As far as USA turn 1 response goes, at a minimum the bombers can max damage the airbase on Midway.
Builds depend on whether or not ANZAC fighters get moved to Hawaii.
I can’t think of a better build on US 1 than the default 2 DD’s. If Fleet is moving to Hawaii no need to buy CV since the fighters can scramble.
If J2 move 3 loaded transports to Midway + Naval base build, US MUST buy ground defense.
At end of J2 with the Tac Bombers in Midway and regular Bombers in Japan situation in Hawaii touch and go. The one trans in Midway can move the inf to Alaska to set up landing zone and create additional distraction for US.
It just seems to get worse and worse. It reminds me of having a winning position in Chess. You have tons of options and everything seems to work perfectly in concert. The poor player in the losing position is forced to make one perfect defensive move after another; a single misstep ends the game.
Since the J1 attack has become the default for my gaming group Japan has racked up win after win. It was fairly even on J2 and J3 assaults, but, I question how well the J1 assault was play tested.
We agree in our playgroup…the J1 attack cannot be stopped. Very disappointed with the playtesting for this 100.00 game.
If J2 move 3 loaded transports to Midway + Naval base build, US MUST buy ground defense.
It’s late here on my end right now, but on US2, does the US have the option of a sea zone blocking move against Midway to defend the western US?
I don’t have the board out right now to look at it, but I tossed the idea about the other day. It would have to be a 2 zone block, but think it was possible. Especially if the US opts for a US1 buy of 2 x DDs. I wonder if this move, combined with a bombing attack on the naval base, following on the heels of bombing the airbase, would work to some good effect?
Tomorrow, I"ll have to get the map out. I was thinking about trying a block move against an amphibious assault on the western US as a means of allowing a more aggresive, fighter oriented buy for the US on T2.
It just seems to get worse and worse. It reminds me of having a winning position in Chess. You have tons of options and everything seems to work perfectly in concert. The poor player in the losing position is forced to make one perfect defensive move after another; a single misstep ends the game.
Since the J1 attack has become the default for my gaming group Japan has racked up win after win. It was fairly even on J2 and J3 assaults, but, I question how well the J1 assault was play tested.
We agree in our playgroup…the J1 attack cannot be stopped. Very disappointed with the playtesting for this 100.00 game.
Oh brother, this kind of talk has me concerned. :-o
I sure hope this isn’t the case, but for the life of me, I can’t find cause to say otherwise now. :?
I suspect the playtesters completely missed the Bombers + fighter attack on the UK BB + transports; as well as this crushing Midway invasion J1.
I mean, what was the point of placing both transports in Singapore? It just teases the UK player. At least put one of the transports next to India.
Maybe they thought the IPC boost to USA would be enough of a deterrent and didn’t worry about the consequences of a J1.
So I move a tank/mech inf to Alaska US1. Defend Hawaii with everything I’ve got. Build 2 DD’s.
Hopefully ANZAC can spare some fighters. If all ANZ fighters are there I move the US fleet to Hawaii.
On US2 where do I move the fleet if Japan moves Bombers back to Japan on 2?
It may be the only way to balance the game is to ban a J1 attack. It has the advantage of simplicity.
I suspect the playtesters completely missed the Bombers + fighter attack on the UK BB + transports; as well as this crushing Midway invasion J1.
I mean, what was the point of placing both transports in Singapore? It just teases the UK player. At least put one of the transports next to India.
Maybe they thought the IPC boost to USA would be enough of a deterrent and didn’t worry about the consequences of a J1.So I move a tank/mech inf to Alaska US1. Defend Hawaii with everything I’ve got. Build 2 DD’s.
Hopefully ANZAC can spare some fighters. If all ANZ fighters are there I move the US fleet to Hawaii.
On US2 where do I move the fleet if Japan moves Bombers back to Japan on 2?It may be the only way to balance the game is to ban a J1 attack. It has the advantage of simplicity.
From what I’m seeing of this strat so far, if Japan buys 3 transports J1 & banks the other 5 IPCs, then on J2, they can buy 3 more transports and a minor complex for Asia, and still have a 4 IPC reserve to repair the airbase on Midway should the US bomb it.
