Posts made by Van_Trump

Well, their website says the game is temporarily out of stock.
Maybe they’re waiting for more Tac bombers to be produced so they can add them to the box.

Can ANZAC (or UK) land fighters on unoccupied Dutch territories during non-combat move?
Does this count as taking possession of territories?

@Gwlachmai:

That’s cool, does anyone know if there are any plans to produce an IPC chart that goes to say….80? I’d much rather see that.

There are already superior graphic charts that an enterprising fan/artist has posted on this forum.
Just print it out on card stock.

I told WOTC to keep the corrected battle strip, keep the corrected set up charts, keep their corrected rulebook. Just send me the Jap Tac fighters. So I have to disagree with “I’d much rather see that.”

Oh, truly funny video btw. I watched it 3 times.

This is fantastic news.

Congrats to everyone who called and emailed in.

And of course to you Krieg.

Thanks

I chuckle at this. When I hosted the games at my place I told them not to bother thinking about strategic bombing if there were fighters stationed in the territory.

The interceptor rules just made it too punitive against the attacker.

I also told them that if anyone was foolish enough to strat bomb a territory with defending fighters I would go through the mechanics of the attacks but I would not allow them to “take it back”.

Escort rules usually not practical because of the decreased range of the fighters.

Only conventional bombing runs on the board are Japan on India or US on Japan. Maybe in a long game Japan might take out some of the US island Airbases, but the IPC’s to repair are a drop in the bucket for US. Becomes just like a risky convoy disruption.

I agree that China/ANZAC seems to work best as the 4th player.

I will point out the obvious: players should be planning their next moves during the other players’ turns. (and refining them as the situation changes. i.e. the Jap player moves a DD during non-combat to block your planned attack.)

When it comes to purchases everyone should be ready to IMMEDIATELY plop down the new units as soon as their turn begins. Very rarely should someone have to think what to buy in a 4 player game.

The disadvantage of more than 2 players is lack of coordination between the allies. The knock on the original game is that it was a 2 player game masquerading as a 5 player game.

i build 2tr and minor Ind.
J1 attack
Attack Yunnan, vacant China territories, Philippines(using 3 loaded transports to reduce risk), Hong Kong, FIC, Han State, UK BB + transp(with 3 Bmb + fighter), US Hawaii transp (with sub), New Britain sub (with DD).
Key here is you have destroyed 4 Allied transports + UK BB.

You have increased US IPC by 40 but US loses 7 (Philippines) and UK loses 5 (Hongkong)
so allied gain is only 28. You gain 5 so allies only net 23. Their potential gain in the next few turns is limited by lack of transports.

Entire fleet is sitting in the Philippines sea zone. Can hit Malaya or Queensland J2 from there. Check out the face of the Anzac player when he realizes this. Think he’ll send his fighter to Malaya?

J2 depends on whether UK reinf Malaya or Yunnan. If they reinf Yunnan attack Malaya using 1 BB, 1 CA, 2 transp 1 DD, 1 Sub. You are now within striking distance of India.
Move rest of fleet to Truk. (2 transports from turn 1 build land troops in FIC)
Continue to take lightly defended Chinese terr.
If UK reinf Malaya, Burma road gets cut again. Can take Queensland or Han State. With bombers may even be possible to take Malaya anyway. If no fighters in Malaya, start taking the Dutch islands (start with Borneo). You should be able to take 2 on J2 and the other 2 on J3. If you let fighters live they’ll have to be escorted. (UK is down to how many IPC’s at this point???)

The race is on. Will you be able to take down India before US forces you to turn to the East? Will make for a quick game anyway.

This strategy is designed to whittle down UK as quickly as possible. The fewer Inf that get built in India the better.

Alternate 1st turn build is 3 transports. I prefer to get 3 tanks (or 2 tanks + 1 Mech inf) to the front on J2 build.

In reply to a J1 attack, what should USA build? UK? Anzac?

My thoughts were to build up the firepower of the US fleet as quickly as possible: 1 additional carrier and DD’s.

Raiding would involve transports. How soon can the US afford to buy transports after a J1 attack?

Understand US only has west coast fleet left after J1 attack. Anzac down to 1 DD, 1 Transp, Uk down to DD, CA.

Anzac should build a fighter to replace the one sent to help UK. UK is busy building infantry.

Well, I called customer service to complain about the TAC bomber shortage.

Again, nothing the grunt on the phone could do about it except pass the feedback on. He admitted mine was not the first complaint, lol.

Told him a lot of third parties had already corrected their mistakes: I already printed out correct Battleboard, correct Set up sheets, etc…(In large part due to this website)

Related that the games I hosted at my home all had one thing in common: Japan has a shortage of Tactical Bomber pieces on turn 1. Ridiculous that they expect players to improvise pieces on turn one. How could this not have been caught during play-testing?

Praised the game overall but was disappointed in the production and editing problems for a premium-priced game.

Told him that I knew about their correct battlestrip offer.
I said keep the battlestrip, keep any correct set up sheets, keep the corrected rulebook. Those issues I was able to resolve on my own.

Just send me 6 additional TAC bombers for Japan and I’m a happy customer.

