Why should Italy be neutral on turn 1? Because it was. Italy did not enter the war on the side of the Entente until mid-1915 for a very good reason. It was not convinced that the Entente could ultimatly win the war. They did not like the odds honoring their easlier alliance with German and Austria either. Not to mention that Italy and Austria had covedted each others territory since the revolution in 1848 in Western Italy.
For these two reasons I believe that Italy should be handled in a modified manner as the USA.
Under USA Isolationism add Italy with the following changes that apply only to Italy: Italy starts the game in a neutral state that can not be violated by either the Entente or the Central Powers. No Italian units are placed on the board until this neutrality is lifted in what would be their 3rd turn. On turn 3 Italy places their starting forces as listed in the rules and is an active participant subject to which side she will join. (I need to play test this idea. If you don’t like this idea just add them to the Entente Alliance).
I think this will help make the game more historical and give the Central powers 2 turns to concentrate on France and Russia to better affect. Plus it gives the Austrians 2 turns to ready them selves to handle the Italian distraction, I welcome feedback on this variant.

@andrewaagamer The Good Corporal played it out in his you tube video on the subject. the way he did it J1 looked devistating.

Took your advice and moved post to General discussion.

@dsumner There is a problem with strategy for the German Summer 1914 turn concerning France. Belgium was the preferred and only realistic chance Germany had of advancing to Paris in early 1914. Lorraine was too heavily defended. General Hand Grenade mention’s a penalty Germany will pay for extending their trench line if they mass opposite Belgium to advance through them to Paris outflanking the Lorraine border with Germany which should be fortified. Tranches should not even be in play before 1915. I think the concept of allowing four pieces on the western front in any space to represent trenches is flawed. I think it would be better to use trench markers instead. I would love to discuss this. I think the historical evidence is on my side here. Germany should not suffer any penalties when doing what was done historically.

@SuperbattleshipYamato My only other pet peeve is the fact that Mesopotamia is such a large space. I think it would play better if it was divided into two spaces, Caucuses and leave the lower one Mesopotamia. That was an idea introduced on Boardgamegeek.

@SuperbattleshipYamato The setup will need to be changed by giving a transport to Britain off the coast of India with maybe a cruiser to protect it. I need to experiment with this idea.

In a historical game this could never have happened. Britain did not have the resourses to add Persia to her list of enemies. Allowing this also puts Turkey in a unrealistic situation of having to face a horde of British infantry directly invading Mesopotamia which never hapened. If we make Persia a permanent neutral then this will force Britian to invade Mesopotamia by sea and to build transports and shuttle them to Persia for a sea invasion which is what really happened.

@GabeNASA I like this idea!

@AdmirlScuttlebut After some thought about a historic start date for Italy it would have to be, Italy neutral on turn 1 and Austria Hungary can’t break their neutrality until turn 2. This is the only way to allow Italy to build some additional units before it has to face a AH invasion which is the favored tactic in the OOB game. I am going to start another thread to introduce another of my pet peeves about A&A 1914.

@AdmirlScuttlebut
Yes turn two is the turn Italy must enter if playing this variant. I think it dovetails nicely with The Good Captains ideas.

Yes. Where do you play? I am in Mechanicsville but can easily travel to Richmond.

@SuperbattleshipYamato I agree that a one turn delay is the best idea for those that are looking for a historical tweek.

@andrewaagamer The Good Corporal played it out in his you tube video on the subject. the way he did it J1 looked devistating.