Hawaii is extremely vulnerable to invasion on J3 with the second batch of transports arriving in Japan, even with the ANZAC fighters there. 2 X DDs is a good US1 buy if you’re looking to make some kind of block move, but I’m thinking that a transport & a fighter may be better if you are trying to all-out defend Hawaii. The at start transport from the US can either try to sneak past the Japanese sub (I wouldn’t do this) on US1 to reinforce Hawaii on US1, or it can go in with the DD, the DD & air taking out the sub.
If the US buys another transport & fighter, both can go to Hawaii on US2 to further bolster Hawaii’s defenses. I doubt the Japanese can be stopped at sea in a sea battle there, but the land fight might be possible to hold…maybe? :?
That’s the best I can offer on the subject right now, hopefully we get another game session going soon to start working on this issue. I’ll have to actually play it our a game or three before forming a more solid opinion on the “broken” aspect. :|
we have been playing this since it came out, and we have only tried the J1 attack once. but we have been using the aleutian islands as an air and naval base for the US. thinking that if the US can put some(any) pressure on japan itself, it would help keep the IJN to north and away from UK and Anzac. with the few ftrs and bmrs the US begins with, along with the boats, you can have a nice little fleet in ale US1. then buy bmrs, subs, and some loaded transports, and just keep building up a force there. with the bases in aleutian, we leave haw open, daring Jap to take it, with a threat of a strong counter attack. UK and Anzac always start out building inf, then switch to subs after a few rounds. subs keep the destroyers busy and maybe take a convoy or two from jap. china - if jap pressures burma road hard enough, they will take it every turn. sometimes we have had china abandon the road and head north to manchuria, just to keep jap in the north, away from india.
i like the aleutian islands bases, but it takes a little time to get it really up and running. i find that lots of subs gives jap something to do.
Kat
Many of the strategies outlined take too long.
If Japan is actually giving the allies that much time you’re probably better off building an unassailable US fleet (Massive buys of SS’s and DD’s). That way the IJN has to dodge you, not the other way around.
At that point you can base transports + ground troops out of Midway (build naval base there) and threaten Japan every turn.
Of course, the Japanese strategy outlined in this thread has Japan taking Midway J1. A J1 attack is very tough to counter.
What would you do as US with most of the Japanese fleet at Midway on turn 1?
if i am playing US, and on J1 the japs take midway, i would probably abandon haw, and play def in wus. buy a ftr, inf and art for wus def and leave boats off the coast.
i have only played against 1 opponent f2f, maybe 10 games, and have 1 game of aap40 (still going) on the forum. havent had to face the J1 attack yet. truth be told i am not sure how i would handle it. i need to play against more and different opponents to really get the feel for it.
the aleutian island thing has worked well in my f2f games only because he usually sends the whole fleet south to india. then he has to worry about invasion and send some boats and planes back to japan.
the one J1 attack was by me, and was working very well till i left a large fleet within reach of everything the US had on about turn 5, and he wiped me out, with a little help from the dice gods. next time i play as Jap, i will try the J1 attack again. maybe even try midway, just to see what happens.
Well, Kat, here is the dilemma:
If you allow Japan to take Hawaii, the following turn Japan swings down to Australia.
Add up the victory cities: 2 starting cities, Phillipines, Hong Kong + Hawaii = 5 total.
Sydney is 6. No need to slog through to India.
If you surrender Hawaii on J2, Japan could conceivably win the game outright on J4.
J3 fresh troops from Japan land on Hawaii. New Zealand falls. Don’t forget Australia does not get to scramble fighters because they are considered a continent, not an island.
Third CV returns to Phillipines to help with ANZAC attack.
J4 fresh troops arrive in Hawaii; existing troops shuttled to Queensland or New Zealand, depending where ANZAC defends.
At best Sydney holds out until J5.
As Japan I could send out DD screens to delay US counterattack.
Also, if Hawaii falls on J2, virtually every fighter in Asia I have will be in Hawaii by J4.
The scrambling rules allow ALL fighters to defend sea zone around Hawaii.
