Posts made by simon33

@Baron:

@simon33:

In response to the OP, it does negate the surprise strike if the defender takes the hit on a sub. That sub still gets to fire back, unless the attacker has a destroyer when the surprise strike on defence is negated.

Submarines casualty can retaliate against Submarines first strike only if the other side have no Destroyer. Otherwise, its surprise strike is blocked so it fires during regular combat phase and if chosen as casualty it is sunk and denied an attack or defense roll.

So, when no DD is present, Submarines are almost as useful as Destroyers because chosing one Sub as casualty gives no first strike advantage to the other side, since the casualty still roll his defense.

That is what I said.

@SubmersedElk:

You can’t build a major in Kiangsu - its “original owner” is actually China. Only place Japan can build a major is in Korea.

Oh right. Hadn’t noticed that.

@Kreuzfeld:

That means the the japanese seazone isn’t that vital anymore.

It’s still pretty vital. Convoy disruption prevents your production there and in Korea if you hold that. And if the Allies are strong in SZ6, then they in danger of moving down the coast to SZ19 and SZ20. That’s one of the ways I lost my last game as Axis.

@Nippon-koku:

I’d recommend Shantung to Kiangsu.

But you can build a major in Kiangsu and only a minor in Shantung.

@Nippon-koku:

I’m a big fan of 4 transports, 1 DD and 1 CV in EUS on US1.

I’m guessing that the theory behind the CV is that you can (maybe) hold SZ91 off Gibraltar. I would question whether this was worth 16 production. Land based planes can threaten or defend against the Kreigsmarine off Iceland and the UK. If the Kriegsmarine can be stopped from just sitting in SZ109 off London, convoying it, they aren’t really an effective force any more.

@Nippon-koku:

Something that is always odd to me: the general consensus seems to be that the US should attack Japan first.  However, the popular thinking on the Axis side is that Germany can take Moscow by turn 5 or 6.  If Germany can take Moscow that early, effectively ending the game, then why wouldn’t the Allies want to create a strong Atlantic presence first?  huh

Good point. via Iceland or Gibraltar, the US can be in Norway the second turn after a non-Italian axis DOW or turn 5. The former is probably the easier path but less flexible because you aren’t also threatening the Med or the Channel. Once in Norway, fighter escorts can be applied to strategic bombing raids against West Germany and Germany. North Italy is also threatened by unescorted raids.

1 & 4 - yes
2 - providing the attacker doesn’t have a destroyer and the defending didn’t submerge
3 - Only if the attacker elects to take the hit on the surface ship. If they have subs, they can take it on them even though they’ve already fired.

In response to the OP, it does negate the surprise strike if the defender takes the hit on a sub. That sub still gets to fire back, unless the attacker has a destroyer when the surprise strike on defence is negated.

@wilk7011:

I need clarification please:

Do retreating aircraft only get to move 1 space, to the same space as land units, or do they get the finish there remaining move totals?

If you are attacking and retreat they finish their remaining movement. The move one space rule comes in when you are defending and lose the landing field you started from, either a carrier or an airbase you scrambled from. The latter is quite difficult to occur, but possible if you scramble into a sea zone while the territory is attacked from a different sea zone or land.

@taamvan:

they also cannot hide in 113 as it is very easy to “slam the door” and trap the German fleet in the Baltic if it is trying to hold back…

I don’t understand this part. They can hide in 113. If you have Denmark (should be easy to take back if you don’t), they can strike at a force blocking the Baltic in 112. But if it is coming to this it sounds like Germany has lost.

Regarding attacking Greenland, if you can get that far why not attack Quebec? Stops a turn of production from the facility there, presumably slowing down efforts to regain SZ109. Attacking Greenland only robs US of a landing field they don’t need, unless I’m missing something?

@Zhukov44:

So the BB could go to 109, or to Iceland (where scrambled Allied figs can defend it) but if Germany bought an AC G1, then Germany should be in position to destroy it G2.

The latter isn’t a bad idea with a J1 DOW. It can be joined by a US Cruiser and scrambling fighter, plus 1-2 UK DD and 2 UK/France fighters. Max the Germans can throw at it BB, Cruiser and 2 SB, plus what was bought on G1 plus sub survivors of G1. Still a good attack for Germany with an appropriate buy but distracts from other things they might be doing like bombing London and convoying the UK. The problem with defending in SZ109 is that (a) you will lose (b) ships are in position to convoy © you are within range of land based ftrs. The upside is that you have two airbases and also have a naval base.

EDIT: Also, US is in a position to counter attack US2 and sink any German survivors of the battle. Could buy 7 subs and a DD. Germany won’t be allowed to land planes on the airbase G2 so would be in trouble. Might need to thin down the attack for this reason.

