Posts made by MeinHerr

The “Ram” part of Ramrod does these:

1. Weak India, no Sumatra money…. meaning Japan on J3 has to face $8 less. Heck, a J5 India take plan  may not be a bad idea… given that UK navy has gone to RedSea.
   J1-3 TR
   J2- 4 TR +CV
   J3 -launch , PHP, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, HK, IndChn, Malaya, Shan
   J4- aggregate in Sumatra/Malaya, Airbase in IndoChn. Take Burma
   J5 -India falls.
   Now Egypt and maybe Soviets have to help…but… Italy still threatens Egypt,  Moscow is staring at Germany on their doorstep.

Meanwhile,  J1 tank is gobbling away at Soviet Territory in East…

2. Saves  Italian African forces!
   The Ethiopians or Tobruk forces are vulnerable,  but now they are safer.

Remember,  the 4 units in Ethiopia,  are 2 TR loads of Axis troops, deepest in Africa.

The Tobruk forcE is another 6 units…3 TR loads.

These are usually lost for cheap early in game. IPC value = 36

3. BB+CRU+TR . Value 39. Scramble FTRS NOT being counted.

For a 10 IPC Italian economy,  this is MASSIVE.

You lose the UK BB + 2 CRU,  yes… but they do not see action for a while.

The Italian Navy is right there , where it is most useful.

As long as the Italian Navy exists with 2+ TRs, they can hit anyplace in Med.

If they buy a Sub, and Germany buys, 1-2 Subs, UK will lose  ships in Med.

By Turn 2, Italy should geT at least 1 bonus.

They presenT a constant danger to Egypt, which UK will have to pay to defend…while with Taranto, it was never an expense to be acounted for.

4. Should the UK not play accurately, SeaLion or the “Rod” part, Luftwaffe strafe and Egypt falling will be really bad for Allies.

5. With more money than it normally has, Italy can help Germany more.

So, all in all, this is onE play Axis must keep in its arsenal as a potent threat.

Compared to the MAJOR NAVY expense on G1 to threaten Sealion, this is a lot more potent.

I must lastly say, that the optimum German buy would be an SBR  + Minor IC on Romania + Tank… with goal of Barbarossa… balanced with threat to Egypt… but again it may change depending on the input from you.

Thank you Marshmallow of War & Bomber Harris.

Writing from work, on cell phone. So keeping it brief.

This strat will be appreciated by the Italian player , who otherwise has had to play a crud game so far.

Since it’s first serious discussion with this strat… using advice to modify it.

(Maybe Germany attack scenario should try to kill CRU off Gib with 2 Subs. It leaves lesser options for UK navy.
Use 3rd Sub to hit Canada)  but let us go with original premise.

Also

In your defence scenario,  India does not get Sumatra.

2 India planes go West.

Easier for Japan to take India. Maybe Japanese attack plan can be changed to take India quicker.

Germany does NOT have to follow through Egypt airstrafe.

ItAly 1 - buy nothing
Can kill French ship and take Gib if undefended (2 CRU+BB)+TR
Can use 2nd TR (T+Inf)+Albanian T+Inf+F to take Greece.
Can use Sub+SBR to kill Malta ship
Can use 1 DD+ F to kill Greece SZ blocker.
Take Tunisia…inf+Art+mech+tank
Take Kenya…with all Ethiop+Somali
Consolidate in Libya

Yes, some battles maybe close, but Italy must take its chances now.

Collects  ~ 10+1+1+2+5+(5 -Gib) +10, has 32/(27)IPC

G2, since no planes were lost, can buy 1 CV in S. France…
Planes can kill BB+CRU in W.Gib

Italy has option of either buying TRs, or Land units.

It also can get N. Africa bonus next turn , deny UK land bonus… go into Tanganiyika etc…

German Subs convoy Canada for ~3 turns.

The 2 CRU+BB in SZ110, is more than made up bY the BB+CRU+TR ,saved for Italy.

Italy with an economy of 10 ! Cannot get a better deal than that.

Japan has it easier.

All with threatening RamRod, not  executing it.

