I’m glad you posted that
I really wasn’t 100% sure because the wording is ambiguous
“The Axis wins by controlling either any 8 victory cities on the Europe map or any 6 victory cities on the Pacific map for a complete round of play, as long as they control an Axis capital at the end of that round”
So because it says “for a complete round of play”, then “at the end of that round” must mean at the end of a complete round of play, not after France’s turn…
But this wording does not specify whether you can ever dip below 8 (6) during that complete round.
However, when I previously stated on this thread that the Axis could NOT dip below (because it says you must control 8 (6) cities FOR A COMPLETE ROUND of play) Krieghund never came on and said I was wrong.
So the rule is actually that the Axis must MAINTAIN CONSTANT CONTROL of 8 (6) or more cities THROUGHOUT one complete round of play (from G to G, J to J, or I to I) at ALL TIMES.
Note that it wouldn’t have to be the same 8 (6)!
Example:
Axis control Paris, Berlin, Rome, Moscow, Stalingrad, Leningrad, Warsaw.
On I15, the Italians take Egypt (8th city). � The “timer” starts.
On G16, the Germans take London (9th city).
On R16, the Russians liberate Stalingrad (back down to 8.)
On J16, the Japanese take Ottawa (up to 9 again)
On US16, the USA liberates Ottawa (back to 8.)
On UK16, the UK liberates London (Axis down to 7)
On I16, Italy re-captures London (Axis back up to 8.)
The Axis HAVEN’T WON yet!
They did not control 8 cities for (throughout) one complete round of play. The “timer” would start all over on I16 again, and the Axis have to maintain 8 cities at all times until I17. If the UK does NOT liberate London or any other city on UK16, then the Axis would win when reaching I16.
If I’m wrong, Krieghund should correct this.