Influence Wars - Japan 1936 HPP Interactive AAR - COMMENT THREAD

**Slan** · 22-09-2011 20:42

Originally Posted by Baltasar

Slan, I know you're reading this... and you know I'll bugger you with questions

Actually I wasn't reading it until now

And to be honest, I'm not sure if I will follow. Interactive AARs tend to get out of hand quickly and I'll have a lot less free time soon... But you can always reach me via PM

@Cybvep: By the way, even if you don't provide saves for your players, you can give them intelligence maps they can draw their plans on

**Cybvep** · 22-09-2011 20:57

Interactive AARs tend to get out of hand quickly and I'll have a lot less free time soon...

I hope to create a clear and functional list of chapters and plans in my first post in order to make the AAR as readable as possible.

@Cybvep: By the way, even if you don't provide saves for your players, you can give them intelligence maps they can draw their plans on

Yeah, this may come in handy when the shooting starts

EDIT: How about creating one thread for gameplay and one for comments? Let's say that this one will be for comments and will contain the list of all chapters with appropriate links, while the second one will only have gameplay-related posts. That way, everything should be clear and we will avoid confusion.

**Surt** · 22-09-2011 23:17

We must have a Man and a Plan, now we have the Man

Tenno Cybvep

Now we just need a plan.

First a bit of Analysis.

USA is the worlds largest producer of goods, but their military is pathetic except their fleet which is old, like ours.
they have lots of raw materials that we what, we shouldn't sell too much potential military supplies to them though, instead try to get oil from Venezuela. They don't have any natural enemies, except other major powers, they are opposed to land based imperialism and want to remove all empires, ie. Us, France and foremost UK, they are sympathetic to China so we should refrain from attacking them. Their fleet is slightly larger than ours but need to defend 2 oceans. The will to fight is not there and no large increase in military budget is foreseen as of now. The effective military population is twice ours.

UK is the largest empire in the history, the sun never sets over the British empire, their fleet is the equivalent of the US Fleet, only slightly more aged and the carriers smaller through more numerous. Their troops are numerous but are needed all over the empire, the economy is bad but large and well stocked with raws, the will to fight is small. The effective military population is 2/3 of ours.

The French empire is slightly smaller than the British, but consists mostly of deserts and rebellious natives. The fleet is good sized and the more modern than the British or USA's. The French are hiding behind their version of the Chinese wall growing weak from the comfort, they fear the Germans. They have roughly 1/2 our population.

The Soviet union of Bolsheviks, most backward of the major nations, the fleet is pre-dreadnoughts, build around the time we sunk the rest of their fleet. A powerstruggle is currently brewing in the politburo between Stalin and his opponents. Lots of raw materials and 1.5 times our population, lots of will to fight, but doubtful ability.

Italy, least of the major nations, small but relative modern fleet, small economy, nearly 1/2 our population, fighting a war with a nation of Spearmen but taking their time. Claims to be a popular government, but only Il Duce really has a vote.

German has no fleet to speak of, the Army is just started to rearm for real, but has a lot of fighting rhetoric. Also claims to have a popular government, but the Führer is the only real power. The Soviets and Nazis claims to be each others primary enemy even though they both claim to be socialist when they are in fact both dictatorships.

Netherland, large colonial empire, but small fleet and army and not getting significant bigger anytime, lots of resources, but might be protected by US, France and UK.

Now lets look at possible strategies to fulfil Hakkō ichiu (八紘一宇, eight corners of the world under one roof).

NE - Canada, will be protected by UK and if in real danger by the USA due to Monroe doctrine.
East - USA, the strongest fleet we can meet, we have roughly half their BB and equal CV, the fight will be too fair, only by defeating them piecemeal would we be victorious which is not likely they will let us.
SE - Australia, New Zealand, will be protected by UK and therefore by France too, US involvement is doubtful.
South - The Dutch East Indies, weakly held and easily taken, but UK/France and maybe US might get involved.
SW - British Empire, allied to the French, together they currently outgun us.
West - China, weak and split currently, hugely more populous than us, but could be defeated in detail, US might ultimately get involved.
NW - The Soviet Union, no allies, only enemies, no one will help them if Attacked, huge distances from Moscow as always makes it difficult for them to concentrate large forces against us, we currently don't have the forces to defeat them alone. The victory of 1905 was barely reach, only a few more armies and our forces would have been depleted.

