War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

[JocMeister]

Getting the Burma road open again is great news! [:)]

What has the IJAF been doing? Has he moved them to China or are they operating elsewhere?

I would listen to Alfreds cautions about China. I have been on the recieving end of a very thorough wooping there and the theatre is very problematic. Its very easy to end up without supply and if he brings in his airforce I think loosing China is a very real possibility. Atleast in my game it has not been a game of battling the IJA but supply and foremost disruption caused by massive bombings. It only takes two, three weeks of bombings to completly disrupt a 5k AV stack and burn all supply even behind forts and good terrain.

That being said you are a much, much better player then me so you this might not be an issue at all! I´m just very wary of the theatre at the moment! [:)]

[Q-Ball]

I just accepted an invitation to play PjH in a game (as Japan), and I'm serious worried. At first I though this gambit into Alaska was an ill-advised use to KB early in the game, now I'm not so sure. It will be very interesting to see what he makes of this.

I do agree with Alfred that the South Pacific is way overrated. Ultimately you can lengthen the lines to Australia, but you can't cut them, not unless you are committed to a full-on invasion of Australia, which as far as I know has not been successfully attempted vs. a human (please correct me if I am wrong)

Also, you guys talk about the Greyjoy game; what happened in that one, in a nutshell? Was a landing in Hokkaido successful?

[Canoerebel]

I had strong feelings about GreyJoy's game vs. Rader, so forgive me if I seem outspoken.

Rader, a very experienced player, pulled out all the stops and used every trick possible in a Scenario Two match against GreyJoy, a complete newb. GreyJoy was cheerfully getting abused, so alot of experienced players began offering advice and help. He was a quick learner and maintained a great outlook.

Then he orchestrated a massively unexpected invasion of NoPac that took rader completetely off-guard. GJ took all of Hokkaido, Sikhalin Island, and most of the Kuriles. Things bogged down a bit for him afterwards (Rader did a good job stopping the bleading), but in my book GJ won that game.

[khyberbill]

Consistently I advise against it because it does not cut the SLOC.

And I wish you would stop doing that! I love it when they grab, garrison and build up every island they can get their grubby hands on. I draw the line at Hiva Oa. So what if it takes two more key strokes/weeks to get to Oz!

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I had strong feelings about GreyJoy's game vs. Rader, so forgive me if I seem outspoken.

Rader, a very experienced player, pulled out all the stops and used every trick possible in a Scenario Two match against GreyJoy, a complete newb. GreyJoy was cheerfully getting abused, so alot of experienced players began offering advice and help. He was a quick learner and maintained a great outlook.

Then he orchestrated a massively unexpected invasion of NoPac that took rader completetely off-guard. GJ took all of Hokkaido, Sikhalin Island, and most of the Kuriles. Things bogged down a bit for him afterwards (Rader did a good job stopping the bleading), but in my book GJ won that game.

Well in context there were lots of home rules because the Allies were overwhelmingly borked in power and the IJ was at an extreme disadvatage so in teh name of historical accuracy both agreed on certain rules. Then the blantent trudge of the Stanly Owen Mountians with 3 full divisions I think got your dander up there Canoerebel ... [8D] The stacking limits hex map would have stopped this most ergerious explotation.

Watching your game very very closely as it will be very interesting as it unfolds. I suspect exceeding the GreyJoy and CAP Mandrake AAR's once it gets into full swing ...[;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

Can you imagine the shock effect of several hundred very angry lumberjacks in matching Pendletons and stocking caps descending on a Japanese garrison?

It's almost too horrible to contemplate.

[Ossian]

Especially if they go the Monty Python route. Poor Japanese blighters. No war is worth that.

[Cribtop]

ORIGINAL: Ossian

Especially if they go the Monty Python route. Poor Japanese blighters. No war is worth that.

Must... purge... horrible... visual... image...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Can you imagine the shock effect of several hundred very angry lumberjacks in matching Pendletons and stocking caps descending on a Japanese garrison?

It's almost too horrible to contemplate.

I'm from Oregon. Lumberjacks never match. That's what is so scary about them. There are a lot of plaids out there.

