Air and Naval Bases in Europe/Global 40

[maverick_76]

I don’t think infantry spamming will work like you think Swiss. With production caps on factories now it makes it even more imperative for Russia to build tanks, also because they attack AND defend at three now too. Plus with all of the territory that you have to cover with Russia you are going to need units that can move more than one space at a time. In the old days the Russian front was only a couple of territories across, now it is going to have many more (from looking at the map it looks like the spread is something like 8 across) which will make it a lot harder to cover all routes of ingress with a stack of infantry.

[maverick_76]

I just don’t think that will be a sound strategy in this game because the infantry can only move one space and since there is much more ground to cover in this version I don’t think that will be a good tactic anymore.

[BJCard]

Yes but those 10 units of infantry cost $30 and I get to roll TEN dice on offence and defense- giving me TEN chances at hitting.  Ten offensive points, 20 defensive points.

If you spend those $30 on Tanks- you get 5.  Only 5 dice.  15 Offensive points, 15 defensive points.

If the tank stack attacked the infantry stack- using LL
Round 1
5 Tank - 2 hits (1/2 left)
10 Inf - 3 hits (1/3 left)
Round 2
2 Tank - 1 hit
8 Inf - 1 hit (1/3 left)
For every Tank hit, the Infantry lost 2 defensive points (worth $3 IPCs) and the infantry still had 9/10 of its strength
For every Infantry hit, the Tanks lost 3 offensive points (worth $6 IPCs) and the Tanks have 4/5 of its strength

If the infantry stack attacked the tank stack
Round 1
10 Inf - 1 hit (2/3 left)
5 Tank - 2 hit (1/2 left)
Round 2
8 Inf - 1 hit (1/3 left -> plus 2/3 on round 1 = 2 hits)
4 Tank - 2 hit
Round 3
6 Inf - 1 hit
2 Tank - 1 hit
Round 4
5 Inf - 0 hit (5/6 left)
1 Tank - 0 hit (1/2 left)
Round 5
5 Inf - 1 hit (2/3 left)
1 Tank 1 hit (1/2 plus 1/2 on Round 4)

So both ways, the Infantry WIN on Low Luck!

Honestly the most effective force is a buttload of infantry supported by a few Tank/Fighter/Art - usually the ones you start with.
With Russia/Germany in every AA Game- I usually buy 1-2 Arm/Art and the rest Infantry every round.  More units = more die rolls = more chances at hits.

[maverick_76]

I don’t doubt that but with the size of the board it will be harder to have a huge stack of infantry. Larry’s commentary on the last game he was playing said that the Germans were making a three pronged attack into Russia. With only infantry you will have to spread them out because of mobility issues and that would be stacks of only 3, 3 and 4. With mechanized armor and infantry you have 2 movement points so two stacks could be better suited with infantry as cannon fodder of course. I think in the older games that because of territory it suited the Russian player to buy only infantry because with a spread of only two territories (original A&A) it made it very easy to stymie an offensive. Even in A&A Europe and anniversary there was only a spread of three territories, again making the good ol’ infantry push mechanic very effective. From the looks of this game the front can be up to EIGHT territories wide, making it that much tougher to cover ground with just a stack of troops.

[BJCard]

It is true that you will have to spread your Infantry thin, however- you will still have a couple large stacks with deadzones on either side.  so- one on each side of the pripet marshes.  Looking at Bob_A_Mickelson’s map, the Russian front is only 5-6 territories wide, not 8; and only 4-5 along the main front.  Again, having a few tanks/fighters to be able to threaten more territories is a must, but the most effective army will still be majority infantry (as IRL).

After playing many games of New World Order on Triplea (possibly the best Axis and Allies map I’ve ever played!), which has a 4-8 territory main front (and 4 territory front with Finland)- the prevailing thought is you have 2-3 main stacks of troops and the rest of the front is held thinly.  So- probably will be the same in AAE40.

[trackmagic]

The way I played TripleA with the wide Russian territories was to have a weak front line and a stack behind it. The stack behind it has 2 options where it can attack (assuming the territory boarders 2 territories). With tanks you have a wider area that you can counterattack. I found having my lines looking like this worked well:

1  3T
1  5
1  5
1  3T

the “1” represents 1 infantry. The “5” represents 5 etc. “3T” means 3 tanks. This is just an example, but each of the 5 infantry groups can counter any front line attack. The tanks can support this counter attack on the 2 outside territories. In this way all the territories can be counter attacked with 5 infantry and 3 tanks. The center territories can be counter attacked with 10 infantry and 3 tanks. This is just an example, but it shows how 14infantry and 6 tanks can cover a pretty wide area pretty efficiently.

