JAPTICS

1. J3. Gives you time to prepare your transports to attack any territory you want them to. It also is the turn that America enters the war, so you’re really only allowing them to move out of their own territories, which is outweighed by the initiative you gain as Japan

2. I buy 2 on the first round, so I have 5, and then maybe 1 later on. I am always willing to sacrifice a transport for control of a DEI, as long as the allies lack any transports to get it back. So once I have the DEIs, I only have 2-3 transports in circulation.

3. Minor IC in Shanghai territory, build 3 mechs a turn for use in China and India. Naval Base In Hainan, because I can drop any troops from Japan off there, and then have the option to move them toward India, or load them back on the transports that brought them there and attack any number of important Islands.

4. In order of importance: Borneo, Philippines, Java, Solomon Islands, and Malay. Borneo, Java, and Malay because they earn you lots of money and reduce the Allied income. Solomon Islands, because it gets rid of both ANZAC NOs with one move, and its hard for them to get it back. Philippines, because it reduces American Income and contains an important naval and air base.

5. 36, if you have a naval base in Hainan, you can hit all the important mainland territories (Calcutta), all the DEIs, the Caroline Islands, Japan, and part of Australia. 35, if you control the Philippines, although you can’t India from there.

I considered mentioning Solomon Islands, but after the NO change in Alpha 3, it’s not nearly as important as before.
The current NO is impossible and so irrelevant.
The Anzac NO can also be disrupted by taking New Britain, Dutch New Guinea, or New Guinea.  All three of those are harder to take back simply because they’re farther away from Hawaii.

In Alpha 2, which I still very much enjoy playing, I would put Solomon Islands on my list.  Very important, but difficult, spot to hold.

@Alsch91:

I considered mentioning Solomon Islands, but after the NO change in Alpha 3, it’s not nearly as important as before.
The current NO is impossible and so irrelevant.
The Anzac NO can also be disrupted by taking New Britain, Dutch New Guinea, or New Guinea.  All three of those are harder to take back simply because they’re farther away from Hawaii.

In Alpha 2, which I still very much enjoy playing, I would put Solomon Islands on my list.  Very important, but difficult, spot to hold.

Well, Dutch New Guinea does not count as an originally controlled ANZAC territory, so that would only disrupt 1 NO. All of the outer territories are within range of Hawaii, so if the US wants to liberate an Island it will, but it will take some ground resources.

I am not sure if I understand what your saying, though. In alpha 3, ANZAC needs the Solomon Islands in order to have either NO. Obviously the NO for Japan is out of the question, but I still think that, or New Britain, is important for hindering ANZAC.

1. Japan should attack round 3 to keep USA income low and japan`s high as long as possible; also helpful to keep sea zones with UK/ANZAC ships nonhostile so you can slide past them if doing an India crush.

2. half a dozen transports

3. ICs go in Kiangsu, Shantung, Manchuria so you can pump out mechanized infantry as cannon fodder for air attacks to exterminate Communist China and then Stalingrad.  These can never be captured by the enemy; NEVER build one for the Americans in FIC or Korea.

4. #1 Yunnan.  Keep China poor and without artillery
#2 Philippines.  Deny USA the NO
#3 Shantung. If chinese start mobilizing there you will never retake it, its a VC and worth $3
#4 Hongkong & Malaya tie for 4th; Borneo gets honourable mention.
#5 (If allies are on to this) Dutch New Guinea is crucial because an allied naval base there allows fleets from India and a Johnston Island naval base to link up and then head for Iwojima.  Also the $5 ANZAC NO

5. Best is z6 + z33 to scares everyone into submission.  Second best is z36 next because it allows a faster move on India but the downside is everyone knows what you’re doing

I was assuming that Japan takes Malaya, which disrupts the other Anzac NO.
In Alpha 2, the 5/7 NO was very achievable, and could be fought for.  The Alpha 3 version can effectively be ignored.
If you’ve got Malaya and any of those four island territories, you’ve stopped both Anzac NOs.

@Alsch91:

I was assuming that Japan takes Malaya, which disrupts the other Anzac NO.
In Alpha 2, the 5/7 NO was very achievable, and could be fought for. Â The Alpha 3 version can effectively be ignored.
If you’ve got Malaya and any of those four island territories, you’ve stopped both Anzac NOs.

