• '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    I think you’re off.  I think it’s an average because you are averaging the chance of success, not correllating the data into a bell curve.


  • No, because the results are cumulative.
    Example:
    You have a 50% chance of taking Ukraine (again, just an example)
    And you ahve a 50% chance of taking West Russia

    Half the time you get Ukraine
    Half the tiem you get West Russia.
    25% of the time you get both
    25% of the time you get neither.

    So it IS a cumulative series, which mens multiplication.

    I had someone use your 3 attacks on R1 in a game not long ago, and as predicted, 1 failed.

    Try your move in a few games, I think you will find that you ahve several failures of your strat, missing at least 1 territory 85% of the time.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    but the allies can fail in taking the land in all of the attacks as long as the axis loose 2-3 fighters. (att fighters assumed to retreat if they can.)

  • 2007 AAR League

    It´s still craoy odds, and switch are correct it´s multiplication that is to be used.

    The reason is that it´s 3 different things that are happening, and they are not connected with each oter, but in order to score a “succes” you need all three to happen.

    Pr(first aaction)*Pr(second)*Pr(third)=The total odds for all three things to succed.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    It’s really no crazier then hitting Borneo, New Guinea, SZ 59, SZ 45 and maybe SZ 5 with England on round 1 is.  Or assuming you’ll kill the fighter in Ukraine with Russia.

    It’s just a different kind of crazy.  And I’ve proven to myself that a conservative strategy in the early part of the game by the Allies spells their imminent, but not assured, defeat in the end.  You almost have to go radicle and do as much damage as possible (even if you sustain more expensive losses) in Round 1 maybe even Round 2 to assure a victory for yourself.  And odds are, the dice will back you up.  You’ll almost definately not get ALL of your objectives, but it’s like a shotgun.  You might miss the target, but you’ll do so much collateral damage that the Axis cannot possibly hope to recover in one round alone.


  • I will admit, I have had some succes with Russia going a little crazy on R1-3 :-)  But the Allies were playing stoic, conservative, and were right on the mark to cover my bacon once I was spent (and had pretty well spent Germany as well).  The combination made short work of Germany (well, the combination, and some poor German attempted counters to it).

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    I find that Crazy Ivan with Suicidal Limey and Bored American works quite well in destroying Germany.

    Crazy Ivan:  Risking it all for minimal gains in land, but maximum damage to enemy units.
    Suicidal Limey:  Attacking superior numbers amphibiously to strafe them until all land forces are destroyed, again the goal is to do as much damage as possible, even if you take more then you give.
    Bored America:  Lands reinforcement units.  Never conquers anything, just holds basic land to ensure a base income level for England/Russia.


  • If the Allies fight using WWII style tactics (Africa then Western), that is about the ONLY way to play it.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    I have personally found that America has to EITHER go After Japan, After Africa or After N. Europe.  Even they don’t have the resources to do all three or even two of the three to great effect.


  • I am finding that US to Africa, which allows the US to engage both Germany and Japan by about Turn 5, is a tough Allied strat to crack.  Even if you have Russia on the roaps, and UK can;t get their footing in Europe, 20-30 US divisions in Africa, with accompanying TRNs in the Atlantic and Med, is a tough matter to deal with.


  • (Now with commentary!)

    @Jennifer:

    New Paint:

    I’ve been playing with a new opening.  I’ve found that in recent games I’ve been to reactionary and not proactive enough (aka Aggressive.)  I actually blame NoMercy for this because he made the statement that he could aways goad me into making attacks on his terms because he knew I’d be overly aggressive.

    You should be reactionary.  If you’re aggressive, and your opponent is reactionary, you should lose.  The best strategy is, I believe, flexible.  Of course, I’m not saying you should turtle in.  That’s called turtling.  If you’re reactionary, you respond to your opponent’s moves and try to exploit any weaknesses in his/her play.

    Here’s the new open:

    3 Infantry, 1 Fighter from Karelia to E. Europe
    1 Armor from Archangelsk to E. Europe
    Overall %*: A. survives: 51.3% D. survives: 40.9% No survivors:8%

    • percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

    Not Stellar odds, I’ll admit, but let’s work through the rest.

    You’re going to give me a 49% chance at killing that Russian fighter.  Already very nice for Germany.  There is a decent chance of no survivors, in which case I traded 2 inf tank fighter for 3 inf tank fighter.

    3 Infantry from Archangelsk to W. Russia
    3 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor from Russia to W. Russia
    Overall %*: A. survives: 98% D. survives: 1.6% No survivors:0%

    • percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

    Odds are super here!  Might even consider reducing the attack, but I don’t see what else I could use the missing fodder for…

    You win, but with that attack force, you will probably not wipe the Germans out the first turn, meaning that the Germans will kill off about two more valuable infantry.