So now, with no Tobruk and no Taranto,  Italy can play… whereas before it could not!!! Always crippled in the beginning of the game.

As Gargantua said once… The threat is half the battle.

Lastly, if UK buys too much in Egypt, SA… there is for those of us with brave spirits… SeaLion!  Esp with 2 SBR buy on G1 !

If not, onward to Moscow…, Italy buys troops to defend France n Rome.

More later, esp with rebuttal comments

Line by line reply

@taamvan:

You can’t really deter something that occurs before the deterrent is put into effect.   A UK Egypt MiC on their first turn only seems like a good idea if they can hold it, and Germany and Italy both have to stage their forces aggressively in order to have any chance of taking it.

You may wish to read the post again.  If UK does Taranto, Egypt will fall with RamRod. Since putting a mIC in Egypt on UK1 is the simplest, cheapest way to secure it, RamRod deters it from happening. UK can decide to try Tobruk AND put an mIC, but NOT do Taranto AND put an mIC.  The Tobruk fight , with the 2 German FTRs is an even battle. But again, due to the fear of Tobruk failing, mIC on Egypt is not advisable on turn 1.

I don’t really think that the UK player abs. needs a Persia or Egypt MiC anyways, they are a luxury and become a huge target.

Consider a different strategy . Instead of a J3, its now a J4, with the Japanese marching through China with a mIC in Shanghai on J1.  Then Moscow will not survive without a UK factory either in Persia or Egypt For an Allied win, esp with a J3 or J4 DOW on W.Allies, a mIC in Egypt or Persia is high priority.

This is why the entire thread about not doing Taranto seems so odd;  the strategies surrounding building the UK up in that area could all be avoided by killing the Italian navy before it has a chance to threaten Egypt anyway.   It makes no sense to defend Egypt over the long game when you can secure it with 80% odds on UK1.

With RamRod, you cannot secure it on UK1.  Taranto will play into Axis hands, so that you lose Egypt.

In addition, the G40 strategy that uses all your Axis planes to smash the near-east UK forces is a born loser, since you wont have them in place to attack Russia, project threat or do anything else up north.

**No, it is most certainly not correct.  On G3, the planes fly to Romania.  On G4 they can hit Leningrad and land in Baltic, or hit Ukraine. etc.  So they are available for battle in USSR. Or on G3, they can go to Rome and help defend come G4 . **

RamRod forces a Persian complex. It also forces India and UK-E to spend money to retake Egypt, which if not done from UK1, will never happen.  Should the UK player not know about this play and put a mIC and do Taranto… on UK1 , the game is more or less lost for the Allies

The strategy works pretty good if you have Italy go through Syria, but with only 1 surviving transport, this isn’t going to last.    I’ve seen a few games where Italy keeps part of the fleet intact and then grabs the oil states and Gibraltar, and Greece.   these are all better targets than Egypt which takes a full commit in order to destroy it.

The key is to do it G2 - I2

Italy will get $5 bonus for 4 turns.

Forces US to branch off a force to liberate Cairo.

Forces UK to try to take back Egypt with both SA, Persian complex and India… giving less support to USSR

If mIC in Egypt, on UK-1, then Italy has it made!
With 6 +2+4 units joining up… Makes it very hard,  with the Italians being able to produce units there.  Middle East bonus galore… Italy will make in mid 20s. Lethal for Allies…even 2-3 turn, as Rome gets stacked.

Now J1 Tank, takes IPC from USSR at an alarming rate. 1,3,5,7…
Hence it’s use there… crucial for early Japanese buys.

Lastly, when US does come calling on US4, I3 buy makes Rome take impossible.

To a seasoned UK player,  once you see Ram-Rod in the making, only way to hold Egypt is by  not doing Taranto! 
Tobruk is too risky… and if it fails, with Italian Navy alive, and Luftwaffe in striking range, UK must abandon Med.

The blockade of Greece and Malta SZ, stacking 2 planes+AAA+Inf from Malta fails , esp with the German 2 SBR buy.

A “cleansed” Cairo, means Italy is in game.

