Cardboard Bases and Industrial complex

@cornwallis

Too bad the strategy won’t be a surprise anymore. I considered a similar idea of building in Fiji to expedite US transfers to Asia, but then I remembered the US can’t use them because they’re neutral.

@Soviet-Steamroller That is correct.

If the US could build even airbases and naval bases on Allied territories, that would change the game significantly. For example, if USSR takes Norway, building an airbase there connects planes in a single turn to Moscow. Similar with an airbase on Transjordan.

Right!  That’s why once the US is lurking Japan its easy to buy 3-4 infantry and get your fighters back together (as well as continue to replace destroyers)…its just too easy to defend and America has to make its intentions well known by getting close to you before he is ready to attack

that’s also why the kamikaze rule seems like heaping on because you can shred USA carriers and cruisers (luck willing) and it makes a direct combined fleet attack on SZ 6 even less desirable

@wilk7011:

Does DOW on J1 or J2 effect neutrality between the Soviets and other Axis powers? If Soviets still have to remain neutral until RD4 do you wait to attack Russia with Germany?

No it doesn’t.  Still, Germany should probably declare by G3 and on G2 in some circumstances.

If you’re skeptical about J1/J2, i would recommend trying the standalone Pacific game a few times, trying each of J1/J2/J3.  The advantages of an early declaration and early expansion for Japan are pretty apparent in that scenario.

Imho J1 and J2 are also superior to J3 in Global (with 2nd edition rules), but in some exceptional circumstances (Sea Lion with a shot at success) J3 is warranted.

I’m personally a fan of J1 and have plenty of success with it, but my version does NOT include a J1 attack on Pearl Harbor.  Instead, at the end of J1, Japan should have 3 fleet groups (one by Japan, another by Borneo, another by Phi) that are poised to seize money islands and other critical targets such as Malaya on J2.

A question for research, thanks for your participation.

ah ok, well thanks for clearing that up for me.

It’s flexible.  You want to protect Wake and Guam enough that Japan has no realistic chance at taking them. Even falling back to Wake if needed.  If you start this out on J1 because Japan allows it and then they turn and go 100% against you, then yea, you probably would need to buy a destroyer and all aircraft for their scramble ability.  If they ignore you for a time and go to India, then you could do it for less.  Basically, I see them spending 38-41 ipc/round in the Pacific on the cheap side.  Some rounds they may spend more if the player sees it fit to do so.  The good thing about this is that once the war bonus kicks in, it may give you a chance to split your income almost 50/50 so that you aren’t totally ignoring either theater.