Hello, I play pacific 1940 a lot. I have also played global a few times. Pacific 1940 second edition is a great game but I can almost easily win every time if I’m Japan and I attack on the third turn. A new rule was passed around late 2014 to allow the USA to receive a 30 IPC bonus if Japan attacks or declares war on them before turn 4. This seems to balance the game a little but I can still always win with Japan. The strategy for Japan is pretty much the same. Take the money islands, build a minor in French Indo China and Kwangtung and knock out China and India. Post in the Philippines with your huge navy and three fighters that can scramble and those six deadly kamikizes. Let Anzac and USA come to you so you can use the fighters to defend at 4 when the big navy battle happens. Eventually you will be making more than the allies with the money islands NO and the India NO. You should be around the 70-75 mark. Then when the time is right strike at Sydney or Hawaii and hold it and you should win as it will be six victory cities. For the allies, man this can be tuff lol. You better hope Japan attacks you on turn 1 or turn 4 because turn 2 and especially 3 it’s going to be difficult.
1: China: buy men and hit and run and fall back to the north west of China. You will be lucky if the Burma road is open more than two turns. Pull back and make Japan come to you.
2: UK: pull everyone back to India and just buy men!!! Try to bring your navy down to Australia and unite them with Anzac and hopefully later USA. If it looks like India is going to fall then pull your airforce out and send them to Australia to hopefully land on a Anzac or American carrier. If Japan hasn’t declared war early then take as many islands in the south as possible .
3: Anzac: small ships and transports are good. if it looks like Japan is going to invade then pull your forces to south Australia because from there you can hit any territory. Use your small ships to convoy raid or unite with the main USA fleet. Queensland is a great staging area for the allied navy early in the game. Also since there’s a airbase there fighters don’t hurt also since they can scramble.
4:USA: the big boy lol. The problem is when USA is neutral she only makes a freaking 17 ipcs a turn. While Japan is around the 40 mark and Japan has soooooooo many aircraft at its disposal. USA I say aircraft carrier early then mainly subs, destroyers, and a transport every turn with land units. A few rounds into the game get a navy base on the Johnson islands and start combining your fleet with the Anzac fleet and hopefully a small UK fleet. try to take the money islands by sacrificing transports because Japan will have a bigger navy early in the game. When the time is right move to Dutch New Guinea with your fleet and prepare for the big battle. Sometimes it’s better if Japan attacks you and sometimes it’s better if you attsck them. Hopefully you will have a lot of subs at your disposal. If you win the navy battle then Japan is pretty much toast even if they have India and China. Good luck and let me know how the war goes lol. I am playing anniversary edition on Saturday 😜
Kill USA First
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Hey there, this is my first post although I’ve been reading the boards for the last few weeks in order to decide whether to purchase AAP:40. Anyway, went ahead and made the buy (and happy that I did, already had Anny edition, revised, MB and original Pac), but the sieze Alaska KAF strat has played out successfully for the Japanese in all three games I’ve played (all with the same seasoned vet friend) in much the same way as the OP mentioned it. We’ve both tried it as Japan and it just doesn’t seem feasible to block the move: because of Japan’s overwhelming initial airpower, as long as the Japanese player can hold onto Alaska, the Aleutians or BC, something like 26 planes (not to mention those on AC’s) can be brought to bear on U.S. by turn three (or 4, depending on your preferences). Even if the Japanese player only has a few ground units available for the invasion of WUS, the airpower is overwhelming (remember, US can build max of 20 units by turn 3 invasion or 30 by turn 4 and realistically probably less given that the US has a starting value of 17 IPC on turn one).
Anyway, although I’m not nearly certain enough of the strat to call the game “broken” or anything of that nature, it does seem to be worryingly effective, in our case even when the American player knew it was coming. Any thoughts on how to stop this?
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Have the UK begin to purchase fleet on UK1 once he sees Jap trannies are staying north. Focus on getting the UK income as high as humanly possible. Also, have the UK starting land units begin to push hard into china, along with the starting china units to kick japan out of asia ASAP. Do not fear declaring war on Japan if they are going after the US anyway, it doesn’t matter.
