Play Balance in Defending the Malay Barrier
There are so many start options in DTMB but the most balanced IMHO is the standard start. The record there is an even split between the Japanese and the ABDA. Any capital ship option IMHO weighs the campaign towards the Allies at least somewhat. Nevertheless, Allied capital ships do not guarantee victory as many variables, weather, approach, time of day and LBA may render any advantage the Allies have to be moot.
I suppose I should define what I mean by balanced. I don’t mean that both side’s OBs are dead even. They are not. But both sides have serious advantages and disadvantages. IMHO the campaign is balanced because how the players maximize their advantages while minimizing their disadvantages is the most likely reason they will win or lose.
There is not one right way to win as I’ve seen well thought out campaign moves founder on weather and other set up die rolls while moves that IMHO were needlessly reckless not only worked but decided the campaign outright.
The standard start Japanese IMHO are the easiest to play as their heavy cruisers are the kings of the sea in most situations. But there are only 12 of them (if you take the 2 as CD reinforcements) and while they are hard to sink; they are easy to cripple. Once they are gone the Allied cruisers rule the Japanese light cruisers. So, beware.
If you go with a capital ship option, then IMHO the Japanese need to shelter their heavy cruisers behind smoke to protect them from the Allied capital ships. Preserving the Japanese capital ships at the expense of their cruisers will leave the Japanese exposed when their capital ships are withdrawn.
I’ve been playing this campaign since 2016 (including play testing) and it never goes the same way twice. The campaign to me is just as fresh now as it was when we began. The only guarantee of defeat IMHO is to play the Allies as they did historically. Sortie full sweeps (6 cruisers) or none at all. Don’t get beat piecemeal.
WMC
