Should the USA declare war?

[craigbear]

Just playing a solo game, and the USA was able to declare successfully declare war on Japan in Mar/Apr 1942. I was very surprised as very many options were chosen automatically after this occurrence. This has resulted in German entry going to a mere 21 while the tension is at 53. Looking at the "it's war" chart, I see that the chance to DoW on Germany is nonexistent... with current tension, entry must go to at least 49. Not many options are left for the USA... 20, 32, 33, 38, and 44-50. I am just wondering, since a DoW on Germany seems far in the future, whether the US should DoW Japan at all, or wait to do it against Germany.

I am not very familiar with US DoW chart and process... is a DoW by the USA in a reasonable amount of time at all likely? Or should I just restart the game? Am I misanalyzing the situation?

Should US never DoW Japan but wait for Germany?

[Orm]

Yes, you should as US DOW Japan. As soon as realistically being able to do it.

And now that Us is at war with Japan the tough part is done. Now US just has to begin the war against primarily Japan, but also preparations versus EuroAxis. And beware that Germany, or Italy, or both, may still surprise the US.

Germany, and Italy, might be scared of suffering a surprise by USA, and therefore prematurely DOW USA. US should prepare for such a DOW, and be able to capitalize on a surprise themselves.

US should not need to wait long to be able to DOW Germany either. The lowest entry they need is not 49. It is a messily 25, and then they have a 10% chance of going to war. The US is at war with Japan and has a -1 die modifier. And trying a DOW as soon as possible might be a good idea as well. Because that will remove a chit from the tension pool if the DOW fails (and one from the entry pool as well).

Also, the US should gain entry fast now that the need for tensions doesn't exist and they draw 2 markers per turn.

[alexvand]

Declaring war on Japan is absolutely a good move! It eliminates the Japanese surprise impulse which allows them to capture so much territory. The loss of that surprise impulse can be devastating to Japan. Especially if it means they have a hard time getting the NEI oil.

[craigbear]

Thanks... I play it through to see how USA entry will work with regards to declaring war on Germany.

[Courtenay]

Since it is '42, the US is getting two good entry chits a turn. German entry will go up fast. Also, if you have enough tension, which it looks like you do, it doesn't matter how many US entry options there are, since you won't want to pick any of them. I would wait to declare war until you have a decent chance of success (at least 50%, but maybe 60%.) Each failed attempt removes an entry and a tension, which can get bad.

(I would wait for 60% because it feels like I get 50% chances 25% of the time. [:)])

[paulderynck]

There is an option once war is declared on one, to roll for tension on all the remaining "automatic" entry options (i.e the ones not taken yet against the subject of the DoW). This can turn into quite a balancing act because each chit moved is worth half its value in entry versus half its value in tension against the next target.

[craigbear]

Maybe I am misunderstanding, but I did not have any option for the remaining Japanese directed entry options once I declared war... all of them were taken automatically with resulting effects on Japanese entry and tension (an indirect lowering of the German numbers for entry and increases in tension).

[Joseignacio]

ORIGINAL: craigbear

Maybe I am misunderstanding, but I did not have any option for the remaining Japanese directed entry options once I declared war... all of them were taken automatically with resulting effects on Japanese entry and tension (an indirect lowering of the German numbers for entry and increases in tension).

When you declare war to one of the two parts of the axis, all the possible options that had not previously been selected, take place.

However, you dont need to have to use it's tension (or entry- if any- effect). But maybe this is in the newer versions of WIF, maybe someone can confirm.

[craigbear]

Never had an opportunity to not gain tension.

[paulderynck]

The board game rule is you can roll to move a chit from entry to tension for each entry option not yet chosen that is exclusively against the power you just DoW'd. I don't know if that is implemented in MWiF. BTW this is not to be confused with the tension roll for succeeding in the DoW, any chit moves to tension generated from that must be made.

[Joseignacio]

13.3.2

(...)
When the US goes to war with a major power, you are treated as having chosen every unchosen entry option aimed at that major power. You still roll for each of these options but don’t have to move a marker to the tension pool when called for unless you so desire (except for your declaration of war ~ see 9.4). You do this on a case by case basis.

When the US is at war with every unconquered Axis major power, you are treated as having chosen every entry option (except US entry option 44).
(...)

[craigbear]

Would this be a bug then? I never had any opportunity to forgo moving anything into the tension pool. Unfortunately, I did not save the game... but I am certain USA dows are not uncommon, so someone will be able to test it at some time.

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: craigbear

Would this be a bug then? I never had any opportunity to forgo moving anything into the tension pool. Unfortunately, I did not save the game... but I am certain USA dows are not uncommon, so someone will be able to test it at some time.

A question pops up if you want to move a marker or not.