The Allied “playbook” thread is here
https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/32557/we-need-an-allied-playbook?_=1624678622014

I’m sure I’ll get some negative feedback for this…but that thread rambles. It’s long and much of it is counterproductive arguments since as there are often unstated assumptions in each person’s post that cause confusion.

Bottom line: it’s hard to definitively say what is best for allies other than defend initially until you can get your forces mobilized.

Best option is just to play several games and try out some of the strategies. It is just a game…win some …lose some.

Cheers,
Yeah its Friday, I’ll have a beer.

@Franklin_Cain The problem with a 6+5 rule is that the Axis are almost always at or near 11 cities after 6 rounds. Germany with a simple crush Russia assault should have Novgorod (Leningrad), France, Germany, Poland + Italy has Rome = 5 with Volgograd as the relatively easy 6th VC. Japan has Japan, Kiangsu, Kwangtung, Philippines, and with some effort India = 5.

If the Axis don’t have to get those extra cities (8 Europe or 6 Pacific), then they don’t have to extend themselves to get the “last” VC. India is a stretch for Japan, but not terrible if that is all they need. They can afford to lose a few aircraft if they never have to go get Australia or Hawaii. Similarly, the Germans can easily take Volgograd and leave Moscow alone. The Russians don’t have the flexibility to defend both against the Germans so one of them will fall.

Bumping up the number to 7+5 is still putting a lot of pressure on the Allies. The Germans should be able to takedown Moscow by maintaining a good focus in the East. The Allies might be able to defend Egypt and have a sizeable force in the Middle East, but they may not (probably won’t) initially be in a position to takeback Volgograd immediately after the fall of Moscow. So again the Axis “win” without really having to exert themselves. The magic number of 8 was developed after lots of game testing and is a surprisingly good rule.

That all said, changing the VC count is another way (besides the bid) to level the playing field between players of dissimilar abilities. If you wanted to let the newer player take the Axis and lower the VC count, then you could have a competitive game.

Completely agree with @trulpen. Sure it’s a little complicated, but it really is an effective barrier for both sides. A great compromise = both sides lose equally, and this is in that category.

@axis-dominion Agreed. I very much enjoyed my games with @trulpen. Beers tonight in memoriam.

Can openers for Italy and Germany, I can speak to. The concept is as you stated: a teammate, who goes before you, clears out blockers so that the main force can rapidly advance. Italy can “can open” for Germany because (usually) there are no ANZAC or French forces in the Eastern front. Russia can’t put single inf in territories to try and stop the German mobile units from two step advances because the italian force will kill it. The Russians must either put many units as blockers, which Germany will gladly kill since fewer units now protect Moscow, or retreat and turtle, which is also good.
As you get closer to Moscow, having the Italians take a territory may not allow 2 step advance, but the Germans can now reinforce with aircraft, which often prevents a Russian counter, and so the German advance continues.

Incorporating the Italians into your Eastern front is a key enabling tactic for the Axis.

As far as a British “reverse can opener”… as i see it, you are right, this shouldn’t work for helping the Russians, since Germany moves first and would avoid any counter attack. The US can can open for Brits.

Perhaps, a reverse can opener is reblocking what the can opener forces cleared. In which case, you would need ANZAC or French forces to take out the Italians and establish control/ block. The Brits don’t move at the right time to make this happen.

@axis-dominion While we are at it, I think AA should also get a tweak. Either 4 shots, or reduced cost to 3 or 4, possibly both.

It appears that the cost of a AA unit was set to 5 so that after buying 2 AA, one would likely kill 1 ftr, if attacked by 6 ftrs, and the battle would be a wash TUV. But that does not account for the rapid movement of ftrs vs AA so that one almost never buy AA.
Increasing their lethality would make for more tactical unit buys on defense. Especially in the late game where everyone seems to rely on massive air fleets to dominate a region.

I’m not sure what you plan to gain from the DD that helps the Russians.
Mostly, the first turn the germans attack the Russians they don’t need the fighters, so they are free to sink ships. One more DD doesn’t change that.

The germans can transport men north unimpeded until they attack, so you aren’t stopping any German reinforcements.

Maybe I’m a poor German player, but i don’t focus on the Baltic. Just go overland until Russia is destroyed.