Have ANZAC focus on subs and planes. Subs for raiding, planes for defending. Try to make a stand with the US fleet at Pearl, this will keep japan’s fleet from moving back into position after the US grab for a few extra turns.
Get a chuckle when japan realizes western us is only worth 10, not 50.
That is really all one can do sadly. Also you can block with 1 DD, then 1 Cru to SZ 7. Without passing threw SZ 7 japan has no way to reach alaska delaying them 1 more turn. Or at least giving you 1 turn with war economy with any luck.
Edit: Just to add I think the best method the US has to stop this is blocking SZ 7, this forces you to land on the islands and use British Colombia as your LZ for your planes on a J4 strike. At the end of J3 you would have 20 land units in BCO at the most. This means the US, on turn 3, would need to be able to kill said 20 land units. By US3 at max a US player should have 3 inf, 1 mech, 1 art, 1 arm (starting) 2 inf (pearl) 3 fig, 3 tac, 3 bmr, plus 3 inf/2 art (T1 buy), plus 6 inf/1 art (T2 buy). Or 14 inf, 1 mech, 4 art, 1 arm, 3 fig, 3 tac, 3 bmr. Or 29 hits /w 63 punch. This tactic would allow the US to hold for atleast 1 more turn.
Now an easy J counter would be to move starting transports into SZ 2 on J1 /w navy. This is an interesting puzzle, but there must be a way to stop it. And even if it cannot be stopped, I think UK could take the win anyway.
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Interesting counter, Vareel, we’ll have to try large naval buys with UK as counter next time, although I’m still not sure if it’ll be enough to threaten Japan before WUS falls.
Also, I’m a little confused by your statement that WUS is only worth 10: I was under the impression that if captured by Japanese forces, it would continue being worth 50 IPCs (clearly an insurmountable figure if accurate). Did I miss something in the rulebook that states that iWestern US is only worth 10 if captured by Axis, or did I misunderstand your comment? Thanks in advance.
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WUS is worth 10, the US gains 40 extra bucks from being at war and controlling WUS as a national objective. Japan only collects 10 IPC a turn for controlling it.
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WUS is worth 10, the US gains 40 extra bucks from being at war and controlling WUS as a national objective. Japan only collects 10 IPC a turn for controlling it.
This is true, Krieg confirmed it somewhere. So even if Jap takes Wus and steals ~60 IPC, the game is not over if UK/ANZ/CHI can get big enough fast enough, esp if the US fleet survives. questions remain: can the US fleet survive, and can the other allies get big enough fast enough.
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The more I look at this, and think about it, I think the key to stopping this from working is to delay Japan from taking and securing a landing site for there planes. Along this route I think against a japan purchase of transports, and/or transports hanging out in the north, I would do as follows.
- Block SZ 7 with a destroyer.
-This prevents the purchase transports from J1 from reach on J2. - Purchase Inf/Art turn 1.
-Your gonna need 'em. - Ship 4 Inf to Alaska turn 1, along with landing 6+ planes.
-This keeps Alaska safe from a J2 landing as the most they can bring is 2 bombards, 4 planes, and 4 land units.
This will also allow you to safely counterattack British Colombia on US2. At that point Japan really has no method of establishing a safe landing zone for there planes on the mainland turn 2. If they take the Aleutian islands that is fine, as the US should be able to get enough units to counter-attack British Colombia on US3. No landing zone means no plane threat beyond the carriers until J5, at which point you should be able to hold anyway.
Any thoughts?
- Block SZ 7 with a destroyer.
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O.k. Vareel, I like your strat, and I think you’re right that the key is to deny a landing zone for the massive Japanese airforce. That being said, while it seems that it would pretty much trump the “Alaskan Pipeline” KAF if Japan waits to launch until J2, the heavy transport buy J1 is still a solid investment. With so much attention diverted north in anticipation of Alaskan invasion, Honolulu is ripe for the picking and, once secured on J2, provides a real thorn in the American’s side for long enough to give the Japanese a decent chance to pick off ANZAC (especially if the Japanese player stacks Hawaii with fighter interceptors on J3, which makes it a major headache to capture if even a portion of the Japanese navy is left behind).
