Germany playbook: overall strategy guide

trulpen’s Save the Bismarck and aim for a sneaky I2 DOW [OOB G40 2nd]

If not minding to hold out with entering Russia until G3, while getting the sweet 5 IPC Trade with Russia for 3 rounds. Or if the strafe in Yugoslavia outperformed and the army got stuck, why you then might consider to switch to a G3 intrusion in Russia.

Purchase (30 IPC)

Sz112: 1 sub, 1 des, 1 ac - 30

Combat moves

1 sub sz103, 1 sub sz108, 1 fig Holland, 2 fig, 3 tac W Ger, 2 sb Ger -> sz110 -> W Ger

1 sub sz118, 1 sub sz124, 1 bs sz113, 1 fig Norway, 1 tac Ger -> strafe sz111 -> sz112

4 inf, 2 art, 3 tank Holland, 3 tank S Ger, 3 inf, 1 art, 4 mech W Ger -> France

6 inf, 2 art S Ger, 1 tank, 1 tac Poland, 1 tank Romania, 1 tank, 1 fig Slovakia -> Yugoslavia -> 1 fig Tobruk, 1 tac S Italy

Non-combat moves

1 sub sz117 -> sz124

1 cr, 1 tr sz114 -> sz112

2 inf Denmark -> W Ger

3 inf Norway -> Finland +4 inf

1-2 aa W Ger -> Ger

1 inf Romania -> Bulgaria +4 inf

2 inf Slovakia -> Poland

11 inf, 3 art, 3 aaa Ger -> Poland

Analysis

With the power-slam on Yugoslavia, Italy is free to move both its tanks to Slovakia, while also setting up its airforce to be able to support a strike on E Poland or the Baltic and also bomb the Ukrainian mIC. No need to strafe since Germany won’t enter Russia until G3 anyway, having consolidated it’s forces for the front.

On its 2nd round Italy declares war on Russia and moves in. If there is a small blocker in the Baltic both tanks should go there, preferably supported by atleast one plane (same goes with E Poland if that’s preferred). Otherwise all three front areas can be annexed through blitz. This makes german forces being able to enter the Baltic or E Poland in NCM on G3 (also through transport) and also landing air support, letting Russia make the DOW on its R3, while still getting the 5 IPC NO from not being at war with Russia.

A G2-buy needs atleast 1 des and from there could include like 2 inf and 2 sb in W Ger and 10 inf in Ger.

As in the G2 DOW, the 1-2 aa’s can gladly go back home to W Ger in G2. The defense of W Ger can be a little bit stronger now with 2 extra trannies on the table shuffling troops to Leningrad from Ger, where a train of 6 inf/art can go from W Ger to Ger each round, so they’re not as needed, but will probably get more useful on the western front anyway.

trulpen’s G2 DOW heading for Moscow [OOB G40 2nd]

This opening is an inspiration from COW. Instead of G1 though, it’s a way for Germany to primarily aim for a G2 DOW against Russia. Saving the battleship is nice, but more of a parenthesis here. There is significant strategic gain with a G2 DOW instead of G3, but Germany needs a solid plan to execute. This route focuses on going directly for Moscow, getting other key sites like Leningrad and Ukraine on the way only if it doesn’t disturb the main goal.

Purchase (30 IPC)

Ger: 3 mech, 3 tank - 30

Combat moves

1 sub sz103, 1 sub sz108, 1 fig Holland, 2 fig, 2 tac W Ger, 1 tac Ger, 2 sb Ger -> sz110 -> 3 fig, 3 tac Holland, 2 sb W Ger

1 sub sz118, 1 sub sz124, 1 bs sz113, 1 fig Norway, 1 tac W Ger -> strafe sz111 -> W Ger

4 inf, 2 art, 3 tank Holland, 3 tank S Ger, 3 inf, 1 art, 4 mech W Ger -> France -> S Italy

6 inf, 2 art S Ger, 1 inf Romania, 1 fig Slovakia, 1 tac Poland -> strafe Yugoslavia -> Romania, 1 fig Tobruk, 1 tac S Italy

Non-combat moves

1 sub sz117 -> sz124

1 cr, 1 tr sz114 -> sz112

3 aa W Ger -> Holland

2 inf Denmark -> W Ger

3 inf Norway -> Finland +4 inf

11 inf, 3 art, 3 aaa Ger -> Poland

2 inf Slovakia -> Poland

1 tank Slovakia -> Romania

1 tank Romania -> Bulgaria +4 inf

Analysis

Now Germany is optimally set for stacking in E Poland on G2. If possible, do also enter Bessarabia to pressure Ukraine, but holding E Poland is more important.

