Right, I was going to add that to point 2, but editing my comments puts a bunch of fun characters in there…so I didn’t bother.
I love the annoyance of retaking islands. Every time you grab one, you force Japan to spend 14 PUs to get it back, and you gain 4 PUs for that round yourself. Furthermore, there quickly becomes a time when Japan cannot safely produce more transports back in the homeland because they are too vulnerable to American attacks. At that point, it becomes too tough to refill the fleet with units for island campaigns. This is the situation where the Japanese economy goes to hell. They aren’t dying quickly, but they lose the ability to dominate the Pacific if the US has built up a good fleet, the Chinese are finding weak spots to attack, and India is still alive and gaining two units a round. The final straw is American convoy raiding with submarines. Japan cannot build more destroyers in safe areas, and trading a destroyer for a sub becomes a losing proposition.
This doesn’t mean that Japan is easy to contain. It requires quite a bit of early USA money. Otherwise the whole strategy falls apart because Japan can protect their transports when retaking the islands, can threaten to grab Australia or India, and can smash the Allied fleet if it comes in range. The tricky part is for the Allies to spend just enough money in the Pacific and then start transitioning to Europe. One round too late and Germany is an unstoppable beast.
Something missing, unless I overlooked it in the thread.
I often build bombers or send fighters away from the Pacific. I can move a bomber from NSW to Brazil in one move. ANZAC goes between Italy and Germany, so use that fact. ANZAC is the Italy killer. Take out the forward Italian can opening units with ANZAC air. Sometimes players get Persia or Iraq with ANZAC, or Saudi Arabia, and build an IC.
ANZAC air can also take out an Italian destroyer blocker in the Mediterranean, and then the USA/UK can wreak havoc. Can open the can opener (Italy)
But to answer the original question, at least partially,
build an infantry and a transport on round 1. After that, try to build 3 units every single time you can, and yes buy a minor for Queensland if the opportunity presents itself.
ANZAC is not just a side show, they are the Allies’ Italy. ANZAC can be crucial to your success.
The 3 fighters you start with can be sent to India ASAP, from where they could stay there or go harass Italy. Or they can stay in Australia and wait for the USA to take a critical island group (especially Carolines) thereby adding 3 fighters to the defense IMMEDIATELY, that the USA cannot possibly do herself. ANZ destroyers can save the USA buying those destroyers. ANZ subs can invite yellow subs to venture out to kill them, and then you can kill the Japanese destroyers. Japan has limited production capacity too, and destroyers are very expensive.
There’s even more that ANZAC can do (IC on Brazil?), but I’ve revealed enough valuable intelligence for one day
ANZAC air can also take out an Italian destroyer blocker in the Mediterranean, and then the USA/UK can wreak havoc. Can open the can opener (Italy)
Holy crap. This is not a half bad idea, if the timing works out right and ANZAC isn’t forced by Japan to go 100% turtle.
AZ 1: Build it.
AZ 2: New South Wales -> Central US/SE.Mexico.
AZ 3: On the next turn it can hit SZ 92.
You likely won’t ever play a game where buying it turn 1 is necessary, but the above illustrates how “quickly” it could get there. If you have it in mind when America begins to gear up for an Atlantic entry, you’ll probably be able to get there in time.
ANZAC air can also take out an Italian destroyer blocker in the Mediterranean, and then the USA/UK can wreak havoc. Can open the can opener (Italy)
Holy crap. This is not a half bad idea, if the timing works out right and ANZAC isn’t forced by Japan to go 100% turtle.
AZ 1: Build it.
AZ 2: New South Wales -> Central US/SE.Mexico.
AZ 3: On the next turn it can hit SZ 92.You likely won’t ever play a game where buying it turn 1 is necessary, but the above illustrates how “quickly” it could get there. If you have it in mind when America begins to gear up for an Atlantic entry, you’ll probably be able to get there in time.
You likely won’t ever play a game where buying it turn 1 is Possible, ANZAC starts with 10 so unless you have bid money you wont be able to build it on turn 1
Like I said, you can fly it to Brazil after you buy it. From Brazil I believe it can hit 92
It doesn’t have to be aircraft. You can get a sub there pretty quickly too
Of course it’s not a bad idea. I win 9 out of 10 games I play, dude, I know what I’m doing. You’re welcome :-)
You likely won’t ever play a game where buying it turn 1 is Possible, ANZAC starts with 10 so unless you have bid money you wont be able to build it on turn 1
Snarky git :p
edit-
Brazil seems inferior to Central US/SE.Mexico? Both are 4 away from SZ 92. Both are 6 away from London.
The Central US territories additionally also allow it to get back to Hawaii. Brazil does not. Any reason why you prefer Brazil?
How about loading the Anzac troops in Egypt on a UK transport, dropping them in Persia round 2, then buying a factory and landing the 3 fighters there round 3? Starting in round 4 Anzac would have 4 inf, 3 fighters and be producing units.
edit-
Brazil seems inferior to Central US/SE.Mexico? Both are 4 away from SZ 92. Both are 6 away from London.The Central US territories additionally also allow it to get back to Hawaii. Brazil does not. Any reason why you prefer Brazil?
You’re probably right. Two things for you to consider, though.
One is, maybe USA is not at war yet so you can’t land on Central USA. Maybe ANZ or UK has taken Brazil.
Second is, you do have more options to get deeper into Africa. But you’re probably right - Central America would be better in many cases.
