13L G40.2 Eggman (+3) v Gamerman01, game 2

[gamerman01]

You could say that everyone “counts on luck”.  I sure didn’t expect to get mowed down in Z97 and Z109, doing little to no damage whatsoever.  If the dice don’t cooperate, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing.

Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.  I’ve played for years, and consistently win more than 80% of my games.  And if you don’t watch it, I’m going to win this one too, even with abyssmal dice in big fleet battles.  I am carving up Russia, and I don’t think you’ll stop me.  :-)

[Eqqman]

@Gamerman01:

Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.  I’ve played for years, and consistently win more than 80% of my games.  And if you don’t watch it, I’m going to win this one too, even with abysmal dice in big fleet battles.  I am carving up Russia, and I don’t think you’ll stop me.  :-)

I’ve also been playing A & A for 20 years.  I agree that while the Allies have the economic advantage, they can afford to lose far more IPC value in units than the Axis.  And I also agree that you have to be on the lookout for how a play by one member can give a huge boost to the others… for example, if you are willing to make India suffer, you can use their TT to make an even stronger attack on Ethiopia.  I’m also not above sacrificing a US fleet if I think ANZAC can come in and finish off the survivors.  Such things have to be chosen extremely carefully, however.  I often see that a full scramble UK1 might cost the Axis a matching number of planes, but this then leaves the UK with no planes on their turn.  Even if I successfully take out a matching number of planes, the opportunity cost is too high since there is nothing left for the SZ97 attack which is so vital to keeping Italy down.

I’m also convinced it is utterly impossible to keep Russia alive past round 6 unless the German player allows it, so you can safely assume any plans I make already include the loss of Russia at around that time.  If Moscow doesn’t go by turn 7, then I start to think I might win this game.  The vast majority of my losses come when I miscalculate the enemy’s air force and I end up losing a critical battle that I didn’t expect, not because my strategy was deficient.  That’s my own opinion, my opponents might have a different view!

[gamerman01]

:-)
Less talk, more action
I’ll be making another move tonight I think.

Yes, I think you’re starting to understand what I was trying to say to Jeff

I respectfully disagree about the necessity of UK to attack Z97.  If UK can take out 80% as many German planes as UK planes on UK1, that is a big victory. 
They can still take out Z96 easily without any of these planes.

I also disagree that you need to take Russia by round 7, and I disagree that you can’t stop Germany from taking Russia.  I’ve never lost Russia yet, and have faced concentrated land buys and maneuvers so aggressive they nearly abandoned the Western front.  I’ve taken France and held it, against one of the successful players on this site (consistently a winning league record).

[gamerman01]

Seems you’re one of those guys (there are several it seems) who thinks the game can often be won or lost in round 1, especially with results on G1 and UK1 with daring attacks on Italy’s fleet.

I disagree.

If you’re right, this game sucks because it’s often decided in round 1.

[Eqqman]

@Gamerman01:

They can still take out Z96 easily without any of these planes.

Yes, but the odds go down to near 80% if you get a full scramble.  In this case it’s risky, since even though you will win, the Italians won’t have too much trouble cleaning out the survivors and now you’ve lost your sea cover for Cairo, Italy gets it NO for no ships in the Med on I1.  This assumes Germany cleaned out the French fleet G1.  I don’t know if it is better for Germany to make sure that the French fleet is gone or to make sure that the UK is left with nothing but the SZ106 ships.  It probably depends on what you want to do afterwards- if you aren’t going to leave most of your air force down there until Italy has Cairo, then you probably have to sink the French for sure.

[gamerman01]

Z96

You can’t scramble to Z96.  You’re not even talking about the same thing I am.

Z96 is the one that went bad for you both games.

