The Japan Playbook

Oh god do I hate people that wait until J3 to go to war. Usually I war them with the allies on UK2 just to make all the NO money and get away with whatever attacks I can. I only lose combat phase for USA.

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I mean the only reason you would do a J3 DOW is if you are shuffling units off Japan into Siberia and buying bombers to bomb Russia and land in east poland so that Germany can easily G6 Russia.

You are basically giving up on Japan to put everything on winning in Europe.

So America just needs to dumptruck 20 units a round on spain to march over to France and Germany quick enough while UK and UKPacific hold Egypt. That is a great game.

“All that aside, there are strategic reasons for J1 that go beyond the economic rationales.”

^

The immediate pressure. Progress.

Yeah I do not attack Hawaii either, I just defend japan with 1 sub 2 destroyers and 3 fighters on Japan. Kamikaze rolls and such makes the 3 transport buy safe.

It is to take islands quicker. I generally prefer J1 over J2 DOW…. unless the allies put a serious bid that forces me to focus on China more.

If you attack Russian units on J1, you are going to war on J3. So on your J2 move your transports in position to take some territories for round 3.

Declare war on round 3. Round 2 you do not have transports in position to take territories. Round 3 you can start progressing on the islands and all (they may have declared war on you with anzac after UK put destroyers where your transports are preventing you from loading, so you may have to keep a few loaded on J2).

It has been a long time since anyone has stacked amur against me.

That is pretty much the only thing that can keep me from declaring war on Japan 1 against everyone, except neutrals.

Generally speaking I do not like to do siberia when Germany is doing sea lion. It is really bad. If I am doing siberia I want Russia dead on round 6. That is my game plan.

Think of it this way if Japan is not blowing up and pushing for a VC win then there is no pressure for the USA to do anything in the Pacific. So you give it time to liberate london and that makes no sense at all. It is a good move by the Russians to stack Amur if it believes you are doing sea lion or to make you go Russia instead of London.

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I would much rather do a normal setup. You can still J1 DOW just make sure you have a big enough stack in Manchuria to defend.

In fact it is more optimal to get Japan going ASAP. The longer it takes for USA to liberate london…. the worse things look for him in the Pacific. Generally speaking if sea lion is successful, you are going to win in the Pacific.

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I J1 DOW even when Germany goes sea lion. Great success. I believe in the J1 DOW to the fullest. I have never lost an axis game doing J1 dow in a league or tournament game. Sample size of roughly 20. Sea lion + J1 DOW = USA has huge problems.

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition, version: 3.9

Game History

Round: 1

Purchase Units - Japanese
            Japanese buy 3 transports; Remaining resources: 6 SuicideAttackTokens; 5 PUs;

Politics - Japanese
            Japanese takes Political Action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and Americans from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and British from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and UK_Pacific from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and ANZAC from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and Dutch from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Japanese and French from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Germans and Americans from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Italians and Americans from Neutrality to War
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and Americans from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and British from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and UK_Pacific from Concordant to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and French from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and ANZAC from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Chinese and Dutch from Neutrality to Friendly
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for British and Americans from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for UK_Pacific and Americans from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for ANZAC and Americans from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Americans and French from Neutrality to Allied
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Americans and Dutch from Neutrality to Friendly
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Americans and Neutral_Allies from Neutrality to Friendly_Neutral
                Japanese succeeds on action: Political Action Japanese To War With Allies: Changing Relationship for Americans and Neutral_Axis from Neutrality to Unfriendly_Neutral
            Trigger Russians Allied Americans 5: Changing Relationship for Russians and Americans from Neutrality to Allied

