Posts made by Field Marshal

Taking Sinkiang in turn 2 takes the Russians out of the equation. In the first 2 turns, Russia is too pre-occupied with Germany to move any units into Asia beyond the original 8 (7 infantry/1 armor). Turn 3 sees the first purchased Russian infantry moving into the area. Russia doesn’t have the resources for even a limited offense against Japanese held Sinkiang at this point. At best, they can only hold their own territories. Yakut, if not in Japanese hands in turn 2, will be in turn 3. This is a greater concern to the Russian player. India, even with 9 units in turn 3, is surrounded and seriously threatened. To attack means thinning out units, if this is the delay tactic, but quicker death also. Japanese held French Indo-China should have at least 6 to 8 units including 3 fighters (with IC). Britian can take it with high casualties. In the Japanese turn they could take India AND FIB due to the lack of available British units. This is Allied Asian IC death by turns 4 or 5. Again, is it worth the Allied IPC’s for 1 or 2 turns delay?

Russia initially deals with Germany. Once Japan is threatening in Asia, Russia will have to turn east to defend also. You’ll have to keep units on both fronts.
Britian can cause some real problems for Japan. An Indian IC has a certain life expectancy, depending on the skill of the Japanese player. Otherwise, British troops from Africa can be a strong force to deal with the Japanese.
The US needs to use most of its transporting power against Germany, but landings in Karelia can help defend Russia against Japanese attackers from the east…

The Russians will normally have 3 armor and 3 or 4 infantry left in the Ukraine. Germany can send 3 infantry, 4 armor, and a fighter or 2 to take it back. Germany can still cause enough damage to the British fleet with remaining air/naval units. Germany needs to take back the Ukraine to prevent losing Eastern Europe. Russia doesn’t have the strength with infantry and 2 fighters to take both territories. Germany will have limited units left after battle, 1 to 4 armor, but the sacrifice is needed. In turn 2 they’ll have to do it again. They should have 4 infantry, 3 armor, and a fighter or 2 to take the Ukraine a 2nd time. Russia shouldn’t have more than 5 or 6 infantry there for fear of losing Karelia. By turn 3, Russia, again will be forced to take back the Ukraine. Germany should have sufficient infantry to defend Eastern Europe against anything Russia can throw at them (turn 3). No more German attacks should occur, this will only weaken their position. Germany needs to prepare for the inevitable US/UK amphibious assaults. Unless the Allies are slacking on pressuring Germany, Germany’s on the defense for now…

Also, if you have any specific questions, don’t hesitate to ask us. We’ll all be happy to help. To quote you extended strategies now might confuse and frustrate you. It would drive us bats trying to get it right not to mislead you. Going through growing pains in this game is very much fun and rewarding.
Overall strategy is for both sides to work together to be victorious over the other. This IS the key to the game and as far as I’ll go for now.
To all - Remember those heated Pacific US/Japan naval battles? Those awesome German/Russia tank battles? Atlantic sub warfare? Those were the days, now it’s all about winning…

At this stage, familiarize yourself with game mechanics and turn procedures. Get used to the units - what they can and can’t do. Most importantly, have some FUN playing. Try alot of different things with all the nations. If you want to check out some strategy ideas, check out this site and other links provided. I wouldn’t worry too much about that now. You have plenty of time for that. Again, try out things and have a good time learning the game…

Reread the above post. If China is Japan’s turn 1 target, turn 2 should see Japan take Sinkiang with the combined forces from China/French Indo-China. This takes the US out of the picture. Britian has the choice of attacking with 6 units trying to regain ground and thinning themselves out, or hold back with 9 units after purchasing. India is nearly encircled (Germany still holding North Africa at this point). Unless there’s a British IC in South Africa, there’s no help there. Transported troops from Europe or America will take some time to get close enough to help; by then the damage is done. India will last maybe 2 or 3 turns with this scenario. The Japanese IC in FIB applies the pressure to make this work. By this time (turns 4 or 5) the northern Japanese force (transported infantry and fighters then armor after NP is high enough) is already taking most of Russian Asia…

The initial German attacks are to keep Russia at bay until they get their infantry columns placed and in position. Germany must fend off all 3 Allies in Europe and they had better be prepared to do so. Then they’ll have the strength to counter-attack at the sign of Allied weakness or lag…

