Posts made by Carnage

While I appreciate Larry’s apparent animosity towards everything Russian it makes me a sad panda to see them so vulnerable. I think it’s a huge hole in the game play and a really great way for the Axis to get ahead, Russia has no chance of resisting both a serious German push and repelling even a token Japanese advance. But, I suppose I’ll have to content myself with my house rules and hope Larry considers it.

I agree Mongolia wasn’t a great change, it just doesn’t help, not only are the territories not worth anything, an extra 7 Inf after you’ve lost 18 just doesn’t make sense. The IPC solution was better, just isn’t enough of a deterrent.

Thanks for the prompt response none the less,
C

Is there any chance of actually getting some balance put in for the Soviets against the Japanese? Getting the Mongolian territories isn’t anything close to great, 4 Territories that have no IPC value and 7 Inf vs what Japan has already on the mainland? If the Imperials attack you ALREADY have 18 Inf to bring to bare, what chance does 7-8 Inf that aren’t consolidated have? I understand the setup is still based partially on the fact that the Russians don’t play a part in the Pacific version but in 1940 the Russians still had over 450,000 men stationed in the far east. Not just Infantry, but small tank units and planes as well. Eventually these units were moved my rail to their western front because of Barbarossa, but my point is that if Japan had of attacked they would have had men and material to call upon that were closer than MOSCOW!
In the game now if they’re attacked there is no timely response, aside from removing every plane (of which Russia starts with precious few) and sending them to attack whatever Japan is pressing their assault with. Japan has at least 2 but possibly 3 maybe even 4 turns to take territories before Russia can get any sort of reinforcements there. Given that Russia (if attacked) isn’t allowed to declare war on Germany and Italy, has no reinforcements closer than 4-5 maybe 6 territories away, and has absolutely zero chance of repelling the initial attack because of what they start with in Manchuria and Korea (not to mention the planes on Japan proper). I think for balance if the Japanese violate the terms of their non-agression pact Russia should be able to place 20-25IPC points worth of units and at least a Minor IC in any territory originally controlled by Russia that is on the Pacific map. It may seem that that would be a HUGE advantage to Russia, but it wouldn’t be in the long run, it would simply make the decision to attack Russia a serious consideration that would require a serious dedication of assets on the part of Japan and would allow another proper theater of war to be opened. All the game does now is allow Russia to be raped completely uncontested.
I don’t know how it would be balanced if Russia preemptively attacked Japan, but with what’s there for them (meaning the 18 Inf and that’s it) vs what Japan could bring against them in response I don’t imagine that happens very often anyway. But that’s why you gents and ladies make the board games and we just get to play them :)
Anyway, this has been on my mind for quite some time and I’ve been seriously burned playing the Russians (and enjoyed the plunder as Japan) long enough that we’ve made a couple of house rules, but it would be nice to have something in ink.

Thanks for reading,

C

Unless the person playing the Soviets pulls every available aircraft from his Western Front and sends it too Amur, which would take 2 maybe 3 turns (I didn’t consult the map), there is NO way that he can hope to repel a push from Manchuria and/or Korea. They simply have way too much they can bring to bear against 18 Inf.
It’s actually a bit of a sore spot with me, I get the historical significance of making Russia vulnerable to a assault but in terms of game play if the Japs do push then it leaves ALL of Russia open and it’s taken apart slowly. They don’t have anything even remotely resembling decent reinforcements. In Alpha 3 now they get the Mongolian territories, oooooooooooooooooo… If 18 Inf got steam rolled what will 7 Inf do? Especially given that Mongolia’s territories are worth no IPC’s and the Inf is too spread out to consolidate. The IPC bonus was a better alternative but 12IPC’s isn’t large enough to make a proper deterrent. It should be something like 20-25 and allow the Russians to place them in any orignal Russian Territory on the Pacific Map.
In my opinion taking out the Russians J1 is one of the best plays too be made, costs Japan almost nothing, doesn’t allow Russia to declare war in Europe, and lets you have 2-3 maybe even 4 turns taking little bits of Russia’s IPC’s for yourself before they can have anything close to resembling a proper response. It also doesn’t really take away from any other goals you may have in the pacific whether it’s the Americans, British, Chinese or ANZAC, it doesn’t tie up your planes, and the Inf, Tanks and Arty it could eat up don’t serve a whole lot of purpose until later turns anyway.
But, these are just my thoughts on it, you can draw your own conclusions, but I’d suggest trying it.

C

Time is the problem with all the Axis powers, Germany only has enough time to deal with either Russia OR the UK, but has a lot of problems dealing with both at the same time. Italy… Well Italy is Italy, because the UK goes before them they’re screwed from the start (9 times out of 10 depending on how the dice fall). Japan is the worst off because it’s pulled in so many directions. The question is: Which way is best? Or maybe some combination of both? Further onto mainland Asia through China and Russia and eventually over land to India? South towards the ANZAC, the Dutch Territories and over sea towards India? Or is east towards Pearl and the USN? Then the question is do we preemptively attack them? Or consolidate?
I’m not saying Japan isn’t taking a few territories in Asia or taking some of the small islands, I’m speaking too Japans focus, what her ultimate goal is.

