Bottlenecks occur in surprising places

[RangerJoe]

That's what I do as well. Can get a LOT of well trained pilots from bombing the CHI forces, lasts well into '43 ... I'm in no hurry once I have Chengtu and ChungKing. At that point China just becomes training ground for my pilots and LCU's ....

Happy to train up pilots on the far too numerous Chinese electron warriors but I have a feeling that LST will be making sure his forces in this area do not fall into the trap and instead fall back for a defence of Sian.

Of course he will try, but ground bombing will drop them to combat mode and eat up supply. Both of these can slow, and when supply is zero, almost stop movement. I also use BN and BDE formation to "pin" the CHI units in place and/or herd them into groups. Along with the air bombardments, I use ground bombardment actions to both train up the LCU and deplete the CHI supply.

Yes, it is tricky and there are a lot of clicks involved ... ok more than a lot, but the end result is that I get almost all of my LCU's engaged in positive actions gaining EXP and wearing down the CHI units without killing them. After CK and Chengtu fall, then I create a couple of large groups to go around and mop-up all of the CHI. Again, tons of clicks, but the VP's and EXP's are well worth it. As the units reach good EXP levels, I buy them out.

PS: I admit it, I'm a click-meister. I think you have to be for this game.

So once the two main bases are captured, then "Clean up aisle 3!" is hear over the intercom?

All that a player has to do is to make sure that there is an incomplete line of your units with an opening to a base that is away from good terrain, when the enemy units retreat, they will retreat towards that opening. That way you can "herd" them into a smaller area and then finally trap them.

[PaxMondo]

So once the two main bases are captured, then "Clean up aisle 3!" is hear over the intercom?

All that a player has to do is to make sure that there is an incomplete line of your units with an opening to a base* that is away from good terrain, when the enemy units retreat, they will retreat towards that opening. That way you can "herd" them into a smaller area and then finally trap them.

+1

herding works, and there isn't a counter to it ... very frustrating when you are on the other side ...

*clarification: "to a base" in the sense of in a direction towards, not necessarily actually arriving in a base. The base might be 2 or 3 hexes away, but as long as the units can plot a path to it, that's the preferred direction and your opponent can't really do anything about it.

[SierraJuliet]

So once the two main bases are captured, then "Clean up aisle 3!" is hear over the intercom?

All that a player has to do is to make sure that there is an incomplete line of your units with an opening to a base* that is away from good terrain, when the enemy units retreat, they will retreat towards that opening. That way you can "herd" them into a smaller area and then finally trap them.

+1

herding works, and there isn't a counter to it ... very frustrating when you are on the other side ...

*clarification: "to a base" in the sense of in a direction towards, not necessarily actually arriving in a base. The base might be 2 or 3 hexes away, but as long as the units can plot a path to it, that's the preferred direction and your opponent can't really do anything about it.

All rather devilish. I must think on this.

It is, of course, early days in China but I may have already let too many Chinese units move into a position where it will be hard to herd them.

[PaxMondo]

All rather devilish. I must think on this.

It is, of course, early days in China but I may have already let too many Chinese units move into a position where it will be hard to herd them.

Your situation just means it will take longer to accomplish, but in '42 the CHI cannot stop you; there is no position that they can take that you cannot defeat. More difficult? Sure, but you have the bigger hammer (air), just use it. I have almost no ground bomber units in training mode; their training is bombing in CHI. They gain EXP and skill quite fast, especially those pilots with 50/50 skill that are slow to train, but in CHI bombing they gain pretty fast.

Good LUCK!!!