So, yes, in a major way it deters Taranto !

The J1 tank…is , so long as all Soviet troops retreat to Buryatia,  Yenisey…going West.  If safe.

If a detachment is left behind…then no…tank in Far East…

Somethings, should be obvious…

If the Luftwaffe airstrafe is successful, India should be severely stressed on UK2, and will send forces West. Making it easier for Japan.

Japan should thus take advantage of this and could try to get India J6 if played correctly.

I did not post Japan moves in detail, as most people will figure out what to do.
Just that J1 , tank , on Far East important.

The point, is , you actually want Taranto.

If it’s done , then Ram-Rod should succeed.

Better, if Egypt TR goes to take Persia…or kill Ethiopians.

You basically get Egypt, a victory city , and key gateway to Middle East… (maybe with a minor IC - 12 IPC value!)… in lieu of Taranto .

Italy gets shafted by Taranto.

But getting Egypt, makes it all worth it.

Salutations.

Was following the Tobruk/Taranto topic, and thought of putting up a play I used in Nov,2014.  
It was named by Dan Long, the founder of Seattle Meetup group,  as the “Ram-rod” play, as they had not seen it before.
So far , I have not seen it being mentioned either.

I do not play TripleA, or Balanced ModE etc… just regular Board games , with bid …usually going only to USSR.

Here are the details of Ram-Rod:

Germany (builds optional) and attacks to Airstrafe Egypt on G2, so I2 takes it.
Japan goes J3…unless India-Anzac attacks T2.
Germany hopes Italy , from Egypt can cause enough stress in Middle East
Japan hopes for same.
Japan unloads only 1 Tank on J1 in Far East, DOWS on W.Allies on J3.

Goal is economic victory, over time by Axis holding on to following areas
Long enough to get economic victory…
A) Yunnan
B) DEI…from J3
C) Soviet Far East
D) Scandinavia
E) Egypt
F) Middle East…from Italy3-4.

G1: Buy 2 SBRs+Sub -This is optional.
Or buy 1 SBR + 2 Inf+3 Art
Or my favorite- mIC in Romania+2Inf+3Art

Combat:

SZ 111 (Scotland ) - 2 Subs+BB+2 SBRs+FTR (Nor)

SZ 106 (Canada) - 3 Subs

SZ 93 (Marseilles) - 2 TB+1FTR (W.Germ).

S. France - 2 Mechs+TB (W.G)+FTR (Holl)

Yugo - GSG land+G. TB+Pol TB+ FTR Slov+ 2 Tanks+ Inf Slov/Rom

Paris -all else

Non-Com
Take Bulgaria, Finland

Land : Slov FTR  and W. Germ FTR (unused) in Tobruk

Land planes (max) in Rome
Should have ideally - 5 TB+ 2 FTRs
Land SBRS in W. Germ
Placing buy in. W.Germ- 4 SBRS

J1: Buy 3 TRs, take Soviet Far East with 1 Tank. Usual play.

UK1, -Tobruk is unatttactive…with 2 FTRS and 6 pieces…
Taranto is…esp with CRU in SZ97 alive… do not scramble!
Or… it does the non-Tobruk,non-Taranto, mIC in Egypt, block both SZ to Egypt play…

Italy 1 : Buy FTR
All Tobruk into Alexandria.
All Ethiopia (if surviving) into Kenya, with Somali
Kill Malta CRU with Sub+planes
Non-Combat -TR drops Tank+Inf to Alexandria
Land all Italian planes on Tobruk, bring Libya Inf+Art to Tobruk.
Move 1 Tank to Romania as can opener.

Germany 2 -
[BuY 2 Subs in S. France (if No Allied DDs in Med). This is optional, depends on scenario]
I usually buy 3 Art in Romania + all tanks in Germany.
Take Greece
Approximately 11-13 planes  air-strafe Egypt, land on Alexandria.
I lost 3 planes… but , it is well worth it!!!
Place 1 Sub on SZ125.

J2 : Buy CV+2DD+2 TR. 1 TR return from SovietFarEast.
Move into position, esp in Carolines.
Consolidate Yunnan, drive Northern Army into N/ Central China.

