How is France going to survive even 1 round?!?

From what I remember Larry said France would be well represented, but Germany will use a true blitzkrieg. I gather the total number of units the two counties will have at the boarder may be similar, but Germany will have much better units. Germany will get tanks, ftrs, and tacs (combo 4’s) that will get much higher rolls as well as a good amount of inf. I could see France having a few tanks (maybe some air units), but mostly inf, and art defending (lower rolls). If Germany try’s to hold back, or gets terrible dice, Paris may survive rd #1. I think Germany should have the strength to take both the Paris tt (from W Germany), and the French coastal tt (from the low countries) rd #1. Then Italy should be able to take the Vichy tt on its first turn, leaving France only some scattered units in Africa, and maybe the Mid East

I also think most of the French fleet will get toasted rd #1 as well, leaving only remnants of what is was. The question is how large will the French/UK fleet be, vs how much of it the Germans/Italians can send to the bottom. Will the axis pull some of its air from the French ground battle, to go after the navies. Seems most AA games start w/Germany taking out a good chunk of the UK fleet, they seem to always get a British BB. So will it be the British fleet, or the French fleet?

So I agree don’t take France lightly, although it might delay a Barbarossa, or Sea lion. You wouldn’t want the French to get to spend their $ on their turn (for you to attack more French units), when you can steal it for yourself to aid the Axis Juggernaut. The 3 french tt combined could be worth 9- 10 ipc this time around, plus what ever the French purse is for taking their capital.

I would think that both Germany and Russia will have very little as far as attack units facing each other rd #1. They will have enough to gobble up some E Europe pro neutrals, but will have to reposition, or buy units to invade the other.

Well according to what everyones saying is it really a point to add France in, like if it doesn’t get to even play its turn and Germany will most likely capture Paris and who knows what the fucking Italians will do! Like give it do Britain or something?

@calvinhobbesliker:

I don’t think it was meant to survive the 1st rouund. The game is st immediately after Dunkirk, meaning it is only 18 days until France surrenders.

I thought someone mentioned that they might last 2 rounds.

I think a nice setup would make it so that if Germany moves all of its forces from the low countries and western Germany to the paris sector, then you have a nearly 100% chance of success. However, if you were to split your forces and attack both the paris sector and the atlantic coast tt of France then your chances of success are 50/50.
It might make the game more intresting and give the allies a way to try and tie up German forces on the western front if the British player decides to go for broke a empty the home islands.

@calvinhobbesliker:

There is no Vichy France. France acts like any power whose capital has been captured: they can only do combat and noncombat moves with their navy and African units

I think its intresting the amount of debate about what to do if a nations capitol falls, how they would go on. I think PAC40 give us the best modle with the way China is represented. I will most likely adopt this for France after Paris falls, allowing them to collect what IPC they have left and produce Infantry only, same as China. Not sure what will need to be met to allow them to still produce atry like China but ill think of something

Yea I think Germany will have 3 main objectives rd #1.

a) Take the Paris tt
b) Destroy as much of the French/English fleet as it can.
c) Take the French coast tt

The Luftwaffe will have some decisions to make. If Germany try’s all three objectives, I think it could win all three battles. As you pointed out though, what will the cost be. As a result of not heavily concentrating your forces, the Paris battle goes longer (an extra rd), you’ll be weaker (due to extra losses) and will have less units to def in a counter attack (if one is even possible). If you don’t take both the French coast, and naval units of opportunity, that could come back to haunt you as well.

You have to walk a tightrope in your attacks, making sure you can def your new conquests, as well as get your forces in position for your next move (Barbarossa, Sea lion etc). The most important thing is to stop France from producing units (capital), and lock down your income (including the French starting income).

@anderb:

france had one of the largest standing armies at the start of ww2. but it doesnt help much, when germany just went an other way than thru the maginot-line. as stated above, france will be seize to exist on g1. as we all know, france fell like domino-chips. nothing can stop the german wehrmacht…… maybe the russian winter.

Maybe you should read up on WW2. The point of the Maginot Line was to force Germany to go around it, funneling them into the french armies in the north. It worked like a charm. The problem was that the blitzkrieg tactic was too strong for the french, and also that the jerries sent armor through the Ardennes.

