Balancing 1914

[Chacmool]

My suggestions were playtested several times with OOB Rules:

Set Up:

5 additional Infantry and 3 Additional Artillery in Hannover.
1 German Cruiser in SZ 26.

Map:

Switzerland is worth 3-4 IPCs

Russian Revolution:

RR occurs if Russian Homeland-tts (Look for definiton in the PTR) worth 10 IPC are occupied by the CPs after the Russian Players Turn.

Russia is required to immediately surrender and leave the game at that time. It no longer has a turn, and all of its land, air, and sea units are removed from the board. Control of any territories that it was contesting is established, if necessary, using the rules for moving all units on one side out of a contested territory (see “Land Units”, page 15 of the rulebook). It also loses control of any territories that it controls, including its homeland territories. If units belonging to other powers on the same side are in these territories, control will likewise be established using the rules for moving all units on one side out of a contested territory; otherwise these territories will be uncontrolled (place any national control marker on it face down to denote this status) until another power moves into them. If a territory originally controlled by the surrendered power is captured by one if its former allies, the capturing power takes control of it. Russias IPC treasury will be claimed by the first enemy power to gain control of its capital.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare:

USW takes place in SZs � 2,3,4,7,8,9,15.

German player roles one dice for EVERY Sub that is in one of that SZs when it comes to collect income for the British player.
The result will be split up between BE and US. (If its an odd number, the Brits suffer more)
If US loses income for a second time, it will enter the war. (Generally US declares war R4, so beginning USW in R3 won´t change that)

[ColonelKurtz]

I am new at posting but I have hammered out a good way of balancing the game so that CP players have a 50% chance of winning, with minimal changes from the original rules and setup:
1. Switzerland is always impassable
2. Britain can only build 4 units on India
3. Italy is neutral First Round
4. Both sides use railroads for all internal movements. Railroads (with unlimited transport distance) are assumed to exist wherever territories connect friendly uncontested territories. The Central Powers have the Interior Lines strategic advantage of shuttling troops from Front to Front, but the Allied Powers are able to transport reinforcements to the Fronts when they arrive from Britain or USA.

This works; we have played it out and it is the balance that the game needs, in my opinion.

[Flashman]

Couple of questions:

Can Austria attack Italy R2, or does Italy declare war on its own turn?

You cannot use rail to move units into combat, correct?

I would also point out that there were no railways in Africa or Persia, so restrict rails to Europe. Berlin-Baghdad railway was not complete in 1914.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad_Railway

[Chacmool]

To avoid the unhistorical Austrian attack the turn Sequence should be changed into

1. Italy
2. Austria
3. Russia
4. Germany
5. France
6. Britain
7. Turkey
8. USA

with Italy beeing neutral and unattackable R1 so the game still starts with Austrias march into Serbia.

[Oddbjoern]

Like these changes a lot. I would like to add making the entire continent of Africa impassable (except Eqypt), remove its IPC and units completely.

[ColonelKurtz]

To Flashman: Yes, A-H may attack Italy in Round 2. Italy sides with Allied Powers and does not need to declare war. Correct on no rail movement into combat. Historical accuracy aside, rails in Africa probably will make no difference; we will have to play that out and see.
To Chacmool: No need to alter the sequence, really. We wanted to keep the changes to a bare minimum.
To Oddbjoern: Play it and see if the changes make it a more difficult challenge, equalizing advantages. We haven’t played with Africa impassable, but it sounds like a possible option.

[Chacmool]

I always missed the Schlieffenplan in this game…

I think about a special Rule for GE in Round 1.

First they must call out, that they will play the Schlieffen-Plan.

They must use all troops in Alsace and Ruhr for the initial invasion of Belgium.
If this attack is succesfull, they´ll get the chance to invade northern France in the same turn.
Troops of Munich/Kiel and Hannover were allowed to move into Belgium.

Something like that.

[Cow]

I actually prefer the central powers and find them to be strong. Allies always have logistical issues.

[Cow]

As long as the central powers slam Russia hard and fast get him out of the way, the game becomes super easy to play for the central powers.

What happens after the Russian Revolution? 1 front war. You do not play with that optional rule? Axis get MOOCHA MOOLA!.

So after Russia it is just Germany and France doing their thing. Hungary and Italy doing their thing. Then that other axis power gets annoying in Africa.

That is the game.

[Cow]

I am not a huge fan of Turkey’s situation, which is why it is so necessary to deal with Russia first as Germany and Hungary. Otherwise add Russia to Turkey’s problems and Turkey is done for.

[Cow]

The countries that are braindead easy to play are France and Italy.

Everyone else has stuff going on. Except for USA, which is barely in this game.

[Cow]

Germany has two options. Britian or Russia. Otherwise Turkey is screwed.

[Cow]

An Italy First strategy is pretty good. You do run into problems with Turkey down the road and the Russians will be on your back.

[Cow]

America needs to start with more units. They are a non factor resulting in the allies losing every game.

The weakest country is Turkey and the allies really need to bring the full might of the British to take it down. If USA is unable to get in the game and help out right away, How exactly are the allies supposed to answer back to losing Russia, because from there on it is all downhill for the allies.

Russia does not last a long time. It is pretty easy to take.

[Cow]

So I played with Hungary Restricted Round 1 house rule. Can only attack Serbia to kick off the war, no other combat actions.

I found the game to be a bit more balanced. The Central Powers, played by me, still won, but it was less of a one sided game.

[Oddbjoern]

Would be good to hear what your opening moves are Cow, as I dont agree at all that the axis have an advantage and I would really like to hear a good way to stop an all-in India strat with Britain (7 inf and 2 art per round every round except r3 where u buy 5 inf, 2 art and 1 plan).

[Cow]

The all in India strat is the only thing the Allies have going for them.

[Cow]

Turkey tends to hold out much longer than Russia. That should be your answer right there.

I am not sure what you do with the units leftover from taking over Russia… I send them towards India, you can attack one of the stacks of units marching over at the very least.

[Oddbjoern]

You dont have to race fo destroying the turks with the India strat you can funnel them into Russia via Sevastopol, making sure that the revolution does not happen.

[Cow]

The Turks usually make a stronghold at Mesopotamia, you can totally intercept the India forces as they move up.