@diabo:
in my group we play in similar ways, but i think it is not wise to do japan’s turn, BEFORE russia bought units.
another thing is, i have to admit, i had to smile that you regarded france as a block for itself… ;)
If there were a reason to change Japan’s strategy based on what Russia purchases, I’m sure it would be a minor issue. A larger issue is the time it takes for Japan to finish their turn, in my experience, Japan is the biggest culprit when it comes to clock consumption and getting Japan started right away is paramount for quick games.