I’m saying, UK can always get Italy down to 2 transports without dealing with Z95 or Z97.  I’ve wiped Z95 in 2 games on UK1 with minimal losses (lucky to have minimal losses, but had very good odds on decimating the Italian fleet and air if they scramble)

Anyway, time for J2

[gamerman01]

Well, I took a good look at it tonight anyway…  Getting too late to finish it off tonight tho…

[Eqqman]

@Gamerman01:

I’m saying, UK can always get Italy down to 2 transports without dealing with Z95 or Z97.  I’ve wiped Z95 in 2 games on UK1 with minimal losses (lucky to have minimal losses, but had very good odds on decimating the Italian fleet and air if they scramble)

You’re right, I thought you were talking about the big fleet in SZ97.  I’m not sure why you would only bother to attack the smallest fleet in SZ96 since the combined 95 + 97 fleets are more than enough to clean out whatever UK ships are still there I1.

[gamerman01]

@Eggman:

@Gamerman01:

I’m saying, UK can always get Italy down to 2 transports without dealing with Z95 or Z97.  I’ve wiped Z95 in 2 games on UK1 with minimal losses (lucky to have minimal losses, but had very good odds on decimating the Italian fleet and air if they scramble)

You’re right, I thought you were talking about the big fleet in SZ97.  I’m not sure why you would only bother to attack the smallest fleet in SZ96 since the combined 95 + 97 fleets are more than enough to clean out whatever UK ships are still there I1.

Because then you have no fleet left.  Nice to have big ships available to go toward India if needed, or to hammer the Italian fleet once it gets away from its protective airbases with 3 fighters.  Have you ever even tried this?

[Eqqman]

@Gamerman01:

Because then you have no fleet left.  Nice to have big ships available to go toward India if needed, or to hammer the Italian fleet once it gets away from its protective airbases with 3 fighters.  Have you ever even tried this?

I’ve tried the fleet consolidation off of Gibraltar.  I didn’t care for it, since then Italy gets to consolidate its own fleet.  Alexandria is occupied and then the Italians can shuck men into Syria, forcing the UK to make some kind of attack on Iraq UK2 which may or may not weaken Cairo.  I haven’t found the price of allowing Italy an easier time to expand to be worth it.  It’s true that in 99% of my games the Brits are then sunk G2 if I do the SZ97 attack, but in such an attack, the German player is forced to lose planes.  I find this acceptable under the principle that we discussed before that you are likely weakening the ability of the Axis to keep doing such wipe-outs.

However, I’m not the kind of guy who ever takes his options completely off the table (maybe they are teetering on the edge).  Some circumstances might persuade me to give it another shot, such as in games like this where there is a G1 attack on Russia that leaves more than the usual number of Royal Navy ships alive.  Especially if this was followed up with a J1 attack that would allow me to start sending in US aid right away.  I haven’t considered the idea of sending the fleet out to help India though, which is an interesting option.  I’m not sure if an Indian Ocean consolidation can happen fast enough to make any kind of dent in Japan’s plans, but it might if they were banking on a late DoW to help Germany.

[gamerman01]

Yeah, I didn’t mean off Gibraltar

I don’t know - I really don’t have that many games of G40 under my belt.  Usually over the past few years they never last more than a couple of rounds so I can’t learn too much from them.

We also won’t learn much from this game no matter how it goes, because like you said 99% of the time your UK fleet is gone after round 1 or 2 or whatever, and I didn’t sink A SINGLE UK SHIP in two viable attacks on them!  I mean, when you get extreme dice you really can’t tell whether my ideas were good or not.

I do know this - I am not sold on G1 attacks.  I thought it was a lame-brained idea, but you can’t really scoff til you try it once, huh?

[gamerman01]

You’re next.  Hopefully tomorrow (Thursday)

[gamerman01]

@Gamerman01:

You’re next.

Well, except for a fairly quick R5 against Jeff since he posted….  :roll:
NOW you’re next

[gamerman01]

Agh!  I put this move off for good reason.  I find Japan VERY difficult to play.

OK, first of all I would like to change my buy.
Instead of a minor complex, buy a strat bomber.
Instead of an airbase, buy 3 INF, ARMOR

So I’m buying 4 INF, ARMOR, 2 SUB, BOMBER

I need scramble orders for Guam and Queensland

I had to add a carrier to Z54 to make Triple A let me make a legal move.

