Posts made by GovZ

@arthur-bomber-harris said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

Round 2: Japan captures 3 out of the 4 of the following territories: Malaya, Java, Sumatra, and Celebes. In your game you only captured Malaya.

Everything goes down the drain if you don’t have a strong J2 turn.

I’m not a fan playing against myself - it can make you go blind and miss obvious moves. The J1 was Cow, and J2 - 3 were Andrew’s moves from our mini-test.

The real problem is turn 3. The Allies have mid-sized fleets off both India and Queensland. As for as I can tell, Japan has 3 options for J3:
*Option #1 - Put the IJN in between the Allied fleets. This is what Andrew did, and is probably the least bad option. Most likely outcome is you trade the IJN for both Allied navies.
*Option #2 - Attack one of the fleets. Face the multi wave counter attacks ready on either side. Most likely outcome is you trade the IJN for only 1 of the Allied navies.
*Option #3 - Retreat north. Allow the Allied fleets to merge into a fleet bigger than the IJN. I haven’t played against this yet, but it feels like Japan is turtling.

Note - the absolute best realistic outcome Japan can hope for in the first 2 options is wounded capital ships limping back to a NB while facing another turn of Allied attacks.

I really hope I’m missing something and there is a 4th option.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

Do you have a save game file with India collecting $26 that you would share with us?

Well my 1st attempt to produce an example ended in spectacular failure: Stooges-Test#1-F6.tsvg

I did learn some lessons -

• Don’t get cute with Russia.
• The US can use planes to threaten SZ6 and then send them on to Moscow in time.
• Let ANZAC’s 3rd wave do its job of finishing the IJN and retreat with the British to save some planes and the sub.
• Keep the Stooges in their lanes: Moe (India/China/Russia) kills land units and keeps the focus in SE Asia; Larry (US) locks down SZ6 and sends in subs to cut income; Curly (ANZAC) builds transports to take islands.

My 2nd test run with a 60 bid got me this: Stooges-Test#2-F5.tsvg

I think I played a fairly standard Axis game, but I’m sure I made mistakes on both sides. Please let me know if you see anything I’ve overlooked. That seems like a good position for the Allies to be in.

FYI - My pipe dream of retaking Kwangtung is still viable. It will take 8 more turns, but there is a plan.

Side note - It is several orders of magnitude more difficult to protect Egypt vs taking Japan. If I played a popular home rule version, I would make that trade and try to stop Germany from getting the 9th VC.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

100?!?!?!?

Why in the world are you testing 100? No one is going to give you 100 in a real game.

ABH made the offer. My thinking is that if this doesn’t work at 100, there is no point wasting any more time testing at a lower bid.

What’s your opinion of using 24 in bid money to blow up SZ20 on R1? How high would the bid need to be before you considered the Russian bombers?

@arthur-bomber-harris said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

69

Noice.

This started as an experiment to see if a J1 COW could be stopped with a minimal +6 Pacific bid (I’m still amazed it works as well as it does on Japan; that it has a theoretical chance of stopping Germany is insane). Since we are testing that, I’m going to spend all but 6 of the bid on the Atlantic side. In a real game, with a 100 bid (and maybe at 60) I would be tempted to spend 24 in the Pacific to blow up SZ20 on R1.

For 100:
UK subs (36): 39, 91, 98, 106, 110, & 111
Fighters (20): Scotland & Malta
Bombers (24): Gib & Alex
Tank (6): Egypt
Art (4): Sudan
Transport (7): 71
Inf (3): Moscow

Thanks PM incoming.

@arthur-bomber-harris said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

So many resources were poured into the Pacific theater during the first four rounds. I am certain that the European theater will be a massive success for the Axis with Moscow falling easily on G6, and a large column of tanks backed by planes heading towards Egypt that should fall around G10.

That’s the gist of it. I think I can at least slow it down to G13 by throwing up some roadblocks. Meanwhile, Rome must be defended, landings in western Europe threaten Paris, and the combined forces in the channel are setting up a killshot on Berlin.

The question I’m asking is what bid allows the Allies to stop Germany 50% of the time using this method?

