@SS:
Thats too bad that Russia and Germany cant fight over Finland without declaring war on each other. Could make this another NO in game.
I agree, and it would be historical too. I also think Russia being allowed to move into certain territories before at war was talked about during the Alpha project, but didn’t make the cut. It would be cool if Russia was able to invade/activate any pro axis/allied neutral that borders original Russian territory before at war, and there are only 3 territories that fit this criteria (Finland, NW Persia, and East Persia). This would also allow the Russians to move into NW Persia before at war w/Euro axis (which they also did historically). I don’t think that the Russians moved into what is Eastern Persia but I don’t see that as being a bad thing because it has no IPC value. Although movement through E Persia would allow Russian mobile ground units access to India on R3 with a simple DOW on Japan (that could suck for Japan and/or Russia lol).
As far as NO’s go you could add Finland to Germany’s Denmark/Norway NO. This would allow the Russians to take IPCs away from the Germans if they choose to fight. You could also allow the Russians to get the 3 IPCs for pro-axis-Finland before at war w/Euro axis. Still not sure if it would be worth it for the Russians to lose units fighting for Finland, but maybe ? Would force the Germans to think about securing the region, or at least counter measures.
As for the middle east I think that the Euro Axis getting up to 6 IPC for the oil NO’s is a good thing, and promotes fighting in that region at times which is good for the game. I feel that the allies should get something for locking down the same territories though besides the printed IPC values (NW Persia, Persia, and Iraq). I know that the allies are much better suited to claim these territories as they did during the war, however what if these same 3 territories gave the allies who control them a 1 IPC bonus each for oil. Something like that could be done for balance instead of a bid for the allies. I realize that Russia gets a 3 IPC bonus for taking Iraq once at war w/Europe, but that NO should be for continental Europe/Finland, not for some Russian excursion into the Middle East, Africa, or island hopping in the Med IMO.