Italy 2 - BuY TR if possible…depends on how much you lose in Convoy
Take Egypt.
Go to Bessarabia/ W. Ukr…with  Tank (if empty), DOW on USSR.
Otherwise no DOW…
Move Tobruk guys into Alexandria
Move Kenyans to Sudan.
This is your second wave…in event UK abandons Egypt for TransJordan, to counterattack on UK3.

Collect bonus.

G3- Kill UK fleet in Med. Use Subs (optional).
Load 1 Inf on Italian TR…for Egypt bonus… (again all this is situational)
Follow into Bessarabia,  no DOW on USSR, to collect last bonus.
If Italian tank is opposed, then DOW on USSR…move into Bessarabia.
Buy 3 Tanks in Romania + Air if Spanish Gambit…or all Tanks

J3: Buy 2CV+DD
should have 2 TRS for PHP,1TR for HongKong
Should have 3 +2 Trs divided into 2 battle groups to take Java and Sumatra
BG1 should have 2 loaded CVs+2CRU+DD+Sub
BG2 should have 2 BB+loaded CV+ 2 DD
PHP should have CV+2DD+Sub

This is assuming US goes CGF.

If US1 buy is 3 Cv/2CV+BB in Pac, then it’s CJF… play will be different.

There is a sub-variant, where on I2, there should be Art+4 Inf+Tank in S.France.
I1 FTR buy remains in Italy on I2. SBR in Rome.

G3 buys 3 Inf in Normandy, 3 Mechs in France, And 3 Subs in S. France
Lands planes in Rome.

J3 goes,
US3 comes to Gibralter

I3 takes Spain!

G4 Air and Subs hit US-UK fleet…and land in Spain!!

3+3 troops non combat to Spain…to defend planes.

Germany , now at its leisure can take Moscow.

Sub-Variant of Ram-Rod, is called Spanish Gambit. This will work on an amateur player. So it is to be used carefully.

Hope this helps.

Mein Herr

If Japan does a great J1 DOW on W.Allies,  ie:loses just 1-2 inf… ,

how should US respond? It’s first 2-3  rounds of buy?
And UK India? Should it keep its FTRS or send them to the Med?

There are some decisions Allies can make early, that can make Axis life harder.
In faCT these decisions go a long way in winning the game for Allies.

So, if G1 buy is a Navy, does USSR still withdraw all Far East forces….???

I usuallY do not withdraw more than 6… Just the six in Buryatia go West. The remaining 12+2 AAA go into Amur on R2 or R3, when safe. This is a big headache for Japan on J2/J3 onward…as they have to garrison Manchuria.

Also, USSR1 buy of ALL ART is brutally efficient,  providing a counter in Bryansk on R5

Similarly, if Germany buys IC in Romania or buys Subs and SBRs, then UK1, buy in Egypt of mIC (check Luftwaffe position, to be safe, first) , 4 ART in UK should be fine.

If J1 DOW on USSR, and uses a TR against Soviet FarEast…then Anzac 1 buy of 1 FTR , India 1 buy of 4 Mechs is good or TR for Sumatra, (if existing TR used to kill Ethiopians ).

Etc…

It is always safe to deter a Tobruk, bY placing the Hungarian FTR and a FTR/TB from W. Germany on Tobruk during G1 non-combat. 8-9 units …… (6 Italian and 2-3 German )is an unpleasant choice for a UK1 attack.

There is also this scenario, I have faced playing Italy…

The German player wants to only kill the Atlantic fleet and will not land planes in Tobruk or Rome.  Germany wanting to get to Moscow on G5/G6… Moscow or bust. CRU off Gib lives…no attack on it.

The Japanese player wants to DOW on J2 , and wants to get India by J5…

You as the Italian player have to :
A) Provide 2 Tanks and FTR+SBR as can opener.
B) Defend Rome and Paris
C) Once Moscow and India fall, Italy is promised to be let off the leash

In that scenario…  if there is No Tobruk/Taranto…  then , it is preferable to use the 2 Transports to WITHDRAW troops from Libya and Tobruk… (and hit Greece with these)

There are 5+2 = 7 troops (Tank+Mech+2 Art+ 3 Inf) = 27IPCs = 3.5 TRloads… worth a lot of money… that can be used defensively…in Rome… allowing for the Albanian and N. Italian tanks to go forth as can-openers.

