Here come the Rebels! (Canoe v. Q-Ball)

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

These are true "carriers" in the sense that they come equipped with squadrons meant to fly. I will use these to help cover the Sumatra invasion force.

As for the CVE's meant for replenishment, I generally offload the strike aircraft and use the carriers solely for CAP/escort purposes.

Under limited conditions I will use CVEs for replenishment, but most of the time I've found that replenishment isn't an issue in carrier battles. Before you could hope to replenish, the damage has been done, sorites are very limited, one side or the other has been viciously smacked down, and the battle is over. Thus, replenishment is a virtue in theory more than in fact. I'd rather have the 25 or so fighters assisting with CAP.

P.S. My opponent has once again disappeared into WitE land as he has begun his second match there. This is very frustrating, because he was available and online throughout the weekend, but was clearly uninterested in this game. So while he plays games to his heart's content, I'm at his mercy as he sends turns occasionally but only when it suits him.

Sounds like Brad is too guilty to break up with you and is waiting for you to break up with him....[:D]

[pmattiasn]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

12/15/42

Exmouth: The Allied invasion is going well to this point. Two CA-led bombardment TFs hit the base, followed by 230 SBDs during the afternoon (TBFs also flew raids though every single one of them was set to "naval strike" only). The troops began landing during the PM. Only about 60 AV came ashore, but most should land tomorrow. The defense is a Naval Guard unit that should be pretty roughed up by bombardment and bombings. The Allied troops will deliberate attack tomorrow. About four SBD squadrons are set to strike again, with B-24s to hit the airfield. It appears that Brad has filled Exmouth's airfield with strike aircraft, and probably has done the same at Corunna Downs and Port Headland. I just hope the KB does'nt show up (no sign of it).

Hi,

have been following the titanic struggle for India with interest, and sorry to see this game slowing down. Just a short note on the issue you've had with TBs that I recently got help resolving over at techsupport - one that has really bugged me for a long time.

The solution I have used is the following: Whenever you have a CV carrying both DBs and TBs, and you set the DBs on a secondary mission (port, AF, ground strike) but do not want the TBs to get involved but keep on standby for naval strike also in the pm phase, you need to MANUALLY set them for "rest" as secondary mission. Now that I come to think of it (haven't done much invading where opposing navy has been present since I learnt this) I'm not sure if this means that they literaly "rest" and NOT conduct navstrikes in the pm phase... Maybe someone else can chip in on that? Surely there is some way to get the TBs to be set on "keep a lookout for enemy ships and hit them with torps whenever spotted and do nothing else regardless of what the chaps in the Dauntlesses may be doing over the jungle including after the lunch break"?

Cheers and best of luck with the game - I keep it bookmarked and hope to see you try out your counterstrike.

/Mattias

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

These are true "carriers" in the sense that they come equipped with squadrons meant to fly. I will use these to help cover the Sumatra invasion force.

As for the CVE's meant for replenishment, I generally offload the strike aircraft and use the carriers solely for CAP/escort purposes.

Under limited conditions I will use CVEs for replenishment, but most of the time I've found that replenishment isn't an issue in carrier battles. Before you could hope to replenish, the damage has been done, sorites are very limited, one side or the other has been viciously smacked down, and the battle is over. Thus, replenishment is a virtue in theory more than in fact. I'd rather have the 25 or so fighters assisting with CAP.

P.S. My opponent has once again disappeared into WitE land as he has begun his second match there. This is very frustrating, because he was available and online throughout the weekend, but was clearly uninterested in this game. So while he plays games to his heart's content, I'm at his mercy as he sends turns occasionally but only when it suits him.

Sounds like Brad is too guilty to break up with you and is waiting for you to break up with him....[:D]

Fortunately for us all, Canoerebel has taken on a 'ricochet romance'. Of sorts. [:D]

[Lomri]

Yeah, right, just wait until he hits the winter season and he'll be back to WitP!

[Canoerebel]

12/16/42

Exmouth: Two Aussie brigades easily take this base, so the pre-invasion bombardments and strikes by SBDs turn a questionable operation into a quick and effective strike. Some poorly coordinated strikes by alot of Zeros and a handful of Vals don't accomplish anything other than getting alot of Japanese aircraft shot down. With one exception, all ships will retire, including the carriers and combat TFs. The exception is one badly damaged xAK that will continue to unload. One more turn to clear the vicinity and then the Allies can declare this a rousing success.

Strategic Implications: As regular readers knows, this operation is primarily intended to suggest that the Allies are focusing on NW Oz: the fall of Exmouth combined with the Allied moves at Daly Waters and Katherine. An Allied LST (the second to arrive in the game) moving from Portland to San Diego was sunk by a sub. This would be a strong clue that the Allies were concentrating invasion ships somewhere other than NoPac. That would bother me (considering the role I want NoPac to play as a deception), but the fact that the Allies have just taken Exmouth might persuade Brad that the LST might have been slated for upcoming work in SWPac.

China: Still no luck taking the forested hex NE of Sian. My troops will rest a few days.

India: It will take troops about a week to get in position before the next operations get underway (assault on the Kohima to Ledo bases and invasion of North Male Island).

[Capt. Harlock]

That would bother me (considering the role I want NoPac to play as a deception), but the fact that the Allies have just taken Exmouth might persuade Brad that the LST might have been slated for upcoming work in SWPac.

