Global/Europe/Pacific 1939 for 1940 2nd Editon

Closely notice every setup change.  Some facillities and industrial complexes are changed.

To get you into this, I will give some overall strategy guides, changes, and tips.

Germany:
At the moment, your goal is to knock out the pro-Allied nations surrounding you (Poland, Denmark, Norway, and Holland) and get the pro-Axis on your side (Hungary and Romania).  Attacking France will require many forces so don’t take any chances and move/buy every unit you think is necessary.  Sink as much of the Royal Navy as possible and definitely consider Sea Lion.  The UK is weak and the Russkies and Yanks won’t be around any time soon.  The only one standing in your path to London is France…or are they?  An earlier year brings more opportunities, but you will need to build up too.  Grab any portion of Eastern Europe that Russia did not take on Turn 2 (Eastern Poland, Bessarabia, Baltic States, and Vyborg).  You can try attacking Russia very early, possibly with Japanese help.  Italy has a little more leverage in the Mediterranean, but the lack of action early on in that theater means that you can make a big impact there if you want.  Germany should probably foregone taking Yugoslavia and leave Bulgaria and Greece to Italy. Remember, time is not on your side; decide where you want to hit the Allies and act fast.  Be creative, especially on the seas.

Japan:
All options are open.  China is strong and you will need considerable force to push them back.  The US is weaker, but the other minor Allies are more of a threat to deal with.  Getting in war in 1939 might not be a good idea due to the lack of targets and proximity to the Dutch East Indies.  Perhaps you should use the extra turn to hit China hard or start a war with Russia.  Consider striking fast at UK or ANZAC before they have time to build up.  Their lack of transports makes J1 still viable, but keeping the US out for 3 whole turns of NOs might be worthwhile.  As always, take the Dutch East Indies fast, but beware of China and consider options you might usually avoid such as Russia, Pearl Harbor, and Australia.

Russia:
Grab everything you can: Bessarabia, Baltic States, Eastern Poland, and Vyborg.  Don’t fall for the trap of letting Germany take out Eastern Poland; it puts them that much closer to Moscow.  Your forces are weak and your factory in Moscow needs an upgrade.  But you do have a decent navy and a bomber to hit Berlin when you can.  Ukraine does not have a factory so readjust for that.  A two-front war is more likely with tension growing in the China/Japan/Mongolia/Russia border.  If possible, try to make Germany wait out the 5 turns you potentionally have to stock up.  China is stronger, but supporting them is still an option.  Most likely the Middle East will be covered by the time you get involved.

US:
Basically the same as 1940, just a longer wait and the need for upgrade.  Japan might get gutsy and hit you in 1939 in which case you need to get in the Pacific fast.  Notice the added facilities in the islands and use them to your advantage.  If you want to go south, ask ANZAC to build a Naval base somewhere.  Keep in mind that Sounthern France has no IC either.  Don’t feel that you must upgrade every factory.  Just get an upgrade when you need it.  Try to help to get multinational naval support in the Atlantic to help cover your transports.  Brazil might be activated long before you get over there.  Planning ahead is crucial.

China:
You are a formidable foe in this one with artillery to start and a guarantee on the Burma road too.  Make Japan pay and keep that road covered.  You have the rare chance to do some coastal fighting, but watch out for amphibious assaults. Don’t get overconfident and maybe ask UK or Russia for some flak support.  Try to keep the Burma Road defended at all times in order to buy as many artillery as are useful until the Japanese start overwhelming you.  Fighting up north is a good distraction, but Japan will most likely try to take Yunnan by way of Kwangsi or French Indo-China.  Try to destroy as many Japanese as possible even if you lose equal forces.

ANZAC:
You may look stronger, but some of your faculties are gone and Japan can easily overwhelm you.  Get a transport ASAP.  New Zealand has a factory which can allow some variety, but this bonus is not as helpful as it looks.  Use your bigger navy to help UK and make upgrades when necessary.  Fortunately, you have a good land army and Japan won’t be invading Australia easily.  Your fleet might get cornered, so use your fighters and a possible airbase for scrambling.  Be cautious when declaring war on Japan because the US has a longer wait in the war and a lack of available resources right away.  Don’t be tempted to hit a juicy Japanese target unless you can survive until the fourth turn when the US can relieve you.  The two infantry in Southeast Asia and also in Egypt can be used offensively if you send help.  Consider sending fighters from Queensland to Malaya.

UK:
Most likely turn one you won’t be able to do much.  Italy is neutral and you need to get ready for a possible attack from them next turn.  Get Egypt secured, maybe buy a factory if Germany is not getting planes and ships.  Plan ahead to contain East Africa.  You surround the Italians there currently, but you are outnumbered.  Defend London at all costs; some more AA is a good idea.  Persia is hostile in this scenario, so get those guys from India to hit them.  India is somewhat undefended, but you can save the Far East navy from Japan.  Fighting with Italy will be very different due to their neutrality.  Overwhelming odds and tall stacks is the key.  Bring that Candian fighter as soon as you can.  Ask France for their fighters.  Grab Iceland with either your Canadians or a surviving transport by the UK.  Don’t forget to grab Belgian Congo too.  As for your navy, you need to consolidate, maybe with the French navy.  Use Gibraltar and that air base on Malta to give you the mobility and cover you need.  Italy is strong and you need to react accordingly.

