Germany playbook: overall strategy guide

[DermMannInDerHochburg]

@Afrikakorps Your plan is the nuts and bolts of mine, but you can keep an option open for a Turn 5 crash on Russia proper.

If you plan right, the new game seems lent to anti-Russia, and less UK than the last game.

[lil germanz]

@Cow is there a Russia playbook?

[taamvan]

Yes. Don’t screw up and take as long to die as possible. There are only a few ways to accomplish these goals.

[lil germanz]

@taamvan what are good build for Russia. This is my first time playing them. I’ve played every other nation.

[taamvan]

Gargantua; 6 tanks

Why? Because only with mobile forces that can move 2 you threaten the Germans or the italian mobile force. Units that only move 1 are too easy to trap and eliminate separately. If the threat is great enough, the Germans have to be conservative (put all their land pieces together). Italian fighters may therefore be more valuable against this play than normal play (because the ital fighters can land on and defend the German stack, should it be vulnerable to a tank strike.

Taamvan; 1 fighter, 9 infantry

Why? Because once you have 4 fighters (I add one using my DaveMod 3.0 = 2 to start, 1 bid, 1 bought) then Germany has to think twice about stratbombing your factories. The Germans can often bring the necessary escorting fighters, esp. once they have Leningrad. The worst part is that if they are able to bomb out your starting unit production, its better just to leave it broken then waste money repairing a factory they’ll simply take over. That may limit you to producing 10 or fewer units (if Moscow is bombed out)–many games I have like 25 income and max damage on R4-5 such that I must repair, but I’m only going to be able to build a few units. Build ##s early and quality later.

Another tip?

UK takes Persia turn 1.
UK factory turn 2
UK builds 1-2 infantry and fighters, which can fly direct. This is the only direct fighter pump and fighters that cannot reach moscow proper are usually destroyed as Moscow gets encircled.

Another tip?

Play with a bid, or with the Davemod 3.0 (see House Rules). Russia is too weak OOB, but it should still fall before G8-9 to make the late game fun.

[M36]

Wow I’m seeing lots of neat new strategies here. The G1 Carrier purchase that many seem to agree as a standard for Germany would make me the laughing stock of my group, until they saw an actual Sea Lion attempt, which we virtually never do. Typically I have had great success with a throwback to A&A Classic: The IPM. The Luftwaffe can give the infantry plenty of attack power, but the problem is they are slow so a G1 or G2 Barbarossa is essential. Has anyone else had success with the classic infantry march to Moscow?

[weddingsinger]

@M36 said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

Wow I’m seeing lots of neat new strategies here. The G1 Carrier purchase that many seem to agree as a standard for Germany would make me the laughing stock of my group, until they saw an actual Sea Lion attempt, which we virtually never do. Typically I have had great success with a throwback to A&A Classic: The IPM. The Luftwaffe can give the infantry plenty of attack power, but the problem is they are slow so a G1 or G2 Barbarossa is essential. Has anyone else had success with the classic infantry march to Moscow?

You’ll have much more success with it if you buy fast movers as Germany (mechs and tanks) then the round before your Moscow attack, planes that can reach Moscow on the next turn, so tacticals for Novgorod, bombers in W. Germany or Germany.

This allows your infantry you start the game with to lead the march, but get joined quickly by flexible units that can catch up quickly.

So, Germany has 20-26 infantry it can attack Russia with on G2. Anything you buy is a mech or tank or plane.

[M36]

@weddingsinger Sound advice, so I’ll put you down as a no for infantry purchases? I find that my infantry screen has been melted away by Bryansk and Smolensk, and the Russians get to trade infantry for mechs and tanks in the final battles. This is especially true if I divert some troops to the Balkans. My vision is to have a stack of 30 infantry attacking Moscow with Air support. This would prevent the heavy ipc damage of losing a stack of tanks and having little left after Moscow.

[weddingsinger]

@M36 said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

@weddingsinger Sound advice, so I’ll put you down as a no for infantry purchases? I find that my infantry screen has been melted away by Bryansk and Smolensk, and the Russians get to trade infantry for mechs and tanks in the final battles. This is especially true if I divert some troops to the Balkans. My vision is to have a stack of 30 infantry attacking Moscow with Air support. This would prevent the heavy ipc damage of losing a stack of tanks and having little left after Moscow.

