I see a lot of people are fans of naval build up with Germany in t1, either an AC or trannies. Two of Germanies national advantages, however, are very nice for subs (wolfpack and economic drain on US & UK). Might it not make more sense to focus on subs (if anything) for a navy? The economic impact is negligible for some time, but if I spread out my subs all over the Atlantic, he’ll have to use almost his entire AF and Navy in the Atlantic to hunt them down and clear a path for a landing, and he can still only kill them one by one.
No don’t focus on subs if the Allies are going KGF. The national advantages are nice, but subs are too easily destroyed by aircraft and building a lot of them detracts from your land war. You only want to take advantage of uboat interdiction if they are trying to kill Japan first since you have some free time to fool around with subs.
- Infantry is always a good buy, but the Fortress Europe advantage gives my artillery a defense of 3 in all initial German territories. I’m thinking I might want to spend the extra money on artillery, if only to ensure that a Russian breakthrough will be more trouble than it’s worth.
Yeah that sounds fine. But only extra money; still buy bulk infantry since at some point you’re not going to be in a gray territory and they no longer will have the advantage.
- As far as I see it, taking Africa is essential to crippling the UK economy. Is there any concievable way to hold it without focusing on excessive naval development? Would cranking out an airforce be worthwhile if it could help me hold Africa?
Taking Africa is extremely difficult with national advantages, since the UK will use Enigma decoded to save his tank/fighter in Egypt and then counter attack you en masse, destroying your ships with 2 fighters + 1 bomber.
- For tech research, super-subs are obviously a nice buy, but would long-range aircraft be better suited to Germany long term? I know any navy I buy is likely to be sunk sooner or later, but those aircraft could ensure that Africa remains a battle zone long after any significant German ground presence there is eliminated, and would also help against allied shipping.
I would never tech because it’s very inefficient. Even with a whopping 9 tech rolls (45 IPCs), you still only have approximately an 80% chance to achieve the tech! Isn’t that ridiculous? You could spend that much money and still quite feasibly not have the tech! If you’re feeling lucky then yes go for long range aircraft or whatever, but I wouldn’t incorporate it into a normal strategy because a lot of IPCs will be wasted a lot of the time.
- The UK gets an extra factory as a national advantage, and so far it’s always been in India. Is it worth an early push to try and take it, even if it costs me strength in mainland Asia?
It’s a great idea to push hard to try to get the factory. Once you get it then you’re pretty much unupposed.
Since the UK gets and extra factory for free, Japan is the only nation that starts with only one factory. Obviously a second is needed, and most people here seem to favor mainland Asia. I, however, am seriously considering either Borneo, East Indies or Phillipines. Japanese infantry defends on a 3 on islands (national advantage), and the slightly higher production in Borneo and East Indies might come in handy. Is it worth it to ensure a solid hold in the Pacific at the expense of greater striking power on the mainland?
There’s no need to mass infantry on the islands. They’re no good for anything but defense if the US comes knocking. You shouldn’t have much trouble dealing with the US if they do come knocking anyways.
- If Germany can do it’s job against the UK fleet in the Atlantic on turn one, and Japan can sink the US sub in the pacific, I’ve been seriously considering sending one transport around South America to take Brazil. If nothing else, it will force American attention elsewhere for at least a round or two at the cost of only 6 IPCs (14 if I lose the transport, but it will be escorted if possible, and can possibly flee to the Med). Anyone think this is a particularly bad idea??
If you can do it, why not?
Japanese infantry attack on a 2 as long as nothing else is attacking except shore bombardment (national advantage), and Japanese destroyers can transport 1 infantry (also N.A.). Because of this, I’ve been thinking of almost exclusively building infantry and destroyers. If I research combined bombardment, then destroyers can act in their tradional anti-sub role, as well as acting as transports AND shore bombardment, all in one ship for 12 IPCs! One infantry isn’t a lot…I know I’ll still have to buy some transports, but with all those islands around, I think it might be worthwhile. An airforce will be needed, but as far as I can see, as long as Japan doesn’t lose much by the end of round one, it’s starting navy, plus it’s infantry advantages on offense AND defense, pretty much make armor useless for Japan (except for defense in mainland Asia). Is an airforce/infantry/destroyer focus a bad route for Japan?
Teching is inefficient. Also, you can’t bombard that many territories…Japan already controlls most of the coastal territories and destroyers won’t help you do anything against Russia. Bombarding the US is not a good idea as it takes too long and detracts from your Russian effort.
- We’ve decided on 10 Victory Cities, which means that unless I can take all four of the UK/Russia VCs, and invasion of America will be necessary. People here don’t seem to be too high on invading Hawaii or Midway. Would an early excursion into Alaska be quickly crushed? Might it be worth it to give America something else to focus on? Would combining this with a move into Brazil be enough to take the pressure off of Germany?
Why would you have invade America? The Axis starts with 6 victory cities; if you manage to control them all, as well as capture the 4 UK/Russia VCs, then you win. Do an early excursion into Alaska only if the US has no troops in Western Canada. There’s no point if he counterattacks you. It is pretty annoying to the US player to do this move, but at the same time dont’ forget your main objective is to crush Russia.
- Lastly (a lot, I know), in the last two games, America’s Pacific fleet (me in both instances) has either: gotten killed in the Pacific OR transferred to the Atlantic. If this is the case again, might it not be a good idea to take my entire Japanese fleet and park it along the American coast? Two ACs, two BBs and a dest (minimum) would help ensure free reign in the Pacific as long as I make sure the canal stays closed. Is this too risky a committment for my fleet?
There’s no need to do this really. Keep your BBs and stuff with your transports and send them island hopping if you have nothing else to do. You should not be dying to an American navy unless the UK is heavily pressuring you with the Indian complex, in which case Germany should be kicking ass. You can always see his navy coming so build your own naval units (subs are the best thing Japan can buy to deter the US).