    3 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor from Caucasus to Ukraine
    1 Armor, 1 Fighter from Russia to Ukraine
    Overall %*: A. survives: 63% D. survives: 32.3% No survivors:5%

    • percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

    Attacking 3 inf 1 art 2 arm 1 fig.  Defending 3 inf 1 art 1 tank 1 fig.  A bit of bad luck, and a Russian fighter dies, very good for the Germans.  Only moderately bad luck and the attack has to be called off, which is not good for Russia.  Even regular luck means that the Russians will lose their entire attack force to the German counterattack anyways.

    Again, the odds are not stellar.

    Interesting thing here is you are not risking anything with Russia you would not have lost anway.  And actually, you have a much higher potential gain then normally.
    _You risk both Russian fighters, and your potential losses are staggering.  With a West Russia/Belorussia attack, about the MOST you risk is losing 3 inf for 1 infantry at Belorussia (bad, but not horrible).

    You can say that each individual battle has “good chances”, but the odds of at LEAST one of those battles failing is high, and Russia will pay the cost.  The only way all these attacks will pan out well for the Allies is if the Russian player makes sure to use loaded dice._

    England follows that up with a 3 infantry from India, 1 Fighter from SZ 35 assault on FIC.
    Overall %*: A. survives: 46.6% D. survives: 44% No survivors:9%

    • percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.
      50/50 attack

    _I wouldn’t try it.  Again, you risk a very valuable Indian fighter and only slow Japan a bit.  Without the UK forces to threaten a counterattack, Japan can now run freely through India.

    I don’t know why you’re trying this general strategy of depleting the Allied reserves in risky attacks, when all you have to do is defend Moscow and wait for the other Allies to arrive._

    So you have a very good chance as the allies to kill 3 axis fighters on Round 1 with no losses you would not otherwise have sustained using more traditional attacks and expecting traditional counter-attacks.

    I would have a good chance as the Allies to kill 3 Axis fighters on Round 1 with that plan, but saying you lose nothing and risk nothing with those attacks is not accurate.  With a run of good luck, those attacks can put the Allies in good position to win the game, but regular or bad luck will see the Allies in a lot of trouble.

    Now yes, the Axis could stop all these attacks with minor bids, but how often do you see 9 IPC bids going for 1 infantry in FIC, 1 Infantry in Ukraine and 1 Infantry in E. Europe?  Why?  Because no one expects it.
    Maybe because 1 FIC, 1 Ukraine, and 1 E. Europe bid is actually the WRONG bid for the Axis to make?  There is something to be said for trying new things, but there is also something to be said for planning and risk analysis!

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Paint, in order for Germany to kill off any Russian fighters in that opening you’d have to get EXTREMELY lucky with the dice.

    Ukraine:

    3 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 2 Armor, 1 Fighter

    vs

    3 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 1 Fighter

    (note, I’m going with low end for attacker, high end defender in cases of close races for most likely results. ie 68.5% and 67.25% chances for attacker is 67.25% result)
    0% Chance of killing Russian fighter on R1
    Most Likely Result of 1 Round:  1 inf, 1 art, 2 Arm, 1 Fig vs 1 inf, 1 art, 1 arm, 1 fig

    0% Chance of killing Russian fighter on R2, assuming most likely result of R1
    Most likely result of 2 Rounds: 2 arm, 1 fig vs 1 arm, 1 fig

    0% Chance of killing Russian fighter on R3, assuming most likely results of R1 and R2
    Most likely result of 3 Rounds: 1 Fighter vs Nothing

    So Ukraine’s pretty well locked in as pretty close to an assured survival of the Russian fighter.  And if that changes, Russia can always retreat the fighter.

    E. Europe:

    3 Infantry, 1 Armor, 1 Fighter vs 2 Infantry, 1 Armor, 1 Fighter

    R1: 1 Inf, 1 Arm, 1 Fig vs 1 Inf, 1 Arm, 1 Fig
    Chance of Russian Fighter Loss: 0%

    R2: 1 Arm, 1 Fig vs 1 Arm, 1 Fig
    Chance of Russian Figher Loss: 0%

    Given this situation it’s time to retreat.  However, let’s pretend to go for a 3rd round:

    R3: Fighter vs Nothing.
    Chance of Russian Fighter Loss: 50%; Chance of German Fighter Loss 50%

    So, as you can see, Paint, with this opening you are not really risking your Fighters as Russia at all.  Not even a mild risk with an exceptioanlly large payoff if you are successful.  3/12 Fighters destroyed reducing the playing field immensely in favor of the Allies. (3rd fighter potentially destroyed is in FIC by England’s attacks.)  That’s 30 IPCs the Axis don’t have on R1 to replace them.  Especially if you keep up the pressure on Round 2.

  • 2007 AAR League

    In any attempt to Build an Indian ICX you must attack FIC with 3 inf, 1 Fig and Kill the 2 Infs at whatever cost.  But when you have killed the 2 infs you may withdraw if you want your fig to live.

    But if you fail, put the IC somewhere else.


