Dear frustrated General. :mrgreen:
I often find myself in the same predicament, so I’d like to share a few things that has worked well:
The ultimate choice: Find likeminded people, who don’t mind spending their time on boardgames. I posted a few threads on a couple of boardgame forums in my country, and was fortunate enough to get new friends - amazingly enough with social antennas and a healty realtionship to soap and water!
Have different players control nations that go after one another. I.E US/UK
Attempt to have purchase ready before nation prior to you finish up. (Give leeway for changes ofc… I usually have Germany/Japan and US ready way ahead of my turn, changing as I see fit until I start combat moves)
Set a time limit for different nations, buy a chessclock or something similar. Agree on a set time for nations, longer for the bigger nations etc. In certain parts of the game, Italy and Anzac will usually not affect each other… they might be taken at the same time. Russia and US while not at war can also do their stuff as Japan/UK does its - when deemed appropriate.
Designate a guy as bank/IPC tracker/nat.objective/convoy raiding
Let newcomers settle in with smaller nations
If you are playing with 4 or more, cut down on discussions, try to start with an agreed startegy, have someone be commander in chief ;) Also, haggling about rules could take a looong time sorting out, so make sure you all are more or less into them. (ambiguous as they often are…)
Hope that is somewhat helpful, best of luck on your games!