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

@govz said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

Let me make a couple of detailed illustrations using 2 of your recent games as examples. First, let’s look at India’s income through turn 8:

Karl: 10 + 10 + 6 + 6 + 7 + 6 + (-4) + 4 = 45
oysteilo: 10 + 7 + (-6) + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 11
stooges: 14 + 11 + 10 + 11 + 14 + 14 + 14 + 14 = 102

This doesn’t account for the effect on Japan’s income, other than the amount they steal (the negatives above). It also doesn’t count the +8/ turn for recapturing Kwangtung at some point. That’s a big total difference that will only grow each turn.

I am not sure where you are getting your numbers for India. India is collecting $10 and might get $11 with Siam if they are willing to trade it without any air power. When the Japanese navy comes back and takes Sumatra then they will be getting $6. Also, there is no way UK is taking Kwantung; that is a pipe dream.

The $11th is Shan State. The 2nd Russian truck then takes Malaya - that’s the reason it stuck around. That gives $14.

Kwangtung - once China & India can safely stack Yunnan, a Indian fast mover can retake it after China clears Kwangsi.

Zombie IJN - I still would attack SZ6 in our example game, and it would be a OOL mess. I assume you wouldn’t build that fleet J4 with an extra 4 bombers in western US. My calcs assume this change of no Atlantic boats until US4.

Next, let’s look at US Atlantic builds through turn 8:

Karl: 8 + 38 + 20 + 26 + 50 + 32 + 81 + 34 = 289
oysteilo: 22 + 22 + 40 + 32 + 20 + 27 + 9 + 26 = 198
stooges: 0 + 0 + 0 + 64 + 64 + 64 + 64 + 64 = 320

This assumes the US spends all the US3 income keeping Japan down - thanks for teaching me a lesson the hard way. After that, it spends 18 in the Pacific per turn. The stoogely method has already more than caught up by turn 8. Without Japan to worry about, this difference should continue to grow.

What you are not taking into account is when the resources get there. Under your new plan you are not putting any resources into the Atlantic till Turn 4. That means they will not make any attacks against Italy or Germany till Turn 6. That is too late to make any difference. Germany will easily have an Atlantic Wall prepared, and Italy will still be fighting UK for the Med which means there is little to no UK help going to Russia.

I get the idea of tempo, but I don’t think the situation is as bad as you describe. If you look at little closer at my US numbers, they are actually basically equal on turn 5 - 142 to 136 to 128. And do many attacks against Germany happen before turn 6 now? The scripted G6 take down of Moscow has Germany building slow movers, fast movers, fast movers, tacs, & bombers the first 5 turns.

An Atlantic Wall? Good. That’s less money being spent going toward Egypt. I’m good with a war of attrition to land in western Europe. My goal as the Allies is to stop Japan, then get into a money game with Germany. The longer the game goes, the better I like the Allied chances.

As I already said it is more than the two Russian mechs. It is the lost opportunity of building fast movers and planes instead of infantry. Since your Bid does not place the two Russian fighters you are down… 4 infantry due to building 12 mechs, 2 mechs left in China, 2 infantry vs 1 armor, 6 infantry vs 2 fighters. That is 14 infantry down and 1 armor plus 2 planes up. 14 Units with DFP of 28 vs 3 Units with DFP of 11. Moscow is so toast.

Got it - you are comparing it to an infantry buy. Some people like to buy artillery to add offenive punch to Russia. I like the mobility of the fast movers.

I agree that Moscow is probably toast. Unlike prior versions, that’s not an automatic L for the Allies in global. I think the Allies can stalemate Germany before it can get to the 8th VC. The real question is how big of a bid they need. I don’t know the answer.

Based on this Bid you made a mistake with the Germans on G1. They will kill both UK fleets in 111 and 110. After Italy kills the lone UK cruiser and French fleet there will be no surface ships left in the Atlantic, with the exception of maybe the DD in 109 and perhaps 106. Certainly not enough to control the Med which means Italy is going to get good money while Germany rolls over Moscow.

Sorry, I thought you used the same G1 in both games I looked at so I just used that. My UK1 north Atlantic opening would also change.

I’m good with no Atlantic boats after the opening. I’m the Allies and I like building boats. Seems like a match.

I’m not sure what you would do It1, specifically with the transport, but the Med is clear of Axis boats turn 2. At some point soon, the subs will be parked in SZ97 cutting both Italy’s & Germany’s income. More subs are coming. The remaining Italians in Africa will be slowly hunted down. US fast movers landing in Morocco finish them off.

