@krieghund Your answer and the FAQ are super helpful – thank you!
Weasels in Alaska - A Hypothetical
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I don’t necessarily see it as a waste of effort; if the US player is in hanging on his own rope, might as well hand him some more rope by landing a bit in Alaska, even if it’s just 1 inf :wink: If he takes Alaska hard then it’s 2 turns to catch up to where he wants to be in E. Canada.
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There are two situation.
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USA player is performing an optimal shuck move, optimizing the troops bought in respect to the available transport, without spending more on land units in respect to the available space on the ships, then Japanese landing in alaska is a worthy effort. USA player have to deal with the problem. In two ways IMHO. If he is building in WUS he can increase the building of land units to have an increased army in WCAN, and then counter the landing in Alaska. Or he can ignore the menace, having the WUS, WCAN and ECAN stacked with the units marching to Europe.
The problem is slightly bigger for USA player if he is building in EUS. In that case he have to switch production of some land units to WUS to counter Japanese move. -
USA player is performing a sub optimal shuck move, buying more troops than the available transports may carry.
In that case Japanese playere have no need to land in Alaska. The shuck move is already not optimized and the USA player have already excess units for countering th Japanese. If Japan land in Alaska suddenly those units become useful to the USA player. If Japan do not land in Alaska those units are still useless for USA. They may go in Europe at last, but meanwhile they have tied down IPC that may be used in another way (i.e. buying aircraft). Two excess infantry each turn are 6 IPC used for doing none. So why Japanese should allow to the USA the possibility to convert a wrong move in a strong one. Play to enemy weakness not to their strength.
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A KGF move can still be effective even if not run ‘optimally’. That’s part of the reason it is used so often (and used effectively).
Remember, those ‘additional’ US ground units won’t be extra for long. USA’s next buy can determine the excess and adjust accordingly, perhaps results in a ftr or bomber being bought instead.
KJF doesn’t allow the slack in efficiency as KGF does.
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Ok, Axis_roll I agree. About the efficiency of the shuck move in KGF you are right.
However my focus is on the disruption the Japanese player may inflict.
If the shuck move is not “fully optimized” (bearing in mind that it does not need to be opimized) USA has useless units that may become useful to counter Japanese attack.
I know that they at last will go in Europe, but delaying USA effort in Europe is the objective of the Japanese move. If it is already delayed or not optimized why spend Japanese units that may be easily destroyed by the USA excess units?
My idea is: if USA is optimized and efficient may Japanese create problem? If yes he can, then I go in Alaska. Otherwise, if US has excess units doing nothing, that may be used to counter the Alaska landing, without delaying the shuck in Europe, Japanese usually may not create disruption.
What do you think about? -
I had been a fan of efficient US effort towards Europe, as detailed in Caspian_Sub Policy Paper #2
US1 (42 IPC): build in EUS 3tra, 6inf (or even 3tra, 2inf, 3arty)
US2 (40 IPC): build in EUS 1tra, 4inf, 4tnk
US3 (38 IPC): build in EUS 1tra, 4inf, 2arty, 2tnk
Planes fly to Europe as well.
And even more, getting to 5+5 transports to Europe (35 IPC = 5 inf + 5 arty), once even 6+6 (adding some IPC in Europe). Building US planes instead of inf+arty and a little tanks is less effective.But I found all this the most vulnerable to Japanese “coastal guerilla” as described above. Alaska may be only a staging point, but if US gets negligent then Japan may continue building a serious base (ftr’s landed in Alaska, further landing a ‘screen’ in WCA). All without committing really strong forces.
The real point is how US may prevent it with minimal sacrifice (IPC investment or delay to Europe).
Then yes, I found keeping one extra turn production’s investment (or 3/8 if using tanks) in building in WEU instead of EEU does protect nicely. Inf WEU > WCA > ECA, tanks WEU > ECA. Japan cannot win WCA, ALA is empty but swapping it may be pointless for Japan and so deterred.
Else keeping enough US defenders in both WCA and ALA may make the same Japanese landing threat “multiplied”. Keeping 6-7 inf in each ties up too much from the KGF effort.What if as US I prefer to KGF with more inf+arty rather than less inf+tanks ? is the weakening of deeper counterattack potential vs Jap landings reason enough not to do that ?
