Suggestions on opening Japan moves

[Nostromos]

hey ya,

Don't know if this is the right place but was looking to get some strategy help. I love AAR but don't get to play it often. We are playing friday and i could use a little help as i am playing Japan. Assume the following:

1) Moscow is a smart player and will probably try and invade mainland (not the island) Japan--don't know the territory, the only one that borders russia i think. He will do the typical "i buy 12 infantry per turn" kind of player and will try and damage Germany as his focal point.

2) Germany will definately go for Africa for IPC's and wants to meet in India.

3) It sounds like Germany will leave USA unchecked as he has no plans to go after USA--maybe Brazil but that's about it.

4) looks like we are trying to play the full game--12 victory cities or a concession whichever one comes first.

5) probably not play with any NA's. We will all play with standard rules. However, we may play the 'each country chooses one NA" variant to add spice. If so, which one would suggest i choose.

Now to my question: Assuming the above, what are some good strategies/purchases for Japan in the first 3 or so turns. ANy help will be appreciated as I don't play often and could use some advice.

[Doctor Strategy]

1)Russia lacks the resources to take Manchuria on the first turn.

2)Japan can take India out on turn one, especially if the British player moves his Aircraft carrier (AC)to sea zone 15. You want to take it out at all costs if the British player builds an Industrial Complex (IC) there. You don't even have to take out the British battleship (BB) there. At most you will be facing 4 infantry (INF) and 1 fighter (FTR) in India. Move the two INF and FTR in to attack from French Indochina, launch your two fighters from the AC in the East Indies, 1 FTR from Manchuria, lauch one FTR off your AC in the Caroline Islands also. Unless the British player gets lucky shooting down your planes you should win no problem. Remember to keep at least one INF to capture the territory as you cannot capture it with planes. If you roll badly retreat your remaining forces into French Indochina for defense. Attack China by moving the bomber (BMR) and FTR from Japan to attack China along with your three INF from Kwangtung. You should take China. In non combat you move all naval units within 2 squares to sea zone 36 but leave the BB in Japan. You can then re-inforce by bringing your tank (TNK) from Japan and 1 INF to whatever territory needs it on the mainland. Use the transport in Kwangtung to pick up an artillery and 1 INF from Japan and deposit them in Manchuria for a round two assault on the Soviets.

3) The USA will probably go after the Germans and leave you alone. The only islands worth defending are the Phillipines and East India which they are far away from them for now. Don't worry if you lose a few one pt islands as you more than make up for it when you take India and China.

4) I always play a full game.

5) Try not to choose NAs as Japan's stink. If they insist I would probably take Banzai attacks. Have Germany take U-Boat Interdiction.

On the first turn, I would buy an IC and put it in French-Indochina if you took out India. If not, Kwangtung. Buy a FTR and bank your other 5 IPCs. If you don't like the IC idea buy three FTR for Japan's first turn to help take out Sinkiang on the second turn. From the second turn on air units are a good choice. If you built the IC somewhere build tanks for defense and attack as they defend and attack on a three for only 5 IPCs.

Hope this helps you win.

[Nostromos]

looks great--can't wait to give it a try.

I love the IC idea. What about using my transports to bring INF and TNK onto the mainland--first turn?

[Doctor Strategy]

You could do that if you wanted to amphibiously assault Buryata or Soviet Far East by bringing along your battleship from Japan. But if you miss with the one shot the battleship you might have a hard time going. These territories are only worth 1 IPC so forget about them for now and don't lose your 3 pt. territories in the process. If the Soviet player is good he will probably move 2 INF to reinforce Buryata maybe 4 INF. You don't want your reach to overextend your grasp. In other words, use them to move units to defend your gains because if you spread yourself to thin you are going to lose what you got. Don't get too greedy.

[Lobo]

If your opponents are good players it will be suicidal to attack India on J1. The fighter on the AC in the Caroline islands can't reach India legally. It's 4 MPs to India and aircraft can't land in newly captured territories.

