R03 - DarthMaximus (Axis) vs. Yoshi (Allies +11)

[DarthMaximus]

@Yoshi:

@DarthMaximus:

Not looking good for me in this one.

With additional more than average dices for me in Bul, I’d say this one is almost over. I’m using the main part of the allied forces towards Japan and I’m getting Germany in big troubles…

I think that does it as well.  Germany is never going to be a threat now and Japan just isn’t strong enough to bail out a turtling Germany.
Good game and well played.

[Yoshi]

Thanks, and thanks for the game.

I have the feeling that this game has been decided on a very few points. To my mind, Germany has not been agressve enough : when I saw the french IC on G3, I knew that my odds just increased. You made the choice of giving up Africa  to put more pressure on Russia from the beginning, which was indeed the case. But with this IC, you were not building more air (making the life of UK easier ; no opponents in Africa, only a few air to threat the fleet, which enabled me to make a lot of money in Africa / Balkans very early in the game), neither tanks (thus enabling Russia to be really more agressive, which reduced the german income, making the IC almost useless.

To my mind, none of your choices were bad, but the combination was not good.

Anyway, just a few thoughts, you are a very strong player, no mistake is allowed !

Cheers,

Yoshi

[DarthMaximus]

Thanks for the input.  Yeah, I didn’t think you’d be able to push as fast with Russia as you did and I thought I’d be a bit quicker with Japan although I think J had a rough rd 1 if I recall correctly.  I’ve had success pushing German infantry East in the past, but perhaps it was the wrong call in this game.  Usually once I hold EPL as Ger I’m good there but it didn’t quite work out this game.
I probably should have made a better play for Africa too.

[Yoshi]

You did not get the best J1 indeed (BB attempt failed, and some losses on the ground even if you got only win there), but since you got a good defense on US1, that was not so bad at the end.

About the infantry wall : I did it for the first time against Soul (the french IC I mean), and I think I needed it. But I went for it only on G7, once I had a good air and armor force, and that my position was secured against Russia, ensuring me the money to use the IC. And the wall is useful only if you can take the territories, i.e. if you have tanks and/or air and/or artillery enough to take a russian stack on your way (the objective can be to stack Euk for instance, which gives you Caucasus and usually the game when you have such an infantry stack).

But this IC might be needed more early in the game (like you did), but more against a KGF maybe (just wondering, do not really know). Against a KJF, you imho need to be agressive with Germany. Currently, there is only the tank dash that makes me wondering if a KJF can be effective or not (with no US in Europa, the defense there is quite easy, so offense can be the priority). This is why I now never make any definitive decision as the allies about my global strategy before the end of the second turn. I like KJF, but always consider a KGF in case my opponent makes the move I consider as the proper counter against “my” KJF (which usually gives a chance to a successful KGF).

About Japan : maybe your pressure towards India was not strong enough. You somehow managed to counter very well every other front, but at the cost of giving me the possibility of an early India IC (that I was not planning so early). And as this also includes the third NO, I usually prefer to give UK the Pacific NO for a few round if it can ensure me to win the “south” battle.

[DarthMaximus]

@Yoshi:

You did not get the best J1 indeed (BB attempt failed, and some losses on the ground even if you got only win there), but since you got a good defense on US1, that was not so bad at the end.

About the infantry wall : I did it for the first time against Soul (the french IC I mean), and I think I needed it. But I went for it only on G7, once I had a good air and armor force, and that my position was secured against Russia, ensuring me the money to use the IC. And the wall is useful only if you can take the territories, i.e. if you have tanks and/or air and/or artillery enough to take a russian stack on your way (the objective can be to stack Euk for instance, which gives you Caucasus and usually the game when you have such an infantry stack).

But this IC might be needed more early in the game (like you did), but more against a KGF maybe (just wondering, do not really know). Against a KJF, you imho need to be agressive with Germany. Currently, there is only the tank dash that makes me wondering if a KJF can be effective or not (with no US in Europa, the defense there is quite easy, so offense can be the priority). This is why I now never make any definitive decision as the allies about my global strategy before the end of the second turn. I like KJF, but always consider a KGF in case my opponent makes the move I consider as the proper counter against “my” KJF (which usually gives a chance to a successful KGF).

Yeah, I thought I was going to do a better job of being able to trade Kar for the extra income.  I’m not a big fan of the tank dash (or no additional IC - assuming you can afford it) because I don’t think 10 units for Germany is enough.  I usually figure if I can get at least 3 turns out of 13-16 units for Germany its worth it or if you can consistantly earn over 42.  I’m not the most aggressive player as Germany, so perhaps I can do better in that regard.  Although maybe you can wait a bit on the IC or just try and hold Kar instead.