Enter in the North by Leningrad as well as Russia then gets pressure on all fronts. If they move in to save Leningrad or such (oh yes, it’s a trap!), all the better since those units won’t make it back to Moscow in time.

No need to bomb Leningrad, since anything built there in R2 will be useless or suboptimal. Maybe bomb Ukraine, but likely the Russians will retreat from there anyway. Risking a sb and then having to repair the mIC might simply be counter-productive.

The G2-buy of 66 IPC is simply 3 mech and 7 tank in Germany and 1 sb in W Germany.

On G3 buy 1 fig, 1 tac and 2 sb in W Germany.

Continue the invasion by stacking in W Ukraine. Grab Leningrad and Ukraine if possible, but do not deviate resources that are aimed for Moscow.

On G4 simply buy 4 sb in W Ger and 3 tank in Ukraine. If the latter is not available for building, then just 1 or 2 more sb’s.

Bomb the hell out of Moscow with 4-5 sb and stack everything in Bryansk, including all available air.

Italy should’ve set up on its I2 to have 2 tank and all air in E Poland in order to do an essential can-opener of Bryansk in I3, maybe also buying a sb in I2.

In G5 there will be the glorious battle of Moscow. This should favour Germany with +20 inf, 5 art, 10 mech, 19-22 tanks and a heap of Luftwaffe even if Russia has defensively turtled.

Lets say Russia has built only inf and has about 65 of them in Moscow. It’s still a +90 % battle for Germany, although likely most land units will be gone.

trulpen’s G3 DOW Barbarossa Economy-push [BM3]

Got some feedback and questions on these posts of mine. Proves atleast someone reads them, which inspired me to put into print what I believe is the strongest opening for Germany in Balanced Mod 3.

I studied @axis-dominion as Axis against @JDOW in their L20 A semi-final. Two masters. A battle of giants. Well worth the time invested.

This opening arise from those impressions. I’m aware that it’s rather bold then to claim this opening as “mine”, but you may (if benevolent) interpret the heading more as a concept or trademark of sorts.

Saving the Bismarck by the lines of my previous opening discussions regarding OOB is still a viable strategy. Although still functional, I believe it’s a bit weaker in BM3. An early Sea Lion is still a safe way to throw the game away, which is further accentuated in BM3.

First some general concepts focusing on the difference of BM3 from OOB. The Russian land-leases don’t come into effect until R3, which means that G is in no certain need of extra subs for G2. The Vichy rule-set makes the conquering or softening of Normandie rational.

There’s also no real advantage in making a G2 DOW. Russia’s income will be the same because of the new NO and G has to wait for the stack from Berlin anyway in order to take solid control of Ukraine. Russia is clearly stronger in BM3, why an early all-out take-down of Moscow, aka Crushia, is susceptible to failure. Germany instead benefits going for the economic benifits of controlling Stalingrad and Caucasus while simply containing the Bear from Bryansk for some time.

For these reasons I think the best strategy is to power-slam Yugoslavia while preparing for the G3 DOW. The idea of the purchase (2 inf, 6 mech) is that the 2 inf will play a role in E Poland and the mechs will make it down in time in order to control the ukrainian mIC, while inf or art are too slow and won’t make it. Germany really wants to take control of that factory asap.

The Bismarck will hide safely in z113 with the cr and tr. 2 subs hit z110 with 8-9 air and 2 other subs hit z106. This makes both sea battles rather secure. The fifth sub will hold for NCM to plant itself in z112.

The UK z111-fleet will be untouched for now, but only has one truly safe alternative for escape, which is hovering by Iceland with scramble support.

Normandie should be hit with some small force. I find 1 inf, 1 mech, 1 sb to be good, but there are of course alternatives, like 1 inf, 1 art, 1 mech or such. The tac from Poland could go to either Paris or Yugo. The latter is safer since it won’t expose the plane to aa. There should still be enough force to crush Paris without too severe causalties.

