We need an allied playbook.

@crockett36 I guess ultimately the Allies will need several “playbooks” as their strategy is not only influenced by what moves the Axis make but by which Axis power they want to tackle first.

@03rlp We discussed merging with the French fleet earlier in this thread. I have done this in the past 2 games. The first game it worked well as an attack went well for the allies, but the second game it was a disaster for UK. The Italians took Southern France first, then attacked the fleet off the coast. One a hit was taken on the carrier the fighters have no where to go if the Italians call the battle off and retreat. But if you lose the fighters your odds of winning decrease significantly.

@Guam-Solo sorry I steered you wrong Solo. I like Malta now. I like even better the coast of Egypt if UK could afford an airbase. If we’re not paralyzed by fear of that invasion, we could build one. I’ve never done it, but it would turn the tables on the Romans. I think a healthy and growing British fleet in the Med keeps the Italians so focused on the “lake” that it won’t be able to help his neighbor to the north.

I’ve only played one game against a Sea Lion. The Russians and Americans wrecked the Germans who clawed to maintain the isle the rest of the game. It might be the strategy that I want the Huns to do.

@M36 more details man! inquiring minds want to know.

@crockett36 Details? What is it specifically you want to know?

@crockett36 Lol - no worries. It worked once. But that is what I appreciate about this forum/thread. I like seeing how others play the game and learn from it. To your credit, I saw your video about how you went with Malta (in subsequent games) and was thinking about that move, but I went with the French ships because it worked before. I was second guessing that after a round of combat…:relaxed:

I haven’t ever had sea lion attempted on me. A lot of the dialogue in this thread is focused on defending a scenario I’ve never seen play out in a game I’m playing. But I am mindful that the Italians can get tough to deal with if their navy is allowed to consolidate. Swinging the UK Med up towards sz110 to block the Germans seems to leave too much intact for the Italians in the Med.

How do you (@crockett36) deal with a consolidated Italian fleet, after you have merged the UK fleet around Malta (with some fighter cover that can scramble), AND the Italians don’t attack UK? I think I remember you saying in one game the Italians attacked and it was a mutually destructive battle, but in another they just sat in their harbor for many rounds?

@M36 what your plan is to kill the H-man. Composition of army, which nation does it, what round?

@Guam-Solo oh, my conscience is clean! Relief. Yeah, I’m hoping he sits at home and blusters and even adds to his navy.

how about this format for an allied playbook? BW printed maps, arrows and dots for movements.

@crockett36 Pfft…why didn’t you just post this picture on page one of this thread? It would have saved us all a lot of time. :grin:

I went to college. First thing you do in a class is teach theory the second thing you teach is history last thing you teach is reality, the future and how to make things happen. Still …yeah you’re right!

@crockett36 missing a fighter and the navies.

@Argothair said in We need an allied playbook.:

@weddingsinger said in We need an allied playbook.:

Would you like to do 2 games at once, playing both sides? Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind starting as either side, but tend to default to Axis.

You know what, I’m sorry to get your hopes up, but I think the two games I’m currently playing have got me fully occupied – I forgot that Russia can declare war immediately after Germany takes London, so I suffered what was effectively a surprise attack on my forces in Poland (I would have stacked up differently if I’d realized I was being attacked that turn), so now I’m in two fierce Global games that could go either way. That’s enough for me for now. If you like we can play a casual game as soon as I’m done with one of my current games.

Sure thing.

A couple of threads down I’ve got notes on setting up Germany for a Sea Lion option that might help in the future, like stacking your Germans in Romania to force the Russians to stay North.

/I like an optional Sea Lion in case the Allied player does a good defense. No sense in wasting 70+ ipcs on transports and navy Germany doesn’t need.

@crockett36 said in We need an allied playbook.:

Btw, if you’re going to playtest for fun I’m up for it, but I take two turns a week maybe. And i only do OOB, no bid.

1 or 2 turns as in ‘its Russia’s turn’? Or complete rounds?

I’m usually good for 0-2 nation’s turns a day.

@crockett36 Well it’s all about understanding the history my friend. The 2nd world war was won by the allies on December 7th 1941. The United States is the allied hammer that must crush both Germany and Japan, but it’s important to prioritize on the more dangerous monster; Germany.