Sorry, messed up and posted twice…

Read some of Don’s site. I noticed you’ve quoted a good part of it. The infantry guidelines work great for Russia, Germany, and for the most part the US. Britian needs fast strike units to cause damage to the Axis. This generates itself in 2 areas. 1. Assisting US fleet offense/defense in Europe. 2. Retaking and fortifying Africa to assault Asia ASAP. A first turn IC in India has a limited lifespan for a Japanese player looking to take it for their own needs early. The UK withdrawaling too many units to India from Africa to protect the IC will find a longer war against the Germans in Africa. The Allies don’t have the time for the British to eventually get infantry somewhere. As for Japan, an infantry push against Allied Asian IC’s, later British armor from Africa, and freed up Russian infantry (turn 4 for the US to land significant forces in Europe) will end Japanese offensive capabilities. Japan, by the end of turn 2, needs to hit Russian Asia AND have 1 or both Allied IC’s. Japan needs the NP ASAP, this is the way with that French Indo-Chinese IC.
Don’s Japan strategy seems to downsize the UK’s potential. After securing Africa ASAP they are a serious offensive force to reckon with. The initial Allied forces in Asia stall Japan enough for the US to get things moving in Europe so the Russians can deal with Japan along with the British offensive from Africa…

Read some of Don’s site. I noticed you’ve quoted a good part of it. The infantry guidelines work great for Russia, Germany, and for the most part the US. Britian needs fast strike units to cause damage to the Axis. This generates itself in 2 areas. 1. Assisting US fleet offense/defense in Europe. 2. Retaking and fortifying Africa to assault Asia ASAP. A first turn IC in India has a limited lifespan for a Japanese player looking to take it for their own needs early. The UK withdrawaling too many units to India from Africa to protect the IC will find a longer war against the Germans in Africa. The Allies don’t have the time for the British to eventually get infantry somewhere. As for Japan, an infantry push against Allied Asian IC’s, later British armor from Africa, and freed up Russian infantry (turn 4 for the US to land significant forces in Europe) will end Japanese offensive capabilities. Japan, by the end of turn 2, needs to hit Russian Asia AND have 1 or both Allied IC’s. Japan needs the NP ASAP, this is the way with that French Indo-Chinese IC.
Don’s Japan strategy seems to downsize the UK’s potential. After securing Africa ASAP they are a serious offensive force to reckon with. The initial Allied forces in Asia stall Japan enough for the US to get things moving in Europe so the Russians can deal with Japan along with the British offensive from Africa…

The UK airforce can take out the German Med fleet in turn 2 as long as Britian holds Syria-Iraq. The remaining Russian and UK fleets co-ordinate to amphibious assault North Africa. A South African IC is last. This is the quickest way to take back Africa and march into Asia. 1 or 2 US landings in Africa can help, also. India will be defended as long as possible. The lose is eventual but taking Africa back and moving forces into Asia quickly is the best way to take back South-East Asia…

Agreed. It makes more sense to have Britian take back Africa ASAP, defend as best as possible in India, and later have units moving from Africa to Asia to deal with the Japanese…

Yanny - re-read my previous post. I understand that the Japanese Phillipine transport can’t make it to India on turn 1 if the UK moves their transport to French Indo-China. In this case, I said I’d attack China instead.
To demonstrate the effectiveness of the first turn IC in French Indo-China, the last game I played saw the Allies lose India in turn 1 and China AND Sinkiang in turn 2. Turn 1 - 4 infantry and 2 aircraft takes India. 1 fighter destroys UK transport in India (your suggestion). USA retreats all 4 infantry and fighter to Sinkiang to protect their new IC. Japan takes Sinkiang AND China in turn 2. No Allied armor to worry about. Japan is now ahead of schedule thanks to Allied gifts. Japan doesn’t need to buy further IC’s. Germany also holds Africa 3 times as long due to the lose of UK IPC’s needlessly in Asia. Japan re-enforces African defense with minimal forces. Russia falls. Its’s over for the Allies…

Greensleeves - an excellent block! I’d hit China first in this case. The British transport of course gets destroyed by Japanese aircraft. This eliminates its’s threat of transporting troops also. The next Japanese attack will depend on if the US builds they’re IC or not. At this point (Japan turn 2), India has 6 units and an IC and the US may have an IC and 2 units. If the US has the IC, take them out of the picture. Britian then has a choice. Attack to gain ground and thin themselves out or hold back with 9 units in their next attack. If the US doesn’t have an IC, you’ll have to determine the best attack depending on Japan’s available forces. If hitting India at this point would appear to have no useful result, attack Sinkiang anyway. Either way, by the end of turn 4 Japan will have those territories. Allies, was the expense on the IC’s delaying Japan 1 turn worth it???
Yanny - use the French Indo-China fighter to take it out. Japan still has 4 infantry and 2 aircraft to attack with. If the odds are still not to your liking, again destroy the British transport and take China…

How do you beat 2 Allied IC’s in Asia to the Japanese one? Why you take the British IC in turn 1. The US might think twice about building theirs. Even if they do, now it’s 2 against 1 IC’s in your favor.
Throw those odds calculators away! An attack has one purpose - to weaken the enemy. Whether you win the battle, retreat, or lose, as long as you satisfy the purpose it’s a successful attack. Obviously don’t attack if you can’t make the attack have any impact. In the last game I played, Germany was badly weakened by repeated US attacks. Even though the US attack stalled for a turn and Germany regained 2 territories, the damage was done. The very next US attack did Germany in. 1 turn later, they were gone…

