Advice sought-No AW1Steve

[Chickenboy]

I'm faced with a quandry in one of my PBEM games and I'd like the community's opinion...



The game involves a PBEM against a great forum member and friend, AW1Steve. We are plodding through 1942 and about to enter into November 1942 in a scenario 2 game.

The RN and most of the Brit LCUs have been shredded, as has the Dutch navy. The Chinese are down to Chungking which is peskily holding out against several attacks. The USN is largely intact, minus some tankers and the whole of the Asiatic fleet, which was masticated in the initial months of the war.

Currently the VP count stands at 30,296: 6,742, a 4.49:1 ratio.

In accepting this game, Steve assumed some liabilities associated with the Allied position in a scenario 2 game. He's also accepted some (few, granted) house rules that limit strategic bombing until 1 January 1943 in particular. He's been given a **** sandwich and had to take a big bite. No, he's had to eat it all and ask for seconds. It's sucked for him and he feels poorly about the game in general.

Right now, in the South Pacific, I am in a position to engage 5-6 Allied CVs with (minus the recently arrived Ryuho and CVEs) the whole of the KB. Some 11 CV and CVLs. Numerically, based on several turns of recon, it would mean 700 IJNAF vs. ~500 USNAF airframes against one another. Furthermore, the engagement would likely occur inside of Netty airspace, permitting another 70 torpedo bombers +36 escort fighters into the fray. Wasp was recently torpedoed near Suva, so she's out of the fight for now. The balance must consist of *all* remaining Allied CVs and CVLs (Indomitable was sunk by surface action several months ago).

This is a good opportunity to destroy his CVs before the arrival of the Hellcat or Essex class carriers. In fact, I may not ever have another golden opportunity.

But I don't think it's realistic to assume that I will maintain a 4:1 ratio in such an exchange. In fact, I think it's more likely that I will achieve a break-even or pyrrhic tactical victory. This change in the VP ratio may take auto-victory off the table in two months.

I've been playing largely to see if I can, with some of the actions taken to date, force an auto-victory. We would play through that into the late war if that is Steve's desire. I think it is.

But striving for the auto victory in this case is anathema to the aggressive tendencies of the IJN and, furthermore, my gameplay tendencies. My 'knuckle-dragger' self wants a barroom fight and blood. Lots of it. My actuarial self says to decline the engagement at this time, wait out the auto-victory. Then, on January 2, 1943 use my fleet in being in a defensive capacity to counter his inevitable amphibious assaults in the CentPac and SoPac.

I'm torn and vacillating between the two options. Ahistoric (and hard won) auto victory or bloodlust? What say you lot?

[Spidery]

Bloodlust!

The threat of auto-victory has achieved its objective, the USA press says "SOMETHING MUST BE DONE", and the Allied command has responded even though they would rather wait.

It will be interesting to see if you can then hold on to get the 3::1 victory in 1944, or even a 4::1 victory with the fall of Chungking.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

Bloodlust!

The threat of auto-victory has achieved its objective, the USA press says "SOMETHING MUST BE DONE", and the Allied command has responded even though they would rather wait.

It will be interesting to see if you can then hold on to get the 3::1 victory in 1944, or even a 4::1 victory with the fall of Chungking.

Don't know about Chungking. The issue is in doubt. There are another 300,000 Chinese cut off in the bush that are a tasty source of VPs though-I'll be paying them a visit soon.

[Lokasenna]

You are over 3300 points over a 4:1 ratio. This gives you a lot of leeway in maintaining the 4:1 here... If you trade 1 CV and 1 CVL, with say 100 total aircraft including strike losses, for maybe 3 CVs of his with about 200 aircraft losses? That's 550 or so VPs for him and 1100 or so VPs for you. So only a 2:1. However, you'd still be at a 4.3 ratio.

*shrug*

I'd probably pull the trigger and have the fun.

[Gaspote]

If you think you can win, win ! [:D]

[nashvillen]

This game is more about the experience, than the win. I would go for the battle knowing you could have been "gamey" but wanted to have more experience with the game instead of just wasting the time it took you to get to this point to stop playing. Yeah, it sucks to be Japan in late 1944-1946 (I know, approaching October 1945 in one game with rjopel), but that is part of the experience and being careful with your supplies and fuel in 1942-eary 1943 is part of that.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: nashvillen

This game is more about the experience, than the win. I would go for the battle knowing you could have been "gamey" but wanted to have more experience with the game instead of just wasting the time it took you to get to this point to stop playing. Yeah, it sucks to be Japan in late 1944-1946 (I know, approaching October 1945 in one game with rjopel), but that is part of the experience and being careful with your supplies and fuel in 1942-eary 1943 is part of that.

This.

If you were really into the 'game' aspect then auto vic would be a different sort of consideration. But as you've described things, you ought to give yourself a brief timeout to take your actuarial self out back and beat the stuffing out of it.

[HansBolter]

If you aren't sufficiently ashamed of yourself in the first place for duping an Allied player into accepting a Japanese easy mode scenario you should just commit seppuku now.

[kbfchicago]

I think you've answered your own question; "I've been playing largely to see if I can, with some of the actions taken to date, force an auto-victory".

[USSAmerica]

Andre, kudos to you for completely fooling me as to the content of this thread.

.... and Banzai!!! [:)]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: nashvillen

This game is more about the experience, than the win. I would go for the battle knowing you could have been "gamey" but wanted to have more experience with the game instead of just wasting the time it took you to get to this point to stop playing. Yeah, it sucks to be Japan in late 1944-1946 (I know, approaching October 1945 in one game with rjopel), but that is part of the experience and being careful with your supplies and fuel in 1942-eary 1943 is part of that.

Thanks for the reply, nashvillen. We would 'play through' the January 1, 1943 autovictory-at least that's what we've discussed in the past. We would not stop the game at the January 1 dateline.

The biggest question isn't whether we stop play then but whether I minimize the risk of VP loss over the last two months of 1942 to preserve the 4:1 ratio.

[Chickenboy]

Thanks to those of you that replied thoughtfully above.

I've heard of a number of games (usually scenario 2) where the Japanese were oh so close to the January 1, 1943 autovictory. 3:1 or 3.5:1 seems quite common. Close, but no ceegar!

Almost achieving that goal is certainly not the same as achieving that goal. It's like going to college and dropping out 2 credits shy of the degree. It's like kissing your sister-it's not the same as the 'real deal'.

By my calculations, were I to "give" the Allies 850 points, that would bring the ratio to 4:1, so I think, Lokasenna, that we disagree about the edge in points that I have here. 850 points is Akagi, Shokaku and Ryuju alone, not counting air losses. That's not much-these are high value assets.

[nashvillen]

Don't forget the aircraft on the carriers also. Those are VPs.

[topeverest]

CRUSH those pinko communist Americans!

While I have also read your illustrious opponents bid for help and am perplexed by you game mastery, how many chances do you have to launch an empire armada like that - or have a game like you have had!

The real question is how you get him to come out and play with his fleet?

You know better how he plays and what he would respond to.

[Chickenboy]

Aye, topeverest.

I tracked the Allied CVTFs to a point NE of Suva. One of my I-boats put a tin fish into Enterprise two turns ago. What a pleasant surprise!

With Wasp out for a while and Enterprise torpedoed, I made an intercept course for the Allied CVTFs NE of Suva. I'd hoped to engage them at 7 hexes en route to their destination. Ganging up on a damaged Enterprise? Where do I sign?

No dice. They've buggered out. Nowhere to be found.