1915 Setup Mod for 1914

The year is 1915.  Only months ago, Archduke Ferdinad, heir of the Austrian throne, was assasinated by a Serbian in Sarajevo, Bosnia.  Due to its unsatisfaction of the Serbian government’s response, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia starting a chain of events that plumetted the world into war.  Russia mobillized to help Slavic Serbia.  Germany, desiring to get the upper hand, declared war on Russia and France.  Soon after, Germany invaded Belgium, and the British, along with their world-wide empire, declared war on Germany.  Italy, though a Central Power, refused to go to war since the Central Powers were not fighting a defensive war.  Now, in 1915 however, Italy decides to join the Allies, quite confident it joined the winning side.  The Ottoman Empire, a rival of the British and Russians, has filled Italy’s spot as the third Central Power.  Battles have been fought and many have died.  Small gains have been made by both sides and most of Africa and other parts of the world are getting involved due to the Europeans’ colonies.  Many more countries stand on the brink of war, and all the United States can do is watch.  These are trying times.  Guide your country through this Great War and hope it truly is the War to End All Wars…

Designer’s notes:
This is a 1915 setup for 1914. Don’t think of it as “1914 one turn faster”; think of it as “a new way to play 1914.”
This setup has undergone some play testing, but it is still being perfected.  YOUR FEEDBACK IS STRONGLY APPRECIATED! If you notice any historical problems or have any questions, feel free to ask!
Special thanks to my fellow gamers for help and several sources for the historical situation of the map.
I plan to make 1916, 1917, and 1918 so keep an eye out ;)

Rules changes:
The United States may declare war on turn three.  Tanks may be purchased turn two. Russian Revolution may occur turn three.

Turn order and starting income/IPCs in hand:
Austria-Hungary: 23
Russia: 24
Germany: 36
France: 23
British Empire: 30
Ottoman Empire: 16
Italy: 14
United States: 20

Setup:
Austria-Hungary:
Vienna: 12 infantry, 4 artillery, 2 fighters
Budapest: 12 infantry, 3 artillery
Galicia: 6 infantry,  3 artillery
Bohemia: 4 infantry, 1 artillery
Tyrolia: 6 infantry, 3 artillery
Trieste: 6 infantry, 3 artillery
Sea Zone 18: 1 transport, 1 cruiser, 1 battleship

Russia:
Karelia: 4 infantry, 2 artillery
Livonia: 3 infantry, 1 artillery
Moscow: 6 infantry, 4 artillery, 1 fighter
Belarus: 2 infantry
Poland: 6 infantry, 2 artillery
Ukraine: 6 infantry, 2 artillery
Galicia: 6 infantry, 2 artillery
Sevastopol: 4 infantry, 2 artillery
Tatarstan: 3 infantry, 1 artillery
Kazakhstan: 2 infantry
Serbia: 6 infantry, 1 artillery, control marker
Sea Zone 12: 1 battleship
Sea Zone: 21: 2 cruisers

Germany:
Berlin: 12 infantry, 6 artillery, 2 fighters
Prussia: 6 infantry, 3 artillery
Silesia: 6 infantry, 3 artillery
Kiel: 6 infantry, 3 artillery
Poland: 6 infantry, 3 artillery
Ruhr: 12 infantry, 2 artillery
Alsace: 6 infantry, 2 artillery
Lorraine: 8 infantry, 4 artillery, 2 fighters
Belgium: 6 infantry, 2 artillery, 1 fighter
German East Africa: 2 infantry
South West Africa: 1 infantry
Sea Zone 3: 1 submarine
Sea Zone 4: 1 submarine
Sea Zone 5: 1 submarine
Sea Zone 7: 1 submarine
Sea Zone 10: 1 cruiser, 2 battleships
Sea Zone 11: 1 cruiser

France:
Paris: 6 infantry, 4 artillery, 1 fighter
Picardy: 6 infantry, 2 artillery
Lorraine: 12 infantry, 3 artillery, 1 fighter
Burgundy: 6 infantry, 2 artillery
Marseilles: 1 infantry, 1 artillery
Bordeaux: 1 infantry
Brest: 1 infantry
Algeria: 1 infantry
Togoland: Control Marker
French Equatorial Africa: 1 infantry
Sea Zone 15: 1 transport, 1 battleship
Sea Zone 16: 2 transports, 1 submarine, 1 cruiser

