Allies (+16) vs. Axis (darkskies) Coop

NP ABH, we’re only Human. I forgot it also.

Why I didn’t attack Southern France? Easy. I was afraid that I might conquer it ;-). I wouldn’t want to give Germany another chance to gain a mediterranean production facility, even though I know it’s supposed to build a lot of Bombers, not ships. I try not to abuse my foreknowledge as much as I can. Also one of the reasons why I didn’t attack Tobruk: I’m not supposed to know what the axis are going to do but I am free to anticipate to the possibility that Germany comes down with a lot of planes and attack my spread out small stacks, airblitzing the UK into oblivion. For now I prefer to consolidate instead of trading units with Italy on a rough 2/3 ratio.

I’m hoping for an even out, Oysteilio! Uk was definately not supposed to loose 2FTR and Germany to keep its BB. But if Germany gets Lucky on the #91 Cruiser, then attacking axis ships become more risky…

I can only hope it won’t affect strategy a lot, because that’s what we’re interesting in and that’s why we are playing LL. But I guess LL can still screw a player, though it mitigates too much luck a bit.

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition, version: 3.9

Game History

Round: 2

Research Technology - Russians

Purchase Units - Russians
            Russians buy 8 artilleries and 2 infantry; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Russians
            Turning on Edit Mode
            EDIT: Changing ownership of Baltic States from Russians to Germans
            EDIT: Removing units owned by Germans from Eastern Poland: 1 infantry
            EDIT: Adding units owned by Germans to Baltic States: 1 infantry
            EDIT: Turning off Edit Mode
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Novgorod to Western Ukraine
            1 infantry moved from Ukraine to Western Ukraine
            1 infantry moved from Ukraine to Western Ukraine
            1 cruiser moved from 114 Sea Zone to 113 Sea Zone
            1 submarine moved from 115 Sea Zone to 113 Sea Zone

Combat - Russians
            Germans scrambles 1 units out of Western Germany to defend against the attack in 113 Sea Zone
            Battle in Western Ukraine
                Russians attack with 1 fighter, 2 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
                Germans defend with 1 armour
                Russians win, taking Western Ukraine from Germans with 1 fighter, 2 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 6
                Casualties for Germans: 1 armour
            Battle in 113 Sea Zone
                Russians attack with 1 cruiser and 1 submarine
                Germans defend with 1 battleship, 1 carrier, 2 fighters, 1 tactical_bomber and 1 transport
                Units damaged: 1 carrier owned by the Germans
                Germans win with 1 battleship, 1 carrier, 1 fighter, 1 tactical_bomber and 1 transport remaining. Battle score for attacker is -8
                Casualties for Germans: 1 fighter
                Casualties for Russians: 1 cruiser and 1 submarine
            Moving scrambled unit from 113 Sea Zone back to originating territory: Western Germany
                1 tactical_bomber owned by the Germans forced to land in Western Germany

Non Combat Move - Russians
            1 submarine moved from 111 Sea Zone to 125 Sea Zone
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Western Ukraine to Belarus
            2 artilleries moved from Bryansk to Belarus
            2 infantry moved from Rostov to Bryansk
            5 infantry moved from Bryansk to Belarus
            3 mech_infantrys moved from Novgorod to Bryansk
            3 mech_infantrys moved from Russia to Bryansk
            1 armour moved from Ukraine to Belarus
            1 fighter and 5 infantry moved from Novgorod to Belarus
            1 mech_infantry moved from Ukraine to Bryansk
            1 mech_infantry moved from Ukraine to Bryansk
            1 mech_infantry moved from Ukraine to Bryansk
            1 mech_infantry moved from Ukraine to Bryansk
            2 aaGuns moved from Bryansk to Belarus
            1 mech_infantry moved from Bryansk to Belarus
            1 aaGun moved from Buryatia to Amur
            1 aaGun and 18 infantry moved from Buryatia to Amur

Place Units - Russians
            8 artilleries and 2 infantry placed in Russia

Turn Complete - Russians
            Russians collect 34 PUs; end with 34 PUs total
            Trigger Russians 1 Lend Lease: Russians met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 39 PUs

I handled a few things for you, ABH.
Russian baltic fleet attacked Kriegsmarine and got Lucky. Both sub and cruiser hit. I took the liberty to scramble the German FTR, took a hit on the CV and killed a FTR for you. If you want a different loss, feel free to take the BB or CV instead. Just edit the FTR back in and the loss of your choice out.

Also, you left 3 German AAA open for destruction by a single Russian MECH in Poland. I assumed you overlooked that so I took the liberty to remove 1INF from Eastern Poland and put it into the Baltic States (adding the territory to Germany). Feel free to correct that situation differently if you wish. Just keep in mind that if you leave Baltic States open you’ll need enough combat units in Poland to prevent Russia from driving a mech and a FTR in.

I want to change the Russian production in Moscow from 8ART + 2INF to 9MECH. Suits the overall idea much better. Dark Skies strategy (and its yet-to-find counter) is very new to me. But that’s what a playtest is for, not? Trial and error.