Bulgaria and Finland are annected as usual with 3 respective 1 inf. I usually prefer to shift over 1 inf, 1 aa to Norway from z113. The fig and eventual tac that hit Yugo may preferably land in Rome. If the tac from Germany hit either Normandie or z110 and survived, it has to land in Holland, which then needs to be supported. I’d say 2 aa, 1 fig, 3 tac is enough.

Purchase (30 IPC)

2 inf, 6 mech

Combat moves

1 sub z107, 1 sub z118 -> z106

1 sub sz103, 1 sub sz108, 1 fig Holland, 1 fig Norway, 2 fig, 3 tac WG, 1 tac Berlin, 1 sb Berlin -> sz110 -> 1 fig, 3 tac Holland, 3 fig, 1 tac, 1 sb WG alternatively if the tac didn’t survive all air land in WG

1 inf Holland, 1 mech WG, 1 sb Berlin -> Normandie -> WG

3 inf, 2 art, 3 tank Holland, 3 tank S Ger, 3 inf, 1 art, 3 mech WG -> France

6 inf, 2 art S Ger, 1 tank, 1 tac Poland, 1 inf, 1 tank Romania, 2 inf, 1 tank, 1 fig Slovakia -> Yugoslavia -> Rome

Non-combat moves

1 sub z124 -> z112

1 cr, 1 tr sz114 -> sz113

1 inf Denmark, 1 aa -> tr z113 -> Norway

1 inf Denmark -> WG

2 aa -> Holland (if a tac has to land there)

3 inf Norway -> Finland + 4 inf

11 inf, 3 art, 3 aaa Berlin -> Slovakia

3 inf Poland -> Slovakia

1 inf Romania -> Bulgaria + 4 inf

Analysis

Germany is not pressuring Russia at all at the moment, but mainly preparing for a lethal push starting on G3. The first two main goals of the Barbarossa-expedition are taking control of Leningrad and Ukraine, because of the factories that will be able to pump out slow-movers by the front.

G2 will deploy the eastern pansar depending on Russia’s set-up. If necessary 3 mech, 3 tank may position themselves in Poland for the conquest of Leningrad. Italy should have 2 tanks, 1 sb in position to can-open the Baltic. Italy’s main early task is to act as can-opener for Germany.

The core of the G2-purchase of 70 IPC should be a des and mostly mechs, atleast 10. This allows to threaten pesky subs and putting immense pressure on Russia.

Mechs are actually the golden unit for Germany and the ration of mech/tank should be a lot higher than 1 (insight from @axis-dominion), something like 2/1 or even 3/1 is very rational. Tanks are great, but expensive. The point is obviously that mechs are cheaper, have great flexibility and protects other units, namely art, tanks and air.

A sb is usually a good investment, but at this point 3 more mechs is probably better. There could be a call for a sub or two as well, but this is far from certain.

The G3-purchase of usually slightly above 50 IPC should again be based on atleast 10 mechs, unless something particular happened that needs a higher priority. This will allow Germany to make progress in the south-east of Russia. A stalling halt has to be avoided at almost all costs.

Germany doesn’t have to immediately threaten to annihilate the Russian stack, but it is sufficient to be able to clamp down on Rostov and be able to hold it without air-support in case Russia denied Italy access by heavy blocking. It’s not bad, since the block is crushed. That’s always a tough blow for Russia. They just lost a lot of valuable units, usually something like 4-5 inf and an aa, likely only taking 1-2 german inf along with them.

Losing control of the mIC in Ukraine for one turn is totally worth it. Germany now takes definite control over Stalingrad and Caucasus, which means an income-boost of 14 IPC. This is key.

Russia has limited options. They may stay in Bryansk, but this means Moscow is exposed. They can’t really afford another block-crush, so most likely retreats to a huddling position in Moscow. Goal accomplished.

Just got the the game. It’s been a long time since I was involved with AandA (10 years?). So bare with my novice questions.

Why not G1 DOW on Russia?

And if so, why isn’t a big infantry buy the way to go for round 1 purchase, followed by mech/tanks in round 2 and then tanks, tanks, tanks? Is G6-G7-G8 too late to take Russia?

@Stough said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

Why not G1 DOW on Russia?

Think it says in the rule-book: Germany isn’t ready for it. ;) Despite that I believe a G1DOW does work in OOB, although it might be weaker than a later DOW. Germany can however not secure any territories by this time and Russia gets a lot of bonus-income.