Let me make a couple of detailed illustrations using 2 of your recent games as examples. First, let’s look at India’s income through turn 8:

Karl: 10 + 10 + 6 + 6 + 7 + 6 + (-4) + 4 = 45
oysteilo: 10 + 7 + (-6) + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 11
stooges: 14 + 11 + 10 + 11 + 14 + 14 + 14 + 14 = 102

This doesn’t account for the effect on Japan’s income, other than the amount they steal (the negatives above). It also doesn’t count the +8/ turn for recapturing Kwangtung at some point. That’s a big total difference that will only grow each turn.

Next, let’s look at US Atlantic builds through turn 8:

Karl: 8 + 38 + 20 + 26 + 50 + 32 + 81 + 34 = 289
oysteilo: 22 + 22 + 40 + 32 + 20 + 27 + 9 + 26 = 198
stooges: 0 + 0 + 0 + 64 + 64 + 64 + 64 + 64 = 320

This assumes the US spends all the US3 income keeping Japan down - thanks for teaching me a lesson the hard way. After that, it spends 18 in the Pacific per turn. The stoogely method has already more than caught up by turn 8. Without Japan to worry about, this difference should continue to grow.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

I am not sure that is as much the strategy as it is throwing everything at the Japanese including the kitchen sink. I don’t think that there is any disagreement that if the Allies focus on Japan then Japan cannot win the game. The issue is how much can the Allies throw at Japan and still win on the Europe side of the board?

Agreed. To take it another step, we both think the Allies need a bid - I did use $6 in the Pacific. Our real disagreement is on how much of a bid, and I really don’t know the answer that gives an equal chance of winning to both sides.

We have not played it out but the situation is dire on the Europe board.

Probably, but isn’t that usually the case? It really comes down to the bid.

Also back to the kitchen sink. A good bit will survive to move back to fight Germany. In our example it’s the SA subs, the Brazilian boats, and all but 2 Russian units. Other times, there is a full British fleet moving to the eastern Med or an extra set of boats for the US in the Atlantic. It just depends on what forces were needed to KJF.

• Russia is down at least 6 infantry and up 1 armor if we assume the two extra Russian fighters came from the Bid. Otherwise it is worse than that. They are also down 2 mechanized for a total of 7 units down in the defense of Moscow. None of the eastern Soviets came home so Moscow is most likely going to fall on G6; G7 is a certainty. Plus with all those fast movers in China, Germany overran Russia’s money easily and turtled Moscow without even breaking a sweat.

There was no bid used in Russia. While a good many units went into China, all but 2 trucks can get back to Moscow before G6, so Russia is down $8. Agreed about the far east troops, but you need to account for the effect on both Russia & Japan’s incomes.

We are getting into end-game Russian tactics here. It’s impossible to project the specific situation. I also think it’s beyond this conversation. In general - (1) I think Germany, if it wants to, will take Moscow by G7, unless the Allies go to ends I’m not willing to go to. (2) I’ve been known, in certain specific situations, to make my stand in Caucasus.

• The Med is a mess. UK pulled out its entire Med Fleet plus all the Med planes plus the bomber from London. Italy is wreaking havoc in the Med. How much is unknown but it is a certainty that UK is not sending enough fighters to Moscow to stave off the German hordes.

This completely depends on the bid. To be consistent with the game comparisons above, here is my response with a $60 bid: govz-alliedopener-60bid.tsvg I’m not worried about the Med with that bid.

• The US contributed exactly nothing on the Europe side of the board for Turns 1 and 2. In fact, the transport and cruiser abandoned Europe as did every single plane. That means Italy again is going hog wild and Germany has felt zero pressure on their Western Front.

• Because of this the US, with a Turn 3 build, will move off Africa on Turn 4 and then to The Atlantic Wall on Turn 5. This means Germany will be able to focus 100% of their Turn 1, 2, 3 and 4 builds against Russia. That is a disaster. Starting with G5 Germany will be able to build units in captured Moscow industrial complexes and spend the rest of their money defending the Western Front which means there will be zero advancement by the Allies against Germany.

This was an interesting exercise. I think you could have done better by focusing on ships instead of bombers with the US. Taking the UK Med Fleet and planes out of the Med and sending them against the Japanese is a losing play. You should try your strategy without doing that.

I covered the US contribution to the Atlantic at the top. Also my projections were a turn off because I’m spending US3 fully shutting down Japan.

