@seancb we also use a giant piece of plywood because any oval table we could find won’t fit the whole board. Its much better to have something under the board (or vinyl) because prevents the board from getting knocked or moved and has at least some sideboard area for piles of chips and drinks and extras. Still, we need dice pits and another area to put most of our stuff because the game is simply that yuge.
Japan sacking Egypt
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How do the Allies stop Japan from 1-2 punching Egypt with Italy?
J1-J3 Buy Inf/Art/TT combos. Escort each purchase with CV/BB/CR/DD/SS and advance the max spaces available to move puts Japan in a position to land 8 TT worth of units on Egypt starting on J5 and then on J6 and J7. Japan can reinforce itself by stopping a fleet off of Iraq and add 3 more Inf on J5 that the following fleets can pick up via empty TT.
All in all, I can’t see a way to stop Japan from skipping Calcutta and 1-2 punching Egypt with Italy at basically around the same exact time that you’d expect Germany to walk into Moscow.
The great ploy here is that Calcutta will have to play defensive with the KIF strategy so obvious. However, skipping across preserves Japanese units to land on Egypt and you can spend J4 and on reinforcing Japan with Infantry that will take the US more turns to crack than it has time for with Moscow and Egypt both falling and being held on J7.
Further, with a significant Japanese fleet in the Med, Egypt will become very hard to crack itself - something the Allies will not be prepared for if US1-US3 includes significant fleet purchases in the Pacific that has to chase Japan across the world.
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If you’re dedicated to doing this, I doubt the Allies can stop it. But after you sail past Calcutta, you’re sending a strong signal that Japan has forfeited a Pacific victory.
With this strategy, what turn does Japan Declare War against the Western Allies?
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Interesting idea… but I have some concerns:
What about the US blockading SZ6 and sitting on Japan’s throat for the rest of the game with their mega-navy, as it likes to do (especially since your defence is now sitting in the Med)?
And what should be done about an India that survives to pump more land units into the Asian subcontinent?
Isn’t it better for Germany to help Italy out in a much more effective and immediate manner, and get their NO in the process?
As is pointed out above you’re gambling on an Europe board victory only… but the US can counter on either front, making life very ugly in either the Pacific or Atlantic, as he sees fit.
And some praise:
It’s still a very attractive prospect, particularly when teamed with an early land push into China and the USSR, so that Japan’s planes have a place to fly to (and back from), to further assist the Axis in the European theater.
J1
Build naval port in Hainan, buy 1 transport + 1 artillery with remainder.
Wipe out USSR border stack.
Usual shenanigans in China.
Non-combat move all naval units to SZ36 (off Hainan), few planes to Korea, rest down south.J2
Build minor IC in Korea, two transports, fodder.
Keep kicking USSR, Mongolia & China with air, land.
Move all naval to SZ39 (off India).J3
This is the last turn of peace before the Allies start kicking back.
Build 3x tanks and fighters for second wave land attacks.
Keep pushing deeper into the endless field of 1IPC territorities.
Move all naval to SZ80, take Iraq for +3 inf.J4
Is where the crystal ball gets hazy.
Iraq minor IC is a must, more tanks and planes for Korea.
Fleet is within striking range of West India, India (if unblocked), or Ethiopia (to help Italy and fight strange USSR bonus) and Egypt (if unblocked).
Feint to South Africa might also be effective, if conditions are favorable.
By now, USSR is getting whipped from both ends (hopefully you’ve driven into Yenisey and Kansu), UK is very worried (neutered in Europe and threatened in Africa / Asia), and US has only just entered the war as an aggressor.I’m beginning to warm to this idea, having taken the time to work it out…
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I am sure it works, but the whole idea hurts my sensibilites. I love history to the point of silliness. Would rather lose than, dare I say, cheat!
I have to do it the hard way, or not at all. -
the whole thing about global is to give you options that weren’t taken in the real war
one of the japanese admirals proposed this strategyshould be interesting to game out:)
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@Barney: which Japanese admiral? Reference please…
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Do it if you feel happy. I just cannot.
