A lot of people seem to like the US1 purchase being 2 CV and 1 BB for W.USA.

US2 varies too much to discuss all the options.  Some people put 3 bombers on W.USA for example.  Others may spend on an Atlantic fleet on US2.

I like to do things differently, but I put a premium on getting US forces into the Med as early as possible. 

In example 2 TT 1 CR in E.USA for US1/US2. 

I will also put 1 CV 1 Ftr in W.USA on US1 and US2 and then merge up the the two CV on US3 with the 2 Ftr from Hawaii to fill up the CV with Ftrs. 

At the end of US2 I've equaled the Japanese Carrier's in the Pacific and staged 4 TT and 3 CR in the Atlantic. 

Depending on if Japan attacks on J2 which is very popular, I'll have plenty more to spend on US3 to beef up either side of the map. 

However, I also rely on the Allied fleets to reinforce both sides of the map for the US.  I give Italy the Med early and rely on that UK fleet to move around the Horn of Africa and arrive in SZ91 around the same time the US TT's can move past SZ102.

I run the UK ships from India to Aznac and the BB too.  If India crush is happening, moving 1 Inf off India to get 4 IPC from a DEI just exposes the ships to a J2 attack and I only net a 1 IPC gain if I lose the TT and the Inf gets trapped on the DEI.

Just realized that they're not at war 

Technically they can be if J1 declares war and doesn't clear out the BB... but then again I don't see much benefit from a J1 DOW.

The only reason Pearl isn't attacked is because it isn't worth that much for Japan in the bigger picture. 

In history it never really was either.  The goal was just to cripple US naval influence in the Pacific - which ended up backfiring on them anyways. 

Why make that mistake again as Japan?

Lots of options for the Allies.

Most stem around Japan's moves which varies accordingly to the Axis strategy as a whole.

The consensus for US purchases vary a lot and REALLY diverge after US1 / US2.

A good strategy is generally for the allies to go about sinking ��� ships at all costs as it is more difficult for Japan to replace them than the US so you can see a trade off of US for Japanese ships.

Its particularly difficult for the US to outright play a Kill Japan First strategy, in fact I don't think I have ever seen one put to discussion that has merit.  At best the US gets lucky and has a TT with a ground unit on Hawaii and Japan leaves Tokyo unguarded for the US to take.

Anzac can play many roles, it can reinforce any US advances in the Pacific with straight TT / Inf purchases that will land on successful US holdings.  It could play a screening aka "blocking" role that keeps the ��� fleets away from the US via DD purchases.  It could also go the way of augmenting the US fleet with ships of its own.  Lastly it can play a Mop-up role following US - Japanese conflicts with Anzac's own aircraft.

India is tough because Japan goes for its throat.  A determined Japanese Kill India First aka India Crush is hard to stop, but Japan generally ends up trading aircraft for Calcutta.  What Japan does after that is highly situational depending on the Axis position in Europe.  India at worst is playing turtle on Calcutta waiting on an India Crush.  At best is ignored by Japan and starts advancing first in DEI acquisitions and then later on mainland China.  Calcutta could also, if ignored by Japan, start sending units towards Africa or the Russian Caucasus.  In the mid-game, India can assist China in taking and holding the Burma Road in Yunnan - but you don't really want to do that until after Japan attacks or risk the US being unable to attack Japanese ships until US4 at the earliest.

Those ter you're talking about all would revert to Chinese/UK control and US would not be able to build any IC there. The only two territory US could build an IC on are Kor and FIC  . . . kor would be a bad idea that early in the game for obvious reasons.

I was just suggesting Manchuria to provide clarity of how valuable (read far reaching) a NB is for the allies on DNG - especially paired with Anzac TT suicide trips.  Take away IPC from Japan, give it to the Chinese.

The more logical location is to take Kwangtung following the J3 India Crush (if it happens).  You get yourself a NB to work from that the main Japanese fleet off India cannot reach.  In particular, you are then put in range to meet up with your CV from Johnston Island on US4 in the Caroline Islands.  So even if Japan goes after Calcutta, you take back Kwang, land the US forces there.  Anzac reinforces with Ftr and now Japan cannot do much to remove them for a turn or two.  I don't recommend leaving the Anzac Ftr on DNG once the fleet leaves.