@Stough said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

And if so, why isn’t a big infantry buy the way to go for round 1 purchase, followed by mech/tanks in round 2 and then tanks, tanks, tanks? Is G6-G7-G8 too late to take Russia?

It’s a viable buy, but again, a bit weaker. The problem for Germany is that they are slow. What really gets Germany going is making progress towards rich bounty in Russia. I think that with an inf/art-purchase G1 those units won’t make it to Ukraine in time and the german stack will likely halt for one turn by G5. Getting stalled is bad.

@Stough said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

followed by mech/tanks in round 2 and then tanks, tanks, tanks? Is G6-G7-G8 too late to take Russia?

It’s maybe not too late, but question is if it’s feasible? By that time there will be potential allied air lending support to the ruskijs. Fast-movers will take 4 turns, including the one when built, to reach Moscow.

On a note Germany should buy more mechs than tanks. Point is that it actually gives a higher combat value since there will be more of them. Tanks would be better if Germany has reached it’s production-limit, but they will be far from that point.

@trulpen Again, I’m new so my ideas are probably wonky. After three test plays, all using a Sea Lion Variant (btw, I only think Sea Lion is good if you want to get Italy into the game. Britain has to respond to it in some measure and that gives Italy a chance), I think a G-1 DOW looks pretty good.

You can nuke 7 Russians and start the border squabbles that attrit Russia, while close to home.
Buy 3Art and 6 inf in round 1, (maybe a destroyer or sub) and then a bunch.
Place a sub in Russias convoy zone on rd 1 and keep occupying that thing to deny Russia the 5ipc’s.
I think your advice to buy a crap ton of wagons (mech) in round 2 is very sound. Followed by a mix of fast movers in rd 3-4 and some bombers.

It seems fairly simple to leverage Russia with a strong push. Use the Luftwaffe to full advantage and get either Nov or Ukraine or both.

I’m not sure nailing Moscow is even necessary. Just push them back, hurt their economy and anaconda them to death, while dealing with US/UK.

Anyhow, lots of big talk from me. I’ll be play testing Germany without a Sea Lion for the next three games. We’ll see what headaches the Brits can bring without a Sea Lion. The US will be spending about 2/3 of their budget on Germany.

BTW. What fighter is sent to Tobruk?

@Stough said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

@trulpen Again, I’m new so my ideas are probably wonky. After three test plays, all using a Sea Lion Variant (btw, I only think Sea Lion is good if you want to get Italy into the game. Britain has to respond to it in some measure and that gives Italy a chance), I think a G-1 DOW looks pretty good.

You can nuke 7 Russians and start the border squabbles that attrit Russia, while close to home.
Buy 3Art and 6 inf in round 1, (maybe a destroyer or sub) and then a bunch.
Place a sub in Russias convoy zone on rd 1 and keep occupying that thing to deny Russia the 5ipc’s.
I think your advice to buy a crap ton of wagons (mech) in round 2 is very sound. Followed by a mix of fast movers in rd 3-4 and some bombers.

It seems fairly simple to leverage Russia with a strong push. Use the Luftwaffe to full advantage and get either Nov or Ukraine or both.

I’m not sure nailing Moscow is even necessary. Just push them back, hurt their economy and anaconda them to death, while dealing with US/UK.

Anyhow, lots of big talk from me. I’ll be play testing Germany without a Sea Lion for the next three games. We’ll see what headaches the Brits can bring without a Sea Lion. The US will be spending about 2/3 of their budget on Germany.

BTW. What fighter is sent to Tobruk?

Fig from Slovakia. Going there after hitting Yugo.

I would never support an early Sea Lion, unless something exceptional happened. Early is something like before turn 6.

Conquering Moscow might not be a necessity, but if it can be done it’s a top priority. Getting Russia out of play and all that extra income is worth tons.

@stough said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

@trulpen Again, I’m new so my ideas are probably wonky. After three test plays, all using a Sea Lion Variant (btw, I only think Sea Lion is good if you want to get Italy into the game. Britain has to respond to it in some measure and that gives Italy a chance), I think a G-1 DOW looks pretty good.