British Empire:
London: 4 infantry, 1 artillery
Wales: 3 infantry, 1 artillery
Yorkshire: 1 infantry, 1 artillery
Scotland: 2 infantry
Canada: 5 infantry, 1 artillery
Picardy: 4 infantry, 2 artillery, 1 fighter
Union of South Africa: 1 infantry
Rhodesia: 2 infantry
British East Africa: 1 infantry
Egypt: 4 infantry, 2 artillery, 1 fighter
India: 8 infantry, 1 artillery
Sea Zone 2: 1 transport, 1 cruiser
Sea Zone 8: 1 transport, 1 cruiser, 2 battleships
Sea Zone 9: 1 transport, 1 cruiser
Sea Zone 19: 1 battleship
Sea Zone 28: 1 transport
Sea Zone 29: 1 transport, 1 cruiser

Ottoman Empire:
Constantinople: 6 infantry, 2 artillery
Smyrna: 3 infantry, 1 artillery
Trans-Jordan: 4 infantry, 2 artillery, 1 fighter
Syrian Desert: 2 infantry, 1 artillery
Mesopotamia: 4 infantry, 1 artillery
Ankara: 3 infantry,  2 artillery
Sea Zone 20: 1 cruiser, 1 battleship

Italy:
Rome: 6 infantry, 2 artillery, 1 fighter
Naples: 1 infantry, 1 artillery
Tuscany: 4 infantry, 1 artillery
Venice: 6 infantry, 4 artillery
Piedmont: 4 infantry, 1 artillery
Sardinia: 1 infantry
Sicily: 1 infantry
Libya: 1 infantry
Sea Zone 18: 1 transport, 1 cruiser, 1 battleship

United States:
United States of America: 8 infantry, 4 artillery
Sea Zone 1: 1 cruiser, 1 battleship

Edit 1: corrected various mistakes
Edit 2: added three infantry to Ukraine. Removed two German infantry from Poland.  Removed Austria sub from 18. Changed French fleet in 16. Corrected various mistakes.
Edit 3: Added Italian units. 2 infantry to Tuscany. 2 infantry and 1 artillery to Rome. Removed optional house rules.
Edit 4: Removed French units. 1 infantry from Marseilles, Brest, Bordeaux, French West Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, and 1 artillery from Algeria.  Added 3 German infantry to Munich and 2 to Kiel. Corrected spelling errors.
Edit 5: removed British transport from SZ 9 and American one from SZ 1. Added Russian revolution to be allowed turn 3.  
Edit 6: removed 4 British infantry and fighter in Lorraine. Added four French infantry to Lorraine. Moved French fighter in Picardy to Paris.
Edit 7: removed a fighter in London and Paris (Fokker Scourge) moved 6 German infantry from Munich to Ruhr. Removed UK cruiser from SZ 14. Added German infantry to East Africa and South West Africa. Added British infantry to Rhodesia.

Thanks! Once a player meets 1940, 1914 seems boring for sure.  1940 is like toy soldiers and 1914 like toy blocks lol.

P.S.  added some fixes to the setup.

The goal of this project is to create a historically accurate yet balanced and fun 1915 with no house rules.  I kept the OOB turn order because it works well with my setup plans.  I tried to fix the many problems with 1914 but only by changing the setup.  Germany can press hard into France forcing the British to not go 100% India.  Austria-Hungary can take and hold Venice to hold the Italians.  Russia is strong but will lose many units due to the equally strong German, Austrian, and Ottoman armies.  The Ottomans can’t be attacked anywhere on turn one without them getting a great counterattack opportunity.  I changed around the Atlantic to stop Germany from getting into a big naval fight turn one yet still take out some Brits.  Setup still needs tweaking.

If you get a chance try it out and let me know how it went!  It would be nice to play 1914 in a fair and fun way without adding house rules…

Definitely.  I just thought that was obvious with the topic being in house rules…

@CWO:

I guess I was puzzled by the parts of your post which said “The goal of this project is to create a historically accurate yet balanced and fun 1915 with no house rules” and “It would be nice to play 1914 in a fair and fun way without adding house rules…”, both of which refer to the concept of having no house rules.

My bad. What I should have said is “My goal is to create a 1915 game which implements no other rule changes aside from setup and when tanks/American involvement/Russian Revolution will come.”

Do you play 1914 CWO Marc? If so I’d really appreciate if you could play or even just set up the game. My gaming group likes it (especially since it gives the CP a chance), but they are the only playtesters so far which means it still needs tweaking most likely.

de Gaulle