More important - is there a cheaper US sufficient deterrence towards Japan ?
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The point is if the landing in Japan is worthy for the Japanese to attempt.
It is useful if it forces USA to divert units from shuck even only for defense purposes.
If USA have already spare units for engaging the Japanese threat I think it is pointless to attack Alaska.The more economic way to defend is to build unit in WUS. So WUS and WCAN are good protected by the marching stacks of inf.
If Japan still lands in Alaska, there are no problems. USA increase the production of land unit in that turn. So in the subsequent turn in WCAN there are excess units that may hit alaska.
The excess units to build depends on the entity of the Japanese force.
In this way Japan at best may invade Alaska and force USA to build some more land units.When I speak of sub-optimized I do not intend building in WUS, but building more units than the TRN may carry.
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To me, the point of a Japan landing in Alaska is to disrupt an American player who is cutting a perfectly optimal transport shuck. That is, if they have 4 transports they only have 8 units to transport.
To me, that style of American play is very unwise. It does not allow for replacement units or for distractions. It also does not allow for you to change what you want to ship to Euro-Asia. You only have 8 units! Whatever you happen to have, has to be shipped! If you had 10 units, you could mix it up on the fly if you needed too!
As for a “waste” I don’t think it is a waste at all. You’ll still use those forces, you just happen to have them earlier then later. That means you sink the German fleet in the Med and lost 90% of your aircraft in return. Well, you have 24 units in W. Canada, 8 units in E. Canada, 4X4 transports. That means you can rebuild 70% of your aircraft this turn without interruption. (Pulling numbers from no where to make a demonstration, not advocating 4X the amount of units you need sitting around with America. 2X maybe. 1.5X is my standard usually.)
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@Bean:
The Japanese decided to be annoying, and they landed 2 inf in Alaska on J2 (which was vacant), and they guarded the transport with 2 battleships and a carrier (with 2 fighters).
Japan built a Battleship on J1? Interesting. (SZ 37 BB cannot get to Alaska until J3)
If they just sit there and don’t build up, have the US ignore them but make sure you build in LA and march to E. Can via W. Can. By J2, if the Allies do KGF there won’t be much of an Allied Pacific fleet, and all of the USAF will be in London or N. Africa. All of that sitting off the North American coast can be VERY annoying. I don’t believe losing your focus from the Europe shuck-shuck is worth it for just 2 IPC’s. The J1 BB build means they didn’t buy a Factory or many other trans. Russia should be just fine.
Also, if they waited to J3 and used the SZ 37 BB, then that meas the UK Indian Ocean fleet is alive. If you still can, unify it with the Australian Sub and Trans. and go have fun with Japanese shipping.
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:-o
What loser buys a BB on turn #1 !!!
I mean, they are so going to lose.
:roll: -
I dunno, in a KJF it might not be that bad an investment.
Personally, I think Carrier, Submarine is better, but an extra BB could really be worth it’s weight in plastic!
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I had been a fan of efficient US effort towards Europe, as detailed in Caspian_Sub Policy Paper #2
US1 (42 IPC): build in EUS 3tra, 6inf (or even 3tra, 2inf, 3arty)
US2 (40 IPC): build in EUS 1tra, 4inf, 4tnk
US3 (38 IPC): build in EUS 1tra, 4inf, 2arty, 2tnk
Planes fly to Europe as well.
And even more, getting to 5+5 transports to Europe (35 IPC = 5 inf + 5 arty), once even 6+6 (adding some IPC in Europe). Building US planes instead of inf+arty and a little tanks is less effective.But I found all this the most vulnerable to Japanese “coastal guerilla” as described above. Alaska may be only a staging point, but if US gets negligent then Japan may continue building a serious base (ftr’s landed in Alaska, further landing a ‘screen’ in WCA). All without committing really strong forces.
I find the US to be extremely annoying to play when Germany starts off with a 2 tran or car build, then you as the US have to build some assault navy to take it out, then Japan lands in Alaska. Your shuck is quite possibly ruined for 1-2 extra turns.
