Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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4/21/43 to 4/27/43 Reading the Opponent: When we began this match, I had no information about, or prior experience with, Dave. He's been a longtime member of the WitP peanut gallery and well-respected by everybody. I had no idea if he was aggressive or conservative, brilliant or average, etc. The assumption is to, well, assume the worst - that the player is extraordinary and aggressive and that terrible things will happen early. His tenacious hunting of Lex, including multiple highspeed runs by KB, seemingly reinforced that image. We've now played 1.5 years of game, so I'm getting a better feel for him now. I've posted some of this previously. Overall, he seems to be tactically super aggressive with carriers and combat vessels (when he chooses to commit them) but strategically conservative. I think he is more comfortable with defense and prefers to have tight, interlocking lines of resistance that aren't susceptible to easy coup-de-main conquest by the enemy. Dave could be painting an elaborate picture of disinformation, but I think I have a pretty good feel for him now. He's digging in further back than many players would, he's preserving his ships, and he's no doubt building his air force into a gnarly beast. I think he's indeed similar to Miller in how he likes to fight. Cocos Island: The sharp fighting here apparently persuaded Dave to pull back until he can return with overpowering force (as per SigInt, as I've mentioned previously). In the interim, the Allies have built supply to 30k and forts to 4.8. Allied AV is about 525. This is a great listening post base and also poses a perpetual threat of invasion all along the big islands, so I do think Dave will come back (I would). The Allies can fight here, but my carriers will be in the yards for about two months. In the interim, I may have to sortie Wasp, Hornet, and about four or five RN CVs. Marshalls/Gilberts: I have enough info to posit a theory that Dave has elected to withdraw from these advance islands. Here, again, the costly fighting around Tarawa seemed to chasten him. It looks like Enitwetok and Roi are vacant, with others lightly held. I think he's working to build Ponape and no doubt Truk is a beast. I have enough info now that I'm working on a few snap invasions/occupations. If Dave reacts very harshly, I'll figure this was a bushwhack. If he doesn't, then he's indeed focused on interior defenses. China: MLR still intact. Dave'll take Kukong very soon now. I'm worried about the stack he just pulled away from Sian front. I think he's assembling in force somewhere, and there's a good chance he can punch a major breach into my MLR. I'm reshuffling units, half afraid that areas that are quiet, so that I'm pulling from them, will be the very places he chooses to attack.
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