Posts made by bugoo

If you want the fleet dead at any costs on UK1 land 2 figs on gibralter and 2 inf, sacing the transport, buy 3 bombers and take out the german transport with your egypt fig landing on gibralter or your bomber.  Make the Russians purchase a bomber, or a fig or 2 and place either 2 inf in persia or 1 inf and a tank or two being in cauc.  Keep your 2 inf in trans-jordan as well as the bomber or egypt fig.  On R2 they retake trans-jordan, UK blows up fleet, plus keeps surviving bombers to bomb italy.

Is it worth it?  Not really.  I prefer the US landing in algeria along with UK backup then hitting it with air/sea units preferably with carriers as there fighters can strike 3 spaces away with the carrier chasing them.

And how on earth can the UK not protect SZ12 on turn 2?  They have 43 IPC, plus at least one surviving destroyer along with the US destroyer plus whatever US deploys there turn 1.  The UK can buy up to 2 carriers (28), 1 fig (38), and whatever, land the US fig on the second carrier, if Egypt fig survived land it there and purchase a cruiser or additional transport instead.  There is no way on G3 they will sink 2 loaded carriers and 2 destroyers, not to mention an additional destroyer or two the US buys if they are so inclined, it would take all 4 figs and 4 more bombers to have 1.5 survive and i’d take that trade.  Granted the UK can only send 1 trannie worth of units but Italy really cant send much down and the US can bridge from Canada and that SZ so its not that big of a deal.

The biggest problem with sinking that fleet is the large defensive power of it, combined with if it takes you too long to sink it there factories are already running so its pointless.  You truly have 2 options.  1) build up to hopefully slow down japan as they match you in builds or 2) take back the south pacific, to hell with there fleet.  If you really think about it there fleet is a defensive monster, but not that great on the attack, use that to your advantage to take islands.  Subs and carriers are great for this as the subs keep them away and the carriers defend against the strafe.  A transport is the deadliest weapon in the pacific, use it.

Not sure how good these ideas are, but I feel they would add some to the game.  This is for 41 setup.

Setup Changes
1- Change German cruiser to BB, add 1 inf to Algeria, 1 inf to Norway
2- Remove Russian factories from Karelia and Caucasus.  Add 2 inf in Urals
3- Add 1 transport and 1 destroyer to SZ 62 for Japan.  Add 1 BB to SZ 62
4- Add 2 UK inf to Egypt, add BB to Indian ocean.  Add 1 DD to SZ 2
5- Add 2 destroyers to Italian fleet
6- Add 2 China INF to 3 empty territories
7- Add 1 destroyer to pearl, add 1 cruiser to LA SZ

The purpose behind these changes is to reduce the turn 1 annihilation of forces giving players time to react.  I do not like someone being knocked out of a theater of the war on turn 1 or 2 no matter what they do.

Rule Changes
1- Nations may deploy inf in the following areas as if they possessed an IC there.
Germany - Algeria and Finland.
Russia - Karelia, Caucasus, Yakut.
Japan - FIC, Manchuria
UK - India, Canada, Australia, Egypt, SAF.
Italy - Libya
US - None

2- Expendable Transports - all Japaneses transports except the 2 that begin in SZ 62 are removed from the board at the end of J1.

3- Income is collected at the beginning of your turn.

4- SZ 5 is considered a strait, no units can enter SZ 15.

This is to promote global warfare as well as slowing down Japan.  This will also hurt/help the UK in the income department as they will not have 43 IPC to spend on turn 1, hence the extra navy.

Unit Changes

1- Naval Costs are reduced
Transports - 6
Destroyers - 7
Cruisers - 11
AC - 12

2- Destroyers only allow 1 plane to attack against subs.

3- Artillery increases one inf to 2 attack, 3 defense.

4- Inf can be produced at an IC ignoring bombing damage done.  For example, I have a factory in germany with 4 damage, i can produce 4 inf and 6 armor without repairing.

