Bill Brings Banzai

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: GetAssista
Also, sudden carrier loss syndrome might rear its ugly head for your opponent. Be gentle

No way. Times like this call for the jackboot to go onto the throat. Sure, don't lord your victory over him in your communications, but you've got to cut his guts out (in the game) early and often.

Perhaps he'll be demoralized by SCLS and quit? It's possible. But I'd rather have that happen early in the game than later. It would also be helpful to fellow forumites to know what future opponents are more likely to fade into the ether at the first sign of trouble.

Yup.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I really like using the surfeit of SC and cSC ships in the DEI and big ports in the area for short-range escort or local ASW patrol. I actually replace some of their skippers to get their naval skills and aggression up in the midling area.

Keepin' words alive! Atta boy, er, Chiceknboy. [8D]

I know words. I have the best words. [:D]

[BillBrown]

Combat report for CB

[BillBrown]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

Dec 14, 1941

Ship and air losses. Sadly I seem to lose 1 or 2 ships most every turn to
those pesky S class subs and the dutch ones.

He seemed to set his CVTF CAP to 100 %, since there were two ineffective SBD
strikes on KB that were not escorted.

I really like using the surfeit of SC and cSC ships in the DEI and big ports in the area for short-range escort or local ASW patrol. I actually replace some of their skippers to get their naval skills and aggression up in the midling area. They're the best ASW platform (in terms of ASW rating) you'll get for a long time and you have them in abundance.

They've got pretty short legs, so you'll have to stagger them through Nagasaki-Shanghai-Hong Kong-Manila-wherever. I'd have them coating the coast of Luzon and the Formosa straits to dissuade such S-boat activity.

Even with a 100% CAP and 80NM detection, the Allied fighter scramble was entirely ineffectual. Altitude settings?

This is one of the things I am learning. So many things to know about playing Japan, very different from playing the Allies.

[Chickenboy]

Thanks for posting the Combat Report, Bill.

A suggestion?

Very soon, the value of plasterizing Manila's AF / Port with Netties will not be worth the risk to those planes and pilots. Check out the skills of some of those guys-they're studs! Don't get 'em shot up over Manila or other defended airdrome. Keep 'em alive and rotate them out into your reserve pool for future KB TB pilots. After about the first week, I reserve all attritional duties like airfield bombing for my Sally and Lilly pilots.

[BillBrown]

Two things, I am going to go back and edit my posts to change the date. I think I am a day off.
That is a good idea CB. I am only sweeping with some A6M2s and will be moving them to the DEI with the Netties.
There was one post that had the wrong date, sorry.

[BillBrown]

Notes to do about my opponent.
I never crow about my successes in our emails, that is a rule for all my games. I know that there will be times that I will suffer
losses and I don't really need my opponent to crow about them.

The last turn I got this email from my opponent, I have been telling him how I am not really giving him an A game.


Keith Allen
Attachments
Mon, Jul 1, 3:26 PM (17 hours ago)
to me

I await developments.

I'm also happy to restart if you find a plan crystallises but then would have problems/excessive delay in putting it into operation because units aren't prepped, where you need them to be or are otherwise unavailable as a result of ongoing play in this game.

In the meantime, here is the turn.

This was my answer I sent before I had run the turn

restarting now would not fix anything. I need to experience the full game to see what I need to concentrate on at the start.
My economy seems to be doing fine.

We have only played a few days and a restart would only change the first few days. I am going to behind schedule because I am not
familiar with the tempo that Japan needs to keep to. At the same time, I made the decision when I started this game that
I would only expand to a little beyond historical and then wait to see what he did and try to blunt his counter attack.
The results of the last couple of turns puts me in good position to do this.

If my opponent wants to end the game, I can surely understand. I never try to talk a player into continuing if they want to quit.
Usually they just play a bit and then find a reason to quit later.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
Even with a 100% CAP and 80NM detection, the Allied fighter scramble was entirely ineffectual. Altitude settings?

I had a thread some time ago about that: I'm still in the dark about the Air Combat model.
Seems like in early war Allied CV CAP sometimes just lets it happen. One more reason to be extra careful with your CVs as AFB

[Chickenboy]

Bill,

Yes, the pace that the Japanese need to keep up the first 5-7 months of the game is staggering. Everybody should always be doing something every turn, whether that's resting, planning for the next target, moving to target, refueling, attacking the enemy, whatever. Every. Day. It's a whirlwind.

Sc. 2 helps a bit by pre-positioning a large heap of supplies and fuel in Truk and a few other locations. You also get a few Guards Divisions and armored divisions earlier than Sc. 1. This helps keep up the fight forward when your initial IDs are fatigued and need to recuperate. Recommendation: familiarize yourself with your upcoming OOB, particularly those early divisions at CRB.

In planning for near to intermediate goals (i.e., before the amphibious bonus expires), you have some options that need to be weighed soon. The fact that the USN CVs are unlikely to challenge you in the Pacific for a while elevates the probability of your successful execution of those options. What's next?

[BillBrown]

This is what I was afraid of, now what do I do.
Email from Keith:

Hi Bill,

I think you possibly need a sharper opponent.