But Iceland represents an awesome base for a US invasion of Norway. I’ve never thought of that before. If the Kreigsmarine attack they need to either abandon convoying SZ109 or divide their forces. The surrounding sea zone is reachable by strategic bombers but not land based fighters. I’ll have to try this move next time as allies.

Perhaps this is the move the OP was thinking of blocking?

@Young:

I’ve decided to start hatching a plan to go after Tokyo, basically the starting units in the Pacific will create a southern force that will go down to Queensland and wait there until the northern force builds and moves toward Tokyo. This should eventually force Japanese ships north and away from the money Islands where the southern American force will strike and take away income. This will only work if the Northern force is strong enough to threaten Tokyo, and not just strong enough to convoy, if Japan builds stacks of infantry on Tokyo before taking Calcutta, that would be a good sign of reverse economics for Japan, but it will cost the Americans a lot and they might possibly need a factory in Alaska.

Doesn’t a J1 DOW with an attack on the fleet at Hawaii prevent this strategy? I can’t see why with a J1 DOW you wouldn’t attack the fleet at Hawaii.

Are you referring to a J2 or later DOW?

Otherwise you’d probably be having to build up on US1, go to Hawaii US2, getting to Qld (SZ54) US3.

@Gamerman01:

Once a transport unloads anything, any time during the turn, it is DONE for the rest of the power’s turn - can’t move, can’t unload

Do the rules say this and if so, where?

@Gamerman01:

You can do it.  Subs only stop amphibious assaults from the sea zone that the sub is in.  So only a sub in Z3 stops an unescorted amphibious assault on Soviet Far East

That’s my read as well but it appears to be a loophole. The sub should block an unescorted transport IMO.

One question. Are you allowed to load a transport in a hostile sea zone with a combat and then unload in the same or a different sea zone? I can’t find where this is covered in the rules.

@StuckTojo:

Have you tried against a real, breathing opponent? I tend to find the artificial intelligence is, shall we say, not so terribly intelligent.

Yes, a few times. Two opponents so not a huge sample. Without SZ37 I always found the IJN dominant and hard to dislodge.

I’ve played quite a number of games of this one as allies against the hard AI on tripleA. I’ve found a couple of things:

• with a successful SZ37 axis falls without much trouble without a bid.
• without SZ37 and using the UK fleet to take down the med, allies can win without a bid but it is quite difficult. BTW, I did it without ever getting around to doing strategic bombing raids. I always find better things to spend my money on than trading IPCs roughly one for one with Germany. If the AI took down Transjordan on G1 this wouldn’t be possible until UK2 at least.

My conclusion is that SZ37 is pretty much required.

wrt SZ37 it seems to be a bit of an all or nothing roll of the dice. If you win the battle, you should win the war - the US and UK can then take down the islands. I guess if you don’t do it the british fleet off india can go after the german med BB which certainly helps.

Seems to be a bit of miscalculation in setting up the game. There shouldn’t be these kinds of moves on the first turn. It’s not much of a game if the attack is made.

@SubmersedElk:

I’m a fan of J2DOW myself, it’s much less risky overall.

I’m inclined to agree. J1 DOW doesn’t allow for taking down Hawaii and the UK BB which might get away has to run to a position where it can’t be much use. Really just the Philippines fighter which does get away with this strategy. The bigger limitation is letting the UK Pac get 21 production on its first turn.

@SubmersedElk:

It isn’t. Stick to two and leave the DD and transport on the west side of the UK alone.

Doesn’t that leave your subs pretty vulnerable in SZ110? I guess that assumes that at least one survives. If you retreat from SZ111 with the damaged BB I guess that takes any remaining subs with it from there.

@SubmersedElk:

@wilk7011:

Do you guys see UK scrambling often or do you try to make it so the risk is to heavy for the UK to scramble?

If the UK scrambles, either a) he didn’t do his math right; or b) you went in too light.

It’s generally a really bad idea for the UK to lose those planes in round 1, they’d need to have an awesome opportunity to set Germany back to make it worthwhile. Keep in mind that the UK really doesn’t know if Germany is going Sealion by that point, no matter what Germany chose to buy.

I don’t see how it is possible to go into all three sea zones heavy enough to prevent a scramble.

@wilk7011:

@Nippon-koku:

More games I play the more I like the neutral crush for the Allies.  Hell, with a heavy enough EUS buy in round 1 the US can be in Spain as early as US2.

I must not think outside the box enough. US can attack neutrals when not at war with the Axis and before they are brought in during round 4?

No. Must be referring to a J 1 Dow.