unexplained missing Chinese production

[WanderingHead]

OK, this is hard without a game save for someone to look at. But let me try to explain.

China has 4 factories, 6 resource points. None of the factories are damaged. All Chinese territories are contiguous. No resources show as disconnected. Yet the production for China is mysteriously zero. Should be 4.

Is there some subtle rule I could be missing?

[Uncle_Joe]

Early in the game, China only produces once every three turns.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Not only "early in the game" - China factories will produce every third turn, unless one of the non coastal provinces is occupied by Axis - then they "jump" to producing every turn.

Corrolary to this is - Japan player must have very good reason to attack non coastal province in China.

O.

[Uncle_Joe]

Yeah, I didnt have the book in front of me so I didnt know all the exact conditions that triggers the once/turn.

[WanderingHead]

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko
Corrolary to this is - Japan player must have very good reason to attack non coastal province in China.

So, what exactly does the Japanese player do for the first year or two? Obviously there is some reticence to waken the sleeping American eagle. Without triggering war with WA or USSR, or losing free trade with Siam, or awakenning Chinese production (plus losing US free trade) there are only two places to move on (coastal Chinese).

Then I guess bomb the Chinese and position everything for Pearl Harbor and the big push. That's it?

It's a tough power to play. Personally, I want to take it slow with WA for Germany's, but it doesn't leave Japan with much to do.

Do you think it is feasible to do both Pearl and San Diego (Western US)?

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: WanderingHead
Do you think it is feasible to do both Pearl and San Diego (Western US)?

Personally I wouldn't even think of it. Supply cost is too high, supply route too long... US player might have built a fighter unit there (that's what I do anyway). I don't even think you can get there, because of politically frozen zones.

Sometimes I don't even go for PH, I am currently experimenting with some alternative opening strategies as Japan...

O.

[WanderingHead]

So how does Pearl Harbor work out?

Game mechanics. The only thing that can attack the ships in port are planes. Japan starts with only 4 carrier air groups. There are 4 Heavy Fleets + 3 Light Fleets in Hawaii.

It seems like even with surprise, it will be tough to really do all that much damage with one strike.

Am I missing anything that can be thrown into the fray?

[Uncle_Joe]

Nope, thats it. With the Surprise Rule, you generally will sink and/or damage 4 and suffer no losses (assuming they havent researched Battleship AA). But taking out 4 ships is easily worth the 20 supplies it takes to pull off the raid.

An alternative way to attack has been suggested in another thread where you surround Pearl Harbor on all 4 sides, then ignore attacking the port and instead hit the units while invading with a few Infantry. When/If you take the island, all 7 ships are destroyed as they have nowhere to retreat to.

To me, that is kind of an exploit, but it appears to be intended. Even at that, its still a trade-off. You are investing time and supply to kill off a few more ships. Because your Transports and Fleets are needed at Pearl, you are delaying taking over the resource rich islands for a turn or so. This can be costly IMO.

The third alternative is to ignore Pearl Harbor altogether and concentrate on China/India and eventually Russia. You are saving supplies and ensuring maximum destruction/conquest in the South Pacific but you are leaving the WAllies a lot of ships that can become a powerful threat to your Transports.

[IDrinkBeer]

Do you think it is feasible to do both Pearl and San Diego (Western US)?

I tried San Diego once... Just once...


It was a while back but let me re-cap it from memory. I wound up unfreezing the US to position my carriers for the attack ( No surprise attack ). I hit San Diego and got 2 carrier air destroyed and 1 damaged. The surviving air based in San Diego counter-attacked and sunk 1 of my carriers while damaging another.

Not a move I would suggest you try.[:D]