RE: A Road Less Travelled

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Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/12/2013 2:36:13 AM)
Through May 2, 1942 Burma - The last dot-base fell. One Allied unit surrendered, but the rest retreated towards China. Seven or eight hexes through the mountains without roads or supply, and no alternative friendly base to aim for.. I don't think these guys will last too long. Fiji - Suva fell on May 1rst, and several of the smaller outlying bases have also been occupied by Japan. Between the value of the base, and the large number of Allied casualties, Japanese Victory Points went up by over 2000 in one turn. China - I'll post a map tomorrow, but China is also progressing well. About 2000AV in Japanese troops traversed the woods between Ankang and the Central Plains, and are now engaged with 100,000 Chinese troops in open terrain. Japanese bombers have been busy here.... Misc. - The first squadron equiped with Tojo IIa will be flying over Madras on May 3rd, and production of the fighter is currently around 75(50), so it won't take long to upgrade additional units. Looks like Cannonfodder is stockpiling fighters in Bangalore again, so the Tojos are coming in right on time. I forgot to mention it when it happened, but Japan eclipsed the 4-1 mark in Victory Points on April 11th with the fall of Batavia. With Suva now also in the bank, the current ratio is closer to 5-1. [image]local://upfiles/29916/75E916A72B554A548D961551C5FC5D3F.jpg[/image]

desicat -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/12/2013 2:30:27 PM)
Quixote, You started the game in pursuit of auto-victory and continue on that path, yet a while ago you committed to playing beyond a possible auto-victory, did your strategy change or was the quest for auto-victory on the same path as prepping for mid 1943? The destruction of China meets both ends, how does the rest of your expansion square?

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/12/2013 3:29:16 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: desicat Quixote, You started the game in pursuit of auto-victory and continue on that path, yet a while ago you committed to playing beyond a possible auto-victory, did your strategy change or was the quest for auto-victory on the same path as prepping for mid 1943? The destruction of China meets both ends, how does the rest of your expansion square? That's a good question. I'll try to give you a good answer. The easy part - I'd be doing what I'm doing in China whether I was playing for auto-victory or not. Taking China out is good for both lots of points (if you play for them) and for taking away an Allied option for later counterattack (a good thing even if you don't play for points.) Also good for building LCU and pilot experience, two things you don't get by just leaving China alone. The involved part - Tactically, I'd be playing exactly the same way I've been playing, even if I were not going for auto-victory. Strategically, I would have been playing almost the same way I've been playing had I not been trying for auto-victory. The biggest difference in strategy would actually be occurring right about now in an AV vs non-AV game. Going for AV, I'm more or less committed to hold most of what I've taken. In a non-AV game, I may still have taken most of these same areas, but I wouldn't even be considering building them up or defending them strongly. (AV game, I have to hold Calcutta, Luganville, Efate, Ceylon, Fiji, and probably Noumea until '43. Non-AV game, I wouldn't put up more than a token defense for most of them.) Bottom line, you can't go for auto-victory and play exactly the same as you would if you were prepping for mid '43. I'm making sure I get the AV first. (Honestly, even if I don't get the AV I still think I'm in great shape to provide Cannonfodder a substantial challenge in '43 and beyond, it just wouldn't be the same one I'd give him if AV had never been on the table.) Economically, there can be a massive difference between playing for AV and playing to see 1946. I've been trying for a middle ground this game. AV game, Japan doesn't have to worry about banking HI or doing any R&D for planes beyond the Tojo. Non-AV game, completely the opposite. In this game, I do have plenty of Tojos coming, but I've also got a larger pool of HI than 90% of the other AAR'd games I've seen for this point in the war, along with numerous R&D factories for Frank, George, Jill, etc. If I fail to achieve AV, Japan will still not face an early economic collapse.

Capt. Harlock -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/13/2013 3:26:23 AM)
quote: That's a good question. I'll try to give you a good answer. Some very good answers. Bravo for an unusual approach, and an insightful AAR.[sm=happy0005.gif]

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/13/2013 3:52:17 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock quote: That's a good question. I'll try to give you a good answer. Some very good answers. Bravo for an unusual approach, and an insightful AAR.[sm=happy0005.gif] Thanks Harlock. [:)]