Combat Move - Japanese
            Trigger Japanese Unrestricted Movement: Setting movementRestrictionTerritories cleared  for rulesAttatchment attached to Japanese
            1 artillery and 3 infantry moved from Kwangsi to Yunnan
            2 infantry moved from Siam to French Indo China
                  Japanese take French Indo China from French
            1 infantry moved from Kiangsi to 20 Sea Zone
            1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 20 Sea Zone to 43 Sea Zone
            1 infantry moved from 43 Sea Zone to Borneo
            1 cruiser moved from 20 Sea Zone to 37 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from Formosa to 37 Sea Zone
            2 bombers moved from Japan to 37 Sea Zone
            1 infantry moved from Okinawa to 19 Sea Zone
            1 artillery moved from Manchuria to 19 Sea Zone
            1 artillery, 1 battleship, 1 destroyer, 1 infantry, 1 submarine and 1 transport moved from 19 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            1 armour and 1 infantry moved from Japan to 6 Sea Zone
            1 armour, 1 battleship, 2 carriers, 1 cruiser, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 6 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            1 armour, 1 artillery and 2 infantry moved from 35 Sea Zone to Philippines
            1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Kiangsi to Kwangtung
            1 infantry moved from Kiangsi to Hunan
            1 infantry moved from Jehol to Chahar
                  Japanese take Chahar from Chinese
            1 infantry moved from Shantung to Anhwe
                  Japanese take Anhwe from Chinese
            1 artillery and 2 infantry moved from Shantung to Anhwe
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Kiangsu to Yunnan
            2 fighters and 2 tactical_bombers moved from Manchuria to Hunan
            1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Jehol to Chahar
            1 mech_infantry moved from Manchuria to Chahar
            1 infantry moved from Kiangsu to Kiangsi
            1 artillery and 2 infantry moved from Kiangsu to Anhwe
            2 fighters and 2 tactical_bombers moved from 6 Sea Zone to Kwangtung
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from 33 Sea Zone to Philippines
            1 fighter moved from Korea to Japan
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Japan to 35 Sea Zone
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Japan to Kwangtung
            1 fighter moved from Okinawa to 35 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from Japan to Kwangtung

Combat - Japanese
            Battle in 35 Sea Zone
                Japanese attack with 2 battleships, 2 carriers, 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer, 1 fighter, 1 submarine, 1 tactical_bomber and 2 transports
                Americans defend with 1 destroyer and 1 submarine
                Units damaged: 1 battleship owned by the Japanese
                Japanese win with 2 battleships, 2 carriers, 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer, 1 fighter, 1 submarine, 1 tactical_bomber and 2 transports remaining. Battle score for attacker is 14
                Casualties for Americans: 1 destroyer and 1 submarine
            Battle in Philippines
                Japanese attack with 1 armour, 1 artillery, 1 fighter, 2 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
                Americans defend with 1 airfield, 1 fighter, 1 harbour and 2 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Philippines from Americans with 1 armour, 1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 6
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 artillery and 2 infantry
                Casualties for Americans: 1 fighter and 2 infantry
            Battle in Hunan
                Japanese attack with 2 fighters, 1 infantry and 2 tactical_bombers
                Chinese defend with 2 infantry
                Japanese win with 2 fighters and 2 tactical_bombers remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 infantry
                Casualties for Chinese: 2 infantry
            Battle in Borneo
            Battle in Kwangtung
                Japanese attack with 1 artillery, 3 fighters, 1 infantry and 3 tactical_bombers
                British defend with 1 harbour and 2 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Borneo from UK_Pacific, taking Kwangtung from UK_Pacific with 1 artillery, 2 fighters and 3 tactical_bombers remaining. Battle score for attacker is -7
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 fighter and 1 infantry
                Casualties for British: 2 infantry
            Battle in Yunnan
                Japanese attack with 1 artillery, 1 fighter, 3 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
                Chinese defend with 4 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Yunnan from Chinese with 1 artillery, 1 fighter, 3 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 12
                Casualties for Chinese: 4 infantry
            Battle in 37 Sea Zone
                Japanese attack with 2 bombers, 1 cruiser and 1 fighter
                British defend with 1 battleship
                Japanese win with 2 bombers and 1 fighter remaining. Battle score for attacker is 8
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 cruiser
                Casualties for British: 1 battleship

