What's the first thing you'll do upon getting Europe 1940?

I usually figure half and hour to an hour per round as long as players have a concrete idea of what they want to accomplish and plan during other people’s turns.  So, the fastest game of Europe I have had so far was this last weekend, at 4.5 hours and 5 rounds.

I looked it up. Yes, you are right. It only applies to major ICs, so a minor one could indeed be built in Finland.

Many thanks! That sounds clear to me.

In my curent game, the UK attacked the Italian BB, CA and Trn fleet losing a Tac Bomber and one hit on the UK carrier, letting the fighter from Alexandria land on the island in the UK Med.  This move put a serious hurt on the Italians.  They were faced with three bad problems.  The French fleet would have to be ignored during Italy-1.  The Italians could move 2 inf with their other transport to Trans-Jordan to close the Med via the Suez, but then this would doom the transport.  Or the Italians could attack the UK fleet of 1 damaged CV, CA and DD with 1 CA, 1 DD & 2 figs.  I opted for this attack and brought the tranny hoping it would be able to survive after the UK-2 turn.  The UK got a hit and I killed the UK fleet.  France came over with their CA and DD and finished the job so the Italians have no fleet in the Med at all at the end of turn 1.  It will be a miracle if the Italians make anything happen before the US runs into and all over Africa.

The UK-1 attack of the Italian fleet looks so strong I can’t imagine it not being done.  Can the UK not build enough infantry to prevent any possible Sealion so they will always be able to execute the Med attack on the Italian Navy?

That one is not a true NO of course, but it’s from part 3 of the preview by DJensen. Krieghund also confirmed it by saying it won’t be in the global game.

@calvinhobbesliker:

@Dylan:

@calvinhobbesliker:

Why did braindamaged close his account?

WTF well I noticed he was logging on less and doing less.

Dylan, can you make your Japan move in our game?

Once I think of something you got boats there China there!

Meh, really, it simply depends on the Axis’ focus on any particular game.  It looks like Russia only gets a crappy +5 NO once it is at war with the Axis, so compared to pissing off the Americans, war with Russia (only) would be a much more palatable option for Japan.  18 land units, while it is quite a lot, would not be expected to be massed together right at the border with Japan, so they could be picked off a bunch at a time, and definitely doable if Japan gets a major industrial complex in Asia (which it probably will in most games).  Plus, Moscow it so far away that sending reinforcements east is probably not Stalin’s top priority, so Japan could hold onto the Russian IPCs for a long time, gaining back whatever the cost was in killing the units over 3-4 rounds.

Also, it is subterfuge to some extent; forcing the Soviets to respond to threats on their eastern front would pull some attention (and troops) away from the western front, which would help Germany and Italy pull off a successful Sea Lion AND Barbarossa in turn.  Kinda of like not letting your left hand knowing what the right hand is doing.  However, with a Sealion going into action on Round 3 or 4, Japan may be forced to focus entirely on eliminating India so that the UK is incapable of sending reinforcements anywhere else.

I’m wondering what Italy will be required to take in the Med to stop UK air from reaching England.  Definitely Gibraltar and Malta, and all of the African coast, excepting Egypt maybe.  Italy has its hands full.  Maybe it would be best for Germany to ditch Sealion and just go after the Med early and take what it can get?