This could buy the Germans some time in Africa. If Russia loses Karelia, it gives the Germans at least 2 more turns sending troops to Africa instead of keeping them on the Eastern Front. This is a delay Britian doesn’t want. Even if Germany attacks the Caucasus and Russia has a large force in Karelia to counter-attack with, Russia has a huge defensive line to try to reduce and hold. This will equate to the same delay for the Allies…

Yanny - As a Japanese player I’ll assume the Allies will buy IC’s in Asia. The Japanese first turn IC in French Indo-China can quickly deal with them while your transported forces in the north hits Russia. I do agree that the Anti-Russian attacks initially are mostly infantry. Seems like you would lose too much time moving against South-East Asia first then swinging north to attack the Russians. It doesn’t seem to make much difference - 1. you hit the Allied IC’s first, Russia second; 2. leave the Allied IC’s alone, attack Russia only, and they lower your attack strength (which takes Japan longer or not at all anyway). To hit both areas at the same time (by turn 2) is the quickest for NP gain. It will make your Russian attacks a little weaker but you still gain ground. The NP boost allows you to keep that ground. I’ll risk ridicule at any convention if it works.
What I’m not hearing about from anyone is the British threat from Africa. It sounds like it doesn’t exist. This is a major thorn in Japan’s side and takes energy away from the Russian attacks. I do hear about the US transporting to Africa. This can’t be too significant if the US is serious about taking Europe from Germany. Japan’s 1st turn IC purchase (in French Indo-China) 2nd purpose is to deal with this threat or invade Africa. What happens to the Japanese Russian offense when the UK has units pouring into Asia from Africa when all Japan has is transported infantry? Japan loses NP and gets a stalled offense.
Greensleeves - if your enemy is buying 3 IC’s in the first 3 turns I agree this doesn’t make much economic sense. Japanese NP doesn’t warrant such a purchase really at all. With the 1st turn IC in French Indo-China, I HAVE taken down Russia with the guidelines I have mentioned throughout this thread. It also stalls an advance from Africa or invades it…

I see, Russia isn’t attacking in turn 1. Still sounds like your German enemy isn’t attacking Russia at all and pulling back. That IS suicidal. Also sounds like he’s buying too much armor too soon. German forces need to keep the Ukraine at least 2 turns to keep the Russians out of Eastern Europe. Germany must sacrifice their armor to do so, but it forces Russia to take the Ukraine back. Doing so dwindles Russian forces to the point where German infantry can protect EU without it switching hands.
Sorry I misunderstood your African post. The only way an extended German African venture may work is rather risky. You need to build a carrier in Southern Europe, hold the Med, and take Karelia in turn 1. Taking Karelia in turn 1 is hard enough (using all available forces). Impossible if Russia has 20+ units in Karelia. Of course you have to ignore the British fleet (taboo). If it somehow works you buy time against Russia to do some work in Africa. I haven’t tried this yet, saving it for some future test…

If your German opponents are building IC’s in Africa it’s no wonder their losing! If their losing Eastern Europe in turn 2 means that their going on full defensive in that region from turn 1. That’s a big mistake. Russia can’t be allowed to have forces available to take EU that early! Germany really can’t afford to put more than 2 infantry into Africa per turn for no more than 3 or 4 turns. Western Europe needs to be fortified and the Eastern Front addressed. The US and UK cannot be allowed to take Western Europe ever!
If Japan isn’t hitting Yakut by turn 2 or 3 (the latest) they are not opening that Northern Front soon enough. If Japan is doing so without sufficient forces to capture it, again they’re doing something wrong.
Your opponents strategies are not aggressive enough to deal with the threats your hitting them with. Their not looking 2 or 3 turns ahead. If they wan’t to stand a chance against you, they better overhaul their Axis plans quick…

Greensleeves - sounds like your German opponent wasn’t too experienced. He put too much effort into Africa at the expense of European security. An African venture beyond turn 2 takes a seasoned player. If the Allies took that much German European territory that early I wonder what he WAS doing.
In the Asian theater, the Japanese player needed to hit you in north and south Asia sooner. It must have been great to string him along. Sounds like he gave you plenty of time to do pretty much whatever you wanted. The early Japanese IC in itself didn’t doom him. They have to be placed and used properly to work out. Obviously, you can’t forget about your transports or your infantry needs. NP determines what you can and can’t purchase. Reaching the maximum NP in the shortest time needs available armor in the right place at the right time. Armor is needed to respond to a British threat from Africa. The Russians of course will respond to Japanese units so close to it’s capitol. This helps Germany expand. Once Japan takes all of Russian Asia, it starts build up for attacking the capitol. A good Japanese trick is a mock force build up near the Middle East intended for Africa but in range of Russia. This can capture the Russian capitol when attentions are directed elsewhere…