Japan: start with building factories?

[unmerged(95215)]

I've conquered Indochina, puppeted Siam and Nationalist China, conquered most islands in the Pacific and taken key areas on the Australian mainland. This without building any factories.

I'm now at war with Soviet Union, and even before I started it my TC was too much. Now it brings me to my knees.
If I start building factories now (1943), the war will be over before I'm done regaining my TC.

Have I reached the natural size-limit for Japan, or would building lots of factories in the beginning of the game make a big difference and allow me to take on SU too?
Maybe I will go for "full IC takeover" next time.

Thanks

 

[Simon1397]

Japan is not a heavily industralised Country in this time period but equally has territorial ambition that overtakes it's capacity to wage war; as a player you've got to balance these demands.

It's worth building a couple of very long IC builds from 1936 to keep yout TC above water; in '43 with your Empire intact now is a good time to build IC while you re-focus and re-equip your forces on the Soviet's and defend your territory.

How your war with the SOV will go will depend largely on who wins Barbarrossa to Berlin; if the Germans are annexed some time around 43/44 you don't stand much of a chance of defeating the SOV by yourself and it will take some considerable time if you do.

 

[unmerged(24861)]

In my current game as Japan I didn't build any factories and my TC has only been hit hard after making gains in the SU sometime in 1943. I didn't join the Axis however so I'm not at war with the Allies - only with the US and then later the SU.

I have used a long-term build of MP brigrades and outfitted all garrison units with those. All garrisons have been taken off the islands and been moved to inland China and then later to the SU. I find this keeps TC acceptable. The islands are now defended by Militia units (although the US so far only attacks Midway and Johnson island - both of which I conquered at the start of the war. Still, I think it more realistic that Japan would put up defenses on all important islands.

You might try to make Australia a puppet after taking all their VP territories. That should save you some of the partisan trouble.

 

[unmerged(95215)]

It's worth building a couple of very long IC builds from 1936 to keep yout TC above water; in '43 with your Empire intact now is a good time to build IC while you re-focus and re-equip your forces on the Soviet's and defend your territory.

So you would recommend (if restarting) to build IC in the beginning? Does that make a big difference or just barely "keep the TC above water"?
Are we talking a few IC-builds running several times, or many parallell running a few times?

 

[Simon1397]

I'd usually do 2 parallel runs of factories, so spending 10 IC on a 99 run and only stop them when you no longer need them. This by itself will not solve the TC problem but it will help and it should be remembered that this is an war-game where industrial strength (all other things being equal) wins in the end.

Others will disagree and suggest you spend all IC until 37/38 on IC but it depends upon your strategy as Japan gets involved in a proper war from June 37.

Catch 22's point about reducing TC load by carefully positioning forces and releasing puppets are important points too; did you release NatChi or keep it all for yourself. Generally it's accepted that the NatChi puppet is the way to go as they produce plenty of infantry and reduce your TC burden.

 

[unmerged(95215)]

Thanks. I will probably build more IC then next time I play as Japan.

 

[unmerged(61189)]

I did the same as you with Japan, only I left SU alone and went after USA. I also got India, Butuan, Nepal, Australia and New Zealand.

My IC was about 170, and my TC 210/410. To increase TC and therefore supplies to your frontline troops you need to let go of the territories you have gained. Liberate every nation you can and you will find that your supply problems are rapidly over, however your IC takes a massive hit, down to about 120, and your dissent is 4.5 IC per country you liberate. (I cheated to bring this back to zero).

Once I had taken Colon I no longer needed a large Navy, so a lot of this was disbanded. I only kept enough ships to patrol the sea from Tokyo to Pearl Harbour, and used Navy Bombers to keep out any stray american ships trying to cut my supply line. San Diego, San Fransisco and LA are large ports and can handle large stockpiles of supplies which also helped with both fuel and TC. I havent taken USA yet, but I imagine I will have to keep liberating as I go to keep supply lines going.