US#1 Buys - ROCmonster's Video

[Jennifer]

First, KNP, have you found the carriage return? Sorry…just it would be great if you could put spaces between paragraphs…just for my own eyes. ^_^

@knp7765:

I know this is about US1 purchase, but I have to ask for some opinions.
I just finished the first round of a new game.  Germany purchased a CV and two Trn in preparation for Sealion.  At the end of G1, I had 1 BB (w/1 hit), 1 CV, 1 CA, 1 SS, 1 Ftr & 1 Tac plus 3 trans all in SZ 112.  Also, on W Germany I had 2 Ftr + 1 Tac for scramble.  Germany killed the BB & DD in SZ 111, both CAs in SZ 112.

Bad move in my opinion.  Assuming they hit what I do on Round 1, this leaves them open to a counter attack on UK 1.  A better move, in my opinion, would be AC, DD (and if you are paranoid, SS, but I save the 6 IPC.)

However, UK still had the BB & CA in SZ 110, the DD & Trn in SZ 109 and the CA in SZ 91.

Sounds like they did what I do on Germany 1, in that case, yes, you woulda been better off with an AC/DD than AC/2Trn.

On UK 1, UK threw all those ships (except the Trn) plus 4 fighters and 1 bomber at the German fleet.  Some good UK dice, bad German dice and by the end the German navy was wiped out.  UK only had 1 damaged BB and 1 bomber left, but London is saved from Sealion.  Not only that, the Luftwaffe is down to 1 Ftr, 1 Tac and 2 Strats.  Also, since it was fairly obvious that I was trying Sealion, USSR has massed on the border and is chomping at the bit.  Meanwhile, Germany is very light along the border, with a moderate force in Yugoslavia, a stack of men in W Germany and some tanks in France.
My question is:  WHAT DOES GERMANY DO NOW?

And that’s why I said DD > 2 Trn

Do I kill that old British BB and buy new ships to try Sealion again?  Except for the 1 bomber, the RAF is dead in London.  Also, Germany does have 71 IPCs to spend.  Or, do I forget about Sealion and start putting stuff on the Eastern Border while trying to rebuild the Luftwaffe?

What did Russia do?  Where is Japan?

I’ve had setbacks as Germany before, but not quite this bad.  Just kind of threw me for a loop.  Anyone out there have any ideas?

Assuming Japan went after China and Russia did a pretty standard turtle build it all really depends on how your SZ 112 went.  Did you drop the fighters in the water?  If so, then you might only need an AC to protect transports for your attack.

Based on how I see the board at this point:

1)  Buy: 1 Aircraft Carrier, 8 Transports
2)  2 Strategic Bomber to UK: SBR (assumes no fighters, if there are fighters for some reason, 4 fighters, 2 tacticals, 2 strategics to England hit the Major and the Airbase)
3)  Hit England proper.

I am assuming:  72 IPC for Germany to spend (should be easy to attain), England without significant fighters left after hitting SZ 112.

[theROCmonster]

how in the world did uk get 4 fighters there?

[Jennifer]

@theROCmonster:

how in the world did uk get 4 fighters there?

Not sure where you mean, but I’ll assume England:

1 French Fighter
2 English Fighters in England
1 English Fighter in Scotland

= 4 Fighters

[knp7765]

No, the French fighter was still in London (couldn’t attack with UK forces).  It was 2 Ftrs from England, 1 Ftr from Scotland and 1 Ftr from Gibraltar.  UK purchased a CV with the intention of placing it in SZ 110 so the Gibraltar fighter could land.  Since all Brit fighters were killed, UK placed the CV down by S Africa to keep it away from German Subs and Aircraft.

I would also mention that UK spanked Italy pretty hard.  The UK CV in SZ 98 went to SZ 92 along with the Trn from SZ 109.  CV still had Brit Tac on it.  UK killed  Ital DD & Trn SZ 96, placed CA in SZ 96 and DD in SZ 99 as blockers for Egypt.  UK took Ethiopia and withdrew Alexandria force to Egypt leaving 1 Inf behind as blocker.  Placed Minor IC on Egypt that Italy could not get to.

Italy took Greece but lost most of their navy.  Sent 1 SS, 1 DD, 1 CA and 1 bomber after UK CV & Tac in SZ 92.  Horrible Dice for Italy.  CV was damaged but survived and Tac survived, landed on Gibraltar.  All Italian units killed.  Italy also lost BB & 1 Ftr killing British CA in SZ 96.  Again, horrible dice for Italy.  One cruiser and 1 Fighter took out UK DD in SZ 99, no Italian losses.  So, Italian navy reduced to 1 cruiser SZ 99 and 2 Transports SZ 97 protected by 2 Italian and 1 German fighter on airbase S Italy.