Carrier from 33 to 54 can pick up FTR, TAC from Z36.
Carrier from 36 can pick up FTR, TAC from Z33 by moving to Zone 42 or Zone 45
The other carrier from 36 is committed to picking up FTR and TAC from Java

All other planes can land on territory I controlled
If you have any questions, feel free to let me know.  I’m sure it’s all legal.

So there is an extra carrier in Z54 that I will NOT use in the battle.  They don’t roll any dice, and I will not assign any casualties to the second carrier, so it’s like it’s not there.  I will delete it when the battle is over.  I might need to roll the battle here on the thread, I suppose, depending on what happens…

Oh my goodness that move took me forever.

So, will the eggs be scrambled or fried?  :-)

[Eqqman]

@Gamerman01:

So, will the eggs be scrambled or fried?  :-)

Full scramble.

[Eqqman]

Correction, full scramble Queensland, not Guam.

[Eqqman]

Pick losses in SZ54 to give me max defense each round.

[gamerman01]

@Eggman:

Pick losses in SZ54 to give me max defense each round.

OK, no problem

[gamerman01]

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition, version: 3.5

Game History

Round :2

Politics - Japanese
            Japanese takes Political Action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and Americans from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and British from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and UK_Pacific from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and ANZAC from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and Dutch from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Germans and Americans from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Italians and Americans from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and Americans from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and British from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and UK_Pacific from Concordant to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and ANZAC from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and Dutch from Neutrality to Friendly
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for British and Americans from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for UK_Pacific and Americans from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for ANZAC and Americans from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Americans and French from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Americans and Dutch from Neutrality to Friendly
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Americans and Neutral_Allies from Neutrality to Friendly_Neutral
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Americans and Neutral_Axis from Neutrality to Unfriendly_Neutral
            Trigger Russians Allied Americans 5: Changing Relationship for Russians and Americans from Neutrality to Allied

Purchase Units - Japanese
            Japanese buy 1 airfield, 1 factory_minor, 1 infantry and 2 submarines; Remaining resources: 0 PUs; 6 SuicideAttackTokens;

