• @Hobbes:

    Here’s a crazy (and untested) idea:

    1. Fly the Soviet fighters to both Egypt and to the UK carrier. Buy 1 carrier, 1 fighter and 1 submarine with the UK (30 IPC). Place it all on the UK fleet on SZ35. You’ll have 1 SS, 1 DD, 1 CA, 2 ACs and 4 FTRs.

    Japan can attack with 1 BB, 1 AC, 1 DD, 6 FTRs and 1 BMR, 86% odds but that means spending most of its airforce and losing a carrier.Â

    If Japan did that, they could still load up Burma, and whatever FTRs survive for Japan may lose India (although Russia could take it back), I’d stack Buryatia at the same time (need to provide multiple targets to protect your fleet buy).  This would save china possilby too, and allow the US to go on offense then?  And maybe the Buryatia stack could get froggy as well?  If you provide them the Russian stack, I don’t know if your fleet would be attacked…but that would definitely give the US an opening in the Solomons as well (Doing this method, I would take the CA/Trans to take the Solomons so the US could land the bomber and all but one of its FTRs there US1, and get the SS to EI (this may distract Japan to go for the SS instead by using a DD), and weaken its attack at India.


  • @Sean.C:

    1. Fly the Soviet fighters to both Egypt and to the UK carrier. Buy 1 carrier, 1 fighter and 1 submarine with the UK (30 IPC). Place it all on the UK fleet on SZ35. You’ll have 1 SS, 1 DD, 1 CA, 2 ACs and 4 FTRs.

    Japan can attack with 1 BB, 1 AC, 1 DD, 6 FTRs and 1 BMR, 86% odds but that means spending most of its airforce and losing a carrier.

    Well the sub only defends on a 1, and the japanese have 2 DD’s.  But lets take this assumption.  You couldn’t get the Australian Fleet there, and G1 should take out your SZ17 DD with the bomber from Germany.  (70% odds of winning, 20% odds of them killing each other, so 90% chance of taking it out).  Now you can also buy more naval units in UK2 before japan can attack SZ35, so perhaps a BB and a DD?

    So you have 4 FTR’s, 2 AC’s, 1BB, 1CA, 1DD, 1SS for a defense of 30 VS an attacking fleet of 6 FTRS, 1 bomber, 2BB, 2AC, 1CA, 2DD, 1SS for an attack of 41. (99% chance of Japanese victory, 100% with LL dice)

    Pretty sure your not going to keep the Indian Fleet.  Anyway you look at it, any money spent on UK1-2 in SZ35 is going to end up on the bottom of the Ocean.  The only way the starting SZ35 UK fleet lives is if it goes to the med.

    Only 1 Japanese DD can reach SZ35.

    OK, assuming Germany attacks the DD on SZ17 with the bomber (and loses it, since it’s 43% odds for that to happen - check your calcs), then UK attacks SZ37 for 1 round of combat and pulls everything back to India. On average that gets 1 hit to the Japanese battleship and another hit for the carrier, which removes 2 fighters from the Japanese attack on SZ35 on J1. If Japan chooses to take down a fighter instead, then continue the attack, if you have average losses (1 sub and 1 cruiser hit on defending fire) but ALWAYS retreat when the carrier dies, if possible.
    If the Japanese carrier on SZ37 is sunk then the SZ35 battle becomes:

    1 BB, 1 DD, 4 FTRs, 1 BMR vs 2 ACs, 1 CA, 1 SS, 4 FTRs…. or 57% for defenders

    Of course, this is a HUGE gamble but if it pays off… Japan is out of the Pacific really soon, since that UK fleet will also have 2 transports in range of East Indies/Borneo.


  • @Hobbes:

    Only 1 Japanese DD can reach SZ35.

    The 1 DD starts in SZ61, and the 2nd starts in SZ60.  They can both move to SZ36 on J1, and to SZ35 on J2.

    @Hobbes:

    OK, assuming Germany attacks the DD on SZ17 with the bomber (and loses it, since it’s 43% odds for that to happen - check your calcs),

    58% chance for German BMR to win, 28% of tie, 14% chance to lose against the DD.  Just double checked.

