Allies (+16) vs. Axis (darkskies) Coop

Amen to that!

On the other hand, pushing Russia back into Moscow is not that hard with any strategy.
I am still worried about the huge number of planes Germany now requires in the east (or at least needs to keep in range of Moscow area) to keep its advance alive.

I reckon the DS is stronger than I thought, but not overpowered in comparison with the other axis strategies I know as ‘strong’.

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition, version: 3.9

Game History

Round: 4

Purchase Units - Japanese
            Japanese buy 2 carriers, 2 destroyers, 3 mech_infantrys and 1 submarine; Remaining resources: 6 SuicideAttackTokens; 1 PUs;

Combat Move - Japanese
            2 fighters moved from Manchuria to Chahar
            1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Malaya to Shan State
            1 armour, 1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Siam to Shan State
            2 infantry moved from French Indo China to Shan State
            2 artilleries and 2 infantry moved from Hunan to Yunnan
            1 infantry moved from Szechwan to Sikang
                  Japanese take Sikang from Chinese
            1 mech_infantry moved from Kiangsu to Chahar
            1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Kweichow to Yunnan
            2 bombers and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Kweichow to Shensi
            1 mech_infantry moved from Kweichow to Shensi
            1 armour and 1 mech_infantry moved from Kiangsu to Hopei
            2 mech_infantrys moved from Kweichow to Hopei

Combat - Japanese
            Battle in Hopei
                Japanese attack with 1 armour and 3 mech_infantrys
                Chinese defend with 1 artillery and 1 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Hopei from Chinese with 1 armour and 3 mech_infantrys remaining. Battle score for attacker is 7
                Casualties for Chinese: 1 artillery and 1 infantry
            Battle in Chahar
                Japanese attack with 2 fighters and 1 mech_infantry
                Chinese defend with 1 infantry
                Japanese win with 2 fighters remaining. Battle score for attacker is -1
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 mech_infantry
                Casualties for Chinese: 1 infantry
            Battle in Shensi
                Japanese attack with 2 bombers, 1 mech_infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
                Chinese defend with 1 artillery and 1 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Shensi from Chinese with 2 bombers, 1 mech_infantry and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 7
                Casualties for Chinese: 1 artillery and 1 infantry
            Battle in Yunnan
                Japanese attack with 3 artilleries and 3 infantry
                British defend with 1 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Yunnan from Chinese with 3 artilleries and 3 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for British: 1 infantry
            Battle in Shan State
                Japanese attack with 1 armour, 2 artilleries and 4 infantry
                British defend with 1 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Shan State from UK_Pacific with 1 armour, 2 artilleries and 4 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for British: 1 infantry

Non Combat Move - Japanese
            1 mech_infantry moved from Kweichow to Yunnan
            2 fighters moved from Chahar to Manchuria
            4 transports moved from 37 Sea Zone to 20 Sea Zone
            1 battleship, 1 carrier, 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers and 2 tactical_bombers moved from 37 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            1 battleship, 1 carrier, 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers and 2 tactical_bombers moved from 35 Sea Zone to 34 Sea Zone
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Shensi to Kiangsi
            2 bombers moved from Shensi to Kiangsu
            2 fighters and 1 tactical_bomber moved from 33 Sea Zone to Paulau Island
            1 destroyer moved from 33 Sea Zone to 16 Sea Zone
            1 carrier moved from 33 Sea Zone to 6 Sea Zone
            3 fighters and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Japan to 6 Sea Zone
            2 tactical_bombers moved from 33 Sea Zone to 6 Sea Zone
            2 fighters moved from Caroline Islands to 34 Sea Zone
            1 carrier moved from 33 Sea Zone to 34 Sea Zone
            1 battleship moved from 33 Sea Zone to 6 Sea Zone
            1 carrier moved from 33 Sea Zone to 6 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from Caroline Islands to 6 Sea Zone
            1 tactical_bomber moved from 33 Sea Zone to 6 Sea Zone
            3 submarines moved from 33 Sea Zone to 34 Sea Zone
            3 submarines moved from 34 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone

Place Units - Japanese
            3 mech_infantrys placed in Kiangsu
            2 carriers, 2 destroyers and 1 submarine placed in 6 Sea Zone

Turn Complete - Japanese
            Japanese collect 60 PUs; end with 61 PUs total
            Objective Japanese 4 Control Dutch East Indies: Japanese met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 66 PUs

I never really worry about allied landings before turn 8 lately.
You know that if it’s like that, Japan will just win. I’m not saying the USA cannot do anything at all in Europe, but significant invasions, are just beyond their economic power. IMHO.