This thing falls apart without the Med boats and I while I don’t know if it’s a winning play, the current Allied thinking isn’t producing many wins anyway.

I’m not claiming to be able to stop Germany, but I do think this method gives the Allies a better chance.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

Overall TUV is -36 for the Allies.

Not sure of your definition of a trap since the Allies lost more than the Japanese. The US Navy is sunk and the UK lost all their planes plus the bulk of the Med fleet.

java-trap-response.tsvg

I’m good with that trade. The strategic value of sinking the IJN is almost impossible to quantify in terms of TUV.

I also learned another lesson - it’s better to keep up the pressure on Japan for a turn too long than to move to the Atlantic a turn too early. Would Japan have bought ships if the US had built a bomber stack instead of Atlantic boats US3? I probably still would attack SZ6. I’m guessing that ends up being a tilted AC vs a sub, but there are so many more OOL questions. I’m happy to continue, but we are getting well into the mid-game now.

I’m still waiting for this strategy to fall apart, but with the improvements suggested in this thread, I feel I can claim that going into the mid-game:

Current method: India crushed & Japan making $70+/ turn and rising.
Stooges method: India alive & Japan contained to around $60/ turn and falling.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

You didn’t take casualties properly for the IJN versus the US Navy. Why kill a fighter and keep a tactical bomber? Why keep a hit AC and throw away a tactical bomber? That gives the IJN an additional fighter and one less hit AC in the UK battle. Based on the dice that provides one additional air hit on Round 1 by the Japanese. UK casualty is most likely a cruiser.

Based on dice rolled, Round 2 British attack and Japanese defense unaffected. British need to lose fighter vs cruiser as cruiser is already dead.

Based on dice rolled, Round 3 British get one less air hit since the fighter is not present. Final round Japanese have an additional fighter in defense. Japanese throw away both battleships since a sub is present.

Based on dice rolled battle is over with UK sub and 1 Japanese fighter surviving.

Sorry, that last run was highly improbable and I got lazy. The US got 4 extra hits - usually all the ACs & planes survived the 1st wave. The British wave were deficient, so it ended up roughly the same.

I was so focused on the OOL of the subs & tilting the ACs, I never thought about taking the BSs before the fighters. The most likely outcome I had was the ANZAC subs sinking the last BS and the French DD killing the transport off Celebes.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

So the drunken response has been an abysmal failure.

True in general, and the wisest thing said in this thread.

The US fleet is sunk.
The UK fleet is sunk.
The Russians lost 7 mechanized infantry, 3 armor, 2 fighters and a tactical bomber.
Japan still holds the Minor IC in FIC.
Japan still has a fleet that cannot be blown up by the 10 US bombers.
Japan will reclaim the China coast next Turn.

Total TUV lost by Allies vs Axis for the Round is:
Kiangsu (US) +17
FIC (UK) -32
FIC (Russia) +64
UK Fleet sunk -80
US Fleet sunk -59
FIC retaken -3
Total TUV Loss for Allies = -93

Ooops, missed that you attacked FIC with 2 ANZAC fighters. Additional - 16 for ANZAC FIC makes it a total of -109 TUV.

Totally. I think the drunken plan was to attack the factories to prevent you from building on the mainland. The Allies are much better off focusing on Japan’s fleet and income.

There is no hope of holding on to the 8th victory city on the Europe side of the board. Moscow will fall on G6. With Italy fighting for the Med UK will not have any significant defense ready by the time the Germans come a calling to the Middle East and then Cairo.

Plus Japan is now winning on the Pacific side. India is collecting $6, ANZAC $10, China $19 for a total of $35. Japan collected $55. Without US intervention the Axis wins in the Pacific too.

It’s wild the difference what the correct positioning of the US fleet can do. The drunk response has Germany and Japan racing to see who can win first. In the sober version, I think I can hold Caucasus.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

Okay, here is the sober J3 response. Japan collected $61. I like their position.

Ahh, Java trap where I’ve seen so many IJNs go to die.
Java-trap.tsvg
Note: I ran the naval battle 6 times because there was some OOL questions. Depending on when the ACs take the free hits, Japan could end up with planes on Java, but the boats get sunk. Feel free to rerun it, and post a better outcome for Japan. On half my runs the IJN lasted until ANZAC attacked.

