japan vs. who?

[mdavisud]

I just downloaded the game and am about to start playing. I have a question about who Japan is at war with. Allies encompasses everyone but tyhe Japanese and the Japanese are at war with the Allies. But it seems you don't fight the Russians until you're not garrisoning Manchuko. I guess what I'm asking is, do you start out at war with everyone or just certain nations? The way the intro reads is that Japan is at war with America only. It says that Britain moves assets in to protect India, but it doesn't nessacerily say they are at war. It also states that you can choose to invade China or any of the other island chains. I assume this means that you don't start off at war with China? Am I wrong about this? Also, if the above is true, is the player the only one able to initiate war with say China and how do they do this (just select a port to attack and do it?)? Thanks for your time.

Mickey

[String]

ORIGINAL: mdavisud

I just downloaded the game and am about to start playing. I have a question about who Japan is at war with. Allies encompasses everyone but tyhe Japanese and the Japanese are at war with the Allies. But it seems you don't fight the Russians until you're not garrisoning Manchuko. I guess what I'm asking is, do you start out at war with everyone or just certain nations? The way the intro reads is that Japan is at war with America only. It says that Britain moves assets in to protect India, but it doesn't nessacerily say they are at war. It also states that you can choose to invade China or any of the other island chains. I assume this means that you don't start off at war with China? Am I wrong about this? Also, if the above is true, is the player the only one able to initiate war with say China and how do they do this (just select a port to attack and do it?)? Thanks for your time.

Mickey

techincally, with everyone but russians. But the jap AI won't go into china as far as I know.

[Tankerace]

Technically, Japan fights everybody but the Russians. However, very rarely will the Japanese AI attack China or British possesions. With the Allied AI, about the only major Allied involvement (non American) is sometimes the Aussie Navy steams up and engages around the PI.

VP wise however, China isn't worth much, and Malaya, French Indo China, and the Netherlands are worth far less than The Philippines.

[Helpless]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

Technically, Japan fights everybody but the Russians. However, very rarely will the Japanese AI attack China or British possesions.

How about the TF11 set to bombard Singapore in senario 1?

[Tankerace]

That was there as a fun thing, and to keep players froms stripping Malaya to reinforce the PI.

[Helpless]

[:D]

.. WPO = fun... [:)]

[Matto]

It is a possitive on the WPO, that player can do, what he want ... as Japan. He doesn't need resources, he only needs points and point are anywhere on the map. So fight who you want [8D] As Allies it depends on Japan strategy ... so first Allies are more passive only reacting on situation ...

[jwilkerson]

Just FYI regarding AI and China. In my first "experiment" playing scenario 1 as Allies against AI ... Japan has significantly reinforced both Tientsen and Port Arthur ( adding mutliple divisions with artillery to both stacks ) and has launched deliberate attacks against my besieging forces at Tiensten. But has not landed to create additional enclaves in China ( yet ). But China feels threatened along her coast as Formosa is building into a powerhouse and there are many troops being brought in. On the other side of the coin the Chinses have invaded and overrun Korea and are starting to build up there - this may offer a base from which to attack the home islands later.
So the AI as Japanese isn't ignoring China - though it may be ignoring Korea.

BTW the AI also has not succeeded in taking Manilla yet - and it is late July 22 ... and I'm now in a position to consider reinforcing.

[Tankerace]

2 Qs, what scenario are you playing (1,2,5, or 6).

Also, reinforcing with what perhaps?

[jwilkerson]

Oops sorry - playing scenario 1 ... reinforcing ... probably with a Corps from Singapore of 2 Indian Divisions, 2 UK Arty Regiments and the III Corps Hindquarters. Enough to try to start kicking the Japanese off Luzon.

[Tankerace]

Becareful, those Brit units aren't at full strength. It may prolong the battle, but it probably won't turn the tide.

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

Becareful, those Brit units aren't at full strength. It may prolong the battle, but it probably won't turn the tide.

Oh I'm aware they aren't full strength - but they've been sitting in Singapore for a while sucking up supply- to build up - and probably will for a while longer before I bring them up. But the AI doesn't seem to be reinforcing Luzon - it has spread out and seems to have switched over to defense ( we are late July 22 now ). There are 2 divisions, a Bde and 2 SNLFs only in the Manilla hex and they are pretty beat up ( 10 guns firing bombardment each turn ).

