NFC East Showdown: Cribtop (J) vs NY59Giants (A) - Between the Storms

[Cribtop]

Welcome! I am so excited to kick off this AAR and get back to the awesome and time-consuming world of WiTP:AE.

This match sees me, a (thoroughly depressed) Cowboys fan take on a (marginally less depressed) NY Football Giants fan in NY59Giants a/k/a Michael. I'm very interested to be trying out the latest version of the Reluctant Admiral mod in this match.

The game has not yet begun, but it will soon. For the moment Michael is more than welcome here, although after he stops by I will ask him to kindly retire so that we can begin a pre-game discussion about a few particulars while I wait to get a download of AE to my new laptop.

Until then, could someone please help me gin up a new signature? I'd like a cool pic of one or more Kongo class BBs with some verbiage along the traditional lines (Cribtop; WiTP: AE; Kongo Class Fanboy, etc).

For all of our edification, perhaps when Michael stops in he could leave a list of all the changes in the latest RA version.

Really looking forward to this game and I sincerely hope all my old readers and many new ones participate in this thread. I will say that in Michael I really have my work cut out for me - he will be an excellent opponent and quite hard to beat (or even draw).

As far as the format I'll stick with what I did last time on the day to day stuff. I am thinking of doing most of the first person accounts from the perspective of the Reluctant Admiral himself, Yamamoto Isoroku.

Onward! Banzai!

[Ol_Dog]

I am going to reenlist.

Respectfully request a seat between the 40 yard lines - or near the buffet table and the big screen television

[JuanG]

Will also be following from the sidelines. I am currently at the end of April '42 in my own RA 6.6 game.

Also, I would be willing to try my hand at the signature, do you have a preference as to the image bring a photograph (either black & white or colourized) or could it also be artwork?

[Cribtop]

Thanks, JuanG. I would probably actually prefer artwork.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop
This match sees me, a (thoroughly depressed) Cowboys fan take on a (marginally less depressed) NY Football Giants fan in nygiants59 a/k/a Michael. I'm very interested to be trying out the latest version of the Reluctant Admiral mod in this match.

Whilest I've come to respect both your and nygiants59's presence on the forums, I simply can't stomach his choice in football teams. I grew up in Richardson, TX in my football formative years. Like the old ads for Pace Picante Sauce, anything made in New York City should be followed by a muttered chorus of "get a rope". [;)]

Go get 'em Cowboy! Erm...BANZAI!!!

[obvert]

Looking forward to this one! Glad to see you back in it!

[Cribtop]

Thanks, guys. Hopefully I can run my Empire better than Jerry Jones runs Da Boys!

[SierraJuliet]

I'm in too. I've appreciated your comments in my AAR and am slowly working my way through your last one. Looking forward to see what you do with the Empire.

[ny59giants]

First, let me say I was glad to have Dwain (Cribtop) accept my private challenge to a game. However, I must correct my esteemed opponent. This will be a game using the soon to be finish "Between the Storms" mod which is Treaty Mod + Reluctant Admiral. John 3rd (J3) did most of the work with my excellent counsel looking over his shoulders to complete Treaty Mod. [;)] That should be finalized by the weekend. I have already looked over the excellent work done by Symon/JWE to bring RA 7.0 up to the latest DBB version (mainly the ground OOB is now totally DBB format with the new changes to Australian, New Zealand, Dutch, and Philippine troops) and made a few changes (a change log is in the works). I was hoping to have this game start by now, but real life (working for a living) has slowed down J3. We should be ready to go sometime during preseason NFL football. I will start my own AAR soon and like the title that Dwain came up as I was thinking along this line now that the World Cup is over and the American football season gets ready to start.

Of course we need to discuss limited HRs and where the Japanese will surrender. [:D] Most of my banter will be in our emails and in my AAR.

Good Luck Dwain!!

[Cribtop]

Oops, shows what I know! I knew this was a heavily modified RA but didn't know it had a separate mod name. D'oh, I'll change the title.