Also: Thanks for the heads up on WUS being worth 10 to Axis. Must have missed that note completely somewhere along the line.
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The more I look at this, and think about it, I think the key to stopping this from working is to delay Japan from taking and securing a landing site for there planes. Along this route I think against a japan purchase of transports, and/or transports hanging out in the north, I would do as follows.
- Block SZ 7 with a destroyer.
-This prevents the purchase transports from J1 from reach on J2. - Purchase Inf/Art turn 1.
-Your gonna need 'em. - Ship 4 Inf to Alaska turn 1, along with landing 6+ planes.
-This keeps Alaska safe from a J2 landing as the most they can bring is 2 bombards, 4 planes, and 4 land units.
This will also allow you to safely counterattack British Colombia on US2. At that point Japan really has no method of establishing a safe landing zone for there planes on the mainland turn 2. If they take the Aleutian islands that is fine, as the US should be able to get enough units to counter-attack British Colombia on US3. No landing zone means no plane threat beyond the carriers until J5, at which point you should be able to hold anyway.
Any thoughts?
If Jap noncombated all units (w/ loaded inf) J1 z6>z1, would that ensure a safe landing zone for planes on J3?
- Block SZ 7 with a destroyer.
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Nice discussion going on! Thanks for the interesting input.
Vareel;
If you move your destroyer to seazone 7 (or 4) I would go for Aleutian J2 and kill the destroyer too. Further more in J2 Japan has not 4 but 12 landing units (6 transports; 3 at the start of the game, 3 bought in J1). I know USA is worth 10 IPC’s and not 50. I also do believe that if Japan fails to take US, it’s a lost game. Controlling seazone 1 and BC in turn 3 are crucial to gain succes. It’s true Japan much watch it’s back door, that’s why I dont’s buy 5 transports in J2, but 4 and 3 inf to stay in the homeland. Still the UK is no threat I believe. To confuse the US player, in J turn 1-non combat fase I place all (except AC placed planes) my fighters and tactical bombers in China (the land north of kwantung, max. 4 flyzones from Japan! important that is!). In J2 all these planes are heading for Japan.But no, I didn’t play out my strategy to the end. Meaning, I strongly believe that when US is taken Japan will win.
Other thoughts?
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Just found the first solution for the US, :cry:. If the US buys 2 destroyers the first turn they have enuff surface ships to built an effective block in turn 1 and 2. Blockade first turn seazone 4,7,15. If J wants to continue in turn 2, they -of course- kill all blocking ships and have to go for Hawaii. Then US blocks seazone 11,12,13. Not happy yellow peoples!
If that’s the only solution…J could check what US buys first turn. I’ll keep on searching for other solutions.
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@KH:
Nice discussion going on! Thanks for the interesting input.
Vareel;
If you move your destroyer to seazone 7 (or 4) I would go for Aleutian J2 and kill the destroyer too. Further more in J2 Japan has not 4 but 12 landing units (6 transports; 3 at the start of the game, 3 bought in J1). I know USA is worth 10 IPC’s and not 50. I also do believe that if Japan fails to take US, it’s a lost game. Controlling seazone 1 and BC in turn 3 are crucial to gain succes. It’s true Japan much watch it’s back door, that’s why I dont’s buy 5 transports in J2, but 4 and 3 inf to stay in the homeland. Still the UK is no threat I believe. To confuse the US player, in J turn 1-non combat fase I place all (except AC placed planes) my fighters and tactical bombers in China (the land north of kwantung, max. 4 flyzones from Japan! important that is!). In J2 all these planes are heading for Japan.But no, I didn’t play out my strategy to the end. Meaning, I strongly believe that when US is taken Japan will win.
Other thoughts?
With you holding the Aleutian islands you still need to hold British Colombia for the planes to have a landing zone. That is why on US3 in my plan, I kill your ground units that landed in British Colombia.
