ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Take it. You need the strait to lunge further into the DEI.
Oddly enough, Merak isn't necessary. The Allies have freely and abundantly navigated the Sunda Straits from Oosthaven into the Java Sea and back without impediment or loss.
Now, had Steve built up the Merak airfield, the situation might be entirely different. The pucker factor would be high if I had all these capital ships and juicy convoys at Oosthaven, one hex from a huge airfield filled to overflowing with crack bombers and fighters. But Merak is still a level one field, another one of those inexplicable oversights that have occurred in the game.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Samas, Sarawak: Massed waves of IJ bombers, mainly Sallys, return to hammer this Brit-owned base for the third day in a row. Over this period of relentless pounding, the Japanese have managed to eliminate one of the nine support squads posted here. We believe that if Japan keeps this up for several more weeks it will be able to invade and take this base by committing a force of six preying mantises, four barnacles, and a club moss.
DEI: The skies were filled with IJ patrols and recon. This might be a function of good weather allowing more activity, or it may (in tandem with the cruisers and BB Kirishima sighted near Vietnam yesterday) indicate the Indians are on the war path. Billiton Island airfield went to level four. You can see that it will soon control passage through the Java Sea, so Japan's has nearly lost the ability to navigate this end of this important waterway. A strong detachment of Chindits, prepped for Kuching, will arrive at Ketapang in two days. Lots more base forces and engineers coming into Oosthaven over the next five days. Lots of SigInt of small units prepping for Palembang, but no big units.
Burma: The Very Happy Stalemate at Magwe continues. Lots of SigInt over the past week showing troops inbound to Cam Ranh Bay, including two divisions. This makes no sense to me, but I assume they might be bound for Burma - but there is no rail between this base and Bangkok, so it would take an awful long time to get there. Perhaps Cam Rann is a staging point, or perhaps this is some kind of deception.
NoPac: No sign of imminent enemy action against the Allied bases in the Kuriles. Sharp action between Allied and top-quality IJ fighters over the past week - a serious increase in IJ commitment. I still think Steve will move on these islands before the end of the month, but the ending is rapidly approaching. The Allies have Wasp and a CVE in the Bering Sea just in case an opportunity arises. Two more CVEs are on the way from Tacoma, but they will arrive just in time for winter.
CenPac: Lots and lots of IJ shipping at Lunga. But since this theater is absolutely irrelevant, I'm glad to see it there.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
If he's landing at CRB, it is more likely a staging point for a move in Sarawak or South Borneo. He can safely navigate to Bangkok as easily as CRB, and would have if those troops were headed to Malaya or Burma. Could be deception, but I doubt it. Maybe we'll finally get some action.
I have been reading your AAR religiously even though this game has clearly been over for a long time now.
I am mostly a Japan player and I will not try to defend Chez's gameplay, as it is obvious that he made a few horrible mistakes at the beginning that hampered is campaign from the get go. That, coupled with your brilliant play, doomed the game from the start.
There is only one comment that I'd like to make in Chez's defence: you have always wondered why he didn't challenge you in the air in Sumatra, saying that scenario 2 is a "star war".
My experience tells me that Japan air power is not related to scenario 2: even in scenario 1 if you manage the economy reasonably well you can produce a million planes without any problem as the difference in industrial capacity is very small.
What is really limiting Japan in this game is PDU OFF, as most of its air force is still obsolete and Chez is forced to use crappy Oscars and Nates (instead of the uber Tojo), and most of his bomber groups use Idas and Sonias. As soon as he run into trouble he didn't have the forces needed to wage an effective air war over Sumatra.
It is true that scenario 2 gives Japan some advantages in other areas (mainly a few more divisions and some DDs) but regarding air power there is no difference between the 2 scenarios.
As a Japan player I would much prefer to play Scen 1 with PDU On as opposed to scenario 2 with PDU OFF: the first choice gives clearly a better chance of being competitive, especially in the crucial 42-43 timeframe.
Thanks for the comment, hkbhsi. I may not be giving Steve enough latitude for the effect PDU Off may be having on him. That's mainly because I don't know whether it effects both sides equally or one side more than the other. When we started, I was under the assumption that it was a neutral feature - both sides would be limited in producing next-generation aircraft - but would stop some of the ridiculous massed early use of 2nd and 3rd generation fighters.
Miller, who is a credible voice for the IJ player, has stated several times in here that he thinks PDU Off really hurts Steve. I'm am unable to form my own opinions on the matter, so I will defer to folks like him and you who have strong and seemingly well-informed opinions.
If PDU Off really hurts Japan more than the Allies, then henceforth I will play with PDU On even though the Star Wars aspect of AE is one of the few remaining features that really bugs me. I'd much rather have a tight contest and Scenario Two provides that...at least with PDU On.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Thanks for the comment, hkbhsi. I may not be giving Steve enough latitude for the effect PDU Off may be having on him. That's mainly because I don't know whether it effects both sides equally or one side more than the other. When we started, I was under the assumption that it was a neutral feature - both sides would be limited in producing next-generation aircraft - but would stop some of the ridiculous massed early use of 2nd and 3rd generation fighters.
Miller, who is a credible voice for the IJ player, has stated several times in here that he thinks PDU Off really hurts Steve. I'm am unable to form my own opinions on the matter, so I will defer to folks like him and you who have strong and seemingly well-informed opinions.