Russia got aggressive.  Massing heavily all along border with Germany.  Moved all 18 Inf to Amur + 2 AA Guns.  Japan attacked and killed them, surviving with 3 Inf, 2 Art, 1 Mech & 1 Tank in Amur.  All Jap planes survived.  Russia was intending to take Korea, but is out of the question.  Except for 6 Inf in Manchuria, Russia is out of troops in the East.  Japan did fairly well against China, but CHina did take Yunnan back and has a pretty strong front against Japanese.  Japan built Minor in Shanghai, may have to wait to advance further.  Also, Japan may be out of position to take DEI before US enters the war.

So you think Sealion would still be a good choice?  UK is very weak right now == 1 French Inf and 1 UK bomber in London (+ 4 AA guns), 1 UK Inf in Scotland, no navy except for the damaged BB in SZ 112.  I guess it could still work, but worried about what USSR is going to do.

Had 1 German sub in SZ 106 so tried the new Convoy Raid system.  Rolled 2 dice, got a 4 and a 1 so only got to cause 1 IPC damage.  So far, not liking it but we will see.  Hope my spacing is better.  I know what you mean, it is sometimes hard to read when it’s all clumped together.  Thanks for the advice.

[knp7765]

UPDATE:  Germany is going after Sealion.  UK put 1 CV with 1 French Ftr in SZ 110.  Also 1 French CA and 1 French DD.  Looked like Sealion was a no go since Germany has 1 sub, 7 transports, 1 Ftr and 2 Bombers.  However, realized German transports can reach SZ 109 around north end of England/Scotland.  Just 1 UK transport in SZ 109 and NO fighters to scramble.

Not looking forward to Russian juggernaut.  Russia down to 2 infantry in far east.  Japan having problems with China.  Large US fleets looming and potential for London to fall threatens Japan in Pacific.  Just not sure how things are going to work out.

[Guest]

Maybe hit Novgorod?

[knp7765]

Germany ended up doing Sealion and took London with quite a bit left;  I think 4 or 5 tanks, 3 inf and 2 art.  Since the UK sank the Italian navy, those two French ships in the Med sailed on up to SZ 109 and killed all the German transports so all that stuff was stuck on England and therefore no help at all against Russia.  USSR did attack and got Finland, Romania, Slovakia/Hungary but lost in Poland.  After that, Russia managed to keep trading territories with Germany – first it was Baltic States and E Poland.  Germany would take them and Russia would take them back.  This went on for several rounds which gave the US time to get enough men and equip over and liberate London.  Then the balance shifted some and Germany and Russia started trading Poland and Slovakia back and forth.  Russia already had Finland and Norway and managed to push into Romania again.  US took Denmark and W Germany, Germany took W Germany back, US took it again.  Italy never got their navy back and with the UK back in the game and buying stuff, they went after Italy and eventually took Rome.
Meanwhile, the US fleet just pounded the Japanese.  Japan couldn’t replace the losses while USA could.  Japan lost their mainland force to attacks by Chinese, Russian, British and ANZAC attacks.  Even their big air force got whittled down.  Eventually Japan was cornered on their island and convoy raided into the poorhouse.  They were collecting 0 IPCs for 3 rounds or so.  ANZAC had built up enough transports, troops and planes so they tried an invasion and ended up taking Japan.  This was a surprise because Japan had a lot of guys on Japan + 3 fighters that they got before the US started convoy raiding them silly.  USA also had an invasion fleet ready and the plan was for ANZAC to hit Japan and kill as many guys possible then USA would finish the job.  ANZAC got some good dice and ended up winning after all.

Vance, I think you have the right idea.  I don’t think Sealion is a good strategy for Germany anymore, unless the ROyal Navy is totally killed off, which I failed to do this time.  That caused my navy to be sunk and delayed my invasion of England another crucial round.  Also, I was still too weak on the Eastern Border and Russia just had a field day.  Sure, they lost in Poland, but everywhere else I was crushed.  Germany never really recovered and Russia was able to keep pouring on the heat.  I think a better strategy is to kill the Royal Navy then head east.  Leave London alone and deal with Russia with much better strength.

[knp7765]

By the way Grasshopper.  Your purchase plan for the US worked great for our US player this game.  They had a HUGE navy in the Pacific which easily handled the Jap Navy.  Your plan was followed through round 4.  By that time, USA was in the war and circumstances demanded different buys – mainly more transports and land units for Europe.  USA was able to not only keep the Jap navy in check, but pretty much smash it up good and at the same time built up a big enough force to liberate London and give the Germans headaches.

