are the axis purposefully being patched out of existance?

[Uncle_Joe]

Its very rare to have a japanese player research ASW

Wow...different strokes for different folks, I guess....To me, this is one of the THE necessary research items for Japan before DOWing the US...ASW, CAG Evade, and CAG Torp. I can usually afford those three up one level by Fa41. And I do it every game...without fail.

No wonder Japanese players are getting screwed in the Pacific! [;)] I think a lot of folks are concentrating their Japanese efforts onto the mainland to the detriment of the naval campaign, but IMO, all the success in the world in China/Russia means very little if the US has camped out the Japanese main islands.

Its quite possible to have that research level and still take the SRI in 2 turns. It does not leave much for China (who cares?) or Russia (Germany's problem...[:D]). However if the Pacific campaign goes well (and there is a decent shot at that if you are prepared), you can eventually hit China/Russia later on and the US has to divert resources towards Pacific builds or else conceded that Japan is going to run amok for some time.

Anyways, I guess thats why its neat to play against different folks from time to time. You see totally different perspectives. Once TCP/IP is finalized, I hope to be able to branch out a bit more and play. Looking forward to seeing what other folks are doing with Japan!

[aletoledo]

perhaps "very rare" is a poor choice of words, because my experience is mostly playing axis. however the 7-8 allied games I've played I've never seen the japanese player raise ASW. I personally also raise the japs ASW and closely watch the US sub numbers and tech.

[Lebatron]

ORIGINAL: aletoledo

but as svend mentioned, that if the japanese decided to do anything else with their fleet besides guard the home islands, then the USA can use its surface fleet to surround japan. add this together with subs and its takes a well prepared japanese player to defend against this, thus leaving little for actual conquest of the DEI, russia or china.

I agree, the Jap player should not be forced to keep his fleet at home to prevent this tactic. That's not the answer to solving this problem. The answer lies in finding a solution that steers the US into Island hopping. Then instead of seeing the Jap fleet sit at home, we will see battles in the South Pacific. It would be more exciting to both players than the one giant fleet battle around Japan.

Didn't anyone read my idea to deter the US from using the north route? I'd like to know what some of you think about applying interdiction points to the US fleet if they use the north seas. Aletoledo and Wanderinghead both said something about creating a penalty for the US fleet if they use that route. A penalty that makes them weaker in combat if they tried to sail to far. Well I believe interdiction points will serve that purpose perfectly. And it won't reqiure any new ship machanics to be coded by 2by3. They are not going to rewrite major pieces of code for WAW1. They are busy with other things.

[Uncle_Joe]

Well I believe interdiction points will serve that purpose perfectly. And it won't reqiure any new ship machanics to be coded by 2by3

I agree adding IPs would be a good deterent, but how would this be implemented without code changes? Also, IPs clear at the end of the turn, so even if the US somehow incurred IPs getting to Japan, unless the Japanese fleet is present at that time, there would be no effect.

I personally dont think its as easy for the US to just sail across and shut down Japan as a lot of other folks here seem to. Obviously that might just be my inexperience with Allied players being that ballsy. I do agree that they dont have too much incentive to go island hopping though.

[Lebatron]

It would not take much to add since its already built in. I could even do it for them. What I had in mind was create tiny invisible islands in them nothern seas. Nobody would see them but the program will.

But you just pointed out the flaw I was asking for. I had forgot that interdiction points clear at the end of the turn[&:]

Well the idea could still have some merit if the Japs had some force waiting to fight the US fleet. They just will not need as much as before because of the penalties the US fleet will have. So the Japs could do decent damage with less. A few fighters and some bombers on CAP over a sea zone by the Bonin Islands for instance, can deter the US from going directly there.

If its possible to make a small change to the interdiction point code so that they won't clear. Making the exception only apply to them particular sea zones. Then I think 2by3 should consider it.

[aletoledo]

But you just pointed out the flaw I was asking for. I had forgot that interdiction points clear at the end of the turn

thats the problem with interdiction points as a simple solution. it would be too unfair not to clear them at the end, because its supposed to simulate coastwatcher and local patrol sightings.