It's impossible for Japan to win in A&A Pacific

[Guest]

btownthug16, the original is not better than AAe or AAp it is more basic. it is dull, certainly if you have played it for years.

[Mr Ghoul]

Where are all the conversations about AAP?

[bossk]

I would post some stratagies if I could ever find the time and people to play with; then perhaps I could actually make some up. I should have one ready by next week for your critical evaluation.

[Mr Ghoul]

lol, tight AAP is fun, its like the peeps on this site dont enjoy it.

[bossk]

I don’t understand how anyone could not enjoy playing anything related to axis & allies.

[Yanny]

AAP is not a bad game, just I prefer the longer games of Axis and Allies regular.

[Guest]

Winning with Japan is easy if you hold out for victory points avoid direct conflict with the US Navy (That is after you wipe out what you can after on the first turn) fighters defend at 4 instead of 3 and Carriers defend at 3 instead of 1 so pick your spots and force the US player to attack your units on the defense are stronger.

[bossk]

Not only that, Anonymous dude, but the CAPs add greatly to the defence of navys stationed around islands. Bonus!

[BigBlocky]

I’ve only played AAP 4 times, all as Japan and I am 4-0 with 4 fairly easy victories, 3 from VPs and 1 from getting India via a brutal allied error. As stated earlier, hit the US then slowly give up ground. If Japan ensures that most of the airforce/navy can hit any advancing allied navy you can easily hold them off for long enough to get your VPs. Japan really only needs to build subs and the odd fighter perhaps a transport if most of them are tied up south maintaining VPs. I love it when my American foe looks to a forward sea zone then counts 8 fighters from the carrier to battle to land and 8 more fighters from land to battle to the carriers, toss in 4 destroyers… 20 times 3 is oh my 60 offense in fighters/Destroyers alone, 20 from 3 battlewagons and 2 bombers, 15 more offense from say carriers and subs gives 95 offense, 15 hits on round #1. Since land based US bombers are useless for US fleet defense and with my transports and battleships absorbing US hits the Japs do 15 more hits on round #2. For US bombers to be of use you must get them close to Japan. To do this you have to sail up against the combined Jap fleet and be tough enough to survive their first strike. Since the Japs really don’t need to build any more land units when going for VPs they can build all subs save a few fighters (not as cost effective as subs but are more mobile and can attack land).

It just takes too long to build a navy strong enough to withstand everything the Japs can toss at it and be strong enough to capture convoy routes fast (lots of subs left…).

[Guest]

To counter the Japanese, I would recommend the following courses of action, that go a long way toward balancing the game.

UK Player strategy:
As the British, play on the defensive for the first turn, assuming the Japanese are going for a knockout punch against India or alternately Australia. With this in mind, I would use India turn 1 money to build infantry, moving the Burma forces to India and all possible Chinese (+US fighter) infantry in the same direction. I would also speed bump the Sumatra sea hex with India transport, leaving sub behind it. With Australia, I would contemplate building subs/fighters on Turn 1. Save the UK convey money on the 1st turn, and wait to see which way the Japanese start to commit on Turn 2 (India, VPs, Australia). The UK money can be used to quickly respond to the developing threat on turn 2.

UK Response to Japanese India attack
If the the Japanese commit to India, speedbump the India battleship on Turn 2, leaving the sub behind it and try to shuttle Australian fighters via the A.C. to India with the hope that the Japanese will concentrate on the BB and India. All UK money (T1 + T2) + India T2 income goes to India INF, + India money).

UK response to Japanese VP approach
India should go on land attack in SE Asia mainland. Australia should secure SW Pacific island air/sea bases with transports/subs/fighters. Use UK money for supplemental air/sea power with Australia or India, depending on where Japanese naval mass in concentrated.

UK response to Japanese Aus attack
Concentrate all Aus INF on S Wales and adjacent sea zone (adding transported US infantry. Use joint Aus subs/transports to speed bump Japanese navy. Use joint Aus/US occupied island sea/air bases in SW Pacific to delay/counter Japanese navy thrust.

