It seems to be a popular view that Japan is wasting its money if it buys a complex before it has maxed out the first one (i.e. is transporting 8 units/turn to the mainland). However, I am of the opinion that 2 tran 1 IC–this is assuming $1 bid to Japan–is the optimal J1 purchase for getting units to the mainland quickly. There was an old thread (sorry, I couldn’t find the link on my first search and I’m too lazy to look harder) that had some calculations to this effect, but for the short version, consider:
—If you build 3 tran on J1, you can put 8 units in Asia on your second turn. However, with 2 tran 1 IC you can get 9 units there: 6 from your three transports, and three more from your complex. With a 2 IC purchase it’s down to 8 again, one from your transport and 6 from your complexes. (I’m assuming throughout that the UK killed your transport in SZ 59 so that you only have one to start with.) So if you’re trying to get as many units to Asia on J2 as you can, 2 tran 1 IC is the way to go.
—4 tran on J1, using a bid of $2, is also a good way to start fast. However, in this case your capacity outstrips your income; it will be a couple rounds before you can actually get new units fast enough to keep your transports busy. The 2 tran 1 IC buy is better optimized at keeping your production/transport capacity matched up with the number of units you can afford to produce. In particular, a 4 tran J1 purchase enables you to put as many as 10 units into Asia on J2 if you clean out Philippines, East Indies, Okinawa, and Wake, but then you run out of island units and can only make up to 8 new ones in Japan. So you get a lot of inf on J2 but it’s more of an anomaly, where the 2 tran 1 IC buy gives you a smoother and more continuous startup.
—As far as location, I like FIC the best. Kwang is farther from Moscow than either Fic or Man, so if you’re trying to put pressure on the Russians quickly you want either Fic or Man. You can supply plenty of troops to the northern area from Japan itself, so the complex is needed more on the southern end. Plus it enables you to get to Africa, Caucasus, etc better.
—So far I’ve been assuming KGF. In KJF you should certainly be a bit more hesitant about getting factories up quickly. However, I’ve found that a FIC complex, which is always where I build on J1 if I build a factory at all, can be very helpful in KJF. Ideally when defending against an American fleet you want to defend as far out as possible, e.g. with a fleet in the Caroline or even Solomon islands. However, if you’re forced to fall back, FIC is a great fallback point. The key thing about it is that it borders all three of your valuable islands. If you get in trouble you can fall back to SZ 36 and build more ships there to join your retreating fleet. Often this will be enough to prevent the Americans from taking any of those expensive islands right away. If your only factory is in Japan you’re forced to keep your navy farther north to incorporate the new builds, and the Americans have an easier time getting to the southern islands.
Africa, should you buy an IC?
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This I guess would be more of a question to the allies I can’t see Germany putting one there when they have one in SE. I can’t see Japan putting one there b/c if they are headed that way they would put one in India to keep it a little closer in the event it need additional reinforcements are needed. So this only leaves the UK as a possibility so as the UK would any of you consider putting a IC in Africa? Just wondering what your thought s are on the matter.
-LT04
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I have seen both Japan and UK build an IC in Africa. I think it more likely successful for Japan (in Egypt). Japan will usually own Tr-J (so have free passage through the suez) and have much of it’s navy near sz34, so defending this complex is not difficult. If the allies are landing in ALG then this supplements the troops that Japan can shuttle over using transports. If the allies leave Africa alone this complex can still be used to add to the japanese navy in sz34 or to produce ground troops to walk to Persia from there.
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ive built one as germany. it worked ok. It allowed me to control most of africa, plus I was able to sneak some arm up into southern russia.
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I have built one in Egypt as Germany… let me tell you, it brings a LOT of heat down from the US into Africa. Allies really do NOT want Axis to have a complex in Africa.
~Josh
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This I guess would be more of a question to the allies I can’t see Germany putting one there when they have one in SE. I can’t see Japan putting one there b/c if they are headed that way they would put one in India to keep it a little closer in the event it need additional reinforcements are needed. So this only leaves the UK as a possibility so as the UK would any of you consider putting a IC in Africa? Just wondering what your thought s are on the matter.
-LT04
If I was in a game in which the winner was INDIVIDUALLY determined on basis of territory, or if I didn’t have much confidence in my Allies, I would build an industrial complex in S. Africa with UK. African IPCs are too difficult to protect otherwise.
If I was playing Japan, Anglo’s a better bet than S. Africa for fleet reinforcement.
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I didn’t think that so many Axis players would have an intrest in Africa. Thats very intresting.
The strategy I use as UK has been criticized time and time again. On UK 1 I buy 2 IC’s place one in India and the other in S Africa. I use the S Africa IC to hold / retake Africa using only ARM. Once complete All the ARM will move to reinforce India. I have also found this helps deter the Axis from coming back unless they can muster a sizeable force to combat 2 ARM per turn reinforcement till they get to S Africa to squelch it. Some times it works unless Japan is very aggressive and takes India early on then I have to build the sizeable force to retake India.
-LT04
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Have you tried this 2 IC strat after a GER1 baltic fleet build? Including transports?
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I’m gonna level with you I’m the only strategic minded one in my group the others rely on their Superior math skills to use economic and statistical advantage over me that and they are both some what green still. So as the allies I have never seen a German Navy there only in SE for the perpose of taking Africa.
-LT04
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also another good point to bring up is I just bought revised recently so we are all still getting our feet wet.
-LT04
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I think that building an IC in Africa is a waste for any country.
Axis as you said have ICs close enough usually and besides only 1 unit a turn (besides Egypt and UOSA) is not worth it.
Even 2 units per turn isn’t worth it might as well just ship troops with transports -
I would agree.
A 1 or 2 unit IC is NOT a good buy in most cases (with certain specialized exceptions like a USA IC in Sinkiang).
Hell, I am not fond of new IC’s in 3 IPC territories, but I have little choice as Japan to do so. -
I have never tried an african IC. The India IC usually becomes a Japanese IC so I don’t highly recommend that move.
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anyone ever take egypt or another african territory with russia. i don’t know why you would have them down there.
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I would not buy one in Algeria
I would not want one in Libya
I do not care where you go
I would not own one in the Congo
Though you may think its very hip
I will not put one in Egypt
I do not like them on the continent
I do not like them own or rent(Read this like “Sam I am”) - Sorry the guiness is flowing heavy tonite… :-D
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I would not buy one in Algeria
I would not want one in Libya
I do not care where you go
I would not own one in the Congo
Though you may think its very hip
I will not put one in Egypt
I do not like them on the continent
I do not like them own or rent(Read this like “Sam I am”) - Sorry the guiness is flowing heavy tonite… :-D
Thanks Dr. Suess!
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To bad I missed the party, I’d drink to that. :-D
-LT04
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