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/13/2013 3:53:40 PM)
May 1-7, 1942 India - Cannonfodder did indeed start the air campaign back up, just one day after the first Tojos arrived in Madras. It wasn't pretty for the Allies. 113 Allied aircraft lost to 33 for the Japanese (10 lost in other theaters, 23 over Madras.) In exchange, the Allies also managed to sink one xAKL loaded with part of a base force. Given the Allied pools in '42, I'm happy with the trade. China - Here's a map I started putting together a few turns ago, but just this past turn it looks like Cannonfodder has decided to pull back from his river-line defense in the south. Not quite sure why, but I'll take it. (Turtling up in Chungking already maybe? We'll find out.) [image]local://upfiles/29916/3AB7E5BFD8E1427FA72931949079E6A6.jpg[/image]

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/14/2013 8:48:36 PM)
May 8-13, 1942 India - Quiet for a change. Cannonfodder still has almost 200 fighters at Bangalore, but they haven't hit Madras since the massacre a week ago. On the ground, there has been no movement by either side. He's slowly increased his unit count at a couple of the bases in central India that would be my natural next targets, but as I'm not planning to move any further forward, I'm happy to let them sit there for as long as they'd like to. I expect a lot of India to be re-captured by the end of the year, but the later he starts the better. Java - Bandoeng finally collapsed, adding another couple hundred points to the land loss total. The three divisions involved in the conquest of Java are now on trains to Soerbaja for a little R&R. China - The current supply situation for the Allies is pretty bad. It's about to get even worse. China only has 492 LI left (and HI doesn't really matter since he has no fuel with Sian and Lanchow gone.) Almost 40% of that LI is located in one city, which is currently garrisoned by about 7000 Chinese troops, no AFVs, and 3 guns. The four Japanese divisions in the Central Plains are now one hex from Chengtu, and I don't think Chinese reinforcements from Chungking or Kienko can make it here on time. An ugly China is about to get even uglier. Three more China-related items: 1. When I say the China supply situation is already bad, it's because in the last 4 combats there, Chinese troops have suffered the supply(-) penalty. I see a complete collapse coming soon. 2. One more combat at Chihkiang on May 12 knocks forts down to 1. Massive Japanese disruption this time, but very few destroyed squads, and the attack went off at 2-1. A weeks worth of rest, coupled with more bombing, and the biggest combat stack in China outside of Chungking may be routed. 3. In a complete reversal, Cannonfodder is no longer pulling back from the river line in the south. In fact, he just moved some units back in. Since his AAR has seen a ton of activity the past several days, and China has been our only really active theater, I assume someone persuaded him to stand his ground here instead of falling back. Or there's an Allied CV raid incoming... [image]local://upfiles/29916/71C293434B5940C3B8F4421B22C5FBF3.jpg[/image]

CaptBeefheart -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/15/2013 7:57:32 AM)
Wow, just caught up with this AAR. I'm not reading the other one, but will in the near future. You are doing some things I wouldn't have deemed possible, even in Scenario 2. You have learned well, Grasshopper. [;)] Will be keeping an eye to see if the long-elusive auto vic comes into play. EDIT: Also, I wanted to commend you on your AAR style, as it's very cogent and concise. It's a real pleasure to read as only the crucial bits are included. However, has the mayor of Addu Atoll been found yet? Cheers, CC

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/16/2013 7:57:31 PM)
Glad you enjoyed the read Commander Cody, and thanks for the kind words. [:)] (it's an embarrassing situation really - the mayor is still at large...) Small in-game update - Both Chihkiang and Chengtu have been taken. China has 6 bases left, not much supply, and lots of shattered troops. Small out-of-game update - Cannonfodder is fairly demoralized right now. We've talked just a bit about it recently, and he's not done quite yet, but it won't surprise me if he elects to surrender in the near future. Small in-game update - The ratio on VPs is now just over 5-1...

CaptBeefheart -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/17/2013 3:41:06 AM)
It'd be a real shame to see this end. Perhaps someone else would take up the baton if he drops out? Cheers, CC

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/18/2013 10:27:25 PM)
I've already had one player PM me about possibly picking the game up, but Cannonfodder hasn't given up yet. Over the past couple of days we've flipped several more turns, I've heard nothing more about surrender, and he's even managed to make a joke. I think the shock of being down so far and so fast, followed by losing Suva, Madras, and Chengtu in short order got to him. His spirits seem to be (a least a little bit) improved in the last day or two, though. I'll start to worry again the next time he suffers a major defeat, but unless he does something rash (and he's not a very rash player), I don't think he has too many more major defeats coming his way. My expansion is done other than in China, and I'm hoping that given our situation there he's already more or less reconciled himself to losing the rest of it by now. We'll see.

