Ramdas Vaidyanathan has a new move called "Ram's Mahatma Gambit" -

@ItIsILeClerc:

I am afraid that the biggest problem the allies still have, is that they don’t know what the Axis are going to do during the early game AND that the axis have flexibility to adapt their strategy.

Well, the game is set up that way.  Germany goes before Russia… and Japan goes before US and UK. So Axis always has the initiative.

If Japan wants to do J2 , it is going to J2.  But the Allies no not know that.  ALLIES ALSO DO NOT KNOW IF JAPAN WANTS TO DO THE SUPERIOR G4J4 Either!  TMG forces Japan to choose between a J2…  or  playing under pressure of MIFF … or weakening itself by not doing the optimal moves that it wants.

Why sac a BB and a DD UK1 just because you fear a J4, only to find out that Japan adapted a bit and attacks J2 taking the Uk hips for free. It makes the already viable J2 that much better.

Let us suppose at the end of J1, Japan does its usual Naval moves.  Split the Naval presence between Carolines to keep US and ANZAC honest … and either Hong Kong with the 2-3 TRs… and maybe some ships on Japan to threaten Hawaii… or to Hainan with 1 or 2 TR to project its threat to execute J2 strike. Also consider Japan keep  air as follows  4-6 Kiangsu , 6 on CVs and 4-6 on Kwangsi, a couple on Japan or Manchuria… Suppose you do not play TMG . Well, look at a typical J2 strike.  UK withdraws everything to India or Java on UK 1. The TRs are lost . Any blockers Allies may be foolish enough to keep are lost. Japanese Air power is spread over strike areas… Phillippines, all the DEI islands, Central China to help eliminate Chinese resistance  and and Kwangsi  . Usually Malaya or most DEI fall on J2.  Hawaii AND Queensland is under threat.  Right so far?

Now imagine the same scenario…. except …1) That on USSR2, the Soviet20 have moved to Amur…2) That you have 2 blockers in Borneo and Malaya and you play TMG .  Let us suppose Japan decides to do a J2 strike.  Now, they have to choose their targets…. the problem… is that there are too many targets!!!  What are the Priority targets for Japan…  DEI? Phillippines?  Dutch New Guinea? The Soviet20?  Japan knows they are coming next turn… or Hawaii?  Or Queensland??  Or do they ignore ALL of these targets and go on to kill the Blockers… and try to Airsweep Shan state… Take Malaya… ( which might be re-taken!) … or keep pushing into China?!

Not to mention that leaving the Siberians in the east just invites Germany into Moscow beyond repair. I would even go as far as saying that the siberians Always must retreat to Moscow except when Germany goes SL.

My outlook is that the Soviet20 are in the East. Use them there. Use them when Japan is still figuring out WHEN and WHO to strike.  Take AWAY some options. Take away Japan’s flexibility. Take AWAY its ability to use the 12+ Units on Manchuria and Korea that magnifies its ability to strike!!!

The Soviet20 are the BOON Allies have… the ONLY real force in proximity to Japan that can make it look over its shoulders, my friend LeClerc.  Give the Soviet20 teeth… they will make Japan howl. Start making them plod backward to Moscow is only going to make Tojo do a song and dance!

I admit I praise J4G4 most of all Axis strategies these days but I wouldn’t hesitate to take the offered free ships and do J2 anyway. If Germany is not going anal about launching Sea Lion, that is (J2 is the worst you can do if Germany wants to do that). After all, if J2 is launched opportunistically, there is still the G4 part of the success and if the USA looks like going KJF, a J2 will not hurt the Euro-axis at all, not even if they would want to do SL!

No. Disagree on the G4 part of the success.
US has option to pursue a KGF  option too. it basically depends on how many units survived in the fall of London  ( if Sealion is successful)… how much Luftwaffe is left  . And how big a German Navy was built on G1 and G2.  I have seen SeaLion where Germany takes London with 1 tank… with 1 SB only remaining in the Luftwaffe… In that case… USSR and US should be able to take out Germany.
If SeaLion is a failure… Germany will fall faster than Japan.  Axis has to take that into their calculations.

