Caspian Sea

@witt

I agree with Witt. Hem the Soviet Navy in. It’s what the Germans did in real life.Even if you didn’t destroy it it can’t do anything (unless they bought some transports to attack Berlin, but then they wouldn’t want to get out)

If the game had no political restrictions you might need to judge whether the Soviet player will attack you if you didn’t let them through.

but reduced UK ATL income?  Its a fallback?

Unless we boost it with pieces (grey or tan) and income, then its a great idea

Ram Tanks.  Not just 1.  Free tanks on C3-4?
more dds?  destroyer escorts trawlers etc
Brave Canadian men 3into HR.

Must you send a lone sub against a huge fleet that is blocking the way that is preventing you from bringing a carrier into position (say during NCM) to pick up planes that could potentially survive and need a landing space from some other battle, even though you “know” that you cannot win this battle in any event and that the planes will end up ditching?

Yes in low luck, and yes without.  The only hitch here is that you MUST send the sub to make this attack.  You cannot win a battle you do not attempt to fight.

I do see what you are saying, that in low luck, there are no “hits and misses” and therefore, since the attack could never be won without immense luck, that it doesn’t meet the summary judgment rule (all attacker hits and all defender misses).  But as you also mention, low luck is a tacked-on rule, so we just go back to what it says in the main rulebook;  if there is any chance no matter how slight of you winning, you can bring the fighters as long as you make some attempt with at least 1 unit to clear the crucial zone.  The sub still meets the test of the rule even though low luck makes its odds go from 1% to 0%.

What if we attack the blocking fleet with a (damaged?) aircraft carrier, alone, which has no combat rating and therefore, can never “inevitably” hit?  Maybe this is an even gameyer test of this rule (though we may find some other rule that states that you have to bring at least 1 attacker with attack value into a combat…)

Lots of good options for G1 builds, but here are my personal thoughts.  Two bombers can help Sea Lion in the following way:

Clean up residual ships on G2 to prevent ship blocks Bomb London on G2, doing ~9 points of additional damage to the factory which reduces the number of infantry built on UK2. Join in on the London raid on G3, contributing 8 more attack power (equivalent of 2 transports loaded with infantry + art) for approximately the same purchase cost Attack the Russian response on G4-G5; bomb Russian factories along the front. Attack the US Navy trying to liberate UK on G4-G10ish

Additionally the two bombers are quite useful to bomb Moscow and support a Barbarosa if Sea Lion is not an option.  It is not as optimal of a build of 6 art + 2 inf for marching into Russia, but still is very beneficial.

:-D

Haven’t had anyone go Sealion on me yet. Even if I don’t even defend properly against it and build a minor IC in Egypt. But I’ll keep your advice in mind.

If i could make a suggestion, it sounds like you’re doing well, something to think about is what to do with the rest of UK.  It can’t capture territories on the Europe board, and therefore isn’t going to be a help in liberating the homeland.  I’d suggest India produce just enough troops to defend their holdings and perhaps SE Asia(although ANZAC should be defending here), after that it becomes a race to try and get as many british units into Moscow as possible.  An Arm/Mech/ftr is 20ipcs, and should arrive in time to defend the gates of moscow.

the US could position troops on TR off Canada.  As soon as they are at war they will be able to use the Naval base

@MarkVIIIMarc:

If Germany pretends it is alone on the map against England I believe they can forceably capture London on G4 after dropping a large number of units in scotland G3. The G3 Landing only has 60ish attack pips not a sure thing.

The G3 landing I calculate 81 pips vs 60, assuming Germany has five planes survive the AA gun and made a G2 Scotland landing.  England narrow the gap by attacking sz111 or Scotland, but not by enough.  I’ve presented these figures in the first post, edited last night.  Check it out!

@MarkVIIIMarc:

How many land ASSUMING Germany lands everything they can, 20 land units G3 and I think 16 G4 what is left to defend or retake Berlin? You can build 3 in Berlin G5. A bunch of tanks in W Germany with your 80ipc and also a few mech in france and a tac bomber in normandy?

What can be mustered to the defense of Germany depends on the strength and position of Italy, as well as exactly what America is doing.  This is probably going to require (much) more play testing.  Fortunately that’s fun!

@MarkVIIIMarc:

Your Japanese ally could pour into siberia trying to hunt the 18 inf down and busting the line to distract Russia. Japan going after India probably isnt going to happan presuming Japan waits to attack until J4 just so america cant help defend London. By then india owns the DEI and is making 27ipc a turn.

Japan won’t be far into Siberia this early, but every dollar taken from Russia helps.  By turn two Japan should have a major IC in Manchuria and should be in India by turn four.  SBRs against Russia should begin as soon as a landing strip has been established.  This brings a lot of pressure to Russia, but not soon enough to stop a R5 invasion of Berlin.  germany needs to hold out a little longer.

One of these days I’m going to look seriously at harassing North America with Japan.  I don’t expect they’ll do very well, but the diversion may be enough to save Italy and German occupied England.  One of these days…