Non Combat Move - Japanese
            2 bombers moved from 37 Sea Zone to Kwangsi
            1 fighter moved from 37 Sea Zone to 43 Sea Zone
            1 carrier and 1 destroyer moved from 33 Sea Zone to 43 Sea Zone
            1 tactical_bomber moved from 35 Sea Zone to 43 Sea Zone
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Philippines to 35 Sea Zone
            2 fighters and 2 tactical_bombers moved from Hunan to Kwangsi
            2 fighters and 3 tactical_bombers moved from Kwangtung to Kwangsi
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Yunnan to Kwangsi
            4 infantry moved from Korea to Manchuria
            1 aaGun and 6 infantry moved from Manchuria to Jehol

Place Units - Japanese
            3 transports placed in 6 Sea Zone

Turn Complete - Japanese
            Japanese collect 40 PUs; end with 45 PUs total

I sent an extra tactical fighter to sz 35 instead of to kwangtung. Ignore that. Just put it on kwangtung attacking or keep it on Japan if you are paranoid about America attacking.

If USA does attack your little fleet, 3 kamikaze dd 3 kamikaze cruiser. You will most likely get both of the naval units and wipe the remaining ships defending at the loss of a few units.

IT is actually a big risk for both sides. I play for speed so I like to gamble with the odds in my favor, global takes too long to finish otherwise.

I find that people new to Japan and want to learn how to play it will do J1 DOW, because it can be relatively strait forward. You take islands, you make money, the end.

Experienced players tend to do J2, unless G1 went really bad for them… in which case they will do J1 and try to bang out a win that way.

The reason experienced players lean towards a J2 is because you can get diced doing a J1 DOW, Like the bship can get 2 hits, Phil can sometimes score 4 hits. Kwangtung can be annoying with snake eyes, yunnan can get 4 hits and make you sad a little.
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In a low luck game, J1 DOW is the most optimal decision. All your attacks go smoothly, you need only 2 fighters on Japan to defend. Everything perfectly calculated. The bship dies in one round of combat hits the cruiser 2/3 games and the other 1/3 you have a cruiser alive (yay).  Everything is good.

J1 DOW low luck games, all day every day. I do not care if Russia supports china or what have you. I do it because I want money and I want India making less money sooner. I am taking India rounds 4-6 depending on what juicy attacks the allies want to give me or not give me.

Sometimes you have to make a choice to be defensive and keep USA from getting a foothold in Korea / Japan sea zone… or to just take India and kick him out later. Like those are legitimate decisions you face and you can go either way on that one. Personally I prefer to knock out Calcutta and deal with USA later (bring german bombers to the Pacific this prevents those lone destroyers from blocking your entire fleet).

Yes German bombers in the Pacific are critical, bring them over after Germany takes russia unless something went wrong in Europe and you are betting on Japan winning… then by all means bring bombers over sooner than later.
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Funny story, I attacked Russia with 20 tanks and missed 17 of them… Russians hit almost all their dice… I only had one option left… win in the Pacific within the next two rounds… had 9 german bombers in China after that failed attack… 9 German bombers was the difference between me taking Hawaii and me losing the game. He could not block my naval. I could not be stopped and the 9 german bombers suicide attacked before Japan went ALL IN.  I sunk his naval barely and took Hawaii.

Good times. If I had more time I would out maneuver him and go Carolines to threaten New South Wales and Hawaii.

Another game I had German bombers defending the Kiangsu because I took New South Wales after Calcutta and I needed to hold all the VCs. Rolling 6 bombers and 2 japan fighters against 8 usa attackers… I DEFENDED! He was so mad.

Interesting. Try J1 DOW next time. USA can only send 1 bomber to reinforce london anyway. Sometimes they send a fighter to iceland.

If they do not, well easy sea lion and your pacific is full throttle.

Either Calcutta or ANZAC is fine. Both are good. If you go for ANZAC you can go for Hawaii and can block him from reclaiming hawaii with destroyers so you can pick up the quick 6 VC win.

The benefits of taking ANZAC is that for 9 ipc a round (3inf buy), you can make it really hard to liberate for the allies… and that is what you make off that island so it pays for itself.

The drawback is your fleet get scattered.

To take ANZAC you either have boatloads of men going from Japan to Caroline to New South Wales or you land a bunch of dudes in western australia then fly your entire airforce over a round later then attack.

I prefer to take India first. If he is giving you new south wales, by all means, take it.