@gamerman01
Perhaps it nerfs certain units, but I think changing the values helps make the game into more of a rock paper scissors decision rather than always picking rock.

Currently, optimal buys involve inf, ftrs, DD, CV. SS, mech, and tanks are good for offensive punch. I see small value in AA, and none for cruisers and BB–RELATIVE to the main units.

My point is that why have the other units? Or they are underpowered relative to cost. By changing value, you bring in more of a mix of units, which changes strategies. Add to that the differences in goals for the different countries, and IMHO you will have a richer game experience.

@randomcat There are no limits to the number of units that can be produced in G40. If you want to buy only tac bombers, go ahead you can buy to your hearts content.

@simon33 I think @Arthur-Bomber-Harris would have something to say about this…He’s a big proponent of dark skies and having played against him, it’s not so easy to dismiss. The reach of bombers in the European map is quite effective. And yes the Allies can buy more CVs + ftrs, but that slows down their invasion time tables and allows the Germans to advance.

@mikawagunichi Yeah. I hit a few planes and Russians, but I had visions of grandeur!

TripleA Turn Summary: Germans round 5

TripleA Turn Summary for game: WW2 Path to Victory

Game History

Round: 5

    Research Technology - Germans

    Purchase Units - Germans
        Germans buy 2 armour, 2 artilleries, 1 destroyer, 1 fighter, 5 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys; Remaining resources: 0 PUs; 

    Combat Move - Germans
        1 infantry moved from Vyborg to Leningrad
              Germans take Leningrad from Russians
        1 infantry moved from Baltic States to Northern Belarus
              Germans take Northern Belarus from Russians
        2 artilleries and 5 infantry moved from Slovakia Hungary to Eastern Poland
        1 armour moved from Ukraine to Kursk
              Germans take Kursk from Russians
        1 armour moved from Kursk to Rostov

    Combat - Germans
        Germans creates battle in territory 118 Sea Zone
        Battle in Eastern Poland
            Germans attack with 2 artilleries and 5 infantry
            Russians defend with 1 infantry
                Germans roll dice for 2 artilleries and 5 infantry in Eastern Poland, round 2 : 1/7 hits, 1.83 expected hits
                Russians roll dice for 1 infantry in Eastern Poland, round 2 : 1/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Germans lost in Eastern Poland
                1 infantry owned by the Russians lost in Eastern Poland
            Germans win, taking Eastern Poland from Russians with 2 artilleries and 4 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 0
            Casualties for Germans: 1 infantry
            Casualties for Russians: 1 infantry
        Trigger Germans Destroy Factories Leningrad: has removed 1 factory_minor owned by Germans in Leningrad

    Non Combat Move - Germans
        Trigger Leningrad Has Fallen to Germans Switch: Setting switch to false for conditionAttachment_Russian_Leningrad_Factory_May_Be_Destroyed attached to Germans
        1 aaGun, 6 armour, 5 artilleries, 13 infantry and 8 mech_infantrys moved from Ukraine to Rostov
        1 aaGun and 10 infantry moved from Western Ukraine to Ukraine
        1 tactical_bomber moved from Romania to Rostov
        2 bombers moved from Western Germany to Ukraine
        1 cruiser moved from 118 Sea Zone to 116 Sea Zone
        2 transports moved from 118 Sea Zone to 117 Sea Zone
        1 artillery and 3 infantry moved from Germany to 117 Sea Zone
        1 artillery, 3 infantry and 2 transports moved from 117 Sea Zone to 118 Sea Zone
        1 artillery and 3 infantry moved from 118 Sea Zone to Leningrad
        6 infantry moved from Vyborg to Leningrad
        1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Finland to Karelia
        1 armour and 1 mech_infantry moved from Baltic States to Leningrad
        1 armour and 2 mech_infantrys moved from Baltic States to Western Ukraine
        1 aaGun moved from Slovakia Hungary to Eastern Poland
        3 artilleries and 8 infantry moved from Baltic States to Northern Belarus
        1 tactical_bomber moved from 118 Sea Zone to Ukraine
        1 infantry moved from Western Germany to France
        4 infantry moved from Western Germany to Germany
        1 artillery moved from Southern France to France
        2 fighters moved from Egypt to Southern Italy
        1 fighter moved from Malta to Southern Italy
        1 tactical_bomber moved from Southern Italy to Rostov
        1 infantry moved from Western Germany to Germany

