The reason that Germany wins in your game, is because Stalin all of a sudden became a wimp! Russia is not weak! Russia has the same power as Germany if you cost it out. Russia is supposed to ATTACK Ukraine with everything but a fighter. It ATTACKS Manchuria with everything else. . Its sub & fighter ATTACK the German sub & freighter. It’s Manchuria fighter lands on Russian soil to help in the COUNTER ATTACK of Karlia next turn. It buys a fighter and infantry and moves everything into Karleia.It’s freighter goes to Britain. Germany is now in a mess and Russia gets $30! Britain will buy a carrier and a freighter if it lost its fleet, or a complex in India and infantry for the first invasion of W.Europe. The US will land fighters on the BRITISH carrier and send its freighter to Norway if the German fighter left for good, and might attack with its bomber. Instant Fleet! Can’t be stopped, because Russia can not be ignored and Africa can’t be ignored etc etc. Allies build complexes in Asia, but the 3/4 effort is to Germany. Germany must be attacked in ever increasing numbers in w. europe over the whole game, while Russia uses the distraction to build up a tank/infantry/fighter/bomber army that can keep exchanging infantry with germany and gradually holding Germany’s three countries for $8. And keep Japan in a game of attrition. Then all the Allies move in for tense rounds against a desperate and weakened Germany trying to attack the weakest left or right side, but eventually loosing this sad game of attrition. Germany is eventually whittled down to a few infantry and is partially destroyed by the English, then the US,and before the Germans have their turn, the Russians finish the last German unit and the game is over. Oh yes, The Allied fleet parks in Spain and slowly builds up an African army if neccessary to kick the germans out, and deny them the money for infantry for Berlin. But the Allies end up with at least 8 freighters off Spain and an unbroken train of infantry and tanks coming from both US and Britain.
This is how I have done it and had it done to me for years and years. Enjoy!
Well, by the sound of his post, it sounds like he used to strategy “Belorussia stack”. Now, although the strategies on our site (not out forums) widely support it, it is usually going to lose the game for russia.
Now, heres my suggestion. Keep your russian defenses equal. hold off the Germans for as long as you can. Stand your ground where you can, and retreat when needed. Theres no set strategy for defending Russia in AAE. Its a chess match, with Russia playing second. Its all about Action and Reaction.
Just sitting in Belorussia gives Germany a huge advantage. He has the initiative. This is something you do not want to give him.
The ‘stack defense’ is for uncreative strategists who do not know how to create a strong delaying defense.
A follow up, Russia has tremendous firepower in terms of tanks, airforce, and whatever it gets from the Allies. It should not be put to waste in some sort of stack defense, that does nothing.
To Anonymous:
Use the “Russian Patriotic War” rule more. Fly some fighters over to russia. If Germany basically abandons everything for a full-out offensive against russia, well yes, they will win without the allies help. Dont waste your time “pawn-grabbing” the germany subs if they aren’t what is really beating you. It sounds like whats beating the allies is that Russia cant hold out, therefore you have to augment their defenses. Toss Russia a fighter once per turn from turn one and I guarantee they will last past the 5th turn. 15 ground troops become about 3 times more powerful defending when you add a few fighters to the mix.
U.S. - if you still have the capability, dump off a couple infantry in Morocco on the first turn, If the german player dosn’t pay much attention to africa as you say, he probably wont miss that 4 IPC’s its worth.
Funny that the allies are having such a hard time over there, I’ve played this version of the game about 8 times and germany has one only twice; the first six times germany lost horribly.
Remember that by taking sea zones the germans dont move up on the IPC income, the allies are moved down only. (we had that messed up too at first)
Rik
that is really wierd, the first time we played the game we moved the germany ipc counter up when capturing a convoy too… doh!
anyway, regarding germany… if germany keeps winning against the allies, the allies are clearly doing something wrong. The key to allied victory is this: help russia! fighters can be flown to leningrad (if still help) bombers to moscow. when germany exhasts themselves in russia, the uk and us should invade… timing is the key. make sure the atlantic is won before massing an invasion fleet off spain. grab norway as close to the start as possible. this allows allied planes to strategically bomb germany with fighter support. -v.important. usa to build bombers and destroyers from the start. send the bombers to malta: bomb italy. use the destroyers to help the uk mop up the atlantic. once this is done, harry the germans in western europe. Russia should build artillary as well as troops… they are cheap and allow effective counter attacks.
guard caucasus… it is worth 4…
anyway, these are a host of ideas that people can use…
Angel, this is A&A Europe, not the classic one…
Russia has to retreat a lot (and its not fun) in order to eventually get a bigger army in the rear of the front. Germany will spread out thin from and you can get them with your big army. If germany has a 20 unit army, dont try to stick 4 or 5 infantry to slow them down. It will all die in the first round of attack and therfor only shoot once. Its best to leave territories with only 1 infantry to block blitzs. If you can, use other allied troops to block instead of russian troops. It is always better to retreat and fight with greater force later, than to be slaightered.
