Those are all great observations.
My biggest pet peeve is that the edges of the map don’t line up. Re-do the edges so North America and all the sz’s line up. I was disappointed when they did 2nd edition and didn’t fix that (lazy IMO). I would have bought 2nd edition if they would have fixed the America’s I think they really lost out on extra sales.
Have the Suez pass though Egypt (like Panama Canal and Turkish Straights are controlled by one territory) instead of between Egypt and TJ (although the Suez was probably purposely placed between two territories so the axis have a chance to close the gateway to the Eastern Med w/o taking Egypt).
Air & Naval bases printed on the map. Maybe even have a naval base for a territory linked to one particular sz instead of to all adjacent sz’s (some territories would start with multiple NB’s).
YG the following would require rule changes (house rules I guess) but if you are talking about redesigning the G40 map (maybe on your own or with help) these would be awesome additions IMO:
Rail lines printed on the map that allow some limited movement in NCM (susceptible to SBR)
To add to Bravehart:
Convoy zones (convoy/lend lease routes)
I would not only like to be able to see convoy zones better, I would also like to see convoy’s redone (new zones/rules). Need some allied convoy “routes” added to the Atlantic and Med, and maybe some in the Pac as well. Add some open waters convoy zones in the mid Atlantic between Canada and UK that can be attacked (say 3 IPCs for sz 107, & 108). Also other convoy routes that go from UK-Gib-Malta-Egypt-Persia-India (and around the horn Gib-S Africa-Egypt) that can be attacked for like 2 IPCs each sz (instead of just a handful of sz’s along those routes). The way convoys are done especially in Europe (easy to defend next to IC and/or air bases) are lacking in ability for the axis to put up any real sub warfare aspect. Subs need to be spread out to force the allies to build destroyers, not concentrated in one or two sz’s so they can be easily killed.
A trade off of sz109 convoy zone (8 IPCs of raiding that rarely gets raided) for a convoy route that includes sz106, 107, 108, and 109 for 3 IPC each would make the Atlantic so much more fun IMO. I would like to credit Oztea because back in the day I believe he fought very hard for Mid Atlantic convoy zones in the Alpha project that just didn’t happen. It’s a little fuzzy but I think he wanted Larry to place UK roundels in certain sz’s (107 & 108 I think) that could also be raided.
Could have convoy/lend lease routes that pass through UK or Iceland on the way to Russia that the Germans can attack in the Atlantic (maybe even other lend lease “routes” to Russia that pass through Persia and and Amur).
To aequitas:
Although I think there should be a 2 ipc territory east of Moscow to represent Russian industry moving east (maybe even a contingency rule), I think you would just be giving the Japanese a gift if you made Buryatia a 2 IPC territory (would more of a benefit to Japan if they took or built a minor IC there) . A Siberian Rail would be helpful though to get units back-n forth out there, but even that could be a gift to Japan if they were allowed to also rail as they took those territories. Would probably need a sabotage or scorched earth rule that would destroy the Siberian Rail as the Russians lost those territories (maybe allow the Japanese to repair them for 2 IPCs each territory?).