You can nuke 7 Russians and start the border squabbles that attrit Russia, while close to home.
Buy 3Art and 6 inf in round 1, (maybe a destroyer or sub) and then a bunch.
Place a sub in Russias convoy zone on rd 1 and keep occupying that thing to deny Russia the 5ipc’s.
I think your advice to buy a crap ton of wagons (mech) in round 2 is very sound. Followed by a mix of fast movers in rd 3-4 and some bombers.

It seems fairly simple to leverage Russia with a strong push. Use the Luftwaffe to full advantage and get either Nov or Ukraine or both.

I’m not sure nailing Moscow is even necessary. Just push them back, hurt their economy and anaconda them to death, while dealing with US/UK.

Anyhow, lots of big talk from me. I’ll be play testing Germany without a Sea Lion for the next three games. We’ll see what headaches the Brits can bring without a Sea Lion. The US will be spending about 2/3 of their budget on Germany.

BTW. What fighter is sent to Tobruk?

A early sealion no matter what is the certain route to defeat for the Axis. As trulpen stated, a sea lion is a tool that can be utilized in case UK plays carelessly in UK1 or invites it on purpose. However, in case I play my most common UK1 (Gibraltar bastion), a sea lion would most likely be suicide. It will either fail and even if the battle of London is won it will be a pyrrhus victory because the losses will be so heavy that Germany will not be able to push the Russians back anymore.

I suppose you get biased by the fact that the opponent you played sea lion against so far, were not experienced enough to react properly to it.

Many of these strategies find some similarities in chess gambits. In chess gambits are great against less experienced opponents that do not know how to react properly. One misstep and the player that did the gambit gets a big advantage.
However, on grandmaster level, most gambits are not played anymore because they lead to a disadvantage in case the opponent knows how to react.

This logic applies to many other strategies, including dark skies (mass bombers with Germany from the beginning) of which many claim it is overpowered or broken and where I disagree and say the strategy is ok, but worse than a classic Barbarossa if the Allies react properly to it.

Regarding the G1 DOW, that is a strategy that can be stopped by the UK flying a bunch of planes out of Persia to Moscow. If the UK doesn’t do this, Axis victory normally follows quite rapidly.

I normally buy 2ftr in South Africa UK1 which can also reach. And UK Pacific (India) can also contribute, particularly if there isn’t a J1 DOW.

@jdow So, 5 mi (I prefer the term ‘wagon’; because that what they look like and it’s funny) and a tank for g1?

@stough said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

@jdow So, 5 mi (I prefer the term ‘wagon’; because that what they look like and it’s funny) and a tank for g1?

This is one of many solid buys for Germany in G1, yes.

@stough

the correct term is “buggy” Austin Powers: “deploy the boo-gahys”

Apologies if this is somewhere above in the thread but could not spot it. Re the opening referred to as “Soulfein’s basic Germany opener” in @Cow’s 2013 post - would it be possible for someone to clarify this line:

b) u can grab morocco and/or gibraltar in g2 (given uk doesnt block sz110 with enough to deny ita can open), getting in range for sending transports to sz98 in g3

What exactly does this mean? If the UK stacks 110, Germany can’t reach Gibraltar on turn 2, but what exactly is the Italy can-opener move being referred to here? Wouldn’t Italy have to take Gibraltar itself to make the strait passable? How can German transports even reach sz98 in G3?

Is this still considered a strong opening almost a decade later?

Many thanks!

Hi @puns_and_ships I think the Italy canopener is using there Bmbr against UK blocker. Idk about the rest of it

@puns_and_ships

While I can only speculate, before taranto became canon, Italy could easily mount up, either inside the med, or even better, outside the med, threatening the classic Double Sea Lion (germany and italy attack uk together, in waves, and over multiple turns, if necessary) and the US capital at the same time.

If Italy joins Germany with its full navy and transports, stopping sea lion isn’t likely at all. Attempting to block the germans from joining the italian fleet bastion can be can-opened as well, so the german fleet can join them in SZ 98, making the entire atlantic a gigantic mess for the allies.

Today, people understand SL to be less effective because of the high cost of taking it and the low amount of money at stake in taking it (compared to russia). That evolved because Taranto became a 99% move, and buying a proper defense for UK, a 90% move.

In the improperly named META of the early game, this ambush was a quick way to end any game.

@taamvan @barnee Thank you for the responses, much appreciated. What would be the best way for a newish player to get to grips with the current meta? The standard Taranto move, etc - is there a good recent write up on the state of the game?

Thanks!

