Minor Threat's Setup Charts & NO Cards

I believe the Alpha+3 rules have changed it to “Axis” control now. If any Axis power controls India, Japan gets the $5 bonus. In some games, I have seen Italy get strong enough to take India.
This is also true for Japan’s other NOs. (Sydney, Honolulu, San Francisco, the four DEI territories and the five islands – Midway, Wake, Guam, Gilbert and Solomons). They can be held by Axis powers, not just Japan, and Japan will get the $5 bonus.
Seems kind of silly to me but I guess Larry wanted to make it slightly easier for Japan to get their NOs, or at least make it seem like it was easier.

Like I said, I have seen a couple of games where Italy took Calcutta, although by that time it is usually pretty much game over for the Allies. Also, I imagine if Germany or Italy managed to invade Central US, they could conceivably go on and take Western US, which would result in Japan getting a $5 NO.
It’s really hard to imagine a German or Italian task force floating all the way to the Pacific and taking any of the 5 small islands, the DEI, Honolulu or Sydney, but I guess it could happen in some kind of weirdly played game. Maybe Larry wanted it to be open to any type of off the wall scenarios.

I tried that Med strategy that I posted earlier in this thread on Saturday, and it worked great. I caught my opponent by surprise by being so aggressive and it messed up all his plans (what ever they were). I will report later.

@cenator01:

I think this depends on how many new player you have.
If there are 3 veterans and only one new player, give him USSR.
If there are more newbies than veterans, then let them choose, but maybe dont go 150%.
To my experience:
DON’T TELL THEM WHAT TO DO! Give them an overview of their possibilities and goals (USSR: survive, UK: harass Italy, Germany and Japan, US: Go by force, and finish them off)
Its easier for new players to play the allies, because of their very clear objectives (Do not loose), whereas the Axis have to figure out a way to win. Much more preparations have to be taken, to get you on the win. Its much easier to loose for the axis, due to stupid mistakes.

the national objectives are handy guide aswell…

You know, I’m kind of surprised that Larry didn’t include US Submarines in costing 3 IPCs for convoy raiding.  Historically, the US submarine force did the same thing to Japanese merchant shipping that German U-boats did to Allied shipping in the Atlantic.  In fact, the US submarines were actually successful at it whereas through convoying and ASW improvements, the U-boat threat in the Atlantic was gradually reduced.  US subs were so successful that in 1944 the US Navy had to cut back on submarine production because they already had too many and were running out of targets since they had so crippled the Japanese importing.

Well atleast the reds tried to escape.

@Krieghund:

Try using the same setup, but adding an NO for Japan that gives it 10 IPCs each turn that it’s not at war with any of the following powers: USA, UK/ANZAC, or France.  Have fun, and let us know how it goes!

i will glad to see it in the next faq, because this “new” Japan is a bit weak. i think this new NO is a good point between historical accuracy and balancing. I hope that will be approved by LH.

The other issue is that Japan in the global game has nothing to do until turn 3 either, so this could seriously backfire.

The Japanese player simply has to say “if you declare war on me it’s gonna cost you Siberia” and the Japanese make a serious push into Russia with all his planes and Russia is screwed.  Buys the Pacific allies some time but may cost you Russia.

HA!  My guys are idiots.  It is only one extra space.  Can’t wait to bust their A$$e$.  I’m glad they know how to read.  I was REFing our the Double Blind game and going back and forth.  I’ll have an After Action report on it AFTER they rewrite it!!

Thanks guys…