It seems to be a popular view that Japan is wasting its money if it buys a complex before it has maxed out the first one (i.e. is transporting 8 units/turn to the mainland). However, I am of the opinion that 2 tran 1 IC–this is assuming $1 bid to Japan–is the optimal J1 purchase for getting units to the mainland quickly. There was an old thread (sorry, I couldn’t find the link on my first search and I’m too lazy to look harder) that had some calculations to this effect, but for the short version, consider:
—If you build 3 tran on J1, you can put 8 units in Asia on your second turn. However, with 2 tran 1 IC you can get 9 units there: 6 from your three transports, and three more from your complex. With a 2 IC purchase it’s down to 8 again, one from your transport and 6 from your complexes. (I’m assuming throughout that the UK killed your transport in SZ 59 so that you only have one to start with.) So if you’re trying to get as many units to Asia on J2 as you can, 2 tran 1 IC is the way to go.
—4 tran on J1, using a bid of $2, is also a good way to start fast. However, in this case your capacity outstrips your income; it will be a couple rounds before you can actually get new units fast enough to keep your transports busy. The 2 tran 1 IC buy is better optimized at keeping your production/transport capacity matched up with the number of units you can afford to produce. In particular, a 4 tran J1 purchase enables you to put as many as 10 units into Asia on J2 if you clean out Philippines, East Indies, Okinawa, and Wake, but then you run out of island units and can only make up to 8 new ones in Japan. So you get a lot of inf on J2 but it’s more of an anomaly, where the 2 tran 1 IC buy gives you a smoother and more continuous startup.
—As far as location, I like FIC the best. Kwang is farther from Moscow than either Fic or Man, so if you’re trying to put pressure on the Russians quickly you want either Fic or Man. You can supply plenty of troops to the northern area from Japan itself, so the complex is needed more on the southern end. Plus it enables you to get to Africa, Caucasus, etc better.
—So far I’ve been assuming KGF. In KJF you should certainly be a bit more hesitant about getting factories up quickly. However, I’ve found that a FIC complex, which is always where I build on J1 if I build a factory at all, can be very helpful in KJF. Ideally when defending against an American fleet you want to defend as far out as possible, e.g. with a fleet in the Caroline or even Solomon islands. However, if you’re forced to fall back, FIC is a great fallback point. The key thing about it is that it borders all three of your valuable islands. If you get in trouble you can fall back to SZ 36 and build more ships there to join your retreating fleet. Often this will be enough to prevent the Americans from taking any of those expensive islands right away. If your only factory is in Japan you’re forced to keep your navy farther north to incorporate the new builds, and the Americans have an easier time getting to the southern islands.
USA IC in Sinkiang
-
Yeah I think you need to go with Jen and DM. As a general rule Japan needs to be in a constant state of expansion, at least for the first few rounds anyway. You need to take Sinkiang and India if they have an IC.
Don’t do any thing stupid if you have to focus on them one at a time go for India as they can produce more; however, depending on the spending habits and troop positioning of that player Sinkiang may be more of a threat.
I would say some where around turn 3 Japan should be building an IC of their own on the mainland. The are a few reasons you should wait this long. One, you need to know where to put it. If the US player is the only agressive threat in Asia you can plan accordingly. Like wise if the UK goes heavy in India you can shift fire. The second reason is you now have time to move troops in that direction to keep the proposed IC site safe.
Good Hunting,
LT -
@Blitz:
So whats the first thing that pops in your head when you see that IC in India and Sinkiang appear?
Great! One game without that gamey KGF strat! :-D Surely USA’s fleet will grow big at z55 …
There are two cases:
A) Allied player is a moron and will not buy USA’s z55 fleet or reinforce India and Sinkiang properly. Toast the ICs and proceed to Moscow
B) Allied player knows what is doing. You’ll have a very interesting game, fighting for all the map. Better if you build some boats for Japan or you’ll suffer badly. The IC should be at Kwantung, FIC is too risky, forcing you to defend it and probably negating any way to conquer Sinkiang. This is a the moment to build that german AC (if UK dind’t sink baltic fleet). Build tons of land units with Germany, they will be the ones who must conquer Moscow.