[Canoerebel]

12/29/41
 
NoPac:  Patrols reporting an arc of enemy TFs heading east or SE and still fairly distant from Coal Harbor.  That could be the objective or it could be Juneau and/or Alliford Bay.  An ACM delivers mines to Coal Harbor tonight.  Loading commences at Seattle for a US Army battalion and combat engineers bound for Coal, assuming the way remains open.  Warpsite and some cruisers and destroyers are not too far to the south.  Yorktown is ready at San Diego, but it'll be a couple of days before her destroyer escorts arrive from Balboa.  Overall the picture is still fuzzy up here.
 
Eastern DEI:  Allied carriers still south of Timor.  Enemy TFs have moved south from Ambon, but I don't know yet whether these are feints meant to flush my carriers or serious moves.  Force Z is coming back after refueling at Soerabaja.
 
Philippines:  Three enemy divisions at Clark Field, so (at least at this point) Steve isn't bypassing Luzon in favor of a deeper strike en masse.  That suits me.
 
Malaya:  The Allies should have roughly 800 AV at Singapore.  I think Steve has a decent force coming, but I'm not sure yet that it is overwhelming.
 
China: Orders issued to a variety of Chinese units to converge on an isolated IJ division.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I just accepted an invitation to play PjH in a game (as Japan), and I'm serious worried. At first I though this gambit into Alaska was an ill-advised use to KB early in the game, now I'm not so sure. It will be very interesting to see what he makes of this.

I do agree with Alfred that the South Pacific is way overrated. Ultimately you can lengthen the lines to Australia, but you can't cut them, not unless you are committed to a full-on invasion of Australia, which as far as I know has not been successfully attempted vs. a human (please correct me if I am wrong)

Also, you guys talk about the Greyjoy game; what happened in that one, in a nutshell? Was a landing in Hokkaido successful?

The thing that made Greyjoy's assault on Japan so dramatic was that his opponent had already captured all of China and all of India/Pakistan except a perimeter about 8 hexes from Karachi. The IJN was parked just south of Karachi making supply and reinforcement very difficult - they also held Diego Garcia and another island to interdict movment to/from Capetown. Greyjoy was fighting hard to keep that perimeter and the Japanese were bringing up more troops and aircraft to smash it .... when suddenly there comes a series of landings in Eastern Japan and it is the Japanese who are in dire straits.
The thing bogged down into a stalemate when the game engine couldn't handle the thousands of aircraft each side was throwing at the other every turn. Too bad - have never seen anyone take Honshu and there was a chance for that to happen in that game.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/41
 
NoPac:  Enemy carriers in two TFs - one NW of Coal Harbor sinks an xAKL.  The other is posted further north.  SigInt continues to report a maru with troops bound for Juneau.  This has all the appearance of "the real thing," though it's also possible this could be an elaborate feint.  Due to proxmity of enemy carriers, I have to pull back two TFs with troops bound for Coal Harbor.
 
West Coast:  Enemy subs off San Diego catch wind of the eight destroyers inbound from Balboa.  Undoubtedly, Steve knows about when and exactly where Yorktown is slated to arrive and will piece the puzzle together and deduce that Yorktown is, in fact, there.
 
Cenpac and SoPac:  Allied combat TFs continue to fan out on various missions to try to interdict enemy shipping at or forward of the front lines.
 
Eastern DEI:  Steve surprised me by invading Lautem again - this time with a big force of 400+AV.  The TF is covered by a Mini KB just north of Timor.  The Allies will try to intercept.  Ent and Lex (and Hermes trailing) will move to a point just to the southeast.  Steve will probably expect such a move, but there's a chance it could work.  Once he takes Lautem, I'll have to pull my carriers back, so this may be my last chance.
 
Luzon:  Enemy shock attack at Clark Field.  Only a newb or a very experienced player would do this.  A newb because he wouldn't realize a shock attack against a large, dug in army can have disastrous effects; an experienced player because he figures it's worth the outside shot and even if it fails won't have disastrous effects on his army.  The Japanese did get a stinging repulse, but not on a scale that would jeopardize their position.
 
Reading the Tea Leaves?:  Steve already had tried for Lautem once.  That TF pulled back due to Force Z and ended up landing at Kendari.  The new force has alot of heavy armor.  This is the kind of force that would due well in Oz.  So this gets me to thinking about Australia.  On the other hand, Steve hasn't shown some key signs I would expect if India were his choice - he's totally ignored Port Blair and Cocos Island during the intervals when they were ripe for the picking.  OF course, this too could be deceptions.  But these are some of the things I'm looking at in evaluating his intentions.

