How is the balance with the new Alpha 2 changes? Please give your view.

[Jennifer]

I like the additional transports.  It helps England get more established since they can take the DEI faster and it gives Japan that crucial 4th transport.  (Old players are used to 4 transports for Japan since Japan used to only be able to put out 8 units a round on their capitol.)

I like the change to America’s entrance into the war.  The fact it took Pearl Harbor to get enough people mad enough to allow the politicians entrance into the war SHOULD be recognized!  It’s been uncomforable to me that America can just up and declare war, even if they are never provoked!

Did you have issues with Japan “bagging” in-so-much as staging enough to take India/Australia all in one fell swoop and thus leaving America alone?

I also like the carrier idea, I would apply it to defending carriers as well.  The idea was to keep the enemy AWAY from the carriers, not float the carriers out to protect the battleships.

[JimmyHat]

Battle of Leyte Gulf anyone?  We don’t want to take away the option for a power (Japan) to use its carriers as 2 hit bait for their remaining aircraft and surface ships to take on the enemy ships.

[Jennifer]

@JimmyHat:

Battle of Leyte Gulf anyone?  We don’t want to take away the option for a power (Japan) to use its carriers as 2 hit bait for their remaining aircraft and surface ships to take on the enemy ships.

Could be wrong, but were those not escort carriers?

Perhaps we need an escort carrier house rule.  Carries either a fighter, or a tactical bomber, can only carry 1, takes 1 hit and dies, costs 12 IPC, attacks 0, defends 1.  I’ve tried introducing a similar notion before, but it was never picked up for Enhanced (Anniversary or Revised Enhanced.)

[special forces]

@Cmdr:

@JimmyHat:

Battle of Leyte Gulf anyone?  We don’t want to take away the option for a power (Japan) to use its carriers as 2 hit bait for their remaining aircraft and surface ships to take on the enemy ships.

Could be wrong, but were those not escort carriers?

Perhaps we need an escort carrier house rule.  Carries either a fighter, or a tactical bomber, can only carry 1, takes 1 hit and dies, costs 12 IPC, attacks 0, defends 1.  I’ve tried introducing a similar notion before, but it was never picked up for Enhanced (Anniversary or Revised Enhanced.)

I think 10 would be a better price for such a unit. If that costs 12 i would spend the extra 4 to get the soaking and space for an extra plane. And abit more defence.

[Robbernosky]

@special:

@Cmdr:

@JimmyHat:

Battle of Leyte Gulf anyone?  We don’t want to take away the option for a power (Japan) to use its carriers as 2 hit bait for their remaining aircraft and surface ships to take on the enemy ships.

Could be wrong, but were those not escort carriers?

Perhaps we need an escort carrier house rule.  Carries either a fighter, or a tactical bomber, can only carry 1, takes 1 hit and dies, costs 12 IPC, attacks 0, defends 1.  I’ve tried introducing a similar notion before, but it was never picked up for Enhanced (Anniversary or Revised Enhanced.)

I think 10 would be a better price for such a unit. If that costs 12 i would spend the extra 4 to get the soaking and space for an extra plane. And abit more defence.

Ditto

[edfactor]

I need to play a couple games where the allies try this KJF strat, but I still lean towards the axis being able to deal with it.

Hey Jen if you dont want the US to enter the war on turn 3 try what I call “The arsenal of democracy NO’s”

British NO’s
London
Turn 3 or Later: The US is not at war with Germany or Japan +10 IPC’s
Calcutta
Turn 4 or Later: The US is not at war with Germany or Japan +5 IPC’s

Soviet Union
Turn 4 or later: The US is not at war with Japan +5 IPC’s
Turn 5 or later: The US is not at war with Germany +10 IPC’s

ANZAC
Turn 3 or Later: The US is not at war with Germany or Japan +10 IPC’s

US
Turn 4 or later: The US is not at war -20 IPC’s (penalty for the other allies getting such large boosts, but still the allies are getting 2:1)

Following rules changes are also observed:

The US cannot declare war on Japan or Germany before turn 11 unless Japan attacks the US or ANZAC or the UK or London is occupied by an Axis power.

[Jennifer]

I dunno, maybe 11 so it’s the same price as a tactical bomber…remember, you’re effectively adding 2 aircraft to any attack and 1 aircraft to any defense with this unit. (Juggling aircraft to get 2 units in the attack, one from the carrier lands somewhere, one from somewhere lands on the carrier.)

[jim010]

Well … my balance issues.  The US is fine, but Russia is too strong.  They need to start with less units, or make less money.

So far Russia played properly can hold its own without help.  That should not be the case.  Even going hard on Russia from both sides and I haven’t been able to crack it.

Russia needs to be reduced.

Even in the face of a KJF, I have been unable to get my 8 cities in Europe quickly enough, whether I did a Sealion or not.  And I’ve played against a KJF since October, so a KJF is not new:

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=20826.90

[Chompers2]

I think Alpha +2 is a lot better than OBB but after some extensive testing I am finding that it still favors the Allies.  It took awhile to adjust and I did not think that the first couple of times I played but I am coming around to the idea that the Axis need some more boosts.

I have seen that the Allies wrecking Italy quickly is hard to stop. Also as you stated I am finding the Allies can even do some early Pacific spending and still come back to save the day in Europe.  The Axis may even be able to sack Moscow but then the last victory city will be all but out of reach.