AI may need a kick in the pants !!

I'm really just experimenting - once I get a feel for the logistics build up cycle - I need to switch to PBEM ...

[Tankerace]

AI can be tricky. I thought the same thing, went on the offensive, got smashed, and then got my butt kicked. The AI may have slowed up, but it will still put up a fight. Remember, these aren't lightening fast tanks or small, mobile divisions. I've seen Luzon fall as early as late June, or as long as late July. Admitedly though, this is playing "historically", without reinforcing the PI early on. (read my AAR. Vs the AI, I got a Division smashed, and am basically FUBARed)

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

AI can be tricky. I thought the same thing, went on the offensive, got smashed, and then got my butt kicked. The AI may have slowed up, but it will still put up a fight. Remember, these aren't lightening fast tanks or small, mobile divisions. I've seen Luzon fall as early as late June, or as long as late July. Admitedly though, this is playing "historically", without reinforcing the PI early on. (read my AAR. Vs the AI, I got a Division smashed, and am basically FUBARed)

Well I haven't reinforced yet ... but not sure whether that is "historical" [:D][:D][:D]

But it wouldn't have occured to me if it hadn't looked like he ( the AI ) was stuck ... but I've got several hundred thousand supply and fuel points now in the line from Singapore to Timor/Darwin ... so it seems time to start projecting the baseline fo'ard !

There may be too much supply in this scenario[at least on the Allied side] - but I assume that is because it is the "AI" enabled one ...

[Tankerace]

LOL, When I toned it down as much as it is, testers complained that there wasn't enough. While in AI you mgiht get away with it, in PBEM if you try and move all that supply with the few escorts available, it can lead to easy Japanese VPs.

[jwilkerson]

Actually, supply from WC USA is just now reaching the area in question ( 25 July ) far and away most of the supply in the Singapore => Timor area either has sprung from the ground ( mostly ) or come from Karachi to Singapore. I have no idea what the Japanese have - but given the probable ranges of their vessels, interdicting mostly single sailers in the Singapore to Timor line from closest base Palau, would still seem in efficient. But I would certainly expect a human to clear the P.I. with little trouble and at least threaten Hong Kong, SEA and Borneo ...

Singapore seems to be the BE ALL END ALL base for the Allies - level 9 port ( soon anyway ) with repair points and with a fairly defensible supply line behind it. Anything along a path between Singapore and the P.I. the Japanese can mess with would seem to slow down the Allied advance - though the more material the Japanese push into the area between Singapore and P.I., the harder it will be for them to supply it.

A bone of contention would be the house rule prohibiting the Chinese from attacking Korea. I might accept such a house rule if the Japanese are required to leave say 800+ AV in Korea ( 2 divisions ). The early to mid-twenties was the peak of the Armed rebellion in Korea and if the Chinese offered support - things could've easily gotten out of hand. Running off and leaving it empty as the A.I. has done ... should not be an option unless the Allies also have the option to attack Korea. Of course attacking Port Arthur and Tsingtao should remain "allowed" for the Allies.

[Tankerace]

I tend to agree with Korea, but if we were to do that then All British units would need to be removed, as in the 1920s they were needed for policing duties in India-Malaya. So we either handicap none (as is) or all. That said, players shouldn't reinforce the PI with British troops as realistically, they never would have been used that way. They are in the game because I didn't want to force the Japanese into a single objective path. Like WitP, if you make unrealistic moves, it can hiccup the AI.

[Jaypea]

Where will the AI go after PI if it doesn't attack British possessions? Will it go into DEI and south pacific? I have restarted my game with the AI since I was able to stop it cold in PI with British reinforcements. I have made my own rule not to do this but I am willing to use pp's to make AUS units available --> [:D]. Just curious what is open for the Jap AI to attack if they aren't going after Malaya/Burma/Indonesia/China?

Thanks
JP

[Tankerace]

The AI will 1 Fortify the PI is its first priority. Then based on shipping, it will attack either China, The south Pacific (though not as hard as in WitP), and through to Pearl Harbor. If enough shipping is available it will also move for the DEI. The AI also plays the waiting game in some cases, as for the Allied player to win, they must retake the PI. And the AI will fortify it with anything it can spare. (I once saw over 100,000 INFANTRY, not counting second line troops).