@Blitchga:
@dadler12:
I think Japan should wait as long as possible to bring the US into war. Also Japan starts out with enough units to crush the US fleet in the Pacific and if it positions its fleet accordingly it can force the US to build Pacific. Is should add that the Euro Axis have to have enough air/naval units well positioned to force the US to build an Atlantic navy as well (not just transports). If the Axis do this the US will have spent most it’s money on a navy and air force and won’t have 5 loaded transports in the Atlantic ready to head to Gibraltar and kill Italy. Japan should take half of China by round 2, kill Russia or let it retreat to Europe, and position itself to take DEI, Kwangtung, and maybe Malaya round 3. If you can get UK/ANZAC to attack you before turn 3, awesome! Now the US wont be moving units to Europe and making 80+ IPC until round 4. When I played as Japan I dominated the Pacific, took India, crushed China, and never attacked Russia (Russia moved his troops west). Axis ending up winning that game because I drew the majority of US IPC Pacific and the US/UK didn’t spend enough on Europe which resulted in Germany taking Moscow. The Axis will win if they are aggressive early and do not bring the US into the war until turn 3 or the end of US turn 3. When a smart axis does this, a US with 100+ IPC is not enough. Make the US react. It’s troops are so far from the front that if you force the US to react to you instead of making long term plans, you will win every time.
Perfectly said
The US makes more than enough and in most of our games in crying for more money. European troops can easily force the US to build a large escort fleet. Japan can easily feint or even attack Hawaii and US navy troops. I always make it look like I am going to hit the US hard on J3 and then have the troops positioned to instead hit half the DEI, Philippines, Kwangtung etc… A smart Japanese player will rule the Pacific and have all of the allies there running scared. Perhaps what we really need is a Japanese strategy thread so that people can see how to make Japan the USA’s direct rival. It is not hard with well positioned navy, air force and factories Japan can push back the allies on all fronts.
Not necesarily.
First of all, USA shouldn’t buy any transporters in the first one or 2 turns (unless a J1 already provoced war and the situation réally demands it).
They can build op their Atlantic escort fleet (they need it anyway - sending only transports to Gibraltar is a waste of IPC) and ground units (placed in Central USA so they can board in the Pacific or move to W-USA the turn you buy transports there - to board there the next turn).
That keeps the Axis a little bit in the dark as where they will move to (and keeps USA’s options open).
USA should take its time and not rush into things. Build up slowly. It’s better to wait a turn and have a fleet you won’t lose. USA has money, that doesn’t mean it can just throw it away.
Personally i like to start with buying subs (useful for both the european as the pacific side) and ground units (they will always be used sooner or later). And destroyers if needed.
Subs can be sent into position early without much risk (since Axis will hesitate to go get them to keep USA out of the war, and they’re safe from german subs as well - and later they can join with the escort fleet, of raid UK’s convoys if a Sealion has succeeded), the destroyer can take possible future blocking positions.
The next turns build up that warfleet and when you’re ready to take off, a load of transporters as well.
Also, as USA i feel no real threat. It’s enough out of reach to see any meaningful attack coming. In fact, it would not be smart at all as Axis to try to attack America.
UK-Anzac should always wait to attack until turn 3.
Edit: USA needs that big income ;)