Why is Germany more dangerous than Japan? Well primarily because of geography. They eliminate one allied power round one, are within striking distance of another on round two, and can march across the steppes to eliminate a third rather rapidly. Japan cannot eliminate any major powers. The US is essentially unconquerable, Australia is not a major power, and UK Pacific is only half of a power.

Secondly it’s because of their military composition. Germany has a large Air Force for punching, and tremendous ground forces that are relatively easy to replace. Japan has few ground forces, a massive Air Force, and large navy which is extremely costly to replace. There is no “cannon fodder” naval unit. The cheapest one is 6 IPCs.

For this reason I make sure that my first couple of purchases as the US enable me to take immediate offensive action once at war. Force the Axis to engage the US as soon as possible because US units are easily replaced, while Axis units are not.

@weddingsinger it’s an unusual season for me with a wife that has had complications from gall bladder surgery. She’s going to be okay, but won’t be up to speed until May.

In addition, I’m getting more cautious about my moves after a huge blunder in December in which I threw away a game because of excitement. I had just captured Moscow and was sitting on 100 ipcs and I set up my defence around denying the British Denmark. Only the Americans easily took Denmark, and the British my cash. I messed up the turn order because I had recently played classic and another global game with a tweeked turn order.

So I can try to do 3 nations per week. I’m way behind that right now in my current game, but February and March are birthday months around here so every weekend has been super busy.

I would imagine I could be a little less cautious because we’re trying to hammer out British openings. So run three turns and confer? Or a straight up match? Either is fine with me, if you can be patient. I love playing the game.

@M36 don’t tell anyone, but I think I’ve hit upon something. English channel.
Composition of us army 75/25 air/ground. Stay near the coast and use the ships to bombard. 3 us carriers, 1 British. Aim for 8 to 12 fighters, 4 men go ashore, grind up defence and let Brits walk in and take over.

@crockett36 Now that’s a plan I can get behind. Germany must either suffer the bombardment, or counter attack because that complex will be their downfall if it stays in allied hands.

Of course they could theoretically sink the fleet with the Luftwaffe but hey, any forces fighting in France are NOT fighting in Russia. Win win for the allies.

@crockett36 rinse and repeat

@crockett36 said in We need an allied playbook.:

@M36 don’t tell anyone, but I think I’ve hit upon something. English channel.
Composition of us army 75/25 air/ground. Stay near the coast and use the ships to bombard. 3 us carriers, 1 British. Aim for 8 to 12 fighters, 4 men go ashore, grind up defence and let Brits walk in and take over.

Something like this you want plenty of U.S. ground troops to take Normandy and then the U.K. can land fighters there to help keep it.

Presuming the usual German air force (3-4 fighters, tacticals and bombers), 2 carriers and 3 fighters for the scramble zone, then maybe 1-2 destroyers is plenty to keep your ships safe.

Now, I’d argue a strong Japan is still a problem since around J5 they can be making about as much as the U.S. and start gobbling up Russia/China with ease and head to Moscow… but if you want to go hard at Germany with this, the first 2 U.S. buys should do nicely… If J1 and you can do it quickly, I’m in favor of getting Norway just so the U.S. and UK can bomb Germany endlessly, but…

A U.S.1 buy of either 1 carrier, 1 destroyer, and 3 transports or 2 carriers and 2 transports for the Atlantic side does nicely for your goal. The U.S. already has the planes to outfit 2 carriers and the men to fill 4 transports (if you take Brazil), and then the cruiser. If a J1, you could be in position US3 for an attack on Normandy, Norway, or Italy, but a US4 seems better, because a US2 buy of bombers can land on London US3 and then help clear Italy’s waters or sz112 on US4.

US2 I might buy some subs instead of all bombers if Italy’s fleet is the target and you want the U.S. to be able to hit it. Then you’d want 4 subs for sure, a 2nd U.S. carrier…

Paired with the UK stack of sz92, you’ve got some serious options… If Germany doesn’t take S. France on G1, UK doesn’t need a Gibraltor airbase to keep its fleet, though you might anyway because Italy could sink much of it, then Germany hit you G2 with bombers to finish off the ships. Buy a transport in Canada (assuming they sank 1), so UK has 2 transports in the Atlantic again.