So the world is in careful balance, we must wait for something to upset this balance and can only come from a few corners.
The Soviets could decide they want to conquer the world, but with their pathetic fleet they have to start on land.
In Europe Germany thirst for revenge and for a Place in the Sun, this will ultimatively bring them to war with the Western democracies.
China might be united under one ruler, a feat no-one has succeded in the last 50 years, but 2 powerful contenders might bring it about, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and Chairman Mao, currently they are duking it out, the winner might become so dominat they can defeat the rest of the warlords.
Italy's aggression against Abyssinia also brings them into conflict with the western powers and so they become natural allies for the Germans together with the Hungarians who lost a lot in the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

A pact of Germany, Italy and some minors might be enough to distract UK, France and the French ally Poland in some years. They might even make nice junior partners in an alliance with us.
In the mean time we should strengthen our industry so we can become the 2nd largest economy, industry is power, and increase our armed forces for a conflict first with the Soviets to free our back, but take any opportunity that might present itself.

ps. 200 IC is the next level of greater power, a doubling is needed of our IC ...

**Cybvep** · 22-09-2011 23:48

Good enough for the introduction

. Just keep in mind that in the AAR proper you will have to write specific plans and relate to the situation presented in a given chapter.

I will probably create another thread for Gameplay when we are ready. I just want to clarify who is on board and whether we will have one IJA leader but many subordinates or two IJA mini-factions with equal power. Then I will update the rules and we will start the game. Opinions are welcome.

**VeteranLurker** · 23-09-2011 00:06

Count me in, lest lack of up-to-date HPP is a hindrance. Perhaps this makes me an old-guard proponent??

Are there now going to be two factions each within the army and the navy? If so, then 8 players (@ 2 each) makes sense.

Might be less confusing if reader-comments and gameplay questions/logistics are in one thread, while detailed information, propaganda, formal decisions, maps, etc. are in a separate thread (one which only participants can post to?). Personally I would prefer maps, summaries of force compositions and battle summaries (losses sustained, objectives achieved, #enemies routed), but not individual battle blow-by-blow (except perhaps for pivotal battles).

Where would I fall on the spectrum? "Don't antagonize the USA" would be my motto; they are a decadent sleeping giant, let them sleep. Achieve goals by conquering inferior neighbor to the north if opportunity presents, otherwise to the south and west lies the greatest potential for expansion.

**Cybvep** · 23-09-2011 00:15

Count me in, lest lack of up-to-date HPP is a hindrance. Perhaps this makes me an old-guard proponent??

I propose that you read the changelog

Are there now going to be two factions each within the army and the navy? If so, then 8 players (@ 2 each) makes sense.

Yes, I agree. It would make sense.

Might be less confusing if reader-comments and gameplay questions/logistics are in one thread, while detailed information, propaganda, formal decisions, maps, etc. are in a separate thread (one which only participants can post to?)

I'm already arranging it with loki100.

**Herbert West** · 23-09-2011 00:18

Sorry for being so dense, but do I need to actually play the game? I dont really have the time/resources for that ATM. If so, I have to sadly revoke my application

**Cybvep** · 23-09-2011 00:20

Originally Posted by Herbert West

Sorry for being so dense, but do I need to actually play the game? I dont really have the time/resources for that ATM. If so, I have to sadly revoke my application

Of course you don't. Resignation accepted.

**TheBromgrev** · 23-09-2011 00:48

Originally Posted by Cybvep

This is already implemented. There are border skirmishes with the SU which can escalate. I'm pretty sure that we will at least have to fight some battles with the SU sooner or later.