If PDU Off really hurts Japan more than the Allies, then henceforth I will play with PDU On even though the Star Wars aspect of AE is one of the few remaining features that really bugs me. I'd much rather have a tight contest and Scenario Two provides that...at least with PDU On.
Well...it's pretty easy imho to understand why PDU OFF hurts Japan so much...the Star War effect is clearly related to the fact that Japan can field an unlimited number of Tojos Sentais in 1942...when the Ki-44 is a Ferrari against a Trabant...
Yeah, it really bugs me that Japan can mass produce and use the Tojo in early or mid 1942, facing P-39s and Mohawks, while the Allies have no ability to produce early. That was what I was trying to reign in when I asked for PDU Off. But if it's too hurtful to Japan, then I think I'd rather play with PDU On and just accept that we're playing Star Wars.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
From the peanut gallery, superior S & T from the outset allows you to dictate the situation.
ps. If thats your HQ and your hiding a "looker" in there, I think we better call the FBI as their has to be restraints involved.
pss. I had to go way back and reread the opening two months of the campaign to discern my comment above. I would have to agree he has either formed one concrete ring around the home islands (The Kuriles situation tends to throw this opinion out the window) or has turned quite a few turns over to you allowing to much time to slip by. Sitting at Allied HQ in late Nov. '42 (for the first time) I see some wonderful things coming our way along with increased output for replacements. The first LST has arrived. Spitfires. faster battleships, better escort DDs, upgraded LCU firepower, the list goes on. I wish I had more than one flattop!
psss. One question. You mentioned, and I remember early on, you jumping on the IJA in China, should he be recovered by now or has the situation continued? I have a very bad feeling in China right now, mostly from the expanse between the Pearl and southern tribs of the Yangtze rivers. Next time around for this HQs is to look for an answer there.
ORIGINAL: hkbhsi
As a Japan player I would much prefer to play Scen 1 with PDU On as opposed to scenario 2 with PDU OFF: the first choice gives clearly a better chance of being competitive, especially in the crucial 42-43 timeframe.
I agree. Although I may not be a credible voice for the Japanese side of things (Canoerebel: [:'(]), PDU off is prohibitively restrictive to the Japanese side, whilest being a minor annoyance to the Allied side, in my opinion.
I scen 2 the Tojo comes 4/42 in scen 1 9/42 In both cases its impossible to accelerate it even a single month (certain bugs/exploits excluded)
In scenario 2 the Tojo arrives on 6/42 and it is possible to accellerate it by at least a month if you invest in it. In scenario 1 you can accellerate it by 2 or 3 months depending on luck and commitment.
I scen 2 the Tojo comes 4/42 in scen 1 9/42 In both cases its impossible to accelerate it even a single month (certain bugs/exploits excluded)
In scenario 2 the Tojo arrives on 6/42 and it is possible to accellerate it by at least a month if you invest in it. In scenario 1 you can accellerate it by 2 or 3 months depending on luck and commitment.
My understanding is similar to Graffin Zeppelin's. Is there some novel patch by which your Scenario 2 availability results differ?
Yes its June indeed.To accelerate them is still impossible without using exploits afaik.
Contrary to other models, there is no possible exploit to accellerate the Tojo, as it is the first in line. I have been able to have it in production by april 15 in my game, only by heavy investment in research.
Yes its June indeed.To accelerate them is still impossible without using exploits afaik.
Contrary to other models, there is no possible exploit to accellerate the Tojo, as it is the first in line. I have been able to have it in production by april 15 in my game only by heavy investment i research.
Yes its June indeed.To accelerate them is still impossible without using exploits afaik.
Contrary to other models, there is no possible exploit to accellerate the Tojo, as it is the first in line. I have been able to have it in production by april 15 in my game only by heavy investment i research.
Realistic R&D on or off ?
ON with 10x30 factories doing research and not with the bug from one of the betas.
Yes its June indeed.To accelerate them is still impossible without using exploits afaik.
Contrary to other models, there is no possible exploit to accellerate the Tojo, as it is the first in line. I have been able to have it in production by april 15 in my game, only by heavy investment in research.
I'd say that this is phenemonal acceleration versus modest-heavy research investment. I've certainly seen other research programs with more than 3x30 research factories-I'd describe those as heavy.
My interpretation of your advancement is that you can, with a moderate-heavy research commitment, still deploy your Tojos in 4/42. Most players will at least ascribe moderate research to the Tojo line, so I'd say that this is probable for most players with scenario 2.
So, in 5 months of game time, you've been able to shave off 1.5 months of airframe availability by research. Were you able to get this airframe historically only on or around 1/43, you'd probably have shaved between 3-4 months off of the availability by this approach. You should be able to pull forward the Tojo IIb and IIc by considerably more with your fully repaired factories.
Man oh man, do I wish I had a more solid understanding of Japanese production before I started my current PBEM...
It has already been mentioned, even in this thread, that it would be nice to have some kind of middle ground option between PDU On and PDU Off, perhaps using PP cost (is there a way in the engine to model increasing PP cost for the more squadrons converted, or perhaps have a per squadron pp cost to do a player defined upgrade (which would essentially be the same thing)?)