All Russian units, but 2 trucks, will be back to Moscow before G6.
The 3 subs from SA will be in the eastern Med next turn.
The US just built $52 in boats in the Atlantic - plus the bomber. They will be in the channel turn 5 threatening a swinging gate attack on Berlin turn 6.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

Okay, here is what I think is a reasonable response. Japan collected $60.

But where are you going to build units?
govz-R4-drunkresponse.tsvg
I doubled down on the absurdity, but would never actually do this for real. The final FIC battle was a coin flip. It’s amazing what can happen when it’s 6 vs 1.

I do really like the idea of threatening a green skies invasion of Japan. It doesn’t really cost the US anything since they are already buying the bombers.

Russia has sent 14 mechs, 3 tanks, 4 fighters and a tactical bomber to China. The Germans are drooling and sending congratulatory telegrams to Tojo Hideki.

Germany is the final boss in this game. Honestly, I assume Moscow will fall no matter what the Allies do. The 8th VC is where I make my stand.

Anyway, here’s the US moving everything to Queensland: govz-R3-sober.tsvg

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

• Since the US fleet is in Hawaii it has choices like Queensland or Caroline Islands.

Moving everything to Queensland is probably the smart move, but I’ve been drinking so:

govz-R3-response-revised-again.tsvg

There’s some serious late Sealion / dark skies like invasion threat forcing Japan to waste money defending the homeland, but my real target is SZ19.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

OK, here ya go.

PROS:

• Northern flank against Russia is secure.

• Western flank against China is stalemated.

• Southern Pacific is stalemated against UK India fleet.

• Northern Pacific US fleet cannot move to SZ6.

• I don’t see any immediate threats against Japanese territory already under control beyond normal trading.

• IC’s are placed to provide future ground troops against China and UK India.

CONS:

• Don’t see Japan pushing forward much in any area.

• Since the US fleet is in Hawaii it has choices like Queensland or Caroline Islands.

govz-j2-response-revised-again.tsvg

I agree with all of this. The Pacific ends up in a rough equilibrium with Japan making around $50/ turn vs $70+/ turn with the current approach. I still don’t know if that difference is enough to stop the Germans.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

OK, here ya go.

PROS:

• Northern flank against Russia is secure.

• Western flank against China is stalemated.

• Southern Pacific is stalemated against UK India fleet.

• Northern Pacific US fleet cannot move to SZ6.

• I don’t see any immediate threats against Japanese territory already under control beyond normal trading.

• IC’s are placed to provide future ground troops against China and UK India.

CONS:

• Don’t see Japan pushing forward much in any area.

• Since the US fleet is in Hawaii it has choices like Queensland or Caroline Islands.

govz-j2-response-revised-again.tsvg

That file name is just missing a “Final #2” from being named like my spreadsheets at work.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

Cool. I had not realized you had agreed to put the US ships in Hawaii. That definitely stops an attack on Sydney.

Please post a revised Allied Turn 1, using the adjustments I made with J1 and I will post a different strategy for J2 to see if you can really accomplish what you think you can.

R2 - Rev.tsvg

I think I made all the correct edits. I’m still not sure what the best use for the ANZAC CA. I can see arguments for putting it in 26, 42, 54, 62, or 63. Please let me know if anyone has any tweaks to suggest.

I really do hope you can find something I have overlooked - Japan used to be fun to play.

Tangent: With that J1, I would be tempted to attack SZ43 with a DD, CA, & sub - killing the sub last - instead of SZ37. It would change up to much for this discussion. Also the battle calculator crashed.

@andrewaagamer said in

I have attached a revised J2 response by not attacking the ANZAC DD I can fully protect the invasion force taking Sydney. Once you make a revision to save Sydney I will post a different scenario showing what it would look like not going for Sydney.

The adjustments suggested in this thread prevent this. With US ships at Hawaii, I can attack SZ33 or SZ54. Maybe both. Or maybe soften Korea for Russia.

I also think the A1 transport gets traded for a guy & a truck. Plus the CA in 62, not 54.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

Japan did a J1. India does not have Kwantung or Borneo any longer so it is not $17, it is $10. There is no $5 bonus because you don’t have Kwantung and Malaya. Once Japan takes Sydney and comes back India will not have Malaya either. There is no FIC though there may be a Siam. I could see $12 max.

I was taking back Borneo In3. The Chinese & Indian stack could take back Kwantung turn 5, depending on if you left planes there. It would probably take a couple a Chinese artillery buys to actually take it.

