@Wild2000:
I keep reading about all of this German troop movement to Africa and cannot help to say that it is way over rated. First of all, a couple of troops sent to Africa is okay.
The Axis win or lose the game based on what happens in Africa - kind of hard to overrate that. Sending troops to Africa is a little more than OK - if Germany doesn’t do it, they have ZERO chance of winning against a decent Allied player. The most important front line in the game is EE vs. Karelia - Germany has to hold out long enough to get help from Japan. The amount of extra German income from Africa is what makes the difference on that line.
Your post is good advice IF Germany sends too many troops to Africa. That’s a very big ‘if’ because if Germany doesn’t leave themselves weak in Europe, then you sure as hell better send some Allied troops to Africa ASAP or they will only get stronger! What’s more, as the Allied player you shouldn’t even allow that to be an option for Germany.
A good German player will be well aware of the danger of sending too many troops to Africa - if he even get’s the chance, which he usually won’t against a good Allied player. Your game is a good example of what you are warning against: A bid of 2-3 extra INF in Africa with RR is pretty standard - most players would consider that a fair game. If the German player lost WEu and EEu by turn 6 he either wasn’t very good or had an off game, and one of his mistakes was sending too many troops to Africa.
TG is closer to the mark - you should send 2 inf a turn as long as you can… which will only be 2 or 3 turns. If you have been buying enough infantry and have kept your planes alive, EE is only in real danger on R2 and R3 and isn’t seriously threatened again until much later in the game when there are significant Allied troops in Karelia. If the Allied player has made the mistake of leaving me with 2 transports, I will send 2 infantry and 1 tank as long as I need to. But I can’t remember the last time my Allied opponent left me with two transports for more than a turn at the most (if at all).
@Yanny:
My first turn buy as Germany is always 8 Infantry 1 Transport (assuming I didn’t buy one with bid). Works well for me. I can get enough troops in Africa to hold it for a long time, or until Japan can help out. Keeps Germany in the game against Russia longer.
Exactly. This is always my first turn buy as well, and it is for about 90% of my opponents, too - and if the Allies haven’t destroyed both transports by turn 3 or 4, they are in trouble. ;)
You don’t buy the extra transport to shuttle 4 infantry a turn to Africa - you buy it because there is a very strong chance that you’re going to lose your first transport on G2 against a good Allied player, and sending two infantry to Africa is not enough!
I guess my main point is this: If your German opponent has the opportunity to send too many troops to Africa, then you as the Allied player have made a tactical mistake, and it is only the poor play of your opponent that is letting you off the hook.