@kyrial:

India now becomes an easier target and you can bypass China altogether if they have too many fighters there.

@M-4_Sherman:

ok where do you get your brit INF from for the attack on kwangtung? then only place you could get them is india via trannie. that leaves india open for the walk-in.

Yes, the UK uses the 2 INF from India via the TRN. Why is India so important? So Japan is able to walk in on J1. This is really no different had the UK vacated India to transport INF to Egypt. Chances are very good that Japan will only take India with 1 or 2 INF. The USA can easily clear this because they have the 2 INF in Sinkiang and have a surviving FTR in China. If Japan takes any move units into India (i.e. utilizes Philippine INF), these INF will not be attacking Manchuria or Kwangtung. Remember, Japan only starts off with 2 TRN.

You have to think big picture on this. If Japan is down a FTR and the USA is up 2 FTRs, this is a 36 IPC swing. Those two additional Allied FTRs also come in very handy later in the game for trading units with the Axis. Under AVERAGE dice, the Russians take Manchuria with 1-2 INF and ARM; the UK takes Kwangtung with 0-1 INF and FTR. Set the board up and take a look at Japan’s options. It doesn’t look good. This sets Japan back in regards to IPCs and attack options to get new IPC’s. Japan will spend J1 just trying to get back it’s initial territories and will cashing out at below 30 IPCs for J1 and maybe even J2 based on dice and what the Allies do. This sets Japan back 1-3 turns at least.

A kill Japan first strategy can be very effective.

@Eric:

Why would you attack Manchuria? Then Japan can annhilate your eastern front and waltz over to Moscow. OTOH, there are certain situations where I would do it. For example, one unlucky Japanese player left the sea of Japan open to an American attack. With the Japanese transports out of the way, Russia went marching down Manchuria, Kwantung, and Burma, plundering Japanese IPC all the way. So basically, only take it if Japan can’t counterattack.

Kwangtung Surprise!

First, you have to assume that the western front is going to be okay based on your combat / non-combat moves. Bid placement, if any, is also key. I have seen this run against a 1-2 INF bid in Manchuria, but any units bid into Kwangtung usually means this will not work. If you are okay, the Kwangtung Surprise can be a very effective way to do several things:

1. Kill one Japan FTR

2. Save 1, maybe 2 USA FTRs that would normally be destroyed before USA 1. Usually the China FTR is spared and since Japan is forced to go at Asia hard, Japan will many times not attack Pearl Harbor.

3. Significantly slow down the Japan advancement by 1-3 turns (sometimes even more).

On Russia one, attack Manchuria with 5 INF, 1 ARM, and 1 FTR. Land FTR in either Yak or China. You should take with 1-2 INF and 1 ARM.

On UK 1, attack Kwangtung with 2 INF, 1 FTR. Most times you will clear with at least FTR, maybe INF. Land FTR in China.

Now Japan only has 2 INF, 1 FTR on mainland. China is defended with 2 INF and 2-3 FTRs. Depending upon Russia’s non-combat moves and US’s moves, the following turns for Japan can be grueling.

You have to make sure you move your pieces correctly against Germany. It all depends upon if there is a bid and if so, where it is placed. Like anything with this game, nothing is for certain and dice can become a factor. But this move tends to be a major headache for Japan.

What you are referring to is the “Russian Wall”. If you move all units from ENO and SFE into Yak, you can have 7 INF and 1 ARM defending. Unless Japan bid several units which can attack this, it can be a good move.

I have also seen some players build up Yak with fewer units and fly in the UK FTR from India on UK 1. The only problem with this is that the FTR is no longer available for an AES attack on UK1.

Attacking Manchuria all depends upon what you are going to do with the UK (i.e. attack Kwangtung or AES) and where the bid is placed.

I am assuming you read the above link and understand what ‘plotted’ means. If combat result from any given plotted move, all of combat (including retreats) is resolved before the next plotted move occurs.

I have seen at least one variant utilizing the simultaneous idea. The variant is called “Plotted A&A”. The link is:

http://home.swbell.net/cmcedit/ig/paaindex.html

I have never played it, but have read through the rules and it appears to be a good variant. I hope to try it soon.

If anyone is interested in playing 2nd edition rules with a bid (no RR) via AAMC; look me up at AAMC or send me a message and I will play you.

I will honor no tech agreements.

Russia

@cystic:

S Af i.c. - not a terrible idea. I think that Germany would never take it if playing a decent UK player. Japan might, but that would be pretty difficult and take quite a bit of time, leading some key resources from the mainland.
True the UK is using a lot of ipc’s for 9 ipcs worth of territory, however that 9 for UK is looking much sweeter than 9 for Germany. Also how about a UK2 ic after trns are put into the ocean? It is still having an income of around 22 or greater (that’s 2 arm, plus 4 inf to shuck onto the mainland).

I agree, a S. Af IC is not a terrible idea. However, it is not a good or a great idea either. I would say it lies somewhere between bad and fair.

To start with, more than likely Germany cleared the UK capital ships. Thus, if UK wants a navy, it must buy a capital ship on UK 1.

As the Axis, if I saw this, I would be thinking that valuable Allied resources are now going to be built in Africa. A whole 3-4 turns from action. Of course you could choose not to place units there, but then the 15 IPC’s were wasted.

All this does is delay pressure on Germany. It is much more effective to build a fleet and shuck troops to Africa if needed. An IC in Africa does not provide the flexibility the Allies need.

@Grigoriy:

As far as putting pressure on Germany goes, it’s primarily a matter of luck and how the German player utilizes his production and forces. Personally, I believe it can be done, but I’d like to hear your strategy, unless it has to do w/ Russia attacking Finland/Norway R1.

As with everything in this game…it depends…especially where the bid goes.

Many times on R1, I will attack Ukraine to either take or strafe. The ARM in SFE moves to Nov.

On R2, buy 3 INF (or 4 INF if you took Ukr) and 3 ARM. This is usually based on how the German bid fared on G1 (are the extra units in Europe, Africa or Asia). Also, many times Germany will buy 1 TRN on G1 or will ship 2 more units to Africa. This means not enough resources to defend the fatherland. I will usually just take (or retake) Ukraine.

I do NOT attack Finland. I usually leave that for the UK/USA. If you want to pressure Germany early, you need to make sure all INF on the western front are in position to move into EEu on R3. Many times, Germany will picket EEu. This gives the Allies one more turn to set up which is critical in the early rounds.

I have played games where Germany never solidly holds EEu again. Of course, they can always give up WEu, but that is a trade the Allies will gladly take.

@MistaBiggs:

It MAY be possible IF:

Germany completely whips out U.K.'s navy (except the transport in the India Sea Zone) – this would require the use of the entire German navy and air force. This would stop U.K. from being able to build the carrier or the transport … and in turn – U.S.A. could only bring over the 1 fighter and the bomber (both would have to land in U.K.).

Just because Germany destroys the UK navy on G1 does not mean that the TRN and AC cannot be built on UK1. If after G1, Germany has 3-4 FTR and 1 BMB, I will still make the buy. 3-4 FTR, 1 BMB vs. 2 TRN, 1 AC, 2 FTR (plus any potential russian boats) is good enough odds for the Allies. Especially with the potential to hit several German aircraft…which will never be rebuilt. The Allies can always build another fleet the next turn.

The only time I will not build the TRN and AC on UK1 is if the entire Germany airforce is intact and All of the Atlantic UK and Russian boats are gone. This rarely happens.