Alpha+2 Allies struggle to win, crazy alternative discovered: Surrender London!

@GoSanchez6:

I have to hand it to you James I never would have even considered this. I am not so confident it will work but I do see what you are saying about the US dollars. I still think that Germany will incur massive casualties in the battle of britain. I have not yet played this game against real opponents but in looking at it and doing a game against myself Germany seems to knock UK out in turn 3 or 4. That is at great cost though giving Russia a HUGE upper hand. I am curious give me your buys for Germany turns 1-4. Thanks James

I assume you are referring to my German buys, when I play a “normal” game in which the UK tries to hold.

Summary and then the builds:
I start with a standard sea lion, on turn 2 I land 5 infantry and 1 AAgun on Scotland: If London counter-attacks with air, I can kill a fighter, if they send too much land and take, I grab London the next turn. Most likely, I just got 5 guys I don’t have to transport later. I then use 9 transports to drop off 18 more units and important my air force on Scotland’s air base on Scotland turn 3. Then I land 18 more units on London plus the 23 land units in Scotland and the 11 air units (alpha 2 setup). I lose 2 air units and 25 infantry, but I capture London and kill 35 land, 5 air units. Now my planes have range to land in Germany since they were on Scotland’s air base. I capture London with 11 artillery, 5 armor, and 9 air units.

Battle lasts 4 combat rounds: I hit 14 times, they hit 14; I hit 12, they hit 9; I hit 9 time, they hit 5; I hit 7 times, they hit 2 times. Totals: 42 hits (Uk only has 40 units) they hit 30 on average (I won with them hitting 5 below in the above game due to a low round for them and a high round for me).

Builds: T1:carrier,2 transports(30IPCs); T2: 6 transports,carrier,destroyer,artillery(70IPCs); T3: 2 subs, 1 Destroyer, 9 infantry,2 artillery(55); T4: 2 subs, 1 Destroyer, 9 infantry, 2 artillery(55); T5: 2 subs, 1 Destroyer, 12 infantry, 9 artillery (92); T6andT7: 2 subs, 1 Destroyer, 10 infantry, 2 artillery (58); T8: 2 subs, 1 Destroyer, 10 infantry, 4 artillery(66)….Conquered Regions under German control during this plan (t=turn acquired): Scottland(t2), London(t4), Finland(t1), Normandy(t1), France(t1), Yugoslavia(t1), Bulgaria(t1), Greece(t2).

As you can see, I choose to split navy/land as My goal is to delay the game 8 rounds in Europe (hence the fleet that keeps America at bay), I usually have 6 cities in the Pacific by turn 8 at the latest. If necessary, I win with Europe by grabbing Stalingrad and Leningrad by between turns 10-12.  Above builds reflect a US early build against Japan strategy. German loses 4 subs round 1 and keeps the BB,CA and 1 Sub to add to the naval builds for a navy of: BB,CA,2CVwith2Ftrs2Tacs, 7DD, 13 subs by turn 8.

@GoSanchez6:

James thanks for the reply but what about Russia? Looking at your builds gives you next to nothing for the eastern front to what Russia is going to have by then. I do see your point of buying artillery instead of tanks because they are cheaper and give the infantry more of a punch. In my simulated game I was using only the artillery that Germany starts with and buying tanks for more punch. If I get the chance to look at your theory I will test it. LOL man.

Thank you for trying it out first, it may prove to be a bad move. Those German builds were for a typical game where London tried to hold, and my goal was not to take Russia, just buy time for Japan, hence the heavy navy. I find that Germany, being next to its production and Russia being too far from theirs, means locally, the Russian’s are outproduced long before their increased income can arrive, thus they fall back 2 turns after entering Germany in my games. You only need to place 11-12 land units next to Russia’s, 5-6 that “stream” in from the nearest factories….more can come, but at a slower pace.

If surrendering London does not work, there may be some tweaks that can salvage some or all of its merits. Again, I am not saying this is a “killer” strategy…it just amazed me in the Europe version when I saw the effect on Italy and the US. I strive to think outside of the box, and when that pays off, I’m happy. At the very least, I like to think it can be just another tool in your arsenal for those situations in which it may be useful.

For example, recently I verified the ruling with Krieg, If Germany turn 1 attacks Yugoslavia and fails to take…for whatever reason…accidentally or on purpose. Yugoslavia becomes a landing zone which permits 2 more planes in alpha2 to strike Italy’s navy in zone 97. Malta and Gibraltar fighters can use it as a landing zone as it becomes an ally per page 11 of Europe 1940 rulebook. That is an example of a tool in my arsenal for when Germany makes this an option…this is one of those things that slips past some players.

I hope for the UK1 pullout to become just another tool or option for veteran players. We can name it the “Bell-Fey” Gambit. Or the “Chamberlain maneuver”. Other names: “The Benny Hill”, “Operation: Open House”, “Alpha Gamble”, “Larry’s Parry”, “The Gouse-step Mis-step”, “The Atlantic Mouse Trap”, “Balkan Express”, “Malta Mayham”,  “G day”, “France II”, “Operation Neville” or “Atlantic Stall”

Anyone else have a name for it?

@Idi:

Tried what? UK suicide……

Well, lets call it: “Operation: Open House”. Have you tried something similar? Worse case scenario, you’ll become an exiled leader :)

By the way, Mr. Amin (300,000 deaths caused), how is Uganda these days? I understand your successor: Milton OBOTE (1980-85) (100,000 deaths caused) was in turn thrown out by Yoweri MUSEVENI in 1986. I here there is Egyptian styled unrest these days.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html

I’ll call you buddy, if I can have half as many badges and medals for my jacket. You have to recognize style when you see it.

One time in a mage knight tournament, by opponent, upon seeing the piece I drew in the random draw replied: “Pants around my ankles”.

• Mage knight was one of the early tactical miniature games with a fantasy theme. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mage_Knight
  That year I won 4 of the 4 random draw tournaments I played in. (I generally chose weak pieces that could move in formation, while others looked for strong pieces that once they were eliminated, left them vulnerable.)

The bad thing about a Russian Navy, is that you are kept neutral 4 turns….Also, Germany outproduces you, and if they are building 3 ships a turn in the plan I mentioned, I doubt you will want to try it…who knows.

Well, I’m sure there are players here that would do the same to me. Actually, I am not sure if there are balance issues, as I haven’t put as much effort into the allies as I need to. I see serious concerns, but it is too early to be sure. I think, as long as everyone is fine playing global, alpha +2 or Out of box rules should be fine if your other players have not “figured” out an optimum strategy. I am not sure what I would recommend for balance issues. There are some great players here that have play-tested alpha +2 and see it as balanced.

I’ll let you know how this UK plan works for allies, when I get time to test it in detail. A fix may be as simple as having the UK start the round. Remember, Germany does not need to take London to shut down their effectiveness.

@Ruanek:

This strategy would make the US enter the war early, giving the allies +30 IPCs per turn, but they’re also losing UK London’s IPCs for as long as Germany holds it.  And there’s the money Germany gets upon seizing London.  So in terms of pure IPCs it isn’t necessarily a win for the allies, especially because it also would stop most forms of reinforcement to Egypt (except from UK Pacific).

Its true, UK will lose income, but lets also consider the income Italy will lose, and the impact on Italy of having a good size US transport fleet off Gibraltar by turn 3. Lets also consider the impact on the axis of having to defend London and Italy so early….

I’ll let you know how the play tests come along. I realize the proposal to surrender a capital will take some serious scrutiny before it becomes an “option” in the allies play book. That is where the feedback from others trying this would be helpful.