I wasn’t saying that your idea was bad.
But yes, that makes sense.
That sounds about right
So this rule seems to highly benefit the Axis, right? What is the balance for the Allies? Also, when France is liberated, do they get the 12 IPC build bonus - or is that removed?
@Carolina:
So this rule seems to highly benefit the Axis, right? What is the balance for the Allies? Also, when France is liberated, do they get the 12 IPC build bonus - or is that removed?
Benefit, yes. Highly? I wouldn’t go that far. The Vichy can be both a help and a hindrance to the Axis, depending on how they are used/abused.
The Allies in return get a faction modeled after China (Free France) that can be crucial in the fight for Cairo, in addition to being a general thorn in the side of the Axis.
As for when France (Paris) is liberated, the Vichy government disbands, existing Vichy territories and units revert to mainline France, and rejoin the Allies. If Paris falls again, after being liberated, Vichy doesn’t rise again - France functions from that point as any other power who lost their capital.
The one-time free 12 IPC worth of units upon the liberation of Paris stands as in OOB.
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Vichy can actually be quite a liability to the Axis if the Allies go straight for Paris. If they manage to take Paris, even for a part of a round, all the work an Axis player put into the Vichy would switch back to the Allies for the rest of the game.
Which… in trying to prevent a potential Paris strike, Germany would be forced to spend resources that would otherwise go to stomp the Russians.
How many posts do I need before I can post test-game photos?
@Carolina:
So this rule seems to highly benefit the Axis, right? What is the balance for the Allies?
You’d also have to remember that the French IPC’s would be able to be used. OOB, Madagascar, Syria, and the three central African territories are all just dead IPC’s until an Axis power takes them and an Allied power retakes them. This way, there’s realistically 5 extra IPC’s to be gained for the Allies as well. They won’t have a hard time taking Madagascar, French West Africa and French Central Africa from Vichy, and Syria may go back and forth a bit, but you get the idea. Between that and the French NO here, that’s 7-8 extra IPC’s for the French/Allies.
The Axis really are only gaining the potential Vichy NO bonuses, and the two extra IPC’s from splitting FIC and Southern France economies between Vichy and whatever major power. I’d still maybe take the Vichy NO down from 5 IPC’s though. That plus the two IPC’s mentioned above gives them 7 bonus IPC’s, giving the Allies a minimal advantage in IPC’s gained (assuming they hold Syria). I think a Vichy NO should probably be worth the same as a Free French NO, but that’s just my opinion.
Ok, back with edits from playtesting and incorporating suggestions from the community here. Edits made to OP.
Sorry it’s been so long… real life is a beast!
Look forward to an updated/play tested version. Possible to update the thread with the latest/“final” rules?
Looking to add this to CDG 1939 v3 setup with the neutral blocks (Iberia, Islamic, etc.)
Cheers…
Naval French:
random die roll on French fleet units either:
Scuttled, Pro axis, Pro allies, or Free French
Air force gone
Fixed setup on army units in Vichy areas
French West Africa
Madagascar
Levant States
Vichy
Morocco
Algeria
Tunisia
Attack one your at war with all of them
Axis can fly over and travel (move) thru, not remain unless Allies either first attack FF
One FF in London ( extra)
Hello there. I’ve really enjoyed reading up on those these rules and I’m sure I’ll have fun implementing them as well. A couple questions though. With the Free French I read that they’ll be implementing the “China mechanism” where I get no industrial complexes are used. My question is “does that mean they can only place infantry and artillery?” Also i assume that Germany can collect tribute IPC’s from ANY Vichy territory with German units occupying it. Thanks for any clarifications.