Morning/Rising Sun - They're my boys.

[bru888]

I remember when Morning Sun first came out, I expressed doubt that I would want to play as the evil Japanese picking on the helpless Chinese (and I had never played Rising Sun).

Guess what. As I play out these campaigns (linked as the Japanese Grand Campaign), something strange has come over me. Those Sons of Nippon out there are MY BOYS and I cheer their victories and cry over their losses. The enemy is the ENEMY.

Now I am looking forward to conquering Melbourne and enslaving helpless Australians!

[Don't worry. I will return to my usual civilized self when I have finished this campaign.]

That's a measure of how good this game is and how well these campaigns were designed, in my opinion. Thumbs up.

[GiveWarAchance]

Ya it's enlightening to carve up the Chinese with Ha-Gos and assorted infantry as long as supply holds out.
I ran out of supply with most of my units in my last Morning Sun battle. I don't know supply rules well but all the roads are connected and partisans defeated.

China is good campaign for ground combat with tanks and infantry and tac bombers.
Normally I would rather be the good guys too but it is beneficial to experience the immense power of the dark side.

[bru888]

Normally I would rather be the good guys too but it is beneficial to experience the immense power of the dark side.

For me, good/dark does not enter into it. That's my point, if I have a serious one to make in this thread.

I am aware of history and what was at stake in World War II. I am also aware of history in that, for example, I know that my relatively one-sided history as the Japanese player in the Battle of Midway was unlikely (although I think I did use my reconnaissance plane to very good effect in that scenario and I wonder whether the real-life Japanese commanders could have done a better job in that respect).

But I don't think about history once the scenario starts. I am immersed in the game, trying to feel my way and survive until I can find a way to win. Too engrossed to think about which side I am playing. That makes this game superior in my book.

I am aware of some criticisms made here that campaigns like Rising Sun are unrealistic in that they are not historical and the deck is not stacked against the Japanese player as it turned out in real life. To me, it's close enough to reality and I play games to win. Even if I get clobbered the first time or two.

[GiveWarAchance]

I only called the Japanese the dark side cause that is what most people believe and I don't want to ruffle too many feathers online.

As for Midway, the Japanese sent out recon planes like spokes on a bicycle wheel in all directions. But they had astonishingly bad luck in the one plane that failed to scout its area was the one area in which the US navy was lurking in.
Japan could have done good in the pacific war with better leaders for army & navy in the early war and more modern infantry doctrine.

[bru888]

I only called the Japanese the dark side cause that is what most people believe and I don't want to ruffle too many feathers online.

As for Midway, the Japanese sent out recon planes like spokes on a bicycle wheel in all directions. But they had astonishingly bad luck in the one plane that failed to scout its area was the one area in which the US navy was lurking in.
Japan could have done good in the pacific war with better leaders for army & navy in the early war and more modern infantry doctrine.

Thanks for the background on Midway! So a Japanese victory in the OOB version is not so far-fetched . . .