The people I play with are very good, and when one side makes one stupid mistake, it usualy ends the game. Always tripple check and make sure your important troops aren’t gonna be slaughtered.
Remember the Dead Zones. Its pointless to sit and sacrifice your troops in a battle you can’t win. Keep retreating.
FIRST THE ONLY REASON TO LEAVE MEN BEHIND IS IF YOU ARE AFRAID OF TANK ATTACK. THE RED ARMY IS NOT AFRAID OF TANK ATTACK WITH NO INFANTRY SUPPORT. THERE’S THAT CONCEPT AGAIN OF COMBINED ARMS WITH IT ALL YOUR SHALLOW STRATEGIES FALL BLEEDING TO THE SIDE. FALL BACK AND COUNTER ATTACK, BLOODY THE ENEMIES NOSE, BOMB HIS AIRFIELDS, HAMMER UNPROTECTED TANKS. FEAR OF ATTACK WILL SLOW THE GERMAN ADVANCE BETTER THAN WASTING YOUR MEN.POUR ALLIED AIR INTO THE SOVIET UNION AS THE RED ARMY GROWS TO 60+ INFANTRY WITH 6 TANKS 6 ARTILLERY 4 FTRS & 3 BMBRS, NOT A FORCE TO BE TRIFLED WITH AND ASIDE FROM THE LIMITED ARTILLERY HIGHLY MOBILE.SO BRING YOUR BIG BAD GERMAN ASS UP TO OUR RUSSIAN WINTER WE’LL EAT YOU FOR BREAKFAST! 6 TURNS MY BEHIND.
There is no way Russia can ever generate 60+ infantry. I mean, if Germany is industrial bombing Russia while attacking it with most of its forces for 5 to 6 continuous turns, Russia will never amass such an army.
As for your continual harping about your “combined arms” doctrine, it makes sense but it is hard to apply to a board game and to certain countries with specific objectives/tactics/limitations (i.e. IPC income).
Russia must of luck and tenacity. strategic bombing is rough going with fighter cover & AA to fly through and as a player not a combatant I can be less tied to land. You can return the favor as well for Germany is an easy target from Leningrad (ftr covr), the Soviets must make the Germans pay for every inch. As the germans move in without air cover the fist of the soviet army and air corps must be able to punch and hard. Whether you think I can have that many infantry doesn’t matter, you start with 44 and the allies provide all air power ( and later ground units. The Allies job is to harass the flanks of the germans and threaten invasion of Europe ( pulling resources from the soviet front). The ocean protects the U.S. & Britain (w/ infantry for England in #'s to deter quick attack.The germans can certaintly defeat the allies but luck and poor play by the allies are essential for victory. Germany is certaintly the power “easiest” to win with simply due to their massive force at the beginning of the game. The novice will stand and fight while the more experienced will simply fight to cover retreat while planning always planning counterattack. Perhaps the flaw is you play to fast. These are wargames and wars (in these days) occured over years. To take time to plan and map out NEW strategy during play is for me not only the most accurate part of play but the most fun. The posting previously about looking at the board for hours is correct only do not simply ponder before play do it during. Yes I know this makes games last forever but they will be great games and no won will lose for making a rushed decision(this is NOT battlefield tactics this is large scale campaign strategy)for no one enjoys a hollow victory.I believe there is untold innovation on history possible the bigger a field(board) we can play on. Speaking of which what big boards are out there or have some of you made your own?
Russia must attack :evil: If Russia just retreats and defends, game over. Germany takes out the fleets on his first turn, and cripples uk’s ipc (convoys). By the time the US and UK can create a fleet large enough to threaten Germany, it is too late. Germany concentrates all its power on Russia, with the stack principle. To do anything else is folly. Russia must hole Leningrad so that reinforcement fighters and bombers can come from the US and UK. By building infantry and artillary, Russia has a substantial attack force and defence with low cost. The converted aircraft support the attacks, making them quite effective, but because they can’t land on newly conquered territory, they are always out of harms way.