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition, version: 3.9

Game History

Round: 4

Purchase Units - Italians
            Italians buy 1 infantry, 1 mech_infantry, 1 submarine and 1 transport; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Italians
            1 mech_infantry moved from Romania to Baltic States
                  Italians take Baltic States from Russians
            1 armour moved from Western Ukraine to Bryansk
                  Italians take Bryansk from Russians
            1 armour moved from Bryansk to Ukraine

Combat - Italians

Non Combat Move - Italians
            1 armour moved from Eastern Poland to Ukraine
            2 infantry moved from Bessarabia to Ukraine
            2 aaGuns and 2 infantry moved from Romania to Bessarabia
            1 mech_infantry moved from Romania to Ukraine
            2 fighters moved from Romania to Southern Italy
            1 mech_infantry moved from Northern Italy to Romania
            2 mech_infantrys moved from Southern Italy to Northern Italy
            1 aaGun moved from Southern Italy to Northern Italy
            1 bomber moved from Northern Italy to Southern Italy

Place Units - Italians
            1 infantry and 1 mech_infantry placed in Northern Italy
            1 submarine and 1 transport placed in 97 Sea Zone

Turn Complete - Italians
            Italians collect 16 PUs; end with 16 PUs total
            Objective Italians 1 Control The Mediterranean: Italians met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 21 PUs

I would say so!
Right now I can still feel the difficulties I and others have pointed out for Germany already:

• If they start Raiding Russia there will be much less threat against the allied fleet and attacking them (at least at Gibraltar) becomes ‘not an option’. Problematic, although the beaches should be safe.
• If they don’t raid Russia but instead attack the approaching Wallied fleet, Germany will loose so many bombers (~50%) that Russia can break out and start marching west, pushing the Germans back.

Japan is definately weakened by the American early focus. That basically makes taking out India early a paper tiger only. If I’d done that for example, I would have lost Carolines->Philippines->DEI already. Not a good trade I think. Anyway, I daresay Japan is not finished yet, but has a challenging task!

So correct me if I’m wrong but I’d say raiding Russia is a must, that is one. Two, Germany must look for creative options against the Wallies. Three, Japan must fight permanent containment ;-).

The allies are far from being out of the game so far. Our game proves to me once more that an allied bid should not exeed 11, maybe 13IPCs. An allied bid should never allow them to kill both the Italian fleet AND Tobruk. At least there should be a huge risk involved.
And how important a little luck in the opening battles is. Don’t get me wrong; you play it well and I am not complaining (heck, Germany is blessed to have all its luftwaffe still alive!), but it’s just a fact that if Germany can keep its BB (like I failed to take out in our first game) and only 1 more sub (happens quite often as well), this is a set back for the alies in many ways (SZ125 being one of them).

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition, version: 3.9

Game History

Round: 5

Research Technology - Germans

Purchase Units - Germans
            Germans buy 2 bombers and 8 mech_infantrys; Remaining resources: 1 PUs;

Combat Move - Germans
            6 bombers moved from Western Ukraine to Russia
            1 infantry moved from Novgorod to Belarus
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Western Ukraine to Belarus
            1 infantry moved from Novgorod to Belarus
            1 mech_infantry moved from Western Ukraine to Smolensk
                  Germans take Smolensk from Russians
            1 mech_infantry moved from Western Ukraine to Tambov
                  Germans take Tambov from Russians
            9 armour moved from Western Ukraine to Rostov
                  Germans take Rostov from Russians
            1 infantry moved from Novgorod to Archangel
                  Germans take Archangel from Russians
            2 bombers moved from Southern France to 91 Sea Zone

Combat - Germans
            Air Battle in Russia
                Germans attacks with 6 units heading to Russia
                Air Battle is over, the remaining bombers go on to their targets
            Strategic bombing raid in Russia
                1 bomber killed by AA
                Bombing raid in Russia rolls: 7,6,3,8 and causes: 20 damage to unit: factory_major
                Bombing raid in Russia rolls: 3 and causes: 3 damage to unit: airfield
                Bombing raid in Russia causes 23 damage total.  Damaged units is as follows: factory_major = 20, airfield = 3
            Battle in Belarus
                Germans attack with 1 fighter, 2 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
                Russians defend with 1 infantry
                Germans win, taking Belarus from Russians with 1 fighter, 2 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for Russians: 1 infantry
            Battle in 91 Sea Zone
                Germans attack with 2 bombers
                British defend with 1 destroyer
                Germans win with 1 bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is -4
                Casualties for Germans: 1 bomber
                Casualties for British: 1 destroyer
            Cleaning up after air battles

Non Combat Move - Germans
            Turning on Edit Mode
            EDIT: Turning off Edit Mode
            5 bombers moved from Russia to Novgorod
            1 aaGun moved from Novgorod to Archangel
            1 fighter moved from Belarus to Novgorod
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Belarus to Novgorod
            3 aaGuns, 8 artilleries and 24 infantry moved from Western Ukraine to Ukraine
            1 infantry moved from Western Ukraine to Bryansk
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Western Ukraine to Novgorod
            2 infantry moved from Novgorod to Karelia
            2 fighters and 2 tactical_bombers moved from Western Ukraine to Ukraine
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Western Ukraine to Novgorod
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Western Ukraine to Ukraine
            1 bomber moved from Southern France to Western Germany
            1 bomber moved from Western Germany to Novgorod
            1 bomber moved from 91 Sea Zone to Southern France
            5 bombers moved from Western Germany to Southern Italy
            EDIT: 1 mech_infantry moved from Ukraine to Eastern Poland