I can edit it myself after you post the Japanese turn, ABH. So you don’t need to bother.
But if you want to do the edit for whatever reason, that’s fine too, ofc. Just delete the 10 units in Moscow, add 9MECH and change Russian PU’s from 39 to 41.

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition, version: 3.9

Game History

Round: 2

Purchase Units - Americans
            Turning on Edit Mode
            EDIT: Removing units owned by Russians from Russia: 8 artilleries and 2 infantry
            EDIT: Adding units owned by Russians to Russia: 9 mech_infantrys
            EDIT: Changing PUs for Russians from 39 to 41
            EDIT: Turning off Edit Mode
            Americans buy 1 carrier, 1 destroyer and 8 submarines; Remaining resources: 1 PUs;

Combat Move - Americans

Combat - Americans

Non Combat Move - Americans
            1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Brazil to 86 Sea Zone
            1 artillery, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 86 Sea Zone to 91 Sea Zone
            1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from 91 Sea Zone to Morocco
            1 artillery, 1 battleship, 1 destroyer, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 89 Sea Zone to 91 Sea Zone
            1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from 91 Sea Zone to Morocco
            1 carrier moved from 101 Sea Zone to 91 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from Gibraltar to 91 Sea Zone
            1 fighter moved from Western United States to 91 Sea Zone
            1 cruiser moved from 106 Sea Zone to 91 Sea Zone
            1 armour and 1 infantry moved from Central United States to 101 Sea Zone
            1 armour, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 101 Sea Zone to 91 Sea Zone
            1 armour and 1 infantry moved from 91 Sea Zone to Morocco
            2 aaGuns and 2 infantry moved from Central United States to 101 Sea Zone
            2 aaGuns, 2 infantry and 2 transports moved from 101 Sea Zone to 91 Sea Zone
            2 aaGuns and 2 infantry moved from 91 Sea Zone to Morocco
            2 mech_infantrys moved from Central United States to 101 Sea Zone
            2 mech_infantrys and 2 transports moved from 101 Sea Zone to 86 Sea Zone
            2 mech_infantrys moved from 86 Sea Zone to Brazil
            2 mech_infantrys moved from Central United States to Western United States
            2 infantry moved from Western United States to 10 Sea Zone
            2 infantry and 1 transport moved from 10 Sea Zone to 26 Sea Zone
            2 infantry moved from 26 Sea Zone to Hawaiian Islands
            1 carrier, 1 cruiser, 1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from 8 Sea Zone to 25 Sea Zone
            1 submarine moved from 64 Sea Zone to 90 Sea Zone
            1 bomber moved from French Guiana to French West Africa
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from 25 Sea Zone to Wake Island

Place Units - Americans
            5 submarines placed in 101 Sea Zone
            1 carrier, 1 destroyer and 3 submarines placed in 10 Sea Zone

Turn Complete - Americans
            Americans collect 52 PUs; end with 53 PUs total
            Objective Americans 2 Outer Territories: Americans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 58 PUs
            Objective Americans 3 Defense Obligations: Americans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 63 PUs
            Objective Americans 1 Homeland: Americans met a national objective for an additional 10 PUs; end with 73 PUs

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition, version: 3.9

Game History

Round: 2

Purchase Units - Chinese
            Trigger Chinese Loses Burma Road: Chinese has their production frontier changed to: productionChinese_Burma_Road_Closed
            Chinese buy 5 infantry; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Chinese
            2 infantry moved from Szechwan to Yunnan
            1 fighter moved from Szechwan to Yunnan

Combat - Chinese
            Battle in Yunnan
                Chinese attack with 1 fighter and 2 infantry
                Japanese defend with 1 infantry
                Chinese win, taking Yunnan from Japanese with 1 fighter and 2 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 infantry

Non Combat Move - Chinese
            1 fighter moved from Yunnan to Szechwan
            1 fighter moved from Szechwan to Sikang
            11 infantry moved from Szechwan to Sikang
            2 infantry moved from Shensi to Tsinghai

Place Units - Chinese
            5 infantry placed in Sikang

Turn Complete - Chinese
            Chinese collect 6 PUs; end with 6 PUs total
            Objective Chinese 1 Burma Road: Chinese met a national objective for an additional 6 PUs; end with 12 PUs

I’ll have to do the Brits tomorrow, sorry. I’m too tired and will make many stupid mistakes if I continue tonight…

The game still looks interesting to me. I am excited that I can finally try a theory of mine and that against dark skies no less!
German bombers now have a lot of options, but they can only go after 1 of them. That is how I thought it was going to be, but I want to see what the effects are over time.

Will finish Uk tomorrow.