If you do not withdraw them… they will be killed for cheap by UK/US… and achieve nothing twiddling their thumbs in Tripoli

Just a thought…

@Marshmallow:

@MeinHerr:

Tirano -

Given that you eliminate Ethiopia… and you build that navy off Egypt…
If 2 of 3 Italian navys are left intact to join…
and the Germany Navy swings around …
The Egyptian navy will either have to sit in the Red Sea… or be obliterated.

respectfully disagree. Assuming that Italy does not take Egypt on I1 (50% chance of success!) and loses no naval units on I1, Italy will be able to muster:

• one battleship

• two cruisers

• one destroyer

• one submarine

• two planes

• one strategic bomber

If the fleet in sea zone 96 dies on G2 (it should IMO), the UK have in the Med on UK2:

• two carriers

• three fighters

• one tactical bomber

• two cruisers

• two destroyer

That is a 8% attack for Italy. Better to roll the dice with the attack on Egypt on I1! The chance is slightly higher (22%) if Italy built a third fighter on I1.

Marsh

Well, it does not have to be just Italy that kills this fleet.

Italy would drop off 2 T and 2 I onto Alexandria (via Greece waters)… to join the rest of the Tobruk forces.

Italy would throw everything at this UK fleet… and withdraw after a round… esp… if there are a couple of wounded CVs… and Luftwaffe should be able to mop up the survivors.

BTW, on I1 , should UK take all Alexandria forces and Sudan forces into Egypt… then Italy has a very very low chance of taking Cairo… 22% sounds rather optimistic…

I did write in ( assuming you go to SZ92 with Egyptian navy)… scenario of No Tobruk and No Taranto… after taking in the UK play on Turn1

The Syrian drop off, is a scenario only when the UK Egyptian fleet goes to SZ 92, East of Gib on UK1.

Also where UK keeps the air is important. DD blocker in Malta is impt too.

If the SBR goes to kill Subs in Canada (lets say there are 2-3 Uboats there) … FTRS from London stay in London (due to fear of SeaLion) …FTRS from India stay in India (J3 crush scenario)… then usually RAF will have 3 planes (TB, Gib FTR, Malta FTR) only + maybe SA -DD…  enough to kill Italian Fleet (BB+2 CRU)? Close call…

In these circumstances, UK is likely to be more prudent and turtle Egypt.  If they lose the battle to kill the BB+ 2 CRU+ Sub+  2 TRs… (unless the French DD can kill the TRs… ) Egypt and Middle East will be in serious jeapordy.

In case they turtle Egypt… then Middle East is in play… and Soviets or India may have to help out quick… because… if Iraq is held for a whole turn , with 3+ German FTRS there… things can go bad for Allies.

This a play Italy has to make and take its chances (even if SBR is there in striking range)… again, if no Taranto and no Tobruk.

What if Italy drops off 2T+2Inf on Syria on Italy 1 (assuming you go to SZ92 with your Egyptian Navy… on UK1 ), Germany lands FTRs on Syria on G2… Bulgarians take Greece G2

I2 drops off 4 Inf in Syria… and Transjordan and Alexandria are strongly Italian Held…

Even without any Italian Investment in navy… just overland they could take Egypt… or if not… then the Middle East…

Tirano -

Given that you eliminate Ethiopia… and you build that navy off Egypt…
If 2 of 3 Italian navys are left intact to join…
and the Germany Navy swings around …
The Egyptian navy will either have to sit in the Red Sea… or be obliterated.

The German Kriegsmarine purchase and Sea-Lion threat has to be executed with Egypt/Gib/Middle East and S. Africa money  in Mind.

Japan must wait till J3… for this scenario to work…

Given a good UK defense for a Kriegsmarine buy… then the next target should be Gib for Germany.