[Young Grasshopper]

@knp7765:

By the way Grasshopper.  Your purchase plan for the US worked great for our US player this game.  They had a HUGE navy in the Pacific which easily handled the Jap Navy.  Your plan was followed through round 4.  By that time, USA was in the war and circumstances demanded different buys – mainly more transports and land units for Europe.  USA was able to not only keep the Jap navy in check, but pretty much smash it up good and at the same time built up a big enough force to liberate London and give the Germans headaches.

Great to hear that my purchase strategy found some success, did they also use my movement strategy of sailing ships to the Queensland shore during peace time?

[theROCmonster]

I just played out your strat Grasshopper. Japan still can easily hold phillipines. I put up blockers to take all the money islands on turn4. Right now US just completed T5 and has a supperior navy to Japan, but US still can’t take and hold phillipines. US can’t even take the sea zone outside phillipines. Japan is still making in the 66-68 range, but is about to have only 2 transports left and US as well has 2 transports. Along with anzac help I see US taking phillipines and holding it on R8 at the earliest. Japan is building 9 subs a turn. US is purchasing 9 subs 1 destroyer 1 fighter a turn. Sooner or later the economic advantage will swing drastically and japan will be making in the 30’s to 40’s and america in the 80’s or even more. The problem I see though is that Russia is going to fall before America can put sufficient forces in europe. Right now I am having Italy building all infantry from T2 except for a sub I bought in T1 and a mech for russia. Italy has a ton of men on the home lands, so UK can’t really do much by himself. Interesting to see how things will end up. I am filming the whole game and am going to put it on youtube when I am done.

[Jennifer]

@Young:

@knp7765:

By the way Grasshopper.  Your purchase plan for the US worked great for our US player this game.  They had a HUGE navy in the Pacific which easily handled the Jap Navy.  Your plan was followed through round 4.  By that time, USA was in the war and circumstances demanded different buys – mainly more transports and land units for Europe.  USA was able to not only keep the Jap navy in check, but pretty much smash it up good and at the same time built up a big enough force to liberate London and give the Germans headaches.

Great to hear that my purchase strategy found some success, did they also use my movement strategy of sailing ships to the Queensland shore during peace time?

Pretty sure American ships on the Atlantic have to be in sea zones adjacent to American territories until America is at war, so sailing to SZ 106 is not an option.

[Young Grasshopper]

@Cmdr:

@Young:

@knp7765:

By the way Grasshopper.  Your purchase plan for the US worked great for our US player this game.  They had a HUGE navy in the Pacific which easily handled the Jap Navy.  Your plan was followed through round 4.  By that time, USA was in the war and circumstances demanded different buys – mainly more transports and land units for Europe.  USA was able to not only keep the Jap navy in check, but pretty much smash it up good and at the same time built up a big enough force to liberate London and give the Germans headaches.

Great to hear that my purchase strategy found some success, did they also use my movement strategy of sailing ships to the Queensland shore during peace time?

Pretty sure American ships on the Atlantic have to be in sea zones adjacent to American territories until America is at war, so sailing to SZ 106 is not an option.

The Queensland coast is in Australia on the Pacific board.

[Young Grasshopper]

@theROCmonster:

I just played out your strat Grasshopper. Japan still can easily hold phillipines. I put up blockers to take all the money islands on turn4. Right now US just completed T5 and has a supperior navy to Japan, but US still can’t take and hold phillipines. US can’t even take the sea zone outside phillipines. Japan is still making in the 66-68 range, but is about to have only 2 transports left and US as well has 2 transports. Along with anzac help I see US taking phillipines and holding it on R8 at the earliest. Japan is building 9 subs a turn. US is purchasing 9 subs 1 destroyer 1 fighter a turn. Sooner or later the economic advantage will swing drastically and japan will be making in the 30’s to 40’s and america in the 80’s or even more. The problem I see though is that Russia is going to fall before America can put sufficient forces in europe. Right now I am having Italy building all infantry from T2 except for a sub I bought in T1 and a mech for russia. Italy has a ton of men on the home lands, so UK can’t really do much by himself. Interesting to see how things will end up. I am filming the whole game and am going to put it on youtube when I am done.

I sorry, but with my American blueprint for the first 4 rounds, Japan can not hold the Philipenes and all the Dutch islands, I don’t care how many blockers you have.

[JamesG]

@Young:

@Cmdr:

@Young:

Great to hear that my purchase strategy found some success, did they also use my movement strategy of sailing ships to the Queensland shore during peace time?