As far as your proposed counter, Japan can just send there starting SZ 6 boats to SZ 2 on turn 1 and still take Alaska, then just NCM the other troops in, it will not work. Re-read my plan, it works.
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Really dont see how this could be considered a reasonable strategy.
It can certainly work if you are playing newbies and you want to crush them.
Otherwise, it is easily countered and when it fails Japan will lose the game. Japan gets themselves completely out of position by trying this and if Wus doesnt fall, which it wont if the US player knows what they are doing. It takes too many turns unlike the surprise assaults that could be launched in AA50 41’. And at the end US still has a 50 dollar territory and will be making just as much as Japan except the enemy is on the doorstep and it doesnt have to go across the pacific to get to them.
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With you holding the Aleutian islands you still need to hold British Colombia for the planes to have a landing zone. That is why on US3 in my plan, I kill your ground units that landed in British Colombia.
As far as your proposed counter, Japan can just send there starting SZ 6 boats to SZ 2 on turn 1 and still take Alaska, then just NCM the other troops in, it will not work. Re-read my plan, it works.
I meant z1, to land in Bco J2. J2 would also kill the blocking surface ships in z8/z7 w/ a million planes (max of 10 planes, 7 bmr can reach z8, all can reach z7 if planes are left on Jap J1), and possibly take Hawaii. then ncm all z6 ships and land units to z1/Bco. I guess US would be able to take Bco back before J3? but it would be expensive for US, so would they have enough to defend against the 4-5 new Jap transports coming in? I think so, but there are several options for Jap depending on what US does, that it is worth playing to try out. Perhaps the people who are saying only an idiot US player would fall to this strat should be the test defenders!
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A J2 hit on BCO would leave a max of 12 ground units.
With my plan, US has 4 inf in Alaska, 4 more ground units in WUS from starting, plus the 3 Inf, 2 Art purchase turn 1, and, lastly, 8 planes.
Your 12 dudes that landed would get smashed, easily. Now yes, you have say 4 more transports with 8 more units comming in with 6 carrier planes on J3. They would go up against the 6 inf/1 art purchased, along with the aagun and all those planes, not counting anything held back from the US attack on BCO.
This would be much easier to show in a game Stoney :-D
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Perhaps the people who are saying only an idiot US player would fall to this strat should be the test defenders!
I am game.
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This would be much easier to show in a game Stoney :-D
yeah… about that… sorry I haven’t started another one. I’m trying to be responsible and finish up a few things before starting another game, but as it is I can’t peel myself away from the forums to do the work I need to do!! :-o
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Welp someone send me a message i’ll take allies against that strat.
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Well Vareel, you mentioned some good points. I’m not saying the game is broken, because a blockade is possible (not likely though). So if we would play a game announcing this is the Jap strat, for sure you’ll win as allies. Now I’m practicing the same strategy with more camouflage in it. Meaning; it’s not clear Japan turn 1 goes straight for KUF. That includes, Japan could decide to act different in turn 2 and also has the opportunities to do so (position of units, planes and ships). I earlier stated in turn 1, I land all my tac bombers, bombers and fighters (except those on the AC’s) in the coastal landzone north of Kwantung. This does not look as a KUF strategy, correct? All planes are in reach of Japan turn 2, Alaska turn 3, US turn 4. My main problem to hide my KUF-plans for turn 2 are the J-1 movements of ships and units at Caroline Islands. If I’d move them to Japanese waters directly, the US gets really suspicious, if I don’t I could head for great difficulties in turn 2 and 3.
That said, it’s absolutely not completely idiot and it’s not a trap only newbies would fall in to. It’s just a nice puzzle.
Greets!
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Eh, if your transports are north its pretty obvious your going to try and kill the US.
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Yep, it is. That shouldn’t be a problem if there is no possible defense for the US. Now there is only a valid defense if the US act 100% right in buying and moving in their first turn. Meaning; if Japan pulls up a smoke curtain…moves planes out of KUF-position to Asia turn 1, moves some ships out of KUF position…it is very likely the US doesn’t see it coming.
Still no karma? :oops:
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