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Well, I have finally decided to start a new campaign and try an AAR. Have been playing BTSL for over 2 years as Japan trying to learn the complexities of Japan. Krsihub1492 has accepted a challenge so we will be starting soon. Having been so long since I had a new opponent the house rules are under discussion. Here is what kris has proposed.


I have asked for PDU to be off (wanted to try it that way) but kris wants it on due to the scenario being designed for it that way.

FOW ON
Advanced weather ON
Allied damage control ON
Historical first turn OFF or ON
Dec 7 surprise ON
Reliable USN torps OFF
Realistic R&D ON
No unit withdrawals OFF
Reinforcements FIXED
Auto sub ops OFF
Turn cycle: 1 day turns
TF Move Radius - ON
Plane Move Radius -ON
Set all facilities to expand - OFF
Auto Upgrade ships and air - OFF
Accept Air and Ground replacements - OFF


House Rules:

1. No dot base invasion/paradrops. (not sure if I like this one or not)
2. On turn 1 Allied player can move TF's at sea and Chinese air and ground units if non-historic first turn.
3. Pay political points to cross national borders. Exception, Thai units may only operate in Thailand or Burma.
4. Multiple port strikes allowed as long as carrier based planes involve with LBA. So, moving part of KB at Babeldoab to off Manila is OK, if non-historic first turn.
5. No warp invasions on turn one, but Mersing Gambit on 8th or 9th OK .
6. No restrictions on strategic bombing outside China. So, Allies can bomb Palembang day after Japan captures it. China is allowed on Jan 1st '43. (should I have a problem with this)

Any feedback would be welcome before we start as this is going to be a long commitment. I am doing this AAR but am still not sure of how I will write things up. Can anyone suggest a good screen capture program, i used to use snagit (since lost on an old computer) but it is expensive to buy.

I expect all Japanese fanboys to help me be the best that I can be, or at least to keep me from making a fool of myself[X(]

Dot bases are not bases; they are potential bases. They are valid real estate for operations. Some can be built quite high with sufficient time and effort, and either player should be allowed to make that decision.

I have no idea why this HR is proposed, but it's off the mark IMO. I would never agree to it.

PM me if you want some examples of dots that should be open to development.

If you can't invade dot bases or paradrop on them, how else would you capture some of them? Rowboats? Especially if there was just a fragment of a unit flown in there. Like a couple of air support squads so search planes could fly from there?

This is why I am asking for feedback[:)]

Most dot bases I wouldn't invade anyway, as it takes godawful long time to make them into anything, and Japan doesn't have enough good engineers to spread around, but you never know what you may want to build in this game and I have never gotten to endgame.

ORIGINAL: kfmiller41

Most dot bases I wouldn't invade anyway, as it takes godawful long time to make them into anything, and Japan doesn't have enough good engineers to spread around, but you never know what you may want to build in this game and I have never gotten to endgame.

If the rule is meant to prevent splitting a unit into tiny fragments and using them to take multiple vacant islands, I agree that should not be done. Using a full unit sequentially to capture a cluster of islands is OK. If paradrops are ruled out, insist on being able to use FT or Sub transport to bring in a small unit.

At the risk of piling on, HR #1 doesn't make any sense. I'd ask for a rationale on that one. The other HRs seem to be OK.

Cheers,
CB (formerly Commander Cody)

Wouldn't do that anyway as it is gamey to me (am a big history buff and do try and play somewhat historically) But I do like the full unit invasions, as that what i would do anyway.

PDU should be ON with this mod. That is how John and I designed it.

Dot bases "should" be invaded and allow para drops. Japan has extra paratroops like the whole 1st Para Div.

Japanese Engineers & Vehicles - I've added lots to your OOB. Beware of trying to expand bases and/or forts too quickly as it's easy to run a supply deficit. I did that in one restart as Japan and Tokyo never seemed to build up a surplus.

I hope you have Tracker up and running as it makes life much less stressful as Japan.