If Japan goes to take DNG on J4 - and the US took Kwang... the Allies have the following opportunity:

US2 Bombers can reach it and land on New Guinea from W.USA.  The Allied fleet from Kwang can reach it, any ship Anzac built can reach it, the US fleet in SZ30 can reach it.  If Japan moves back to Hainan (maybe builds an AB there?)  The Allied fleets merge on Round 4 back on DNG and Anzac's scramblers return to it.  Now the US has 3 CV with aircraft on it and it has 4 Bombers on Hawaii, has 3 Anzac Ftr scrambling on it and Anzac has built a NB there that allows the Allies to reach all across the Pacific and chase down the Japanese fleet while the Allies start the process of convoying Japan to death.

Let me set the stage then:

Japan is going for India Crush - Ending its turn with the majority of its aircraft and fleet in SZ36 and Kwangsi.  It has TT in SZ6 staged to move into a NB on say... Hainan.

US1 ended with a NB on Johnston Island.  It combined its fleet in SZ30 and retreated its SS and DD to SZ54.
India ended its turn with its BB running to SZ54.  It ran its Ftr to Guam and has 2 CV staged off W.USA

Anzac took DNG and didn't buy anything.  It has 3 Ftr and 2 Inf on DNG, but Japan has no ground units on TT close enough to land there unless it gives China back the Burma Road.

Now as J2, what do you do?  
India Crush is wide open and the US is staging off Anzac.  It even gave you a free run into Philippines with only 2 Inf on it.  Deal with the fleet later, consider sending units to the Philippines.  No Convoy threat on SZ6 - perfect!

Anzac does have a DD and CR sitting off DNG with a TT, but thats not too relevant, they are probably buying a BB or CV and maybe going after Java or Celebes.  Besides, they only have 2 Inf on the TT and those Ftr can't reach anything important - well maybe a stray TT you risked to take a DEI?

Do you want to Convoy India or do you want to collect as many IPC as possible for taking Calcutta?  Do you move your fleet forward?  Maybe make a landing on Malaya or just go straight for the heart of India and take out NO objectives later (more money if you let India keep Malaya)

Banzai!  You hit both Kwang and Flip, taking both with no losses.  You grab FIC too so Anzac can't land Ftr there trying to hit your ships you plan to stage in SZ36.

US2 buys 3 Bombers for W.USA.  DOW on Japan!  Moves its CV w/ 2 Ftr (fly the other from Guam and leave the TacB in the Air in SZ30), 1 BB, 2 CR, 2 DD, 2 SS and 2 TT to DNG.  The two CV from US1 stage in SZ30 and accumulate aircraft from Hawaii W.USA and the Tac left behind.  The CR from SZ28 joins the fleet there.

India continues its Turtle with max Inf.  Things are looking good for the Crush.

Anzac... wait buys an AB on DNG?  Hmmmm... thats interesting.  Let me count the fleet there...
1 CV w/ 2 Ftr, 2 BB, 4 CR, 3 DD, 2 SS, 2 TT AND now 3 Anzac Ftr to scramble.  DNG also now has 4 Inf, 2 Art on it. Hmmm.  Decision time.  What is in range?  Ships in Flip - Not many.  But most of my fleet is still in SZ36 and SZ37.  Okay this looks better.  But wait, India is there for the taking... do I crush India or not?  If I do, the Allied fleet can land anywhere north of SZ36 and I can't reach them if I take India to counter it.  Hm... or I can go after DNG now before those two CV arrive.

That is the Jist of it.  Do you want to lay out your fleet on DNG and give up India crush?  Possibly, but you don't have a NB to work from meaning you are stuck going back to the Caroline Islands with your surviving ships.  Even worse is that your aircraft on Kwangsi cannot reach DNG unless you have a AB on it so you are squaring off Fleet versus fleet - and the US has a fleet in position to mop up ships if you do in fact attack the DNG fleet.  The only unfortunate thing is that the US2 3 Bomber purchase cannot reach DNG on US3.

No matter how you cut it, its the perfect trap.  Japan can go after DNG - which gives India some breathing room and probably denies it from Japan for the game.  Any surviving fleet is subject to a US counter that consists of 2 CV, 1 CR, 3 Ftr, 1 Tac, 1 Strat.  Japan is going to start taking heavy losses that it cannot replace.  Anything left after that limps back to the Caroline Islands to hopefully repair - but the damage is done - the US fleets are sleeping with the Japanese fleets it cannot replace.  All by the end of US3 and all the US did was purchase 2 CV, 1 NB and 3 Bombers...

My Anzac suggestion:

A1:  
No purchase, Save 10.
Take DNG with 2 Inf on TT.
NCM 3 Ftr to DNG
NCM 1 DD 1 CR to SZ45
Collect 10 IPC

A2:
Purchase AB, Save 5
Retreat TT to SZ54 (UK will send its BB with it)
Place AB on DNG
Collect 10 IPC if not at war.  Collect 15 IPC if Malaya was taken, else collect 20 IPC.