5- Bombers can land on carriers as well as fighters.  Same limit of 2 planes per carrier.

6- Naval bombardment removed.  Changed to function similar to artillery, cruisers add 1 to 1 inf attack, battleships add 1 to 2 inf attack.

NO changes

Germany - Gain 5 additional IPC if axis control Algeria, Norway, and Finland.
Russia - Gain 5 additional IPC if allies control France.
Japan - Gain 5 additional IPC if there are no Japanese units in red territories.
UK - Gain 5 additional IPC if allies control Algeria.
Italy - Gain 5 additional IPC if axis control Italy and Balkans
China - Gain 2 inf if allies control Burma

Technology

When buying a researcher you choose what tech for them to research.  At the begining of each round roll 1 die per researcher and apply the value to a tech pool for that tech.  Once the pool equals or exceeds the value of the tech, you gain it and the researchers for that tech are lost.  You can research toward more than 1 tech at a time if you choose.  Values and effect are listed below.

(10) Improved artillery- each art may now support 2 inf to attack at 2 and defend at 3.

(20) Rockets- Standard

(20) Paratroopers - Standard

(15) Increased Factory Production - Standard

(10) War Bonds - Standard

(15) Mechanized Infantry - Standard

Air/ Naval

(10) Radar- Standard

(15) Long-Range Aircraft - Standard

(25) Heavy Bombers - Standard

(15) Shipyards- cheaper naval costs (minus one SS, TRS, DD, minus two CA, CV, BB)

(10) Super subs- Standard

(15) Jet fighters- The attack value of your fighters is now 4 instead of 3, there defense is 5 instead of 4.

One thing that I feel would be neat but not sure, reduce transport costs significantly, maybe as low as 3 or 4, but have them destroyed after offloading into an enemy territory, or exceeding a territories IPC value (so if I unload 2 transports with 4 units in Karelia I would lose 1 transport).  I hope maybe there’s a good idea or two in that list heh.

You can also use a DD to ‘block’ there block and setup a trade if you wish.  Best area for this against japan would be staging in SZ 51 and placing a blocking DD in SZ 60.  The problem is this sets up a deadly dance.

If you want to truly draw the US into the pacific take Hawaii and Wake turn one removing two NOs and putting some troops and alot of planes within range of the US.

Lets assume the 3 bomber UK build for now, as I prefer that one the best.  At the end of R1 there will be 8 inf, 1 art, and 5 arm in Caucasus, should be enough to hold it against G2.  Assuming germany grabs egypt and italy takes trans-jordan, then on R2 russia retakes transjordan with 2 inf + 1 fig (or add an armor if your worried as well).  On UK2 they fly in the planes and sink Italy’s fleet.  Assuming we sent the 2 figs to gibralter we should have 3 planes left from that combat on trans-jordan, plus 5 inf, 1 art on persia or trans-jordan.  Thats enough firepower to trade with Japan for quite a few rounds I would hope, and/or enough to secure africa as well, and even threaten transports.  If japan builds an IC on FIC on turn 1 armor built there will not hit persia until J4.

Why on earth does everyone want to put the US fleet in SZ 51?  A much better location for the US to rally is SZ 46 and that can be done as early as US 1 with the UK navy.  From there you can take any island in the south pacific, which is where the money is and honestly the most important thing to do for the US.  It is also 3 spaces away from Japan preventing them from hitting you with there builds while still within 2 spaces for the US.  Once you secure that SZ build transports and start taking islands, even if you have to ‘trade’ islands you can afford to do so.  The only thing SZ 46 is good for is 5 UK IPCs.  Yes, the Japs can sink your transports, it doesnt matter if you have the island.  Remember, by the end of J2 most/all Pacific islands are empty.  Later in the game you can push on the main island.