Your overall Allied strat is very hard to deal with IMO.  Its quite impressive.  You have enough US support to keep Japan at bay or at least threaten enough yet you still can hold the Axis at bay in Africa.
I know I could go stronger to Afr, but it didn’t seem promising.  If I had to do over, I’d probably alter my Eu moves and put the German trn in Sz 14 with 2 more units and then try and get you to pull back out of Egy.

@Yoshi:

About Japan : maybe your pressure towards India was not strong enough. You somehow managed to counter very well every other front, but at the cost of giving me the possibility of an early India IC (that I was not planning so early). And as this also includes the third NO, I usually prefer to give UK the Pacific NO for a few round if it can ensure me to win the “south” battle.

Definitely could have been stronger to Ind, but I think Allied play (US in particular) has gotten much better and I’ve seen a lot more US Pac strats that have been effective.  So I may have over compensated a bit with Japan at the expense of a strong mainland Asia push.

Yeah, it might not be bad to give up the UK island NO (assuming strong Axis play in Africa) if it means Japan can at least counter by getting to Ind.

I’ve been tempted to bypass Phil in some games (still kill the trn/dd though) but given how strong US play has become I’m hesitant to give them the early income boost.  But again if it means India on J2 it might be worth it.

[Yoshi]

I agree that 10 units maximum during all the game might be tough (at some point, infantries are missing on the russian front, and you need to use expensives units - usually tanks to trade territories).

Somehow, I believe that when facing a KJF (assuming a good opponent), you cannot win if you’re not able to take and hold Caucasus at some point, and I’d say you’re in trouble if you did not manage to do that on round 6 to 8.

The worst scenario is that you need to take it with Italy to be able to hold it. Good ones are Japan or Germany making the job (Japan is not very often possible, and if facing a 100% agression by the US, they might have something else to deal with, even if during the first 5 rounds they still have some liberties due to their initial units). If Germany takes it, you can now produce 14 units a turn, and that’s enough I guess (specially with 4inf/art coming directly at Moscow’s door). If not, then since Axis has it, that usually means that Germany is making its 3 NO’s every round, which means they have no money problem at all. Buying a second IC will provide the units you miss, and you’re be able to use it.

But to take and hold Caucasus (which is usually a 95% victory of the game) on an average delay, you need units to reach it quite fast ; and this is where a good amount of tanks produced can make the deal.

Another point is that you need more air than you had : you were using one or two air units against Russia every turn… that’s really few, and forced you to use more grounds units in theses battles ; and gave me the opportunity to use some “small stack” (2, 3 or 4 units) that ou couldn’t trade efficiently all at once. And as air units also threat the uk navy, that force the allies to invest in some defense that will not be useful except to stand on defense in the atlantix.

I usually begin with some infantries build on G1, and partially G2, and only after I start with buying as much tanks as possible during some rounds. By using some italian units for the can opener threat, Russia almost have to stay in Moscow, defending the capitol.

[DarthMaximus]

@Yoshi:

I agree that 10 units maximum during all the game might be tough (at some point, infantries are missing on the russian front, and you need to use expensives units - usually tanks to trade territories).

Somehow, I believe that when facing a KJF (assuming a good opponent), you cannot win if you’re not able to take and hold Caucasus at some point, and I’d say you’re in trouble if you did not manage to do that on round 6 to 8.

I pretty much agree with that.  I’ve found I usually have to go to Epl (obvious) first then Bel (to avoid Russian stacks in both Cauc and Mos, yet you can now directly threaten Mos), then to Euk (once Russia has to fortify Mos), then you can get Cauc.  So in your time frame you need to be in Euk by rd 5-6 to get Cauc the following rd.  That’s actually pretty consistant with how I do my Infantry march games.  It’s certainly reasonable to have a credible army threaten Moscow (not just a can opener threat) by rd 7,8,9.

@Yoshi:

Another point is that you need more air than you had : you were using one or two air units against Russia every turn… that’s really few, and forced you to use more grounds units in theses battles ; and gave me the opportunity to use some “small stack” (2, 3 or 4 units) that ou couldn’t trade efficiently all at once. And as air units also threat the uk navy, that force the allies to invest in some defense that will not be useful except to stand on defense in the atlantix.

Yeah, I was a little light on air.  If I didn’t buy the IC, I’d buy 1 plane per turn, but just didn’t do that this game.