Opening move thoughts.

[Eqqman]

@SunTzu7:

I was assuming aircraft that can land on the carrier can reach which they can. I could even assume that I will lose 2-3 and take more than the basic 4/6 (depending on whether I take 2 or 3 carriers).

Yes, so the problem is that you can’t allow hits on your Carriers if you expect the Fighters to land on them.  This means during the battle you have to preserve a unit that can’t attack and kill off units that do.

Taking Hawaii isn’t all about what happens on Japan’s turn.  Your ships that survive the naval battle have to be able to survive the US counter attack from San Diego and the ANZAC attack.  ANZAC can send its ships plus Fighters to hit anything that survived the US counter.  If you only won the naval battle and didn’t actually take Hawaii, it’s even more dangerous for the Japanese navy since once again you’ll be forced to keep Carriers from taking hits or your Fighters have no place to land.

[ghr2]

Don’t forget, the US can block Japan if all of his transports are in sz 6.  If there a caroline, they are slightly harder to block.  If in both, then harder still.

[SunTzu7]

Thanks for the answers.

I’ve since revised my strategy completely. It’s a hybrid and tries to retain flexibility as much as possible.

G1 Take Finland, Bulgaria, S France and France. Take out UK Fleet at 109/110/111.
G2 I won’t buy the 9/10 Transports. Instead will spend as normal and carry 40. Will look to take E Poland, Bessarabia, Baltic States and Karelia and whatever is in 115/97. This is all dependent on what the UK does in it’s 1st turn.
G3 Buy Transports.
G4 will Attack either London or Novogorod.

J1 Will take Shantung/Jehol/Hunan/Yunnan Buy Minor IC and 2 Transports. Will move main fleet and 2 Transports to Sz36, 1 Transport/Cruiser to Sz 43 and Fleet from Sz 35 to 44. I won’t attack with these assets.
J2 Attack from Sz 36 into Sz 37/42 and from Sz43 into 41. Will use 2 Transports from Japan to Amhib into Kwagtung and Phillipines with air/naval support. Purchases will be split Navy/Mech Infantry. Possible Minor IC for Korea or will carry for purchase of a minor IC in Kwagtung the following turn.
J3+ Will split Navy between Phillipines and Malaya with a couples of Destroyers in Japan. All purchases will be split between cheap naval units and Mech Infantry. Emphasis will be to hold off UK/China and take Sydney.

I1 Will buy a Fighter. Will look to either destroy remaining UK fleet at Sz 96 or the French fleet. Will try to get Troops to Tobruk. Will move from Ethiopia to Anglo Egypt and from Tobruk to Alexandria.
I2 Will try to amphib assault (assuming I’ve cleared French/UK Navy) Egypt and attack from Anglo Egypt and Alexandria.

[Chicochico]

Interesting, carrying cash from the second turn and spending on transports on turn 3. If UK reinforced his islands, blow on mechs and tanks, otherwise transports, i think i’ll be stealing this idea.

What ships do you usually build for a sealion germany? I often see 1 carrier, 1 destroyer and 1 sub (i think) on turn 1, grouped with the initial cruiser and maybe 1-2 surviving subs; is this enough to protect your transports from UK fighters/bombers?

[ghr2]

Well usually, UK kills ethiopia round one if he goes 97.

[SunTzu7]

@Chicochico:

Interesting, carrying cash from the second turn and spending on transports on turn 3. If UK reinforced his islands, blow on mechs and tanks, otherwise transports, i think i’ll be stealing this idea.

What ships do you usually build for a sealion germany? I often see 1 carrier, 1 destroyer and 1 sub (i think) on turn 1, grouped with the initial cruiser and maybe 1-2 surviving subs; is this enough to protect your transports from UK fighters/bombers?

By delaying a round, I am hoping that my friend won’t stack too much more in the UK. In fact I don’t think he would be expecting me to do this. Was looking to buy a destroyer and cruiser in the first 2 turns along with some more ground troops. The other reason to delay is that I wanted to not leave myself too weak after the UK has fallen and also I want to see if I can be in a position to push the Soviets back even while launching an attack on the UK itself.

Word of caution is that both my friend and I are novices so I will let people know how I get on with this.

[Commando Brado]

I think I know who this is… LOL!  :-D

[ghr2]

This seems to be more about knowing your opponent, than having a good general strategy.

[SunTzu7]

Bit of both. This may not be optimal but I’m hoping it is still a reasonably good strategy. Bold but not too ambitious and not over extending myself.

[Spendo02]

The J2 attack on Pearl is always entertaining, particularly with the US fleet consolidated there.

Unfortunately, it accomplishes very little because by the time you get back to Japan, the US has generally replaced her fleet and you have accomplished very little towards expanding your income in the Pacific while India probably has added +7 IPC to her economy, added a 5 IPC NO and ANZAC has added two 5 IPC NO’s and probably +3 IPC to her economy which nearly doubles the Allied Economy in the Pacific.

The cost/benefit of considering Pearl as an early move is pretty terrible for Japan.  Stick with the DEI and shoot for collecting 55-65 IPC by the end of J4.

[ghr2]

If the US player is smart, he makes sure you don’t have any decent attack on the us fleet in pear if US stacks it.