All and all, this still comes down to a dice rolling match. If the dice are good, Russia can win, but it is tough.
Every time I’ve played this, with the standard rules, Germany wins. All other forums with good players agree, even Avalon Hill agrees that the game favors Germany.
You can try things like introducing research tech, cause that can make a world of difference (especially if russia gets industrial tech).
Have fun :P
Every time I’ve played this, with the standard rules, Germany wins. All other forums with good players agree, even Avalon Hill agrees that the game favors Germany.
hmmm… strange. I don’t think the game favors germany. In 60% of the game i saw with standard rules the Allies win… only by removing Allies starting 12 IPC or by inversing it (Allies put the IPC first, Germany second) it is well balanced.
the americans can always move planes and bombers over the bockade to lenningrad where germany can use them in defence. fighters will have to stop in ireland or britain to make the trip
The game is totally in favor of the Axis. I just finished a game last weekend and once again Germany dominated. In the end it was:
Russia
-48 inf.
-7 tanks.
-7 arty.
-2 fighters
-1 bmbr.
But all said and done germany still had a stack of 16 tanks and 6 fighters, everything else had been whiped out but that didnt matter after he took Moscow. The funny thing was a couple of times the Allies won outstanding battles, but it never mattered in the end.
I suggest (as I will try in my next game) that the Allies pump Russia full of troops and air power. Send transports up north and drop men off, fly airplanes and hope Russia can hold out against the Axis final attack.
The game after that I think Ill try the Russian initial attack, otherwise we’re doomed.
Gd’luck.
Thats well put. If you continue to win or lose as the allies or germans either you suck or the people your playing suck. The germans are strong, but they face an allied force. My first game I played my cousin (whose first game it was also) and I won as the allies. Had I played as a germany I most probably still would have won.
My buddies and I have played AAE only 3 times now, and each time Germany was slaughtered – we were beginning to think the game was unbalanced in favor of the Allies! These postings give me hope that the game truly is balanced.
I agree with what has been said above: Russia should attack. Lure Germany into stretching itself too far forward into weakly held positions, then charge in with tons of infantry and artillery. I would buy chiefly those two units, and after Turns 1 & 2 maybe a couple of tanks to give you some extra mobility – it’s nice to be able to send one or two tanks to the Mideast if Germany invades there.
And definitely take advantage of the Soviet Patriotic War rule. That is huge, as far as I’m concerned. US and UK should donate fighters, and after a couple turns, sending transports with inf to Archangel or Leningrad shouldn’t be any problem. And if Germany truly does ignore the Africa continent, UK could send those troops north from the Mideast.
I would say at first that Germany was much stronger because of the amount of tanks and the lack of UK and USA support for the Soviets :cry: . Now I think is it even :D . Last two times I played the Allies I invoked the “Shell Germany back to the stone age method”. All the Allies (USA and UK) need to do is build all destroyers and a few transports that will carry one tank each. I would just beach land on Germany with one just one transport carrying just one tank and bombard with as many destroyers as possible. By round 5 I had UK shelling the Germans with 7 destroyers and just one tank. I did the same with the USA. The reason why this works is in a bombard your destroyers will shoot only once at a 2 for cover support and the one tank that costs only 5 ipcs will fire at a 3. Now this is where Germany gets screwed :D because they can only kill the tank. So in that battle the Allies will only loose one tank while the Germans will lose more (simple economics). This is a good tactic for two reasons one being the simple number losses for the Germans and two and equally as important is that is forces Germany to buy infantry to defend Germany rather then the speedy tanks that attack at a 3 and can be used to aid the down fall of the Soviets. Keep doing this and keep adding destroyers to the attacking group. USA will need at least 3 transports and the UK will need two transports to provide a constant stream of one transport carrying one tank to the German coast.
Now the Soviets can’t run and hide they must attack the German tanks at the right time. Which is when they are defending at a 2 and don’t have allot of infantry that can used for fodder. This is a common tactic with A&A. So the battle between the Soviets and the Germans boils down to who can kill whose tank force first.
The only thing else I can think of is use your 12 ipc at the beginning to match what ever the Germans do. Just to play it safe.
Ultimately its the random rolls of the dice that decides who wins the battle. All you can do is play the percentages.
Hope this helps :D
SEI
I’ve read quite a few strategies for German victory on this website, and I am grateful to all the posters. I have one burning question: what should Germany buy on the first turn? Some say, “Nothing but tanks!” Some say “Infantry and artillery!” What’s the best way to initiate this march on Moscow?
