Notes from a Small Island

[Canoerebel]

1/27/45

Shimishura: Japanese auto-bombardment and Allied bombardment result in few casualties, but the AV totals show the Allies with a 4:1 advantage (I really can't figure out how Japan has 300+ raw AV here, given the AVs shown in the bombardment results for each unit).

[BBfanboy]

I wonder if he has some units in Reserve mode to prevent them taking part in combat? You might only find them during a bombing or naval bombardment if it happens to hit a unit that is not on the Ground Combat list.

[Canoerebel]

I always thought all units are displayed in the combat boxes, even those that might be in reserve or rest mode. If that's what I always thought, I'd better prepare to get schooled.

[BBfanboy]

I can cite no examples for my speculation, only an attempt to guess what might be happening and hoping others can say for certain - yea or nay!

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I always thought all units are displayed in the combat boxes, even those that might be in reserve or rest mode. If that's what I always thought, I'd better prepare to get schooled.

No, they are displayed even if in Reserve/Rest. You are correct.

The AV's shown in the "box" (as opposed to the raw AV shown in the top level of the combat report) are the unit's adjusted AV and takes into account things like supplies, disruption, and fatigue. Or perhaps some function of the unit's adjusted AV.

[Itdepends]

Support devices provide AV when defending but not when attacking. Could that be part of the difference?

[Canoerebel]

I think Lokasenna's answer must be it. So when the Combat Report shows the Japanese AV at 316, that's raw AV. Then the combat boxes that show each unit along with AV shows the net AV, after adjustments for lack of supply, fatigue, disruption, leaders, etc.

[Canoerebel]

Erik and I picked up this game March 1, 1944. We're now at the end of January 1945. The game should go into late '45 or early '46. So we're probably nearing the halfway point.

When we started, the Allies were "behind" the historical timeline, but had suffered few losses. Ditto for Japan - few losses. Both sides were very strong. The most daunting things, to me, were Erik's reputation as a player and the challenge of closing on the Home Islands within a reasonable amount of time.

Eleven months later, the Allies are now ahead of the historical timeline (that's not unusual) and appear to be poised to efficiently prosecute the war against the Homeland. There's a chance the Allies could prevail at or near the historical end-of-war, though I think late '45 is more likely. From a gaming standpoint, I don't think I've "outperformed" Erik. Nor do I think he's outperformed me. Both sides have gotten in good licks and both sides have suffered blows. The outcome of the game, as far as winning and losing, is probably up in the air, still to be determined.

I'm enjoying the game very much. It's been quite a ride.

[Lokasenna]

Without looking back for your most recent score screen... I'll beg to differ.

You'll win this with an AV later in 1945, precisely because:

but had suffered few losses.

Without that bank of permanent VPs, Japan simply can't delay the inevitable long enough to matter. You'll have 4E bases from Hokkaido in a few months and then you can harvest VPs wherever you want simply because of the threat of strategic bombing over the entirety of Japan.


Don't forget to bomb the industry on Hokkaido before you capture it. You do not get points for anything that is damaged/destroyed when it falls into your hands (I'm 90% sure on that).

[Canoerebel]

That's the master plan - bombing industry before taking a Home Island base.

I believe you're correct that no points are awarded for taking a base that has industry, whether undamaged, damaged or destroyed.

[Canoerebel]

1/28/45

With a new turn in, I'm looking at three things: (1) For the first time in a month, a major Allied raid will take place against Kushiro, with the primary target being enemy fighters; (2) I've got to decide whether to drag things out at Shimishura or expedite them while moving on to another island; and (3) it's time to execute the extraction of units at forward islands that are destined for other targets.

Shimishura: A fairly effective bombardment. This, with what follows during the bombardment phases, makes me lean towards proceeding with the conquest of this island while initiating another invasion. I think I might be able to more effectively sell Erik on that than I can by loitering at Shimishura, playing too loosely.

[Canoerebel]

1/28/45

Shimishura: Screen capture shows unit AVs at the start of the Japanese auto-bombardment phase (I messed up the second screen capture that would have showed the AVs near the end of the Allied bombardment phase).

The Japanese army seems to be gassed, here. I think I'll try a probing deliberate attack tomorrow or the day after and see how that goes, before making a final decision as to how to handle Shimishura.

[Canoerebel]

1/28/45

Air Losses: Sync bug really messed up the air action during the turn.

I set up large sweeps of Bangkok, where Erik has 150 fighters, and large sweeps followed by escorted bombers at Kushiro, where he has 250 fighters. The primary objective was enemy fighters; a secondary objective was to work on industry at the latter.

The result was surprising. The individual sweep altercations went in favor of the Allies, until ops losses were factored in. Then the escorting bombing raids got chewed on pretty badly. By the end of the turn, the Japanese had scored a 200 to 150 victory. Since victory points are more important than ever, I need to give this alot of thought.

Digging a bit deeper, the fighter tallies were acceptable, with Erik losing 157 and me 117. That's not bad.

Digging deeper, I lost 16 Superforts and a bunch of Venturas. It's okay to spread losses around, so that my fighters don't take the brunt of things. The next month or two is really going to be about fighters, so trading some of my bombers for some of his fighters will be necessary. But I need to tweak my approach. The Liberators hold up much better than the Superforts do. The 2EB are somewhat expendable, but pools are low, so throwing them away isn't an option.

[BBfanboy]

In the earlier part of the game B-17s are much more durable and they shoot down more enemy fighters. I always took that as the heavier defensive armament of the B-17s vs the B-24s (which sacrificed armament for range).
Do you have enough B-17s to have them stand in for the Superforts?

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

In the earlier part of the game B-17s are much more durable and they shoot down more enemy fighters. I always took that as the heavier defensive armament of the B-17s vs the B-24s (which sacrificed armament for range).
Do you have enough B-17s to have them stand in for the Superforts?

B17s are almost non existent at this point in the game.

Production and replacement stopped long ago.

A new wave of them will come from Europe after the Germans fall, but that is a ways out.

[Canoerebel]

Hans is right.

I did inherit a goodly and surprising number of B-17s from SqzMyLemon. They were all located in Burma and India, so that's where I've used them. I still have a handful left, but they don't seem to be any more immune to good enemy fighters than my other 4EB are.

The new model B-17 comes online in big numbers sometime in the second half of 1945.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


The new model B-17 comes online in big numbers sometime in the second half of 1945.

It's been a long time since I saw those (AI game), but I always thought of them as the Big Silver Birds. They're not magical, but you get so damn many of them. The monthly production is just beautiful.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


The new model B-17 comes online in big numbers sometime in the second half of 1945.

It's been a long time since I saw those (AI game), but I always thought of them as the Big Silver Birds. They're not magical, but you get so damn many of them. The monthly production is just beautiful.

Not to mention that you get a bajillion groups arriving at Eastern US with 16 planes already in them. And 60-Exp pilots.

[Canoerebel]

1/29/45

This turn opens with my attention focused on Shimishura, where the Allies are to attack for the first time. The attack is preceded by another tank battalion coming ashore (to trigger a Japanese auto-bombardment). There's no ship bombardment today, because DS is too far away to provide adequate cover. I don't think the risk is worth it.

Shimishura: The attack goes very well for the Allies. The only break on taking this base is the need to overcome the remaining five forts. Shimishura will likely fall inside 10 days.

[Canoerebel]

1/29/45

NoPac: The op going on right now is mostly "below the surface" but is incredibly complex. It's far more complex than the next invasion will be. I can't wait until it's time for that, just so I don't have to deal with the tediousness and tension of the complex but decidedly unsexy things I'm dealing with to prepare.