    @Hobbes:

    then UK attacks SZ37 for 1 round of combat and pulls everything back to India. On average that gets 1 hit to the Japanese battleship and another hit for the carrier, which removes 2 fighters from the Japanese attack on SZ35 on J1. If Japan chooses to take down a fighter instead, then continue the attack, if you have average losses (1 sub and 1 cruiser hit on defending fire) but ALWAYS retreat when the carrier dies, if possible.
    If the Japanese carrier on SZ37 is sunk then the SZ35 battle becomes:

    1 BB, 1 DD, 4 FTRs, 1 BMR vs 2 ACs, 1 CA, 1 SS, 4 FTRs…. or 57% for defenders

    Of course, this is a HUGE gamble but if it pays off… Japan is out of the Pacific really soon, since that UK fleet will also have 2 transports in range of East Indies/Borneo.

    Well if it was me, i would choose a FTR to lose first.  So First round i tip BB and lose a FTR and you lose 1 Sub, and 1 Cruisers? Then you continue with 1AC, 2FTR, 1CA?  So you get on average 1-2 more hit, and i get 1-2 more hits (10vs10).  So lets say you get lucky and only take 1 hit and lose a CA AND get 2 hits?  That’s a lot of lucky rolls.

    That makes you have:
    2BB, 2DD, 4FTR, 1BMR, 1CA, 1AC, 1SS (34)vs 2AC, 4FTR, 1BB, 1DD, 1SS (27)

    97% chance of Japanese victory.

    I don’t know why you keep leaving out 1 of the Japanese BB’s, 1 DD, 1CA, and 1SS.  SO yea sure, if i decide to NOT attack you with everything you MIGHT win?  How does that work?


  • @Sean.C:

    @Hobbes:

    Only 1 Japanese DD can reach SZ35.

    The 1 DD starts in SZ61, and the 2nd starts in SZ60.  They can both move to SZ36 on J1, and to SZ35 on J2.

    @Hobbes:

    OK, assuming Germany attacks the DD on SZ17 with the bomber (and loses it, since it’s 43% odds for that to happen - check your calcs),

    58% chance for German BMR to win, 28% of tie, 14% chance to lose against the DD.  Just double checked.

    @Hobbes:

    then UK attacks SZ37 for 1 round of combat and pulls everything back to India. On average that gets 1 hit to the Japanese battleship and another hit for the carrier, which removes 2 fighters from the Japanese attack on SZ35 on J1. If Japan chooses to take down a fighter instead, then continue the attack, if you have average losses (1 sub and 1 cruiser hit on defending fire) but ALWAYS retreat when the carrier dies, if possible.
    If the Japanese carrier on SZ37 is sunk then the SZ35 battle becomes:

    1 BB, 1 DD, 4 FTRs, 1 BMR vs 2 ACs, 1 CA, 1 SS, 4 FTRs…. or 57% for defenders

    Of course, this is a HUGE gamble but if it pays off… Japan is out of the Pacific really soon, since that UK fleet will also have 2 transports in range of East Indies/Borneo.

    Well if it was me, i would choose a FTR to lose first.  So First round i tip BB and lose a FTR and you lose 1 Sub, and 1 Cruisers? Then you continue with 1AC, 2FTR, 1CA?  So you get on average 1-2 more hit, and i get 1-2 more hits (10vs10).  So lets say you get lucky and only take 1 hit and lose a FTR AND get 2 hits?  That’s a lot of lucky rolls.

    14 defending points / 6 = 2.333, or 2 hits unless you want also to give the UK 3 hits since they have 15 attacking points /6 = 2.5 hits.

    That makes you have:
    2BB, 2DD, 4FTR, 1BMR, 1CA, 1AC, 1SS (34)vs 2AC, 4FTR, 1BB, 1DD, 1SS (27)

    97% chance of Japanese victory.

    I don’t know why you keep leaving out 1 of the Japanese BB’s, 1 DD, 1CA, and 1SS.  SO yea sure, if i decide to NOT attack you with everything you MIGHT win?  How does that work?