Sorry if I jumped the gun on starting this AAR before the mod is through, but there is a specific purpose - namely seeking advice and counsel on how to utterly defeat you, of course. Let's do this - finish the change log and post it here and then we'll get to plotting. [8D]

[CowboyRonin]

I was really hoping for dual AARs for this game, since both players are excellent AAR writers, as well as very skilled players. It sounds like I will have to contain my enthusiasm for a little while, but the game should be well worth the wait.

Jumping out to a big lead with deep strikes, and then holding on for dear life, hoping the defense holds out? Sounds like a very Jerry game plan to me [;)]

[BBfanboy]

Here ya go- use it if you wish!

[Cribtop]

OK, I guess I'm mentally challenged tonight. How do I update the thread title to reflect the correct mod name? I see where I can change the "RE" line for a given post, but I didn't think that changed the thread title itself.

[Mike McCreery]

Looking forward to the AAR regardless of title ;]

[BBfanboy]

Unfortunately it does change the title, as I found out when I thought the individual posting subject would not change the AAR title.
It did, and in the process I nearly breached Op Sec since my subject line would have given a clue to the opponent of the AAR author.
Fortunately, witpqs was there to put me straight and get the title changed back. I find it strange that someone other than the author can change
a title that is visible in the forum table of contents.

[Cribtop]

Thanks for all your kind words, folks!

I now fixed the thread title. Edit - Hmm, didn't work.

BB, thanks for the picture and the tip!

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Here ya go- use it if you wish!

DAMN! Send that to me. I'd love to have that to look at. Where did yo find it BBFanBoy?

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

First, let me say I was glad to have Dwain (Cribtop) accept my private challenge to a game. However, I must correct my esteemed opponent. This will be a game using the soon to be finish "Between the Storms" mod which is Treaty Mod + Reluctant Admiral. John 3rd (J3) did most of the work with my excellent counsel looking over his shoulders to complete Treaty Mod. [;)] That should be finalized by the weekend. I have already looked over the excellent work done by Symon/JWE to bring RA 7.0 up to the latest DBB version (mainly the ground OOB is now totally DBB format with the new changes to Australian, New Zealand, Dutch, and Philippine troops) and made a few changes (a change log is in the works). I was hoping to have this game start by now, but real life (working for a living) has slowed down J3. We should be ready to go sometime during preseason NFL football. I will start my own AAR soon and like the title that Dwain came up as I was thinking along this line now that the World Cup is over and the American football season gets ready to start.

Of course we need to discuss limited HRs and where the Japanese will surrender. [:D] Most of my banter will be in our emails and in my AAR.

Good Luck Dwain!!

Michael is correct.

The Treaty Mod just got finished today. I am shifting to going through RA 7.0 to check it and then we'll splice the two together to form Between the Storms. The Treaty Mod deals with the Washington Conference and London Naval Conference until the withdrawal of Japan from the Conference system. This means 1922-1937. RA deals with Yamamoto Isoroku becoming Naval Minister in 1937 instead of taking the Combined Fleet. His changes in Reluctant Admiral focus from 1937-1941. It seemed like a great idea to bring the two Mods together to create a complete ALTNAV History covering the whole period 'Between the Storms." Have to admit that I wanted to use this title due to it being my Master's Thesis Title for my History MA.

Treaty Mod is pure vanilla DB-C Dec 7th OOB with just a few bright and shiny toys added. Will Post the Intro to the Treaty Mod below:

The Treaty Mod
ALTNAV 1922-1937

The Treaty Mod for AE has been created to reflect a slightly different outcome of the historic Washington and London Naval Conferences: 1922-1937. With little changes and tweaks to the Treaty System, a slightly a-historic outcome is produced. It should be noted that no changes are made to any major power from 1937-1941.