Was planning to buy the Europe1940 game but NOT before I received additional TAC bombers for Japan.

I received a reference number and I followed up with an email quoting the reference number in the subject line (thought it would be more likely to be opened and read.)

Squeaky wheel, gang. Everyone needs to complain multiple times.

@Richter:

With the low number of units the Allies have at the start of the game I also thought of trying a J1 push.

some thoughts:

Burma road - it enables the Chinese to buy artillery instead Infantry - would that be so bad? China starts with 12IPC = 4 INF OR 3 ART/INF mixture. Art is also only hepling in attack (wouldn’t Japan like it that  China attacks?).

IIRC then a lone Trsp (Hawaii) does NOT provoke combat - leavr trsp alone and focus on the Island - enables shore bombardment - so JP fleet could go to Hawaii and block out the US fleet (IIRC the JP is larger)

Securing Malaya and/HK is prime priority - could you “ignore” Phillies for a turn (no chance to build there)? we are used to attack phillies first, but is it necessary?

Instead of an minor IC in China - I’d buy a 3rd transport for shuttling troops from Japan (quite a stack there)

IC then on J2

If you take Hawaii and Hongkong J1 and Phillies J2 you have 5 VCs

From there you can deceide wether you go after India or Australia - depending on how many trs you have fully loaded.

i this scenario China and teh DEI would NOT be prime targets as they supply IPCs and this strategy focusses on speed

If you capture enough VC it does not matter how much US produces.

I might add taking Hawaii and splanting your J fleet there allows (fly planes to Hawaii for scrambling ;)
to delay the US fleet for some time (even strike out at the West Coast initial fleet - US can’t build too much on US 1) at J2

I know its risky, but this stratregy mirrors somewhat the original Japanese plan in 1941. Strike Quick and Strike hard - then the war is over.

Re: Burma road. people worried about J1 attacks being risky take a close look at the China attacks to reopen Burma road. Talk about risky! Fighter + 5 inf attacking 2 inf, 1 arti? And this is generally the book move for China 1.

Re: Hawaii J1 attack. US can scramble the tac fighter to eliminate bombardment so you are left with 3 inf, 2 art vs 2 inf, 1 fighter, 1 Bomber. At least with Phillipines J1 attack you have the Truk fighters + 1 extra inf to help with the land battle.

Amazing.
You’d think a premium-priced game would have something of this quality included.

@Uncle_Joe:

And 4 Fighters and a Tac. That is a lot of firepower to hit the reduced IJN fleet in the area. Granted it tends to cost the Brits pretty heavily as well, but with no real fleet presence in the DEI, the Anzacs can come out to play and the Japanese will find it hard to secure the islands for long.

That is a good suggestion. Don’t forget if Malaya in Jap hands fighters can land there so J can take two hits on CV, 1 on DD and 1 on BB before it starts to hurt. This will definitely delay J taking DEI by a turn. Transp purchase (2) turn 1 sitting off French Indo China at end of J2

Without killing the starting US fleet, Hawaii would likely be a suicide run. The US could hit with a fleet off Queensland coupled with anything bought at San Fran. Hitting Hawaii on J3 without killing the US fleet would be folly IMO.

J3 a little earlier then I had in mind to take 6th city, lol. More like J6-7. If US chooses to defend Hawaii then I move into Queensland and block attacks from US fleet with DDs. If USA defends Queensland I invade Hawaii and block Queensland fleet. If Hawaii taken then USA MUST recapture on their turn. At least with Queensland USA has a chance to reinf Sydney with fighters.

I dont see how you have the TR capacity to make a serious threat against ANZAC with a J1 attack. I would be using the ANZAC force to prep to threaten the DEI to take it or re-take it depending on what the Japanese do.

Fleet in Philipines can reach Queensland J2 because of naval base. Mistake for Japan to do so but was cause for concern for ANZAC player. It might be interesting variant if Jap can take Sydney J3.

Forgot to mention Hong Kong also fell in J1 attack. Japan has LOTS of planes.

Anyway, I think I will try playing USA next time.

@Uncle_Joe:

My opinion of a J1 attack is that you are forced into a lot more lower-odds battles that you will find harder to recover from if they go poorly. You simply dont have the troops in Asia or at sea to absorb hits if the Chinese/Brits/US get a few decent rolls in any of those battles. Also, I think you’ll find it hard to kill the Royal Navy, pin down the USN, and secure the DEI while simultaneously hitting China with a maximum effort. And if you skimp in any of those areas you open yourself up to a bad battle or two from which it can much harder to retake the initiative.

After J1 attack royal navy is down to DD CA beside India. One-third of Japanese navy more than a match. If they could run away to Africa, they would. Also easier to take unoccupied DEI than if you let British inf in there.

Ironically, when I played UK and Japan attacked on 3, surviving RN linked up and destroyed J transports + escorts off the coast of Phillipines. Killing the RN BB is one of the benefits of attacking J1.

@Uncle_Joe:

Can it survive if it has to move to engage the US off of Queensland (ie, it has to be able to BEAT the US force, then survive the US bomber counter-attack immediately followed by the Anzac air attack + any stray ship Anzac might have).