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/18/2013 10:33:07 PM)
May 14-23, 1942 India - Quiet, with screenshot attached showing where everything stands. South Pacific - Since just before the fall of Suva, Cannonfodder started running small TFs into Pago Pago to try to build this base up. I don't plan to take it, but he probably hasn't guessed that yet. Given how aggressive I've been so far, he's trying to do what he can to slow me down here. I sent in a three DD raiding group when I spotted his last Allied inbound TF, and sank 6 smaller transports (plus one decent xAP) along with the 100 or so Allied squads still on board. I think he was was/is waiting for the KB to step back in and for me to hit Pago and/or Norfolk, but I've kept the carriers quiet for the past two weeks. The KB is still in the area, but I thought it was time to make him start guessing again so I turned its headlights off - no more Kates or Vals on search for now. China - As mentioned above, both Chihkiang and Chengtu are Japanese. All the Chinese troops along the river line in the south are now falling back on Kweilin, which looks to be our next battleground in three or four more days. Having reinforced the army that took Chihkiang with a Guards Tank division and another 1000AV, I don't think Cannonfodder will have any more luck at Kweilin than he did at Chihkiang, but he has to try something I guess. [image]local://upfiles/29916/F44CA970F7384D8E930AD4E1E2108BC7.jpg[/image]

zuluhour -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/18/2013 11:48:53 PM)
There is so much RED on your maps!

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/21/2013 9:05:54 PM)
May 24-31, 1942 What a difference a week (or maybe two) makes. Since hitting rock bottom a couple of game-weeks ago, the Allies have begun showing some fight in almost every single theater. Aleutians - Cannonfodder has begun almost daily air raids on Adak with a small group of B17s, and he continues to build up Umnak. For the moment, I've countered with a whole 9-plane chutai of Rufes, who have done surprisingly well against the B17s. (By this, I mean they occasionally shoot a B17 down, and have been keeping the damage done in the airfield attacks to a minimum.) Australia - Looks like Cannonfodder finally decided to push north from Tennant Creek with tanks. I've been building forts at Darwin, but don't have much real AV down here right now. (The division that took Darwin went on to help take Java. After another day or two of rest, it'll be loaded back up and returned to Darwin's sunny shores to man the defenses.) Further west, Cannonfodder has been trying (unsuccessfully) to intercept the small transports I occasionally run into Exmouth. Just last turn though, he used Catalinas for the first time on naval attack and they actually hit and sank an xAKL. It's a start. South Pacific - A P38 sweep on Koumac, Liberators bombing Noumea, the usual parade of 2 and 3 ship TFs coming and going from Norfolk Island. I don't see a full scale invasion coming down here in the next week or two, but it does look like he's starting to feel out the defenses. Japanese forces continue a slow reorganization, moving some of the excess AV from Fiji over to New Caledonia and Efate. Phillipines - The last Allied bases behind my lines have been taken (Iliolo, Zamboanga, Bacolod, etc.) Because I'm sure Cannonfodder has wondered why, I'll also mention that I've taken every dot base behind my lines, too (with a couple of purposeful exceptions.) I did this because I don't like the thought of him sneaking an AVP or a base force and search planes (or engineers) behind my lines without me spotting them. Also, I may be just a bit OCD...(I like my maps that way Zulu[:)]) China - This may not be the best example of Cannonfodder fighting back, maybe, but he has thrown several blocking units across my supply paths and railroads here in the past week. I have predicatably thrown them all right back out again with heavy losses, but at least he's trying. India - The biggest evidence of Allied pushback is here. Multiple fighter sweeps near both Madras and Benares. Addtional troop buildup in Central India. Tanks pushing ahead towards my flank - fun stuff!! As I don't have the assets necessary to commit to a defense in strength this far out, I'm beginning a calculated withdrawl towards Calcutta. In the grand scheme of things, I plan to lose everything in this area except Calcutta by the end of 1942, but I still want to extract some toll for letting him take it back. This will be probably be Japan's biggest test over the next six months.

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/24/2013 9:02:53 PM)
June 1-6, 1942 India - The pullback has begun. Some strafing and bombing by the Allies, countered a bit by one group of Tojos. Allied tanks are flanking Benares from both sides, so it's definitely time to leave. China - Kweiyang fell on June 1rst, leaving Cannonfodder with 5 bases in China. 20% of the conquerors stayed in Kweiyang to rest and take replacements while the other 80% started the move to Kunming. I plan to take the two remaining mountain bases before closing on Chunking. Oz - A small Japanese CA/DD surface group 10 hexes west of Perth intercepted a couple of Dutch CLs and two detroyers on June 2nd. I was waiting for a troop convoy, but either way, scratch two Dutch CLs and at least one destroyer. South Pacific - Cannonfodder continues to hit Noumea with B17s and Liberators from Norfolk Island. I don't have enough Tojos to go around yet, so I'm using what I do have - the KB. I'm either about to make a rather large mistake, or Norfok Island and it's 4Es are going to get hit badly. We'll find out shortly which way this goes... [image]local://upfiles/29916/BB9253E820934F0FA22C220B2E658B9D.jpg[/image]