US move (all three scenarios)
On Turn 1, I like to buy 9 subs. The main reason is that, coupled with the two subs likely to survive T1, I have 11 subs at my disposal as a cheap yet large force that is largely immune from Japanese air attack. I would make more sub purchases on Turn 2 (maybe 3-4, with a mix of surface ships/aircraft).

US KEY POINT - The fundamental US strategy with subs is to force the Japanese fleet to commit to full battle or retreat and give the US fleet offensive momentum. Either the Japanese have to quickly fall back, engage, or simply go all out after India (not much the US can do in this case, even with an attempt to invade Japan).

My rationale is that the US subs in masse enjoy the benefit of generally avoiding the mass of Japanese air power , unless the Japanese destroyers are brought to bear, meaning their surface fleet must engage. If they retreat, I spread subs all over the Western Pacific Japanese convey lanes and Japanese captured islands, with particular emphasis on Japan home waters. There are several specific approaches to this strategy, which I don’t have the time to delve into currently.

Overall, I find that an allout Japanese attack on India depends on how clever and lucky the UK player performs. The US simply cannot make a fundamental difference in time. However, the use of subs can make Japan’s effort a one shot deal and game over (by occupying every convey sea lane on the board with massive sub concentrations. I once won a game by knocking out the Japanese destroyers that were unwisely dispatched from the main fleet. Remember, when Japan masses its fleet, it must disperse it again to effectively county the large number of Allied subs causing economic havoc to Japan income. By forcing the Japanese armada to disperse, you take away their best chance of victory.

I am sure there are a number of counterarguments to these strategies, however, I generally do not believe the game is a slam dunk for the Japanese, although it does slighly favor them (60-40?).

Any thoughts?

[BigBlocky]

Not bad at all. One thing with the convoy money, you MUST distribute it before doing the American turn according to the rules. Would be nice to have that flexibility, perhaps this could be an optional rule?

UK Strat.
The speed bump transport is a great idea, my foe has done that the last 2 games. 1 thing, with this in place you really should move everything to Burma including the figher from the carrier. You should be able to land 2 from australia to the carrier. Your only chance to get an extra figher on india is on T1. Of course if the japs are in position to crush burma, don’t move into it, most likely the Jap player can’t. By being there you prevent the Jap from taking and holding Shan State or Yunan so on T2 s/he can land fighters there for attack on T3. In this way only 2 ftrs can hit India on T3 assuming the carrier is in place.

I would always pump convoy money to to India, build 1 sub for australia and the rest artillary in case the Jap lands big on Northern Territory. My foe does this and it seems to make sense. Remember, if the Jap captures the port, then during Non-Combat they can move navy 3 spaces port-to-port. I usually see Australia leaving 1 inf on each territory except for S. Australia, EVERYTHING goes there. If the Japs go light into Aus then counter attack, if they go in big you MUST fall back to the factory and hope the US can get ftrs in for defense….

The way my opening move leaves Japan is that on T2, every single Jap naval piece COULD be off the coast of the North Territory on T2 (some from combat, the rest during non-combat moves) with 26 land pieces sitting ON the N. Territory. I WOULD have fighters on the carriers, and all surviving air on the philipines in position to attack Australia, usually 7 more fighters and a bomber for T3. I own Malaya, the philipines, Hong Kong, New britian, new guinia, borneo and guam. I do pearl harbour with 6 ftrs and 2 subs, carriers pull back to guam. The brits lose the malaya fleet, the java fleet, the sub of new britian. The US loses the philipine and pearl harbour fleet.