I am sure one Admiral suggested it, but it was shouted down as ridiculous because Japan had everything they wanted/needed right in front of them.
Their war was not Germany’s. Irony of WW2 is that it could have been 2 separate ones. Hitler made it a world war by needlessly, and erroneously, declaring war on the US after Pearl Harbour.
But that is history.
This is a game. A bloody good one. -
@Wittman: You’re exactly right, it’s a game. And the proposed strategy is permitted by the rules of the game (i.e., it doesn’t count as ‘cheating’). So you shouldn’t feel guilty for trying out ahistorical strategies.
In fact, every game that is played is ahistorical in some sense (e.g., doesn’t rigidly comply to the order of battle, or the types of casualties, etc.), so your objection is an unprincipled one (i.e., if you can’t stand the idea of using this strategy, you oughtn’t be able to stand the idea of playing the game at all).
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Maybe I lack imagination. Am not bothered if I am thought strange. Have said I am happy to lose. I play.
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I actually employed this in a game. And Axis won.
I got MiddleEast + Egypt and then africa IPCs with Japan. Bought everyturn 10inf in Japan.
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@ Noll
Kuroshima
google kuroshima admiral
scroll down to war and remembrance
click that and it 'll take you thereI don’t know where wouk got his information,but his other comments on the history of the war seem factual
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The Obvious counter to this strategy is USA going full Atlantic or Bomber Happy.
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well allies kinda have to liberate egypt or they lose when russia / volgograd is taken. So it is pretty obvious what happens next.
usa goes full atlantic and uses his right now pacific fleet to convoy japan.
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Some time ago Young Grasshopper detailed his account of the Japanese Navy taking Egypt (around J5) combined with a G1 Barbarossa. It is a good read and details actual game moves and his opponent’s reactions rather than just speculating outcome. Japan takes India J4 and then progresses into Med. He builds about 10 infantry a turn in Japan to protect homeland rather than invest so much in Korea. The thread is called: G1 Attack on Russia.
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yeah well the allies only have 1 play when that happens. use the pacific naval that is there right now to take back dutch islands and convoy japan. buy full atlantic with usa (maybe some subs in the pacific for convoying).
it is not a big deal. the convoy system and all that is supposed to prevent japan from leaving the pacific. Also the high value of the islands is brutal.
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@Cow:
yeah well the allies only have 1 play when that happens. use the pacific naval that is there right now to take back dutch islands and convoy japan. buy full atlantic with usa (maybe some subs in the pacific for convoying).
it is not a big deal. the convoy system and all that is supposed to prevent japan from leaving the pacific. Also the high value of the islands is brutal.
You have also now to confront the full Japanese Navy in the Medi.
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It will certainly keep Italy in the game, which is no bad thing for we Italians.
I will bear it in mind and may spring it as a surprise to a wily opponent.
Did not mean to sound rudely dismissive. -
You don’t have to arrive at Egypt until around the time the Moscow is going to fall, you can take your time getting there.
I would entirely skip Calcutta in the process as it is irrelevant in the bigger scheme.
Convoying Japan is only 8 IPC. Much of that is made up via taking China early. Later, income becomes irrelevant for Japan as you start taking African economies at will and the 8 IPC convoy in SZ6 becomes a waste for the USA.
You want to keep the USA in the Pacific as long as possible, meaning at least 4-5 rounds, possibly as deep in as Queensland or even the Philippines / Caroline Islands works. This buys you the rounds you need to get around India and into the Med. This renders the early US purchases as misplaced and out of position.
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Wow, Kuroshima was the same admiral who tried to over-rule Admiral Nagumo, so that a second wave of fighters would go out at pearl, looking for the Aircraft Carriers.
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Sounds like a good surprise stratagy and could work along side a capture of the middle east to prevent the ‘spread of communism’ national objective and a successful FAST Wehrmacht campagin in the Soviet Union.
On the flipside Japan has completly surrenderd the Pacific to the US and Anzac, which in turn allows for a quicker Atlantic build up by the US and Britian.
Again depends on the strength of the players….
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