    Place Units - Germans
        2 armour, 2 artilleries, 4 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys placed in Germany
        1 destroyer placed in 116 Sea Zone
        1 fighter and 1 infantry placed in Western Germany

    Turn Complete - Germans
        Germans collect 55 PUs; end with 55 PUs
        Trigger Germans 7 Atlantic Wall: Germans met a national objective for an additional 3 PUs; end with 58 PUs
        Trigger Germans 5 Swedish Iron Ore: Germans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 63 PUs
        Objective Germans 7 Control of Balkans: Germans met a national objective for an additional 3 PUs; end with 66 PUs
        Objective Germans 2 Control Stalingrad Or Leningrad Or Russia: Germans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 71 PUs

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Russians regular : 0.67
Germans regular : -0.83

Savegame

@pacifiersboard and/or submerge

@pacifiersboard Scramble?

TripleA Manual Gamesave Post: Germans round 2

TripleA Manual Gamesave Post for game: UHD World War II Global

Game History

Round: 2

    Research Technology - Germans

    Purchase Units - Germans
        Germans buy 2 armour, 2 artilleries, 1 fighter, 4 infantry and 7 mech_infantrys; Remaining resources: 0 PUs; 

    Politics - Germans
        Germans takes Political Action: Political Action Axis To War With Russians
            Germans succeeds on action: Political Action Axis To War With Russians: Changing Relationship for Germans and Russians from Neutrality to War
            Germans succeeds on action: Political Action Axis To War With Russians: Changing Relationship for Russians and British from Neutrality to Allied
            Germans succeeds on action: Political Action Axis To War With Russians: Changing Relationship for Russians and UK_Pacific from Neutrality to Allied
            Germans succeeds on action: Political Action Axis To War With Russians: Changing Relationship for Russians and ANZAC from Neutrality to Allied
            Germans succeeds on action: Political Action Axis To War With Russians: Changing Relationship for Russians and French from Neutrality to Allied
            Germans succeeds on action: Political Action Axis To War With Russians: Changing Relationship for Russians and Neutral_Allies from Neutrality to Friendly_Neutral
            Germans succeeds on action: Political Action Axis To War With Russians: Changing Relationship for Russians and Neutral_Axis from Neutrality to Unfriendly_Neutral
        Trigger Vichy France Has Occurred: Setting switch to false for conditionAttachment_French_Territory_May_Turn_Vichy_Switch attached to French

    Combat Move - Germans
        1 infantry moved from Finland to Vyborg
              Germans take Vyborg from Russians
        1 infantry moved from Poland to Baltic States
              Germans take Baltic States from Russians
        1 infantry moved from Poland to Eastern Poland
              Germans take Eastern Poland from Russians
        4 infantry moved from Bulgaria to Greece
        1 fighter moved from Southern Italy to Greece
        2 bombers moved from Western Germany to Greece
        1 battleship and 1 cruiser moved from 113 Sea Zone to 115 Sea Zone
        1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Western Germany to 115 Sea Zone
        1 tactical_bomber moved from Western Germany to 115 Sea Zone
        1 submarine moved from 112 Sea Zone to 115 Sea Zone

    Combat - Germans

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Savegame

My dreams of Italian conquest have been quashed…boo hoo.

TripleA Turn Summary: Italians round 4

TripleA Turn Summary for game: WW2 Path to Victory

Game History

Round: 4

    Purchase Units - Italians
        Italians buy 1 carrier and 2 infantry; Remaining resources: 0 PUs; 

    Combat Move - Italians
        1 armour, 1 bomber, 2 infantry, 1 marine, 1 mech_infantry and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Egypt to Trans-Jordan
        1 armour moved from Bessarabia to Rostov
              Italians take Rostov from Russians