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition, version: 3.9

Game History

Round: 2

Purchase Units - British
            British buy 1 airfield, 1 fighter and 4 infantry; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Purchase Units - UK_Pacific
            UK_Pacific buy 2 infantry and 1 mech_infantry; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - British
            2 mech_infantrys moved from India to Shan State
            1 fighter moved from Szechwan to Shan State
            1 armour and 1 mech_infantry moved from Egypt to Kenya
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Tanganyika Territory to Kenya

Combat - British
            Battle in Shan State
                British attack with 1 fighter and 2 mech_infantrys
                Japanese defend with 1 infantry
                British win, taking Shan State from Japanese with 1 fighter and 2 mech_infantrys remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for Japanese: 1 infantry
            Battle in Kenya
                British attack with 1 armour, 1 fighter, 1 mech_infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
                Italians defend with 1 artillery and 1 infantry
                British win, taking Kenya from Italians with 1 armour, 1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for British: 1 mech_infantry
                Casualties for Italians: 1 artillery and 1 infantry

Non Combat Move - British
            Turning on Edit Mode
            EDIT: Turning off Edit Mode
            1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber moved from Kenya to Egypt
            1 infantry moved from Eastern Persia to 80 Sea Zone
            1 artillery moved from Persia to 80 Sea Zone
            1 artillery, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 80 Sea Zone to 39 Sea Zone
            1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from 39 Sea Zone to India
            2 infantry moved from Persia to 80 Sea Zone
            2 infantry and 1 transport moved from 80 Sea Zone to 39 Sea Zone
            2 infantry moved from 39 Sea Zone to India
            1 fighter moved from Shan State to India
            1 infantry moved from Persia to Northwest Persia
                  British take Northwest Persia from Neutral_Allies
            2 infantry moved from Rhodesia to Belgian Congo
            1 destroyer moved from 83 Sea Zone to 91 Sea Zone
            EDIT: 1 bomber moved from French West Africa to United Kingdom
            2 fighters moved from United Kingdom to Gibraltar
            1 mech_infantry moved from Eire to United Kingdom
            1 tactical_bomber moved from Malta to Morocco
            1 bomber moved from Malta to Egypt
            2 fighters moved from Malta to Egypt
            1 fighter moved from Gibraltar to Morocco
            1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Eastern United States to Central United States

Place Units - British
            1 airfield placed in Gibraltar
            1 fighter and 4 infantry placed in United Kingdom

Turn Complete - British
            British collect 30 PUs; end with 30 PUs total

Place Units - UK_Pacific
            2 infantry and 1 mech_infantry placed in India

Turn Complete - UK_Pacific
            Total Cost from Convoy Blockades: 1
                Rolling for Convoy Blockade Damage in 37 Sea Zone. Rolls: 5,1,3,6,6,4,6,3,3,4,5,5
            UK_Pacific collect 6 PUs (1 lost to blockades); end with 6 PUs total
            Some Units in India change ownership: 2 infantry and 1 mech_infantry

I agree that KGF is never, and a limited early focus on Europe (which I am doing and is not considered KGF) is almost never, a good idea. Only if Japan allows it but I think you and I have the same ideas about that. After I became stronger with the axis, I realized that the USA strategy appears to be restricted to: start to spend heavy in the Pacific and a little in Europe, slowly increasing the spending in Europe over time. End of Allied options.

This is why my interest in the game (in general), is… ‘wavering’.
The more evidence I gather that even a limited early focus on Europe from the USA is not good, the more annoyed I get. But, I am not yet at the point that I see no hope at all for a limited early Europe focus anymore, so I keep looking for possibilities untill I know for certain. At which point I probably stop playing (or have renewed enthousiasm). Depending on how limited (or not) the strategic options for the USA really are. I want a limited early focus on Europe at least to be not an automatic loss for the allies (if they keep in Europe what is produced in Europe).

Anyway, for our game, we’ll have to see how it goes.
I do think that Germany has major options to attack with their bombers. The USN, as an example, could be attacked and Germany could win it, but at a huge cost to the luftwaffe.
I was thinking: let’s keep the USN small as a bait. If Germany attacks it, what will that do for the eastern front… But if you think it’s better not to trade the USN for (a large part of) the Luftwaffe, then that is an interesting situation as well. Tbh, Germany not taking the bait is what I feared most, as I have not yet thought about how to solve the problems that this will raise ;-).

Hehheh, yeah. But less ships wouldn’t be bait, that would just be fun for Germany.

The problem with KGF is the split Victory Conditions of the 2nd ed… The problem with KGF is that in the first edition players could do KGF over and over and the axis could only cry on the floor about it. So the 2nd edition came with 6VC… I know that. The allies could win the game without the USA spending a single IPC in the Pacific and withdrawing even all it’s ships and aircraft from it. Something had to be done, but I don’t like how it is right now either. It’s the other way around and too a-historical at that.

I can see it is not going to work. The allies can now only transition back into a JF by relocating the USN from Europe into the Pacific again (3turns until it reaches Pac either via SA or Panama), or have a lot of floating IPCs in Europe that are not doing anything useful… But if we’re talking JF, the allies can do that more effectively if done from the start. JF, not KJF. Europe cannot be completely left alone, so it will still mean finding the right balance. So how about we start over? I think besides KGF (obviously), also a limited early focus on Europe can be listed as suboptimal at least. Possibly shining if the Germans attack the USN.