Place Units - Germans
            3 mech_infantrys placed in Novgorod
            3 mech_infantrys placed in Ukraine
            2 bombers and 2 mech_infantrys placed in Western Germany

Turn Complete - Germans
            Total Cost from Convoy Blockades: 0
                Rolling for Convoy Blockade Damage in 125 Sea Zone. Rolls: 6,4
            Germans collect 54 PUs; end with 55 PUs total
            Trigger Germans 5 Swedish Iron Ore: Germans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 60 PUs
            Objective Germans 2 Control Novgorod Or Volgograd Or Russia: Germans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 65 PUs

Italian edit. I think that Mech is better positioned in EP than Ukraine… Not a major mistake but still.

No problem at all. I’ll edit them.

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition, version: 3.9

Game History

Round: 5

Research Technology - Japanese
            Turning on Edit Mode
            EDIT: Removing units owned by Germans from 127 Sea Zone: 1 transport
            EDIT: Removing units owned by Russians from 125 Sea Zone: 1 submarine
            EDIT: Adding units owned by Russians to 127 Sea Zone: 1 submarine
            EDIT: Turning off Edit Mode

Purchase Units - Japanese
            Japanese buy 1 bomber, 1 factory_minor, 3 fighters and 3 mech_infantrys; Remaining resources: 6 SuicideAttackTokens; 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Japanese
            1 infantry moved from Sikang to Tsinghai
                  Japanese take Tsinghai from Chinese
            1 mech_infantry moved from Yunnan to Shensi
            1 mech_infantry moved from Hopei to Shensi
            2 mech_infantrys moved from Hopei to Suiyuyan
            1 bomber moved from Kiangsu to Shensi
            1 bomber moved from Kiangsu to Suiyuyan
            1 mech_infantry moved from Kiangsu to Chahar
                  Japanese take Chahar from Chinese
            1 tactical_bomber moved from 34 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone

Combat - Japanese
            Battle in 42 Sea Zone
                Japanese attack with 1 tactical_bomber
                Americans defend with 1 transport
                Japanese win with 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 7
                Casualties for Americans: 1 transport
            Battle in Shensi
                Japanese attack with 1 bomber and 2 mech_infantrys
                Chinese defend with 1 artillery
                Japanese win, taking Shensi from Chinese with 1 bomber and 2 mech_infantrys remaining. Battle score for attacker is 4
                Casualties for Chinese: 1 artillery
            Battle in Suiyuyan
                Japanese attack with 1 bomber and 2 mech_infantrys
                Chinese defend with 1 infantry
                Japanese win, taking Suiyuyan from Chinese with 1 bomber and 2 mech_infantrys remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for Chinese: 1 infantry

Non Combat Move - Japanese
            1 battleship, 2 carriers, 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers, 2 fighters and 1 tactical_bomber moved from 34 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            1 battleship, 4 carriers, 2 destroyers, 4 fighters, 1 submarine and 4 tactical_bombers moved from 6 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            1 bomber moved from Shensi to Kwangsi
            1 bomber moved from Suiyuyan to Kiangsi
            4 transports moved from 20 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            2 mech_infantrys moved from Kiangsu to Kwangsi
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Kiangsi to Kwangsi
            3 artilleries and 3 infantry moved from Yunnan to French Indo China
            1 armour, 2 artilleries and 4 infantry moved from Shan State to French Indo China
            1 tactical_bomber moved from 42 Sea Zone to 35 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from Paulau Island to Kwangsi
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Paulau Island to Kwangsi

Place Units - Japanese
            3 mech_infantrys placed in Kiangsu
            1 bomber and 3 fighters placed in Japan
            1 factory_minor placed in Kwangtung

Turn Complete - Japanese
            Japanese collect 59 PUs; end with 59 PUs total

So how you think this will end?
I think it will end as predicted: Japan cannot withstand the JF for much longer (as usual) and then it is Germany versus the world. You think DS is strong enough to face those odds? I doubt it. They’ve got the economy against them.

I suggest we play a little longer to see if Germany can make up for the loosing game in the Pacific. But I will be surprised if they can. If it becomes clear they can’t (which I expect), I’d consider the DS myth busted. Another victory for JF over GF, hurray! Same old story as ever: JF is so much easier for the allies compared to GF. Very annoying.

Maybe if Japan is not doing J1. I consider J1 not very good against a USA going to JF. But then again, what JDOW would be…