South africa I.C.

First of all you are already behind with a 18 bid, I believe the bids for classic were around 24 for a PA bid. (2 inf man, 2 inf EEU and 4 inf Lib) Means you will take Egypt with around 4 inf and an arm. The Allies can bring 3 inf (2 ind, 1 syr) 1 bmb and 1 fig. This will end in mutual destruction in the worst case scenario (in LL) for the allies. => Allies can counter a PA bid very easy kicking back the germans to the continent really fast and destroy the Axis bid in almost one turn completely. Only thing is that the Allies leave gaps in Asia and then the race begins (which capital falls faster, Mos or Berlin).

You can take some more risks as the Axis to have a better shot at the Allies, bet 1 inf in Manch (1 inf extra to lib) and take Syr on G1 as well, so it will be almost impossible to retake AES on UK1. Risky moves wich can cost you the game if they don’t succeed.

Well, here is one strategy I’ve used in the past that may help with Africa (RR, no bid). You won’t be able to keep Africa with this, but you might have a chance to at least take it for a turn or two.

On G1, sink the UK Navy in the North Sea as usual, but do not use the Baltic sea transport as fodder. Once all Allied ships there are sunk, take the Baltic sea transport and move either the Norway tank (my preference)or two Norway infantry to Morocco. Also land at least one of your fighters there as well. Instead of taking Egypt, simply move two infantry into Libya.

This sets you up fairly well for G2 in the following ways

The transport blocks the UK/US from an easy run through this area. The UK will sink this, but this will divert forces from other uses (i.e. if they use fighters, they will not be able to land in Karelia on UK1 - possibly making a G2 assualt there feasable). Probably the UK will also sink the German Med fleet (its really inevitable).

The extra forces in Morocco will delay UK/US forces from landing in Africa on round 1.

On G2, use all available forces to take Egypt. The extra tank and fighter(s) will help defeat any forces that may have been moved to Egypt on UK1 . You should also consider using the bomber as well if they have done so. Now the Allies either won’t have sufficient forces to effectively counter-attack, or you will have sufficient forces in Egypt to make a counter difficult at best.

On G3 and onward, you then use these forces to fight north-south. You should be able to reach S. Africa then retreat back to Egpyt to defend that against the Allies. Here you are just scrambling to keep as much as Africa in German hands as long as you can. The Allies are able to take it all back, but now they must devote more resources to do so. Also, it is possible for Japan to bring in reinforcements to help Germany, but I never do so since the Allies are closer to Africa than Japan and the Japanese forces are better used elsewhere, IMO. At some point you should probably conceed Africa and move the fighter back to the relative safety of Europe.

There are problems for the Germans with this (loss of a defensive fighter in Europe for a few turns, Norway is weakened, and the odds for this working as stated are not exactly a slam dunk) but you should try it to see how it works for you.

I think Brazil is a location suited only to the Japanese trying for an economic victory, and at that it is something that can sort of be smelled out in advance by the Americans.

I am on the side of those who argue that the EUsa can and should be the embarkation point for those forces going to work in Africa. Brazil is something of a secondary point; it’s real value is realized when the Axis take it, but this can easily be countered by the US sending a few INF down there.

Rather than mess around with Brazil, I would advise the US player to simply get transports and then once enough of them are built get a few escort vessels to forestall any air attacks on your convoys and hit Africa from East USA.

Thanks for all of the help everyone :D. I appreciate it and God bless :D :D :D .

This friend of mine that I play against always builds 3 transports and 3 tanks per round with the US and keeps sending that force to Algeria. He loses tanks along the way, less later in the game, sending them to Persia. This totally keeps Germany out of Africa, and stops Japan in Asia later as well.

@BigBlocky:

Big fish in the little pond … ?

We are all that at times… me alla time! :roll:
@BigBlocky:

…and seen tonnes of hairbrained ideas IE. Germany building a carrier and all armour… ?

Seen it … killed it. My personal favourite is Germany building a CV & TRN. in the Baltic sz. Once saw the US build ICs in CHI & SSI on US1! I was Germany, so my partner had the pleasure. :lol:
@BigBlocky:

…what kind of bids are we talking here? I’d love to play Germany with some extra goodies… :-) I’m assuming nothing like 4 extra tanks that can hit karelia right? Just extra IPCs?

I’ve seen a variety … from 8 INF in E EUR or UKR down to 2 INF in LIB.
Some folks try 2 INF in KWA or FICB. But most want to turn Germany more offensive(your example, too.)

its a house rule

Um, no. Can’t speak for SUD but I was not talking about Germany’s northern transport. I was speaking of the Geman transport in the South East Med Sea Zone. You know, the one doing the transporting of troops to Africa. The vital one. The pain in the ass. Oops. Sorry, CC, hope ass was censored

Um, no. I believe or atleast I have always played that the UK sub starts in the EMed SZ. I can’t imagine any UK player wanting it anywhere else but maybe I’m just not imaginative enough.

Geze, I believe - depending on circumstances - that Russia is perfectly capable of handling itself in the first 2 rounds. Anything Germany can throw against 19+ INF and 2 FTRs G1 and 27+, 2 FTRs G2 seems to me to doom Germany to an early Keg Stand (hosue rules for losing - actually those are the house rules for any type of punishment, we’re what you would call “mature”. No, wait, that’s “Immature”, sorry) I digress.

It would be something to think on or get a second opinion from your partners but I might attack that EMED TRN, that’s the one in the South East Sea Zone for those of you keeping score at home :wink: , and I think getting Germany out of Africa before they even have a chance is a pretty powerful blow, especially so early. Well worth making the Ruskies a little nervous.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have a keg stand to do - I forgot to take out the garbage.