    I’m calculating for a possible J1 attack on SZ35, not J2. On UK2 would then really depend on what’s going on the board, at least 1 UK fighter could be moved to West Russia and then move to SZ35 on UK2, so UK could buy on UK2 a carrier, fighter, destroyer and add those 4, possibly 5 (the 2nd fighter from the UK) units to its SZ35 fleet.

    Then you’d have 3 carriers and 6 fighters plus a few other units… that would be too much for Japan to break I think, if it has been already weakened on SZ37 and it’s one very risky battle, because afterwards there will be almost nothing left against the starting American fleet and Japan is lalmost forced to fight it. The overall odds depend on the number of surviving J fighters on SZ37 and the UK fighters reaching SZ35.

    Another possibility would be just to pull back the UK fleet to Africa on UK2 if Japan massed its fleet to attack SZ35 on J2. With both the UK/US fleets active Japan will lose the Pacific and the money islands quickly.


  • @Hobbes:

    14 defending points / 6 = 2.333, or 2 hits unless you want also to give the UK 3 hits since they have 15 attacking points /6 = 2.5 hits.

    Bad math on my part, i fixed my post above.  Please re-read

    @Hobbes:

    I’m calculating for a possible J1 attack on SZ35, not J2. On UK2 would then really depend on what’s going on the board, at least 1 UK fighter could be moved to West Russia and then move to SZ35 on UK2, so UK could buy on UK2 a carrier, fighter, destroyer and add those 4, possibly 5 (the 2nd fighter from the UK) units to its SZ35 fleet.

    Then you’d have 3 carriers and 6 fighters plus a few other units… that would be too much for Japan to break I think, if it has been already weakened on SZ37.

    Well the BB you were using for calculations in you UK defense were bought on UK2, for a J2 attack.  But if you want to re-run the numbers with a third carrier instead we can.  But i have a feeling the outcome will be the same.  Why would i attack SZ37 on J1 and risk losing half my fleet when i can attack on J2 and be certain of victory with much lower losses?

    Surviving 1AC, and 2FTR + UK1 buy of 1AC, 1FTR (save 7IPC for UK2, gives you 38IPC) + UK2 buy of 1AC, 2FTR, + 1FTR from Russia would give you:

    2BB, 2DD, 4FTR, 1BMR, 1CA, 1AC, 1SS (34) vs 3AC, 6FTR (30)

    99% chance of Japanese victory.

    @Hobbes:

    if it has been already weakened on SZ37 and it’s one very risky battle, because afterwards there will be almost nothing left against the starting American fleet and Japan is lalmost forced to fight it. The overall odds depend on the number of surviving J fighters on SZ37 and the UK fighters reaching SZ35.

    Another possibility would be just to pull back the UK fleet to Africa on UK2 if Japan massed its fleet to attack SZ35 on J2. With both the UK/US fleets active Japan will lose the Pacific and the money islands quickly.

    On average, the Japanese fleet would be left with 2BB, 1AC, 2FTR.  Then lets say on US1 you take Solomon Island, and on J2 i buy 5 subs and put them in SZ60.  Then if the US fleet goes to Borneo, or Philippenes, i can attack that fleet with:

    2BB, 1AC, 4FTR (2 from FI), and 5SS (31) VS 1BB, 1AC, 2FTR, 1SS, 2DD (19)

    99% chance of victory with an average loss of 3SS.

    And if the US wants to delay and build more ships, then you build more subs.  The longer the US tries to take the pacific, the longer Germany has to take Moscow.  Axis Wins.

    Also, all these calculations are favoring lucky UK rolls and bad Japanese rolls.  Half the time the outcome will be worse than this for allies.

    Really the only GOOD option for UK is to do as you say and pull back to the med.  Use those ships to attack Germany and help keep Africa and support Russia’s Caucuses.