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@Bean:
I find the US to be extremely annoying to play when Germany starts off with a 2 tran or car build, then you as the US have to build some assault navy to take it out, then Japan lands in Alaska. Your shuck is quite possibly ruined for 1-2 extra turns.
Why buy navy to take out the Germany navy? Use ftrs, the extra $2 cost is worth it, and they can be used for more than just naval warfare, like hitting the Japanese inf in alaska if needed. Use the transports as fodder in the naval war or just lose a ftr or two, you can replace them quicker (range of 4).
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I’m talking like between 1-2 subs, which provide fodder also if Germany decides to attack with their navy. If you build extra fighters then you need extra carriers to act as defense in the water. Also, the extra 2 IPCs does add up, you can only build 1 car + 2 fighters with 42 IPCs, but you could build 1 car 2 sub 1 tran with 42 IPCs.
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@Bean:
I’m talking like between 1-2 subs, which provide fodder also if Germany decides to attack with their navy. If you build extra fighters then you need extra carriers to act as defense in the water. Also, the extra 2 IPCs does add up, you can only build 1 car + 2 fighters with 42 IPCs, but you could build 1 car 2 sub 1 tran with 42 IPCs.
I guess the question would be how many ‘other’ capital ships do the allies have besides the typical 1 UK BB (sometimes an a/c) and the US BB from the pacific. Recall that there’s also 2 US DDs in that mix as well. With enough transports, shouldn’t that be enough against a German fleet?
I guess it depends on if the Med fleet was able to join the baltic fleet in the Atlantic.
Your point is valid as there are lots of factors to decide what is ‘enough’ navy…
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@Bean:
I find the US to be extremely annoying to play when Germany starts off with a 2 tran or car build, then you as the US have to build some assault navy to take it out, then Japan lands in Alaska. Your shuck is quite possibly ruined for 1-2 extra turns.
Why buy navy to take out the Germany navy? Use ftrs, the extra $2 cost is worth it, and they can be used for more than just naval warfare, like hitting the Japanese inf in alaska if needed. Use the transports as fodder in the naval war or just lose a ftr or two, you can replace them quicker (range of 4).
Furthermore, America has 3 Fighters and a Bomber at the start, in most games, which can be used on USA 3 to sink the German Med fleet at no additional cost. (Possible 4th fighter if Pearl is not sunk. Very rare possible 5th fighter in China isn’t taken.)
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I think the cheapest and easiest way to deter a Japanese Alaska/Wcan assualt is to just start your shuck from Wus on US 1.
I usually buy 1 AC + gound units (maybe 1 ftr). Round 2 add another trn and more ground units (again maybe another ftr). And after that it is smooth sailing.
I do go to Afr on both US 2 and US 3 so I’m not really concerned about 3x3 or 4x4. I can add trns later with my excess cash each turn and place directly in Eus at that time if I want. But I typically use my Wus shuck to set up a potential mid game Pac shift. Now Japan must worry about me taking her isalnds instead of me worrying about her.
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Ya know, DM, I have not seen a need for an American Aircraft Carrier purchase prior to Round 5. Until then you are working with the British fleet anyway, so the extra carrier really doesn’t help much. However, after this point, England’s consolidated their fleet in home waters and you’ll need a little more defensive punch so you can split the fleets if you want too.
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@Cmdr:
Ya know, DM, I have not seen a need for an American Aircraft Carrier purchase prior to Round 5. Until then you are working with the British fleet anyway, so the extra carrier really doesn’t help much. However, after this point, England’s consolidated their fleet in home waters and you’ll need a little more defensive punch so you can split the fleets if you want too.
The US AC protects me for any type of German naval shenanigans as well as an eventual move to Sz 14 or something. And it can be deadly in wiping out an expanded German Med fleet in the wrong sz if you follow up with AC + 2 ftrs on US 2. Anything in Sz 13 or 14 is then toast.
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Possibly, though, I never have problems with the Germans getting out of the Med through SZ 12 anyway. SZ 34 is a different story, Mr. German blitz on Australia!
BTW, you gunna post a round in our game? :P
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I don’t like relying on the UK to build the carrier, they are much closer to the action (which means they should focus on dropping hard, not defending) and it takes up a big chunk of their income.
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