Time to find out what happens when the Allies invade; it all comes down to this. Note that this is the game-deciding turn; if you'd like to follow the whole story, don't start here!
As far as I understand it, "supply eligible port" can trace back to any HQ, so South HQ could make the north of Japan supply eligible, if there is some breach in the chain of ZOIs between Japan and Australia.
+Frank Riepenhausen Yes, that's my reading of it as well. In that case, South HQ would also be in supply, which would create additional problems for the Allies. Lots of reasons for both sides to play close attention to the ZOI networks!
I never got around to it and, as is probably obvious in looking at my failure to respond to questions, I haven't looked at this closely in 2+ years. By way of quick commentary for someone starting this now, the game itself was pretty unusual in that certain low probability events happened in combination. On the other hand, the game is very probabilistic, and some improbable events will normally happen in some combination. No two games of EotS are much alike, and playing well is about being able to respond to whatever the dice, and especially the cards, throw at you. The AP ended up winning here, ultimately, because Antero (JP) gave me a mulligan at a key point, and the last improbable event also went in my favor on the last turn. It could easily have gone the other way. Hopefully there is enough detailed commentary throughout the AAR to help new players develop a better sense of some of the nuances involved in playing the game well enough to enjoy it. It's so different from anything most of us have played before that it can seem overwhelming, but it's also hugely rewarding if you invest the time to learn it, and you enjoy the kinds of puzzles it presents. Thanks for watching, and for taking the time to ask good questions.
Small question: Where did Antero's replacements go at the start of the turn? At the end of turn 11 I saw a 9-12 in hex 3606. At the start of Turn 12 I saw two activated army units in hex 3606: an 18-12 and a 9-12. The rest of the hexes look the same. If I'm not mistaken it sounds like he added a replacement to the 9-12 to make it an 18-12 and then brought back a 9-12 from the dead pile and put it in hex 3606. There's just one problem: that second placement is illegal. when replacements come back from the dead pile they are placed like reinforcements. According to the rules Ground reinforcements must be placed in a port where it is in supply and not under un-neutralized enemy AZOI. Not a biggie since Nagoya was available as an alternate location and Antero could have still activated and moved it to 3606 after you invaded Tokyo. But I thought I would seek clarification.
+Francisco Colmenares Looks like we missed that in our focus on sorting out the implications of overland logistics, but you are certainly right! (And also correct that it would not have made a difference here.)
+John Steidl Sounds good. BTW, funny story. When I read the first sentence my eyes skimmed too fast and I read: "Time to find out what happens when Aliens invade."
How were the naval and air units able to take out the half strength Japanese armies? I thought you can't take out the last step solely via air naval combat
Most of the hexes in the main island have an intrinsic 12-12 step (the red squares) that count as the last step in the hex, which means that a 9-12 army can be wiped out by air/naval combat.
Wow. Great series and great game. Well played by both sides.
What a fantastic game. I just got EoTS for Christmas so this and your tutorials are just what I need to understand the rules and the strategy. Thanks
Great series. Watched all of it and enjoyed every last moment.
As far as I understand it, "supply eligible port" can trace back to any HQ, so South HQ could make the north of Japan supply eligible, if there is some breach in the chain of ZOIs between Japan and Australia.
+Frank Riepenhausen
Yes, that's my reading of it as well. In that case, South HQ would also be in supply, which would create additional problems for the Allies. Lots of reasons for both sides to play close attention to the ZOI networks!
Was there a video posted with final commentary and thoughts?
I never got around to it and, as is probably obvious in looking at my failure to respond to questions, I haven't looked at this closely in 2+ years.
By way of quick commentary for someone starting this now, the game itself was pretty unusual in that certain low probability events happened in combination. On the other hand, the game is very probabilistic, and some improbable events will normally happen in some combination. No two games of EotS are much alike, and playing well is about being able to respond to whatever the dice, and especially the cards, throw at you.
The AP ended up winning here, ultimately, because Antero (JP) gave me a mulligan at a key point, and the last improbable event also went in my favor on the last turn. It could easily have gone the other way.
Hopefully there is enough detailed commentary throughout the AAR to help new players develop a better sense of some of the nuances involved in playing the game well enough to enjoy it. It's so different from anything most of us have played before that it can seem overwhelming, but it's also hugely rewarding if you invest the time to learn it, and you enjoy the kinds of puzzles it presents.
Thanks for watching, and for taking the time to ask good questions.
Wow. Down to the wire.
Small question: Where did Antero's replacements go at the start of the turn? At the end of turn 11 I saw a 9-12 in hex 3606. At the start of Turn 12 I saw two activated army units in hex 3606: an 18-12 and a 9-12. The rest of the hexes look the same. If I'm not mistaken it sounds like he added a replacement to the 9-12 to make it an 18-12 and then brought back a 9-12 from the dead pile and put it in hex 3606.
There's just one problem: that second placement is illegal. when replacements come back from the dead pile they are placed like reinforcements. According to the rules Ground reinforcements must be placed in a port where it is in supply and not under un-neutralized enemy AZOI. Not a biggie since Nagoya was available as an alternate location and Antero could have still activated and moved it to 3606 after you invaded Tokyo. But I thought I would seek clarification.
+Francisco Colmenares
Looks like we missed that in our focus on sorting out the implications of overland logistics, but you are certainly right! (And also correct that it would not have made a difference here.)
+John Steidl
Sounds good. BTW, funny story. When I read the first sentence my eyes skimmed too fast and I read: "Time to find out what happens when Aliens invade."
How were the naval and air units able to take out the half strength Japanese armies? I thought you can't take out the last step solely via air naval combat
Oh wait...intrinsic defense is the last step. Never mind....back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Most of the hexes in the main island have an intrinsic 12-12 step (the red squares) that count as the last step in the hex, which means that a 9-12 army can be wiped out by air/naval combat.