POINT HERE IS THAT J2 ALLOWS US in early… early enough that… it can make a difference.

Last but not least, it is very easy for Japan to keep its TRS loaded J2 as a preventive action. When I come to think of it, for a J4 I’m not doing anything better anyway with those troops (load/unload J2 and then load them again J3 to sail them to their destination to invade J4. This basically nullifies Mahatma but he will most likely indeed be able to get away to safety if Japan is THAT determined to J3/J4.

TRS loaded are troops not fighting China… its a losing preposition for Japan in the long run

Once again: KJF required!
And apart from a J1DOW I won’t be looking into KJF’s before the allies have proven to me that ‘GIF’ also works.
To each his own ofc, but personally I don’t want to be limited to ‘KJF’ as the only viable OOB allied answer to everything.

AGREED!

@ItIsILeClerc:

I can’t help but think that you give ‘the siberians in the east’ too much credit.

Mon Ami ItIsILeClerc , you have a Eurocentric Defensive Approach, I have a AsiaCentric Offensive Approach . Let’s say we have different Allied philosophies, and agree to disagree… as I think you give the Soviet20 too little credit  :-)

I admit if Russia moves into Amur in force, Japan should not stack SEAsia with all its air but kill the Russians instead. This gives the Chinese exactly 1 extra turn to survive but the Russians are permanently dead in the east (as well as in Moscow, but that’s another story)… No matter what Russia does in the east, Japan will Always win, at the cost of only 1 turn delay in China. Well, IMHO that’s not worth loosing all Siberians for.

TMG is played correctly affects Japan for 4 turns , not 1 !!!

1. It affects the J2 combat , where the TR’s in HK are frozen for combat , in case Japan goes for J2 strike.
2. It affects J3 combat by freezing the newly bought TR’s that cannot be pre-loaded.
3. It affects J4 by making the Japanese go NORTH - to SZ 5 !!! to kill the Soviet20 in AMUR… after they withdraw… if indeed Japan wants to chase them down!
4. Then at SZ 5 in Amur… Japanese Trs and Navy? are out of position to hit any of their major NO …or objectives… only on J5… Japan comes back to its “steady state”… by which time US is ready to move![/color[/size]]

If J1 Non-Combat move ends with 2-3 Japanese TR *UNLOADED * in SZ 20  ( Off Hong Kong) … J2 itself will be frozen THE MOMENT TMG is played!.. if Japan had plans for a J2 strike that is.  Now if Japan keeps the TR’s Loaded… at the end of J1… then TMG need not be played.  Then on USSR2… the Siberians start their march back to Moscow… reaching there on R7 in a force of 18. China is very happy at not having to fight reinforcements that Japan did not unload

BUT……  if the 2-3 TRs are UNLOADED off HK… at and of J1… and The CV arm of Navy is not all there… &/ Kwangsi does NOT have the 14+ Aircraft at end of J1  … afraid iam giving away too much here…  then play TMG !  This will make Japan’s life miserable immediately!  J2 will sound like a muffled fart… rather than the explosive impact it has.  J2 will NOT get Japan ANYTHING except Hong Kong and killing 3 UK Ships… OR HK and Phillippines…IF they declare on the US… That is all!  And US is in the war!    Then continuing the thought process… the Soviet20 need NOT attack!.. they can just sit there and Tie up 14-16+ Japanese units… wait for the IJN fleet to move The One move furthur … into DEI/MALAYA… and then strike on USSR4! they will be safe then.  The J2 buy will be different… If it cannot “borrow” from Manchuria or Korea… Japan has to pay IPCs to build these units… so …instead of the 3-4 empty TR + CV…it will have 1-2 Loaded TR+CV  … that means 2 less targets “hittable” later…

If Japan does NOT do J2 …. seeing the futility of it…  and does NOT stack Manchuria/Korea with land troops…AND KEEP beaucoup Airstrike nearby… the Soviet20 strike with the plane(s)… and take Korea and or Manchuria wiping out upto 12 maybe 14 units there…Now … again… this is if Japan does not not have enough Land+Air Combo to kill it off.

