For getting started with setups and units, I’m considering two separate ideas;
First, a setup that could arrive at the proven AA50 1941 setup of the game after a couple turns with low-luck and nominal purchases and strategy. Second, a setup that closely mimics G40.2, with or without the rebalancing efforts/“G40.3” improvements that have been suggested here over the years.Thinking about flow and where forcs can be allocated… overall guiderails here would be, for the Axis:
Germany should comfortably take France and expand into pro-axis neutrals turn one, while preparing for overall strategy next. An aggressive early push into USSR- who have a quiet start- winning the Battle of the Atlantic, or a huge Southeast Europe/Mideast/Northern Africa/Mediterranean presence are all possible. An empowered Italy can meaningfully aide Germany in a couple theaters but as always can become overly stretched; Western Europe defense, North Africa, the Middle East, Southeastern Europe, or the Atlantic. Japan has a larger range of options but also stronger foes; a more lucrative but tougher China in the mainland and Australia in the south; much more money in the Pacific everywhere; and the Aleutians to threaten the US. A quiet start for the USSR and especially the US gives the Japanese player a full couple turns to start the steamroller with only the UK in oppositionOn the Allied side, the game starts grimly indeed.
For the UK, much more money to start and much more flexible, capable options around the Empire; South Africa, India, and Australia all have Recruitment Centers that can be quickly scaled up into regional power centers, or at least fully staffed to resist Axis expansion. Japan will be unopposed in the Pacific if the UK pulls out entirely or too early, while an empowered Italy is much more threatening to Africa and the Middleast. There’s also the struggle of the Free French to consider, which depending on how the Vichy rolls go may be a worthwile investment or a pointless distraction. All this while a slumbering US slowly awakens, likely to find a huge Japan growling at the door and unable to help much in Europe at first. For the USSR, a slower start coupled with frontline weakness means a huge invitation to the Germans. Huge territorial losses are likely until the reinforcements start arriving to stem the tide, unless Germany turns its gaze elsewhere. Looking eastward the Soviets have more options to train infantry or even create new factories East of the Urals to take the fight more directly to Japan. Finally, the US will need several turns to get going and of course begins the game unable to affect the course of the war at all. Unless attacked early by aggressive Axis strategies- in which case probably by both Axis powers simultaneously, further crippling a slow start- the US will face the immediate, urgent choice of which fire to put out first, or to attempt to do something in both major theaters of war.