Germany should make 1.5-2 times as much as Russia, but with a larger air force and 3+ times the tanks, so spending on mechs over inf isn’t an issue.

To help prevent the trading of inf, use Italy to take a Russian territory (non-factory, of course) and then Germany can help occupy it but more importantly with its air force, so Russia can’t counter attack. Its why a mech and tank are a common first buy for Italy… to help can open.

Germany being mobile also has the advantage of 2 movement, so if Russia makes a mistake and leaves a weaker stack of inf somewhere, you are more able to hit it.

Add in factory bombing as soon as possible, and G6/7 is the goal for threatening Moscow.

[simon33]

Artillery can always be bought G1. Buying too much artillery G2 can mean not getting on Bryansk G5,. although that may not be a problem. Some games I’ve played Axis, I’ve moved into Bryansk G6 and Moscow G7. I’m in too minds about it to be honest. It’s always good to take Bryansk and Ukraine by G5. But artillery is really useful in a Moscow assault. Much better value than tanks, which you do need some of.

[M36]

Im seeing quite a few recommendations of a 1st turn purchase of an aircraft carrier and destroyer even if just to bluff a sea lion. Doesn’t this leave you with a very thin 2nd wave for Barbarossa on G2? Has anybody had a successful Barbarossa with a G1 fleet purchase?

[weddingsinger]

@M36 said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

Im seeing quite a few recommendations of a 1st turn purchase of an aircraft carrier and destroyer even if just to bluff a sea lion. Doesn’t this leave you with a very thin 2nd wave for Barbarossa on G2? Has anybody had a successful Barbarossa with a G1 fleet purchase?

Of course. Russia is so much weaker than Germany that a G1 buy of a carrier isn’t a problem. It simply slows down Germany’s attack on Moscow by a turn (maybe 2), but can be used for other things. If you do it don’t have it sit in the Black Sea doing nothing, though. Usually players will take Gibraltor on G2 (carrier, cruiser, transport). If I want to go for a strong Italy I prefer taking S. France on G1 then buying German ships for the Mediterranean on G2.

But if your focus is 100% Moscow, ships don’t help you.

[simon33]

@weddingsinger yeah but once you start delaying the Moscow assault more troops will be bought by USSR and so you’ll need to invest much more in taking Moscow. So I think that it is indeed a problem. Perhaps you can do something with the CV that makes it worthwhile, I’m just not convinced of that.

Taking Gibraltar pretty much requires a J3 (or later) DOW. Otherwise USA will smash you in SZ91. So for all that Axis sacrifice, are you getting Egypt? Not that likely.

[M36]

@simon33 You would consider G3 Barbarossa too late then?

[simon33]

No, G3 is about right in most cases. G2 can be good too though.

[M36]

@simon33 It’s going to be a near thing. The Americans will be landing in North Africa A3 or A4. I know from my experience that Britain can virtually obliterate the Italians capabilities to resist them.

[weddingsinger]

@M36 said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

@simon33 It’s going to be a near thing. The Americans will be landing in North Africa A3 or A4. I know from my experience that Britain can virtually obliterate the Italians capabilities to resist them.

I usually invade Russia on G2 (Baltic States and head North to Novgorod to link up with troops from Norway/Finland)

If America is buying on the Atlantic side that early, Japan should be running wild in the Pacific. As long as you keep Denmark, W. Germany, and Italy’s factories safe, they’re not a threat til round 5 or later. So I keep Germany’s transport safe.

/I’m a J1 fan, have the money islands on J2, Malaya and more on J3 and now earning in the 60s so the U.S.’ advantage is minimized.

[trulpen]

@Cow said in Germany playbook: overall strategy guide:

Feel free to make a contribution for any strategy!

trulpen’s Save the Bismarck and push for a G2 DOW on Russia [OOB G40 2nd]

I’ve been looking for a way for Germany to save its battleship and at the same time aim for a G2 DOW against Russia. I believe there is a significant strategical gain with a G2 DOW instead of G3, but Germany needs the muscles to show. This is what I’ve (with help of critical input from @barnee, @simon33, @taamvan, @aequitas-et-veritas and @Argothair regarding a crazy idea of a G1 ab in Holland) come up with:

Purchase (30 IPC)

