Why is the Eastern Front in G40 so boring?

[VictoryFirst]

In most advanced G40 games, Germany forms a big stack and it slowly marches to Moscow, while the Russians are turtling in Moscow (that’s the best thing they could do, as turtling in Ukraine or Novgorod would be suicide, they will never hold those places) and good counterattacks are limited, as they need to avoid the big German stack. No clever territory taking, no good use of tactical strategy (maybe Italy can-opening but that’s it), it just depends on how much money Germany spends against Russia. However, in Anniversary, it’s quite tricky to take Moscow. You have to plan your buys, consolidate your forces in either North, Center, or South, and you cannot just put your stack right next to Moscow. You need to take their territories, avoid counterattacks, and when you have a good enough force, then the Russians need to turtle. What does G40 misses what Anniversary (and Revised too) have? Tell me what you think, if you agree the G40 Eastern Front doesn’t have a lot of action, and some way to spice the Eastern Front up? More Russian units? More starting units but weaker economy?

[StickyBomb]

@victoryfirst I think the issue is that Russia only has one good place to bottleneck which is Bryansk. Not sure what the solution is, but that is my observed problem.

[General 6 Stars]

@victoryfirst said in Why is the Eastern Front in G40 so boring?:

In most advanced G40 games, Germany forms a big stack and it slowly marches to Moscow, while the Russians are turtling in Moscow (that’s the best thing they could do, as turtling in Ukraine or Novgorod would be suicide, they will never hold those places) and good counterattacks are limited, as they need to avoid the big German stack. No clever territory taking, no good use of tactical strategy (maybe Italy can-opening but that’s it), it just depends on how much money Germany spends against Russia. However, in Anniversary, it’s quite tricky to take Moscow. You have to plan your buys, consolidate your forces in either North, Center, or South, and you cannot just put your stack right next to Moscow. You need to take their territories, avoid counterattacks, and when you have a good enough force, then the Russians need to turtle. What does G40 misses what Anniversary (and Revised too) have? Tell me what you think, if you agree the G40 Eastern Front doesn’t have a lot of action, and some way to spice the Eastern Front up? More Russian units? More starting units but weaker economy?

It is based on less pieces in Anniversary

[squirecam]

@victoryfirst

I don see how G40 is boring on the Eastern Front unless you make it so. Yes, there are going to be stacks but that is the nature of the game.

If you want a “global” AA50 experience, then play the G42 setup. Russia goes first and smashes into the German lines, placing them on the defensive early. Its the version used at Gencon for their tournaments.

[taamvan]

@victoryfirst

1 armor 1 fighter urals
all 5 bonuses for german russian territory control reduced to 3

if that doesnf do it remove 1 axis plane pair their choice at game start

[VictoryFirst]

@taamvan Thanks! I will try if it will work out. Where did you get this by the way?

[taamvan]

@victoryfirst

Taamvan Mod in lieu of bid

If russia being too weak and the axis having too much money is the problem why let the players put the bid somewhere else?

[MarshmallowofWar]

It’s not boring.

It’s tense, hanging on the edge of a knife. Germany pouring as many resources as possible into the destruction of Russia, and Russia and the Allies trying desperately to avoid mistakes and stave off defeat.

Definitely NOT boring. Just not action-packed!

Marsh

[Tamer of Beasts]

@marshmallowofwar I agree. One of my favorite parts of the game when playing Germany or Russia is looking at the stacks and trying to calculate odds and what moves are best in the turns leading up to the (usually) inevitable battle for Moscow. Really engages the brain!

[The Captain]

@victoryfirst

With the Axis & Allies Global 1940 House Rules Expansion the Eastern Front becomes one of the most interesting Theatres of War.

With the Global 1943 House Rules Expansion - it becomes the most interesting:+1:

[surfer]

@the-captain Is there a version of triplea that implements those house rules?

[General 6 Stars]

@surfer said in Why is the Eastern Front in G40 so boring?:

@the-captain Is there a version of triplea that implements those house rules?

Soon. barnee is working on it now.

[barnee]

@surfer said in Why is the Eastern Front in G40 so boring?:

@the-captain Is there a version of triplea that implements those house rules?

yea 1943 setup you’ll need to edit for now and make a saved game. It’s under Experimental “Global 40 Expansion”

[The Captain]

@surfer

Hi surfer,

As barnee and the General correctly said - barnee is working on it:+1:

You’ll find both RULEBOOK threads under Customizations - House Rules section - as well as the Strategy Guide and Rules Clarification.