U.S.A. strategy in the pacific

@afterword I like to put a IC in Burma and move troops down to FIC. I like to force a response from the Allies either with a IC in India by the UK or Russia moving to support. Anything that takes money or troops away from Europe helps.

Ok, so the Brits couldn’t roll to save their lives but I wouldn’t learn anything if I just kept blaming loses on my dice. Anyway, I built an IC in India first round, very effective for a KJF strategy (which I got caught up in). US did very well to liberate the UK IPCs in the south Pacific and during the post game talk Japan felt that losing that money hurt a lot. However, I am constantly reminded of how much the game board changes by the time America gets a turn and even at the end of the second round. I am convinced that the US above all must begin the game without a plan and be the most adaptable player. I had a small Uk fleet after G1, but I was very slow building it up as I became focused in India as the push on Japan with the entire US resources was going very well. The only problem was that Germany was free to roll on Russia. With support of around 9 allied fighters Russia was holding on and although UK landed troops in France during round 5, Germany destroyed my fleet with her air force (a battle in which I rolled very badly). With Germany at Russia’s door and no allied help coming from the west. my only chance was to capture Japan whom I had pushed back to Manchuria and Tokyo. Thats when I made a mistake and took the Philippines 1 round to early and in a desperate counter attack from her fleet and the fighters I failed to notice on the main land, the Japs wiped out my southern fleet without loosing large boats (he piled up on subs when he saw me coming). so with Russia surrounded and the American north fleet to small to take Tokyo. I had no choice but to surrender (I figured the Japs would have had more than enough time to recover before I could challenge again). Oh well, win some lose some. Other factors in the outcome was 1. Italy took Egypt without losing a single unit 2. Russia tried a small push back that only exposed them in the buffer zones 3. Japan built a factory in each of the first two rounds attracting all the allied focus 4. the US miscalculated some naval defense odds and finally Germany was collecting $43 by round 6. Some positives of the game was when two US bombers from England wiped out the German navy without a loss, and I rolled a 5 or a 6 for every UK bomber that raided for damage (which sounds about right considering thats what they were rolling all gmae) thanks for all the advice, I learned a lot. My next game is a complete 6 player war on March 5th, I will be playing the Japanese imperial forces. I will be here looking for help.

@Funcioneta:

Yep, I see. I think you should be allowed deploy the bid in any territory you had, empty or not. Also in any friendly coastal territory

That would open up other bid options…why limit them?
I, however, don’t get to make the league rules

At home, we have no such limitations.

Move all your bombers to England on turn one and buy two tech rolls and go for heavy bombers till you get it.  Then crush them.

Balance issues… Dardanelles should always be closed… NOs favor the Axis, hands down.

Something not in the rules, but a very simple House rule our group uses for both balance and just plain fun…

90% of the time, Japan nukes the Flying Tigers in China on turn 1 before the Allies get to make a single move with them. They are basically placed in a “please kill me” position.

Our group always allows the Allied player the choice to place the Flying Tigers anywhere they want within China on the initial setup… it’s a very minor concession both for play balance and strategic fun.

Why do people use a 4x4 for a polar express.  a 2x2x2 can get 8 units a turn into alaska with transports going with 3 steps.

Step 1: Move from SZ 62 to 64 and unload
Step 2: Move from SZ 64 to 62 and shuck to Bury
4 transports do this, 2 each step per turn
Step 3: Move from 64 to 63, load, drop in 64.

Its odd how you have to stagger it, but with a bit of troop buildup and extra transport or two to get it started, or a few units in bury to start, will prime it very easily.  Start with 4 transports in SZ 62, make sure you have 4 units in bury first, send all 4 to alaska for drop.  Following turn 2 shuck from bury, 2 go back to 62, and 2 new ones from 62 go to alaska.

As Japan I always build an IC in the East Indies turn 2 regardless of setup. East Indies can reach Egypt, India, Australia, Persia and other parts of Africa while facing little threat from anyone. After turn 3 or 4 you’re ready for an India IC and can start pumping 7 units toward caucasus.

As for the Pacific theatre. A smart US player will send a large fleet off the coast of Alaska with supporting bombers in Alaska as well as 3 or 4 counterattacking subs off San Francisco. If Japan strikes their navy the rest will be destroyed with sneak attacks and bombers. The US can keep this up until there are no boats left and then an invasion force can move in. Part of this allied strategy invloves the UK going all out in the Atlantic because it’ll be awhile before the US can help BUT not letting Japan take over the world will be worth it in the long run. In '42 Japan has to buy at least a sub and destroyer to go with two more transports. The US navy is very strong to start '42 plus you may not attack the carrier, fighter, destroyer in Pearl Harbour.

Don’t know whether it has been posted or not, but here is MY opening. I buy 2 inf 2 art 2 arm.

3 inf Kar to Bel
3 inf Arc to Bel
2 inf 1 fig Cau to Ukr
1 bom Rus to Ukr
1 inf 1 art 1 arm Cau to Euk
3 inf 1 art 2 arm Rus to Euk
1 arm Arc to Euk

If I have a bid greater than 5, I throw 1 inf Egy, and 1 inf (or more) into either Cau or Rus. Those units attack Euk as well. I place 2 inf 2 arm in Cau, 2 art in Rus, with 2 inf Nov coming into Russia. Bomber and Fighter of Ukr for Cau.