The China Question

[fcam1387]

What to do about China is one of the most irking questions Japan faces in the game. I am just curious as to how other players handle the issue. Is it worthwile effectively knocking China out of the war early on by capturing Changsha? I have tried this on several games and the problem with this option is that it takes a lot of time (generally well into 1941) and eats a huge amount of supplies. Sometimes the USA declares war on you before you're ready, other times you declare war on the US, but the push into China has drained you of valuable supplies and manpower....

There is also the option to focus all your efforts in conquering all of China - but the payout factor in terms of supplies and industry is nothing spectacular and the costs are also very high. If a player decides to venture down this path, war against the USA, great naval battles and capturing / utilizing the DEI aren't usually feasible and generally land campaigns against India and the Soviet Union are the only option.

Another highly popular tactic is to essentially do nothing - apart from bombing the interior after the capture of Foochow - My only problem with this option is that China slowly but surely builds up troops and supplies, forcing you to do the same and commit valuable resources to the effort, eventually either China or Japan is forced to move first. When Japan does so under these circumstances, Changsha doesn't usually fall leaving you crippled.

Your thoughts are welcome.

[christian brown]

To be honest, I think the easiest way to deal with China is simply to build 3 more HBs, tech up their LA and nail the factories.  It's fairly cheap to do, plus you still have the (pretty darn useful) HBs afterward to use against subs, etc.  Usually, I totally ignore China and have the same trouble with them (building up supply) and by 1943 they become a real pain, perhaps next game I'll take my own advice and simply knock out those factories!

[lojishen]

Knocking out the factories was effecive in WAW, but is it in AWD? I haven't tried it yet, but in my one PBEM against Japan, it didn't seem like it was as easy to knock out the factories as it was in the first version.

[christian brown]

original: lojishen
Knocking out the factories was effecive in WAW, but is it in AWD?

Yep, nothing much has changed there..........

[GKar]

Don't give him hints, Christian - he's playing against us! [:D]

I think that bombing their factories clearly is among the best options.

[fcam1387]

Yeah, sorry bout that. I should have altered you guys before

[wargameplayer]

Going aggressively after China does not have a lot of upside even if it goes exceptionally well. Japan is so brutal with supply consumption you are really constrained. You also lose the gift of resources from the USA if you go after it earlier.

I think there is some merit to take all the coastals for supply line reasons but I'd put it off as long as possible..i.e. before general war in the pacific.

[christian brown]

Yeah, sorry bout that. I should have altered you guys before

Ha, it's all good, buddy! Just talking after all ; )