How to balance out the game for the Allies in one easy step

In A 1939 variant you would have to let the Axis make two turns before anyone else has a turn to limit the crazy strong setup Germany and Japan would have to have in the context of A&A to be as strong as they were.  If you gave the Allies’ all turns in between they would have to be crazy weak.

So what if you start with Germany being small (just Berlin, Western and Greater Southern) but let Holland begin as a power with $14 in hand that Germany can seize just France in the 1940 game, plus Germany gets to activate all those axis friendlies first turn.  To keep UK poor at and and keep sealion open you could start out with London IC as a minor that Britain will want to upgrade for $20.

@variance:

So what if you start with Germany being small (just Berlin, Western and Greater Southern) but let Holland begin as a power with $14 in hand that Germany can seize just France in the 1940 game, plus Germany gets to activate all those axis friendlies first turn.  To keep UK poor at and and keep sealion open you could start out with London IC as a minor that Britain will want to upgrade for $20.

You could do that, but you have to think about the German army being out of position in Poland for an invasion on France- plus unlikely that Germany can take out all of Britain’s Navy turn 1 (1939).  You would have to make the allies extremely weak.  (Britain’s navy being non-existent and having to upgrade IC).  Russia would not be able to start with barely any units otherwise they would be a monster.

I would like Germany and Japan to have two turns before the allies even move -and- make the Allies fairly weak as you stated.  This sets up Germany to take France turn 3 (if you think turn 3 is summer 1940).

rjpeters:

If the British navy survives intact as you are suggesting than there will never be a sealion.

Russia would have to start off with barely any army…  UK with barely any navy…  Maybe the US shouldn’t be able to do anything.  Think about India having 21+ IPCs to spend for those extra turns.

well, the British Navy can consolidate in a safe zone away from German air/navy; build land troops so sealion isn’t very likely (not that Germany will have much to spend on transports when it is having to build land troops).

They do have to make a decision as to how much aid to give to France or just let it fall.

Russia is weak, sure, but they have 3-4 turns of full builds to do what they want without fear of attack…  it will be difficult to take them as Germany- unless you make Germany so strong to start with that it makes you question the point of a 1939 scenario when Germany/Japan just roll everyone.

Which is why to get things moving, giving the Axis two turns may be the ‘surprise’ and ‘blitzkrieg’ factor you need to get the game going.  That, or otherwise start all the Allies turn 1 with zero IPCs to spend (not ready for war).

@rjpeters70:

@variance:

So what if you start with Germany being small (just Berlin, Western and Greater Southern) but let Holland begin as a power with $14 in hand that Germany can seize just France in the 1940 game, plus Germany gets to activate all those axis friendlies first turn.�� To keep UK poor at and and keep sealion open you could start out with London IC as a minor that Britain will want to upgrade for $20.

Exactly, make it August 1939, with Germany including Austria, Bohemia and Moravia.� Make Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, and Hungary Pro-Axis.� Make Russia extremely weak, to reflect the Red Officers Purges of the late 30s… Maybe one tank, one fighter, one artillery, the rest just a handful of infantry spread throughout the front.� Make Benelux, Denmark, and Norway valuable… but each only has 1 infantry in them.� Germany will ramp up very quickly with units and IPCs.� France has a weak army, decent Navy.�

Just like 1939.

The nice thing is this would be a very unscripted variant because each power would basically start at zero and spend the first turn building in response to the other side’s builds.  UK would start out by upgrading its IC so it can build infantry turn 2 and 3 if there is sealion threat.  Germany starts with a small army but quickly expands its income, having the first big builds round 2 with Dutch money and then round 3 with French money.  Likewise Russia starts with next to nothing but positioned to attack Finland with 50/50 odds.  Start Japan at war with China but with less fleet and no transports on the board so they need to build transports or ICs or else lose China.  Everyone has the flexibility to basically set things up as they see fit and by the time summer 1940 rolls around the board might look very different from the standard setup.

Now that I think about it, this might not be such a difficult variant to create because all the setup issues are to be dealt with by the players themselves in the first and second round.  There would be minimal stuff on the board at the beginning.