Don’t attack ANZAC until UK is dead. Just threaten to attack.
I would attack where ever the US fleet is absent from. Hawaii or Queensland. If US player too strong transp troops from Malaya to W Australia

@Uncle_Joe:

Captured Phillipines(using all 3 transp), cut Burma road, took few China territories.

Also, I have a question here. What do you use to escort the TRs? Is it that force that then relocates to Truk on J2? Is that force strong enough to stand off the US starting fleet + reinforcements?

Almost entire fleet off phillipines J1, 3cvs, 2BB, etc… Japan looks defenseless. Much of this relocateds to TRUK J2.

Japan has so many planes they just overwhelm anything in Asia.

Took out US trans(with sub), New Britain sub (with DD),UK BB + 2 transp (with 3 Bombers + fighter, fighter lost)
Captured Phillipines(using all 3 transp), cut Burma road, took few China territories.
Purchase minor industry, 2 transp.

On UK 1 Britain chose to reinf Burma road so…

on J2 Malaya fell. Borneo captured. Bulk of fleet moved to TRUK (Caroline Islands) with the exception of 1BB, 1CV(with fighters) 1CA 1DD 1sub + transports which were located off Malaya. Burma road survived.
1DD blocking US fleet from going to Japan.

On UK2 Britain made mistake of moving troops out of India to reinforce front line so…

on J3 India fell, Burma road cut. Remaining Japanese homeland fighters moved to TRUK. Remaining DEI islands captured.

US3 tried to eliminate TRUK fleet strongpoint but at that point Japan was happy to exchange materiel with USA 1:1. Dice deserted US in 2nd round of combat so game over.

With the exception of the US final battle, Japanese dice were average to poor (50% of expected hits counting pips)

Couple of notes: This ‘shock and awe’ first round attack froze the ANZAC player. Philipines fleet threatened invasion of Queensland so fighters kept at home. ANZAC should ignore “threat” of Japan moving fleet out of position by invading Australia and send all fighters to help UK.

Uk did not move DD to prevent bombardment of Malaya but bombardment (BB CA) missed anyway.

should UK reinf Malaya with fighters instead of Burma road?
Hard to justify in terms of investment but in this game yes.

With J1 attack UK income well south of 10 ipcs by J3. With DEI in Japanese hands tons of $ to spend.

If Phillipines invasion goes badly J1 and Japan loses too many grunts, Japan will not have the troops to take Malaya J2. Not a problem with average or better dice. (Japan can bring in Fighter, Tactical Fighter, 4inf, 2 arti)(vs 2 inf, Bmb, Fighter)
Thats 3 hits vs 1.5 hits by pip count. Japan rolls 8dice vs 4dice so things are more likely to go wrong for US. Japan loses 2-3 inf on average.

If UK turtles in India he can survive a few more turns. Meanwhile the 3 tanks/turn plus airpower make mincemeat out of the Chinese. The US player can slowly build up instead of attacking but do the allies really have that much time after a J1 attack?

India falls J6-J7. By then Japan has stopped buying tanks for the mainland and income is higher than US. All that is needed is a dble threat Hawaii/Queensland invasion from TRUK and 6th victory city is in hand.

Allies win by having Japan spend on 2 fronts: Asia mainland and Pacific war with US. If Japan waits to attack they CAN crush China but UK’s income can go up to 30 = 10inf/turn on India (this is exactly what happened when I played UK 2nd game) As Japan I would rather have US getting 40 extra than UK getting 20 extra IPCs. UK is on my doorstep. USA has to build transp to ship all those grunts over.

Honestly I cannot think of a good reason not to attack J1 (except for experimentation and varying the game)

@HerrVorragend:

Is that working as intended? Thats quite stupid…
Is Japan considered an Island for scrambling purposes?

Yes.
Makes the invasion of Japan a very, very tough nut to crack.
Maybe if someone develops the A-bomb it can be avoided.

In original AA, once had 1 transport  take out 2 fighters without loss. What was odd is the combat took like 6 rounds. 1st fighter wasnt killed until 4th round of combat. Thats a lot of misses from the fighters.

I remember I bought Risk for my 10 yr old son to try. He was doing really, reallly well his first game, then the dice turned against him for the first time.
As the tears welled up in his eyes I thought about what I could say to comfort him. I thought back to all my 20+ years of gaming experience.
All I could think of was: “I 'm sorry. I know it’s unfair, but you’re just going to have to get used to that.”

what if japan simply blocks route to Korea with destroyer?

It seems a slow strategy. US needs to get in the game faster.

Just finished this job with my new game.

Glued flexible advertising fridge magnets (cut into tiny squares with sissors) to top of carriers and bottom of fighters.
Used cheap epoxy.

Dble check which side is magnetic to each other before you glue.
In my case the bare dark grey underside sticks to itself.

It reduces esthetics but greatly improves playability for a heavily sea battle oriented game.

You can turn carrier upside down and shake lightly and they still stick. Very, very easy to remove and place.

I only did a single set for ANZAC and UK. If they can afford to build more than one carrier Japan has lost anyway.
(Maybe if they can afford to build even one carrier Japan has lost. Certainly in the case of ANZAC.)