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ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

While reading "The Elephant Vanishes" (Obvert's) AAR yesterday, I noticed that his game is at 1/21/44, two months ahead of my game.

The point totals in the two games are wildly, dramatically different. This game has been much bloodier than his. That is a reflection of the nonstop action between the two sides. Since late spring of '42, neither side has been separated and there have been no lulls. We've constantly been at each other's throats from the Bay of Bengal to Sumatra to the Marshalls, Gilberts, Wake Island and now eastern DEI.

The real question is whether this is an effective way for an Allied player to wage war. I think it is. I think John's naval forces are teetering on collapse. If that's true, the payoff should become obvious in '44 as the Allies move forward from the ongoing DEI campaign.

We'll see.

Fun to look in here and see that your game has restarted. Congrats on your persuasive efforts! [;)]

Also interesting to see this comparison for me. Your game has indeed been bloodier, and the Allies much more aggressive and intent on pushing Japan to the limit. Historiker had some great moments early in his defensive phase, then suffered some setbacks in the transition to offence that slowed the game for extended periods.

Once Joseph took over it's gotten much more interesting again, and I the Allies seem again looking purposeful and steady, leading well-planned ops moving forward.

One item you didn't mention also is that the Japanese base points in your game are quite low. That will really help you as you turn the tide and can begin pushing back there, but really also that he doesn't have a buffer of points to cushion the blows to come. He also will not have had the additional supply/HI points China can provide.

The ship losses in your game are insane!!

One question: you've got some nice PPs waiting there to spend. What are you buying? [:)]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Look at the difference in points for bases. John has nearly as many bases as Obvert, but only half the points! I don't think Obvert's perimeter is bigger, so my assumption is that he's worked hard building high-value bases while John's neglected doing so.

Ahh, I see now as I read down you do mention this. That was my original thought, but it's most likely China and some lack of preparation combined.

The political points are to buy restricted Australian divisions. There are four divisions prepped for Merauke, Horn Island and Port Moresby. They, and a host of other units, are prepositioned at Normanton, Cairns and Townsville. As soon as the Allied carriers and transports are finished with Big Tent in the DEI (probably a month or two), they'll retire to Oz and handle that next wave of invasions (Operation "Third Ring.") There's a massive amount of fuel waiting in northern Oz too, along with reinforcing combat ships.

That's great - if you can keep up the momentum. I expect John will continue to try to counter-punch as best as he can (though he options are probably limited to a single theater or advance). If you can hit him from multiple angles, he won't be able to respond effectively.

11/22/43

Big Tent: An unusually quite day in the midst of the storm; meaning, no major frays. That was good, because I needed the day for logistics more than anything.

KB seems to have retired to Babeldaob, probably to refuel. With it up there and probably devoting tomorrow to the refueling, the Allies are going to cut short logistics and resume offensive measures in the Ceram Sea and Banda Sea. If things go right, there will be one fast transport invasion tomorrow and two "real" invasions the day after.

Starting tomorrow, the divisions prepped for Ambon can load for amphibious ops. D-Day for that could be in four days or thereabouts.

I think John is hoping for a CAP trap at Ternate, where he has 186 fighters and no strike aircraft. I don't want to give it to him, so I'll continue tinkering with my range settings. There were a few small air encounters today, including a small raid (probably from Ambon) that went up against vast number of Allied fighters, got chewed up, but still managed to somehow penetrate and sink a TK.

Nabire airfield (New Guinea) should go to level one in about four days. That will allow me to move even short-range fighters directly from Oz to the Big Tent AOO.

Satawal, the dot hex near Wolei taken at the beginning of the op, is still in Allied hands and flying patrols in the heart of the Japanese AOO - Truk, Saipan, Babeldaob etc. PBYs from Morotai and Sorong also get good coverage of the Babeldaob region. John will surely invade Satawal soon.

I think I'll have a brief window to try to accomplish a few things before John's forces coalesce in sufficient strength (with logistics attended to, like replenishing). I hope that, by the time he returns, Boela will be a level one airfield, Sorong a level three, and Nabire a level one.

There are so many things to do!