[Cribtop]

He moved boldly to ensure that Fortress Koepang will remain Speedbump Koepang, and was fortunate not to get burned in the process. This is really shaping up to be a great game.

[Canoerebel]

12/31/41

Eastern DEI: The attack by Ent and Lex comes up dry as the Mini KB retires. Steve's Ambon Netties fail to launch, and the Allied carriers fail to launch against small fry nearby. Steve knows the precise location of the carriers if he didn't already. Lautem falls, so the best the Allies can do now is to use the carriers to keep Steve honest. He can't penetrate deeply into the area without taking them into account. The helpful thing to me is that I know that Steve knows my carriers are present - so no more thoughts of "maybe I can spring an ambush."

NoPac: The enemy is landing at Juneau.

Pacific: USN TFs continue moving towards enemy targets, with Saratoga trailing.

Burma: Japan takes vacant Moulmein.

China: The Allies will try a deliberate attack against a single IJ division tomorrow. 1800 AV to 425 AV, so there's a chance, but no guarantee. I replaced all the poorer commanders.

Overall Situation as of New Year's Eve: Steve is pushing hard in the DEI and NoPac, steadily on Luzon and down Malaya, and slowly in SoPac. Thus far, Allied naval losses have been light - about 1,000 VP to about 270 for Japan. (I should note Force Z lost an added-on CL to a sub today, just off Koepang.) I'm worried about NoPac, but not panicked yet.

[Bullwinkle58]

When is the last pre-camping trip move day?

[Canoerebel]

Right now it looks like I will be able to play a turn on Saturday.

[Canoerebel]

Piercing the Peanut Gallery:  By the way, gentlemen (and lady?) of the Peanut Gallery, I see right through you!
 
One of the myriad small pleasures of a PBEM match is picking up on the tiny, unintentional, vague, hard-to-read signals that come from various sources.  I'm sure you all have experienced this....
 
Right now, for instance, Steve is feverishly working his turns.  Meanwhile, his AAR is lit up with activity while mine has gone ominously dark.  Now, this cannot be coincidence or a reflection of the merit of my AAR.  Steve is a Swede who probably sits around all day in a Speedo.  Meanwhile, I am a supple and winsome southerner known for his rugged good looks, modesty, and uncommon writing ability.  So I know something's up when Steve's AAR is going gang busters.
 
Seriously, I love the fact that the forums are occupied by people who do everything within their power not to breach OpSec.  You guys are good apples all.  But I see right through you! 
 
So, what does it mean?   I am convinced that Steve is up to something majestic.  It may be NoPac or that may be a feint.  I"m good at picking up subtle signals, but unfortuanely I seem to lack in making a quick, decisive and accurate evaluation.

[Historiker]

Right now, for instance, Steve is feverishly working his turns.  Meanwhile, his AAR is lit up with activity while mine has gone ominously dark.  Now, this cannot be coincidence or a reflection of the merit of my AAR.  Steve is a Swede who probably sits around all day in a Speedo.  Meanwhile, I am a supple and winsome southerner known for his rugged good looks, modesty, and uncommon writing ability.  So I know something's up when Steve's AAR is going gang busters.

[:D][:D]

Actually, it should be allowed to break opsec for that part of your posting and repost it in his AAR [;)]

[Crackaces]

Something that I had not read in the AAR yet .. might be covered and I missed it . but are victory conditions based on points or like porn .. we will know victory when we see it?

If it is points .. the Alaska Northwest offers an interesting problem. As Rangoon as a value of 100 multiplied by airfield and port to achieve victory value for the Allies Juneau offers a multiplier of 100 max port 6, max airfield 3 1800 victory points .. Skagway 25 5/3; 275; ancororage 25 4/9 900 ...and in fact there are plenty of 10, 20, 25 multipliers concentrated in the area. In terms of auto-victory it might be a gold mine in terms of minimal investment with a maximum gain in VP's ... add on the other stuff that IJ usually takes might just be the plan to take things over the top ..

[Canoerebel]

Historiker, you are welcome to post that in Steve's AAR. 

Crackaces, that's good insight.  I hadn't even thought of that aspect.

Which reminds me, I haven't even looked to see in whiat condition Steve took the oil centers at Palembang, Brunei and Miri.  Not that it's a huge deal in 1942 anyhow.