Hey gamers.
I’d like a short summery of the “normal” or classic round one moves for each power. I guess it’s pretty hard question to answer as the games and strategies vary, but anyway…
I’ve only played '42 a couple of times, and I’m not really certain what to do, so I hope to get some advice from you guys.
Usually our battles form like this:
Axis tries to tire Russia and take Africa in turn 1 (and rarely succeeds), while Allies go for a Kill Germany First strategy (and often succeeds). Overall it seems a bit harder for the axis to win than allies?
1. turns:
Russian 1:
Normal buy: 3 armor, 3 inf. 2 inf placed in Russia, rest in Caucassus.
Russia attacks West Russia and Ukraine with all available armor, infantry and the two fighters, and usually only leave one or two inf in Karelia. The sub goes to seazone 2 to join british trans and battleship.
Russia stacks up 5 inf in Buryatia and a single inf in Far East plus two inf in reserve in Yakusk.
German first round:
Normal buy varies, but often:
1 transport in the Med along with 1 destroyer to protect it from rus fighters
1 carrier in north sea to guard surface navy here (+ 1 existing fighter form either Norway or Germany.
The rest of the IPCs are spent on infantry to the eastern front.
German attacks:
- SZ2 with bomber, fighter and sub. Usually loses sub and sometimes a fighter, but still good value for money…?
- British destroyer in western Med attacked by three figthers (1 lost at most)
- British cruiser attacked by battleship and transport and sometimes fighter from Ukraine, if the russians decided to play defensive and only take W. Russia in their turn.
- Egypt attacked by 2 inf, 2 armor and 1 fighter from Balkan.
- Karelia attacked by minor force to prevent russian attack on Norway in R2.
In movement phase, Germany tend to withdraw from Belorussia and either Ukraine or Balkan (depending on russian R1 attacks) to stack in Eastern Europe with armor and inf - leaving only 1 inf in these countries to prevent Russian blitz. All fighters are placed in France, Norway and Libya, and one or two of the northern figthers land on new carrier in baltic sea.
The two subs in baltic moves to North Sea or even to the channel.
British first round:
Brits buy: Must decide if he wants to take back Egypt or build up stronghold in India. If the last option is chosen, he usually buy an industrial complex in India.
Otherwise he try to rebuild his navy in seazone 8 to link with american cruiser, or build up a great air force to attack german surface navy in baltics in B2.
Brit attacks: Sometimes an all in attack on Egypt with 3 inf, cruise bombardment and Indian Ocean figther. That usually works, but leaves India very open to the Japs.
Usually a risky attack on New Guinea, and a sub attack at Solomon Isl. The Australian Navy seems useless, if you don’t use it to attack in round 1 - agree?
Anyway, as I see it, if the Germans haven’t been to unlucky in their turn, the british have to choose between 1) Egypt and a strong airforce, 2) Egypt and a not that strong fleet buy, or 3) Indian IC and a single fighter buy. Difficult choice, but leaving Egypt could be risky? I’d probably choose option 1?
Japanese first turn:
Japan must choose between a mainland factory or a transporter based army. If the brits decided to give up India and bet on Africa and the Atlantic, I’d go for a factory in South Eastern Asia. Maybe supported by a transport buy or a destroyer or cruiser to counter American marine. Otherwise save money for J2.
Japan attacks China, India and Pearl with whatever in stock. Usually a fighter or sub takes out the brit transport to prevent too many too lucky british attacks in the area.
American turn 1:
If the brits decided to try and build up navy in SZ8, they could use cruiser support. That move makes an Algerian Attack impossible, unless you want to sacrifice the two transports. Either way, the americans usually builds up navy primarily on eastern coast, carriers, destroyers and transports along with air force.
American attacks: Retaliates at Pearl Harbour, witch usually means that both american and japanese pacific fleets are hit hard after first round. Sometimes go for Africa in round one, sometimes in round 2. Moves bomber to England, preparing to do some strat bombing in later rouds.
From then on, Japs counts on knocking in Russian back door rather than fight the americans in the pacific. The americans go for Africa and a German kill rather than the japs, so the pacific doesn’t really have that much action in the later rounds. Germany tries to hold out until the japanese pressure on russia (hopefully) makes the reds collapse, and the allies count on a solid american navy and airforce combined with a british invasion in Norway, which in time will support Russia properly with armor and inf.
What’s our oppinion on the above scenario? As I mentioned, it seems the allies have the advantage, if the germans aren’t extremely lucky in the first rounds?