  • Assuming the Japanese fleet is destroyed at EI, I don’t need my fleet to take your islands, I just need transports and an escort.  I’m not going to drop Naval like Hobbes was theorizing (and I’m sure he’s only theorizing, and not saying this is a go to strat).  I’m sure that Hobbes is more likely convinced that the EI fleet must die… but that’s for Hobbes to say.  I will build land units in India.  So go ahead and build your subs, because I’m coming for you.  I can take Borneo or the Phillines US2 if I wanted.  Although if the UK transports survive, I’d appreciate it if they landed the four units in Borneo on UK2.  That way I can possibly land 3 FTRs and  two inf for the US there (or 1inf/1AAA) with a DD blocker.  So if you did build your IC/2 Trans on J1 and put it in Borneo, you lose the complex on UK2.  You’ll be forced to take it back on J2, giving more time for Asia, and then possibly lose it on US2 or lose the Phillipines uncontested.

    This whole Naval buy for India was already contested in another thread (better though with the Russian FTR though, but way too risky)….it’s a gamble that I don’t think India can afford…sure, if the dice go UK way, its over…it goes the other way, it’s over the other way.  It’s a nice idea, but so was the Hindenburg…


  • @Mallery29:

    Assuming the Japanese fleet is destroyed at EI, I don’t need my fleet to take your islands, I just need transports and an escort.  I’m not going to drop Naval like Hobbes was theorizing (and I’m sure he’s only theorizing, and not saying this is a go to strat).  I’m sure that Hobbes is more likely convinced that the EI fleet must die… but that’s for Hobbes to say.  I will build land units in India.  So go ahead and build your subs, because I’m coming for you.  I can take Borneo or the Phillines US2 if I wanted.  Although if the UK transports survive, I’d appreciate it if they landed the four units in Borneo on UK2.  That way I can possibly land 3 FTRs and  two inf for the US there (or 1inf/1AAA) with a DD blocker.  So if you did build your IC/2 Trans on J1 and put it in Borneo, you lose the complex on UK2.  You’ll be forced to take it back on J2, giving more time for Asia, and then possibly lose it on US2 or lose the Phillipines uncontested.

    This whole Naval buy for India was already contested in another thread (better though with the Russian FTR though, but way too risky)….it’s a gamble that I don’t think India can afford…sure, if the dice go UK way, its over…it goes the other way, it’s over the other way.  It’s a nice idea, but so was the Hindenburg…

    Assuming you can kill the Japanese fleet at EI?  You only have a 65% chance of that (including ties).  I really wouldn’t PLAN a game winning strategy around a 65% UK1 chance.

    No US cannot take any of the islands if i build subs.  Not possible, sorry, not in time to stop Germany from taking Moscow and winning the game anyhow.

    Maybe you hold India with ground forces, but likely only if you sacrifice Africa to Germany.  Which means UK will end up with less than 20IPC per turn very soon, and Russia under 20IPC, vs Germany with over 50IPC.  You will  lose eventually.  The only way you can win is if US gets to the mainland, and it can’t do that through the pacific.


  • @Sean.C:

    Well the BB you were using for calculations in you UK defense were bought on UK2, for a J2 attack. �But if you want to re-run the numbers with a third carrier instead we can. �But i have a feeling the outcome will be the same. �Why would i attack SZ37 on J1 and risk losing half my fleet when i can attack on J2 and be certain of victory with much lower losses?

    Surviving 1AC, and 2FTR + UK1 buy of 1AC, 1FTR (save 7IPC for UK2, gives you 38IPC) + UK2 buy of 1AC, 2FTR, + 1FTR from Russia would give you:

    2BB, 2DD, 4FTR, 1BMR, 1CA, 1AC, 1SS (34) vs 3AC, 6FTR (30)

    99% chance of Japanese victory.

