Spying and Intelligence.

[stormbringer3]

Should Japan work on this? In WaW I did because of the 1939 start. Now there are so many areas in which to spend MPPs I'm not sure about this area. I think the U.S. will always be way ahead.
Thanks for any opinions.

[Platoonist]

This aspect of the game has always worried me as Japan. You're surrounded by opponents with some MPPs to spare since they all don't all need to diversify their research between land, sea, and air techs like Japan. If the US, Russia, China, Britain and Australia are all investing consistently in intelligence it seems your research teams would really get out-muscled as the game goes on.

[stormbringer3]

Thank you for the reply. When you play Japan do you put MPPs into Spying? After reading your post, I'm leaning toward not doing it.

[Tanaka]

This aspect of the game has always worried me as Japan. You're surrounded by opponents with some MPPs to spare since they all don't all need to diversify their research between land, sea, and air techs like Japan. If the US, Russia, China, Britain and Australia are all investing consistently in intelligence it seems your research teams would really get out-muscled as the game goes on.

Just saw a different opinion on Steam:

"Initially Japan has an advantage in fleet size (CVs) and research. I usually wait (Allies) until about mid 43 for a full engagement when Naval Weaponry/anti-air/anti sub research are at level 2 and Naval Warfare complete. Don't neglect anti-air, CVs are lethal until you get to level 2 and even then do a lot of damage.

Japan also initially has a S&I research advantage which gives them more spotting and faster research. Its also important to invest in S&I research.

Put subs in the front to spot & block and Maritime Bombers/Bombers and Fighters in surrounding islands to spot, attack & protect. IMO CVs are the most important unit to protect in the formation. In SC its important that a large percent (if not all) of your Navy travel in groups.

Good Luck."

[stormbringer3]

I just loaded up a game as the Allies. The U.S. also starts with a chit in S&I so I'm not sure how Japan has a S&I advantage.

[Platoonist]

Japan also initially has a S&I research advantage which gives them more spotting and faster research. Its also important to invest in S&I research.

Seems odd that the devs wouldn't have mentioned that when outlining the differences between this game and World at War. I can't say I've noticed any difference in research speed when playing as Japan, but that sort of thing is difficult to gage having not played many campaigns through yet from both sides. Maybe it was necessary for play-balance with five major powers pitted against one. Apparently Japanese light cruisers were given improved naval spotting as well due to floatplanes.

When playing as Japan I've invested in at least one level of tech beyond what it starts with. Hard to tell the effect it's having good or ill since you can't interview the AI after the game about its intelligence coups or failures. Sometimes an unspotted ship or sub will suddenly get bombed but I don't know if that's due to intelligence uncovering the fog of war or just good air recon. As Japan I also tend to refund the one advanced bomber research chit as it seems like there are more pressing fields for research.

[Platoonist]

I just loaded up a game as the Allies. The U.S. also starts with a chit in S&I so I'm not sure how Japan has a S&I advantage.

Japan starts at level one for S&I on the research table already. Only the Soviets do on the Allied side. One advantage the USSR seems to have is since they generally stay neutral for most of the game they can just sit back and invest in intelligence and their economy for a long time before having to worry about improving or buying units.

[Umeu]

This aspect of the game has always worried me as Japan. You're surrounded by opponents with some MPPs to spare since they all don't all need to diversify their research between land, sea, and air techs like Japan. If the US, Russia, China, Britain and Australia are all investing consistently in intelligence it seems your research teams would really get out-muscled as the game goes on.

Just saw a different opinion on Steam:

"Initially Japan has an advantage in fleet size (CVs) and research. I usually wait (Allies) until about mid 43 for a full engagement when Naval Weaponry/anti-air/anti sub research are at level 2 and Naval Warfare complete. Don't neglect anti-air, CVs are lethal until you get to level 2 and even then do a lot of damage.

Japan also initially has a S&I research advantage which gives them more spotting and faster research. Its also important to invest in S&I research.

Put subs in the front to spot & block and Maritime Bombers/Bombers and Fighters in surrounding islands to spot, attack & protect. IMO CVs are the most important unit to protect in the formation. In SC its important that a large percent (if not all) of your Navy travel in groups.

Good Luck."

I think Japan can't win a long war. So Japan must win in mid 43 or die. Which means you must have about all you need to win ready at the beginning of 43. S&I simply won't pay off in that time.

much better to double chit a tech than to get S&I imo, considering limited resources available.

even in WaW I don't think it's good to get S&I for Japan, it just slows everything down so much, and when it's supposed to pay off, Japan no longer has the resources to invest many MPPs into tech. Considering you have like 2 years less of research time in WitP, the problems is even worse there.

[BillRunacre]

The intelligence hits I have had due to S&I research have led to multiple US Carriers being sunk, or massing invasion fleets being spotted, so I would not write this tech off because these reports can be crucial to determining the difference between victory and defeat.