Pretty sure American ships on the Atlantic have to be in sea zones adjacent to American territories until America is at war, so sailing to SZ 106 is not an option.

The Queensland coast is in Australia on the Pacific board.

Right, the only restrictions to US movement on the Pacific board are:

In addition to the normal restrictions (see Powers Not at War with One Another above), while it’s not at war with Japan, the United States may not move units into or through China or end the movement of its sea units in sea zones that are adjacent to Japanese-controlled territories.

So it is perfectly legal to move US ships down there.

[knp7765]

@Young:

Great to hear that my purchase strategy found some success, did they also use my movement strategy of sailing ships to the Queensland shore during peace time?

Yes they did.  US ended up with a massive fleet off of Queensland.  There was some debate over whether US could use ANZACs naval base if USA was at war with Japan but ANZAC technically wasn’t yet.  This was due to Germany taking London, which allows USA to declare war on ALL Axis.  We figured out since ANZAC begins the game at war with Germany & Italy, once the USA declares war on all Axis, that makes ANZAC and USA allies and thus can use each other’s bases.  Bit of a loophole but still works.
The US fleet ended up pounding the Jap fleet, mostly in two big actions just south of SZ 6.  The ANZAC built transports and men/art/tanks and they came behind the US and took/liberated all the islands.  Then the US fleet occupied SZ 6 and simply convoy raided Japan to death.  Japan was bringing in 0 IPCs for 2 or 3 rounds before ANZAC finally had enough stuff to invade Japan itself.

[otahere34]

@theROCmonster:

I am filming the whole game and am going to put it on youtube when I am done.

When you do could you post a link here to it. This sounds really interesting to see how it turned out. Also this seems to be focused mainly on pacific, what would you buy it Germany has turned into a powerhouse and Russia is about to fall and Germany is making like 60 ipcs without NO’s and will get russias money soon.

[Stalingradski]

Best US 1 purchase in my mind is Two Carriers, 2 Fighters. Put both Carriers and a Fighter in W US, and one Fighter in Central US. On Round 2, you have a fleet (when evrything is moved toward Hawaii) that can begin to seriously contend with Japan.

Personally I like to purchase Carriers until I outnumber Japan - and if I’m Japan I like to outnumber the US. As a general rule of thumb, in the Pacific, if you outnumber your opponent in Carriers, and are in a SZ with an island airbase, you can hold that space. I said general rule of thumb, because the closer the US gets to the mainland, the more danger because of the dominance of Japanese airpower.

Yet another reason to buy two Fighters on US 1 as well… to begin inching closer to rivalling Japan in the air.

[Young Grasshopper]

@knp7765:

@Young:

Great to hear that my purchase strategy found some success, did they also use my movement strategy of sailing ships to the Queensland shore during peace time?

Yes they did.  US ended up with a massive fleet off of Queensland.  There was some debate over whether US could use ANZACs naval base if USA was at war with Japan but ANZAC technically wasn’t yet.  This was due to Germany taking London, which allows USA to declare war on ALL Axis.  We figured out since ANZAC begins the game at war with Germany & Italy, once the USA declares war on all Axis, that makes ANZAC and USA allies and thus can use each other’s bases.  Bit of a loophole but still works.
The US fleet ended up pounding the Jap fleet, mostly in two big actions just south of SZ 6.  The ANZAC built transports and men/art/tanks and they came behind the US and took/liberated all the islands.  Then the US fleet occupied SZ 6 and simply convoy raided Japan to death.  Japan was bringing in 0 IPCs for 2 or 3 rounds before ANZAC finally had enough stuff to invade Japan itself.

I HOPE YOU’RE READING THIS ROC-MONSTER…… LOL

[theROCmonster]

Grasshopper I know this works. US can outmatch the Jap fleet. I am contending that it takes longer than you might think. I am currently on T5 and US still cannot take phillipines as japan has a fleet there that is much too large to take out. And attacking the fleet with US and then anzac won’t work because I am playing Low luck. I did the math and Japan would win the battle with both battleships still left everytime and a carrier and some planes. This is if US attacks on T6. So there is a couple more rounds to go before US can completely cripple Japan. Leaving Germany free reign in europe board. Italy has over 30 ground units in europe for defense and this is allowing Germany to throw 100% of her money against russia. I will tell you how the game ends up playing out. I see the allies winning in the end because I don’t think egypt can fall so easily. Even if russia is taken out, which will take at least 5 more turns.

[special forces]

@otahere34:

@theROCmonster:

I am filming the whole game and am going to put it on youtube when I am done.

When you do could you post a link here to it. This sounds really interesting to see how it turned out.

I’d love to see that too