Agreed, but then again, if you have the Solomon Islands, you don’t need Malay.

I see people are placing ic’s on shantung

thought it had to be a two spot or better

when did that change?

Uh… but Malaya is worth 3 IPCs and is right in front of your 36 fleet.  Why would you not take a valuable territory away from India?  Derp.  I could just say that if you have Malaya you don’t need Solomon.   :lol:

Barney -
Shantung is worth 2 IPCs.

@Alsch91:

Uh… but Malaya is worth 3 IPCs and is right in front of your 36 fleet.  Why would you not take a valuable territory away from India?  Derp.  I could just say that if you have Malaya you don’t need Solomon.   :lol:

Barney -
Shantung is worth 2 IPCs.

Again, Malay only stops 1 ANZAC NO, so your choice, is “do I want 3 IPCs, while taking away 5 from ANZAC, or do I just want to take 10 IPCs from ANZAC?”

I prefer the latter, so I go with Solomon.

Or you could take them both…

@KillOFzee:

Again, Malay only stops 1 ANZAC NO, so your choice, is “do I want 3 IPCs, while taking away 5 from ANZAC, or do I just want to take 10 IPCs from ANZAC?”

I prefer the latter, so I go with Solomon.

it is more like
solomo, I want to take away 10 from anzak
malay I want to get 3, take away 5 from anzak, take away 3 from india, and if I don’t have forces to take hong kong i take away 8 from india

so the sum is at least 11, and can be 16 if you would rather wait with taking hongkong (maybe the chineese have moved forwards and you need the ground there)

@barney:

I see people are placing ic’s on shantung

thought it had to be a two spot or better

when did that change?

Shantung is a 2 on my map.

almost any move has its time, except the moves you do before your opponent has done anything. That is why there is probably one and only one correct solution to G1, while R1 is somewhat dependent on G1.

@Gargantua:

Solomons is best taken when you are unable to take Malaya, or the FIRST turn you go to war against Anzac, and want to prevent thier NO’s by capturing JUST 1 territory.

I’m going to go with Alsch here, there are times it’s right - but it’s not as valuable as it used to be. Probably best in a j2 attack.

I agree with ALL of you guys Malay is important to take, but you have to include the resources you need to take each territory. Malay usually has 3 infantry on it. So you need a ground force of at least 3 or 4 to prevent the risk of losing your planes. Solomon Islands require no effort to take, simply at the possible expense of 1 transport.

I assume that your already going to be doing damage to India enough that 3 IPCs is not that big of a difference. ANZAC can inflict some real pain if it gets too big so I would rather take the Solomon Islands to prevent ANZAC from becoming too powerful, because India will already be dying.

There’s almost never 3 infantry on Malaya in games I play.  If UK leaves them there, that’s pretty inefficient use of its resources.
Keeping India’s income as low as possible is way way more important than keeping Anzac’s income low.

8 extra infantry for India is a whole lot worse than 3 extra destroyers for Anzac.
3 IPCs indeed is a lot for a power that makes 3-5 IPCs.

You’re right that Solomon is easy to take - though I’d definitely argue it’s not worth a 7 IPC transport - but it’s two spaces from Hawaii.  Holding on to Solomon will take a disproportionately large amount of Japan’s naval resources.  Often the benefit is not worth the cost, especially considering the opportunity cost of using a transport on an invasion that will probably get it destroyed.

@Alsch91:

There’s almost never 3 infantry on Malaya in games I play.  If UK leaves them there, that’s pretty inefficient use of its resources.
Keeping India’s income as low as possible is way way more important than keeping Anzac’s income low.

8 extra infantry for India is a whole lot worse than 3 extra destroyers for Anzac.
3 IPCs indeed is a lot for a power that makes 3-5 IPCs.

You’re right that Solomon is easy to take - though I’d definitely argue it’s not worth a 7 IPC transport - but it’s two spaces from Hawaii.  Holding on to Solomon will take a disproportionately large amount of Japan’s naval resources.  Often the benefit is not worth the cost, especially considering the opportunity cost of using a transport on an invasion that will probably get it destroyed.

touche.

1. Which Turn do you prefer attack?
Russia on J1.  If they withdraw, I TT every ground unit possible into Amur.
China on J1 - taking Chahar, Anwhe, Hunan and Yunnan.
Allies on J3 in Flip, Kwangtung and Malaya if possible.  I’ll start the process of claiming the DEI on J4 with Borneo, Celebes and DNG as my first targets.

