AAG40 Setup Pictures(Larry's Alpha Setup)

“Never” is a strong word, and you even went so far as to hold down shift as you typed it and then went back to underline it afterwards.

If the airbase lets you hold Gibraltar for one extra turn, maybe even two, then is that 15 IPCs worth it for you?
Very possibly, sure. Delaying a US entry into the Med for one turn probably saves Italy at least 5 IPCs right off the bat, not to mention delaying its eventual economic implosion by an entire turn more of income.

Is it still worth it if the Americans can fly straight to Egypt or Norway from Gibraltar now?
Maybe they can’t do that yet, and won’t for another turn or two. Very possibly, yes, it’s still worth it. Maybe because you had that airbase, however, your Axis units were able to abandon Gibraltar and get into a better position on their way out. Lot’s of “if”'s. A lot of combinations of them add up to it being worth it.

Is it still worth it if the Americans can scramble planes off of it to defend their navy?
If you weren’t planning on attacking their navy (maybe because you simply don’t have the resources to do so), yes, absolutely, then there’s no difference at all.

So, yeah, sometimes it’s alright to give your opponent a facility if you got your money’s worth out of it first, even if it is only for a turn or two. Plenty of US and JP plays depend on building a naval base that’s only ever really used once in the game. There are some cases where the same is true for air bases all over the place.

@Vance:

I always SBR London if I am planning or pretending sea lion.  That turn 1 SBR is a critical piece of sea lion and the threat is not serious without it.  Two Bombers target the IC and two tacticals target the airbase.  They do not intercept because a) the fighters scramble in z110 or z109, or b) if they are taking the sea lion threat seriously they do not want to risk losing a fighter.  About half the time I lose a plane to AA, but its worth it because the sea lion threat forces UK to spend its entire first turn income on repairs and infantry, leaving the med and Africa open for Italy.  Italy’s NO income soon pays for any losses you may have had (unless you get diced and lose 3 or 4 of them).  If both sides have normal losses (i.e. germany loses 1 plane or none; the airbase is inoperable and the IC has something like 10 damage), and they spend in South Africa or Egypt, do a Taranto raid, etc., well then sea lion is on.

Yeah, I didn’t even think of bombing the airbases too. Of course that means that they won’t scramble into an adjacent sea zone, but then they can still intercept the strategic and tactical bombers attacking the IC and airbase, right? If I know that that’s what my opponent intends to do, then I’d use all my fighters exactly for that as they won’t be of any use in an adjacent sz. But yes, you have a point too that if Germany really wants to go for sea lio, the UK will need all the fighters it can get!

@Young:

Also, scatter 1 infantry in each territory when pulling back as it prevents blitzing and forces them to earn every mile, confront his stack with yours to early, or leave most of your infantry where it can be reached.

Let me add that not every zone that the enemy can reach needs an INF as a blocker.
In certain places (in case there aren’t a LOT of german tanks), leaving certain territories open is ok, trying to single out some tanks and finishing them off with some INF + air force. Of course not every German will take the baitl.

The Allies won last nite ALPHA+2, last week the Axis won ALPHA+2
  To tired last week to stay focused    up at 5 work at 6 home at 5 game at 7 dog tired by midnite  but this weekend I was able to get a cat nap in and lots of strong coffee

Ok, my bad, Germany and UK Europe are ok because thay start at war…

@strategic:

I agree. I do not use Alpha in any way, shape, or fashion, although I also sometimes do a bid and I make Italy neutral until its 1st turn, otherwise, I don’t do anything else. Thank you IL for coming up with the Italy neutral idea.

Dude, Italy being neutral on the first round is an awesome idea.  Italy officially didn’t enter the war until June 10, 1940.  If we consider the invasion of Paris occurring on June 5 by the German forces, and all the turns are effectively happening simutaneously, then Italy has the OPTION to declare war on its turn, starting the game neutral to the Allies.  Brilliant.

(Though 5 days is a bit of a stretch considering each turn in game represents 3 months…)

I think that japan should be able to build a major in china because it is a starting territory but they marked them Chinese so we know where the ACME walls are

You can if you control the territory at the beginning of your turn and it meets all of the requirements for building one there.

Yes.  Air units can’t land in neutral territories, but once you take control of them they are no longer neutral.

It’s a noncombat movement, but the naval base can be used in noncombat movement.