German IC's

I agree w/Yavid. If he sends the RAF to the Med every game try building a carrier for Germany, and maybe 1 transport and/or a destroyer (needed to kill Russian sub(s) anyway). Don’t send your Battleship into battle G1, and you have a pretty good fleet in sz 112 (Loaded carrier, BB, Cruiser, Destroyer, transport) that can threaten Gibraltar (or Scotland if he thinks you might build more transports). If that doesn’t hold his ftrs in London then think about bombing London w/Germany. If you don’t want to sea Lion you may be able to send your fleet to convoy UK for a turn or so, then decide if you want to go to Gib, or back to the North Sea.

Plan 2
If the Germans get the S France IC on G1, you might drop a couple German subs in sz 93 on G2 (if the UK has lost its Med destroyer, or it is out of range). Those subs can pass through the straights of Gib BTW regardless who has control of it and can be a real threat w/German air power. You could also move your subs to Italian waters (sz 95) and still have great range from that naval base. Then drop the bulk of the German air force on Southern Italy to threaten any ship builds in the Med from Egypt with subs/air. I would also get a couple German planes to North Africa to protect Italian advances. The German air force can’t stay in Med too long, but they aren’t needed for Russia for awhile.

I figure if he wants the UK air force in the Med then bring in the Luftwaffe.

Wittman is right about the importance of taking Paris with Germany.  A couple weeks ago, my group had an interesting development– Germany failed to take Paris due to horrific rolls.  Usually, that would end the game, but the Italian Player ended up taking it, and he went wild with the extra income-- he controlled all the Med and knocked the Allies out of North Africa and was well on the way to South Africa by I5 or I6.  Despite Italy’s success, Germany was never able to get that subtle edge over the Soviets.

Without the income boost, Germany cannot mount a very viable SeaLion, AND the build-up to Barbarossa is too anemic to make the push on Moscow really strong.  It is amazing how vital that 17 IPC boost is for maintaining a good head of steam.

Nine transports is a huge waste of IPC in the russian theatre, if you going to attack russia i would rather just split the IPC between Tanks and Mech. Infantry. The only reason I would ever do this, would be too for-stall russia and ready troops and next turn come back and the fallowing turn drop on England with favorable odds based on the units one would buy in those turns. This also only applies to a Global game of Axis an Allies…

@rock`n:

on page 23 there is written:
germany
“5 IPC if Axis powers control either novgorod or volgograd.”

does it mean, that the german player can get up to 10 IPC when controlling both cities?

No.

@rock`n:

United kingdom/United states

“collect a one-time payment of 5 IPCs if the first time UK/USA forces capture or liberate one of the following territories: normandy, holland or western germany.”

does it mean, that UK/USA can gain up to 15 IPCs or maximum 5 IPCs? for me as not a native speaker of english it is not quite clear.
if someone as UK or USA captures holland he gains 5 IPCs. okay, but when the same player occupies normandy next round or in the same round. what is then? etc.

The payment is received only the first time that one of those territories is captured/liberated by each power.  Nothing further is received for capturing or liberating another of the territories.  Each power may earn only 5 IPCs per game from this NO.

I recommend if you are building an IC in Egypt T1 with the transport sitting off the coast of egypt to pick up the inf and AA gun in Malta and land it in egypt in the sea zone that lies outside of egypt. This way you have 2 more hits, an aa gun, and your transport survives to help later in knocking italy out of africa.

When I play test, I set up the board and try to find counters to an idea as I work though the turns, so no opponent. Obviously, that will not mean the idea works until I try it live. Its just to test the concept. If the concept is sound, I use it in a live face to face game and see how the other guy(s) respond.

This first game I focused on the subs for blockading. That part does not seem reasonable at this point. Its still interesting that it delayed the US transports and gave Germany a nice income, but I don’t think the axis will pull a win out of the bag. By the way, when I meant to blockade I would leave the surface fleet back in the face of a large air force and wait for additional subs, you could then counter attack a DD build with air and sea, taking the air units off so that the carriers can stay back. Even convoy raiding for 22 IPCs would be nice.

Next test, I want to build a G2 transport wave as well, this will force UK to keep with Infantry making Italy’s job easier, and give me the resources to secure S. America while the US is neutral, with enough, I hope to divert 3 towards West Africa again, as having the German land unit in Egypt is a nice thought. I realize UK is the same amount of IPCs as S. America, but I’m testing the concept of taking an area out of America’s way plus they have multiple factory sites if it seems possible to use them.

There are some early risks I discovered. The G2 move to Gibraltar in the first game put the German Fleet of CV,BB,CA,2FTR in range of a UK CA,3 FTR and TAC…a bold player might take that shot. I also had UK do a weak attack [CV+FTR+CA] on the Italian fleet, it worked [damaged CV with a CA] while leaving the Tac for London.

Turkey was a tight fight G3, as I only had 5 inf, 3 arm, 1 tac, 1 bomber in range…I ended with 1 inf, 3 arm and the 2 air. Losing 2 units in Greece could have made it 4 inf for the assault. Turkey missed a lot, I could see losing armor in the future as an outcome.

Other concerns are if Russia stages north and drives on Norway, Germany’s income would plummet. With many transports, I hope to discourage that option.

I had UK protect Quebec, but I’m curious about how many players would suspect a G3 three transports full landing on Quebec? The potential to send planes staged in Gibraltar to sz 101 has merit as building carriers in 106[Quebec] would allow them to land and enable a weak looking axis force to “surprise” the US navy round 4. The transports can then hit Venezuela, West Indies and/or Central America turn 4. [This may prove to be a great move for a failed Sea Lion as sinking a US fleet would delay the US a round or more.]

The South American concept seems crazy since the US can just build large amounts of land forces. However, the US must choose fleet or land, and typically will go fleet, meaning there is “some” time for early gains and possible factories. I’m trying to limit the investment to two German productions as I want turn 3 and 4 builds to prevent Russia from getting their foot in the door.

I can see a fair case for both. My strat with Italy is to focus on the Balkans and keep my fleet in the eastern Med, away from the British in the Atlantic and close enough to redeploy to Egypt/mid-east should I need to. I would prefer the Germans to have southern France just so they have an easy jumping point and because, with the larger income, can more easily afford to build fleets there as nesscary.

@jeffdestroyer:

My concern is having to defend another factory in S. France from the U.S.A.  ie from a Gibraltar attack.

Remember, with the fighter stacks I mentioned and the Tac bomber firebrigade, you could easily counter attack and destroy any invasion in that area

mabe in the globle game the us will be like 20/50 for main land us so 20 at peace and 50 at war.
or 20/65