Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[witpqs]

Thanks!

[Crackaces]

In advance .. Sorry for double posting

But the context of my postings is to point out the context of thoughts in a AAR develop. Threads like this is how I learned this game ... The manual simply did not provide the background to understand this game.
There are so many nuances .. and nuances to the nuance ...

In my first AAR, Alfred and Nemo were so helpful in developing in my understanding of this game ..
it led to an early victory. A butterfly beating its wings in Australia causing a hurricane in Florida really applies in this game.

Just 2 things I did that many posted as advice that "could not be done" and probably the people posting had bad experiences doing it thus from that perspective good advice ...

#1 conduct a land operation in Northern Oz ... how supply pulses worked was changed during my game and building bases up promoted supply propagation .. thus the operation was successful ..
#2 Conduct an operation in Burma ... again the key was building up bases .. some of them seemed obscure .. but it was important to propagating supply
In that time an exchange of thoughts led to the importance of Ramree Island ...

Why these operations were successful was an exchange of thoughts about how the game really works vs documented ..

One thing about Witpqs posting above that should be pointed out .. he did not say something like "Every pilot is trainable .. " he clarified my brash statement and information was exchanged ..

I just wanted to put my context in perspective ..

Back to the AAR ,,

[Ingtar]

The variety of equipment and player styles helps make this games AARs such a fun exercise to follow. (It also makes the game fun.) I'll never be fit for play against another human, but still enjoy the AI.

[Lowpe]

I have used P39s in lowNav in Ironman Nasty Nasty to protect Tahiti and other bases like that in the Pacific. Great use. Never thought to use them in Burma for low ground, but I like that idea too.

___________

Balloons: I have been wondering about balloons, and their use. I had thought balloons are present when the airfield is size 6, but now, found a post that it is: Port + AF >= 6 and balloons are present.

Then the balloons are present in numbers directly related to the fort level. [X(]

Twin engine and 4E planes increase the balloon size by +4. And balloons work to an altitude of 6K.

Balloons can be avoided by experience check (the higher exp the better chance at avoiding balloons).

I am combing thru the patch notes now to see if this is mentioned anywhere, but a lot is clearer to me now with how balloons work.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

Not to Hijack the thread ..but in context .

No hijack at all! Very informative![&o]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Ingtar

I'll never be fit for play against another human, but still enjoy the AI.

Sure you can, if you can afford the time commitment. [;)]

[Lowpe]

March 16, 1944

Night bombardment at Ominato. An escort hits a mine (I think), and the coastal guns manage to score some hits on the battleship.





The Wake CD gun unit is at Hachinohe, and he bombarded it once, but there were so many damaged American destroyers he hasn't been back. Yet.

[Lowpe]

Finally get an AA regiment into the jungle to protect the troops...these troops have taken close to 90% of all bombing raids in the past month.



One AA unit, forts 1, and I immediately see a nice drop in the disruption of the troops here.

[Lowpe]

Absolutely no air activity over Honshu. A good day for repair and replacement of fighter strength and the economy keeps pumping.

Over on Formosa, I try to move a dozen xak/xaps one hex and disband into a small port to hide from the deathstar. I set the ships to flank speed, do not unload (they were empty anyhow), and do not fuel.

They don't disband at port in the night, and then they are all sunk. Oh, well. I got spanked here trying to be clever.

The last large troop convoy unloads and disbands at Singers, so all three made it up to the coast safely thru all the Allied subs. Now most are moving inland in China for safety.

Over at Luzon, a large convoy delivers a half dozen engineers, air bases, and a HQ. Troops that were in norther Thailand a month ago.

In Hong Kong, several ships move north to Canton including a dozen fully loaded oil tankers. They will try to hide there or escape to the west if they get a chance.

[Lowpe]

Taking the hint from Lok, I turned my motorized support to stockpile, and sure enough it stops production so now I can build up my vehicle points.

I get 2 tank units in the next 8 days, one is a destroyed unit from Hokkaido that starts with one tank, but the other comes in 8 days with a full TOE. If I read the rules correctly, and I don't have the production (vehicle points) to fill it out then it will start with 25% of the TOE (emergency mobilization).





According to my math I should just make it. Then I need to worry about the new tank models in June! It is always something. Will I even make June?

[Lowpe]

A couple of battle reports...looks like he swept about 15 mines before being put under. I don't know why he bothers, it not like my minefields have actually ever hit anything but they sure have let the CD guns get some practice in.[:)]

[Lowpe]

Pondering the state of the game...

I don't think he will invade Honshu without the deathstar being present. Maybe he could later on in eastern Honshu with just baby carriers and ground based air. But not yet.

I think I probably have at least one more month before it comes, if it comes.

Still working at retreating everything back to Luzon/Formosa/Japanese Island/Honshu.

Worrying about Thailand, as always. I have some reserves on the Vinh line, and thinking about how to hold Singers. There currently is 100K supplies in Singers and with the deathstar out and about off Formosa, it probably won't get any soon.

[ny59giants]

How are your defenses on Luzon and Formosa?? If I was the Allies, capturing either one of them would do wonders in isolating Japan from any further resources and oil from the SRA.

[Lowpe]

Luzon is ok...Formosa is very weak only about 500 AV on the entire island. Just got a load of aviation support so it is good there, but nothing else.

[JocMeister]

I wouldn´t worry about Formosa at this stage. Going there doesn´t really give him anything he doesn´t already have by being on Hokkaido. Besides pretty good VP modifiers that is!

[Lowpe]

I think you are right Joc, he is going to go for Honshu.

If no invasion comes for the next 60 days I will feel a lot better. Quite the haul in land troops. Of course their starting morale is low, but they are boots on the ground and will look impressive to his recon pilots.

A lot happens in the next two months. B29s will be pounding everywhere. Probably not a safe point in the Empire. New Japanese tank models come online, and they are very nice. The J2M3 with four cannons will be nice. Place it will be the half way mark to 1945.

AA upgrades will be coming, lots of 12 cm guns which I really need. And, in July there is a huge downsizing of the IJNAF squadrons (a lot go away), and finally the RTA units will be going away too!

Quite a lot happening, plus whatever huge 1000 ship operation the Allies have in store for me.

[Lowpe]

Turn is away, and just did more of the same, rebuilding squadrons with planes and pilots, training, moving troops, trying to avoid the deathstar.

Several more deliberate attacks in China to destroy all those stragglers...

The merchant fleet moves to inland ports in China to hide...including Canton which might be risky.

Maybe a few surface engagements tomorrow...

[Lowpe]

March 17, 1944

A little destroyer skirmish south of Yokohama, one hit on each side.

No night bombing.

Allies sweep and LRCAP this base with Corsairs prior to sending in a surface bombardment task force (I am guessing since they haven't fired yet).

Knock me down, a Myojo scores a hit! [:)]

[Lowpe]

The Halford takes another 800kg AP in the afternoon, and has heavy fires, heavy damage. Meanwhile Allied 4E beasties bomb there and hit the engine factory (Ha45 which for now I have plentiful pools of) and the light industry there.

Over in Thailand, the jungle hex west of Bangkok gets horrendously bombed by everything the allies have. 4E, 2E, Assault Bombers, SBDs, Avengers.

But here our bombardment of the Allied Tank army continues to destroy vehicles.

[Lowpe]

And the Allied breakthru comes...1 Division, 4 Brigades, 1 Regiment. No Allied tank units.



My troops will be in for a tough time in the open terrain.