@puns_and_ships

There are alot of good videos. The “Middle Earth” video on yt lays out some interesting ideas for building a South Africa Shuck + Persia Factory early. However, if you committ to this kind of plan 100% you leave UK vulnerable.

Germany (buy 2 bombers save 6. Attack Russia on G2. You can take UK even in the face of a strong build by killing his navy, and stratbombing him starting on turn 1, however, this allows the USA and Russia to run wild and keeps your money low.)

Russia (buy more tanks than would seem prudent. force germany to stack east poland until its forces are able to get together by projecting threat onto his backfield areas. avoid having allies units enter your zone before your bonus SZ is lost)

Japan (if you committ everything, and build air base, you can destroy India on J3, but this is a low money option. Taking Sri Lanka gives you a floating aircraft carrier. Attacking early gives the alies much more income, attacking later keeps the US waiting. The most flexible strategy is to take the money islands, carefully conquest china, and chip away at russian money as they retreat. Attempting to strike early (JDOW J1) used to be very popular and every unit is pretty much accounted for so thats a pat opener–however, attacking early gives the allies maximum money while japan is still trying to align all its forces and value territories. If you use the diplomacy to the maximum by concentrating only on china and russia that is conservative and safe but Germany is likely to have to face a gigantic threat as the USA player builds up turn after turn waiting for war…

USA Buy 2 CV to start. You will need a BB in the Atlantic to ensure control of key SZ 98. The temptation is to focus entirely on one axis or the other, but that plan allows the other axis to run wild and reach 70+ IPC. Japan is the weaker target, which is easier to overwhelm, but taking his money entirely out is difficult. Germany is a more desirable target to reduce pressure on Russia, but the lack of a clean shuck 3 spaces across the atlantic means that you’ll be stuck on the southern path. Germany has factories close to the front, so killing him piecemeal is impossible. Dont waste your precious landing troops on half-measures–built until turn 8 and then execute your plan (enter med, boggle germany, take norway, rescue leningrad–pick one)

UK build 6 inf 1 fighter first turn on UK. Any less risks a capital take. Attack Taranto with everything that can come–note that both fighters and the bomber from london can reach. If anything survives, form a bastion on malta, or syria. The UK is pretty weak but it has the advantage of being able to build a strong rescue force in the center of the board, which could save russia, prevent egypt from ever falling, and block japan. An early persia factory is nice, an iraq backup factory is even better–however your max income is only 40 so you wont be able to power all that and protect your base. Don’t leave the UK bare of figthers, or stop turtling–Germany can kill russia then use the money to build 10 transports to smash the fortified and isolated units you left in UK)

Italy is more of a liability for germany than a help. The best plan is to pull the armor from africa, add the 2 you start with, build 1 more first turn with a mech, and then have that lance of troops hide among the germans, can opening against blockers, striking where necessary. That’s a 1 shot, though. If italy can get some bonuses and keep part of fleet, that’s good–but once the USA arrives, you have to spend more german resources protecting italy than its worth and its income can be rapidly torn to shreds once control of the med is lost. This also means keeping plenty of italitan units on rome, and alive—the USA can attack you with 20+ units and air, with the ability to follow on with UK forces that will also have a substantial air force and navy by turn UK6

Anzac There are mulitple approaches, but the best one is to build extra carriers with the USA and use those to host ANZAC fighters. Keeping 1 or 2 transports alive, alone with UK units, can lead to a situation where japan has to eat 3 consecutive allied turns of rage and leapfroggoing as the minor allies take advantage of the opening USA makes. Its also easy for Japan to kill this capital and end the game by VC if you are unwary and you can only build 3 units so adding a few units each turn and saving your money to see what happens isnt a bad idea. Japan does have to step far out of position to do this, however.

China try to stay alive. all you can really do is slow japan down, without help. in an unbid game, that isn’t wise.

Among strong players, a bid of 40+ is needed to prevent the barbarossa strategy from kiling russia in 60-80% of games.

Among moderate players, I usually suggest a bid of 12, 16, or 20.

There is also a G42 setup that is more balanced and a faster start.

@puns_and_ships Good advice from taamvan. Also, if you have triplea, you can look up past games in https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/category/65/play-online-axis-allies by some of the more experienced players and see what they do.

@taamvan @barnee thank you for your replies, really helpful - I will have a look!