@Ichabod:
@Zhukov44:
Regarding the arguments for KGF, I’d go back to the original reason people focus on Japan–the fact that Japan can potentially win the game by J6 or J7 while Germany/Italy generally cannot. � Any “KGF” in Global is essentially a balanced approach, because if 50%+ of USA’s income isn’t going towards Japan, then Allies won’t last much past J7. �
It seems to me that if the Japanese airforce is intact, then it would be very tough to hold both NSW and Hawaii indefinitely. � Crucially, American airforce can’t fly directly from Haw to NSW or vice versa. �
I miss the days when my opponents would try to KGF me after J1 and Axis would almost always win the game round 6 or 7. � Germany is forced to turtle and fend off a variety of attacks while Japan goes hog wild and gets to 90+ income.
Zhukov, you don’t think there is a benefit to a Kill Germany First approach? And yes I generally agree with the consensus that going after Germany first is not optimal. I think I executed a pretty good KJF against on triplea live one time. You’re a much better player than me but I think you said there was some merit to what I was trying.
Yes, it’s hard to hold Hawaii and NSW. But when their just stacked with units like a 2nd/3rd Moscow, it’s also difficult for Japan to capture both; especially when the US then starts building 100% Pacific.
We all know that either Axis country becomes near unstoppable if left alone and the Allies need a sizable bid if similar skills on both sides.
I want to try to learn how to execute a KGF game if possible as another Allies tool. There are some benefits to a Kill Germany First (or at least against me when I’m Axis). 1. The UK has more time to beef up the middle east. 2. Germany might not have enough to drive south while maintaining it’s foothold on Bryansk and spending to fend off landings. 3. The UK Europe can help fight towards liberating India when the US has to switch to spending in the Pacific.
There are lots of different strategies that could work. Regardless of whether the intention is KGF or KJF (KJF being USA devoting 75%+ of their resources to the Pacific, while KGF is more like 50-60%), it is important for USA to help eliminate Western Axis naval fleets. More controversial is whether they should help out with convoys in the Med and patrolling the Med. Finally there is the option of building up a fleet and landing in Western Europe in conjunction with the UK. I’ve successfully done the latter against a wide variety of opponents but I find that it is hard to pull off against the very best Axis. The very best Axis either defends Germany so well that Russia is boxed out and forced to sit in Moscow while USA/UK can’t get established in Western Europe….or they overwhelm Allies with Japan before Allies can break down Germany/Italy.
What I would argue is that USA needs to have some kind of air/fleet in the Pacific that is competitive with the Japanese fleet regardless of whether they are KGF. Trying to defensively stack NSW and Hawaii is not a winning strategy imho, in part because it’s possible Axis will achieve economic victory by totally dominating Eurasia, in part because Japan starts with so many planes that (around j5-j7) it’s tough to defend either Hawaii or NSW from the full force of Japanese fleet and air.
It’s all about reading the board and seizing opportunities imho, so there’s no one formula. If for example Germany leaves Norway open, it’s nice for USA to be in position to seize that opportunity, even if they are KJF.