  • You know, there IS another viable place for an early UK IC that does NOT detract from an attack on Germany AND gets rid of that production limit for UK…

    Eastern Canada.

    3 units per round… TRN and 2 units initially, then 3 units per turn.  Out and back with 2 TRN from ECan to UK adds 3 more pieces to the flow into wherever UK is landing, or a seperate out and back landing of 3 units into Africa that is independent of the UK builds and movements.

    Immune to SBR. 
    Not likely to EVER be taken by the Axis.
    And only 1 move away from “the action”

    If folks want to discuss that though, please start a new thread, we are now on the opposite side of the Earth from Yakut :-P

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Interesting idea, Switch.

    And no, you don’t have to hit FIC to get an IC running in India.

    4 Infantry, 1 Fighter, 1 AA and 1 IC can defend against a Jap assault, unless Japan goes nuts and decides to take fighters as casualties just to get the Complex…in which case, havn’t you made the money back?

  • 2007 AAR League

    Well i would in any given occasion Hit it with everything i got in order to take it.

    It´s a free up and running IC and it´s not so hard to take.

    2 Inf. 4 Fig, 1 bomber.


  • Well, if you’d like to run aggro Russia in a game, that’s fine; I just have a real good feeling about Germany for that game.

    If Japan takes the India complex early, it’s a sweet deal for Japan.  They don’t have to pay the 15 IPC for the industrial complex.  The UK paid 15 IPC for the industrial complex.  Japan can use the complex on J2 if the Allies can’t recapture.  If the Allies CAN recapture, the German front will be weak because units were diverted, and Japan can set up a shuttle to French Indochina to prevent UK from moving east.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    @Nix:

    Well i would in any given occasion Hit it with everything i got in order to take it.

    It´s a free up and running IC and it´s not so hard to take.

    2 Inf. 4 Fig, 1 bomber.

    Great.

    You’ll probably loose a fighter to AA gun fire.
    After Round 1 you’ll be at 2 Fig, 1 Inf, 1 Bomb vs 2 Inf, 1 Fig
    After Round 2 you’ll be at 1 inf, 1 Fig, 1 Bomb vs 1 Fig
    After Round 3 you’ll be at 1 inf, 1 Bomber

    So for an investment of 15 IPCs I just cost the Japanese 40 IPC in Fighters and 2/3rds of their starting fighters.  Meaning that Pearl was probably hit weak giving America a plum opportunity to sink half the Japanese Navy (because I know you didn’t hit it with 3 fighters, bomber, destroyer and submarine since you used most of that elsewhere.)  And the British Destroyer/Aircraft Carrier are probably still around in SZ 59 which means any transports you built are lightly defended and easily sunk by British aggression again.

    All so that on Japan 2 you MIGHT be able to build 3 units on India…of course, who’s to say Russia doesn’t liberate it for England, now that you only have 1 infantry there???  After all, it’s within range of armor in Cauc and it’s worth 10 IPC to keep Japan from using it again on J2…not that they would be able too since England’ll have possession again on UK 2.

  • 2007 AAR League

    Jen,

    I’d agree 100% here.  If the India complex was built on UK1, my gut tells me you’re almost definitely looking at a KJF anyway.  So the US is probably planning on dropping a navy in the pacific come US1 even before they watch you suicide half your AF.

    I would think that there should still plenty of time to set up properly and take down that complex on J2 much more decisively and still get back and defend Japan before the US comes to play.


  • @Jennifer:

    @Nix:

    Well i would in any given occasion Hit it with everything i got in order to take it.

    It´s a free up and running IC and it´s not so hard to take.

    2 Inf. 4 Fig, 1 bomber.

    Great.

    You’ll probably loose a fighter to AA gun fire.
    After Round 1 you’ll be at 2 Fig, 1 Inf, 1 Bomb vs 2 Inf, 1 Fig
    After Round 2 you’ll be at 1 inf, 1 Fig, 1 Bomb vs 1 Fig
    After Round 3 you’ll be at 1 inf, 1 Bomber

    So for an investment of 15 IPCs I just cost the Japanese 40 IPC in Fighters and 2/3rds of their starting fighters.  Meaning that Pearl was probably hit weak giving America a plum opportunity to sink half the Japanese Navy (because I know you didn’t hit it with 3 fighters, bomber, destroyer and submarine since you used most of that elsewhere.)  And the British Destroyer/Aircraft Carrier are probably still around in SZ 59 which means any transports you built are lightly defended and easily sunk by British aggression again.

    All so that on Japan 2 you MIGHT be able to build 3 units on India…of course, who’s to say Russia doesn’t liberate it for England, now that you only have 1 infantry there???  After all, it’s within range of armor in Cauc and it’s worth 10 IPC to keep Japan from using it again on J2…not that they would be able too since England’ll have possession again on UK 2.

    Mmmm . . . yeah!  Pretty much!  Although I have my own take on it, which I’ll post in a minute.

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