Re: Field Marshal Games Pieces Project Discussion thread

This is a preview of the rules:Rules for “The War of the Middle East”

I want to say that this game is simply for alternate future and for entertainment. I do not want to offend anybody, nor do I support the Islamic State. This game is fictional and I hope you enjoy.

Basic Rules: Using one of the 4 Powers; ISIS, The Iraq/ Syrian forces, The U.S.A., and The Republic of Turkey. Each power has originally controlled territories. Each Territory has IPCs, and with those IPCs you can buy units (see What are IPCs?). When capturing a territory you earn the IPCs if you hold the territory until the end of the turn. Then using those units you try to strategically win the game. ISIS has no allies except for Palestine being a aligned neutral. ISIS has 2 moves in one turn.
ISIS has big boost of IPCs because of the oil that they have access to. Each territory that has an oil marker that they control at any point in game they can use it to sell some oil for IPCs. You can save these oil points up to convert to IPCs.Each oil point you receive each turn can then be sold for 2 IPCs. If you sell an oil point on a turn, you must use the IPCs that you earned form the oil the same turn. Oil points on the board are located under each territories IPC count. Only ISIS can make money from oil. Only 15 IPCs can be used per 2 turns from oil. If the number of IPCs that you earn from oil goes over 15 IPCs per 2 turns then oil runs out and you cannot sell oil until the number of IPCs you earn (not from oil) cancels out.
ISIS earns 1 infantry each turn due to “Recruiting”.

You do not need to conduct combat to move into allied territory. Allied troops can defend together but not attack together.

Cannot find many threads that really get into this version of the game in great detail. Played 1 full game of it so far, and love it. (I was originally a Classic player all the way.)

Anyway, few questions to maybe spark some discussion on this:

Which official version is this map closest to? Also which “official” rule set does this variant use? Spring 1942 edition?

Bidding: on the few posts I found on the topic, it seems people think this map favors the Axis and they actually bid allies. Either I am reading posts on a different version or I just suck, because it seems like the Allies are in pretty good shape in this map from the beginning and they can do some things right out of the gate to slow what needs to be a rapid Axis assault. E.g. China being a distraction and the UK being able to defend most of its colonies for at least 3 turns.

I am still not entirely sure what the best opening moves are for the Axis, which is what I would really like to discuss in depth here if other folks have some more experience with this game. For instance, what odds should the German player take to try and take Leningrad first turn? It seems like their Northern fleet cannot last more than a turn against a good UK player, so should you just sacrifice it and take worse odds on a Leningrad assault if the Soviet player leaves you, say, a 70% chance? (I am usually the kind of player that only attacks with overwhelming odds, e.g., 90% and above. Even 85% makes me nervous…) How can the Germans ever keep their Northern fleet alive? Do they need to? (It seems like the English can kill it turn 1 no matter what the Germans do.) If you cannot take Leningrad T1, is it better to instead focus like a laser on a later round (T4 or 5) take over of Stalingrad with a huge mass of tanks and infantry that you slowly plod over there?

Is a rapid take over of Africa impossible against a UK player who adequately defends Syria and Egypt T1 and who rapidly stacks Gibraltar with numerous planes and troops? Should the Italians forego Africa and put everything into a Russian assault? Is Western Turkey a viable take-over to open up another avenue for Italian ships and/or tanks into Russia or Africa?

Do the Japanese sacrifice their fleet to kill the US at Midway or do they ignore them entirely and focus everything on India? It seems like focusing on anything else is ultimately a mistake, at least thats how my last game played out.

So many questions! What do you guys think is the optimum opening Axis move?

Sorry I missed it. Thanks Guys.

Did you get that from Historical Board Gaming? I downloaded the same map and rule set. Since then I’ve completely reworked the map and rules. I’m currently in the process of possibly getting it published.

I have all of the above (yellow Brits, lime Brits, cream Brits, tan Brits, etc) - I will post pictures when I have time.

The basic idea is that the game has a natural balance, in that Germany and UK/USA should each give equal emphasis to both fronts in order to prevent handing a walkover victory to whichever opponent they don’t attack.

I supose if I had built ships it would have made a difference.  I may give that a shot next time I play Germany.  It looks like I will be playing an ally this time though…

What do others think?

thrasher,