This is my first post and my first AFA for PAC 1940.
I played my first game of AA PAC 1940 tonight against my best and most frequent opponent as the Allies vs the Axis. Loosing to Japan on Turn 8 (forfeiture).
I was playing against an enemy I knew well, tactically and personally. I was at a slight disadvantage because he purchased the game this time, it was his turn, and had it for a week before I ever got to see it. To better prepare myself, and due to the lack of a PDF rulebook from WOTC (get on that guys!) I read as much as possible on here about the game and strategies. I knew he would play as Japan, and most strategies on the website dealt with strategies for Japan, so I decided to base my strategy around how my opponent usually played in the origional Pacific game. This was ultimatly a major mistake primarily because of being too agressive as the anglo’s and china and my inability to get the US into the war until turn 4.
My opponents traditional pacific strategy was to go all out for india, whilst simultaneously conquering as many valuable islands and making his primary objective the capture of Calcutta (capitol in the old game), secondary objective Victory points, and perhaps some faints towards Australia. As all of you already know, that dont work in this game!
I had read many posts that advised Japan to attack Asap or sooner than later. Assuming this would be his strategy I began very agressively as the Chinese and the anglos. Japan inded Dutch and French territories on his first turn as well as hitting the Burma road. On the allied first turn I made the tragic mistake of attacking Japan and giving them the advantage by allowing Japan to fight the Anglos and China while US was helpless.
Japan did go for Calcutta and took it more easily since I spent so much material attempting to keep the Bhurma road open. I recognise this as a mistake now because I never even got to buy an artillery for china! Although Japan had to sacrifice lots of airpower, they cut the road every turn until they took the whole mainland. They were also now free to take as many valuable Islands (save the philipines) as they wanted.
I now think (just based on my very limited experience), that the allies need to bait Japan into attacking them first and getting the US into the war or else suffer a lower income early in the game. Although there were some good battles and I did some good defenses, it was only a matter of time before Sydney fell and the US couldn’t stockpile fast enough while having to send so much to the slaughter trying to save Australia. It looks like the allies are hurt very badly by having all of Britain falling, especially just when the US finally gets into the fight on turn 4. I thought that aggression would help and the Bhurma road would be worth the sacrifice in the begging hoping that Japan would attack the US, however if Japan does not attack the US, they can easily focus on either Sydney or Calcutta (probably not both) and have no challenge from the US until too late. the whole time Japan was gaining IPC’s in Asia and the indies the US only got the pitiful 17 bucks! Although I am not disrespecting anyone’s strategy here, I don’t see how it is helpfull to attack the Allies as JApan the first turn. Granted, I have only played once, but next time as the Allies, my preffered side, I will do my best to make it incovenient for Japan to not attack, only giving them china and the nonplaying territories and thus a low income as well. I ended up with the worst situation, Japan got way more money and the US didn’t get in the game until way too late.
THoughts??