Well, the LST was moving in a southerly direction, which might help Brad to reach that conclusion. On the other hand, he probably didn't get a report on the ship's course.

It sound like ASW operations off the west coast might use a boost . . .

Congratulations on a successful op at Exmouth! Any report of whether the Japanese airstrikes were land-based or sea-based?

[Oliver Heindorf]

wat is hier los ? [&:]

[Canoerebel]

I "stated my case" to Q-Ball two weeks ago rather firmly. I requested either regular turns (whether that's once a day or once a week or once a month) or emails letting me know when a turn would or wouldn't be coming. I then promised I wouldn't say anyything more to him about it.

In replying, he agreed that he did need to do better in communicating his availability. He sent the next turn promptly. Then we were interrupted while I was out of town. Then he sent a turn that arrived this past Monday. I sent the turn back on Tuesday, after returning to town. I haven't heard from him since, but he's been in the WitE forum regularly. Communication is not Q-Ball's strong suit.

[crsutton]

Yep, sorry to see it but this one is withering on the vine. May be best to pull the plug-for your own sanity.

[Miller]

I'm sure someone would be more than willing to pick up the baton from Q-Ball if his heart is no longer in the game.

[princep01]

Why torture yourself over Q-balls disrespectful actions. Just pull the plug and walk away or see if someone else can stand in. He obviously doesn't care and his disregard for your time is telling. Just declare victory (well deserved) and motor on in your other games.

I know that if I played a game and had a forum like this going and my opponent did this, he would be on my lifetime "no play" list for any game.

Really immature of Q-ball. I would have thought better of him.

[crsutton]

Well, the game is far from over. Qball has lost some infantry but with scen # 2 it can be rebuilt and Canoe has taken his losses in India as well. (slow to rebuild) He has all of his ships intact. Why not ask him to let you advertise for another player to take over his role? No sense flaming him-this sort of thing happens. Some just deal with it better than he has. A new Japanese player would not be inheriting a hopeless position at all.

[Canoerebel]

Several have asked in my other AAR whether this game is off. I declared a sabbatical last week, but Brad (Q-Ball) hasn't replied. Here's the email that I sent:

Brad,

You sent a turn on the 14th; I sent one on the 15th. I haven't heard from you since then, which means one of three things:

1) You didn't receive the turn I sent on the 15th.
2) You did receive it, but I didn't receive a turn you sent thereafter.
3) You haven't had a chance to do another turn.

Whatever might be the case, I think the fact that you haven't gotten in touch to see where we are is a strong indication that you have little interest in the game at the moment.

I've asked you before if you'd like to take a sabbatical, but you declined. At this point, I'm taking one in the interests of the game. We can resume whenever you'd like and whenever you're really available, whether it be a month or six months from now.

Dan

As noted above, Brad didn't reply to this email, continuing a highly irritating and uncourteous habit of failing to communicate to the minium extent needed to keep a game going. Since he hasn't replied, I can only assume he is as irritated with me as I am with him. Whether the game will ever resume is uncertain.

crsutton is right about not piling on, so I'll close by saying this. In my opinion, Brad is an exceptionally gifted player. In real life, he's probably a great guy - very nice and undoubtedly thoughtful by nature. As far as this game goes, however, he has conducted himself poorly over the past five months.

[Cribtop]

CR,

Very sorry to see this is the state of affairs. As you know from my previous (aborted) AARs, I feel your pain. Fortunately it seems your game with Chez is moving along well.

PS The Devs confirmed to me that the upcoming patch is code only, so I'm working on Turn 1 for my new game with Cuttlefish. The fur will start flying sometime soon!

[Oliver Heindorf]

[Altaris]

I too am sorry to see things come to this state. Your AAR's are always a pleasure to read, and I think you've handled yourself in the current situation very well. While I can personally understand Q-Ball's dilemma of having fallen in love with WitE, it's not right of him to just up and leave you hanging like this. Gotta say, it's greatly lowered my opinion of the fellow, and I've generally been a fan of him throughout my WitP and WitE days.

[desicat]

Too bad, I wanted to see how the invasion of Sumatra worked out against a player of Q-Balls talent.

[Canoerebel]

Note to Chez Da Jez: Please don't read this AAR as I want to discuss certain themes that will overlap both this game and our game. Thanks!

After a 2.5-month hiatus and a week of exchanging emails, Q-Ball has decided to resume the game. I'm very glad, as we had invested so much time.

It will take some time to re-orient and reaquaint myself with the situation. The game is in December 1942 and the Allies have spent the entire war prepping for the invasion of Sumatra in the spring or summer of '43. I want to reevaluate my plan based upon what I've learned in my current game with Chez Da Jez. It is likely I will continue with the plan as is, but one option I want to look at is shifting the invasion west to take western Sumatra, or possibly to hit Port Blair and Malaya, though doing that will be tough as a move on Port Blair would alert the enemy immediately.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

After a 2.5-month hiatus and a week of exchanging emails, Q-Ball has decided to resume the game. I'm very glad, as we had invested so much time.

Reading the WitE forums it looks like it was shipped unready to play after 1942, and the devs are trying to change the props while in flight.

[Canoerebel]

I don't know if Brad is playing WITE as much now - I check the AARs occasionally to read his, but he updates less frequently now.