I was wondering how well it would work if on R1 they moved 2-3 inf into persia and placed 4 tanks in caucasus along with the UK moving trans-jordan and India forces into persia as well along with there bomber and/or the fighter from egypt if it lived.

This would allow a few things.

1. UK 3 bomber buy to sink Italian fleet, as russia can easily reclaim trans-jordan for the LZ.

2. Deadzoning of India.  Just make sure there are enough russian boots on persia to prevent it from being taken.

3. Rapid reinforcing of Indian IC.  Dont like this idea very much but hey, if germany goes fleet it might work.

I really like it with the 3 bomber buy, maybe even putting the 2 figs on gibralter with 2 inf (sacrificing the transport) as this would allow the UK to play with japan.  Also, if the allies get 2-3 bombing runs done a turn italy is out of the game for all intents and purposes at this point.

I agree that the US should go primarily after Japan, the big question is in what way(s) can the UK/Russia help against Japan so that the US can play a ‘split’ strategy and still send units into africa/etc.  I can honestly see no way for the UK to help against Japan, Russia can atleast seed china to give the Japs a headache.

You don’t have to kill the Jap fleet, merely force them to spend money in the pacific and get some IPCs for the UK.  If on turn 1 you build a trannie, on turn 2 you can move it to take Caroline Islands giving the UK 5 IPCs if the japs do not take it back, not that it is always a good idea to do so.  SZ 46 is the best place to rally your US fleet in my opinion as it allows you to strike out at the money islands, and is 3 zones away from japan while 2 from US.  Also, keep in mind that your ACs and bombers can help to defend your fleet as well as threaten Japan’s transports.  As far as the money difference if your putting everything from the US into the pacific you should be cashing in at 48 IPCs a round, that’s alot of money for Japan to match and build tanks to push on moscow/etc.

I was wondering if it would imbalance the game or add to it if there were locations where nations could build only inf on a territory as if it had an IC.  For example, I would allow the UK to do this on Egypt, India, Australia, and Canada.  I’d remove one of the Russian ICs and make it function in this manner, or perhaps all but the one on moscow.  Also, allow Germany to use Algeria, and either Norway or Finland in this manner.  Thoughts?

I have some thoughts on subs/destroyers and there interaction.

Right now the problem is 1 DD completely counters an unlimited number of subs, esp with the dreaded DD+Plane raid.  But detection roles and the like are a pain.  I have two ideas that may work.

1 plane per 1 DD can attack subs.

1 DD may prevent 1 sub from submerging.

Either one of these I feel will allow subs to be more useful.  The absolute most important thing, however, is that DDs should not be allowed to block sub movement.  Take that single thing away and subs become much, much stronger in the Atlantic.

As far as tech goes I would propose a point system.  Assign a point value to each tech.  Purchase researchers as normal.  Roll as normal for research, but add up the total rolls and apply them toward the selected tech.  You could assign different researches to different techs, but cannot change the tech they work on once purchased.  Once point value is reached, tech is gained said researchers are lost.  For example.

As US I want heavy bombers eventually, they are worth 30 research, so on turn 1 I purchase one heavy bomber researcher.  I roll and get a 3.  Now I need 27 more research to get heavy bombers.  On turn 2 I decide I want super subs, and since that tech isn’t as powerful I only need 15 research to get them.  I purchase 2 researchers, both for the subs as I want to sink japan’s navy now.  I roll a 2 for my heavy bomber researcher, leaving 25 left, and then roll a 4 and a 5 for my subs, leaving 6 left and with any luck on turn 3 i’ll get my super subs.

This will allow you to slowly work at a tech, rush for it, and choose to go for the good but expensive techs, or take an easier, faster, tech, or all of the above.  Now all nations may buy a heavy bomber researcher turn 1, but hey there is nothing wrong with that!