    Let’s recap the moves

    R1

    • Fighters to SZ35 and Egypt
      G1
    • Destroys UK destroyer on SZ17
      UK1
    • Buy 1 carrier, 1 fighter, 1 submarine (save 1 IPC)
    • Attack SZ37, 2 hits expected for each side. If Japan loses carrier after 1 round, pull back to SZ35, if not continue 1 more round to sink it (and possibly the entire Japanese fleet).
    • Move UK fighters to West Russia
    • Place units on SZ35, now has (assuming 1 round of combat on SZ37 and J carrier lost)
    • 1 BB, 1 DD, 4 FTRs, 1 BMR vs 2 ACs, 1 CA, 1 SS, 4 FTRs…. or 57% for defenders
      J1
    • Joins fleet off Indochina, 1 AC, 2 BB, 1 CA, 2 DD, 1 SS, 5/6 FTRs, 1  BMR
    • The best purchase would actually be 1 bomber to use on J2, not subs.
      UK2
    • Purchases 1 carrier and 2 destroyers
    • Moves West Russia fighters to SZ35
    • 2 BB, 1 AC, 2 DD, 5 FTRs, 1 BMR vs 3 ACs, 1 CA, 2 DD, 1 SS, 6 FTRs… or 81% for attackers
    • But UK can simply retreat instead of building to preserve its fleet.

    On average, the Japanese fleet would be left with 2BB, 1AC, 2FTR. �Then lets say on US1 you take Solomon Island, and on J2 i buy 5 subs and put them in SZ60. �Then if the US fleet goes to Borneo, or Philippenes, i can attack that fleet with:

    2BB, 1AC, 4FTR (2 from FI), and 5SS (31) VS 1BB, 1AC, 2FTR, 1SS, 2DD (19)

    99% chance of victory with an average loss of 3SS.

    And if the US wants to delay and build more ships, then you build more subs. �The longer the US tries to take the pacific, the longer Germany has to take Moscow. �Axis Wins. �

    Really the only GOOD option for UK is to do as you say and pull back to the med.� Use those ships to attack Germany and help keep Africa and support Russia’s Caucuses.

    Hmmm. How about this? On UK2 the UK pulls back instead to SZ38 (SW Australia) and leaves the cruiser to block the Japanese fleet on SZ36 from reaching it. On U2 the US can then take Borneo, move a destroyer to SZ48 to block the 5 J subs and the UK can join the US fleet off Borneo. So you have:

    • 2 BB, 1 AC, 2 DD, 1 CA, 1 SS, 5 FTRs, 1 BMR vs 3 ACs, 1 BB, 1 DD, 2 SS, 6 FTRs…. or 50%-50%

  • @Mallery29:

    This whole Naval buy for India was already contested in another thread (better though with the Russian FTR though, but way too risky)….it’s a gamble that I don’t think India can afford…sure, if the dice go UK way, its over…it goes the other way, it’s over the other way.  It’s a nice idea, but so was the Hindenburg…

    Bunnies P Wrath once tried this strat against me on 1st Edition and it failed but here you get the shot at the SZ37 fleet. And I’m going to try an India naval… I’m starting to like the idea of having Japan dealing with 2 Allied fleets on the Pacific for a change.

    @Sean.C:

    Assuming you can kill the Japanese fleet at EI?  You only have a 65% chance of that (including ties).  I really wouldn’t PLAN a game winning strategy around a 65% UK1 chance.

    No US cannot take any of the islands if i build subs.  Not possible, sorry, not in time to stop Germany from taking Moscow and winning the game anyhow.

    Maybe you hold India with ground forces, but likely only if you sacrifice Africa to Germany.  Which means UK will end up with less than 20IPC per turn very soon, and Russia under 20IPC, vs Germany with over 50IPC.  You will  lose eventually.  The only way you can win is if US gets to the mainland, and it can’t do that through the pacific.

    I completely agree with the part of strategies being based on 66% odds but you can rest assured that even if you never use it, you’ll see a lot of people trying. To me, it sounds like something I may try once in a while.

    And… yeah all of this discussion on the board has been centered on Pacific and kicking Japan but… none is being said about stopping Germany…


  • @Hobbes:

    Hmmm. How about this? On UK2 the UK pulls back instead to SZ38 (SW Australia) and leaves the cruiser to block the Japanese fleet on SZ36 from reaching it. On U2 the US can then take Borneo, move a destroyer to SZ48 to block the 5 J subs and the UK can join the US fleet off Borneo. So you have:

    • 2 BB, 1 AC, 2 DD, 1 CA, 1 SS, 5 FTRs, 1 BMR vs 3 ACs, 1 BB, 1 DD, 2 SS, 6 FTRs…. or 50%-50%

    I followed everything you said until here.

