Posts made by GuamSolo

Thanks a lot. Never would have guessed you made accessories out of a clothes pin!

Your board is definitely enhanced.  Do you mind telling me where you got your markers for the air and naval bases?

Most Holy - I just took a look at your blog where the pics of your game are.  The board itself is incredible.  Did you actually paint all those pieces yourself?  Very, very nice!

Play the game how you want - it looks like you are having fun.

Thanks for the game report Rhey.  Being able to adjust during a game is important.  Upon reflection, do you think that waiting one more turn would have allowed you to reinforce your eastern front to stave off Russian attacks but still be successful in SeaLion?

Wouldn’t it just be simpler to split the UK between two players since they actually have two economies?

Interesting read on how you approached SeaLion.  What happened in the Med between the British and Italian fleets on B1?  Also, what is meant by “4 for the guarantee” on your SBR of London?

Thanks

Sounds like you thought it out well.  Let us know how it goes - good luck!

Good suggestions, except it leaves me wondering about Japan putting some, even a little, pressure on Russian.  Like I said before, it is in my DNA to squeeze Russia with the Axis.  It may be that your suggestions are the best route for Japan but including a smaller invasion of East Russia.

Curious about several parts to your plan.

1. Does SeaLion then become a critical component for Japan’s success?  If the German’s take down London then it seems like the U.S. would be forced into allocating the lion’s share of its unit production for the retaking of London on the Atlantic side of the map.

2. If the German’s are all in for SeaLion and Italians are helping with Barbarossa then I assume you are abandoning North Africa?

3. Will you try and set up a Japanese “shuck shuck” to the Canadian coast to re-inforce your initial landing?

Once you are there even the inexperienced player will drip loads of infantry in the home land for you to deal with.

Look forward to hearing how the game goes.

I agree that Italy should be first.

Are you going to forget about Russia then?  Let us know how the game goes.  It is always fun to read report on how someone’s game played out - especially if it is a little played strategy like taking U.S. out first.

In the two previous games I won at AAG40 I was helped out by the fact that the U.S. player dropped almost all of his purchased units into the Pacific map.  This culminated in a massive fleet/air battle in the Pacific where the U.S. lost everything and Japan scampered away with a shadow of itself left.  But the U.S. player spent two more rounds rebuilding the Pacific fleet.  By that time, and with no help putting pressure on Germany in the Atlantic, Moscow fell.  So, Gargantua’s counsel of getting U.S. to overextend in one theater played out here (although not intentionally pursued on my part).

As Japan, I took out China and most of Asia coming close to India.  I just couldn’t get enough troops to mount an attack in India as it was by that point similar to Moscow with large stacks of infantry supported by fighters.

When I say “classic strategies die hard” I mean that it is hard to let go of a strategy that worked for so long in the classic game.  It is in my DNA to crush Russia with the axis.  But in global I don’t see Japan pushing large stacks at Moscow, but “bilking” the reds out of IPC’s is efficient enough to put pressure on Russia in tilting the economic advantage towards the axis in Barbarossa.

I just haven’t played AAG40 enough, nor with alpha rules, to have the experiential knowledge of what is Japan’s best course of action.  I couldn’t take India before but that may have been because the U.S. employed it’s full economic force in the Pacific pressuring Japan.  To these inexperienced eyes in this new version of a classic game it seems entirely too easy for Japan to overextend itself by doing too much: putting some pressure on Russia, taking out China, going for India, and fighting off the U.S./Anzac fleet is a tall order for one economy.

In the classic version purchasing the right units for your long term strategy was a key to winning.  Many more variables in this new version.  It may be that game experience will be the best tool, including failing at some strategic gambles.  Hearing other players game experience can certainly help curb the failure rate for me though!

Thanks Spendo02 for the concise summary.  How does Sealion play a role for you then if at all?  Also, if your US opponent largely abandons the Pacific and funnels most of his IPC’s into the Atlantic side for a KGF approach then would that affect your Japan strategy?

Just getting into this global game and forum.  I am an old school A&A player since the 80’s.  I loved squeezing Russia with the Axis in the classic game via the infantry push move out of Germany and double team with Japan focusing on KRF.  This seemed to find success in the 2009 release as well.