Combat Move - Japanese
            Trigger Japanese Unrestricted Movement: Setting movementRestrictionTerritories cleared  for rulesAttatchment attached to Japanese
            Turning on Edit Mode
            EDIT: Adding units owned by Japanese to 46 Sea Zone: 1 carrier
            EDIT: Turning off Edit Mode
            1 artillery moved from Hunan to Yunnan
            1 mech_infantry moved from Anhwe to Yunnan
            1 infantry moved from Chahar to Suiyuyan
                  Japanese take Suiyuyan from Chinese
            1 infantry moved from Amur to Siberia
                  Japanese take Siberia from Russians
            1 infantry moved from Amur to Sakha
                  Japanese take Sakha from Russians
            1 fighter moved from 36 Sea Zone to 54 Sea Zone
            1 tactical_bomber moved from 36 Sea Zone to 54 Sea Zone
            1 submarine moved from 33 Sea Zone to 55 Sea Zone
            1 submarine moved from 55 Sea Zone to 54 Sea Zone
            1 battleship, 1 carrier and 2 destroyers moved from 33 Sea Zone to 54 Sea Zone
            1 carrier moved from 46 Sea Zone to 54 Sea Zone
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from 33 Sea Zone to 54 Sea Zone
            2 infantry moved from Kiangsi to Kwangtung
            1 infantry moved from Siam to 37 Sea Zone
            1 infantry moved from Kwangsi to 36 Sea Zone
            1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 36 Sea Zone to 43 Sea Zone
            1 infantry moved from 43 Sea Zone to Borneo
            1 fighter moved from Kwangsi to 37 Sea Zone
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Kwangsi to 37 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from Kwangsi to Shan State
            1 fighter moved from Jehol to Yunnan
            1 fighter moved from Jehol to Yunnan
            2 tactical_bombers moved from Jehol to Yunnan
            1 fighter moved from Kwangsi to Kwangtung
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Kwangsi to Kwangtung
            1 submarine moved from 36 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
            1 infantry moved from Japan to 6 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from Kwangsi to Yunnan
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Kwangsi to Yunnan
            1 artillery moved from Kwangsi to 36 Sea Zone
            1 infantry moved from Japan to 6 Sea Zone
            1 mech_infantry moved from Japan to 6 Sea Zone
            1 infantry, 1 mech_infantry and 1 transport moved from 6 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            1 infantry moved from 35 Sea Zone to Philippines
            1 mech_infantry moved from 35 Sea Zone to Philippines
            1 infantry moved from Japan to 6 Sea Zone
            1 artillery moved from Japan to 6 Sea Zone
            1 artillery, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 6 Sea Zone to 21 Sea Zone
            1 artillery moved from Japan to 6 Sea Zone
            1 artillery, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 6 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            1 artillery moved from 35 Sea Zone to Philippines
            1 infantry moved from 35 Sea Zone to Philippines
            1 infantry moved from 21 Sea Zone to Guam
            1 artillery moved from 21 Sea Zone to Guam
            1 battleship moved from 36 Sea Zone to 21 Sea Zone
            1 destroyer moved from 36 Sea Zone to 37 Sea Zone
            1 cruiser moved from 36 Sea Zone to 21 Sea Zone
            1 infantry moved from Siam to 37 Sea Zone
            1 infantry moved from 37 Sea Zone to Malaya
            1 infantry moved from 37 Sea Zone to Malaya
            1 armour moved from Kwangsi to French Indo China
                  Japanese take French Indo China from French
            1 armour moved from French Indo China to Yunnan
            1 fighter moved from Kwangsi to Shan State
            1 fighter moved from 36 Sea Zone to Java
            1 bomber moved from Kwangsi to 41 Sea Zone
            1 cruiser moved from 36 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            1 bomber moved from Kwangsi to Malaya
            1 tactical_bomber moved from 36 Sea Zone to Java
            1 infantry moved from Kwangsi to 36 Sea Zone
            1 artillery, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 36 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
            1 artillery moved from 42 Sea Zone to Java
            1 infantry moved from 42 Sea Zone to Java