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/25/2013 3:43:16 PM)
June 7-8, 1942 Aleutians - BB Warspite stopped by for another bombardment at Adak on June 7th. After retiring, she took two torpedoes near Dutch Harbor on June 8th. A group of Nicks (stationed on Amchitka to reduce the risk from naval bombardment) is now backing up the Rufes on Adak, so Japan should be able to maintain the status quo up here for a while longer without any additional assets. South Pacific - The bombardment at Norfolk Island went off well. Allied surface forces didn't stick around, so the destroyer SCTF had nothing to do. One hit a mine, and the group retired. The BB group destroyed a dozen or so planes on the runway, damaged a bunch of other aircraft, then retired without hitting any mines. 50% chance I lose one 7 point destroyer to mine damage, but that's the worst of it. Spotting on the Auckland area sub dropped to zero on June 8th, so if Cannonfodder did have a carrier down there, he ordered it to flee. Despite successfully bombarding Norfolk Island, I changed my mind on following it with a strike from the KB. For the moment, I no longer think it's necessary. Australia - On June 7th, midway between Melbourne and Sydney, Japanese sub I-6 is rewarded for her patience. Three torpedoes find their marks on CV Saratoga. The carrier sinks the following day. (Not FOW, as her Dauntlesses and Avengers show up destroyed on June 9th.) The slow shift in the balance of power from Japan over to the Allies just got a little slower. [image]local://upfiles/29916/5649AF884CE04F4BB768A5F4CD656513.jpg[/image]

veji1 -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/25/2013 4:13:22 PM)
Oh man... your opponent can't seem to catch a break.

Mike Solli -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/25/2013 4:34:03 PM)
Very nice place to put a sub.

SqzMyLemon -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/25/2013 8:18:01 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Quixote Australia - On June 7th, midway between Melbourne and Sydney, Japanese sub I-6 is rewarded for her patience. Three torpedoes find their marks on CV Saratoga. The carrier sinks the following day. (Not FOW, as her Dauntlesses and Avengers show up destroyed on June 9th.) The slow shift in the balance of power from Japan over to the Allies just got a little slower. I'm envious. I read about attacks like these in so many AAR's yet can't replicate anything close in my own games. In a similar situation my submarine would be spotted by escorts before firing a shot and most likely be heavily damaged or sunk, or end up targeting the escort and miss. I haven't seen anything larger in the crosshairs than a DD for quite some time and can't even hit an unescorted AV. Nice shooting.

Capt. Harlock -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/25/2013 8:33:11 PM)
quote: The slow shift in the balance of power from Japan over to the Allies just got a little slower. And the road to Japanese auto-victory just got even smoother! [&o]

pontiouspilot -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/27/2013 3:37:28 PM)
Although not yet news here I gather that your opponent has thrown in the towel. I have followed each AAR closely and with great interest. I loved your ballsy opening. All along I asked myself what could Allies have done differently? To me, first and foremost in 1942, if you know where KB is, which was painfully evident until say late January, then you make hay where it isn't. Here the whole pristine Pacific fleet was available to make hay. I believe that the Allies were simply too shy about your non-KB opening air power. I did not specifically make note but did you shift a sizeable protion of your Betties and Nells to cover your back door while KB played? The Pacific Fleet could have ravaged or occupied many important bases either distracting KB from its India pillage or making the later move south much more challenging. Hell, if I thought I would lose half of India in early '42 I would risk things like a bombardment of home islands. Who really cares if Allies lose what they should have lost at Pearl anyway!!??