    How are you sending 1 cruiser to block the Japanese fleet on SZ36 on UK2?  The Japanese fleet is on SZ36, so you attack it with 1 cruiser and it blows up.  I think you mean SZ37.

    Id’s probablyy go to India and bombard/transport units and take it on J2, and buy 5 subs on J2.  US2 takes Borneo, UK3 merges its Indian fleet with your US fleet.  I attack with everything you just said, +5 subs.

    98% chance of Japanese Victory with an average IPC loss of 58 (so I’d lose 6SS, 2DD, 1CA) and be left with a fleet of 2BB, 1AC, 2FTR.  Slightly better than the other way, but only 3SS better.


  • @Hobbes:

    I completely agree with the part of strategies being based on 66% odds but you can rest assured that even if you never use it, you’ll see a lot of people trying. To me, it sounds like something I may try once in a while.

    And… yeah all of this discussion on the board has been centered on Pacific and kicking Japan but… none is being said about stopping Germany…

    Oh i guarantee you people are doing this, and depending on how the Japanese player responds it may work.  Especially if they don’t buy subs on J2.  I could totally see this strategy working against someone who doesn’t know how to counter it.  But once you know how, it’s easy and reliably countered.

    My biggest issue is i think subs are overpowered.  Japan doesn’t need to take land so it doesn’t need naval units that help in that facet.  If the US and UK are in the pacific, that means they aren’t pressuring Germany, so all Japan has to do is keep US/UK occupied long enough for Germany to win the game for them, and mass subs gets that job done.


  • I played the other weekend and I was the Axis and I built 2 subs every round with Japan and germany went crazy and I won 2 games using this plan. My question is how do you stop Germany in this game? We are playing again this weekend and I will be the Allies. At this time my plan is to go 50% in the Atlantic and 50% in the pacific with USA.


  • @Petebu:

    I played the other weekend and I was the Axis and I built 2 subs every round with Japan and germany went crazy and I won 2 games using this plan. My question is how do you stop Germany in this game? We are playing again this weekend and I will be the Allies. At this time my plan is to go 50% in the Atlantic and 50% in the pacific with USA.

    If japan buys subs, i really don’t see how Allies can win if they are spending any IPC in the Pacific.  Allies need to go KGF.  RUS1 sends Moscow FTR to Egypt to hold it, UK1 buys at least 1DD off the coast of India and on UK2 moves it to SZ17 inside the Mediterranean.  Pull ground troops out of India and move them to hold Africa.  Once you have the Med and Africa, then with US help, clean up the remaining German Navy and start invading Europe.  Either force Germany to fight on 2 sides, or Reinforce the Russian front line to push back either Germany or Japan.


  • Subs overpowered?  They’ve been like this for what, at least 4 years?  At least they don’t have the two defense…those were the days of overpowered.

    India should NOT be abandon…in 41, yes, definitely (by turn 4)…not here…even in a KGF strat, you should not be abandonig India…Uk can still build to support India, but abandoning it only bring back the “orange steamroller”.  Why would Japan even bother buying an IC if you are just going to be a coward and abandon your post.

    The game is not Axis favored heavily like 42.1 was…the axis should not be “cruising” to victories like you say they are.


  • @Mallery29:

    Subs overpowered?  They’ve been like this for what, at least 4 years?  At least they don’t have the two defense…those were the days of overpowered.

    India should NOT be abandon…in 41, yes, definitely (by turn 4)…not here…even in a KGF strat, you should not be abandonig India…Uk can still build to support India, but abandoning it only bring back the “orange steamroller”.  Why would Japan even bother buying an IC if you are just going to be a coward and abandon your post.

    The game is not Axis favored heavily like 42.1 was…the axis should not be “cruising” to victories like you say they are.

    At least when they were 2 defense they cost 8 IPC.  I think that is much more balanced.  Then you can’t outproduce subs over equally powerful destroyers, or cruisers.  While cruisers cost 12IPC, they have the same ATK/DEF per IPC as destroyers.  4IPC per point of ATK/DEF.  So then you can grab 1 destroyer, and some cruisers and still bombard stuff while simultaneously defending against subs.

