@builder_chris2:
granted they are strong in the P40 game, but than they have 3 less things on them…so it only is logical that they should be stronger in the p40 game. a J1 in the G40 game is very hard to stop harder to stop when combined with a G1 dow but a J1 DOW in the P40 game is almost unstopable and to some degree it should be, they have no russian issue to hit them on the back door with and the US makes less money but the Uk and anzac are EXACTLY the same.
I agree that Japan has more challenges in the Global version. My claim is that the Pacific setup is SO unbalanced that these extra things make no difference. I am not saying that this makes the Global game unwinnable (although I lean that way) but it is very difficult if the Axis player is smarter and you have no bid. The Russian stack doesn’t stop Japan from being able to wipe out China in three rounds if that is what Japan chooses to do. They are merely a speed bump. Especially if the Russians stack Amur R1, they will be wiped out with little to no loss of Japanese planes. Then this air force just sweeps south cleaning out the Chinese. The Japanese navy is still strong enough to clean out the UK/ANZAC in a couple of moves, then you just convoy India out of the game while you wait for the army to march south. Most of the damage Japan can do to the Allies happens in the first three rounds, and there is pretty much zero the Allies can do about it since the US can’t get to the scene fast enough.
@Degrasse:
I’ll happily concede the point that Japan can easily eliminate China or UK-Pacific in turn 3, but I’m curious as to the strategy that lets Japan knock out ANZAC on turn 3. I can think of a couple high risk strategies that use one transport, but those are fairly easily blocked. Using more transports is possible, but the large number of transports sitting in the Caroline Islands gives away the strategy.
@Cow:
I think he meant Japan 4, that is the soonest you can take it reasonably.
Yes, I misspoke. It is turn 4 for Sydney. I’m not sure I would ever recommend it for Japan since it is in a dead-end area of the board. I also wouldn’t go for it by stacking the Carolines- stack in SZ36 J2 with a Naval base built in Kwangsi or Hainan. Then the Allies have to split their defense between covering India and ANZAC.
Also correct on China. If you’re willing to risk a couple of air losses then J3 you hit every province that still has Infantry in it. You also want to remind yourself to ship over some tanks so you can sweep up these areas all the faster. EDIT: I’ve also seen some games where the Japanese player is willing to use air-only attacks to clean out all the Chinese Infantry on round 2.