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/27/2013 4:46:31 PM)
It's official. Cannonfodder offered his surrender and I have accepted it. His current position in the game is tough, and he has no real way to avoid the looming auto-victory. Looking beyond auto-victory, the Allies would probably still continue to struggle until mid '43 in this one. At two turns per day, that would mean another 6+ month commitment to getting his butt kicked after already having it badly kicked for the past 4 months. I understand why he chose to surrender, and I'm OK with it. He did the honorable thing by admitting that he simply felt beaten, and did so in public as both of us have AARs. Much easier to just stop playing and disappear, but he didn't do it. I've said it before in the AAR, but I'll throw it out there one more time for anyone considering Cannon as a future opponent. He's a good guy and a very conscientious opponent. Always communicated about when turns were coming, very complimentary, never complained, even when things didn't go his way. I'm going to take a short break from the game before looking at another PBEM, which is why Cannon already has another ad up for a new opponent. Playing the Allies, I could start a new game tomorrow. Playing Japan is a bit more draining for me, though. Going to take a few weeks off. As to Allied strategy in this game, certainly Cannon could have done some things differently, but hindsight is 20/20. What were other Allied players encouraging him to do as they watched the opening unfold? How badly do you think he'd have been criticized in his AAR if during an invasion of Tarawa or Wake in February '42 he lost half a division along with a CV? "Why in the world are you risking your carriers this early? Are you crazy? Just sit back and be patient. You're playing the Allies, eventually you'll always win..." I think a lot of other players would have fared exactly the same way Cannonfodder did. Or maybe worse, if they gambled those CVs at Tarawa and lost... And now, though I'm sad to see the game end, I'm off to read Cannon's AAR. Zulu has told me several times it's very well done, and I'm looking forward to seeing it for myself. Thanks for following along, and for all of the insightful questions and comments. This has been a lot of fun to write, mostly because of all of you guys. Thanks -Quixote. [image]local://upfiles/29916/A26DAB21975048E5B247607C5F133674.jpg[/image]

obvert -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/27/2013 5:10:36 PM)
Well played sir and I look forward to your next. [&o]

buutsy -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/27/2013 5:18:46 PM)
First of all : Congratz, very well played Mr. Quixote ! Indeed a fascinating new approach ! I for one finding it very frustrating, that your opponent gave up so early ! Would have been so interresting, how your way playing this game works on the long run !! What about attacking the russians first in your next game ? [:D]

JocMeister -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/27/2013 6:50:25 PM)
Hats of to you Quixote! [&o] I followed Cannonfodders AAR so I havn�t read yours. I will do so starting tonight. Getting an AV is no small feat and you should feel really proud of yourself. It will be very interesting to see exactly how you did it. Scary read for an Allied player! [:)] Its a shame it ended though. Would have been really interesting to see Cannonfodders journey back fron the abyss and your response. Just wanted to drop by and congratulate you. [:)]

Capt. Harlock -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/27/2013 6:59:38 PM)
quote: It's official. Cannonfodder offered his surrender and I have accepted it. His current position in the game is tough, and he has no real way to avoid the looming auto-victory. Cheers for a very well-played and sportsmanlike game. I confess to being an Allied fanboy, but I've always thought that Japan's one real chance was not to do the Pearl Harbor strike, and gain the political advantages from a less-united America. You've shown that there might well have been military advantages as well, in supporting expansion rather than neutralizing the slow and outdated battlewagons.

Crackaces -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/27/2013 7:30:35 PM)
I also wonder if the Mersing gambit is a viable strategy for Scenario #1? My current opponent lost almost all the DB's from the Kaga on the Pearl Harbor attack and did not sink a single BB ... then turned the KB loose into the India Ocean to attack India ignoring Singapore ... I almost think his current strategy would be perfect in pulling off a Mersing gambit instead of PH, and seizing Singapore .. and then invading Ceylon and India ... The problems of not seizing major urban centers before they can build up to level 4 & 5 fort levels is well documented in comments within this AAR ..

KenchiSulla -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/27/2013 7:38:09 PM)
Hi guys, Let me say that I think that this opening is solid and far better then the standard Pearl Harbour opening. The Japanese player really has to use the fact that the allies have almost nothing defending the pacific at game start. You do not need the KB there until march... The combined fleet can destroy allied forces in southeast asia and the philippines. Destroying those ships, including the main capital ships (PoW, Repulse and Houston) in the area is more important then sinking/damaging a couple of old BBs at Pearl (at full speed they make 21 knots, a whopping 6 hexes in and out if you want to use them for bombarding). Those BBs are useful later in the game but are sitting ducks against Japanese air in 1942. The biggest mistake Quixote made, as far as I'm concerned, is leaving a supply convoy unprotected once and sending in a long range G4M strike against a defended city... He screened his forces well, reinforced at the critical locations and pushed into the undefended areas of the map. I surrendered not only because I'm positive he would have gotten AV but also because he played very skilfully. Such a player, combined with the toys the Japanese get in scenario 2, no stacking limits, good pilot quality right out flight school and an excellent defendable position.. ouch

CaptBeefheart -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/28/2013 4:45:19 AM)
Thanks for two great AARs, gentlemen, and congratulations to Quixote on a classic, well-sustained IJ opening. Cheers, CC EDIT: Grammar.

witpqs -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/28/2013 6:39:46 AM)
Congratulations!

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