    UK cannot keep India and Africa, and Africa is worth more.


  • @Sean.C:

    @Hobbes:

    Hmmm. How about this? On UK2 the UK pulls back instead to SZ38 (SW Australia) and leaves the cruiser to block the Japanese fleet on SZ36 from reaching it. On U2 the US can then take Borneo, move a destroyer to SZ48 to block the 5 J subs and the UK can join the US fleet off Borneo. So you have:

    • 2 BB, 1 AC, 2 DD, 1 CA, 1 SS, 5 FTRs, 1 BMR vs 3 ACs, 1 BB, 1 DD, 2 SS, 6 FTRs…. or 50%-50%

    I followed everything you said until here.

    How are you sending 1 cruiser to block the Japanese fleet on SZ36 on UK2?  The Japanese fleet is on SZ36, so you attack it with 1 cruiser and it blows up.  I think you mean SZ37.

    The cruises moves to SZ37 to block the Japanese fleet on SZ36 to attack SZ38

    Id’s probablyy go to India and bombard/transport units and take it on J2, and buy 5 subs on J2.  US2 takes Borneo, UK3 merges its Indian fleet with your US fleet.  I attack with everything you just said, +5 subs.

    98% chance of Japanese Victory with an average IPC loss of 58 (so I’d lose 6SS, 2DD, 1CA) and be left with a fleet of 2BB, 1AC, 2FTR.  Slightly better than the other way, but only 3SS better.

    U22 - US moves destroyer to SZ48 (Philippines) on US2 and blocks your 5 subs on SZ69 from attacking the Allied fleet on SZ47.

    India builds 3 ground units, plus the US fighter, plus 3 UK fighters (the 2 from West Russia - since no carrier is built on UK2)… with the starting units included I don’t Japan can break that with 4 ground units plus planes. And if it does Russia only needs to have a couple of tanks on the Caucasus to liberate India and allow UK to restart production on the next turn, before Japan can hit it again.


  • @Sean.C:

    At least when they were 2 defense they cost 8 IPC.  I think that is much more balanced.  Then you can’t outproduce subs over equally powerful destroyers, or cruisers.  While cruisers cost 12IPC, they have the same ATK/DEF per IPC as destroyers.  4IPC per point of ATK/DEF.  So then you can grab 1 destroyer, and some cruisers and still bombard stuff while simultaneously defending against subs.

    UK cannot keep India and Africa, and Africa is worth more.

    I’ve already mentioned this: subs here are maximized for attack but they have serious drawbacks, specially you can’t rely on them to defend a fleet against air attacks. And Japan needs to have transports so doesn’t matter if you have 10, 15 or 20, they can be rendered useless to defend surface ships and transports against air attacks.

    Like Mallery29 said, the ‘new’ sub stats have been introduced 4 years ago on Anniversary and so far no one has ever complained about them or you see people using massive fleets of subs on AA50, AA41.1 or Global… they can’t go on land and they can’t defend against planes.


  • @Hobbes:

    US moves destroyer to SZ48 (Philippines) on US2 and blocks your 5 subs from reaching that SZ.

    India also gets 3 ground units, plus the US fighter, plus 3 UK fighters (the 2 from West Russia - since no carrier is built on UK2)… with the starting units included I don’t Japan can break that with 4 ground units plus planes.

    Ok, so then it is:

    2BB, 2DD, 4FTR, 1BMR, 1CA, 1AC, 1SS (34) vs 3 ACs, 1 BB, 1DD, 1 SS, 6 FTRs (37)

    60% chance of Japanese victory.  (average IPC loss for Allies is 114)  75% for Japan with LL dice.

    It’s better, it’s at least viable, but at this point it is assuming lucky dice at SZ37 on UK1.  So a 60-70% chance of your UK1 strategy working right, plus an eventual 40% showdown.  But you should average out to around 1BB and your transports left for US/UK in the pacific, maybe you also save a destroyer.  Then IF you do have a DD left you could try to attack the 5 subs on US turn with 46% odds of winning.