I guarantee you'll need to fight against the USSR in two separate skirmishes, so you can't leave your border undefended. If you lose either of them, the Soviet AI has a chance to escalate the conflict into an all-out war. Alternatively, you can use the border skirmishes to escalate the fight yourself, although you won't be able to make the Soviets surrender and give you land unless Germany owns Moscow, and even then you won't get much outside of Sakhalin, Outer Manchuria, and Kamchatka. We never decided on what conditions the USSR would give up land to Japan without German involvement, which is why such an event is missing. Just something to keep in mind. Now, if it comes to it and you do end up at war with the USSR without Germany's help and you do very well, I can cook up a custom event for you to have the USSR cede land to you. Let me know if that's something you want, and if so, send me the details via PM if you guys take that route. You might not, it all depends on how influential the IJA-N player is

Something similar can happen to China too, so you may find yourself in a race to see if you can take over China before the USSR does.

In a related note, the Marco Polo Bridge decision no longer forces Japan to declare war. You can back off if you want. Likewise, the US will attempt to intervene diplomatically at some point, with the Chinese being more likely to say "$%#@ off!", since historically it was Chiang who decided to escalate the border skirmish into an all-out war.

I probably won't have time to participate as a player, but I'll most likely be reading and commenting.

**Cybvep** · 23-09-2011 01:06

Thanks for the info. I will contact you by PM if I need help

**Surt** · 23-09-2011 07:52

In my last HPP game the US jumped me early '40 despite me not being that aggressive! I think I said No to the diplomatic initiative and chose different in some other minor (in my eyes) internal political option.

**Cybvep** · 23-09-2011 11:57

ATM 5 players confirmed their participation, while one resigned. Optimistically, if everyone confirms, then we will have 8 players!

EDIT: Gameplay Thread is here. Readers shouldn't post there, while the players will be able to post in that thread when the Introduction appears. I will notify them when this happens.

**Surt** · 23-09-2011 16:42

Do we operate 20/20 hindsight or roleplay from the current state of the world as seen by our respective faction?

**Cybvep** · 23-09-2011 17:49

Originally Posted by Surt

Do we operate 20/20 hindsight or roleplay from the current state of the world as seen by our respective faction?

Your objective is to "win" and your strategies should be effective. Be sure to check Victory Conditions for the factions and the mini-factions. There are no restrictions concerning division composition, build orders (except paratroopers) etc. However, it's best if you don't say things like "When German take Moscow (...)" in 1936. Still, you can elaborate on various possible outcomes, i.e. wars with China, the USSR, the USA, the Allies etc. In fact, you will be asked to do sth like that quite soon, although the approach you take may be varied.

The world is more dynamic in HPP than in Vanilla, so we may always be surprised by various events

**ROMMEL_HSQ** · 24-09-2011 22:50

Originally Posted by Cybvep

BTW I have a question to both potential players and potential AAR followers. Would you prefer the AAR chapters to be more gameplay-oriented or maybe you would like to see a bit of role-playing (I could always be the Emperor)? Do you want to read detailed reports of battles, military build-up etc. or maybe you would prefer shorter posts with concrete information only?

I honestly prefer a style where you actually kind of write description of the events. Like reading from a ww2 book written by a genral. Not an RPG style with charcters, and neither a screenshots dump.

**Cybvep** · 24-09-2011 22:53

Noted. However, there will be some role-playing on my part, because I will assume the role of the Emperor. It will mostly concern the planning stage or emergency staff meetings. Most chapters will be descriptions of events.

BTW ROMMEL_HSQ joined the game. If other players confirm their participation, we will have 8 players!

**ROMMEL_HSQ** · 24-09-2011 23:04

Originally Posted by Cybvep

Noted. However, there will be some role-playing on my part, because I will assume the role of the Emperor. It will mostly concern the planning stage or emergency staff meetings. Most chapters will be descriptions of events.

BTW ROMMEL_HSQ joined the game. If other players confirm their participation, we will have 8 players!

What position did I get?

**Cybvep** · 24-09-2011 23:16

You will probably be in the IJN. Currently I'm thinking about the following distribution:

IJN - Old Guards
arkham1010
Baltasar

IJN - Carrier Proponents
DoomBunny
ROMMEL_HSQ

IJA - Strike North
Surt
Comm Cody

IJA - Strike South
VeteranLurker
Gensui Yamamoto