Will Paris even be in French hands at the start because since French Indo China doesn’t provoke war will Paris even be French at the start

Yes the French will own Paris at the start

@Dylan:

Will Paris even be in French hands at the start because since French Indo China doesn’t provoke war will Paris even be French at the start

What kind of question is this? If Paris is not in the french hands at the beginning of the game, then France is out of the game.

So Paris will start off French, but will be in German hands most likely G1. Germany will get the loot, and the French won’t be able to build units.

Larry said that there may be a few French units that will be placed for free if/when France is liberated. If that holds true, I wonder if the French units get placed at Paris right away (when liberated), or on France’s turn. I figure by time France is liberated, Germany & Italy will be on the decline (unless the axis just leaves it week). Say UK liberates Paris, (if Italy can’t take it back) then US comes to reinforce. Then you would get the free French guys (unless you got them already when UK liberated) plus France starts getting paid. By time Germany’s turn rolls around they could have their hands full. The one thing that frustrated me in AA50 was that France got traded from time to time for its link to the NO’s. Sometimes it was easier for Germany to leave it open, and repo it back (or have Italy do it). If France does get some units upon liberation, and has a chance to get paid, I don’t think the axis will be trading it anymore. This is good for game play, and historically IMO.

@Dylan:

Will Paris even be in French hands at the start because since French Indo China doesn’t provoke war will Paris even be French at the start

Obviously, France will have some special rule to prevent japs at war with brits after taking FIC. Don’t assume same rules (or setup I pray) as in AA40

I think that if Paris falls G1 (as it should), then on J1 Japan could invade FIC w/o DOW on UK. This would hold true for any Jap turn following the fall of Paris. If Paris survives then UK and France are still partners, so a Jap invasion of FIC would require a Jap DOW on UK. Of coarse that’s just my take on it, but it sounds right.

I’d like to know if there’ll be any inf in fic

After France falls. What is next for Germany? UK, Russia or Africa.

I think Germany should sack Italy next, so it can get more $. Once Germany gets control of Rome it gets total control of all Italian units. Now all the little brown dudes move during Germany’s turn. They have the option of going  before, after, or at the same time. Germany can also produce its own units from Italian IC.

@WILD:

I think Germany should sack Italy next, so it can get more $. Once Germany gets control of Rome it gets total control of all Italian units. Now all the little brown dudes move during Germany’s turn. They have the option of going  before, after, or at the same time. Germany can also produce its own units from Italian IC.

Something tells me that the rules won’t allow this.

After France falls. What is next for Germany? UK, Russia or Africa.

Hopefully Germany will be strong enough to be competitive in all three of these at once :-)

@Brain:

After France falls. What is next for Germany? UK, Russia or Africa.

Seriously
Axis round #1
G1 kill France, and try to take out parts of UK navy. Take any pro neutrals you can (Eastern Europe)
I1 mop up France (Vichy tt), start battling UK/French navy in Med, invade Greece, and fight UK/France in Africa.

Axis round #2
G2 hammer any thing you can reach that UK has land or sea, while England is isolated, trying to weaken it (I don’t think sea lion will be an option yet, but could prepare for it if you go that route rd #3). Attack UK convoys. Get in position to attack Russia.
I2 continue the good fight vs UK in the Med/Africa. Go for Gib, Crete or Malta if opportunity presents itself. Maybe move some units towards E Europe (Russia).

Axis round #3
G3 Barbarossa (don’t want them to gain more strength). Make attacks of opportunity vs UK including convoys, secure France.
I3 continue to annoy UK. You should have large chunks of Africa, now go for Egypt (straight), and on to Mid East, so you may be able to aid in Russia. Make sure you control/protect the entrances to the Med (Gib). Team up w/Jap to see if you can get the S.African IC at some point.

I think you have nailed the Axis strategy, Wild Bill.  So how does UK and France counter this strategy? Obviously Germany gets the first shot and all France may have is some navy and units in Africa.  Does the French player try to hold Africa as long as possible or retreat its land forces via transports to British tt  and mass its fleets with British fleets in a circle the wagons approach?  Or does the French fleet do a kamikaze to damage the Italian fleet as much as possible?  Of course all this will depend on initial unit set-up.  Any thoughts?

@Brain:

@Dylan:

Will Paris even be in French hands at the start because since French Indo China doesn’t provoke war will Paris even be French at the start

What kind of question is this? If Paris is not in the french hands at the beginning of the game, then France is out of the game.

I don’t know It thought this was after Dunkirk and I thought Paris was caught by then, but I guess not