German IC in Romania strategy ( Naval Base )

[Hobbes]

@squirecam:

In revised, you are correct. In AAAv, perhaps not.

Remember that USA must engage in a pacific war. No more all out KGF. At least, this is the intent of the VC. Should USA allow Japan to run wild, the Axis will hit the VC win conditions, and the game will end. And an unchecked Japan with bonuses will be a monster…

According to the post on VCs, you need either 13/15/18 VCs to win. If J takes all Pacific VCs (Manila, Sidney, Honololu, Hong Kong, Calcutta) that’s 7 for J (with its starting 2). G/I start with a total of 4, so in the lower range of 13, the Axis would have to take 2 more to win.

Thus, the Allies can let J wonder around in the Pacific as much as it wants as they move for a KGF/KIF strategy.

These VC conditions only remove the necessity for Moscow to be conquered by the Axis to win the game: if G/I take Stalingrad/Leningrad and J all the mentioned Pacific VCs, while holding to all original VCs then Axis wins the game.

But it seems that the US is not forced to go Pacific: it will be an option, like going full KGF.

[Perry]

Damn, reading up on all these strategy posts , without being able to play the game -heck , without even knowing the starting setup! - REALLY makes we long for 26th of Oct!!! (the release date , right)

Now, being Swedish I guess I won’t get my hands on the game until November/December … Pity me!

[Funcioneta]

@Hobbes:

@squirecam:

In revised, you are correct. In AAAv, perhaps not.

Remember that USA must engage in a pacific war. No more all out KGF. At least, this is the intent of the VC. Should USA allow Japan to run wild, the Axis will hit the VC win conditions, and the game will end. And an unchecked Japan with bonuses will be a monster…

According to the post on VCs, you need either 13/15/18 VCs to win. If J takes all Pacific VCs (Manila, Sidney, Honololu, Hong Kong, Calcutta) that’s 7 for J (with its starting 2). G/I start with a total of 4, so in the lower range of 13, the Axis would have to take 2 more to win.

Thus, the Allies can let J wonder around in the Pacific as much as it wants as they move for a KGF/KIF strategy.

These VC conditions only remove the necessity for Moscow to be conquered by the Axis to win the game: if G/I take Stalingrad/Leningrad and J all the mentioned Pacific VCs, while holding to all original VCs then Axis wins the game.

But it seems that the US is not forced to go Pacific: it will be an option, like going full KGF.

Really will be KGF or KIF a option? A conquered China gives you 7 ipcs, not 4. You have Burma and Hong Kong territories, giving 3 more IPCS to Japan, plus any bonus IPCs they could get. I think Japan can reach 60 ipcs a row if it’s let alone, maybe even more if they attack Africa. It would be very very risky facing a 25-30 ipcs USSR against that monster, and with so many production, Japan could even try attacking american mainland!. I think a global strategy is far better for this game (and even for Revised is still very good, if you ask me), fighting for each inch of territory.

Also, Germany could focus taking Karelia and Japan taking Caucasus (anyway a good strat even in Revised). Maybe it’s not so difficult reach 15 VCs, and now soviets must defend both Caucasus and Moscow. Axis could get a easy sudden death if allies don’t protect Pacific and axis get’s a lucky shot, let’s say, at Stalingrad.

[Funcioneta]

And probably soon or after VCs condition will be changed to 14 (in Revised was changed from 8 or 10 to 9)

[Corbeau Blanc]

Both good comments from Hobbes and Squirecam. I’d rather no talk of VC conditions however, i never played with thoses in any versions.

Fact to consider for Germany IC production:

• Needs an additional IC, captured or built. It has only 10 prod compared to 16 in revised.
• IPC prod value of IC built
• Ennemy Bomber range
• Mediteranee access

France pros:

• Gives 6 prod
• Access to Algeria in med sea
• Acess to Baltic and sea zone 7

France cons:

• In ennemy bomber range
• In ennemy fleet range
• Needs to be absolutely defended
• Algeria sea is in range of ennemy air force, might be tough to get a fleet going in med.

Romania pros

• Safe access to meditaranee out of most ennemy air and fleet range
• Close the front line when infantry is needed.
• Close to indian ocean and caucasus for bridging.

Romania cons

• Lower 2-3 prod value
• Not adjacent to Germany

=====================================

Both options are good i guess. The biggest thing to consider is Romania safer lower prod versus the need to defend France but with a higher output.

I am assuming the Axis will only be able to defend Mediteranee and Baltic seas.  I don’t know yet how the Atlantic battle will go, maybe contrary to revised we won’t see the usual massive UK-USA fleet claim it on turn 2.  Depending on that, if Germany can actually take the offense in atlantic, France access to it might prove the better option. But if not, i’m convinced that if the need to defend it is still there, Romania is a better option.