The Washington Conference
Charles Evans Hughes blueprint for disarmament gets out and the Japanese stonewall a Naval Conference for a full year. The Conference does take place in 1922 and disarmament is agreed upon, however, there are additions allowed due to the added time to get the meeting going. The whole Mutsu Debate is scrapped due to Mutsu actually being ready and deployed at that point. While maintaining the 5-5-3 ratio between Great Britain, the United States, and Japan, there are several new outcomes:

1. The Japanese then argue to keep either a Tosa or a pair of the Amagi Class battlecruisers. The Americans carry the day in arguing for the Lexington-Class battlecruisers being completed. They gain the Ranger and Constellation (while scrapping BB Mississippi to maintain balance), Great Britain gets the option to build a pair of Super-Hoods (while additionally scrapping Royal Sovereign), and Japan completes Amagi-Class Ishitaka.

2. The whole subject of CVs is reworked:
a. Allow two 'experimental' CVs (two Hosho's and two Langley's)
b. Two BC conversions are allowed but further treaty tonnage is added for one more CVL to be built by both Japan and USA. The Americans build the King’s Mountain (proto-Independence Class) and the Japanese back off the failed Ryujo design to build Ryukaku (a proto-CVL as well).

The London Conference
Moving on to the London Conference (1930) and the subject of Cruisers is re-worked:
1. Japan--at all costs--sticks to its goal of 70% for CAs (instead of 60%). This allows for GB and USA to build two more CAs (USA: Burlington and Rome) while Japan gains one.
2. Great Britain--who nearly scrapped the treaty due to the issue of CAs and CLs--stands firm over its argument and forces a larger tonnage for CLs. USA adds USS Anchorage and Dallas.
3. Both Japan and the United States were looking at hybrid Cruiser—CVs and they force Great Britain, following the example set with the Washington BC—CV Conversions, to allow for two hybrids each in the early-30s. USA builds CLV Charlotte and Jacksonville, GB builds CAV Melbourne and Wellington (sold/given to those respective navies), and Japan finishes up with CAV Kushiro and Tokachi.

***It should be noted that to take maximum advantage of the revised Treaty tonnages, Japan converts several of the oldest CLs into fast ML, builds additional Myoko-Class CAs and keeps the Mogami Class as 6” CLs.

As war clouds gather on the horizon, the United States makes several important decisions (1) to slightly reinforce the Asiatic Fleet with an additional CA, CL, and 4 modern DDs, (2) Admiral Hart also decides to follow his inner thoughts and begin development of Cebu as an alternate anchorage, and (3) the Scouting Force, commanded by Vc-Adm Wilson is sent south to protect the Philippine reinforcement TFs going to the Philippines (The Pensacola TF) and the empty TF returning from the Philippines (The Chester TF).

Japan deploys its few new ships to protect the Invasion TFs coming from Babeldoap and Cam Rahn Bay as the Kido Butai steams towards its rendezvous with destiny at Pearl Harbor…


Unfortunately Michael is correct. Life has gotten very hectic at the Cochran Household. This weekend is our annual town celebration and it is the busiest day of the year at my business. We've also been getting the caboose all ready for its 62nd B-Day Party on this Friday. LOTS of stuff happening. Hope to have RA checked out by Monday and then make the changes adding in the Treaty Mod. Shouldn't take too long...HOPEFULLY...

Dwain: Is it OK to read this since you and I will start a match once this one settles down? We plan to play BTS where Cribtop plays the DARK SIDE of the Allies once the craziness of those opening months is done in his match with Michael.

[BBfanboy]

Can't remember where I found the website - I save pics of ships I like when I find them on the web but not the site name I found them on.
I think it was one that shows box art from ship models.

You can copy the picture right from my original posting just by right-clicking and choosing "save picture as". The website
gave it a numeric name but on my hard drive I called it BB Kongo, so that is what I assume the original website called it.

If I get time later today I will try to find the website - lots more beautiful paintings like this of BB Kirishima:

[Cribtop]

John,

Since I will be playing Allies I think we are fine for you to read and comment, but thanks for asking!

Still having trouble changing the thread title for some reason, by the way. Edit - Scratch that, got it working.