If Japan stacks Manchuria and Korea… and keeps beaucoup Airunits at end of J1… then…do a J2 strike… hmm… J2 strike again a whimper!  It is likely an either…or scenario… but it gives Allies everything they need to see before they decide.

Hence the timing is crucial…. TMG must be done then and there on J1… a turn later may be too late…

The last thing Japan can do is buy 3 TR on J1  …  and keep all available Air it can spare in the vicinity where it can hit Amur.  Because there are 2-3 unloaded TRs in HK, UK1 plays TMG on UK1 …  USSR then can decide to  move to Amur taking the risk on USSR 2 .  If Japan kills the Soviet 20…  USSR gets the 6 Mongolian units as a bonus… and Japan did not declare on UK+US … fine… but its Air Arm is out of position to help on a J3 strike.  UK2 can just be a retreat to Burma with all Naval  ( HK has a Naval Base) … and ANZAC may… or may not declare war on Japan…

But this again comes at a price for Japan…. to kill Soviet20…  it loses troops… and maybe planes shot down by the 2 AAA… it loses TEMPO!  Its TRs are out of position… It pretty much changes the OBJECTIVES of Japan… from taking the DEI and PHP and dominating Southern Pacific and killing China… to pretty much help Germany in killing Russia !

I mean think of the repurcussions….  and this happens before… repeat… before US2…  so on US2… Allies can go with the comforting thought that India, Sydney and Hawaii are pretty safe as long as they play conservatively.  US + Allies can choose KJF  …  so long as Egypt seems safe… results of Taranto or Tobruk will be in…

Lastly, should Japan NOT kill the Soviet20 , nor do a J2 strike… UK has the option on UK2… go back to SZ38 with the BB etc…  OR do TMG deferred… where you still move the UK BB to SZ 6 … and DD to SZ 36 or 20 … wherever there are Max TRs… and ANZAC again… may… or may NOT declare war… depending.

What does this crazy sacrifice do… well  all Japanese TRs are again frozen… If USSR3 was an attack and wipeout of Korea or Manchuria… then… Japan cannot on Combat turn take it out…  If these places were stacked… and USSR did not attack… then J3 strike is a muffled whimper… as most TRs cannot do combat loading…

I hope you see the possibilities and the potential here.

Again… TMG is played to minimize J2…and only when J1 Non-Combat moves are favorable…( ie: check Japanese Navy, Air and TR locations) … NOT ALL THE TIME!

@DizzKneeLand33:

@MeinHerr:

If you are a Chess player or are aware of moves, consider this :

TMG  = Queen Sacrifice to achieve Zugzwang !!!

The UK BB is the Queen, sacrificed to COMPEL the Japanese player to make a move, any move… that will weaken him  :)

As a pretty highly rated FIDE player, your comparison, while compelling, isn’t really relevant.

Hi Dizz  and Cyanknight…

Methinks that :  A&A = ChessxRisk

:lol:

I play chess well, yes.  True. And have won College level and City level championships.

Also a member of MENSA  :roll:

As regards perfect strategy:
With the rules as they are , I will say YES!

There is a perfect strategy for the Allies.

Will not mention it though, because if i do, they will change the rules of this game.

In fact, I shall not even give a hint … because I truly love this game as it is.

All Iam willing to say is that… If I were to play Allies… i do not want ANY money… in fact Iam willing to GIVE the AXIS 10 IPC .

You may think iam arrogent, but i assure iam not.  If i tell it, then , everyone is going to slap their foreheads and say …  “Of course”…  and then will come a Rule Change.

With TMG, already there are people asking for rule changes… not giving me credit for the name etc…  that is as far as i would like to stretch it.