[squirecam]

@Corbeau:

Both good comments from Hobbes and Squirecam. I’d rather no talk of VC conditions however, i never played with thoses in any versions.

Fact to consider for Germany IC production:

• Needs an additional IC, captured or built. It has only 10 prod compared to 16 in revised.
• IPC prod value of IC built
• Ennemy Bomber range
• Mediteranee access

France pros:

• Gives 6 prod
• Access to Algeria in med sea
• Acess to Baltic and sea zone 7

France cons:

• In ennemy bomber range
• In ennemy fleet range
• Needs to be absolutely defended
• Algeria sea is in range of ennemy air force, might be tough to get a fleet going in med.

Romania pros

• Safe access to meditaranee out of most ennemy air and fleet range
• Close the front line when infantry is needed.
• Close to indian ocean and caucasus for bridging.

Romania cons

• Lower 2-3 prod value
• Not adjacent to Germany

=====================================

Both options are good i guess. The biggest thing to consider is Romania safer lower prod versus the need to defend France but with a higher output.

I am assuming the Axis will only be able to defend Mediteranee and Baltic seas.  I don’t know yet how the Atlantic battle will go, maybe contrary to revised we won’t see the usual massive UK-USA fleet claim it on turn 2.   Depending on that, if Germany can actually take the offense in atlantic, France access to it might prove the better option. But if not, i’m convinced that if the need to defend it is still there, Romania is a better option.

Something else to consider.

Germany swapping territories in the east used to mean karelia(2) belo(2) UKR(3). That was alot of IPC. Now, Germany is swapping 4 IPC worth of territory vs 7 (assuming a base of Eastern Europe as in AAR).

Unless you can stage into UKR (so that you can move on Caucus) or Baltics/East Poland (to move on Karelia/Moscow) you really dont need that IC for 2 ground units.

It may be more important to keep the 8 (France + NW Europe) than have an easier time trading the 4 IPC.

[Lynxes]

I think most of the games that extra IC will be Karelia. It should be taken on turn 2 and be held a large part of the game. If you get “Improved production”, Karelia could be a tough one to crack!

The game will probably be decided over the Caucasus territory. Now that Russia only can produce 6 units / turn in Moscow, once Caucasus falls you will probably be dead meat.

[shermantank]

Back (to Classic) to the Future(Anniversary) with Karelia being the focus of German aggression in the Eastern front…?
Interesting.

[Imperious Leader]

Karelia…. actually archangel right?

Yea i like taking that by building another transport and shucking now 4 men from Baltic. 7 vs. 15 IPC investment and I get other targets too. I can retake Finland, Norway and Id even look at buying a cruiser to protect my Baltic fleet and SB the coast.

The key is the Soviet Archangel factory which denies them Bonus IPC.

If i had to buy another IC It would not be Romania. The only value is to help defend a sitting Italian navy by building ships that play on a different turn and to use the offensively means you need to also buy escorts, so if your looking at this naval base you spend IPC on transports, factory, and escorts, when in the Baltic you just need a few ships to keep your starter fleet.

[Corbeau Blanc]

You will need at least a CV to defend baltic fleet from UK airforce.

Contrary to revised, i doubt you can use your submarines as casulaties against air attack and i’m totally sure the transports don’t count anymore.

So basically, adding a cruiser, makes it 2 cruisers vs 2 fighter and 1 bomber. I would hit you round 1 as UK.

CV is about the only unit that can protect you for the least investment.

Sub immunity to air might play against them when the fleet is under by air force since they can’t be hit. Or maybe you can still use them as casualties, will be interesting to see how it is handled.

[Imperious Leader]

Ok yea CV is cheaper anyway…

But remember we only got 4 fighters this time. and also the carrier defends at 2 rather than 3

so a cruiser costing 12 IPC and a destroyer at 2/2 might do the trick as well.

[Lynxes]

/IL

Karelia…. actually archangel right?

No, look at the BGG pics, you see clearly that the IC is in Karelia. I doubt if you could buy a second TRS since your CA+TRS will be bombed to dust on UK1. Only way to have a surface naval presence in the Baltic is to buy a CV, and the question is if you can afford that.

We don’t have the exact IPC values of Poland, Czechoslovakia/Hungary and Romania/Bulgaria, but they are 8 in total and two of them are probably of ‘3’ value. So an IC in Romania/Bulgaria could be a good idea, especially if you would get “Improved production” tech. Then you would get a capacity of 5 units/turn and an IC that is harder to SBR than Germany. But I’d rather have inf, art and tanks to that Russian front than expensive ships! Why buy a TRS when a tank in Romania reaches Caucasus in one turn?

