Is the Axis Advantage it's overwheling Air Power?

@barnee thanks let me check that out

The most effective russian players I’ve encountered are the ones that are able to build up a force that is able to threaten a counter on a german stack. If a good german player wants to go for Moscow they are able to get it, however I’ve seen plenty games where the UK/USA are putting enough pressure on the  German player for him to stop just in front of Moscow. If the Russian player only has bought inf at this point there is not much of a threat for the German player to keep russia contained and slowly kill it economically. However if there is a stack of paired inf/art the pushback power is a lot bigger and thus Germany can be challenged and Russia may be able to break the German wall.

I’ve only played one game where Italy raged, it was glorious.  No Taranto I believe.  Axis win in Europe

If the US could build even airbases and naval bases on Allied territories, that would change the game significantly. For example, if USSR takes Norway, building an airbase there connects planes in a single turn to Moscow. Similar with an airbase on Transjordan.

Well you might want to watch this then…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxRwhOo-2u0

Remind him that in classic you could use 48 battleships to bombard if you landed just one troop (or more).  Maybe he wont mind 12 aircraft assisting 2 infantry then?

Game is won or lost in karelia before that.

@Frank:

But I have to say I like the Alpha set up much better.

It is incredible how much better it makes the game from both sides.

@calvinhobbesliker:

Japan only has 5 more planes than at start

Yes because they have used what they had effectively and have other large naval presences. For instance a 7 strong destroyer fleet and haven broken through China, Russia and India… It has been a pain to be sure.