Confirmed: NOT a joke, game will be released

It certainly is a wonderful game. Enjoy!

Yes M_R, the dynamics of the will change with different groups. In my two 1941 groups G has to go for Africa from the off, or its Med TT will have gone.

@Nowhere-Man said in Game Balance & Capturing Capitols:

@Midnight_Reaper:

Lack of cash hurts both ways, though - it takes a while to build a navy at 12 IPCs, whether it’s the UK or Germany rebuilding their fleet from the first turn battles.

Lack of cash hurts both ways, but what I was getting at, building a fleet from nothing (for Germany) is very expensive and easy to spot coming, while defending England from a Sea Lion doesn’t require a fleet, it only requires far cheaper ground units (a bunch of English soldiers is a lot cheaper than trying to build a big German fleet)… it’s far easier for England to build infantry than for Germany to build a fleet with capital ships transports AND the ground troops to fill the transports, when all England has to do is build ground troops to defend against Sea Lion… yes, Britain will need to rebuild their fleet at some point from initial losses, but if Germany is trying to go Sea Lion before Moscow in 1941 (which was the initial question I believe), the money situation far favors the UK over Germany… unless the UK player is just daft and doesn’t defend England while Germany builds a fleet. As zooma pointed out, the more realistic method for the Axis to win would be to eliminate Russia first, then, using the funds from a dead Russia, build a fleet to attack the western allies.

I’ve played this game a few more times and I’ve come to the conclusion that - contrary to what I expected - the Axis player’s best bet to win the short game is to invade North America, starting in Alaska, and march to Washington. Japan needs to grab some cash and some factories, either from Asia (India and Siberia) and / or the Pacific (Australia, et al) and then start up the invasion fleet. If the US has focused on Germany for the first part of the game, they may have their hands full beating back “Dai Nippon Teikoku”…

-Midnight_Reaper

I’m with you there, Marc.  I once tried purchasing a transport for the black sea, as G’s planes were either all dead or out of range.  I was planning on funneling troops right past West Russia, however it turned out to be a waste of money.

Well if you have naval dominance at the moment, hit and run in Africa, and get those money islands in the Pacific back if you haven’t already. I would advise going all out on Japan if you can, and quick. If the Axis is making more money than you, it’s possible that they can very quickly close that gap in the naval field.

LOL There’s practically nothing on the board!!!

I would keep pumping out MEN.

The more men Japan builds, the harder it will be for the US to take it, and they won’t be able to afford it.

The same goes for Germany.  Infantry are going to be your best friend here, you’ve conquered Russia! Now it’s about killing everything off of the mainland.

As Japan, I would build up Fighters after securing my capital.  They have long range, are cheaper than boats, and the US will have to buy expensive carriers to keep them away.

That’s awesome! Can’t wait till tomorrow when I get to take the new board to the game store.

@HolKann:

But a good board game designer makes its games “easy to learn, hard to master”. It’s a cliché, but it’s true. Unfortunately, Larry Harris does not always adhere to this principle.

Yeah that guy sucks at making games. I never buy any of them.

…wait did you say Larry Harris?