A winning Axis Strategy:  Playing for Heavy Bombers

When I am Axis and playing a "quality" Allied player (barring lopsided 
dice), I know I will not be able to take USSR.  How many games have you 
played as Axis where you have lost and not even come close to taking USSR? 
So therefore, it is my opinion, trying to take USSR is a losing strategy.

How often has Germany attacked Karlelia only to wind up having everything 
on both sides killed and then the allies have a foothold in Western Europe. 
With their foothold in Western Europe..Germany is eventually doomed.  Or 
how about building a few industrial complexes with Japan and push really 
hard to USSR, only to have the Allies move just enough units to defend both
USSR and Karelia.  As we all know in A&A, it's a lot easier to defend a 
territory then to attack it.  So the allies eventually take back Africa, 
are outproducing the Axis and eventually win.

So therefore I feel that the best Axis strategy is playing for Japan to 
get Heavy Bombers.  Yes, that's the best strategy.. getting Heavy Bombers.  
I know some of you anti-tech rollers out there think that this strategy 
is based on luck and not skill, but I totally disagree.  If I know I am 
going to tech roll 180 bucks and I can afford to tech roll 180 bucks then 
is getting heavy bombers luck?  No, I should get heavy bombers.  What if I 
know I will be able to tech roll 90 bucks and then I get heavy bombers is 
that luck?  I had better than a 50% chance (not to mention getting long-
range aircraft or industrial technology).  

Here are the basics on this strategy:

	German Strategy:

? Never never ever attack Karelia..even if you have superior odds.  You 
will need all of those men late in the game to defend Germany.  Its hard 
to loose as the Axis if Germany never falls. ? Try and hold Western Europe 
and Eastern Europe as long as possible.  If you cant hold both, leave a 
few men in Western Europe (hold Eastern Europe) and if the Allied player 
lands 18 troops in there or so, use all your men in Germany and all of your 
tanks and planes to wipe it out and then give up Eastern Europe.

? Make sure you take Egypt with 6 units on round 1.  Land as many men as 
possible into Africa. 

? If and when the Allies get a foothold on either Western or Eastern 
Europe, then have Germany curl up into a ball (save your men at all cost).  
It will take the Allies many turns to have a force that will be able to 
attack Germany.  By this point Germany should have at least 70 units plus 
a bunch of fighters in it.

	Japanese Strategy:

? Never never ever buy an industrial complex.  Why?  Cause if you know you 
are going to eventually get heavy bombers, then the Allies will have to 
counter and try to get heavy bombers.  So if they do, you don't want to 
give the allies any industrial complexes to bomb. 

? Make sure early in the game (round 2, 3 or 4) to take all of the islands 
(Hawaii, new Zealand, Australia, Madagascar).

? Move some troops into Africa to help Germany out when the Allies are 
trying to take it back.

? When Japan starts to collect above 40 bucks, buy a bomber and as many 
men as you can (8 if you have 4 transports, 10 if you have 5)...this also 
depends on how bad off Germany looks.  If they are in trouble and are going 
down fast, then buy less men.  This is because the only way you are going 
to win is if you get heavy bombers.  Those few extra men wont do anything 
if Germany falls.

? After you have a few bombers (this is also a function of how bad off 
Germany is doing).  If you are winning big and Germany is a powerhouse 
then keep buying bombers.  If Germany is going to fall in a few rounds 
then start tech rolling.
? Now you should be at 45 or so for Japan.  Tech roll 30 each round and 
buy the rest men.  If you get heavy bombers and Germany is still alive you 
should win.


Key points:

? Its hard to loose as the axis if Germany never falls (so play them very 
defensively)

? If you know you can't take USSR, tech rolling for Japan is the best way 
to win (don't wait until Germany has fallen to tech roll for Japan, its 
too late).

? If Japan has heavy bombers and no industrial complex..the Allies will 
have a hard time stopping Japan.

? People in spring should tech roll a lot more then they do.


	Shotgun_Sammy...