France totally useless

we have talked abut using this rule set before but my opponent is not as familiar with it.

Also enjoy your videos YG

If you try it out, you’ll see that the U.K. can’t sufficiently reinforce France, even with the additional 6 French troops, from having Germany crush it on round 2.  Even if every available plane is landed there, and the strafe leaves 2 tanks plus the fighter, it’s impossible to hold.  So all that landing planes accomplishes is wiping out the British airforce (and keeping France from falling to Italy).  The payoff isn’t worth it.

The biggest downsides I can imagine are that (1) it is much more difficult to hold off serious landings at Normandy by the US and/or UK.  Italy then has to protect Western Europe and the Med–although with Germany taking S France, they can dump ships in the Med as well if it comes to that (subs backed up by planes would be cheap).  And (2) delaying the war on the Pacific side until round 3 (which would make this work much better at times, depending on the US builds) means that UK Pacific can shuttle some troops over.

The really nice thing about this strategy is that it’s more efficient to have Italy be the 1 force in the Med, and not have to worry about building enough ships off the S France factory right away to protect them from UK planes.

I think it’s going to be the standard opening in our play group for the foreseeable future.

The counter someone mentioned above about making sure to buy troops in S Africa–either mechs, or infantry/artillery to go with transports, in combination with some shuttling from India, is probably the safe response.

Grover and I just started another game, with me being the Axis, and I’ve got to say I’m enjoying the big Italian boost.

Gibraltor is the best landing spot when then can enter the war.  From this spot, they can land just about anywhere they want.

UK
Normandy
Southern France
Northern Italy
Southern Italy
Denmark
Western Germany (If UK can take Denmark ahead of them and hold it)
Norway

With the Naval Base damaged, they can only reach Normandy or Southern France.

Remember, “If you defend everywhere, you defend no where.”

Bombing the Naval Base takes pressure off of the Axis.  Germany will gain another turn not worrying if the US is going to attack Italy or land in UK or Norway or where ever.  They can concentrate on Normandy and Southern France.  Or let Italy defend Southern France and Germany Normandy.

I find it very interesting and will make plans to use this.

Doc

@Sid:

France offered to hold their action so that Germany could go immediately, thus allowing Italy and Germany to coordinate more fluidly, instead of interrupting to state they were doing nothing and causing a multiple day delay between Italy and Germany.

If the players agreed to the change in order, the agreement should stand.  Why should the Axis assume France would not make the attack if the order has been changed.  Have the online moves been being submitted as if France was going in it’s original order?

It was not an agreement that the turn order was different.  That would have constituted a house rule and why would France give up the right to screw up the Axis plan forevermore in perpetuity?  No, it was a contingent offer that if Italy did nothing to instigate an attack by France, then Germany could be allowed to move so as not to slow down the game.

Once, in twelve or fifteen games

About the same for me.

Ironically though, everytime I have seen a game where France didn’t fall, it’s ended up an Axis Victory anyways.  I wonder if it has to do with the allies overcompensating, and trying to actually hold on to france aswell…

@larrymarx:

Thanks for the responses. The fleet move to take Persia and Iraq probably isn’t a good idea then. Now here’s another question: if Japan declares war on Britain while already at war with Russia, can the US player then land his aircraft in Russia? Russia is not yet at war with Germany or Italy.

Only if the US is at war can it land aircraft in non-US territory

@The:

@calvinhobbesliker:

@marechallannes:

1 tac bomber is minimum for an G1 attack on france.

Yes, Italy took france, but Germany lost too much ground forces and misses 17 french IPC’s.

Not really. He transported an inf and tank from Albania to North Italy and then moved them to France, which is illegal. Thus, I redoed the battle without the inf and tank, and am awaiting his decision on whether to continue

I did not realise this and I will re-do the battle.

I already redid the first round. Feel free to use your 2 transports to invade other areas if you wish

This makes sense for France - UK/USA liberates, then France Collects, then Germany recaptures.

England is a different manner.  If USA liberates, Germany goes before UK collects.  If they wait till the next turn, USA can land planes.  Of course Germany can land in Scotland (if they’re boats are safe there) and send a double wave in after America reinforces.  Me, I found it hard (post Sea Lion) for Germany to divert any more resources away from th Russian front - including enough to hold USA out of England.

What to do with those Germans?