A3:
Purchase 1 NB if not at war.
Purchase 1 NB, Save 5 if J2 took Malaya
Purchase 1 NB, 1 TT, 1 Inf if Malaya was still under Allied control
DOW on Japan if not already at war
NCM TT from 54 to DNG, drop off 1 Inf, 1 Art
NCM DD and CR to DNG
Collect either 15 (Malaya lost to Japan) or 20 (Malaya is still under Allied control).

Note that a US1 purchase of a NB placed on Johnston Island gets the entire US fleet to DNG at the end of US2.  The opportunity cost is definitely going to be either a BB or CV from the US1 purchase plan you have, but if India runs its BB to Queensland on I1, it can join up with the US fleet to make up for the lack of BB.  

Further, with J3 looking at full Allied fleet at DNG with 3 Ftr scrambling over it you create plenty of situations for Japan to contemplate.  You can reach a ��� fleet off Calcutta on US3 if you please.  You can reclaim the Philippines on US3 and reinforce your fleet there with a Anzac Ftr landing after you take it.  You can reinforce the US landing on the Philippines with 2 Inf from Anzac later or you can use the process I described for Anzac to shoot units all across the mainland.  Anzac can even try to take/take back if Japan took it and still land its 3 Ftr on the Philippines.

The US or Anzac can take the Caroline Islands as well if left lightly guarded or even send 2 Inf, 2 Art and its fleet to fun places like Kiangsu or Kwangtung and remove a VC from Japan as early as Round 3/4.  There is definitely something fun about the US landing 2 Inf, 2 Art at an undefended place, then Anzac reinforces it with 2 Inf and 3 Ftr in the same round.  Especially when you consider the next round the US can get an IC on it and shortly thereafter Anzac is reinforcing that landing with more Inf.  Whoops, an IC on China mainland held by the US on Turn 4 AND there are 6 ground units covered by 3 Ftr?

Something else to remember in your grand scheme of things:  If Japan does attack Russia and decides to put some TT or lightly guarded fleet in SZ6 your Bombers can reach SZ6, hit those ships and then land in a Russian controlled Buyant-Uhaa.  Of even more interest is that if you do take a place like say... Kwangtung, the next turn the US Bombers can reach SZ6 and land there as well.  Japan probably won't see that coming, I sure didn't.

AB in Norway instead of a CV on G1?  

Still leaves 15 IPC to work with which can equate to replacing an aircraft lost on the G1 attack in SZ's 110/111 and even a *gasp* tech roll if you are feeling lucky (Although a Tac and Art may be a better choice).

Interesting concept if you keep your BB and CR in SZ112 and don't use the BB in attacking SZ110/SZ111.

YG:

You ever consider an AB on DNG on A2?  It puts Anzac 10 IPC Ftr purchases the rest of the game in position to help your mop up concept.  Granted you can continue to funnel then into a reclaimed Flip.  DNG is less exposed to Japanese purchases placed on Tokyo or in SZ6.

I think a NB works better due to the places you can reach from DNG with a NB. Pretty much anywhere from SZ19 down to SZ39 and everywhere in between.  This is especially nice with Anzac spending 10 IPC / turn on a TT + Inf to keep funneling into Japanese holdings on the mainland left undefended which extends from Manchuria all the way to Calcutta.  Anzac suiciding a TT but removing Japanese territories is a good trade IMO, especially in combination with your attrition strategy regarding USA and Japan.

Curious if the surprise factor played a big part in the effectiveness of this.

Do you think the US ignoring the Atlantic and going for Japan's throat (after its evacuation of its fleet) would have changed the game?

Were there any "tells" that Japan had that could have led the US to direct its full economic strength at Tokyo?

Its a good reason as any to keep a TT with a guarding fleet in Hawaii.  Just in case Tokyo ever forgets its there.

I would think that waiting for a counter may not happen as Moscow will be just as happy sitting there on its capital until the Germans have to divert their attention Westward into landings in Italy or France.

You'll still need to take Egypt, and either Moscow or London for a VC win... so why wait for a counter when its counter-intuitive for the Reds to attack.

Buy a battleship and 2 carriers for the Pacific turn 1, and 3 bombers for the Pacific turn 2. Chase down the Japanese fleet and sink as much as you can, as quickly as you can, even if it means losing all of your own initial fleet doing it. Japan is only as strong as it's navy. After the Pacific is empty, buy subs and destroyers and Convoy raid SZ 6.