It seems very likely I will have lost all 3 CV's within the first week of the war. I know in theory the Allied player can recover from this but I think that takes more skill than I currently have. I don't think this game is going to be much of a challenge for you now.

If you want to keep experimenting with your Japanese planning and start, then I'll happily match up with you and hope to improve my game in the process to the point it becomes an interesting contest.

Keith


the problem is that I don't think his heart is going to be in this and when the next bad turn comes for him what will he do.

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

This is what I was afraid of, now what do I do.
Email from Keith:

Hi Bill,

I think you possibly need a sharper opponent.

It seems very likely I will have lost all 3 CV's within the first week of the war. I know in theory the Allied player can recover from this but I think that takes more skill than I currently have. I don't think this game is going to be much of a challenge for you now.

If you want to keep experimenting with your Japanese planning and start, then I'll happily match up with you and hope to improve my game in the process to the point it becomes an interesting contest.

Keith


the problem is that I don't think his heart is going to be in this and when the next bad turn comes for him what will he do.

If he wants to improve his skills then set an end date like March 31st, 1942 or something. Then both of you can work on your skills without going to far in....GP

[larryfulkerson]

OR you guys could do a restart. Maybe a different scenario?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: btd64

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

This is what I was afraid of, now what do I do.
Email from Keith:

Hi Bill,

I think you possibly need a sharper opponent.

It seems very likely I will have lost all 3 CV's within the first week of the war. I know in theory the Allied player can recover from this but I think that takes more skill than I currently have. I don't think this game is going to be much of a challenge for you now.

If you want to keep experimenting with your Japanese planning and start, then I'll happily match up with you and hope to improve my game in the process to the point it becomes an interesting contest.

Keith


the problem is that I don't think his heart is going to be in this and when the next bad turn comes for him what will he do.

If he wants to improve his skills then set an end date like March 31st, 1942 or something. Then both of you can work on your skills without going to far in....GP

Good idea! When first learning the game I did that a bunch (against the AI) and it really helped ramp up things. That would help both of them as there are plenty of things to be seen in that span which will be learned from. Stopping now on a game-debacle would deny them that chance. A restart when they are both more up to speed sounds like a great idea.

[jdsrae]

Ponder what would have happened if this occurred in real life. This would have sent more shockwaves through the halls of the capital cities of the allies so soon after PH. What would the voting population do with their elected reps?
Would this have been enough to get the allies talking about reopening diplomatic means to resolve the dispute with Japan?
Not immediately, but come Apr 42 with Japan’s perimeter where it wanted and no striking power in either the RN or USN fleets the Japanese would have been in a strong position to propose terms.

[Chickenboy]

Sorry to hear that, Bill. It appears that your opponent has no staying power and is unlikely to develop that staying power in the foreseeable future.

Were I in your shoes, I'd not entertain such an open-ended 'learning game' devoid of the suspense and challenge of beating a rival. He's changing 'the contract' a mere week after signing on the dotted line.

I'd put a 'period' at the end of the sentence. If he wants to surrender or quit the game, then he is free to do so. But he loses. You beat him. You won. Full stop.

THEN and only then-after the original terms of the game are officially completed-would I consider any further gameplay. And then, it's YOUR choice how you'd like to proceed.

You don't have to hitch your wagon to his falling star for 4 years. If you want to take on a learning game with another opponent, that's your prerogative. If you want to restart with another opponent that's your choice. If you want to continue with the same game (and he'll give up his password) and another opponent, then that's your choice.

In other words: the choice is yours and not his. What do you think will give you the game that you are looking for?

[BillBrown]

You are probably right CB. But I am a forgiving person so I offered this:

Keith,
It seems like we have a few choices and maybe one or two that can roll into one later.
1. End the game and go our separate ways.
2. restart the game.
3. Continue on.
4. continue on with a short end date of say March 31, 1942. This would give both of us some experience and insight.

We may be able to roll 4 up with 2 at a later date.

I am willing to go with what you want.

Bill

I will wait to see, he probably will not answer until tomorrow morning.

[BillBrown]

Let us consider a possible restart or new game. I want to ask a big question and would like a lot of
responses. Simple question really, Manila or Pearl Harbor day 1?

[larryfulkerson]

I vote for a Manila strike to destroy as many subs as you can.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

Let us consider a possible restart or new game. I want to ask a big question and would like a lot of
responses. Simple question really, Manila or Pearl Harbor day 1?

I always elect to turn Manila into a potato patch too. Though my preference is in the distinct minority of JFBs.

Bill: Did you save your turn 1 before sending it to your opponent the first time around? That may save you considerable time in a restart.

ETA: My "Manila" answer was brief. When you are looking for more detailed pros/cons for that strike (vs. PH) I can go into more detail then.

But ask yourself this: what is it that you are most looking for in a Manila strike vs. a PH strike? How can you / how will you take maximum advantage of what a Manila strike does vs. a PH strike?

[BillBrown]

Yes I do have my turn 1, it is the one I zipped up and sent to Larry.
But there are things I did that I would like to change and some of them can not be changed.

My main idea of a Manila strike is to have KB in the DEI area for supporting the early turns.