Sz112: 2 tr, 1 ac - 30

Combat moves

1 sub sz103, 1 sub sz108, 1 fig Holland, 2 fig, 3 tac W Ger, 2 sb Ger -> sz110 -> W Ger

1 sub sz118, 1 sub sz124, 1 bs sz113, 1 fig Norway, 1 tac Ger -> strafe sz111 -> sz112

4 inf, 2 art, 3 tank Holland, 3 tank S Ger, 3 inf, 1 art, 4 mech W Ger -> France -> W Ger

6 inf, 2 art S Ger, 1 inf Romania, 1 fig Slovakia, 1 tac Poland -> strafe Yugoslavia -> Romania, 1 fig Tobruk, 1 tac S Italy

Non-combat moves

1 sub sz117 -> sz124

1 cr, 1 tr sz114 -> sz112

2 inf Denmark -> W Ger

3 inf Norway -> Finland +4 inf

1-2 aa W Ger -> Ger

1 inf Romania -> Bulgaria +4 inf

2 inf Slovakia -> Poland

1 tank Poland -> Slovakia

11 inf, 3 art, 3 aaa Ger -> Poland

Analysis

Now a stack in the Baltic can be strengthened by 2-3 tanks and 6 inf by transport, making a Russian counter-attack there in R2 highly dubious even if maximized. At the same time entering Bessarabia with the small contingent from Romania should be fitting, immediately putting pressure on two fronts.

To follow up the pressure on Leningrad, the G2-buy can be 1 des in sz 113, 10 land units (like 6 inf and 4 art) in Ger and 2 sb in W Ger.

Germany wants to get the bombing of Russian factories going asap. In G2 Germany can bomb the Ukrainian mIC with 1 sb (and also in G3, unless Italy did it as well). In G3 the (hopefully 3-4) sb’s can support the attack on Leningrad (if not abandoned) while setting up for bombing Moscow from either the Baltic, E Poland or Bessarabia, whichever is the safest place to be stationed. More bombers should follow.

Also the German Navy has three objectives in G2. The first is to hunt down any remaining British Navy from sz 111, the second to wipe out the Russian cruiser in the Baltic Sea (whether blocking in sz 114 or staying in sz 115) and the third is to plant a sub in sz 125. Not certain all three are attainable, in which case the priority order is as mentioned.

The 1-2 aa’s from W Ger might be needed back home when the defense is rather weak, especially in G3. They are simply better for defense than attack and 3 aa’s on the eastern front should suffice, with one going north and two south.

[trulpen]

trulpen’s Save the Bismarck and aim for a sneaky I2 DOW [OOB G40 2nd]

If not minding to hold out with entering Russia until G3, while getting the sweet 5 IPC Trade with Russia for 3 rounds. Or if the strafe in Yugoslavia outperformed and the army got stuck, why you then might consider to switch to a G3 intrusion in Russia.

Purchase (30 IPC)

Sz112: 1 sub, 1 des, 1 ac - 30

Combat moves

1 sub sz103, 1 sub sz108, 1 fig Holland, 2 fig, 3 tac W Ger, 2 sb Ger -> sz110 -> W Ger

1 sub sz118, 1 sub sz124, 1 bs sz113, 1 fig Norway, 1 tac Ger -> strafe sz111 -> sz112

4 inf, 2 art, 3 tank Holland, 3 tank S Ger, 3 inf, 1 art, 4 mech W Ger -> France

6 inf, 2 art S Ger, 1 tank, 1 tac Poland, 1 tank Romania, 1 tank, 1 fig Slovakia -> Yugoslavia -> 1 fig Tobruk, 1 tac S Italy

Non-combat moves

1 sub sz117 -> sz124

1 cr, 1 tr sz114 -> sz112

2 inf Denmark -> W Ger

3 inf Norway -> Finland +4 inf

1-2 aa W Ger -> Ger

1 inf Romania -> Bulgaria +4 inf

2 inf Slovakia -> Poland

11 inf, 3 art, 3 aaa Ger -> Poland

Analysis

With the power-slam on Yugoslavia, Italy is free to move both its tanks to Slovakia, while also setting up its airforce to be able to support a strike on E Poland or the Baltic and also bomb the Ukrainian mIC. No need to strafe since Germany won’t enter Russia until G3 anyway, having consolidated it’s forces for the front.