Wait,

So with Moscow under pressure you spend nearly all your IPC on the Pacific?

A better National Objectives chart is all that's needed IMO.

This.

I think it comes down to Japan getting better NO's to make it a good play to try for a Pacific VC victory.

Lets evaluate their NO's:

When Japan Is Not at War with the United States:
�   10 IPCs if Japan is not at war with the United States, has not attacked French Indo-China, and has not made an unprovoked declaration of war against United Kingdom/ANZAC. Theme: Strategic resource trade with the United States.
Any early aggression against UK or Anzac brings the US into the war due to the provocation rules.  This means Japan's best NO (for doing nothing) is given up the moment Japan makes up any aggressive move in the Pacific.  To top it off, the US gets a nifty 60 IPC upgrade to all 3 of its IC's as well as enables every US NO for a big economic swing in the US' favor.

When Japan Is at War with the Western Allies:
�   5 IPCs if Axis powers control all of the following territories: Guam, Midway, Wake Island, Gilbert Islands, and Solomon Islands. Theme: Strategic outer defense perimeter.
In order to obtain this NO, Japan needs to take and hold 5 Islands, which requires 5 TT and 5 Inf at a minimum.  That is a 50 IPC investment of units to obtain this NO.  In order to reclaim this investment of units, Japan would need to hold all 5 of these islands for 10 turns.  The Allies need to only take a single island back to remove this NO and make the entire investment of units null and void.

�   5 IPCs per territory if an Axis power controls India (Calcutta), New South Wales (Sydney), Hawaiian Islands (Honolulu) and/or Western United States (San Francisco). Theme: Major Allied power centers.
Realistically Japan can take and hold Calcutta to validate an investment of resources to obtain it.  Sydney is a 2 turn move from the S.F. factory and is at least a 3 turn move from Tokyo.  Hawaii is a single turn move from both Tokyo and S.F. which makes it difficult to first take, and even harder to hold as the only real threat with TT's stacked up comes from SZ6 (obvious what is happening) or in the Caroline Islands for a split threat at Anzac or Hawaii.  Japan taking and holding W.USA is pretty unrealistic in anything but the wildest of games.  In effect, this NO is only applicable in any strategic situation for Calcutta.  The remaining locations are pretty unrealistic for any Japanese strategy.  If anything, Japan should get 5 IPC per VC it holds once at war.

�   5 IPCs if Axis powers control all of the following territories: Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Celebes. Theme: Strategic resource centers.
This is the most realistic good value NO left to Japan once the war starts.  Taking and holding these islands is realistic if Japan can cut India out of the picture.  This is generally the play I think most Japanese strategy will be centered around with a potential for 20 or so IPC.  However, this also requires holding every single island.  The allies only have to take one of these out to remove this NO.   A better option would be for Japan to get 2 IPC per island it controls that it did not start the game with.

In summation, these are my suggestions:

1. 10 IPCs if Japan is not at war with the United States, has not attacked French Indo-China, and has not made an unprovoked declaration of war against United Kingdom/ANZAC. Theme: Strategic resource trade with the United States.
2. Remove the Strategic Resource Center and Strategic Outer Defense perimeter NO's.  Replace them with the following:
"2 IPCs for each island Japan controls that it did not originally control at the beginning of the game."
3. Expand the Major Allied Power Centers NO to include all VC's under Japanese control.  Reduce the 5 IPC benefit to 3 IPC.
4. NO's 2 and 3 require Japan to be at war with USA, Anzac, and UK-India.

Some people may think this tilts the scales significantly in Japan's favor.  However, Japan faces the US economy, the Chinese pestering, Anzac slowly growing, and India.  It can possibly face an ignored Russian front as well.  Japan's economy dwindles significantly the moment it goes to war with the Allies, and faces something in the range of 4-1 or 5-1 economic disadvantage.  I think this actually balances the scales to something along the lines of 4-3 or 5-3, but still in the Allied favor.

isn't "extra pieces, just the way you want them" what FMG is for?

in my mind, I do not expect any A&A games to include money, or to have great detail in their plastic pieces, and the use of cardboard for certain pieces is also ok.  all these things save money, which translates in a lower price for the game, which is good for me.

What I do not accept, is errors on the game board and errors in the rule book and setup charts.  Pacific was a F-ing disaster in that regard.

Believe me, theres no connection between no paper money and a lower game price... just a bigger profit margin.