The Philippines Havoc

[General 6 Stars]

Why is it this island does not have 3 territories on gaming maps. It was two main territories and a group of small islands in between. Looking at my map it does have 3 territories.
So I will make Luzon one territory with Manilla in it North and the group of small islands in between called Visayas and the 3rd territory called Mindanao to the south according to 41 map. Japan starting in Dec had 4 invasion landings in Luzon, 2 in Visayas islands and 2 in Mindanao.
So Ive been making changes to pacific in my game to finally reach something where Japan needs to stay close in all areas in the Pacific ocean. You ll have to read my game thread in house rules to see were im going with this.
Now you can control Manilla but maybe now the allies can do a landing on a territory south of Manilla and at least make Japan have to defend island even more. Will have to play around with this. This could be another key area for the Allies to deny axis this VC
and be able to land more ground on other territories. Have to decide if you still need transports to get from any of the 3 territories to each other in the same sz touching at least 2 territories or 3 territories on east ward sz.

[CWO Marc]

I agree that the Philippines can be conveniently divided into the the major island to the north (Luzon), the major island to the south (Mindanao) and the group of smaller islands in the middle, both in terms of overall geography and in terms of the history of WWII: when the Americans invaded in late 1944, the aimed for the middle, and specifically for the island of Leyte.

[General 6 Stars]

@CWO:

I agree that the Philippines can be conveniently divided into the the major island to the north (Luzon), the major island to the south (Mindanao) and the group of smaller islands in the middle, both in terms of overall geography and in terms of the history of WWII: when the Americans invaded in late 1944, the aimed for the middle, and specifically for the island of Leyte.

Ya and it was the bloodiest battle too. I can see making Japan Inf +1 on defense and some Guerilla Inf (4 ? )popping up on The First US Amp Assault on Luzon backing the US.

[Argothair]

Two reasons: scale and balance.

In terms of scale, one transport figurine represents dozens of individual ships, some of which could be unloading troops into Luzon while others unload troops in Mindanao and others unload into Manila. One full game turn represents somewhere around 3 to 6 months of history, so it’s possible that your ground forces first occupy Luzon, and then, a few weeks later, march north through the jungle, and then, finally, toward the end of the turn, subdue a guerrilla resistance near Bataan.

If you split the Philippines into three territories without giving Japan more transports, then you’re putting Japan at a huge disadvantage against the Allies. Japan already has trouble recreating even its historical expansion, and even its historical rate of expansion wasn’t nearly enough to give it a chance of defeating the Allies in the Pacific.

If you split the Philippines into three territories and give Japan two extra transports, now those transports can go plunder the rest of the world – instead of spending three transports to take the Philippines, I’d much rather spend one to take Singapore, one to take Borneo, and one to take Java. Next turn, those transports can go to Indochina, Celebes, and Sumatra. Instead of adding detail to the Philippines, you’ve just made the Philippines irrelevant in the opening.

If you split the Philippines into three territories, give Japan two extra transports, and also split all other territories into smaller pieces (maybe Borneo is split into British Borneo and Dutch Borneo; maybe Indochina is split into Tonkin, Annam, and Cambodia), now you’ve added an enormous amount of fiddly complexity to the game that will slow things down. It’s already hard to finish most versions of Axis & Allies in a single day; if you add too many new territories, it will become impossible. But if you’re planning on playing a multi-day game anyway, there are other platforms (World in Flames; Europe Engulfed, etc.) that will give you an even more immersive, skill-based, and realistic experience.

I think there’s room for a 3rd Edition of A&A: Pacific that would focus even more narrowly on the fight for the Pacific islands (leaving out some of the Chinese and Siberian interior), and in that game, I would like to see the Philippines broken up into three different territories. But if you’re playing a beer-and-pretzels game about a global conflict, the Philippines just weren’t important enough to justify three different territories.

[General 6 Stars]

Is your comments relating mostly to the G40 OOB game ? If it is I agree with you there. Granted if you make 1 territory 3 then the rest should be done on whole map. No need if you just add some historical territories that made a it a some what big event in war without throwing off balance. Like I just made Norway Sweden historic now. Sweden was huge for Germany iron/ore and no more allies blitz through Norway, Finland and to Leningrad. Didnt happen but at least now Germany can counter if they lose VC 1 point Oslo.

Our games only last a day and Axis have to get to a certain amount of points to win and if they dont they lose because you can see it on the map mostly.

The biggest bloodiest battle in war was the fight for the Philippines.

I dont see a big issue with making Philippines 3 territories. I could also make it just 2 territories. VC 2 points Manilla is in the main territory to the north and no need to get all 3 territories if you have fleets on each side or within area…

This is mostly based on my game. Japan does start with 11 transports in game. With the 3 island groups NO in game now Japan will just have to wait a turn to take Philippines. Also Japan is not going to go across all of China and Russia do to terrain where all motorized units only move 1 in all of China and all Russian territories east of NOV. They just need to go into each country so far just like real war and focus more on Islands and Island NOs. Neither the US or Japan can leave Islands in the Pacific. They will have to defend at least 2 or 3 2 island group territories. You have to go to my game in House Rules at top of thread under Global War 40 2nd Edition to see what Im doing in this Sundays game. One side will get most of the money if you dont defend or attack with navys now.  Goal is making the US spend 50 50 or 40 60 either side and Japan now has many decisions to make instead of just blitzing every where and then just sitting. NO MORE.

I am making the Pacific a major issue now for both sides. What Im trying is something I have mentioned before. Also as you have said about in above post about just a New Pacific game. Be something to see if works in the OLD Pacific game later in time.