While piddling around in forums old and new yesterday, I discovered that in 2005, I played (or at least started) an Uncommon Valor game against Marky!

That got me to thinking about my most recent AE opponents. John III is still here and may (or may not) get back into our game (that's still to be seen). With him teetering on the edge of retirement, I seem to be developing a penchant for driving good, veteran players completely away from the game. The list of my last four opponents: Q-Ball, Chez-da-Jez, Panzerjager Hortlund, John III. [X(]

John's making a good faith effort to resume the game and has thus far sent two turns. I think another may come today. Our plan is to try to develop a rhythm. It might work, but to this point John's body language still suggests he's not into it. I don't think he will be until something favorable happens for Japan or he comes up with a promising plan. He's not hanging around the forum right now, the surest sign of all that he's not into the game. But the two sides are in such close and perilous proximity that something's bound to happen to energize him sooner or later. If that doesn't get him back into the flow, nothing will...and another AE player will have bitten the dust.

Perhaps I need to get in touch with Miller. We last played in 2010, and he's still hanging around.

Marky did an AAR for our match. With six total posts, it was a work of art: tm.asp?m=791457

Well, Nemo used to pick up abandoned games and said if he ever came back he would play you. If John retires I think it is worth an email. IF you don't have his address I expect someone on the forum does. Now that would be something to watch

J3 called me this morning, so I'm trying to keep him encouraged about your game. If he doesn't get enthused about yours, then there is no hope about his and my game.

Michael, I don't see why this game would affect your game. If John doesn't regain his enthusiasm for this one, he'll likely resign. That would leave him free (or more free) to resume his match with you.

John D., that would be an interesting proposition if John III did resign (let me emphasize: I hope he doesn't). But I'd sweat bullets if a player like Nemo stepped in. An elite level player who didn't suffer from morale problems due to a string of defeats would turn Big Tent into a Big Noose.

That's why switched games can be so interesting. The good players play the game against the other players tendencies. This current game is one of the more aggressive ones I've seen. Been a while since I read a Nemo game but I suspect you would not play him that way and if you did he would have given you enough rope to hang yourself with. Actually, I think your current operation is now fairly safe but it was out there on the end of the branch for a bit

I thought that John was experiencing some medical problems. That could account for a lack of enthusiasm.

John's had some tests run. Fortunately, they've been good to date, though there are more to be run. But I think his health is good. Hopefully that remains the case.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Michael, I don't see why this game would affect your game. If John doesn't regain his enthusiasm for this one, he'll likely resign. That would leave him free (or more free) to resume his match with you.

John D., that would be an interesting proposition if John III did resign (let me emphasize: I hope he doesn't). But I'd sweat bullets if a player like Nemo stepped in. An elite level player who didn't suffer from morale problems due to a string of defeats would turn Big Tent into a Big Noose.

Let me just say that I disagree with this assessment.

It's my AAR, so you can't disagree with my assessments.

I swear, it's time to reconstitute the long-absent Kangaroo Court.

I think one of the political parties feels there are enough kangaroos on the court already and is going to block any further appointments. Perhaps we will see some Tasmanian Devils appointed and the court will become effective again!

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

John's had some tests run. Fortunately, they've been good to date, though there are more to be run. But I think his health is good. Hopefully that remains the case.

Maybe I should have said health concerns. I only know what he writes in his AAR. Glad to hear his tests are coming back good.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

It's my AAR, so you can't disagree with my assessments.

I swear, it's time to reconstitute the long-absent Kangaroo Court.

Why do you think so ?


Ah did I mention I recently watched Pearl Harbor ? Its a wonderfull film isnt it ?

Well, Ben Affleck is in it. Need I say more? And if you liked it, you'll surely enjoy Cold Mountain, Dances with Wolves, Wind Talkers, and Kelly's Heroes.

Ye who doubt the wisdom of the Kangaroo Court, be gone.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Marky did an AAR for our match. With six total posts, it was a work of art: tm.asp?m=791457

I tried to post in that old thread. Senior moment. Has it been eleven years? Marky was quite a piece of work. Really the only person that I greened button that I can remember. Felt sorry for him though. He did admit that he suffered from Bi-polar disorder.