BANZAI!! [&o] [&o]

With HRs less is more. Just ensure you both understand the ones you have and if you feel there was a violation of one of them approach it if he may not even know it was a violation and work it out. I have never played this mod so I would not suggest any HRs because the changes made may have taken previous HRs and made allowances for them. Enjoy your first turn click-fest, and have fun.

The biggest problem with the Dot bases is eventually the Allies will move back into them. You can very quickly have a nasty airbase in your rear causing you all kinds of problems without at least having to invade (even empty). Or worse, they sneak an AV in and then PBYs show up and you have to figure out where they are coming from. I guess that could fit your vision of playing historically.

Wa

Re rule 6. I would allow bombing of HI(arsenals) and Manpower (terror bombing) in China, and forbid the bombing of LI there. Thus, the strategic air war can still be waged, but the Chinese LCUs will not starve completely, since they will have LI to generate food for them. Also, this will make the Ledo-China airbridge have more meaning than usually.

I sent my revised HR to kris and if he agrees I will post them and begin the long turn one plot. Have been going over a lot of stuff regarding aircraft and supply etc, have an idea for a plan and will post it once I have it plotted on paper[:D]

ok here are the house rules we agreed on, am going to work on turn one.[X(][X(][X(]

PDU on

FOW ON
Advanced weather ON
Allied damage control ON
Historical first turn OFF or ON
Dec 7 surprise ON
Reliable USN torps OFF
Realistic R&D ON
No unit withdrawals OFF
Reinforcements FIXED
Auto sub ops OFF
Turn cycle: 1 day turns
TF Move Radius - ON
Plane Move Radius -ON
Set all facilities to expand - OFF
Auto Upgrade ships and air - OFF
Accept Air and Ground replacements - OFF


House Rules:

1. No non-dot base invasion/paradrops.
2. On turn 1 Allied player can move TF's at sea and Chinese air and ground units if non-historic first turn.
3. Pay political points to cross national borders. Exception, Thai units may only operate in Thailand or Burma.
4. Multiple port strikes allowed as long as carrier based planes involve with LBA. So, moving part of KB at Babeldoab to off Manila is OK, if non-historic first turn.
5. No warp invasions on turn one, but Mersing Gambit on 8th or 9th OK .
6. No restrictions on strategic bombing outside China. So, Allies can bomb Palembang day after Japan captures it. Allow bombing of HI(arsenals) and Manpower (terror bombing) in China, and forbid the bombing of LI so supply isnt destroyed and china is still viable.

Good luck in your endeavors. I will watch patiently in the background. Maybe you can convince your opponent to do a brief AAR from his point of view too.

tried, he is going ot pass on that. It is a lot of work if you do a good one

anyone know a good screen capture program that is cheap or free to help with my AAR

I use a nice little program called Greenshot. Pretty nifty once you set it up.

Well for what its worth, turn one is done (whew I hate that turn)

Spent a lot of time moving transports to where I will need them for resources/oil.

Pearl Harbor raid will be by 4CV 2CVL TF plus oilers. Am not expecting to sink much as in my previous games using this mod results have been poor. This is due to the pilots not being as good as stock, but the upside is I have a much better pilot pool and new pilots come in much better trained. It is a trade off I have to live with but in the long term it helps me.

Anyone who has not played Between the Storms before, this mod changes so much for both sides and Japan plays totally different than usual. I really really have to move fast to get oil/fuel because I only have about a years worth on hand[X(][X(] but I have many more good ground forces and air to support a quick drive. Have to see how my opponent decides to play, if he is aggressive it could get really interesting early.

China I am massing forces for a move from Canton, and will be posting my plans for China later. Have to get my Oil/Resource problem sorted out first.

My plans for the northern area are as shown




[X(][X(]

Southern area plan. Also going to take Makin and Tarawa as per usual. Will expand from there.




I am new to this but it seems I can only put one picture per post, is that right or am I doing something wrong.