I’ve played only one game so far but today I did a little more in-depth analysis (mainly because I have to write down some J1 moves with J2 options otherwise people are waiting on Japan all day :-))
Anyway this is this is one of the many options Japan has so lets discuss it. Here is my best J1 Gambit- US Variation moves- you can try it, analyze it or trash it. Looking for feedback either way. I’ll explain some of the reasoning as I go and conclude after
J1 Gambit- US Variation
Purchase- $26- 3trn, save $5
Combat Moves
to Hawaii
2inf, 2art from Jap via 2trn from z6 to z26
whole navy from z6 to z26 (sub will sink US trn- free, rest of the units will attack Hawaii and take it easily)
to Phillipines
2inf from Car and Palau via trn from z33 to z34 to z35
whole navy from z19 to z35
1BB, 1AC (loaded) from z33 to z35
1bmr from Man to z35
(1SS, 1DD, 1bmr attacks US des and 1CZ, 1BB, 2inf, 1tac, 1ftr attacks Phil)
1inf from Jehol to Chahar- free
to Anhwe- free
1inf, 1art from Jehol
1mec from Man
1inf from Shangtung
1inf from Kiangsu
(taking Chinese territory while still moving units south towards India)
1inf from Siam to Shan St- free
(important move to stop Brit planes from attcking Siam which will have some bmrs on it- read next move)
to z37 (to sink BB-automatic if you are attacking on J1)
1bmr from Kiangsu
2bmr from Jap
1ftr from Formosa
(take bomber as hit- ftr needs to defend in Siam- Noncombat all planes there)
to Yunnan
2inf, 1art from Kwangsi
1ftr, 1tac from Kiangsu
to Kwangtung
3inf, 1art from Kiangsi
1ftr from Okinawa
1inf from Kwangsi to Frindo- free
Noncombat
3bmr, 1ftr from z37 to Siam
to Kwangsi
3ftr, 2tac from Man
1ftr from Kwangtung
1ftr, 1tac from Yun
5ftr, 4tac from Jap to Caroline
4inf, 1art from Man to Jehol
1inf from Korea to Man
Analysis-
Trying to maximize all Jap units yields (barring really bad dice)- capture Hawaii, Phil, sinking Brit BB, Chinese gains while moving south, Halt ANZAC, UK, and US National Obj, Japan income= 26 + 8 (US gains) + 4 (UK gains) + 2 (French) + 3-4 Chinese bucks = approx. 42-46 dollars.
At the same time you cut off nearly all naval and air threats for at least a couple of rounds if not more and you have transports ready to ship a ton more ground units to the south. If US retalites at Hawaii sea zone, they will pay for it- chances are they will sit and build.
Many lethal options for J2- prediction, China dead by round 4-5, India round 6-7. Japan may have to back off of Hawaii by the time an India take down occurs. Showdown with US in a fight for ANZAC/Hawaii.