Started playing ( in fact “discovered” ) GLOBAL in Oct 2013…  and believe iam very proficient in it.

There is ONE guaranteed way , with current rules ALLIES will always win.

I leave it you all to come up with it.

MeinHerr

PS: It always amuses me , when i see 25 IPC bid for Allies from Axis… and i shake my head… oh… if you only knew…  :)

It is what it is.

You know… sometimes… there is a point when you think … way outside the box… and then think… oh surely…NO… this is not possible… then add it up… go back… and understand that it is… that’s how i figured it out.

Yes… just over a year.  As i said… it will ruin it for everyone… from now on… i say NO MORE about it.

We shall just go back to the good old regular game.

In fact… i think i should stop writing here.

Just hope when someone else every stumbles and bumbles over it, they have the sense to keep it to themselves too.

But hey, you heard it from me… first time… against the grain of current thought… to restate…

MeinHerr says:  " Given current rules and current placements and current IPC and unit values, there is a way that ALLIES will win  ( barring crazy dice roles) EVERY SINGLE TIME "

OK. Peace out!

Agreed and understood.

Fact is that if one thinks about it logically… one will find the solution. Take away the passion, think of it as a mathematical problem, Voila! You have it.

Would like folks to use the Holidays , folks like Young Grasshopper, Cow, ItsLeClerc, Elk, Dizz, Cyanknight,  you M’sieur , Wittman… all the great minds…( yes… have been reading for a long time… ) and others… who i may have missed…  play it out… and you will come with the solution.

I would venture to say, at least… the game now… is very very balanced.  Kudos to the gamedesigners.

Probably my last post till next week.

@ItIsILeClerc:

What you would like to see is already happening  8-).
I have been (still) spending lots of my spare time into finding solutions. I have done so for 5 years now and I must admit I changed opinion of the gamebalance a few times. I think all this works the same for almost every1 in these forums.

First, I thought the allies were unbeatable so I worked on that problem and quickly fixed it. Lol, to a point where I started to think it was actually the other way around! The axis were unbeatable!
So I worked on that, gave the allies more (mathematical) thought and I found solutions. Allies were back in the biz again! Even thought they were unbeatable (again ;-))! I think you have landed at this point a bit quicker than I/most of us did, but still; there IS a next phase:

Currently I am (somewhat) back at square 1 because I gained a bit more experience. And for the first time in 5 years I am unable to find a satisfactory solution. ‘JF’ seems to be the best way to go for the allies by far and I find that too limiting for a grand strategy WW2 game.
I admit that this is largely because I usually lack the time but (above all) the will to complete a game after it is dragging on to turn 14 without a clear winner, but purely mathematically ‘JF’ is definately much better than ‘GIF’ which just doesn’t feel right (a rather demoralizing effect).

I do believe that there is a last and final phase in understanding the gamebalance, but also that it has to do everything with playing 20+ turns of different kinds of strategy to know for certain what will happen. By now I’m too ‘streetwise’ to know it’s got nothing to do with 1 or 2 moves the allies (or axis) can do during the game openers. No offense, of course!

I stick to my statement.  Maybe in some convention or a big Meetup, will demo it. Surely if folks have been working on it for 5 year, they should have hit on it by now  :roll:

On reflection, apologies ItIsIleClerc .

One may not see it ever.

Either it strikes you as an idea or not.

So… since… maybe i am wrong, …  i shall test this hypotheses.  Maybe a rule change will be needed to save the game.  Hope they at least name the rule change after me  :roll:

I shall give one clue - every single day, just one… till either it is proven correct… or proven wrong. If wrong, then with humility, i shall eat humble pie.

But , if iam correct… what do i stand to gain… fame… or infamy…?  ( Materialistic notions are not even being considered, nor requested ).

I hope to get my name into the books one way or an other  ( Either on my move… or the rule change ).

OK… drum roll  :

Clue 1  ( Dec 5th, 2014) :  The fun begins on R3 .