So the brits start T2 seeing what I could do to australia, sure you want to give convoy money to India after you do T1? From this position I can also get the entire navy off India by turn 3 unless the ally is smart in his blocking moves…

Now the allies are in a bind, the Japs are dictating the tempo. I normally , build 1 xport 1 sub on T1 for Japan, then from then on its all subs for the most part, the odd inf/art pair perhaps if the Chinese are pesky. Normally I don’t go for either Australia or India but I could… You’ve got to defend the credible threat. If the Allies can blunt the threat to India and australia no problem. The jap fleet is mostly all in the East, the odd xport, sub and/or destroyer with air mobility to maintain against the remnents of the brit fleet. By end of T3 I have all 4 carriers, 3 BBs, 3-4 DDs and 6 subs with 15 ftrs and 2 bombers that can hit any brave US fleet, With 6 xports and 3 BBs absorbing the first defensive round my 90+ offense will pound to pieces and US fleet you will have by start of the US T3. You can’t even get a fleet bigger than a sub to within 2 spaces of Carolina Islands or New Britain unless you have the brits blocking the way. Even then if I put a blocking sub between me and you then the brits must take it out to let the US hit the fleet. Again, the US starts t3 trying to knock out a Jap fleet on the Caroline islands consisting of 4 fully loaded carriers, fighters on Cap perhaps, 3 BBs, subs (I’m building 4-5/round as Japan now…), 6 xports and 3-4 dds. About a mid-80s defense and no navy you built on T2 is in range yet… It usually takes the allies until after Jap does T4 to even get to the caroline islands.

I write too much…

BB

If the US builds all subs then your subs can pick them off…

[Guest]

I gotta go with Doug on this…I’ve played several games of A&A Pacific and, IMHO, if the Allied players are competent there is no way for Japan to take either UK capital or hold out long enough for the VP win. The US just has too much economic power–they can build the bomber fleet Doug described, or several naval task forces to park ships all over the Pacific, or reinforce the UK defenses with clouds of fighters. I don’t think the blocking sub and/or CAP strategy really makes much of a difference, one space at a time doesn’t prevent the Americans from parking offshore and shelling/bombing Tokyo back into the stone age in 4 or 5 turns.

My experience has been that it is not realistic to maintain 40 IPC’s for several turns as Japan; maybe I’m playing it wrong or just rolling too many 6’s but I have yet to see the Allies roll over and play dead long enough to collect that kind of money.

It is, after all, just a game. I’m a big fan of the original A&A and found the Pacific/Europe variants to be fun, which is really the reason we spend so much time playing, right? Gotta say that I was especially pleased with the tanks and planes in the Europe version, the black Stukas looked pretty menacing to me!

Well that’s my two cents.

[Guest]

I have yet to try AAE but I’m really looking forward to it! I’m sure I need a better Allied player to go against. I’d agree it’s next to impossible for the allies to lose either capital if played right but the allies MUST commit resources to defending them and since you MUST split the convoy money upon receipt it give Japan the inititive.

If the Jap player believes this (and s/he should) then they will never commit to either capital by threaten either. They will then ensure maximum firepower against the advancing US fleet. Bombers don’t defend fleet well, and ultimately, the US must engage the Jap fleet by sailing within 2 spaces of it with a brit blocker if you think you will be crushed or 1 space away and dare the Japs to either hit you or retreat. I don’t think the US can split their fleet into task forces. Divide and conquer or in this case divide and be conquered. Yes you can and should slip subs in and around the Jap fleet but ultimately, the showdown must occur.

The japs don’t need an additional land forces for the most part and should spend 80% of their IPCs on stuff to delay the US, subs and the odd fighter. The japs should have a force at the Caroline Islands on R3 with an offense and defense in the 80s by R3, it’s the US move, you have done 2 builds and pulled all your fleet together in Hawaii, maybe some with the brits, ya think you’re tough enough yet? I have yet to see a US fleet strong enough not to be crushed if they move into position to be attacked by the Japs at the end of the US T3. The Japs WILL get VPs of 3, 4, 4 with ease. The next 4 might require a sacrifice of an xport or 2, maybe a dd. With 15 VP in 4 rounds nearly guaranteed all the Jap has to do is trade the entire pacific fleet for 2 rounds and 7 VP. Remember, if the Jap player finishes their turn with 22 VP the US doesn’t get a chance to knock them down so forget strategic bombing of Japan unless you own an airbase at the start of the US T4 so ya must take it on T3…… but you won’t…

BB

[Guest]

To this last point, I was under the impression that even if Japan reached 22VP on their turn, the Allies could still attempt within the same game turn to either 1) strat bomb Japan below 10 VPs (doesn’t this force them to lose a VP?) or 2) invade and conquer Japan. My friends and I were not able to get clarification to this question upon reviewing the rules.