[Imperious Leader]

Why buy a TRS when a tank in Romania reaches Caucasus in one turn?

I think its more crucial to attack the north rather than south, so by building a transport and another naval escort, i basically got a floating factory in the Baltic shucking 4 units from Berlin and protecting my starter fleet in Baltic from invasions ( i guess ill add more ships on installment plan)

The north factory is more important to taking Moscow, than Caucasus because holding the Karelia factory protects Finland and Norway from pesky British. If you go against the South i don’t think you can also hold the north, so i am saying to choose the north and get at Moscow from that direction.

[Greand Stone]

If you can take and hold for 1 turn either of the russian factories, the need for a Romanian Factory decreases.

If you senter ALL your tanks in easter poland in turn one,  take ukarine and balkan with air/artellery and infanteri. Then you will have 6 tanks which can strike both north and south forcing Russia to protect both factories, and probable placing max # units on both. This leave very little IC left to place in moscow. So question, is it possible to take one of the russians factories turn 2, AND hold on to it?

[Imperious Leader]

Yes indeed. The set up is to take the central territories on G1 and have all your tanks in striking distance to that Factory for G2. I think it can be held provided your bringing in stuff with transport as well.

So hold finland/norway and take the 3 central properties and pile up against that factory. The Soviets only got men and no planes. They wont be dumb enough to buy good stuff and place in it on turn R1 so your basically fighting fodder.

[Greand Stone]

Then Germany do want some protection for their transport first round. Taking out the UK fighter in Egypt is then a big advantage.

If you place all tanks in eastern poland, and keeping both transport till turn 2, Germany is treatening both factories. I dont think it would be wise for russia to attack much turn one, so but they are froced to defend both factories, and placing almost no units in moscow. Which means that russia have a lot harder time striking back. If russia ignores one factory, germany can probably take it quit eaily.

[squirecam]

@Lynxes:

We don’t have the exact IPC values of Poland, Czechoslovakia/Hungary and Romania/Bulgaria, but they are 8 in total and two of them are probably of ‘3’ value. So an IC in Romania/Bulgaria could be a good idea, especially if you would get “Improved production” tech. Then you would get a capacity of 5 units/turn and an IC that is harder to SBR than Germany.

Poland is 3. But Romania is only 2.

Purchasing an IC for Romania is really not worth it.

[Lynxes]

Poland is 3. But Romania is only 2.

Purchasing an IC for Romania is really not worth it.

Yeah, that settles it! So Poland and Czech/Hungary are both 3;

Poland: gets a step closer to the Russian front. No SBR protection.

Czech/Hungary: one step closer to the southern part of Russian front. Double AA possible vs. SBR.

I think the second alternative is a better one! Another IC bordering the Baltic Sea is a bit fragile when you lose your navy. You’ll basically be forced to counter-attack every invasion to stop the Allies from producing next to Germany, and if you build tanks you’ll have to have infantry stationed to protect it. That Czech area is like the Urals of Germany.  :wink:

[squirecam]

There is a russian IC right there  :evil:

That is what you should be taking. Not wasting IPC on building one in Romania. Or Poland. Or anywhere outside of France.

There is no economic payoff (For Germany) to buying an IC, when you can only place 2 units, and you can simply move units one territory away.

Its just bad use of limited resources.

[Lynxes]

Well, I don’t now how you should defend vs. SBR in this game, and “The Urals of Germany” refers to the fact that an IC in Czech area would get 3 AA strikes at any bomber attacking and those bombers would have to come from Norway which is not the best place to base bombers. I also assume you would try to go for the “Improved Production” tech and then it would be more productive.

All this of course depends upon game-play. I’m assuming the Russians are quite resilient and that you wouldn’t make real progress until you get that inf you build on turn 1 over to the front line (meaning 4-5 turns into the game). By then the Allies might be bombing Germany hard and little you can do to reduce that SBR damage. Techs or a new IC, that’s about it. I’ve played AAR quite a few times when you shout “yeah” when you invade Caucasus as Germany just to realize that an invasion in France is too strong to fight back. If you can’t keep your production going, what’s the use of getting Russian territories? Unless you could punch at Moscow before the Allies will be strong enough to bomb and invade, but if that’s the case the game balance has been shifted a lot from AAR! Balance changes:

1. Soviets get 5 IPC bonus for Archangelsk.
2. Germany starts the game now with 36 instead of 40. There’s also an extra area for the inf to get to the front and Germany only has 4 fighters at start.
3. Japan will not put pressure on Russia from the East in most games.
4. UK and esp. US will have to put some of their prod in Pacific.
5. Italy will put some extra pressure vs. UK.
6. Bombers are less expensive and SBR will be more deadly.

Hard to say here but I would be surprised if there’s a huge shift in Axis favour!