Most Surprising First Round purchases you have seen?

[Rhineland]

Never thought of an AC open for ��� but it might through off the americans.  I think it would be better to wait for R2 though.

[ABWorsham]

Had a friend who purchased as many dice rolls as possible for weapon upgrades on the first role.

[Blitz]

I actually had a friend playing as Russia build a bomber on his first purchase and try to bomb Japan with it. He managed to take a good amount of IPC away.

[Cmdr Jennifer]

Thinkin, 2 fighters/artillery could work if you land the 2 originals in Caucasus.  Give you a decent shot at sinking the Med fleet anyway. (4 fighters vs battleship/transport)

Dunno if it would be wise, but at least it is not a standard move!

[Croggyl]

Thinkin, 2 fighters/artillery could work if you land the 2 originals in Caucasus.  Give you a decent shot at sinking the Med fleet anyway. (4 fighters vs battleship/transport)

Dunno if it would be wise, but at least it is not a standard move!

It's not a standard move, but funny. For the germans.
I have done these years ago, and retreat two fighters after one round of combat without any hit by myself.

Notes to myself:
- russian pilots are not able to sink any german ship
- better build an embankment dam at Gibraltar and dry up the Mediterranean Sea

[Cmdr Jennifer]

Theoretically it's plausible to sink the German navy with 4 Fighters. (American fighters are better than Russians though, I agree...Russian fighters usually end up sinking Allied ships, not Axis ships.)

[Rhineland]

Has anyone every tried an all air craft build for japan turn one? If so how did it turn out?

I'm interested in trying this myself next game see what happens.

[Croggyl]

Has anyone every tried an all air craft build for japan turn one? If so how did it turn out?

I'm interested in trying this myself next game see what happens.

I think, without a transport build you will lose foothold on asia quickly. If the UK sink that lonely tranny in SZ 59 (which seems to be a common move) you will only land 4 land units in the first two turns. If the UK build an IC in india you may be in deep trouble ...
You need an infantry shield to claim land. Fighters/bombers are nothing without fodder.

[LT04]

I agree with Croggyl, you don't need FTR's without INF to absorb hits.  If you want to try this idea do the normal TRN build J1 and the FTR build J2.  That's if you want to get them into the game quickly.

I would do a TRN build on J1, INF J2 then the FTR build J3.

Keep in mind that this is all based on moving into Asia. I would do things diffrently if you are proposing a FTR build to get into the Pacific.  If that is the case I think a FTR build could be interesting.  Although FTR's can't really outmaneuver a navy in this game b/c of the SZ and island spaces each count as a space.

I would be interested to see how this works out for you. Keep us posted.

LT

[Rhineland]

The thinking with the fighters it to have a squad go over to africa to defend the german placement. The bid will go into a tran in med or libya men.

Its a land grab for germany more so then for japan and this will play into the axis hands if they come after the ��� as well becuase germany will have africa plus the russian territory to roll into russia.

It has got me interested and I will try it out maybe not all FTRS start but i will go all 2 rnd. Plus they will not expect it lol. I hope that rolls do not effect this to much either way.

[Cmdr Jennifer]

I have considered a bomber strategy with both Germany and Japan.  The idea being that with 5 or 6 bombers you can cripple the Russians and make them roll over before England and America can bring their A game. (Figure 2 or 3 German bombers against Russia/Caucasus averaging 3.5 IPC each should be 11-12 IPC in damage and another 3 bombers from Japan for another 11-12 IPC in damage should almost bring Russia to zero IPC in short order.)

It would be easy enough for Germany to produce 1 or 2 bombers on Germany 1 and Japan 2 bombers on Japan 1.  Then it's just a matter of hitting China really strong and holding it so you can put your bombers in place.

[LT04]

The thinking with the fighters it to have a squad go over to africa to defend the german placement. The bid will go into a tran in med or libya men.

Its a land grab for germany more so then for japan and this will play into the axis hands if they come after the ��� as well becuase germany will have africa plus the russian territory to roll into russia.

It has got me interested and I will try it out maybe not all FTRS start but i will go all 2 rnd. Plus they will not expect it lol. I hope that rolls do not effect this to much either way.

This sounds like a story I heard once about a pig and a chicken that wanted to host a barnyard breakfast.  The pig said, “What should we have on the menu?”  The chicken said “How about eggs and bacon?” The pig said “That’s just being involved for you, that’s commitment for me.”

My point is that it sounds to me like Japan has its fair share of commitment for that Africa strategy and Germany is just involved.  Japan also will not be able to gain any IPC’s to pay for this campaign.

I don’t think I would use this strategy; however, I have been wrong in the past so let me know how it works out for you if you choose to use it.

LT

[Rhineland]

Jen I had the same thoughts about the SBR on russia like you. I still think it is a nice strategy but the problem is that it places a lot of hope on the dice not landing on 1 beyond the odds. If it doesnt its an easy win if it does then you are up the creek ...

Have you play tested it much? I never really got to with mine but it worked well in one game. What russian open could hurt this strategy? Would you use it if the dice were hot/cold on R1?

[Rhineland]

LT04 I hear what you are saying but I think you have to think of the axis as a team so this is something you probably don't want to do with FTF games with 4-5 players. With that said, think about the benefits of germany having 45-50 IPC most of the game this will allow them to be very stong and I don't think it will cost the Japs much.

They will be using there starting fleet plus ftr and a few troops to keep germany strong. This will allow asia to fall fast to the japs as well.

The IPC goes 80 axis vs 96 with africa and a lot of asia the IPC war will be won. They will have the postional advantage as well. Unless the axis get dice screwed they will win this game for sure I think. Time to really test this one out though.

[LT04]

Rhineland,

     I think it could work but like you with one axis player vs. two.  I think it is safe to say this would have to be a KGF game.  Japan would need those FTR's or IPC's if the US came full bore at Japan.

     I also think that Japan hade better hope that Germany can keep INF at the space Japan will be using as an air base.  Yeah FTR's have a good defence but I would attack 4 FTR's with 2 INF and 2 ART or ARM b/c Japan would loose more in the fight.

LT