Posts made by Field Marshal

It’s REAL tempting not strike back at Japan if they hit Hawaii in turn 1. The USA (in turn 1) basically has got to determine how serious the Japanese player is in taking Asia. If the US can sucker the Japanese player into putting resources into the Pacific, I say good for Russian defense…

The USA’s real power punch is transporting troops into Europe. The US fleet supported by the UK’s, can withstand the attacks from the remainder of Germany’s airforce. Securing a beachhead, whether in Western Europe or Finland Norway, will cause great pains to the Germans. Moving infantry from Finland Norway to Karelia to Russia can cause some headaches for the advancing Japanese in Asia as well. It will take some time to reach this point, but your allies hopefully can hold out this long (say turn 6 for US troops in the Russian capital if the Russians still control Karelia).
I love sending the US into the Pacific and Asia. Against experienced Axis players this doesn’t usually spell victory. But still I try. I read something on another thread having to do with deception. Shaking things up with different (even suicidal) strategies make the game worth playing. Maybe there is some strategy out there that can make a “Japan first” work out most times…

The Allies are allowing you to have a fleet??? Where are you finding the IPC’s?

Give them time. In this game, experience is the best and most convincing teacher. Let them go through the growing pains we all had to. Offer suggestions, allies need to work together. If they’re serious about playing, they’ll catch on…

Just tested a Japan first strategy. Russia on full defense after offensive capabilities in Europe were exhausted. Britian fortifies Africa and moves into Asia. USA amphibious assaults into Asia. Japan buys IC in French Indo-china in turn 1 and transports the rest after moving entire fleet to Japan (no Hawaii attack).
RESULTS -
Germany overpowers Russia with a heavy infantry build up. No Allied fleet in the Atlantic to concern about. Limited first turns action in Africa. Once Russia fell, armor to Africa and Asia.
Japan attacked US fleet in Soviet Far East in turn 3 causing US delays. Although Japan almost lost to the US/British forces in Asia, it gave Germany the time it needed to take Russia and then bail them out.
The Allies needed to keep Germany out of the Caucasus long enough for the USA/UK forces to eliminate Japan from Asia. This allowed Germany to cut off the British from Africa right before Russia fell and the Allies lost their chance to gain the advantage. The fairly good US effort was then cut off and basically the same went for the British.
I believe the early IC in south-east Asia made a difference preventing Allied IC’s from being built in Asia and then delaying the British from Africa. Japan (almost losing!) bought the Germans time for victory.
However, if the Allied time table was only 2 or 3 turns ahead of the Axis, the game may have ended differently…

For how many turns? Can you force a stalemate with Russia and hold off US/Britian amphibious attacks as well?

Germany securing Africa is great unless at the expense of European security. What good is it to visit the pyramids if your drinking vodka or tea in Berlin?

If Germany weakens European defense too much to concentrate on Africa too long -they’ll lose. Japan needed to hit Russia as well as South-Asia, the IC didn’t necessarily doom them. Sounds like you played them right.

If you want your armor to last usually the “safe” attack is Finland-Norway. Your armor are totally protected against a German counter-attack there. Personally, I like a strong showing in the Ukraine, then fortifying Karelia to the maximum of your abilities. This exposes your armor to German counter-attack, however Karelia will be much harder for them to take (they would have to totally avoid fighting the British fleet) and puts you in a better strategic position. With a shorter front, you can fight switching from offense to defense rapidly with the infantry/fighter combination. Depending on Germany’s player (experience level), you should at the very least hold them off until your Allies come to your aid…

The USA transporting forces to Asia doesn’t necessarily doom Europe. US subs can take the hits from what remains of Japan’s air force, if the player wishes to remove his fighters from the Asian attacks (only infantry without IC’s ???). American fleet presence weakens Japans strike power (with no Japanese transports and only say 1 IC). The British coming from Africa cuts them from the south-west. With most of Russian NP restored by Britian/US in Asia with this pincer movement, I don’t see how the Russian’s can’t delay Germany indefinitely…

Most definitely. Attack them with your battleship, transport, 2 fighters, and the bomber. You’ll lose your transport and a fighter or two, but now your lined up to take out the Japanese transports in the home islands. Japanese fighters will commited in Asia, you rebuild your US fleet for amphibious operations in Russian Asia. This secures Russia’s north-eastern back door, threatens the Japanese in south-Asia, and forces defensive unit build up in the Japanese capitol. This gives all Russian attention to Germany, and with British help in both regions, this will spell Allied victory…