-
Japan will eventually lose a naval engagement with America, no questions asked. Question is, can they break Russia before America breaks Japan (ie reduces Japan to no navy, you don’t need mainland Japan here, just destroy their fleet and you beat Japan.)
If Germany built a Carrier, then it is time to go after Japan. It’s the most bone headed maneuver in the game to build a carrier for Germany, IMHO. With that Carrier, you can fully expect British and Russian forces to own the eastern european states for quite some time freeing America to run roughshod over Japan without much of a worry.
If Germany did not build a Carrier, then significant resources are going to be needed to slow Japan’s mainland down. A mere 2 tanks, 4 infantry from Russia can easily do this. (That’s in addition to the forces already in position. Russian fighters in range, but not used against Japan, just ready to be if needed.)
-
@Blitz:
I come across the KJF a little to often in my games as Japan and have a question.
Opponents using KJF against you too often??? Can’t win too many games?? Even if I win by luck I’m happy for all of my victories.
As for IC in Sink, take it and use it to capture Moscow.
-
Opponents using KJF against you too often??? Can’t win too many games?? Even if I win by luck I’m happy for all of my victories.
As for IC in Sink, take it and use it to capture Moscow.
Ha, I just meant it would be nice to play a game where the nation I am isn’t the focus of every ones attention. You know being able to plow through Asia without interference would be great :)
-
One should play according not only to general strats, but also react to the opponent.
The reason why many of us thinks KJF is an inferior strat is not because it’s impossible to slow Jap considerably, but because a KJF strat should result in allies losing the game. Germany will have to be more than usual aggressive in an KJF game than ordinary KGF.
If you play one side alone or multiplayer doesn’t matter, both axis powers must move according to the changing units/colors on the map and according to opponents.
If US build IC in Sink in a non KJF/CJF game it should be easy to take controll of, but to take the IC must be a nr.1 priority. for the Jap player regardless of other issues which may or may not happen. -
A USA IC in Sinkiang demands that USSR send INF fodder to help protect that IC in the early rounds of the game.
Knowing that, Germany needs to be hell-bent-for-leather after USSR from G2 forward.
With an early ARM lead of more than 2 to 1, and with an AF lead of more than 3 to 1…
Germany builds whatever with lots of INF on G1, then on G2 they can adjust to a major ARM build and basically out-class Russia the entire game, especially if the Med Fleet pulls out of Africa and goes after USSR held Ukraine and/or Caucuses.
Russia is 1/2 of Germany income on average. Steady pressure, good use of the German FIGs and BOM, and lots of INF/ARM means Russia DIES.
-
Honestly, Switch, I believe that if Russia puts 4 Infantry in Sinkiang on Russia 1 and leaves a tank or two and her fighters in Kazakh the risk to Sinkiang drops significantly. (Japan can only have 7 Infantry in China after Japan 1, and odds are closer - in my experience, not by calculator - that Japan will be reduced to 4 or 5 infantry. Russia could then easily liberate China if it came too it, giving America that necessary round to build forces there.
I am NOT saying it is optimal. Just speculating on how it could be done.
-
@Cmdr:
Honestly, Switch, I believe that if Russia puts 4 Infantry in Sinkiang on Russia 1 and leaves a tank or two and her fighters in Kazakh the risk to Sinkiang drops significantly. (Japan can only have 7 Infantry in China after Japan 1, and odds are closer - in my experience, not by calculator - that Japan will be reduced to 4 or 5 infantry. Russia could then easily liberate China if it came too it, giving America that necessary round to build forces there.
I am NOT saying it is optimal. Just speculating on how it could be done.
So if what you just proposed happened and the UK has a shop in India whats a Japan player to do?
-
Honestly, it would have to depend on what England did. If they took Borneo and New Guinea, sunk the Submarine in SZ 45 and sunk the Transport in SZ 59 then Japan would be in a REALLY bad place on Japan 1.
If all they did was move into position, then I would eliminate China (to get the fighter) and then plan to make a massive dump in FIC on Japan 2 (with a complex on Japan 2) to try and get India. It’s the most secure victory you’d have probably. Either way, if you force the allies to dedicate their firepower there, you MIGHT be able to get Russia weak enough that Germany can tank dash (as in 8-12 tanks a round) into Russia
Suggested Topics