Combat - Japanese
            Americans scrambles 3 units out of Queensland to defend against the attack in 54 Sea Zone
            Battle in Philippines
                Japanese attack with 1 artillery, 2 infantry and 1 mech_infantry
                Americans defend with 1 airfield, 1 harbour and 2 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Philippines from Americans with 1 artillery, 1 infantry and 1 mech_infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 infantry
                Casualties for Americans: 2 infantry
            Battle in 37 Sea Zone
                Japanese attack with 1 destroyer, 1 fighter, 1 tactical_bomber and 1 transport
                British defend with 1 destroyer
                Japanese win, taking 37 Sea Zone from Neutral with 1 destroyer, 1 fighter, 1 tactical_bomber and 1 transport remaining. Battle score for attacker is 8
                Casualties for British: 1 destroyer
            Battle in Malaya
                Japanese attack with 1 bomber and 2 infantry
                ANZAC defend with 1 infantry; British defend with 1 harbour
                Japanese win, taking Malaya from UK_Pacific with 1 bomber and 2 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for ANZAC: 1 infantry
            Battle in Borneo
            Battle in Guam
                Japanese attack with 1 artillery and 1 infantry
                Americans defend with 1 airfield and 1 fighter
                Japanese win, taking Borneo from UK_Pacific, taking Guam from Americans with 1 artillery remaining. Battle score for attacker is 7
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 infantry
                Casualties for Americans: 1 fighter
            Battle in 42 Sea Zone
                Japanese attack with 1 submarine and 1 transport
                ANZAC defend with 1 transport
                Japanese win, taking 42 Sea Zone from Neutral with 1 submarine and 1 transport remaining. Battle score for attacker is 7
                Casualties for ANZAC: 1 transport
            Battle in Java
                Japanese attack with 1 artillery, 1 fighter, 1 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
                ANZAC defend with 2 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Java from ANZAC with 1 artillery, 1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 infantry
                Casualties for ANZAC: 2 infantry
            Battle in 41 Sea Zone
                Japanese attack with 1 bomber
                British defend with 1 transport
                Japanese win with 1 bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 7
                Casualties for British: 1 transport
            Battle in Shan State
                Japanese attack with 2 fighters
                British defend with 1 infantry
                Japanese win with 2 fighters remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for British: 1 infantry
            Battle in Kwangtung
                Japanese attack with 1 fighter, 2 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
                British defend with 1 harbour and 2 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Kwangtung from UK_Pacific with 1 fighter, 2 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 6
                Casualties for British: 2 infantry
            Battle in Yunnan
                Japanese attack with 1 armour, 1 artillery, 3 fighters, 1 mech_infantry and 3 tactical_bombers
                Chinese defend with 6 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Yunnan from Chinese with 1 armour, 2 fighters and 3 tactical_bombers remaining. Battle score for attacker is 0
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 artillery, 1 fighter and 1 mech_infantry
                Casualties for Chinese: 6 infantry
            Battle in 54 Sea Zone
                Japanese attack with 1 battleship, 2 carriers, 2 destroyers, 2 fighters, 1 submarine and 2 tactical_bombers
                ANZAC defend with 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer and 3 fighters; Americans defend with 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers, 2 infantry, 2 submarines and 1 transport
                Units damaged: 1 battleship owned by the Japanese
                Japanese win, taking 54 Sea Zone from Neutral with 1 carrier and 1 fighter remaining. Battle score for attacker is 13
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 battleship, 1 carrier, 2 destroyers, 1 fighter, 1 submarine and 2 tactical_bombers
                Casualties for ANZAC: 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer and 3 fighters
                Casualties for Americans: 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers, 2 infantry, 2 submarines and 1 transport

Non Combat Move - Japanese
            Turning on Edit Mode
            EDIT: Removing units owned by Japanese from 54 Sea Zone: 1 carrier
            EDIT: Turning off Edit Mode
            1 carrier moved from 36 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
            1 carrier moved from 36 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Java to 42 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from Java to 42 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from 54 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
            1 artillery and 4 infantry moved from Anhwe to Hunan
            1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Chahar to Suiyuyan
            1 fighter moved from Jehol to Amur
            1 destroyer moved from 36 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            1 tactical_bomber moved from 37 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from Yunnan to Jehol
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Yunnan to Jehol
            2 fighters moved from Shan State to Siam
            1 bomber moved from 41 Sea Zone to Siam
            1 bomber moved from Malaya to Siam
            1 fighter moved from 37 Sea Zone to Siam
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Kwangtung to Siam
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Yunnan to Kwangsi
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Yunnan to Kwangsi
            1 fighter moved from Yunnan to Kwangsi
            1 fighter moved from Kwangtung to Kwangsi

Place Units - Japanese
            2 submarines placed in 6 Sea Zone
            1 infantry placed in Japan
            1 airfield and 1 factory_minor placed in Kiangsu
            Turning on Edit Mode
            EDIT: Removing units owned by Japanese from Kiangsu: 1 airfield
            EDIT: Removing units owned by Japanese from Kiangsu: 1 factory_minor
            EDIT: Adding units owned by Japanese to Japan: 1 armour, 1 bomber and 3 infantry
            EDIT: Turning off Edit Mode

Turn Complete - Japanese
            Japanese collect 52 PUs; end with 52 PUs total

[gamerman01]

Wish I’d have taken off the fighter instead of the battleship in Z54 to free up one of my carriers.

Our idea of attacking Korea on R1 is brilliant.  If you hadn’t I could be looking to circumvent your Russian stack soon.  As it is, you can stop my army from doing anything - stuck in Amur - while you are saving valuable Russian income.

China is a more effective bottleneck as well.  If Mongolia is in play, the Japanese have a lot more options.

It’s WELL worth 1 Soviet infantry that’s thousands of miles from Moscow.  :-)