Seth,
The goal should be to relieve pressure off of India and maybe China some. Â The problem is that the “Korea stack” let’s call it, doesn’t serve that purpose to the fullest capacity that you would like. Â In our game, I could have kept shucking planes 12-18 over to Korea- problem is that US is spending too much money on harassing Japan or even trying to sack it when the urgency is opening another front on the Euro side.
It was a budget decision I had to make so I cut it off. Â Now a mix of bombers along with the planes could be interesting, but planes and bombers might be able to be shucked over through Gib–>Egypt–>Moscow faster- especially since in most games barring allowance of Sealion by the Brits Cairo is stacked and in safe hands (must do Taranto of course). Â With this route, you also threaten many more targets with your planes and bombers on the way to protecting Moscow. Â On the Pac side you are just harassing Japan.
All Japan needs to do is take India (which it can by rounds 4-6), stack capital and make and send all aircraft to Euro Side to bomb etc. and go for the Euro win. Â Japan can be very flexible (movement-wise) in that ANZAC and Hawaii can be taken quickly after India if the US is a little lazy in mov’ts and buys- thus getting the early 6VC steals.
Its fun to see Japan sweat a little bit from the Korea inf/plane stack but in reality there is really nothing to sweat about. Â The game is still a Europe win game for the Axis with a flexible Pac win if US gets a little lax. Â Japan’s job is really to meet up with Germany/Italy and unite. Â This has been the basic strategy for the Axis in every AAgame since Classic- hasn’t really changed much- just more tts, szs and units.
I think the “Korea stack” still has some playable nuggets to be discovered yet, but I don’t see it as a “winnable” strategy anymore. Â I think there are just better ways to do the same kinds of things one wants out of the “Korea stack”.
Its just like Tobruk vs. Taranto. Â Tobruk is playable, its just Taranto just does the same thing but its better in the longrun. Â Taranto would’ve made a big difference in our game. Â I’ll have to try a Taranto with the Korea plane shuck one time and see what happens.
The fact is, w/o the bid, the game’s strategy is starting to look more linear now and standard and it looks like Allies need the dice more that the Axis. Â I hate to say it, but Cow, for the most-part is right.