The only way I see for Axis victory against strong Allied play is desperate gambles that rely on the element of surprise in the hope it will cause the Allies to make a costly mistake.  In that event a window for Axis victory can be opened.  The problem is if you play this game a lot there are only so many ways to surprise a skilled Allied Commander.  As is the game is not balanced.

[rocknroll]

@jim010:

Well … my balance issues.  The US is fine, but Russia is too strong.  They need to start with less units, or make less money.

So far Russia played properly can hold its own without help.  That should not be the case.  Even going hard on Russia from both sides and I haven’t been able to crack it.

Russia needs to be reduced.

Even in the face of a KJF, I have been unable to get my 8 cities in Europe quickly enough, whether I did a Sealion or not.  And I’ve played against a KJF since October, so a KJF is not new:

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=20826.90

how did you play as axis when not performing sea-lion? did you get to moscow or have you been stopped before?

rock`n roll

[jim010]

how did you play as axis when not performing sea-lion? did you get to moscow or have you been stopped before?

rock`n roll

Even with no Sealion, Moscow is not taken.  I can get Leningrad and often Stalingrad before I am pushed back.  I find that when I can do Sealion (and it can be stopped now) I come closer to getting my cities than when I don’t do Sealion.  Russia builds up enough that they outnumber Germany when trying to make teh approach to Moscow.  And those 18 inf from Siberia are one hell of a shot in the arm for Russia - even when chased down by Japan.

I am currently trying to see if there is some better way of putting the squeeze on Russia from all 3 Axis, but I’m not optimistic.

[Chompers2]

@jim010:

how did you play as axis when not performing sea-lion? did you get to moscow or have you been stopped before?

rock`n roll

Even with no Sealion, Moscow is not taken.  I can get Leningrad and often Stalingrad before I am pushed back.  I find that when I can do Sealion (and it can be stopped now) I come closer to getting my cities than when I don’t do Sealion.  Russia builds up enough that they outnumber Germany when trying to make teh approach to Moscow.  And those 18 inf from Siberia are one hell of a shot in the arm for Russia - even when chased down by Japan.

I am currently trying to see if there is some better way of putting the squeeze on Russia from all 3 Axis, but I’m not optimistic.

I mostly agree with what you have said.  I am curious though what is Russia building in the games you have played.  I have found it depends on what Russia builds and does that determine whether Germany can get it or not.

[jim010]

Well, a poorly or even a mediocrely played Russia will mean an Axis win.

Russia has been maximizing buys with inf and art to get the numbers up followed by in later turns with tanks/mec.  I prefer art to mec, though, as it is not often I’ll be doing blitzing with the Russians, and with the right mix of art and inf, my pips won’t drop dramatically switching from defense to attack.

Again, a Russia that can hold its own without help is too strong.

[Chompers2]

@jim010:

Well, a poorly or even a mediocrely played Russia will mean an Axis win.

Russia has been maximizing buys with inf and art to get the numbers up followed by in later turns with tanks/mec.  I prefer art to mec, though, as it is not often I’ll be doing blitzing with the Russians, and with the right mix of art and inf, my pips won’t drop dramatically switching from defense to attack.

Okay that is similar to what I am experiencing.  If Russia buys pretty much just inf and art it is a very tough nut to crack.  The only time I cracked an all inf/art Russia was when I built the Romanian major G1 and went straight at Moscow as fast as possible.  I did get Moscow but I lost the War.  By not building the Baltic fleet or helping out Italy in any fashion the UK ruined my day by locking down Egypt and London.  It is just too much for Italy to handle if UK is building in Africa on UK1 and sinking the Italian Navy with no fear.

[jim010]

Here’s an example.  It is turn the end of Russia’s turn 9.  UK and US could probably have been played better, but Russia is doing just fine and won’t be taken. anytime soon.  There was no Sealion here.

Titans–Jim010.G40A2.09bRu.AAM

[rocknroll]

que pena,

i cannot open your file. :(

what did you buy for german in the no-sealion-scenario?
what did the UK-europe do? attacking germany mostly or italy?

[jim010]

You can see the game here:

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=22566.0

[jim010]

Here’s a Europe only.  This one was Sealion, and it was close for a while.

It is interesting in that Russia does not receive the 18 inf from Siberia, but that is balanced by US spending on Europe.  By the time I got in front of Moscow and brought back all my planes to take it, I would be outnumbered in Moscow, and the US will be strongly established.

Italy could have been played better, but even so, London was not retaken, nor was Gibraltar.  Even so, Russia is holding, and I am now spending elsewhere to deal with other issues.

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=23589.0

[Jennifer]

I concur that giving up Sea Lion is pretty much a bad idea.  Removing England from play in Europe seems to be the only saving grace the Axis have in that field.  Likewise, if Japan can get India, their lives are eased significantly as well.

Perhaps to balance things out we should make India easier to nab?

[jim010]

@Cmdr:

I concur that giving up Sea Lion is pretty much a bad idea.  Removing England from play in Europe seems to be the only saving grace the Axis have in that field.  Likewise, if Japan can get India, their lives are eased significantly as well.

Perhaps to balance things out we should make India easier to nab?

I disagree.  Russia needs to be weaker.  It needs to be that the can’t hold without the West intervening to ease pressure.  Lose 10 inf, I say.