Spain and the Axis

@rulebook_reviewer https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/31377/axis-victories-what-s-the-magic-trick

It’s already been discussed.

@Alpha-Admiral Germany goes before Japan, so if you attack USA with germany, the benefits of waiting with Japan (low US income) are a bit scrambled. Also, you may not be able to kill the entire UK fleet without sacrificing the precious German battleship if you divert subs to other objectives.

The diplomatic rules in Global 40 give you precious time and space for the Axis to play and cavort all over the UK, France and China. You need to sacrifice that advantage at a maximum cost to the Allies.

killed 106 +1
They did taranto or the planes cannot return +2
you killed both their fleets and the only ship left they have is a dd and or ca +2
they bought fewer than 6 infantry +1
they bought fewer than 4 pieces on london +2
you stratbombed them and were successful (15+ damage) +1

if you do not scale at least 5 on this matrix I would decline the SL. I scored a 7 and was still at risk of losing UK the entire rest of the game.

Buying ships telegraphs the sea lion. save your money instead. Buy the entire stack as a surprise on the second turn and only if thing are favorable.

Put a bunch of artillery in France with some mechs in w Germany. You should be able to push off an allied invasion.

Italy can usually afford a lot of infantry and may need them.

@WILD:

@Nippon-koku:

Your correct Marsh, Russia has to be at war first.  I’m assuming a G2 attack (which is the most common scenario I run into in my group).  But yes, otherwise they’d have to wait.

I wouldn’t sweat the Russian troops in Turkey.  The planes make it back easily, and any two move units brought to the battle can be back in Moscow by turn 4.  It’s worth it if Turkey gets hit hard and Spain is taken by the US early.

I agree, we also see a lot of G2 Barbarossa and it comes with a devastating J1 attack. This allows the USA to go to Spain early, but the USA also has responsibilities in the Pac to deal with. Opening up Spain creates a two front war for the Germans as they press Moscow, but the USA faces a similar scenario.

The Germans will still have their starting super stack pushing into Russia, but they will stall w/o reinforcements and the Luftwaffe. Early Anglo landings in Spain will force the Germans/Italians to spend on the western front (cutting back on purchases generally made in German held Russian factories). It will also tie up the German air force which is essential for any attack on Moscow.

With an Allied neutral crush pretty much every major power will have multiple fronts to fight, it makes for a very different game.

Great points Bill, and a solid example of how thinking a little differently can produce solid results.  Who would think that a US2 attack on Spain would be a great slow down move against a JDOW1?

The are two plans at work here.

The strict neutral strategy should not work against a good player because of all the extra infantry (18+) that the Allies get. But those infantry take a while to get into battle. The troops is South America take at least a few turns to get into the fight if there are no transports handy in the Atlantic. It may even be a turn or two before all the extra income comes on line for the Allies as well. And the Axis get to decide when to attack the neutrals, so they have initiative. I have never seen the Allies attack strict neutrals.

As far a turn 1 attack by Japan on the U.S. - Japan can defend Hawaii and the DEI for a least a few turns from the Western Allies and the Americans. Japan can build a Aircraft Carrier turn 1 with a Transport. Attack Midway turn 1 with Infantry and Artillery. Attack American Fleet around Hawaii with 3 Fighters, 3 Tactical Bombers, 2 Bombers, and 1 Destroyer and 1 Submarine on J1. Turn 2 attack Hawaii with 2 Infantry, 2 Artillery, 3 Fighters and 3 Tactical Bombers. If any Destroyer or Submarine survived the turn 1 Assault on the sea zone around Hawaii they can help defend the fleet from the scrambling aircraft at Hawaii, or defend any American Assault on U.S. 2. There should be 4 Aircraft Carriers with planes and 0-3 support craft (Destroyers and Submarines). This should be more than enough to hold off American attack for a few turns. If there are any losses on the aircraft on any of the battles fly new planes to land on the Aircraft Carriers in the non-combat movement phase. The rest of the Japanese fleet, 2 transports, 2 Battleships, 2 Cruisers, 1 Destroyer and 1 Submarine can take Philippines turn 1 and can take Malaya turn 2. It can move on to capture the islands on turn 3 and later. Once the Philippines are taken, planes can be flown from China to cover the fleet at an airbase. The Japanese have enough fleet to match the British, Anzac and the Americans for at least a few turns. Japan does not have enough resources to fight China too while this is happening. So the Chinese will start producing 18 + income a turn and dominate the mainland. But this is the strategic problem Japan has always had. It has the initiative and not enough resources. IF you have to choose which Ally gets more money, choose the Chinese, as they cant leave China (except for Hong Kong and Burma).

All I ever see the Japanese do is build for a few turn or two, attack China turn 1 and 2, and then fight a traditional war against the DEI and try to hold on…

the 1 fighter and bomber a turn was in reference to my builds, adding to whatever i was already sending. as for starting ya it was 3pm, lol. for me it wasnt my bed time. some of the others still wanted to hit the bars though, japan and i were totally willing to keep going. but the allies surrendered. losing the russians, and all their offensive capabilities kinda did that. as for the russians, they never attacked me, but they just pushed everything up to the front. oh after the game ended i realized that the US had also illegally bought an IC in the Philippines like turn 1. being so focused on Europe i didnt quite catch that though