Local Yokel
Posts: 1494
Joined: 2/4/2007 From: Somerset, U.K. Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Alfred Based on the comments made by many JFB players over the years, I suspect many are going to be disappointed that AE will not easily allow for the unhistorical Japanese tempo of operations, or uber conquest of Allied home territories or the massive industrialisation of Japan. When their thirst for unhistoric freedom of action is not met, I suspect many will be "bored" with AE and perhaps return to WITP "classic" as a more suitable outlet for their Napoleonic energy. Alfred Alfred, perhaps I'm an exception, but I deliberately set out not to engage in an orgy of Japanese conquest. I have a secure position in N Australia for what I regard as sound strategic reasons, I took the whole Irrawaddy basin inclusive of Myitkyina (to close the Burma and Ledo roads) and I occupied New Caledonia for a spell before deciding my forces there were too much out on a limb. But I didn't invade India, I didn't occupy every island in the E Pacific, and I never coveted Sydney. This has permitted me to build a fairly solid perimeter by Q2 of 1943, and was good enough to secure auto-victory. If I am not following the pattern of most of the JFB's, then I think my conservative approach offers an interesting alternative. Furthermore, I've got an excellent opponent in Cantona, my forces and economy seem to be in excellent shape, and I relish the prospect of taking him on in defensive battle. In short, I'm having a blast with WitP, and am happy for our game to go forward whilst my opponent is still up for the fight. So I see no reason to forsake this forum in the near future. I'm not convinced that the operational tempo of most Japanese players is that unhistorical. From what I've seen the real life conquest of the SRA was concluded in about the same time scale as I saw many players accomplishing it in WitP. I certainly wasn't significantly 'ahead of timetable'. It will be interesting to see how many players can equal, in AE, the accomplishments of the real Centrifugal offensive - I suspect not many. I have AE. I'm exploring it in a leisurely way. Clearly there are things to like - a Japanese economy that makes proper demands on its merchant marine, in particular. But it's not a project about which I have ever been passionately enthusiastic, and I'm reserving judgment on whether it will prove to be a good wargame. In the final analysis, fascinating conflict though it was, I'm not even sure the Pacific War is a good subject for a wargame. For me the jury on AE is still out. So I still expect to earn 'frequent flier' miles on this forum.
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