What are those germans?

@aequitas:

1 or 2 Strat.bmbrs are allways good on Pac.Theatre.
Their present def. kills the gameflow fpr the Allies.
But it is sure an Investment you have to take on Euro Axis side.

This!

@AndreasI:

Just some thoughts from someone who hasn’t really done the math nor played enough rounds to actually see this tactic through.

Can US really be at war, at their own initiative, with Germany on turn 3 (Combat/Movement phase?) so they can actually move to Gibraltar at all? Or are there any second edition additional rules that I have missed?

And then on down to the tactics on getting a strong fleet supporting units into Normandy or other mainland european regions:

Am I correct in assuming that Germany loosing it’s entire bomber force against, let’s say, a strong naval presence from US/UK equals a lost game for Germany? I am aware that Japan can still grow to be a monster and win the game for the axis anyhow but let’s keep focus on europe for now. Creating a fleet according to Nippon-kokus suggestion (or similar) would create a situation that requires Germany to respond with their bombers. Once there is a strong static fleet that Germany can’t attack without risking it’s entire air force it’s quite easy for the allies to maintain that ratio of units so that it stays safe. And what happens then? The US can land units basically every turn once the shuttle is running. 8 or 10 units are not frightening, I admit. Easily countered by Germany but the way I see it is that Germany from then on are forced to use their bombers plus land units each turn against a landing force. Using german bombers on that front every turn makes them unusable against the russians. I can certainly see where there could be a bit of trouble breaking through russian lines.

The way I see it, if the US can do this, why would Dark Skies really matter? Would buying 20 Infantry and 10 Tanks be any different? Germany still couldn’t kill the Allied fleet, would still have to divert forces from Russia, would still face the Allies landing every turn…

…and on top of it, It’d be harder for Germany to counter attack.

Seems like Dark Skies is still an optimal strategy against a US invasion.

This is helpful. I am just starting a game as Germany and will make a DoW on Russia turn 2. This is the first time we have played with NO’s and that changes the dynamic. I am thinking of taking the southern route for the 2 IC’s and options for the Caucases NO, possibly the Persias/Iraq NO, or possibly helping Japan with India. We’ll see how it goes…

@manstein39:

@orania:

6 Infantry, 2 Artillery, from S.Germany into Slovakia

How about using those to strafe Yugo for 1 round and then retreat into: Slovakia.

Does Italy need this help?
What are the loss / kill chances?

It’s a common practice, but if you are attacking Russia round 1, you can’t take the chance that you accidentally score 5 hits and conquer Yugo since you need those units for counter attacks on G2.

Correct, Italy can easily take Yugoslavia on their own round 2 or 3 without Germany spreading thin by strafing G1.

@aa:

k so were at a stand still german forces went into sea zone 112 first round and as russisa i want to combine my fleet there. first of all is this possible? were not at war. and if it is possible if the uk attacks that german fleet does the russia fleet have to defend? any rules on this would be very helpful

As long as nations are not at war with each other, they may move through and/or occupy the same seazones.  And it is ALWAYS allowed to place units in seazones, even if they are occupied by enemy powers.

If the UK attacks the German fleet, the Russians would never defend under any circumstances.  They’re neutral for one, but they’re also an Allied power.  They’re ignored.  Even if they were at war with Germany and in that seazone, they would NEVER be involed in the battle as combined attacks are not permitted.

True, but if you land in Archangel they will just kill your little invasion on the next turn with troops from Novgorod.  They can still attack you with mech, armor, and planes but any losses they incur doing that will be expensive to replace.  With 3 inf, 3 tanks, they might not even be able to kill them all and you will have a tank or two for the blitz.  Stopping you will be a distraction from the front.  This is called being a trouble maker.

One to two subs a turn is not a bad idea for the germans. First of all you take away a British NO, secondly building one off the coast of southern France threatens the gibraltar sea zone.  There’s a legitimate chance of knocking out a few transports outside of gibraltar with a few subs from the med and air power from west Germany.  Although to do it you need Italy or Germany to hold Morocco as that’s the only landing space available for fighters and tacs from w Germany.

I am in a Global game now.  We just finished Round 9 and decided on a break for a while.  I am playing Germany and the Russian player is also handling China.
Germany captured Paris Round 1, forced a Sealion Round 2 and was successful but at somewhat high cost.  Round 3 took the 3 big neutrals - Spain, Sweeden and Turkey - which also took a fair amount of resources.  Therefore, I don’t think I was able to build up enough in the east for Barbarossa like I would have preferred.  I had a good force by end of Round 3, but it certainly could have been better.
Italy really struggled with Britain in Africa and the Med.
Japan took a gamble by bringing USA into the war Round 1 by attacking Brits and the Philippines.
As for Russia, first three rounds she spent building a lot of infantry along the border with a few artillery and tanks.  Round 4 Russia actually attacked Germany, which I really was not expecting.  Sank all my transports and took an unoccupied Sweeden from me.  Round 5, she had destroyed all three army groups in Europe, took Warsaw and was only frustrated by Finland with a bloody repulse.  Round 6, she threw a massive army at Berlin.  Lucklily, the last couple of rounds of combat went my way and Berlin survived with just 1 fighter unit left.  Both sides were severely depleted but Germany still had her capital.
Fast forward to Round 9. 
Now Germany is getting strong again, starting to advance into Russia itself and threatening Leningrad.  German Navy has been sunk by the US Navy and they keep fighting back and forth over Spain, which US currently holds with a fairly strong force. 
Italy finally finished off all British and French troops in Africa and has a tank running around blitzing territories.  Most of Italy’s resources have been spent trying to help Germany with Spain and threatening Russia with a small force from the south.
Japan has all but destroyed China – 1 territory and 1 infantry unit left.  They have grabbed Calcutta and control Eastern Asia and the DEI.  However, both the Imperial Navy and the US Navy have been slugging it out and are almost non-existant.  Also, Japan has tanks creeping west toward Russia.
So, while Russia is still a ways from being “out of it”, they are in pretty bad shape.  I have seen this in other games as well.  Russia is just too dang big and can’t seem to get a decent number of reiinforcements to the front.  When they start a big offensive, if it runs out of steam then it seems like Germany always grinds them back.  Unless the US can get over there with a large enough force to really threaten Germany in Western Europe, Russia will be taken out and then Germany will have plenty of money to deal with the US and push them back out of Europe with help from Italy.