@Commando:
Zhukov, this is a VERY bad idea. The US is SO powerful that you should avoid bringing them into the game until it’s absolutely necessary. IF the UK or Anzac player does something in Round 1 that allows you to deal a big blow to them, then you attack the UK/Anzac on Turn 1. But, most decent UK/Anzac players won’tdo this. And what I mean by big blow is, take Anzac by Round 2 or 3. Or, kill the UK navy on Round 2. Most Japan players will wait until Round 2 or 3 to take the money islands, which brings the US into the war. My recommendation is wait until Round 3 to take the money islands, bringing the US into the war. The US comes into the war on the Collect Income phase of Round 3, if they’re not declared war on earlier by Japan. I would concentrate on China the first 2 rounds. And then, depends on what your Axis strategy is? Take 6 VC’s in Asia or 8 VC’s in Europe. If 8 VC’s in Europe, have Japan attack Russia up north and through China and SBR the Russian IC in Rus through China to help the Germans.
Every game is different, but typically i want to hedge my bets and go for both Atlantic and Pacific wins (hard for allies to stop both), so I’m declaring J1 or J2 (normally J1). Waiting for J3 seems like such a handicap on Japan that I’d only do it in special circumstances…like if I needed to increase Germany’s Sea Lion odds, or if Allies give me a big opportunity for an attack in China/Siberia on J2 that I want all my units for.
Hell if I’m Allies I’ll sometimes declare on Japan UK2 for the extra 15 ipcs in NOs, given that USA will still get the extra income on USA3 and if Japan doesn’t declare on USA J3 then they won’t take Philippines (+7 for usa).
I tried pearl… it doesn’t work out usually.
I don’t understand why but it ends up not going so good.
It’s an awkward place for the Japanese fleet to be sitting at the end of J1. And, it takes 2 turns go get back to a more strategic spot. Without those ACs close to the Indies, it is harder to grab islands and protect transports.
Also, Japan won’t be able to take Borneo J1 (since if they don’t have the AC in sz50 they’ll need the full 3 inf 2 art arm to safely take Phi)…so that’s an 8 ipc swing for Allies.
But even with these drawbacks I wonder if destroying much of the USA fleet and keeping USA stalled off WUSA for a turn or 2 is worth it anyway.