I have to concur with the others who have posted. A combined transport and infantry build for Japan on turn 1 is the way to go. If Russia took Manchuria on round 1, and if the UK executed the “Kwangtung Maneuver”, the only place left for Japan to build is Southeast Asia. While initially it MIGHT be safe (the US can take that factory using China and Sinkiang forces one time in 3, and later will threaten it with a southern island hoping fleet), it is too far from Russia to do any good, and forward progress against Russia proper is easilly blocked by Novosibirsk infantry units. Japan HAS to focus on gaining IPC’s in round 1 in order to sustain a transport invasion of Russia through the back door (Manchuria to Yakut to Novosibirsk to Russia). Also, as Japan builds a transport navy (protect by heavy naval forces that were NOT sacrificed against the US at Hawaii) the US has to garrison Alaska heavilly (that japanease transport fleet ferrying troops to Manchuria is a single move away from an all out invasion of Alaska too). That reduces the number of US dollars that can be spent on the European war, allowing Germany to maintain the frontal assault on Russia that eventually leads to Japan taking Russia. So for an opening move, Japan re-takes Manchuria, takes Australia, blasts the results of the Kwantung Maneuver (if executed) or takes China using air force and Kwantung infantry. If Japan still holds Manchuria, they assault Yakut and take it. If the UK builds in India, that simply takes more pressure off Germany and allows THEM to take Russia, aided by the threat floating through the Siberian lands… too far from India for UK to do a darn thing about. YAKUT is the key for Japan. Take it and hold it, you have one territory with all of your west-marching forces to defend it from the Russians, and you force Russia to try to defend TWO territories against your massing forces. The drain on Russia: defending Evenk AND Novosibirsk plus holding Karelia and the Caucuses with an income of only 20 or so IPC’s is FATAL, REGARDLESS of UK and US support. And with Russia gone, the Alllies WILL lose (economic victory is immediate on taking Russia, world domination only a few moves away)
Radical U.S. First Turn Option
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block japan…you nevertheless gotta be a good player to hold out with germany. I haven’t played that many people who can defend itself against all 3 allies. And i think russia is easily defendable vs Japanese, Russia can focus on Germany and wait for the Japanese to reach Moscow then move everything there to defend it. Most jap players will try all out and lose 90% of their forces on mainland of asia.
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Once you move back to Russia to defend it
from Japan and Germany is still alive then
you are back to square one. Arn’t you? I
know you believe in the Germany first plan
but look at what I am saying it can easily
happen.
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The odds were calculated incorrectly.
You have approximately a 56.9% chance of rolling a six in six rolls, meaning only one technology. Each additionaly die you purchase adds a less and less significant ammount to this percentage. After you get the technology you still only have a 1 in 6 (or 16.67%) chance of getting a specific technology.
Actually I’m not sure sure about this number. The number I calculated was the chance of getting EXACTLY one and only one technology. I think I need to think about this some more. Any probability math gurus out there?
[ This Message was edited by: djensen on 2002-01-17 10:35 ]
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Djenson, out of curiosity, what are the odds of getting exactly one six with two rolls.
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if germany can hold out against the might of all 3 allies then an attack on germany is futile to begin with….therefore the allies should pack their bags and go crying home…germany can’t defend against all those countries until japan sacks russia
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Germany can’t defend against all those countries until japan sacks russia
Except people do it all the time!
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Japan doesn’t need to “sack Russia”. Only make 'em deal with Japan in a big way. If Japan holds all of USSR (except Russia, Karelia & Caucases), USSR will be too poor to hold out for long.
Every game is different. Germany first is a good strategy, but its hardly foolproof. It can be beat.
As far as Tech rolls I basically agree w/ Yanny. There are typically 2 times you roll for tech: when you got a lot of cash and need to put the game away, or when you are so far behind its the only thing that can save you. Alternatively you can roll for tech if you are in a gambling mood at ANY time–one of my friends is SO lucky with tech its a good idea for him whenever :grin: ! But even he won’t roll 6 at a time–even if you get the tech, you won’t be able to buy any of the “improved pieces” till next turn. Now you’re not 1, but 2 turns behind!
One thing that bothers me is how people forget you’re supposed to roll for tech BEFORE YOU BUY! Sure you can budget it out but if you get Super Subs and you bought 2 INF what good did it do you?
Tech totally altered 2 of our games. In one that lucky friend of mine rolled as USA on Turn 2 after losing pretty much his whole Pacific Fleet. He got Long Range Aircraft and totally f****d things up for the Axis thereafter! Once the Pacific was clear he built a few ships and bottled up Japan, and started bombing Germany from USA!!! The second time the Axis were winning when USA got Heavy Bombers. The game became a race for economic victory before the Bombers could be built and used. Tech is a cool part of the game but don’t overestimate it: it’s gambling, pure and simple.
Ozone27
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It is not any more gambling than the game itself.
More dice rolls are involved in the game than in tech rolls. -
Yes, but in the game you can control when, where, and what, to some degree, will be engaged. This is why it’s a stratagy game, and the more you roll the better your chances of hitting so in a battle there is a very small probablity of getting extremly unussual dice rolls.
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Exactly, Almost.
You can control when you roll dice. -
Why would you want to go through the trouble of setting up the game, getting together with friends just to get the US heavy bombers so you can end the game right away.
Why even play, Just give the americans all the tech and end the game even quicker, sounds like fun……dumb. -
I AM NOT SAYING ROLL ALL DICE FIRST TURN.
I am just saying that even though there is a risk in buying tech, don’t ignore it!
I usually roll tech when I don’t need an extra tank or inf next turn as Japan, US, or UK. Not all turns, not everything on one turn; one or two dice here and there throught out the course of the game.
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