    @Hobbes:

    @Sean.C:

    At least when they were 2 defense they cost 8 IPC.  I think that is much more balanced.  Then you can’t outproduce subs over equally powerful destroyers, or cruisers.  While cruisers cost 12IPC, they have the same ATK/DEF per IPC as destroyers.  4IPC per point of ATK/DEF.  So then you can grab 1 destroyer, and some cruisers and still bombard stuff while simultaneously defending against subs.

    UK cannot keep India and Africa, and Africa is worth more.

    I’ve already mentioned this: subs here are maximized for attack but they have serious drawbacks, specially you can’t rely on them to defend a fleet against air attacks. And Japan needs to have transports so doesn’t matter if you have 10, 15 or 20, they can be rendered useless to defend surface ships and transports against air attacks.

    Like Mallery29 said, the ‘new’ sub stats have been introduced 4 years ago on Anniversary and so far no one has ever complained about them or you see people using massive fleets of subs on AA50, AA41.1 or Global… they can’t go on land and they can’t defend against planes.

    Maybe it’s the combination of the new map, initial starting unit placement, and the subs which make them so potent now?  Or maybe everyone always went KGF before?  The old map seemed to favor KGF, and the new map (at least at first glance) appears to favor KJF.

    Why does Japan need transports?  Why can it not just build a pure navy to defeat any UK/US navy in the pacific and let Germany beat Russia?


  • @Sean.C:

    Ok, so then it is:

    2BB, 2DD, 4FTR, 1BMR, 1CA, 1AC, 1SS (34) vs 3 ACs, 1 BB, 1DD, 1 SS, 6 FTRs (37)

    60% chance of Japanese victory.  (average IPC loss for Allies is 114)  75% for Japan with LL dice.

    It’s better, it’s at least viable, but at this point it is assuming lucky dice at SZ37 on UK1.  So a 60-70% chance of your UK1 strategy working right, plus an eventual 60% showdown.  But you should average out to around 1BB and your transports left for US/UK in the pacific, maybe you also save a destroyer.  Then IF you do have a DD left you could try to attack the 5 subs on US turn with 46% odds of winning.

    2 subs, UK and US - UK1 buy is still 1 carrier, 1 fighter, 1 sub.

    Even if Japan wins the US should be able to build an IC on US3 because it can bring 2 inf, and the UK can also lift 2 inf from Australia. And on US3 the first ships built on US1 also start arriving at Borneo….even if Japan attacks the Allied fleet off Borneo on J3 and wins, any survivors will face the risk of an US counterattack.


  • @Hobbes:

    @Sean.C:

    Ok, so then it is:

    2BB, 2DD, 4FTR, 1BMR, 1CA, 1AC, 1SS (34) vs 3 ACs, 1 BB, 1DD, 1 SS, 6 FTRs (37)

    60% chance of Japanese victory.  (average IPC loss for Allies is 114)  75% for Japan with LL dice.

    It’s better, it’s at least viable, but at this point it is assuming lucky dice at SZ37 on UK1.  So a 60-70% chance of your UK1 strategy working right, plus an eventual 60% showdown.  But you should average out to around 1BB and your transports left for US/UK in the pacific, maybe you also save a destroyer.  Then IF you do have a DD left you could try to attack the 5 subs on US turn with 46% odds of winning.

    2 subs, UK and US - UK1 buy is still 1 carrier, 1 fighter, 1 sub.

    Even if Japan wins the US should be able to build an IC on US3 because it can bring 2 inf, and the UK can also lift 2 inf from Australia. And on US3 the first ships built on US1 also start arriving at Borneo….even if Japan attacks the Allied fleet off Borneo on J3 and wins, any survivors will face the risk of an US counterattack.

    What are the odds of a 40% victory following a 60-70% victory, around 25%?  Sure it’s possible, but unlikely.  Are you really going to PLAN on this?  I wouldn’t.  I try not to plan on anything less than 80%

    Plus you still have to contend with 4-5 more subs per turn.  You can’t beat them AND make transports/other land support naval units.

    Also you are now talking about being on Round 4, and only taking Borneo.  Germany is about 2-4 turns from ending this game.

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