US strategy to prevent VP win

Veqryn after you have read the essays Frimmel linked to (so of the finest strategy essays on the site in my opinion) check out my thread Australian Push. Kreig says he has never seen it before and I have never lost a game with it.

AAP is not balanced all that well, in that Japan wins most of the games by a wide margin, but it is very fun to play. If nothing else for the challenge of seeing if you can eek one out for the Allies.

I’ve tried the marianas but then I lose fighter escort as most of my fleet gets wasted in the naval battle prior to the amphib assault. Between the aa and escort I cant make a big dent on the IPC front. I will try to make my asia push earlier.

Thanks for the input SS ;I think AAP is a great game. I will try a few solitaire runs to see how this plays out. Perhaps, when I get my nerve up we can give it a go and I can watch the master at work.

Each bombing raid is a distinct event.  Japan loses no VPs on the UK raid and one VP on the US raid.

Krieghund had this to say in another thread:

@Krieghund:

SBRs against all ICs were unlimited in Classic (1984), and that didn’t change in Europe (1999) or Pacific (2001).  It wasn’t until Revised (2004) was published that any kind of limits on SBR damage were introduced.

I agree that it doesn’t make any sense that an IC with limited production should allow unlimited SBR exposure.  Many people, including myself, have played with house rules for many years that limited SBR damage to such ICs.

So, when Pacific was being developed, I’m guessing that little or no thought was given to the impact of SBR damage limits on game balance.  Those rules were probably simply inherited from the previous games and taken for granted.

It might be interesting to see what the impact of limiting SBR damage would be.  However, I can only assume that it would benefit Japan most, and Japan already has the advantage in the game.  You would certainly want to limit only ICs with limited production, as limiting damage to “home” ICs would curtail the US’s ability to reduce Japanese VPs through SBRs.

I’m afraid that’s the best answer that I can give you, since I wasn’t involved in A&A in any official capacity back in those days.

The Fighter Ace’s strats are top notch. Can’t recommend them highly enough. I suspect that Saburo has forgotten more about A&A Pacific than I know.

@Gamer:

SS, you write very well and obviously have a great command of the game.  I’m no expert, having played my last game probably 3-4 years ago, but it just seemed like there were severe limitations on the Allies’ strategy in A&AP.  For example, if Japan goes KIF, then the U.S. MUST buy bombers on US 1, and so on.  The thing I liked about A&A Classic and even more so about A&A Revised is that there is no one single way you “must” play to win.  Each player can adopt a strategy that suits him or her best.  I just get the feeling if I play A&AP against an experienced player, I would be at a severe disadvantage because it would only take one wrong move on my part and the game would be over by Turn 2.  Am I overstating that?

Yes, it is turn 3!  :evil:
(or 4)

Hi folks

the move against both Hawaii and us fleet is a great move… unfortunately you can’t place your carriers in the Aleutian seazone, that would make your planes (in zone 5) make an illegal combat move.
You can’t use the carriers to make a move forward and then send of planes, the planes can only move four spaces.

When I try to make this move and I usually do this.
2 subs to z9
2 planes to z9
4 planes to z5

You will then typically have 2 fighters left from z5 and both fighters from z9
You will only loose 2 subs and 2 fighters total
(these are based out of statics’s of 1000 battles)
The US fleets will be destroyed with the exception of 1 sub left in z5 (if he doesn’t submerge this, he’s crazy)

I would recommend that you then take your carriers and move them to the northern US convoy in z6 and land your fighters here.
Now I know this means that theres a chance that you will loose the carriers and the fighters. US is able to respond to this on their first turn with 3 ftr 2 bmb and 1 sub. But with the convoy there and away from the remainders of the us fleet, its the best choice, if you are performing this move.
The outcome of this battle is very luck dependent, your fighters will have nowhere to land if you loose your carriers. so the sub has a lot to say in this battle.
if we look at the numbers again the us will only be able to clear this zone in about 20% of the time… which is pretty good odds for japan.
But still it would be foolish of the US not to try to make a move against the carriers, as the attacker they have the option of retreating, if it turns out to the dice are against them.

This is IMO a great advantage for japan, as the US will have to build their whole navy again from nothing. You take the convoy, its only 5 IPC but the US will not be able to take the convoy back until turn 2. Besides if they attack you get the chance to weaken their airforce as well.
Sure its a shame to loose the carriers this early in the game, this makes an Australian invasion very hard and you won’t have the power to do nothing else than delay the forthcomming US fleet, without the carriers.
It all depends on your playing style, but if you want to be aggressive, this is a great move. Especially if you go for an Indian invasion, as the US won’t be able to get there before its to late, if you go for this.

Regards,
Daniel

I think that if your going to win with Japan, do it either by capturing India, or victory points. Both of which I’ve seen done. Here’s my views on the following ways of Japan achieving victory. If Japan focuses on….

Australia

Problems with Invading Australia

America can fly planes down for support by the time Japan has assaulted Northern Australia Australia is a richer nation then India, raking in 20 IPCS as opposed to India’s 15 If you focus on taking down Austrlian IPCS (eg: invading java, and sumatra) in the islands, that by the time you reach New south wales, they have to much defense. Harder to get air support for your attack on New South Wales

Good things about Invading Australia

Going for Australia might be a good idea, only if the British player is anticipating an Indo Swing, and gives all the convoy money to India. Forcing Australia to have less money. If the British player makes poor purchases for Australia (eg: subs, and not any land defense units)

India

Problems with Invading India

Hard to get air support for assault on India, unless you capture Shan State or Yunnan by J2 or J3. Chinese forces, seeing a possible Japanese invasion of India, may send infantry to help, or invade your Korean, and Manchurian forces. Not a significant problem, but one to consider.

Good things about Invading India

You can mass a HUGE fleet in Sumatra, by J2. Composed of many destroyes, battleships (which are good for shore amphibious assaults), and 10-12 transports full of infantry, artillery, tanks. If by J2 you can capture Shan State, J3 you can land your planes there, and the planes will be in range of attacking the Indian Capital on J4. Even if India moves his forces up to Burma and trys to attack Shan State’s Japanese men, which they wont because they wont have enough men to defend India capital, the Burma forces will treat back to the captial because if they dont the ships and transports sitting in Sumatra sea zone will take the unguarded captial on J3. Farthest Capital away from USA, hard for USA to send fighter support If you go after India, you might be able to take China as well, not neccessary, but fun taking 2 capitals.

Victory Points

Problems with winning by Victory Points

Can make the game alot longer If you don’t pressure India or Australia, they will attack your helpless stray ships America can moblize an attacking force to invade Japan Capital

Good things about winning by Victory Points

If you can foritfy Java, Sumatra, Malaya, Borneo, with infantry and fighters, it will be difficult to invade them (all these islands and coastline territory have a combines IPC net of 14 IPC If you can keep a good supply line of transports going from Japan to the mainland (French Indo China, Siam) you can delay any India mainland attacks If you rake in 40 IPC a turn, and are holding that amount for 5 turns, you are almost guarenteed a victory