ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Lowpe, I think you've used your own logic against yourself.
You contend that John's play has been militarily beneficial (beyond the VP gaming aspect), but you concede that his play doomed Formosa (through the loss of Orchid Island and Foochow).
No, I most certainly did not contend the John's play has been militarily beneficial. I said there were other reasons equal or even more compelling than the VP angle to explain John's current play. And somebody just recently added another reason.
I withheld judgement on the effectiveness of his current strategy.
However, I do think he is handling the end game well for a first timer. That there will be mistakes, like not garrisoning Orchid Island, will of course happen...and you were quick enough to grab it. The same could be said for the paradrops in Indochina, Vietnam and most recently China.
To recap: his economy is intact; he has a potent kb; he has a nice VP cushion. Very few Japanese games are this way in August of 1944 -- especially true for a scenario 1 game (albeit with a greatly augmented IJN). I also think he has done a decent job of wearing down your top line fighters.
Now if you can leverage your deep position into autovictory by Jan 1, 1945...then I will say you have won a great victory. So then the question is how long can John survive into 1945?
Now, victory is a nebulous thing in this game...and IF the game lasts past Jan 1, 45 then I suspect both sides will claim victory and both sides have compelling justifications and John's current tactics may very well be militarily justified.