I think the trick to the eastern front will be something like this.

[maverick_76]

My feelings exactly, what I was referring to was with this it will be impossible to hold that much area with two stacks of 20+ troops like the older games allowed. The Russian player will also trade space for time, allowing his front line to be taken but then counter attack with a massive force and wipe out a German offensive. I think the key for Germany in this game will be to get rid of France, and as fast as possible overwhelm the Russians before the US and UK start pestering Africa and Europe. Smart purchases will win the day I think, and hopefully the days of investing in only infantry (makes the game boring and stagnant) are over.

[BJCard]

yes but as the other side I do something like this (Same number of Inf, Tanks):

6 inf, 3 T :  1 inf : 3 T
1 inf       :   1 inf : 5 inf
1 inf       :   1 inf : 5 inf
6 inf, 3 T :  1 inf : 3 T

I could attack your two outer territories with my ‘stacks’ of 6 inf, 3 T and then you can only counter attack with 6 inf, 3 T each, with myself on defense.  So you don’t attack my stacks because I likely win that.  This will force you to retreat or stack the territory between my ‘stacks’ and your capital.

I agree, the size of the map will diminish the use of ‘mega-stacks’, but there will still be 2-3 stacks per side on the eastern front.

[maverick_76]

Which is a realistic depiction of the war in the East. Germany invaded with three massive armies in operation Barbarossa, and then invaded South with a huge army later on at Stalingrad. I was just tired of games turning into “stack-attacks” with like 50+ infantry on each side because it bogged the game down and made it more tedious than thrilling. I’m excited that the way the game is designed now seems to respect the vastness of Russia and the unique way that it has to be attacked/defended.

[Danger Mouse]

Hopefully it will not just melt down to two giant stacks facing off against one another as in the original A&A Europe.

[BJCard]

I know what you mean about the “two giant stacks” being boring.  The problem is the game mechanics.  Say Germany sends most of its troops towards Stalingrad, with only picket defenses in the center and north…  what does Russia have to do? put the bulk of its troops between the giant German stack and Moscow…  Its not like Russia can just ignore the big German stack.  There you have it “two giant stacks.”

[maverick_76]

But I think Germany’s hand will be forced to be more modern than just infantry because apparently they will have a 40+ IPC income after France falls, then around 50 once they invade Russia. With all that money and only a major IC in Berlin to build munitions they will have to build tanks/artillery/mech. inf. or save money.

[Dylan the Canadian]

@Axisgirl:

whaaaat? where are you getting 40+ IPC? Germany is worth maybe 20. Japan itself is worth 8 in Pacific 40

Germany is a few territories, and they’ll have Poland

[BJCard]

You are probably right- Germany will likely be limited to a certain number of units- like in AA50.  However, France likely has at least a minor IC and it would not be difficult to build another minor IC closer to the Eastern Front.  So, Germany still could build 13-16 units.

Germany will probably start in the low 30s for income and after France is taken it will be in the 40s.

[Dylan the Canadian]

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=18837.0

look, they also have the low countries, Denmark, and Norway

[Dylan the Canadian]

@cminke:

HE KNOWS ABOUT A n.o. FOR GERMANY!  GET HIM! :wink: :-D

what did IL tell you about again?

[BJCard]

Germany will probably start in the low 30s for income and after France is taken it will be in the 40s.

My guess:
West Germany: 8
East Germany: 10
NW Europe: 2
Rhineland: 2
Austria: 2
Poland: 2
West Czechoslovakia: 2
Slovakia: 2
Denmark: 2
Norway: 3
Total: 35 IPCs

That’s pretty conservative

[Dylan the Canadian]

@Axisgirl:

And if you let Italy eat up Africa…Then Germany looks pretty bleak

Africa will be hard, but if you can get through Egypt and Med you will be able to slowly move on the British, but they have an IC in South Africa. Russia will be bigger so Germany could get a lot more countless territories and France will be a few, so they can build up, but if the US ever gets there they are rich