I have attached a revised J2 response by not attacking the ANZAC DD I can fully protect the invasion force taking Sydney. Once you make a revision to save Sydney I will post a different scenario showing what it would look like not going for Sydney.

I’ll take a look. This is fun. Did you make the adjustments you & @TheVeteran have helped me with in this thread? I’m assuming you didn’t make the ones you have made me think about, but not yet post. I’ll try to get you a new R2 file as soon as I can. Can I use the J1 with your edits?

@theveteran said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

captured Tokyo

Allied Rule #1: You just have to stop the Axis from winning.

Unless Japan is giving you its capital, there is never a reason to invade it. Blow up the IJN, park a couple of subs in SZ6, and go fight Germany.

First, thanks for the mini game. I’ve learned a lot from it and this ongoing discussion. I think it has improved me as a player, and has given me new lines to study.

@andrewaagamer said in A Nameless but Effective China Strategy:

Really? The US contribution to the Pacific is 9 bombers and 2 subs? And then almost all of its income is going to the Atlantic on US3 going forward? How do you expect to control the Pacific?

1. I said almost all. Also I’m not sure how to count duel use units. Example: I buy a US bomber intended for London that could be used in the Pacific if needed.
2. That was specific to our fake game, but in general yeah. As long as Japan’s income is roughly on par with China + India + ANZAC, the US doesn’t need to add much to equalize things.
3. To answer your questions - Yes. For the most part. Yes. Bombers, subs, & ANZAC. Looking closer at our fake game, I think Japan is beat:

• SZ6 is in check and convoy raids have started.
• Non US income was 40, Japan’s was 44 and falling.
• The IJN is scattered, well out of position, and only has 1 transport.
• Japan has 10 land units not stuck on islands or pinned in Korea.

I don’t see a path for Japan to get to 6 VCs in that situation.

I will give you this, your 4 bomber build on US1 keeps Japan from building a carrier on J2. That is all it does. Even with 9 bombers the Allies still don’t threaten a consolidated IJN. Especially as Japan continues to build carriers and land already existing aircraft on them.

The real dilemma for Japan is the UK fleet coming out of the Med and Russian air and ground troops streaming into China. While Japan will not be able to push into China, or most likely take India, their fleet will still be big enough to blow up either the smaller UK or US fleets which means both Allied fleets will have to stay on the periphery allowing Japan to control the Money Islands and keep Japan safe.

My fault. I wasn’t clear on my intentions: I want a naval battle. The Allied fleets aren’t staying on the periphery, they are closing a net around the IJN. I am looking for every opportunity to crash US planes into the IJN to soften it up for any British, ANZAC, French, & Russian forces that follow. The Allies can better afford replacements and an empty Pacific is a win for them.

And, as I said before, with that UK and Russian commitment to the Pacific Theater Moscow is toast.

FYI - The UK subs weren’t needed against Japan and went toward the Med. Most of the Russian forces in China can make it back to Moscow before G6. (Using the tanks in Hopei was one of several mistakes I made).

$26 for India? Where is that coming from? I can see maybe $11 (West India, India, Burma, Shan State and Sumatra)

$17 original + $4 Sumatra + $5 bonus. And actually its usually $29 - I forgot about FIC & Siam.

assuming you are trading Sumatra. Even with Russian help Japan is going to hold Kwantung and Malaya and with a larger fleet, at a minimum, trade for the Money Islands. With no US fleet to threaten Japan the IJN can camp out in the south.

I guess we are now talking about a different game because Japan never took Sumatra or Malaya in our fake game. Kwantung won’t hold out long with China & India coming for it - it will be out produced. Where exactly are you camping out in the south? That sounds like Java to me - I would consider Carolines the center. Any place in range of the Indian boats is a danger zone for the IJN.

Do you have a save game file with India collecting $26 that you would share with us?

Sorry no. I don’t keep the live game files that I play on TripleA. I could create one for you against the AI.

And I may have been off a turn or 2 with my turn 6 prediction, but long term Japan doesn’t have the land units to hold SE Asia.

I’ve been shocked at how well this seems to work. I get your reaction - I keep waiting for someone to do something new that proves to be a fatal flaw. Your response was the best I’ve seen so far, and could be viable long term with adjustments. It has at least made me make adjustments of my own. Bottom line is that this approach seems to work better than the current Allied approach.