If Italian Navy is left untouched on UK1 (except Malta), then on I1 navies combine and take Greece.  Sacrifice 1 TR if Gib is empty… and take Gib
Save $10, collect $21  the $5 bonus almost pays for 2nd TR… (S.Fr + Greece+ Kenya - all S.African forces in Kenya… all N. African forces in Tobruk… do not venture into Alexandria)

G2 -  Land 3 FTRS in Tobruk. Clear English Channel… Non-combat navy to Gib … make sure to keep 1 Tank on TR (unload in Gib)

I2 - with 24, buy CV+2TR … N.Afro-Italians forces go to Alexandria, S. Afro-Italian force to Sudan…
G3- Attack USSR as usual… German Navy to S.France with a 1 TR (Keep Mech+Inf)  build… Bring SBRs to Alexandria

I3 - Unload everything on Egypt… (3 TR loads+ Alex+ Sudan) and take it if possible…
G4 - Reinforce Egypt…make it expensive for Allies to take it back… the original TR + TR buy puts 4 units on Egypt…and the Axis navy by a 1-2 punch can push through the Red Sea and take  S. Africa… or Middle East …and lots of UK money, very quickly… Tank+Mech are deadly on their own with a TaC+SBR… not to mention 2 other TRs that can unload 1 Inf each…

Say is on G5, Madagascar, S. Africa, Tanganyika, Sudan, fall to Germany… or Iraq! and I5 reinforces Iraq… , the bonuses start piling up…

If this is done efficiently, and Egypt falls to Italians…then the Middle-East is in play… If Egypt falls to Germany…then hold Egypt as far as possible… and rush back to block Gibralter.

But this does 5 things…
A) Both Italy and Germany get the $5 bonus a turn (even without the Med)
B) Force UK to build in South Africa… hence less money to help the US fleet, and no money to help USSR
C) Force India to send help West… making its fall all the more easier…
D) Force US to send part of its fleet to take Egypt… making Berlin safer
E) Although Moscow is safer… economically speaking, if India falls on J5/6… and Middle East /S. Africa fall on G5-I5… then Axis will be in a very strong position

Just did the Spanish Beachhead on a big game last Sat. Allies won. Bid was 20 IPC , cash only to USSR.
US attacked Spain on Turn 5… (US brought troops to Gib on US4).
UK took Turkey , same turn.

Couple of pointers:
US1 should buy all Pac, I bought 3 CVs…all planes go to Pac, to deny JapanSydney/Hawaii…till US resumes spending on US4 in Pacific…and then every other turn.

Going to Gib with 11 TRs, loaded, makes W. Germany and Rome well defended, and puts pressure on both Axis.

The turn US goes into Spain from Gib…the TRs return to E. Coast.

The next turn, the forces in Spain go into S. France… and 20 units dropped off into Spain from East Coast…

The next turn, both Northerm and S. Italy fall.

Plz keep US planes on the Gib Airbase…so they can hit Rome and land on CV.

TRs, can pick US Tanks in S. France…e route to Rome, if you need more of a punch.

It helps if UK:

1. Builds Airbase in Gib, keeps 3 planes…
2. Takes Normandy the same turn US hits S. France…prevents Paris forces hitting Spanish mIC.
3. Keep 3-4 UK planes, SBR in Syria…the turn before UK hits Turkey.
4. Persia mIC on UK2, giving 2 M+T on UK3, will help…as they can hit Turkey…and if you have 2 T+3M… then…Next turn Greece, Bulgaria, Albania all fall… and if there is a vaccuum…esp if Germany is locked in Bryansk… then Yugo, Romania, G.S. Germany all fall…and pretty much UK IPC goes up like crazy.
5. As Germany is defending W. Germ and attacking Moscow… Italy building up in Rome… the Balkans will not be well defended…
6. US should sacrifice a TR via Iceland to take Norway. .to add extra headache for Germany.
7. French troops loaded on TR increases need for more Italians in Paris… so 11 TRS is optimum…for 3 N. African Frenchmen…3 spots

MH

If Japan does NOT declare war on W. Allies till J4, then US domination of Med and Norway is delayed 1 turn.
That one turn is crucial, because , it buys time for Germany to buy 1 more turn against USSR.
That is what usually tips the balance of power toward Axis for good, either,  through an Economic victory, by caging Moscow.

