From: barich@bach.udel.edu (Dewey H Barich)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: A&A: Allies buy how many dice?
Date: 2 Oct 92 20:27:47 GMT
Organization: University of Delaware

In article <Ien8sni00axf41ekV2@andrew.cmu.edu> "Jonathan T. Moore" <jmci+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>In article <BvGKFs.8G0@news.udel.edu> barich@bach.udel.edu (Dewey H
>Barich) writes:
>
>>permit, perhaps the units can get to Yakut instead.  Also, the US
>>fighter on the carrier in Hawaii can reach Yakut on turn 1.  This would
>>help the defense, of course...
>
>What US fighter and carrier? Surely you've all seen the Pearl Harbor
>strategy implemented? The Japanese on their first turn can bring two
>battleships, a sub, a transport, two fighters, and a bomber to go whale
>on the carrier, fighter, and sub.  The U.S. should get pummelled,
>setting them back at least two or three turns, and the Japanese should
>only lose the transport and sub (with average luck).

Yes I've seen it, but I don't like it.  In fact, most players I've seen
don't like it.  You see, you just brought in 4 ships for Japan.  You
claim that 2 will go down.  On the US turn, they bring in the West US
fighter, the East US fighter, the bomber, the transport and the
battleship from West US.  Also, if the Japanese get less than two hits
on the first round of the battle, the sub can (should, I think)
withdraw.  So, there are now 2 fighters, a bomber, a transport, a
battleship and perhaps a sub to attack the Japanese battleships.  If you
do this, then the US will have a naval advantage in the Pacific.  If you
leave them alone and prepare a better assault, you (the Japanese
player) will have the naval advantage.

I must add, though, that you left out the Japanese carrier, which could
then stay in the Hawaiian sea zone, and have the two fighters land on it
and defend the zone.  But still, the US will destroy quite a bit.  Let's
see, I just worked out what "should" happen.

If the Japanese attack with the transport, sub, 2 battleships, carrier,
2 fighters, and bomber, all US units are lost, but they destroy 2
Japanese units.  You say the transport and sub.

Now, it's the US's turn.  I attack the carrier, 2 fighters and two
battleships with a transport, a battleship, two fighters and a bomber.
I see the US getting 2 or 3 hits.  Probably 2.  So, the Japanese lose
what?  Let's say two fighters (If the Japanese lose the carrier and a
fighter, I withdraw and the Japanese fighter crashes into the ocean, and
I don't think you are going to lose a battleship yet).  In return, the
Japanese kill the transport and one fighter.  Now I continue the attack,
and get three more hits (I should get three hits in at least one of the
two rounds...).  You as well get three hits, and we both now have no
navy.  

The battle could easily sway way in favor of either side, but it is
still to the Allies' advantage for the Japanese to do this.  This is
because the transport that Japan used is lost and was not used to get
any more units onto the Asian continent.  The transport from the
Phillipines can, but it may not be enough.  Also, the US can afford to 
ignore Japan, but Japan cannot afford to leave Asia alone like that. 
What do you so if the USSR has taken Manchuria?  Now you are really
hurting on land.

I wouldn't worry about killing the navies.  Japan can make MUCH better
use of its navy, and you don't collect IPCs for the sea zones you
caprture...

Let me know what you think!  

Dewey