Not necessarily. If the US can quickly move armor and infantry via transports to the Asian mainland (Alaska to Soviet Far East), this will secure Russia’s north-eastern back door and kick the Japanese ultimately out of Asia. Again, all this depends on the skill level of the players in question. The Japanese player who loses his or her fleet in turn 1 runs a great risk of this. This is where mainland IC’s become vital for Japanese survival. Even in later turns the lose of their fleet can be seriously damaging. Japan must prepare for this scenario if the Axis is going to win…

If the USA takes a Japan first strategy, you could lose at least your transports by turns 3 or 4. Japan can’t afford to replace them, you’ll at least need 1 IC on the mainland operating to make up for it…

I believe Dezrtfish has it right. Ignore Britian/USA in Asia and face a stream of units underminding your infantry attacks against Russian Asia. Building an IC in French Indo-china Burma will give you the strength to take the Allied territories threatening to build IC’s while still advancing into Russian Asia. This will also threaten Africa and a more southern route into the Russian capitol…

Without the “no first turn attack for Russia” rule, strong Allied players can make it difficult for the Axis. But this is not fatal either. The Axis working together to quickly take out Russia/Asia is sound strategy. Experiment on how to do this. You’ll find many strategies on this site and other links to help you out. Try them all. Your enemies’ actions sometimes dictates yours. Exploit they’re weaknesses. Plans never survive contact. Use their setbacks to your advantage…

A strong Japanese player almosts forces the USA to a “Germany first” strategy. This is due to the fact that Japan will withrawal all it’s units in the first turn to concentrate on that theater. The US needs to co-ordinate attack plans with Britian to take Germany out as quickly as possible to then deal with the Japanese. If the Japanese player seems undecided or weak in Asia, your fleet aimed at transporting to the Soviet Far East will secure Russia’s northern back door and start kicking the Japanese out of Asia. The British should also help by sending troops from Africa. The Russians can then direct all their attention to Germany. This containment will later lead to Allied victory…

You definitely need more land troops in Asia. I’m all for an IC in south-east Asia, but with limited troops in that region you might get overrun (Remember, they could sever your lines if you leave no units in Kwangtung). Your fleet is also in danger of destruction in Hawaii on USA’s turn, unless you know they will “tuck tail and run”. If they do attack you with all available units in Hawaii, they could eliminate your transports as early as turn 2. Russia could hold you off for quite some time without more land troops in Asia, unless they’re getting hit hard by the Germans…

Sounds like he plays Germany defending against Russia, building a Med fleet and spending the first few turns re-enforcing Africa before turning again to Russia. Your plan sounds good, hopefully the energy he expends in Africa gives the USA some help and time. Once again, Asia’s the vaccuum. Hopefully the Allies can divert Germany’s attention long enough for Russia to deal with the Japanese. If he’s attacking Hawaii in Turn 1, this will take away some Japanese units from Asia for at least a turn or two. Happy hunting…

Leaving Japan out of the Allied plans is suicide. Your Asian Allied units should contain Japanese advances as long as possible until re-enforcements can arrive. I recommend trying all suggested strategies. Find out what works for you. Co-ordinate with your Allies plans to fight the Japanese back. Alot of what you can accomplish will depend on the experience level of the Axis powers…

The Axis want the USA to attack Japan directly at this stage. This means the Allies are working independently and not helping each other. The Russians are now feeling pressure from both fronts and losing ground and time. The British are not and cannot maintain a beachhead of substance in Europe without American help. They just don’t have the production power. The USA spending precious time island hopping to attempt to invade Japan proper gives Germany the time it needs to take Moscow. The Japanese on full defensive now can hold out until the fall of Russia. German panzers will then race to Africa and the Japanese can deal with that pesky US Navy. During the American invasion attempts, the US can only attack the Japanese capital every other turn due to distance problems to their mainland (armor build up in Alaska). This gives Japan plenty of time to re-build defenses even in Asia. When the first US invasion fails, that will really send shock waves through the Allies. It will probably finish fragmenting their alliance and their fate will be sealed.

I realize this might all get a little confusing. In the end, you play your best strategies against each other and let the dice decide. I try to play each player as if they ARE alone in the world. But when you have allies no matter what side your playing, always work with them! This also means when your playing a side alone or with friends. Remember, Rommel said that luck is when opportunity meets preparedness. Be prepared and even in a bad game situation, you might just be able to turn it around…