I guess my point is you’d have to start Germany off so strong (because of the huge income disparity between Axis/Allies) that it wouldn’t be much of a game the first 2-3 rounds.

Germany wouldn’t have the money to do sea-lion, much less attack the British navy turn 1; unless you start the British navy weak and/or start the German air force/navy very strong.  If Germany doesn’t kill the British navy turn 1, then it will be even harder for Germany to prevent allied landings in Europe.

Russia having 37 IPCs to spend, even if they start with nothing, will be a formidable force on turn 4-5 when Germany attacks Russia.  How much money will Germany start with? 14 IPCs?  Maybe get 10 IPCs more turn 1?  (sure they can get a bonus of 14 when taking Holland’s capital).  France has 19 IPCs/turn- they can be fairly big too if Germany doesn’t take it out turn 2.  Russia still makes 10 IPCs more than Germany turn 2.

Japan would have a very tough time- China will have a large artillery supported army; India will be unassailable and ANZAC will have a nice little Navy.

Agreed that the US shouldn’t be able to build for 4-5 turns- maybe able to make limited NCMs?

I would like to figure out how a 1939 game could work- because it could be a blast; but it is tough to balance out an even weaker Axis to start (have limited territory/income in 1939).

You could also do the trick of giving Moscow and Tokyo minor factories instead of majorss

Germany would also get to absorb pro-axis armies from Hungary and then Rumania.

Russia would have 37 IPCs and Germany 14 IPCs because that is the value of their respective territories.  I suppose you could start Russia with 0 IPCs, but then they collect at the end of their first turn?

Either Germany would have to have a large navy or large air force to deal with the British fleet turn 1 or you will have a British fleet that is way too big.

The problem of a large British fleet early is twofold:

1. Sea-lion much harder for Germany.  Germany would not have the funds to build warships, transports, and troops to do Sea-lion- not to mention build troops to guard against France/build up for Russia;  when all Britain has to do is build troops (upgrade IC possibly as well).

2. Earlier Allied landings in Europe/earlier pressure on Italy in the Med.  Italy would have a tough time if Britain has a larger fleet to contest the Med- in addition the French and British can consolidate their fleets- then the British can make landings in France, Norway, Africa, Italy way earlier than was previously possible.

Unless of course you are proposing the British start with an ahistorical shell of a fleet.

@rjpeters70:

@variance:

Now that I think about it, this might not be such a difficult variant to create because all the setup issues are to be dealt with by the players themselves in the first and second round.�  There would be minimal stuff on the board at the beginning.

Great point.  I’m actually wanting to play this out now.

You do realize that when I proposed this my tongue was planted firmly in me cheek  :-P

Anyway, maybe it does have some merit. Keep in mind that in '39, the Japanese suffered several major defeats in China, and Russia and Japan were fighting along the Manchurian-Mongolian border at Khalkhin Gol, so don’t neglect that theater.

My guess is that for Global 1939, the game starts one additional round earlier. Have at it guys!

Kim

It only poses a balance problem- and an uphill battle for Germany.

@rjpeters70:

@BJCard:

It only poses a balance problem- and an uphill battle for Germany.

Fair enough, but I don’t think that should be or constitutes a deal breaker for a new twist to the game.

Agreed, I would like to play it/develop it, but I would think about a 2 turn opening move for the Axis to get the game going/simulate the allies’ unpreparedness for war.  What does IL do on his 1939 variant?

There isn’t a one way always wins with axis, but mainly, without a bid, Germany takes Moscow, and Japan takes India. The axis put a huge strain on America to support in both theaters, but America doesn’t have enough money to do so. Make sure Japan spends most of her income, after T1’s intial buy of 3 transports and arty, on Navy. I’d say at least 80% on navy/air for rest of the game.

@DizzKneeLand33:

Wow, Imperious Leader, you moved THIS thread to “house rules” but not the completely “whiny” transport aberration thread??  Seriously??  At least everyone here was open to trying to level the game out without having to bid 24….

I agree with you DizzKneeLand33,
it is strange while this tread talk solely about Global1940, the other about “defenseless transport” could easily open-up toward other Axis games (1942, 1941, etc.) applying Transport Taken last and all automatically destroy.

I don’t know who can do the move of this tread but I hope it will.