Pacific 1940 review copy has arrived

tomorrow they are posting more pictures I cant wait!

i am not sure i can read it well or not
can someone confirm what the beginning production is for each country?

I am seeing:

USA 17    (gets bumped up to …. 58? on turn 3)
Anzac 10
China 12
UK 16
Japan 26

and also
are there national objective with this one?

thx,
veqryn

the problem with stationing a fleet at hawaii is that as soon as the japanese make a lunge for it, the us can bulk it up or pull back

any “smart” us player will easily see an attack coming at least a turn ahead of time with the ammont of seazones involved

Thanks djensen! We appreciate the effort!

Looks like the ANZAC sculpts are identical to the Brits, to be expected I guess… it’s not as if the Australians built their own Battleship…

Also, anyone know why Western US and India get an industrial complex AND an AA gun? I was under the impression that industrial complexes came with their own AA defense in this version.

“AA defense from strategic bombing” is incorperated with ICs
AA shots at air units in conventional combat is what an AA gun is for

or so ive heard……

So they posted the new units…sadly the mech infantry alll look the same. as to the new bombers. However it still looks awesome!

@Todd7912:

After WW1 America decided they would never fight another world war, so we scuttled a large portion of our Navy, cut military spending and reduced the armed services while we increased social programs in America and planned on avoiding conflicts in the world. This is why we were wholly unprepared for WW2. (In a nut shell)

Ironicly, we are beginning to do it all over again.

The US Navy in 1941 was the second largest navy in the world.

US Navy, 1941 (http://thedignifiedrant.blogspot.com/2007/10/why-we-have-half-of-worlds-naval-power.html)
17 Battleships
7 Aircraft Carriers
37 Cruisers
173 Destroyers
112 Submarines

Japanese Navy, 1941 (http://www.hoover.org/publications/digest/3531646.html)
10 Battleships
10 Aircraft Carriers
38 Cruisers
112 Destroyers
65 Submarines

Royal Navy, 1939 (http://www.naval-history.net/WW2RN01-Introduction2.htm)
15 Battleships
7 Aircraft Carriers
66 Cruisers
184 Destroyers
60 Submarines

The US was behind Japan in the critical number of aircraft carriers, and had to be split between two oceans, but to pretend that the US was pacifist is to just pretend, and has nothing to do with history.

The US was behind Japan in the critical number of aircraft carriers, and had to be split between two oceans, but to pretend that the US was pacifist is to just pretend, and has nothing to do with history.

Sorry, I did not intent to hijak this thread. I wasn’t trying to imply that the US was pacifist. We were isolationist in the 30’s. I made the statement that we were “wholly unprepared.” It was an overstatment on my part. As I said at the end of the paragraph “in a nutshell.” That means a very brief overview. While the US has alway’s had the best equiped/trained/prepared military (at the same time being smaller than some others) we lacked commitment and resolve…BEFORE the war. (I believe Axis and Allies represents this by a small starting force). If we were determined, we would have been in France before Germany, and we would have been giving more aid in the battle of Britan.

Your research is well done and appreciated.

No Chinese artillery? :-(

The American set up is made to balance the game.

The japanese battleships were modernized and faster. If the Hawaiian BB fleet in 1941 ever met 8 japanese BB in a showdown all 8 American ships would be sunk and perhaps one Japanese. Carriers stats are much closer, but japan had much better pilots early war.

The game cannot account for quality except to influence it with quantity since everything is treated with the same combat values.

Lastly, alot of the fleet was dispersed to the Atlantic or sold to UK ( 50 destroyers sold for naval bases).

The actual “pacific fleet” is smaller than the quoted figures.

The US Pacfic Fleet had 8 Battleships, 12 Crusiers and roughly 100 Destroyers & 50 Subs spread out through the Pacfic, though the BBs and Crusiers where generally kept togther as a battle force.  Now that I have seen the actual numbers I agree with them whole hartedly as well as starting them on the US West Coast.  The US Navy stuck with the last of the War Plan Orange Ideas as best as best they could.  Those old Four Stacker destroyers were out dated hold overs from WW1 and were in fleet reserve till FDR “Leased” them to Britian as part of Lend lease.

So then, will anybody come up with different Starting Set-ups for different dates other the 1940 one?

I don’t know much about how to balance games like this, but it seems to me that if the US starts with a large navy, then gets the big economic boost, there would be no hope for Japan.

there never was to begin with. Japan never planned to Beat the US, just scare them away from the war.

I agree - I never meant to say that the US should be more powerful in the game. More important than historical accuracy is the creation of an interesting and fun game to play. It would not be any fun if all that was required was that the US concentrate its forces and industrial might to squash Japan in every game. There has to be a chance for the Japanese to win, otherwise why go through with playing the game?

Incidentally, the number of US destroyers for December 1941 already excludes the 50 destroyers transferred to the Commonwealth in the September 1940 Destroyers for bases agreement.

ETA: Imperious Leader also has a good point about quality. The Japanese battleships, aircraft carriers and air wings, and destroyers all had significant quality advantages over their American counterparts shown in battles throughout 1941 and into 1942. Naval battles are a little unpredictable, though, so there are lots of factors involved.

On an unrelated topic, I could easily find Royal Navy numbers for 1939, but if anyone happens upon RN strength in Dec. 1941, let me know, just for the sake of a contemporaneous comparison.

yea. somebody post the actual starting forces for UK and USA IN THE PACIFIC and where they are located. then if any change is made we know where to look.

Also get the japanese to proof them as well. Then we can balance it out for the historical people.

Right now it should be perfectly balanced for the game.

@Tralis:

Then what are your favorite additions, changes, and mechanics?

I think the way the new naval and air bases work is going to make for some interesting strategic choices.  This will be compounded with the new damaged status of carriers and battleships.  People aren’t going to be quite so willing to take a hit on a capital ship when it’s far from home.  Forward bases will be very important for both offensive and defensive purposes.

Additionally, China can become a real quagmire for Japan if it’s not managed properly.  The game is a real balancing act for Japan in general.

I love the naval and airfield chips

I suppose they could also be used to designate naval and airborne infantry for house rules

Why are they using gray pieces? Gray is for  Germany.

@Brain:

Why are they using gray pieces? Gray is for  Germany.

I think we have come to the consensus that ANZAC is “pewter” and Germany is a very dark grey or black