Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

are you sure about the Dutch declaration of war?

"the Dutch government-in-exile declared war on Japan the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, 8 December 1941 (London time). The Japanese, however, did not declare war in turn on the Netherlands until 11 January 1942, possibly in the hope that this would delay the demolition of Dutch oil fields until the japanese were ready move against them.

quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

The Japanese shot down a British Hudson about an hour and a half before Pearl Harbor was attacked. The British felt that the Japanese were coming to invade.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

If you don't have a HR to let Task Force Z do its suicide foray, you should just run it full speed to Batavia

quote:

ORIGINAL: Yaab

I have several variants for PP expenses for turn 1, but there are two must-do things:

-changing leaders in fighter units on Luzon
-changing leaders in fighter units in Pearl Harbor

You have some really poor leaders there initially, many with AIR skill in 30s. If KB strikes again at Pearl, you will have a very weak CAP with the original leaders. Same goes for Luzon.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

Singers can be swept from Soc Trang (I think that is the base with 18 Zeros). Not really needed on turn 1, but if you are playing 2 turns, it make sense to set it to sweep, with Netties bombing port

In my games (which are DaBabes), I found that unless you leave alone the 1st turn (hardcoded), it is really difficult to hit Force Z with Netties; many times they survived with minimal damage. KB, or parts of it, is a different problem altogether

Regarding PPs: I would save them for a few turns, then start using them to buy small LCUs (like AA or base force) that I want to evacuate or use. I won't change leaders, not yet, unless they are getting into action right away. Changing air units is more important than changing land or naval, IMO

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Having thought about, and examined the OOB in detail, I am going to go so far to say that China is far from a lost cause that most AFBs complain of. There, I said it. I feel very confident I can stalemate the IJA, and eventually turn the tables on them in China.

My big concern is the Armored/Heavy artillery Schwerpunkt. I have taken steps to counter this.

Putting this in writing now, so I can eat crow later.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alfred

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Having thought about, and examined the OOB in detail, I am going to go so far to say that China is far from a lost cause that most AFBs complain of. There, I said it. I feel very confident I can stalemate the IJA, and eventually turn the tables on them in China.

My big concern is the Armored/Heavy artillery Schwerpunkt. I have taken steps to counter this.

Putting this in writing now, so I can eat crow later.

Over the years I have made several posts arguing that most AFB just badly mishandle China.

I've never believed China to be a lost cause. Against a good and determined Japanese opponent, it might be impossible to prevent the loss of all the Chinese bases but that doesn't matter if it happens well into 1943. Such a result would be a strategic Allied victory because of the huge opportunity cost it would have imposed on Japan. A Japan still heavily involved in China in 1943 should be an easy roll to American and Australian forces.

Alfred

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

I have only one previous campaign as the Chinese to go on, but if I can offer one piece of advise, it would be to not get too attached to a well defended position at the cost of allowing the Japanese player to concentrate their forces elsewhere. By all means you should defend key bases with good supply like Changsha, but sitting in an impregnable mountain hex somewhere is useless if the Japanese simply shift their main axis of advance in another direction. The Chinese are on the strategic defensive, but operationally that defense needs to be elastic and keep pace with where the Japanese are pushing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
I have only one previous campaign as the Chinese to go on, but if I can offer one piece of advise, it would be to not get too attached to a well defended position at the cost of allowing the Japanese player to concentrate their forces elsewhere. By all means you should defend key bases with good supply like Changsha, but sitting in an impregnable mountain hex somewhere is useless if the Japanese simply shift their main axis of advance in another direction. The Chinese are on the strategic defensive, but operationally that defense needs to be elastic and keep pace with where the Japanese are pushing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

That does not mean that you can't fight to hold it to slow the enemy down. Just remember that if it is surrounded, they are all destroyed. Some of the infantry will come back, but the devices?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alfred

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Having thought about, and examined the OOB in detail, I am going to go so far to say that China is far from a lost cause that most AFBs complain of. There, I said it. I feel very confident I can stalemate the IJA, and eventually turn the tables on them in China.

My big concern is the Armored/Heavy artillery Schwerpunkt. I have taken steps to counter this.

Putting this in writing now, so I can eat crow later.

Over the years I have made several posts arguing that most AFB just badly mishandle China.

I've never believed China to be a lost cause. Against a good and determined Japanese opponent, it might be impossible to prevent the loss of all the Chinese bases but that doesn't matter if it happens well into 1943. Such a result would be a strategic Allied victory because of the huge opportunity cost it would have imposed on Japan. A Japan still heavily involved in China in 1943 should be an easy roll to American and Australian forces.

Alfred

I have read some of your great posts on the matter Alfred!

When I have taken China, I always progressed thru shocked that the Chinese are letting me get this hex or that base for free, especially the non base critical hexes. Just giving away hexes that should be defended and defended heavily.

So, I always knew there was a much better way...but in looking at the OOB, I am fairly impressed with some of the units, at how quickly they can be built up for their role to help counter China's perceived weakness in AA for one example. The generous HQs, it is like a bonanza there.

quote:

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
I have only one previous campaign as the Chinese to go on, but if I can offer one piece of advise, it would be to not get too attached to a well defended position at the cost of allowing the Japanese player to concentrate their forces elsewhere. By all means you should defend key bases with good supply like Changsha, but sitting in an impregnable mountain hex somewhere is useless if the Japanese simply shift their main axis of advance in another direction. The Chinese are on the strategic defensive, but operationally that defense needs to be elastic and keep pace with where the Japanese are pushing.

I disagree. Chinese have a lot of AV that is enough to organize multiple strong points, and can be great when dug in hard terrain. But to dig in you need it to be stationary for prolonged periods of time. Just choose the places wisely, not every x3 hex has strategic importance.

Edit: sure there should be a dynamic part too. E.g. strategic reserves and the annoying cockroach run-around through Japanese lines

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

How do most AFBs spend their early PP?

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
I'm not really sure what there is to disagree with. What good is a well defended mountain hex with high forts if it is simply screened, bypassed, and never attacked by the Japanese player? The hexes where the Chinese make their stand must always be directly relevant to their usefulness - defend only the avenues that are likely to be used, and be willing to abandon the ones that are no longer useful even if the Chinese forces there have spent a long time digging in and have high breastworks.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I misunderstood the Empire's position with the first turn, I read an email to believe it to be imminent, however Scout1 was merely informing me he was going to send me an email and not the turn.

We are now at he will give me a heads up when he is close. I hope his irl concerns, undiagnosed, work out even if the game doesn't. On Wednesday he informed me that the bases/industry done, now he is back to playing with Navy toys and then on to his lcus.

Not very promising, tbh. We agreed to the game prior the July 11th. Two full weeks for the first turn with no touchdown in sight so to speak...doesn't bode well.

I have told him no hurry with the first turn, get it correct but I think I will have to change that position shortly.

PS: I am starting to forget all of my good and not so good ideas I had for the opening.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro

The first turn can be very daunting, much more so than Allies Turn 2 (which is also intense) because your decisions and opening success is absolutely key to the long-term game. Allies can afford to take a more lax approach. Nonetheless, it's still good to remind JFB's that not everything needs to be done on turn 1; you can take a whole week (7 turns) to get everything in order and be perfectly fine.