[BigBlocky]

Agreed that the rule book didn’t adequately explain when the VP victory occurs. So I checked out the faq at:
http://www.avalonhill.com/default.asp?x=faq/axispacific

I’m a bit confused with the ‘sub stall’ and why it’s called that. You put a sub in against the enemy on offense and submerge right away, defender gets no chance to shoot, presumably even with dds. The rule book does say that on your turn you can move your fleet out of a sea zone even if it prevents combat. Even with combat, transports (and jap destroyers) can move and do there business as if no combat occured.

The problem with bombing Japan after she gets 22VP is that all you need to do is take 1VP. If Japan is at 21 and gets 4 more VPs (won’t happen but….) do they go to 25VPs or only 22 again? You must hold Japan to NO VPs in a round. If she gets 1 and you bomb her for 2 it doesn’t count as zero IPs. Japan must have an income of 9 or less at the end of her turn, not the end of the US of A turn. Since Japan, Manchuria and Siam don’t have convoy routes and have a combined IPC value of 9 all Japan has to do is hold 1 Chineses territory with a value of 1 or hold 1 of the two islands (Ryukyu or Bonin) both worth 1 IPC and neither has a convoy route. If Japan gets VPs of 3,4,4,4,3,3,1 they win and the Allies never get to see turn #7. Nothing you built on T6 for the USA is really of any use except bombers and even then only to knock out the Jap navy for you to take Japan on T6. Don’t bother building land forces or navy past T4 if you won’t see T7.

Better start learning to speak Japanese… :-)

BB

[Guest]

@BigBlocky:

I’m a bit confused with the ‘sub stall’ and why it’s called that. You put a sub in against the enemy on offense and submerge right away, defender gets no chance to shoot, presumably even with dds. The rule book does say that on your turn you can move your fleet out of a sea zone even if it prevents combat. Even with combat, transports (and jap destroyers) can move and do there business as if no combat occured.

You have to look at the following points (concerning “is it done in Non-combat movement or comabt movement”):
when are troops loaded onto trannies, when do you move out an enemy occupied SZ, when do you unload troops into a friendly territory.
That should explain how sub stalling works.

[BigBlocky]

F_alk, I can and have read the rule book. :-) ‘Sub stall’ just seems like a fancy term for a limited effectiveness move. I can still move the entire fleet out then load AND unload that turn without having to fight the sub. Yeah it screws you up if you want to load then move and attack, thus the ‘stall’ portion I presume.

I wonder if you started out the turn with a sub in your fleet, could you just use 1 DD to attack it and NOT the rest of the fleet? You could move the fleet out then 1 DD back to kill the sub I guess.

BB

[Guest]

That is exactly the stalling, the delay of one round. If it was more, it would not be called “stall” but whatever mor elike “cancel”.
It may sound not too effective, but if your play A&A:E as Germany and plan Operation Sealion, this can be the saving move for the Pommies.

[BigBlocky]

If your transports were already loaded you could still move 2 spaces and AND attack. shrugs, sub speed bump seems more appropriate. I could see it making it a bit more difficult for the yanks in AAP. You’d have to keep your xports loaded and in that case just leave the Jap sub behind with no stall at all.

BB

[Guest]

@BigBlocky:

You’d have to keep your xports loaded and in that case just leave the Jap sub behind with no stall at all.

But then, you have nothing like cannon-fodder anymore. A fully loaded Tranny is nothing that i’d like to sacrifice.
Unless of course, you build two trannies for each for each you plan to load troops on.