I have only played AAG40 a couple times and with OOB rules.  I went for Russia first and won both times.  I just recently began reading articles on this forum.  It seems like there are various opinions on how best to play Japan.  Our next game we will be playing with the newest Alpha 3 rules.

1. Can anyone help me by explaining the impact the new alpha rules have on Japan?  Specifically, is the KRF strategy the most viable course of action because focusing on Russia might allow China or allies to grow and become too threatening?

2. With the Sealion strategy an option for Germany now it seems like many players delay Barbarossa. In classic it was fortress Germany or get after Russia (even a Med. gambit was usually short lived).  In the new global game it seems delaying Barbarossa only allows Russia to grow its infantry stacks larger. So, the earlier the you head east the better?

Would appreciate anyone helping an old dog figure out some new tricks.

Thanks

Seems like there are various opinions on how best to play Japan.  I have only played AAG40 with the OOB rules but will be playing with the newest Alpha 3 rules soon.  Can anyone help me by explaining the impact the new alpha rules have on Japan?

Also, I have traditionally liked to use a kill Russia first with the Axis and apply pressure to Russia with Japan?  Is this less effective with alpha 3 - specifically with the new Mongolian rules?

Thanks

Well, this is an interesting idea, but do you think it would make a difference in the game’s outcome?  By turn 10 are you still in the game?  At that point you may only need the nuke to stave off defeat.

Stalingradski - I think my approach is nearly the same.  I purchase the Major IC to save time in turns needed to march the infantry forward.  Would it not take two extra turns to move your stacks of infantry from Germany’s closest Major IC to Moscow?  I favor the heavy dose of infantry purchases that you advocate with the sprinkling in of more expensive units, but since I don’t spend any money on additional ships for Atlantic fleet (combined with French money) I think there isn’t a break in flow of infantry.  My opponents have always gone all in to sink the atlantic fleet and over time I adapted to building a large defense force in the west as a deterrent.  I have not ever attempted the sea lion invasion unless it was later in the game and Russia had fallen.

1. What do you purchase on G1 to defend Atlantic fleet with? Doesn’t this purchase interrupt flow of infantry eastward?

2. Does the use of Italian forces in Barbarossa thin out your ability to hold North Africa?

3. Do you keep any garrison of troops in Norway so as to keep the NO bonus?  Since I usually lose the Atlantic fleet I can’t shuttle more troops as you do to add to a Northern pincer force.

You seem like an experienced player so hearing your point of view on this is appreciated.

I like to take the money won from the fall of France and invest in a major complex for the eastern front.  Build a large infantry force that will march north towards Lgrad once Barbarossa begins.  Force Russian player to decide between defending Lgrad or Moscow with infantry.  If I can get the Russian to split off some infantry it helps.  Concentrate all German forces into one attack.  Sometimes the Russian doesn’t split and I’ll take Lenningrad.  I send a smaller force south towards Stalingrad, but they veer north after the marshes to merge with main force right before the attack on Moscow.  I try and push a lot of infantry forward knowing that I can get armor and fighters forward later just prior to an attack.  I keep a lot of my aircraft in Germany to ward off allied invasion in the west and slowly build up a defense force there until I withdraw the Luftwaffe.  Has anyone else invested in a major IC for eastern front with success?

I like to take the money won from the fall of France and invest in a major complex for the eastern front.  Build a large infantry force that will march north towards Lgrad once Barbarossa begins.  Force Russian player to decide between defending Lgrad or Moscow with infantry.  If I can get the Russian to split off some infantry it helps.  Concentrate all German forces into one attack.  Sometimes the Russian doesn’t split and I’ll take Lenningrad.  I send a smaller force south towards Stalingrad, but they veer north after the marshes to merge with main force right before the attack on Moscow.  I try and push a lot of infantry forward knowing that I can get armor and fighters forward later just prior to an attack.  I keep a lot of my aircraft in Germany to ward off allied invasion in the west and slowly build up a defense force there until I withdraw the Luftwaffe.  Has anyone else invested in a major IC for eastern front with success?