Thus bringing in Japan to attack J2 or J3 allows for a more equitable game for Allies.

Hence, the change in TR loading rule, in response to TMG, disturbs the balance of the game, hence must be reversed to allow for a non-bid, fairly playable game for both the sides.

So to clarify again, one thing at a time…

Japan can declare war on UK+ Anzac and NOT with the US. Is this correct?

Hence , Japanese Navy can do a double play, where the weak UK+ Anzac Navy is cleared out for the loss of a couple of TB, whose spots are taken over by FTRS.
This makes the US auto-DOW related decision on attacking the 3 CV+BB+ CRU+ 3 DD+ Sub +5FTR+TB , almost suicidal…hence it has to clear out…only that whether IJN follows it or not, allowing Japan is sucking Island money.

This again, makes US have a devilish choice to make…keep building in W. COAST, to prevent Japan from winning, or help Moscow…by attacking Rome/Normandy.

I have done this twice, won the game as Japan twice, and thought it is perfectly legal.

Please let me know if this is not the case.

MOW,

The rules as such are already so tweaked in favor of Axis. Just look at the way Germany is set to obliterate UK Navy in Atlantic…

So, finally , playing within the rules, I come up with a play to at least give Allies a chance, and it’s termed “cheesy”…

There are different types of play and players.

Some favor the mindless, brute strength if the Axis battering away at Axis, till they win or bust.

Some favor some artful play, with interesting moves, that may confound the former type of players.

So now, this is basically “Dumbing down the game” for the sake of the former.

What this is guaranteed to do is to add BIDs for playing Allies, as the tilt is so profound.

Comparing history to the game, Japan attacks either J1 or J2…
J3, and J4 are definitely not following the historical timeline.
But…playing a J3 or J4, gives immense advantage to Axis in Europe.

So UK BB in Hong Kong, generally draws in a J2, DOW…that is point of TMG.

Now, by this rule change, we go back to the old J4G4 boring game…which is almost always an Axis win without bid.

Before TMG was proposed, there were numerous players , good ones at that, who were bemoaning this very type of play.

TMG was criticized,  that UK is “giving” away the BB…

With a mild Allied counter, suddenly,  it’s all “cheesy”… and they do a rule change to shaft the Allies.

There is a reason why Chess played in 1800 or 1900 s can be compared to now,  and beauty of moves can be appreciated.

Imagine suddenly, they say “Castling” is illegal…or change the way Bishops move… then the game is substantially changed.

That is why rules should nor be changed so abruptly,  it destroys comparitive ability of the game…over time. There are choices one can make called “House Rules”.

-----------------------’

Now, as far as US initiative in Pacific, the only thing it can do other than defend Hawaii is  bunch up in Queensland…

In the short term, neither one of these sites  does not present much of a threat to Japan.

Look at the common scenario…
All Japan SZ6 navy joins SZ 33 Navy in Carolines…and lands 2 SBRS and 6 FTRs there too…

UK Malaya BB joins Anzac navy in Queensland.

Remember,  Japan can selectively obliterate Allied Navies at its will. MORE IMPORTANTLY , also take hits on planes Alone, and land new FTRs on undamaged CVs…they have 11 of them…!

It can declare war only on UK and Anzac, and Not against US…!
(Unless they changed that too…)… and wipe off half the Allied Navy…  and USN will have to decide to vacate the SZ or attack the Japanese Navy .

Initial USN, from PHP, SFO and Hawaii, combined would be hard put to damage the IJN…forget destroy… And they risk being destroyed the follow up force Japan sends.  All this when the islands are taken…no allied Navy will get there in ages…

Most folks play Japan close to mainland China with Factory buy… but there is also the agressive Naval and Air build in Carolines play…which leads to very narrow number of reactive actions US can take.