On its 2nd round Italy declares war on Russia and moves in. If there is a small blocker in the Baltic both tanks should go there, preferably supported by atleast one plane (same goes with E Poland if that’s preferred). Otherwise all three front areas can be annexed through blitz. This makes german forces being able to enter the Baltic or E Poland in NCM on G3 (also through transport) and also landing air support, letting Russia make the DOW on its R3, while still getting the 5 IPC NO from not being at war with Russia.

A G2-buy needs atleast 1 des and from there could include like 2 inf and 2 sb in W Ger and 10 inf in Ger.

As in the G2 DOW, the 1-2 aa’s can gladly go back home to W Ger in G2. The defense of W Ger can be a little bit stronger now with 2 extra trannies on the table shuffling troops to Leningrad from Ger, where a train of 6 inf/art can go from W Ger to Ger each round, so they’re not as needed, but will probably get more useful on the western front anyway.

[trulpen]

trulpen’s G2 DOW heading for Moscow [OOB G40 2nd]

This opening is an inspiration from COW. Instead of G1 though, it’s a way for Germany to primarily aim for a G2 DOW against Russia. Saving the battleship is nice, but more of a parenthesis here. There is significant strategic gain with a G2 DOW instead of G3, but Germany needs a solid plan to execute. This route focuses on going directly for Moscow, getting other key sites like Leningrad and Ukraine on the way only if it doesn’t disturb the main goal.

Purchase (30 IPC)

Ger: 3 mech, 3 tank - 30

Combat moves

1 sub sz103, 1 sub sz108, 1 fig Holland, 2 fig, 2 tac W Ger, 1 tac Ger, 2 sb Ger -> sz110 -> 3 fig, 3 tac Holland, 2 sb W Ger

1 sub sz118, 1 sub sz124, 1 bs sz113, 1 fig Norway, 1 tac W Ger -> strafe sz111 -> W Ger

4 inf, 2 art, 3 tank Holland, 3 tank S Ger, 3 inf, 1 art, 4 mech W Ger -> France -> S Italy

6 inf, 2 art S Ger, 1 inf Romania, 1 fig Slovakia, 1 tac Poland -> strafe Yugoslavia -> Romania, 1 fig Tobruk, 1 tac S Italy

Non-combat moves

1 sub sz117 -> sz124

1 cr, 1 tr sz114 -> sz112

3 aa W Ger -> Holland

2 inf Denmark -> W Ger

3 inf Norway -> Finland +4 inf

11 inf, 3 art, 3 aaa Ger -> Poland

2 inf Slovakia -> Poland

1 tank Slovakia -> Romania

1 tank Romania -> Bulgaria +4 inf

Analysis

Now Germany is optimally set for stacking in E Poland on G2. If possible, do also enter Bessarabia to pressure Ukraine, but holding E Poland is more important.

Enter in the North by Leningrad as well as Russia then gets pressure on all fronts. If they move in to save Leningrad or such (oh yes, it’s a trap!), all the better since those units won’t make it back to Moscow in time.

No need to bomb Leningrad, since anything built there in R2 will be useless or suboptimal. Maybe bomb Ukraine, but likely the Russians will retreat from there anyway. Risking a sb and then having to repair the mIC might simply be counter-productive.

The G2-buy of 66 IPC is simply 3 mech and 7 tank in Germany and 1 sb in W Germany.

On G3 buy 1 fig, 1 tac and 2 sb in W Germany.

Continue the invasion by stacking in W Ukraine. Grab Leningrad and Ukraine if possible, but do not deviate resources that are aimed for Moscow.

On G4 simply buy 4 sb in W Ger and 3 tank in Ukraine. If the latter is not available for building, then just 1 or 2 more sb’s.

Bomb the hell out of Moscow with 4-5 sb and stack everything in Bryansk, including all available air.

Italy should’ve set up on its I2 to have 2 tank and all air in E Poland in order to do an essential can-opener of Bryansk in I3, maybe also buying a sb in I2.

In G5 there will be the glorious battle of Moscow. This should favour Germany with +20 inf, 5 art, 10 mech, 19-22 tanks and a heap of Luftwaffe even if Russia has defensively turtled.

Lets say Russia has built only inf and has about 65 of them in Moscow. It’s still a +90 % battle for Germany, although likely most land units will be gone.