IPCs

Interesting that the US isn’t the ‘great savior’ in this game.  20 IPCs with little growth potential is a weak ally.

@BJCard:

Interesting that the US isn’t the ‘great savior’ in this game.  20 IPCs with little growth potential is a weak ally.

True, but being able to unleash at least 80 IPC worth of units on the Western Front (assuming they can make it across the Atlantic) on turn 4/5 is no bad thing. I think in this game the US’ biggest impact will be the arrival of the army it builds over the first 4 turns. The US player needs to use it wisely or the US won’t be much help. In AA1914, the AEF will have to do all its training at home, 'cause when it gets Over There, it’s going directly into battle.

I wonder if declaring Unrestricted Submarine Warfare before turn 4 and then using German submarines to sink the US navy at every opportunity might not put off the US’ effective entry as the US player is forced to buy naval units, thereby starving the army of funds.

Then again, the Royal Navy is also out there and those submarines won’t last forever . . .

Do you really think America is able to build units before it goes to war? That is completely unhistorical, America had little more than local militia in April 1917.

My guess is that the reason for the very early American entry is precisely that it needs time after that to build up a meaningful force.

While I agree with you Flashman, I think it is highly unlikely that the US won’t be able to build units from turn 1.  With only 20 IPC’s to spend, and having to build a fleet to move its army, I won’t expect the US to have much of an impact past the first blow. 
20 IPCs barely lets you build a transport + Infantry + (Fighter or Armor or Artillery) per turn, with no escorts.

So, turn 4 - here the USA comes with 3-4 loaded transports that’s gonna hit France or Italy turn 6-7.

But in reality the AEF only made an impact in Europe in the Summer of 1918. It took them a long time to organize an army, ship it to France, equip it with British and French weaponry, and train it in modern warfare.

In addition, General Pershing insisted that they only fight in American army divisions; he wasn’t having them just reinforce the Allied positions under foreign command.

Its also totally unfair that America can build an army without the slightest chance for the CPs to attack it. Right up 'till early 1917, America was firmly isolationist and had no intention of spending money on a modern army.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Expeditionary_Forces

@Flashman:

But in reality the AEF only made an impact in Europe in the Summer of 1918. It took them a long time to organize an army, ship it to France, equip it with British and French weaponry, and train it in modern warfare.

In addition, General Pershing insisted that they only fight in American army divisions; he wasn’t having them just reinforce the Allied positions under foreign command.

Its also totally unfair that America can build an army without the slightest chance for the CPs to attack it. Right up 'till early 1917, America was firmly isolationist and had no intention of spending money on a modern army.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Expeditionary_Forces

Let’s not forget, however, that America had just fought a multi-theatre war against Spain not 20 years before, and intervened in the Mexican Revolution earlier that year. The idea that they were a completely backwards, non-modern power is a bit of an overstatement.

True, by 1917 they hadn’t had the experience of 3 years of brutal modern combat that the Brits and the French had, and they certainly didn’t want to switch their heavy industry over to tank and weaponry production, but by the early 20th century, America was definitely a world player.

The Mexican expedition was a complete fiasco - they didn’t even find the enemy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Expedition

This in part persuaded the Germans that America was not a serious threat, and prompted the decision to go for USW.

If America had been building a modern army for three years the German’s attitude would’ve been very different.

America should at least be able to build a navy, she had a bitchin navy by the time she entered the war.

The US should just start with another transport and a cruiser but not be allowed to do anything until:

Paris is attacked or contested.
German land units occupy a territory on the British Isles or Canada.
Germany has declared USW.

OR roll a die at the beginning of US turn 3 onward. If the result is less than the current turn the allies have persuaded the US to enter the war/Zimmerman note intercepted/Lusitania Sunk, etc.

(US enters on turn 3 on 2 or less. On turn 4 on 3 or less, turn 5, on 4 or less, etc. The US will be at war no later than turn 7)