    Combat - Italians
        Battle in Trans-Jordan
            Italians attack with 1 armour, 1 bomber, 2 infantry, 1 marine, 1 mech_infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
            British defend with 1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber; Russians defend with 1 armour and 1 mech_infantry
                Italians roll dice for 1 armour, 1 bomber, 2 infantry, 1 marine, 1 mech_infantry and 1 tactical_bomber in Trans-Jordan, round 2 : 4/7 hits, 2.50 expected hits
                British roll dice for 1 armour, 1 fighter, 1 mech_infantry and 1 tactical_bomber in Trans-Jordan, round 2 : 3/4 hits, 2.17 expected hits
                1 marine owned by the Italians and 2 infantry owned by the Italians lost in Trans-Jordan
                1 mech_infantry owned by the Russians, 1 armour owned by the Russians, 1 tactical_bomber owned by the British and 1 fighter owned by the British lost in Trans-Jordan
            Italians win, taking Trans-Jordan from British with 1 armour, 1 bomber, 1 mech_infantry and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 20
            Casualties for Italians: 2 infantry and 1 marine
            Casualties for Russians: 1 armour and 1 mech_infantry
            Casualties for British: 1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber

    Non Combat Move - Italians
        1 bomber and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Trans-Jordan to 99 Sea Zone
        1 bomber moved from 99 Sea Zone to Southern Italy
        1 fighter moved from Malta to 99 Sea Zone
        1 fighter moved from Malta to Southern Italy
        1 destroyer moved from 96 Sea Zone to 98 Sea Zone
        1 aaGun and 2 infantry moved from Romania to Bessarabia

    Place Units - Italians
        1 carrier placed in 99 Sea Zone
        2 infantry placed in Southern Italy

    Turn Complete - Italians
        Italians collect 16 PUs; end with 16 PUs
        Objective Italians 2 Roman Empire: Italians met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 21 PUs

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Italians regular : 1.50
British regular : 0.83

Savegame

TripleA Turn Summary: Germans round 11

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

Game History

Round: 11

    Research Technology - Germans

    Purchase Units - Germans
        Germans buy 1 bomber, 14 infantry and 3 mech_infantrys; Remaining resources: 0 PUs; 

    Combat Move - Germans
        2 infantry moved from Volgograd to Caucasus
        1 bomber, 1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Bryansk to Caucasus
        1 bomber moved from Western Germany to Caucasus
        1 armour moved from Volgograd to Tambov
              Germans take Tambov from Russians
        1 armour moved from Tambov to Volgograd

    Combat - Germans
        Battle in Caucasus
            Germans attack with 2 bombers, 1 fighter, 2 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
            British defend with 2 infantry
                Germans roll dice for 2 bombers, 1 fighter, 2 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber in Caucasus, round 2 : 2/6 hits, 2.83 expected hits
                Russians roll dice for 2 infantry in Caucasus, round 2 : 0/2 hits, 0.67 expected hits
                2 infantry owned by the British lost in Caucasus
            Germans win, taking Caucasus from Russians with 2 bombers, 1 fighter, 2 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 6
            Casualties for British: 2 infantry

    Non Combat Move - Germans
        1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Caucasus to Bryansk
        2 bombers moved from Caucasus to Bryansk
        3 artilleries moved from Ukraine to Bryansk
        9 infantry moved from Belarus to Bryansk
        7 infantry moved from Novgorod to Belarus
        2 transports moved from 115 Sea Zone to 114 Sea Zone
        4 infantry moved from Germany to 114 Sea Zone
        4 infantry and 2 transports moved from 114 Sea Zone to 115 Sea Zone
        4 infantry moved from 115 Sea Zone to Novgorod

    Place Units - Germans
        2 infantry placed in Volgograd
        3 infantry placed in Ukraine
        4 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys placed in Germany
        1 bomber and 4 infantry placed in Western Germany
        1 infantry and 1 mech_infantry placed in Novgorod

    Turn Complete - Germans
        Total Cost from Convoy Blockades: 1
            Rolling for Convoy Blockade Damage in 125 Sea Zone. Rolls: 6,1
        Germans collect 47 PUs (1 lost to blockades); end with 47 PUs
        Trigger Germans 5 Swedish Iron Ore: Germans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 52 PUs
        Objective Germans 3 Control Caucasus: Germans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 57 PUs
        Objective Germans 2 Control Novgorod Or Volgograd Or Russia: Germans met a national objective for an additional 10 PUs; end with 67 PUs

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Russians regular : -0.67
Germans regular : -0.83

Savegame

Although I was surprised you were able to get 50+ IPCs for the Germans even after I took a lot of territory

Ok. Can’t last too much longer. Although like in the real world, the Japanese invasion is going to be hard.