What is the typical bid, and what are some good basic strategies?

Thanks mate.

I think the set up from the FAQ was what I was thinking of. After posting I also found Saburo Sakai’s recommendation of using the OOB set up, 24 VPs for Japanese Victory and giving the Allies an extra 12-16 IPCs to spend on turn one.

My group hasn’t had many plays of this version and to keep it in rotation keeping it as balanced as possible is a priority.

I’ve tried the marianas but then I lose fighter escort as most of my fleet gets wasted in the naval battle prior to the amphib assault. Between the aa and escort I cant make a big dent on the IPC front. I will try to make my asia push earlier.

Thanks for the input SS ;I think AAP is a great game. I will try a few solitaire runs to see how this plays out. Perhaps, when I get my nerve up we can give it a go and I can watch the master at work.

Krieghund had this to say in another thread:

@Krieghund:

SBRs against all ICs were unlimited in Classic (1984), and that didn’t change in Europe (1999) or Pacific (2001).  It wasn’t until Revised (2004) was published that any kind of limits on SBR damage were introduced.

I agree that it doesn’t make any sense that an IC with limited production should allow unlimited SBR exposure.  Many people, including myself, have played with house rules for many years that limited SBR damage to such ICs.

So, when Pacific was being developed, I’m guessing that little or no thought was given to the impact of SBR damage limits on game balance.  Those rules were probably simply inherited from the previous games and taken for granted.

It might be interesting to see what the impact of limiting SBR damage would be.  However, I can only assume that it would benefit Japan most, and Japan already has the advantage in the game.  You would certainly want to limit only ICs with limited production, as limiting damage to “home” ICs would curtail the US’s ability to reduce Japanese VPs through SBRs.

I’m afraid that’s the best answer that I can give you, since I wasn’t involved in A&A in any official capacity back in those days.

These strategies are very helpful, but still China is such a annoying thorn to the Japanese player.

Never easy is it?

The Fighter Ace’s strats are top notch. Can’t recommend them highly enough. I suspect that Saburo has forgotten more about A&A Pacific than I know.

I’m a newcomer to this site although I have been playing A&A for maybe twenty years now.  I got A&A Pacific a couple of years ago but unluckily  :-) my gaming group has always had more than three players available, so we tend to end up playing A&A revised and A&A Europe.

However, we do play Pacific now and then and we by the second Pacific session we had learned what Saburo Sakai lays out in this essay– Japan had better buy subs and India had better start stacking land forces up in anticipation of an India assault.  Couple that idea with the realization that territories such as New Britain are vital due to the Naval Base rule and you are well on your way to an enjoyable and hard fought Pacific campaign.  Cheers!!