I really dont like carriers that much, maybe enough for starting fighters but not much more.  A loaded carrier costs 34 IPCs, gives you 3 hits, 7 offense, and 10 defense.  4 destroyers for 32 gives you 4 hits, 8 offense, and 8 defense.  Now the carrier is nice as it can strike 3 zones away with the fighters, but other than that I like 1-3, but that is it.  Especially with the US as you need all the offensive firepower you can get to offset japan’s defensive navy.

The most important unit the US can wield against Japan is the mighty transport.  If you liberate the islands it doesn’t matter if japan holds the mainland, there cash flow is cut in half and UK/US’s double.  Best build i’ve seen is 1 trannie, 1 DD, 3 subs, then either 1 trannie for africa or 1 more sub, or minus a sub and another bomber.  Then I like to land 2 figs + 1 bomber on Australia and make sure the UK moves its DD to SZ 48 and trannie to SZ 47 from Australia, this will block the japan trannies that hit the phillipeans from hitting Australia and may allow UK to grab an island on UK2.  You can also move your AC to SZ 46 to help threaten trannies.

Without it’s cash japan is no threat, with cash UK is a pain in Germany’s butt.

I prefer destroyers/subs as I feel the best way to keep the allies away from africa is to be able to destroy there fleet if they try it using italy to soften them up and the germans to finish the job if needed.  By then the Japs can have an AC+ there to defend a rebuild or the already built trannies if needed.

One other thing to keep in mind is you only need 6 trannies to drop 8 units a turn into alaska.  4 of them go back and forth from japan, but when they hit japan sea zone bridge to bury, then 2 trans bridge from there each round.  I am curious if there is a way to take hawawii, bury, and one other island off US on turn 1 so you can drop 8 units a round into alaska beginning turn 2 without completely loosing your econ advantage.

Actually i think best way to play this would be the following.

Russia retreats ALL Siberian units back toward russia then into china, as well as 2 inf on turn 1.

Russia sends 2-4 inf into Persia, purchases 4 arm, 1 fig, placing armor in caucus and fig in Moscow.

IF that would be enough to hold India, UK does following, also depends on German moves as well.

UK buys 2 bombers and an IC for in India, lands 2 figs on Gibraltar with 2 inf as well (yes trannie is gonna die).  If possible strafe/take burma (you want to kill as many land units as possible).

US gears up to cover UK landings in africa, or prepares to do so itself as well as pressure japan and go after south pacific.  Also, us lands 2 figs in australia and moves the AC to z46.  This allows the US to drop 3 planes (depending on japan) on india turn 2 as well.  Make sure the US buys atleast 3 subs and 1 trannie.

This will allow you to destroy italy’s fleet, or start bombing Germany to aid Russia, and it allows you to break off if the Russian forces would not be enough to hold India, or allows Russia to follow a standard strategy against Germany -4 inf which can come back in 1 round.  Also, the Russian armor can come back very quickly if needed, or can push against Italy in Africa.  The key here is you have options, UK doesn’t have to go for it and Russia isn’t hurting that badly.  The other big thing to keep in mind is japan has no ‘second wave’ so to speak to hit India with in most openings.

Honestly though, if the UK wants to help in Asia, kick some German/Italian ass so the Russians can push back in china.

I’ve been thinking on this and I think there are a few important things japan can/should do.

1. reinforce Italian Med fleet.  This is very important.

2. take IPCs from the allies.  This means taking away there NOs, take islands, take alaska, take africa, bomb the crap outta russia.

I dont think japan should try for an all out push so to speak anywhere, just keep eating up allied IPCs and reinforcing in the med/africa.  If you take egypt/trans-jordan Italy gets 5 IPCs, if allies are landing in africa there not in Europe.  If you can hold Alaska you can bomb the US.

If russia does that she will be too spread out.  The best way for the UK to help in asia is to keep russia alive long enough for the US to gain control of the south pacific and to let russia feed china.

What sea zone are you putting your carriers in where 6 figs can hit on J2, seems in my experience most players keep one or two carriers a bit north for that.