Your Russian friend may land a fighter or two in India as well. He can also bring in 1 tank but probably won't. That's the smart thing for the allies if UK decides to build and IC in India. That means 4 Inf, 2-3 fighters, AA gun vs. your 2 Inf, 4 fighters and a bomber (see the next line). That's suicide. Even if you win it won't be worth the cost as you will likely lose 4 fighters in your "victory".

If you do go for India on J1 then you should bring the bomber in from Japan.

I wouldn't build an IC in Indochina. Put it in Kwangtung. Indochina is too vulnerable.

An alternative to building an IC on mainland is to build transports in Japan. That is actually more cost effective and you can bring a lot of forces down on India quickly. Doing this you can overwhelm India (even with an IC) by J3-J4. I advise you to do that. Take out China on J1 and look at Russia and consider wiping out the Russian stack in the Far east. That way you don't have to garrison Manchuria and can move more freely.

[Doctor Strategy]

Lobo,

You are right about the plane not reaching. I miss added. It takes 4 movement to get there. My mistake. However as many people playing the UK tend to plunk an IC in India you cannot afford to let it get too heavily defended. This attack they will not see coming. Yes, if the Japanese gain a IC that is 15 IPCs less they have to spend for one. It would be better to take it on turn 2 or but you may end up losing more on that turn. Also if the UK vacates his navy figuring it will be destroyed then all Nostromos would have to do is bring 2 more INF from Kwangtung and the BB and amphibiously assault India.

Also alternatively, if you want to, Japan can actually take Alaska on turn one as it only has 1 INF in defense. Take one TNK and INF from Japan along with your BB for an amphibious attack. Maybe you won't keep it long but it may get the US to overreact. Pearl Harbor II and the US player will be bewildered. As these plumb territories are now under threat. Japan then can fly planes to Alaska on turn 2 to defend as the US will likely buy INF to defend. You now have a staging ground to assault the US with bombers or maybe get Eastern Canada at 3 also only defended by an TNK unless the UK vacated on a transport. This will delay a US response to attack Germany and allow them to get the edge against Russia.

[Lobo]

It's a standard move for the UK to sink the Kwangtung transport on UK1.

I edited my previous post to add more details, if you build up a transport fleet you can bring overwhelming force down on India and use your two BB for offshore bombardments. Japan will lose more Infantry by waiting to attack, but far fewer fighters. It's actually cheaper IPC wise. + UK will lose a bunch of units, probably tanks/fighters as he will want to maximize his defence (only 3 units per turn).

It depends on what Russia does, if they dont reinforce India then it may be worth a shot, but it's still risky. I prefer to wait a round or two before taking India.

[Vollick1979]

Capture India only after the UK builds an IC there (if possible). If you capture India too soon it's just one less thing for the UK player to worry about, he loses the 3 IPC's whoopie. But if you let him build an IC there (which can never be held without major Russian help) and then you take it he's lost a whole lot! So i wouldn't go right after India but let him feel secure enough to build it and then take it! :D

[Doctor Strategy]

Everything hinges on what the UK does for its turn if Russia doesn't play team player and defend India and the UK builds an IC there on turn one go for it. If the UK leaves it weak, then take it. If the UK doesn't place an IC, you still take away a 3 IPC territory, which can stop the UK from buying two bombers to place in the UK to SBR Germany. If it is too strong don't go for it and instead take China and build up in French Indochina to take India out later.

[Nostromos]

Thanks for the great suggestions, it really helped.

This is what happened:

Turn 1: Russia reinforced China (the far west one) to help US build an IC. US did build an IC. I took China Turn 1 and put the pressure on and left India alone.

Turn 2: Russia defends india now and UK builds an IC there. I kick through indochina and capture the IC! Sweet!

Game lasted only until turn 5 or 6 with a concession from the Allies. We stomped em'

thanks for the advice. It make sense. Attack whereever they have an IC. Otherwise you don't need to.