Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
John is highly pissed, because the Allied fighters pretty much ignored the Zeroes, which ignored my fighters. 

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The carriers could finish of BB Mutsu

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Also, I don't know what John has tweeked for RA. I would like to think he hasn't made it a Jap wet dream that only benefits him... I just don't know.

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ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

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Also, I don't know what John has tweeked for RA. I would like to think he hasn't made it a Jap wet dream that only benefits him... I just don't know.

I'd like to think that way too, but the evidence is otherwise. To mention just one type, by December '42, there should be plenty of B-25's on hand. Losses have not been excessive, but the numbers I would expect to see are just not there.

BTW, how is Wildcat production?

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ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I think the disparity in aircraft pools might actually be counterproductive to the AE gaming environment.  Here's why:

If I conclude that it's very difficult or very risky for the Allies to sustain a major land-mass air war in 1942 due to the lack of fighters, I'm much more likely to hang back in '42 and wait until into '43 when the pools are sufficient. 

Most of us know that the game can reach a state of doldrums in '42 - the period between when the Japanese slow down and when the Allies ramp up.  It's traditionally been summer '42 that is kind of quiet.  Do we really want to foster an environment whicn encourages Allied players to be less aggressive during the second half of '42?  I don't think so.

There may be exceptions - for instance, a island-based, carrier-focused campaign might still be possible in '42 - but I'm not a big fan of the pool disparity. 

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ORIGINAL: crsutton

Besides it is not your lack of aircraft that is a problem. It is agreeing to that dang HR limiting strategic bombing. You should be bombing his oil by now, which would have forced him to hold back a tremendous amount of fighters to defend his oil production. Instead he has a free hand to concentrate all of his fighters offensively to attack your spearhead. That can be serious.

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Barring that, do you have any flying armor-clad guinea pigs?

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ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

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ORIGINAL: crsutton

Besides it is not your lack of aircraft that is a problem. It is agreeing to that dang HR limiting strategic bombing. You should be bombing his oil by now, which would have forced him to hold back a tremendous amount of fighters to defend his oil production. Instead he has a free hand to concentrate all of his fighters offensively to attack your spearhead. That can be serious.

Bingo.

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And remember, from the beginning the devs have been of the view that AE is quite playable without any HR.

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ORIGINAL: JeffK

So now you have to start working on how to divert JIII from amassing his air force around Sumatra. Another fortnight could see him in total control of the skies.

Like all AFB obsessions about the KB, he will be watching for every sighting of the USN CV's, seeing them In the Bay of Bengal will not be a threat.

Where can your CV be sent, in a timely manner, which might get him worried again??

I would also recommend you open the editor and see what game you are playing, JIII and all JFB know exactly what they face so you shouldnt feel constrained. Cant wait for a good JFB to play a Scen1 game against a good AFB.

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ORIGINAL: Alfred
And remember, from the beginning the devs have been of the view that AE is quite playable without any HR.

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ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Somebody mentioned the fact that such a strategy would open the Allies to Auto Victory.  Not at all. Right now John has a 1.77 to 1 lead.  This is at the point where he should be peaking.  He barely made it to 2:1 back in late summer and has been in decline since then.  As you can tell, though, the Allies have alot of room to avoid the 4:1 auto victory situation.  What I've learned from this game is that the Allies can fight aggressively and effectively in 1942, but it may well be against their interests to do so.

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ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

This was pretty much the plan all along.  Bleed John in Burma - air and ground, both of which have been accomplished.  Then open a second campaign somewhere else - the initial plan being the Aleutians, switching to New Guinea, switching to Sumatra.  The Allied air efforts have not been particularly aggressive, IMO.  The air war has been 95% defensive, which increased efficiency.

The results speak for themselves.  John has lost far more aircraft than have I.  Bottom line, though, is that this strategy is of questionable utility.  I think it's going to work against John, but I'll be very hesitant about using it in the future.

I agree that I've been moderately aggressive overall in this game.  (Hey, don't most Japanese players hate the Sir Robin strategy?)  I think I've also been unusually successful to date and I've also been very cautious.  To date (and subject to catastrophic change at any moment), I haven't lost a carrier, my battleship and cruiser fleets are in good shape, the infantry is in good shape, the Allied airforce has inflicted 50% more casualties on Japan, and the Allies have established a solid (not rock solid, but solid) position in Sumatra.

In general, I would expect under these circumstances that the Allies would be in relatively good shape and Japan would be in big trouble.  I do think John is in big trouble, but the air war is definitely askew IMO. Having fought carefully, efficiently, and effectively, the Allies shouldn't have such thin pools IMO.  If the air war was being waged well but pools were thin in the real war, the Allies would have addressed that.  I can't.  I'm also puzzled how I can have just one P-38G squadron when it seems like other games I read the players have several in operation (but perhaps I'm wrong).

So, what I'm taking from this is that the Allies have to fight even more defensively in the air in 1942 than I had thought, which in turns means the Allies will have to be more cautious, which promotes Sir Robin and Summer Doldrums.  Not always, but I think that's what the game is promoting.

Somebody mentioned the fact that such a strategy would open the Allies to Auto Victory.  Not at all. Right now John has a 1.77 to 1 lead.  This is at the point where he should be peaking.  He barely made it to 2:1 back in late summer and has been in decline since then.  As you can tell, though, the Allies have alot of room to avoid the 4:1 auto victory situation.  What I've learned from this game is that the Allies can fight aggressively and effectively in 1942, but it may well be against their interests to do so.

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ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Oops, I misread the tea leaves.  John has requested a sabbatical from the game until school starts around August 12.  He's got tons of irons in the fire right now - work, family, work, mod, work, work - so it's understandable and fine by me.  Since I'll be backpacking the rest of this week, I'll perhaps get a chance to regain some perspective about sleep and this crazy game.
John was very gracious to telephone to ask me about all this.  It was much fun to talk to him about real life and about the fun game we're embroiled in. 

He's going to send back the current turn - he didn't say when, but I think he implied near term - and then we'll sit on the game until mid August.