If the U.K. declares war, can Japan enter the DEI - or is that a DOW on the USA

@faruu

Exactly! That’s why I always wait for a declaration of war. Attacking first caused Japan to lose in real life.

GH had it right! Better safe than sorry. You don’t want to lose a capital and it’s income if preventable just because you think it can be taken back at some future time. Turn 2 is when you decide your options.

@Cow:

You get the middle east by buying air and attacking ground with it.

Air force > Navy in this game

I have not played Japan very often but I am not one to hit the US right off.  I like to secure China and the DEI first.  Cripple or take India and pressure the ANZAC’s is next while harrassing the US with landings in Alaska and the Philipeans.  Alaska doesn’t really mean that much but most US palyers will not want Japanese forces in North America.  Once Japan’s IPC level is up and I can build more capitol ships and planes, that is when I move to really hit the US fleet.  An Aggressive US player will make this stratagy much harder to pull off though.  the game I am currently playing, the Japan player did hit the Hawaiian fleet on round one and took it on round two.  The US player has been so focused on the Japan player that the Italians have taken Brazil and the Germans have landed in the West Indies and convoy raided the east coast of the US.  Britain has had no help and is barely hanging on.  The round 1 DOW can work if you have the right kind of player in position.  To give the US player credit, he has begun to make some better playes and is pushing back but he is having to regain alot of lost ground which really help the axis players be more aggressive.

@Cow:

Get the African NOs for Russia as well. African NOs are very important for Russia.

Agreed wholeheartedly!
I must admit though, I’m still a little in doubt about when to take them and when not to.

For example, if Germany is doing SeaLion it seems better not to (correct me if I’m wrong)? If Russia goes there (early) in this situation, it has just too few units to start contesting Eastern Europe and/or Scandinavia RU3 (assuming GE did sortie into London). Contesting those area’s with Germany seems better than getting into Africa, since the Russian profit is the same or even higher but it also denies Germany valuable IPCs. Maybe in this case get the African NO’s at a later point?

In all the other situations I’d go for African NO’s (except perhaps a G1 DOW?).

@ShadowHAwk:

Mongolia has different rules and will never be pro axis.

You’re right… my bad.

Also, unless you declare war on the allies on turn 2 on your plan, india will block you anyway so he really wont need to turtle.  The idea is to trick the allies in that it is business as usual.  If japan got straight for india turn 2, then it becomes 100% clear that Japan is giving up the pac and so the US will start dumping in the atlantic while UK turtles egypt harder.

@TexCapPrezJimmy:

If Japan attacks USSR turn 1, does that bring Germany and USSR into war?

No.

@TexCapPrezJimmy:

If Japan attacks USA turn 1, and Germany/Italy did not attack the USSR turn 1, can USA land planes in USSR turn 1?

No, because the USSR is not at war with anyone.