Italy:
Great news!  Nothing will be dead before you get a chance to play!  You get a full navy, some air power, and a grand army in all your lands.  You are a bit surrounded but if you get your assaults coordinated, you can get Egypt, mess around in sub Sahara, and rule the Mediterranean.  Don’t ignore the French.  They have a decent navy and quite an army in Africa that can stab you in the back.  Their two transports can be a pain. You might want to go for the Balkans because Germany has other responsibilities.  Keep your fleet defended at all costs.  Use turn one to dump units on Libya.  Try to get so many units in Africa that the UK cannot stop you in Egypt or Ethiopia or both.  Don’t forget to help Germany on the Russian front as usual.

France:
You can finally build!  But…just for a turn.  Paris is on a minor factory, so you might want a ship or two in Normandy.  Of course you can max defend Paris and ask for UK to help, but against a determined German player maybe you should probably use those transports instead to get men to safety. Maybe fly out your pilots to join the RAF.  It is your decision.  Keep your navy alive and work with the UK.  You can hurt Italy more than you think.  Use your Army of Africa wisely.  Hit Libya when the Italian hordes go east.

1939 lets you relive fun battles and give Italy and France more of a say.  Should Germany go for Russia before Paris?  Should Italy hold off war with the Allies?  Should Russia not expand into Eastern Europe? Should Japan do Pearl Harbor in 1939?  Will the lenient neutrals make a big impression with insane luck?   Can China, France, and Italy make game-breaking victories?  Who knows!  In Axis and Allies you decide!

This setup was not made with any bias for France.  None.

Ok, maybe just a little.  But I promise I believe it to be fair overall.

Aside from minor things
1: turn order (I really like this)
2: Weaker US and Russia
3: Stronger Italy
4: Better situation in Pacific overall that allows more variety
5: Minor things that promote giving players many options to choose from
For instance, Germany can try for France turn 1 but it will cost a lot of air power.
UK can hit Norway or Belgium like they really did (of course we know they lost but it might work here)
Russia has a better navy and a strategic bomber, but fewer infantry and fast units.
China and Japan have a big war on their hands and Japan’s superiority is much more pronounced at sea.
Italy has a great chance at taking Egypt and keeping their fleet alive.
France can do interesting things.  I already have a strategy I like to use for them that I called “De Gaulle’s Dream.”
Here is how you do it:
Turn one (suppossing Germany did not take all risk and knock out Paris) buy 2 infantry, 1 AA gun, 1 destroyer (3 inf 1 des for Europe only).
Retreat Paris troops to Normandy.  Yes, give up the capital, Germany has it in the bag.
Send fighters to UK.
Use transports to dump all you can on Algeria from France (2 infantry, 1 artillery) and get UK to build mega fleet with you in SZ 92.
Turn 2, your capital will have fallen, but now move that navy back to SZ 110 and take troops to UK.
Enchante!  Now you have successfully brought seven French units from France to continue fighting! And Algeria force can push on Libya.  De Gaulle’s Dream came true.  Supposing all goes well, France will have all the following F2 in UK, Africa, and at sea:  10 infantry, 2 artillery, 1 AA gun, 2 tanks, 2 fighters, 1 mech., 1 sub, 2 destroyers, 1 cruiser, 1 battleship.

Of course, alterations can and will have to be made, but the idea is instead of forcing a big fight for Paris, withdraw all you can so France can fight another day.

Vive le france!

So, in short, we improved balance to the point I think is fair and gave people more options.  Next week I will have the guys look at the Pacific setup just one last time and then I will release it and Global.

We have our own custom strict neutral rules that are generic for Global that I did not include with 1939 to keep this alternate setup open to everybody.  We usually play with each neutral essentially being its own power that can be activated if attacked.  We give them all unit types and connect colonies to mother country.

@barney:

@Charles:

We have our own custom strict neutral rules that are generic for Global that I did not include with 1939 to keep this alternate setup open to everybody.  We usually play with each neutral essentially being its own power that can be activated if attacked.  We give them all unit types and connect colonies to mother country.

Cool. When you get a chance would you post your neutral setup as well please

Actually that has been out for a while. https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=38615.msg%msg_id%

@knp7765:

In the opening strategy post you say Paris has a minor ic but the setup shows a major ic. Which is it?

Nice catch.  It is suppossed to be minor.  (Note that I swapped Italy’s major and minor on purpose).   I forgot to change the Paris factory from the 1940 setup.  I will fix the error.

The Global and Pacific setups have been given the final sign off by my team and are available for play!

The Turkish Straits are off limits unless you own Turkey.  Sea units in the Black Sea are stranded there.

Vichy rules are not included in this 1939 setup, bit Vichy would get all its historical territories (all French territories but France, Normandy, Equatorial Africa, and New Herbrides).

If you have any more questions feel free to ask or consult the ruleset.  These additions create many unlikely, but nevertheless possible scenarios that may require explanation but are too numerous to lay out.

When collecting NOs treat the territories as the board represents them.  Russia would not collect +3 for Baltic States or Bessarabia, or Vyborg.

Vichy would get French Guiana, but I should note that we have never tried adding Vichy yet to variant.  To do so would certainly require a tweaked setup and a list of special rules.  Also, since this is 1939, it feels acceptable to pretend that France will never surrender, but rather fight or retreat to Algeria etc.