Should Japan ignore China?

I’ve noticed one response to a common variation of a J2. Situation:

SZ36/20 have 2-3 transports and/or marines on board BB/Cruiser (if you are playing Balanced Mod) There are no Japanese naval bases usable in those SZs.

Strategy:
USA DD to SZ43 (Off Borneo)
UK DD to SZ37
UK land on Sumatra
Anzac land on Java

Result:
Allies are secure on Sumatra and Java through turn 2. Some possibility of convoying off income but unlikely to get it all and some of the fleet might be exposed if they try to convoy both. Every bit as important: Japan doesn’t get the money on turn 2 which slows them down a fair bit.

Just tried this against one player and he avoided the DOW J2.

Downside: Losing two DDs. Doesn’t seem like a big problem. The UK one can be replaced turn 3 with the one starting off South Africa.

Yeah the history is known, but the highlighting is also new to me. It seems like a good feature.

I was leaning toward a J2 attack, however, once I calculated that it was impossible to claim the $5 NO for the Islands at the end of turn 2, I choose to stick with the J1 attack.

Sounds like a good weekend war game for ya Gargantua

As far as the Japan War effort is concerned Australia might as well be located on the Moon.  That is how hard it is to get the neccesary forces down there to sack the captial against a smart Allied player.  To make matters worse Australia is easily reinforced by American Fighters and can be subject to liberation by America as well.  India on the other hand is not so easily reinforced by the Allies and once it is taken over by Japan the USA is not going to be able to get down there to liberate it.

I think it makes more sense to try and take Hawaii and India.  It is up for debate which one Japan should take first.  I think it depends on a variety of factors in choosing the first target but most scenarios will lean towards taking India first.  China can be marginalized on the way to India thus insuring the safety of the victory cities in mainland Asia.  China if not dealt with correctly can easily cost the Axis the game period.

Taking Hawaii will be a tall order at that point but Japan will at least force the USA to heavily reinforce Hawaii which may open a window for the Axis to win in Europe.

@Cmdr:

Accept, you’re down 4 defense units making the sacking of NSW easier.

The American fleet will help things out

I was thinking (if players agree) to have Russia & Japan put 1-2 ipc’s in a NAP fund. Let it grow, and the player that breaks the agreement (with an actual attack) forfeits the NAP fund to the other player. Allow Russia to declare war in name only (no attack) so it can invade neutrals (which is a silly loop hole anyway, Russia should just be allowed to invade neutrals from the get go).

Make a list of things that would be a deal breaker, like Russia in China or UK Pac tt’s, or allied attacks on Jap from Russian land ect…

@TexCapPrezJimmy:

If Japan attacks USSR turn 1, does that bring Germany and USSR into war?

No.

@TexCapPrezJimmy:

If Japan attacks USA turn 1, and Germany/Italy did not attack the USSR turn 1, can USA land planes in USSR turn 1?

No, because the USSR is not at war with anyone.