What is so bad about taking Karelia in the first turn(s)?

I can offer a really useful and detailed response for classic (2nd ed.), but I haven’t played First Edition. Are the two similar enough that a 2nd edition example would be helpful?

@Der:

@dezrtfish:

Try the “find players forum”.  Post you location and contact info.  Good luck.

A link would be nice there boss….call me lazy!

:-D

Get off your lazy butt & look through the site! Also check out the “games in progress” forum where there are several games being played now on this site via e-mail.
  :-D

i really didn’t have to reply to this one, but seriously, how can you be so lucky? even the luckiest people i’ve played with wouldn’t dare that much. strategically, though, even if that did work i would buy all inf. instead of those armor because the krauts would likely be able to counterattack all those areas with the possible exc. of finland-norway.

Yup!

We’re playing with restricted first turn (USSR can’t attack first turn) and higher IPC allottment to every nation except (you guessed it) Russia.

This is the root of your problem. If your group feels that the Axis is underpowered, then your group should use bidding to determine the Axis player, and how many extra IPCs they get. Search the internet, and this board for more information about bidding.

Generally, RR is enough to balance the game for middle-experience players. Bidding is needed only when experience grows to the point where the axis can not win anymore than 10-20% of the time.

I said that more succinctly. - Xi

Start Bidding! :P

Although it sets me back 30 IPCs, I prefer to build complexes in both S. Africa and Egypt. Then I roll 4 tanks a turn up Japan’s (sometimes soft) underbelly.

I AM NOT SAYING ROLL ALL DICE FIRST TURN.
I am just saying that even though there is a risk in buying tech, don’t ignore it!
I usually roll tech when I don’t need an extra tank or inf next turn as Japan, US, or UK. Not all turns, not everything on one turn; one or two dice here and there throught out the course of the game.