The North Pacific Option, Free Pearl Harbor, and West Coast Bases adjustments are in play.
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IJN Pre-Game: Good pick on the options! 3a, in particular, can be a real pain to the IJN. 2a often scores a POC so your bid is pretty much right on. Not sure if it is the brightest move but I'll see if I can get you to go to 3. I'll bid 2.5.
USN Pre-Game: You can have the IJN for 2.5. I've
been playing them too much lately and a point here or there on the bid is
unlikely to change the outcome.
On the West Coast bases thing (which as written is REALLY unlikely to affect the
outcome) I've thought about several modifications to the idea. The first is that
the US should be able to use it like any red port: return there from anywhere on
the board, and repair there, using some or all of the Pearl repair points. The
second is that reinforcements can enter there even if Samoa is not captured, and
can move directly to Hawaii and/or the N Pacific as if the second area entered,
and to the USM as if the third area entered (except marines can go to the USM
also). The first removes the awkward situation early in the game where the US
can't repair a crippled CV since anywhere it goes will be air raided. The second
makes it harder for the IJN to maintain a full Applebaum perimeter since it
opens up the NPO to attack. I think both of these are more realistic and add
very little complexity. Do you have any opinions on these ideas? Have you ever
tried NT1? I understand your reluctance to try it in a tournament setting having
not played it before, but I urge you to give it a whirl at some point. If you'd
like to try it unrated on the side some time I'd be happy to do so. I've played
NT1b now a couple of times. Now that is a wild ride for sure--not for the faint
hearted.
Score is 17.
USN Report: Andy Gardner and I just finished turn 3. His IJN are +19 POC. Attu, Lae, Samoa, and Guad hold out. The IJN have lost 3 CVL, US has all six still afloat. US CA losses have been very heavy. IN has a US flag; MN, and SP are unflagged.
USN Report: Andy is the winner with a mathematical lock at the end of turn 7. I could get within 1.5 POC if all goes well on turn 8, but 2.5 is probably more realistic.