Follow the money?!

I’ve tried this out a few times, it is like a “sneaky sea-lion”. I don’t usually have issues with US coming to liberate Britain in this scenario either because it is so fast. You can make it a real blind-side if you move the french troops back and move troops to the Russian front as if you’re preparing for a big Eastern push.

@WILD:

@weddingsinger:

I usually play as Axis, but in the past the worst problem for me is if the U.S. can gather its starting assets together, maybe a US1 buy, too, all of Japan’s starting isn’t enough to fend it off, so you either have to abandon SZ6, or overspend to keep up, which leaves the money islands vulnerable.

Its why, as Japan, I now prefer J1 and taking out Hawaii and Philippines.  At most you lose a sub, putting the U.S. behind for a change while your other assets shield your transports from the weak Anzac fleet.

I agree, but as discussed I generally do a hit and run on the Hawaiian fleet, and end up at Wake with about 1/2 the IJN. I typically lose a sub and dd in the sz26 battle, and also my dd blocker left in sz26 in the US counter attack for a total of 3 ships (1ss, and 2 dds). I still think it is well worth doing though. Hitting both sz26, and sz35 will kill off 47 IPCs worth of US navy, plus the Phil ftr making it 57 IPCs in navy/air. That is more then the spending allowance of the US in the first turn (52 IPCs). These are units that would get away in a J2 or later attack in most cases. Then add the Brit BB and territorial gains and yea it is a pretty damn strong opening move.

Sucker punching the US in the face causes some issues for them, and they will be torn on what side to build on. If they go Pac they are way behind so can’t challenge the Japanese for several turns. They would need to spend most of their income in the Pac for 2-3 turns just to get to even par w/Japan (and the Germans will love it). Yea they can probably send the home fleet up to Hawaii on the first turn as long as the Anz backs them up, but they really can’t do anything once they get there. Maybe move to the safety of Queensland and wait for their supply chain to catch up. The Japanese can just hop scotch to Caroline’s then probably to Philippines where they set up a defensive posture (maybe merging some more of the Imperial navy/air force).

I don’t see the US sending the home fleet over to Europe (something they do on occasion), because then there is no chance in the Pac. So if they want to go Europe they pretty much have to start from scratch because they only have a cruiser and transport. So going Europe means the Japanese don’t have to worry for a long time.

Oh BTW if you really want to F with the US have the Germans hit the US 101 mini fleet G1 with a sub (when you know there will be a J1 attack). If you get lucky the cruiser may not even get to fire, and the transport sinks too.

Very nice idea, will try it out as Axis this year

I think if anything, it actually gives you reason to be aggressive because you want to stop what they are going to make and you know that your damage will not effect the other player until the 2nd turn from when you captured.

I think that the reason that players try to force Sealion is that they think that defeating the UK is the same as defeating Middle Earth. The way to defeat it is to win the game. The best way for the Axis to win it seems to me is playing your own strategy and forcing the Allies to react to it. The Axis have the advantage and initiative to begin the game and they need to strike hard and as quickly as possible without worrying where the UK builds a factory. Middle Earth gives the Allies a chance to stop the Axis from over-running Moscow and Calcutta but that’s all, only a chance. With no Sealion Middle Earth helps to even out the odds. With Sealion the Allies take the advantage. That’s what I have found so far.

I agree with the sentiment that the UK and US should be able to relocate capitals. In fact, while it doesn’t have a VC, Central United States could also qualify as one since it has Chicago. It could always be added as a symbolic VC, since it won’t tilt the balance of a game unless Germany pulls off a once in a blue moon American invasion.

There are enough group and player finders on the internet, that you can always find people to play with, and you can build some great friendships as well.

I won’t go into too much detail; this thread is about saving G1 money

Which in turn the short answer pretty much nothing; I don’t think it makes Germany react to Russia or UK as suggested by a lot of people during this thread; I think it just means you wait 1 more turn to see what Germany will do; nothing more nothing less.

It can create risk on the small off-chance depending on what your G1 attacks are and how poorly they go but that’s the dice.

@Commando:

The copy of the Alpha +2 rules I have don’t say the 30 IPC’s that the US originally got for being at war, were now divided between the NO’s in the Alpha +2 rules. So just wanted to make sure.

In the original OOB rules, the US gets 30 IPCs each turn as long as it holds the continental US.  It’s a NO.

In the Alpha +.2 rules, it’s similar but it’s more split up between the different US territories.