Operation Sealion a Possibility with AA1940 Europe?

Yeah, 10 fighters one round, anyone else think that could possibly unbalance the game?  Oh well, I think IPC counts are increased overall anyways in 1940.

Though Brain Damaged has a great point, if UK is the country with split income, then Sealion looks even more tempting after all.

@Gwlachmai:

I would think that a combined US income might provide a bit of incentive to keep Japan from making a J1 attack in the Pacific. Especially in light of potentially giving the US a 60-70 IPC income boost. I can’t wait to try the combined game. The only real debate with my gaming group is do we play Europe alone a few times first or just jump right in.

Hell, I would like to see just how they balance the Global game more than anything.  Or unbalance it.  Who would want to play Europe by itself anyway?

Europe and Pacific by themselves just seem like the Axis powers have objectives spread out at the extreme corners of the map, and lack any real reason to concentrate their forces at any particular area for long.  Since the Allied powers don’t have attacks coming from the opposite sides of the map, any moves they make are somewhat scripted and lack any real decision making (compared to Global).  In the Pacific campaign, Britain HAS to attack Burma and French Indochina with land units.  Britain doesn’t have to worry about Italian or German units coming through Persia or the Suez as a second front.  Not much room for different builds.

The most fun part of Axis and Allies is seeing Japanese and German troops meet up in the Causcasus and hold off Russian counterattacks.  Or Italian carriers, German planes, and what’s left of the Japanese fleet come through the Suez to stop the Allied fleet off Italy.  Teamwork.  If you start rolling crappy as Germany in AAE40, you can’t expect Japan to come through India and save the day for you.  With only one (or two, if you think Italy is a power) Axis sides in Europe and Pacific the game is not going to be as fun.

Shameless bump.

Ok, so the split income in AAE40 will be the UK, now a Sealion looks better than ever before if the European UK only starts with 25-30 IPCs and the rest go to India’s IC (Commonwealth player?).

Guess we’ll see how viable it is with the position of the British fleet at game start and how the SZs are placed/organized.

Mostly I hope the devs put in enough balance where Axis fleet builds in the Baltic can give Italy sufficient time to take over the Med and be a significant thorn in UK’s side, if nothing else.  Should prevent all naval builds by the UK and force them to build some land units, just in case.

A combined 1-2 punch with Germany and Italy against the UK on Round 2 should be an interesting play.  If the Axis can get or maintain naval superiority in the Atlantic before the US enters the war…

If there are 3 (or more) SZs in the Baltic and English Channel between that of Germany and England, not sure how well Sealion will play out.  At the least it will be nice for Germany’s fleet to not be harassed by UK air round 1.  But, it’ll take two turns at least for Germany’s starting transport (I’m guessing only 1 at start) to get to England, not even counting the other necessary transports that will be needed (4-5+…).  Plus all that fleet will need protection as well, so a lot of money sunk into carriers and planes too.  All that HAS to reach Britain somehow by turn 4 before the US enters the war, and I’m sure there will be some sort of counter to it that either forces Germany to attack US forces before turn 4 or ends in a UK/German fleet stalemate.

Germany could probably industrialize some coastal territory off France/NWE and stack its navy off of it; but it’s still going to be expensive and impractical.  A factory could have better options: it could build more land units instead to hold France in case the Allies build a naval superstack in response to a potential Sealion.

G1: Build fighters and bombers and a major industry.  Deplete the starting UK fleet where you can, take out Paris and coastal France.  Move the starting fleet one space where it’s closer to England but not in danger of air attack.  Possibly reinforce Norway with transport.  Place the industry on the coast in range of England, but not where it can be invaded.

UK1:  Might freak out from possible Sealion, might decide to build all fleet or all land units or land/air.  Would definitely re-group whatever sea units it has left and rebuild; where stack is regrouped and how reinforced it is determines Sealion strategy.  Hopefully Britain moves fleet into position to retake Africa away from Italy/Germany.  Places units, crucial step; if they are separated or weak enough Sealion can be a go.

I1:  If Axis see an opening for Sealion here, Italy can be the fall guy and sacrifice his fleet weakening the UK fleet off Africa, maybe try taking Gibraltar depending on UK strength.  Otherwise do a standard I1 opening taking Malta or attacking Egypt.

G2: If UK doesn’t reinforce itself enough or puts units in wrong places; build naval superstack with shiny new major industry using looted French IPCs, carrier, subs, 3-4 transports, etc., stack Baltic fleet on top of it, watch British player cry.  Use air units to finish cleaning up France and stack enough inf and tanks for invasion on the coast.

G2 contingency plan:  If Sealion looks like its gonna get raped from either two turns of all land unit builds or UK fleet battle successes; build infantry with the coastal factory and start invading Russia with the starter Baltic fleet by re-inforcing Norway and Finland or attacking Leningrad.  What the hell, Sealion was worth a shot.

Pros:  Sealion, obviously.  Hopefully over by G3.  What Axis player wouldn’t want to start WWII with two allied capitals in German hands?

Cons:  Might end up with a superfluous major industry on the coast that will need to be protected from raids.  If Sealion is close, might have England taken back by US player, or you might just lose outright due to crappy dice in an evenly sided battle.  But hell, you have to win from die rolls anyway as Axis, so might as well get it done with early in the game.

Also, UK is not out of the game people!  The split UK income/power Commonwealth thing may mean UK can easily take back England or may be capable of reinforcing it to lucridiosity with planes from various foreign locales.  It may very well be that the UK cannot be held after a few rounds when the US enters the war.

The THREAT of Sealion, at the very least, however, can make things much easier for the other Axis powers in their respective fronts by forcing Britain to pull units back, so the placing of a major industry is not a total wash for Germany.

What do you guys think?  Not sure if I’m good with the new AA40 ruleset either, it might not be possible for Germany to place a major factory off the coast like I suggested.