2. How many transports do you try to keep in circulation?

Original starting 3, plus 1-2 more by the end of J3.  They primarily shuttle units across from Tokyo to the mainland and later transition to claiming the DEI after 2-3 rounds of landing units on the mainland.

3. What are the top 3 locations you place Industrial Complexes or Bases, and WHY?

NB in Hainan - it requires an allied Amphib to stop the pouring of units into the South Pacific and makes it a 1 turn move to India from there if you plan to crush India.

J1: 2 TT (14), J2 TT 2 Inf, 2 Arm (From Tokyo) to Amur, J3 move them to Buryatia.  Total cost, 14 IPC
J1: Minor in Manchuria / Korea (12 IPC), J2: 3 Arm (18 IPC), J3: 3 Arm in Buryatia.  Total cost 30 IPC
In other words, no reason whatsoever to put a Minor in those northern territories as I value 4 units at 14 IPC being in the same position as 3 units for 30 IPC.  Mostly due to the fact that I utilize my air superiority to advance and need “fodder” to take the hits.

If you can’t keep the pressure on Yunnan supported with up to 6 TT and a NB, you are doing something wrong.

4. What are the 5 most important territories to capture/control (besides capitals) and why?

Early, Yunnan is important because Art for China early creates issues on Chinese counter moves for Japan.

Middle, Flip is important because you can control the DEI from there.

Late, DNG becomes important to the Allies harassing you on the mainland and the DEI.  A NB there gives the Allies access to almost the entire Pacific ocean from one location.

My other two late takes are the Aleutian Islands to cut the US NO off if the US fleet is in the South.  An earlier play is taking Malaya to cut off the NO for India and ANZAC all at once.

5. What are the best Sea Zones to stage your navy out of and why?

If I am playing the Crush Moscow strategy, I turtle up along the coastline, generally in SZ6 with a CV/BB escort of any TT’s I move out in support of the southern Chinese battles.

If I am going for the DEI’s early, I like taking Flip on J3 to cut off a US NO and give myself a base to operate out of in the South Pacific.

If I am going to Crush India, the best staging point is in SZ36 to start it, then the units are spread amongst the blocking zones once I break through any blocks and utilize NCM moves.

1. Which Turn do you prefer attack?  I prefer turn 4 if possible, but would move up to turn 3 to match a G3 Sea Lion if separate Axis players.  If alone, I like a turn 4 Sea Lion as Germany can build fewer transports and stage some ground units in Scotland.

2. How many transports do you try to keep in circulation?  At least six, often getting up to nine running around the board.  Usually in groups of three transports escorted by several surface warships.

3. What are the top 3 locations you place Industrial Complexes or Bases, and WHY? 
1.  Shanghai/Kiangsu for a minor Industrial center because building three land units a turn there saves on transport capacity and the units can go north, west or south. 
2.  Hainan for a naval base when trying to pull off an India Crush strategy like Commander Jen advocates. 
3.  Korea for air bases and minor industrial centers, the air base to support defending sea zone 6 and building land units to take Russian territories.  I often end up pursuing a northern strategy with Japan to support attacking Russia instead of a southern strategy.

4. What are the 5 most important territories to capture/control (besides capitals) and why? 
1.  Sea Zone 6 to defend Japan and Korea plus the naval base helps control the northern Pacific. 
2.  Yunnan to cut the Burma road plus threaten a land invasion of India. 
3.  Sea zone 33 (Caroline Islands) to threaten Hawaii and Australia 
4.  Sea zone 37 (Malaya) to control the surrounding seas, take the DEI islands, prevent UKP and ANZAC from achieving NOs, and getting into the middle east with Japanese troops. 
5.  Sea zone 46 to credibly threaten Sydney from the Caroline Islands

5. What are the best Sea Zones to stage your navy out of and why?
1.  Sea zone 6 to threaten or reach  Hawaii, Caroline Islands, Philippines, and Hainan.
2.  Sea zone 33 to threaten Sydney, Philippines, Hawaii, and some DEI islands
3.  Sea zone 36 after buying a naval base to reach DEI and India
4.  Sea zone 39 to invade India
5.  Sea zone 80 to start taking the middle east and Africa