What, have you been living in a cave the last 8 months? (just kidding)
@MrMalachiCrunch:
Ah yes, I did forget to mention the USSR was also neutral (or slightly on the axis side initially with their invasion of poland a few weeks after the Germans started).
Yes in Euro40 Russia will start off neutral to the Euro axis. It will collect income and build, but can’t attack until round #4 unless it is attacked. In the global game Russia will be neutral to the Euro axis as above, but any thing goes on the Jap side (there is no NAP).
@MrMalachiCrunch:
Is that how the new game will work, round 4 or by axis invite or is this how an existing version works with neutral allies?
Yes, that’s how it works in Pac40 w/US. See below
@MrMalachiCrunch:
So a neutral would be able to have full IPC income and build up, do non-combat moves but no attacks and presumably not reinforce existing non-neutral countries’ territories? Are certain sea zones restricted? Would the neutral countries fleet not block either of the other two waring parties fleets? It sounds like a pretty cool extra dimension to the game.
In Pac 40 the US starts off neutral, and can’t make attacks or move into its eventual allies tt until rd #4 (unless its brought into the war early). Jap can attack them at any time bringing the US in early (an unprovoked Jap attack on UK/Anzac will also bring the US in early). The US starts w/17ipc income, but gets a 40ipc increase the turn it enters the war (in its collect income phase) for 57 ipc tot. As far as I know Russia doesn’t get a war time income bonus (it will already have a good size economy). I don’t know what the war time bonus is for the US in the Euro40 game, but I understand that it will be 30ipc/round in the global game.
As far as the sea goes, neutral powers can share sz w/eventual allies, or potential enemies. Neutrals can’t block movement. Also say in Europe Germany and UK are at war (will start that way), if the US (neutral) moves ships into a sz w/UK ships, Germany can ignore the US ships and attack only the UK ships. Germany could attack both fleets if it wants to, but would first have to declare itself at war w/US (presumably at the beginning of its turn). The US would then be able to attack on its next turn, and the war time economy would start as well at US collect income phase (end of US turn). Speaking of the sea, you will have to control certain tt to pass though the 3 straights on the Euro side (Denmark, Gilb, and Turk) similar to how canals work.
Because of the early start date (June 1940) there will be a lot of countries that start off neutral, and will be in play. Some will be pro axis, some pro allies. If a country is pro to your side you can move in during the noncombat phase and take ownership, its standing army (if it has one) joins your side. If its pro your enemy then you must defeat the standing army in combat to take ownership. There will also be true neutrals in the game (countries that have been off limits like Turkey, Spain, Saudi, and Sweden) that you can invade. Invading a true neutral could have consequences though (like attack one and others turn on you) not sure at this point, but it will make things interesting for sure.
The political rules add a lot of flavor to the game, but can be confusing. The Pac40 rule book is now posted on the Avalon Hill web site. I would suggest you also print the Faq/Errata for Pac40, as there are many changes. The political rules and new units will carry over in the new Euro40/global game, so getting familiar with them now would be a good idea (or buy Pac40), August 24th is just around the corner.