exchange of thoughts and it seems like he's committed to the game long term. That's very good news. I told him I don't mind "sporadic turns" as long as he just lets me know, within reason, when one might come or won't be coming. Here's where thing stand:

NoPac: A big unescorted Betty raid gets chewed up over Victoria. My lone-wolf destroyer should raid at Kodiak Island tonight.

Pacific: The Tarawa invasion TFs are making steady progress, but it's so far, and turns have come so slowly, that it seems like they'll NEVER make it. D-Day should be roughly 12 to 15 days off. A small TF will unload a US Army battalion at Ndeni tonight. No apparent detection of any of the various TFs moving about CenPac and SoPac right now.

Oz: Quiet. Still no obvious signs of a move on the Perth or Townsville sectors.

Indian Ocean: No imminent move on Cocos Island detected. Right now that base has about 275 AV. I'd like to bump that up pretty soon, though finding units is tough. Diego Garcia could also use a boost. Socatra should be pretty secure until I can see where Steve sends those seven divisions recently at Singers. If they come for Socatra, it's time to "gulp." If they go elsehwere, Socatra is out of danger and I can move all but perhaps 100 AV forward. Most of that would go to Diego and Ceylon. The latter is totally empty except for support troops.

India: The Allies are actively building airfields at Ranchi and Patna, the airfields west of Japan's Calcutta MLR. The former is a level three, the latter a level two. Each can be built up to nine. The Allies have a pretty stout airforce in India.

China: The Chinese have pulled out of Lanchow and are working on the new MLR in the rough-woods to the southeast (true). Still no obvious sign of the expected IJ move on Chengte or Changsha, but I'm moving more units that way. I think they'll be needed eventually. There are some real weaknesses to the Chinese MLR now, but thus far it is pretty much intact and no decisively crippling blow has yet been administered.

Losing Lanchow, though, is a bad blow to your supply situation, isn't it? Because that negates any supplies from HI production at Chungking and that other city, because they don't have a fuel source now

With NE India taken, no help via airlift either

Right. I held it for as long as I could and until my army there was threatened with being cut off. So, I succeed in not getting my army mauled, but I fall further back. I'm Johnson retiring before Sherman. We all know how that ended - Johnson gets replaced by Hood. Will I get replaced by John III?

I think there is going to be a stiff battle in NE India in coming months as the Allies attempt to reclaim a way to supply China by air. That's good terrain to fight over, though, as the Allies can bring the full weight of the army and airforce to bear. I like that idea.

Due to retreats, are you going to end up with too many mouths to feed in China?

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Right. I held it for as long as I could and until my army there was threatened with being cut off. So, I succeed in not getting my army mauled, but I fall further back. I'm Johnson retiring before Sherman. We all know how that ended - Johnson gets replaced by Hood. Will I get replaced by John III?

Glad you guys could reach an understanding regarding the turn production.  It's too interesting a tale to slowly fade away.
 
Question CR:  Remind me what the "lone DD" raid on Kodiak is all about?  What do you hope to learn?

IMVHO, it is an attempt to keep PJH honest, making him invest in escorts for his convoys, maybe have to mine some ports. The effort in running supplies across 2/3rd of the world might stretch the rubber band a bit too far.

Next time might be a SS pack working in the north.

If you keep nipping at the edges you might create an opportunity for a bigger outcome.

If not, you lose a DD or an SS[>:]

ORIGINAL: hartwig.modrow

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Right. I held it for as long as I could and until my army there was threatened with being cut off. So, I succeed in not getting my army mauled, but I fall further back. I'm Johnson retiring before Sherman. We all know how that ended - Johnson gets replaced by Hood. Will I get replaced by John III?

[:D] +1,000,000

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Part of the problem may be my style of play. Against both Q-Ball and PzH, both very experienced and aggressive players, I employed a very soft defense, trading real estate for time. I just wanted to make sure I lived to fight another day. But, unfortunately, playing so softly may incite an equal and oppositve level of boredom in a Japanese player. (But in May 1942????)

It's still possible this game will get back on track, so let's just leave it at this and wait a bit to see what comes of this. Perhaps I'm being too pessimistic.

Not a convincing case to justify a reduced interest from a Japanese player.

My personnal view, based on the last VP screenshot provided, is that your opponent believes that he has already created the conditions for an auto victory on 1 January 1943 and therefore views the remaining seven months as a tedious wait.

Alfred

I don't think that's what's ailing PzH. I could be wrong, but I think his malaise stems from something else. I don't know whether it's game or non-game related.

I am not a micro analyst of victory point conditions, as I'm sure Alfred can tell. I'm playing more by the seat of my pants. I haven't looked into the minutae of whether Steve has cobbled together the formula to win on points. I don't think so, at least not yet.

My general feeling is that the Allies are at present in good position everywhere except China (which is a major "except"). The current situation may deteriorate, though, as Steve should remain on offense for a couple more months. By early autumn, though, the Allies are strong enough to really begin to push back in a meaningful way. Of course, I intend to push a bit earlier if I can.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I don't think that's what's ailing PzH. I could be wrong, but I think his malaise stems from something else. I don't know whether it's game or non-game related.

I am not a micro analyst of victory point conditions, as I'm sure Alfred can tell. I'm playing more by the seat of my pants. I haven't looked into the minutae of whether Steve has cobbled together the formula to win on points. I don't think so, at least not yet.

My general feeling is that the Allies are at present in good position everywhere except China (which is a major "except"). The current situation may deteriorate, though, as Steve should remain on offense for a couple more months. By early autumn, though, the Allies are strong enough to really begin to push back in a meaningful way. Of course, I intend to push a bit earlier if I can.

As I am reading both sides I am unable to really comment on Alfred's points or your response. I would only invite your attention to the variant VP effect of losing men in each of the Japanese and Allied rule sets. When you begin to "push back" ground gained with associated VP gains are not the only auto-vic considerations. "Expensive" ground gained hurts the Allies more, outside of Chinese and Soviet areas.

What?

What is the VP situation now and what plans do you have to take back areas of high VP value?