IMO Japan is the hardest Country to play as, but also has the most potential. Thoughts?

C

I love the Egypt IC, the Med is really the only place the UK in Europe can contribute early game, the risk of losing Egypt is quite low because Brit player trades Navy’s with both Germany and Italy Turn 1. Whether you play OOB or Alpha +3 it isn’t hard to put Italy on it’s heels. If Italy can’t lock the down the Med it can’t knock you out of Africa and that pretty much renders them impotent.
It’s incredibly easy to deter Sealion form happening, whoever said to buy 9 then 12 Inf has no mind for strategy and thinking long term. To make that purchase even REMOTELY worthwhile you’d have to buy 10 Transports which you would have to place in CANADA to keep them from being picked off by German Aircraft. London’s job is simply to survive until either the US enters the war or the Soviets capture Germany’s attention.
I use subs and Fighter/Tac Bombers to deter Sealion and bring troops over from Canada to bolster London when I can.
Whether we agree on how to play the UK or not I hope it gives someone some ideas of their own.

C

If you’re pulling planes off mainland Asia in 2’s and 4’s every turn then you’ll be pushed back into the sea by the UK. You can’t produce 1 or 2 Aircraft Carriers/turn, man them with aircraft and not lose ground to the Brits. Especially if you don’t control the Dutch Territories. Strategy also doesn’t speak to dealing with the ANZAC and RN Navy’s in the area.

That’s my thoughts on it, dunno if it’s right or wrong.

C

Because of the huge amount of material that’s now concentrated in Manchuria and in Korea I like to assault the Russians Turn 1. Most Soviets I’ve played against have pooled the AA Guns as well as all 18 Inf in Amur to make the potential Japanese attack that much more unappealing to make. I Amphibiously Assult Amur (purely for the bombardment with the Battleship and 2 Cruisers you can bring to bare) move Aircraft from Japan, Manchuria and Korea as well as any ground forces that can make the movement. Russian reinforcements are so far away that you don’t have to worry about them in any real numbers for at least 4 turns, possibly more depending on what Germany and Italy do.
Also Turn 1 make your assults in China where you can.
I don’t provoke the British or Americans Turn 1, I do move my units where I can into the most advantageous position because you do have to assult them T2 before the Americans can enter the war. Ideally taking Hong Kong, the Phillippeans and Pearl Harbor. Successfully doing that gives you T3 to create your buffer between you and the US, and gives you a chance to start either taking the Dutch Territories or taking the RN & ANZAC navies out. Which you do depends on what’s available in terms of movement/supply and of course what the UK and ANZAC have waiting for you.

Hope this was helpful, feel free to have others build on these ideas, they arn’t perfect but I’ve had success with it.

C

I’m a big fan of doing damage to Italy early on and basicly keeping them from accomplishing anything meaningful. In Alpha 3 this is accomplished namely by trading navy’s in the med. I brought the cruiser and transport from India to Africa to facilitate amphibious assults on Italian territores on the eastern coast.

My buys for turn 1 Europe almost always include a transport (placed in South Africa to bring my Infantry up the coast), 1 in New Brunswick (shift material from Canada to the UK, but this will depend on U-Boat positions) and a Minor IC for Egypt (implications of this should be obvious). I’ve never lost Egypt to Italy so I don’t think this is a huge risk.

The only real danger to this strategy of focusing on the Med is if Germany takes Southern France, with that Minor IC they can do what I’ve done and place ships directly in the med. Because Germany is such a power house they can (and likely will) obliterate the RN there. You’ll certainly lose Gibratler and likely Malta as well.

For England I generally end up trading navy’s with Germany as well, after Germany has gone and you’ve taken the usual losses to shipping it’s simply too dangerous to leave the German Battleship and Crusier (can’t recall if it’s a cruiser or not offhand) laying around and they must be attacked. I haven’t found a way around doing this yet. With the destruction of Germany’s surface fleet you arn’t under serious threat from Sea Lion until Germany’s 3rd turn.

In the Pacfic I keep the ANZAC island hopping and use them to harass the islands Japan leaves lightly defended. I generally also use them to take Brazil. I never thought of using ANZAC fighters to land on US Carriers (can’t happen until the US enters the war) but I think it deserves some thought. Generally they end up used in an attempt to contain the Imperial Navy.

Hope this was helpful and offered some ideas. I’m open to any critiisms/thoughts on this strategy, always looking to build on my game.

C

Italy hasn’t been much of a problem to shut down for me by itself,  what I’ve had great success with doing as Germany is taking Southern France and using the IC there to drop some Ships into the med. This can be done T2, and it doesn’t take too many ships to tip the balance of power into your favor. With Alpha +3 this is even more previlant and more worthwile to do, pressures the British fleet (what remains of it) and Egypt, allows Italy to get it’s army to Africa and completes it’s NO. Also gives Germany relitively quick access to Iraq and it’s oil.

“Each AA gun in the territory may fire up to three times, but only once per attacking air unit. In other words, the total number of air defense dice rolled is three times the number of AA guns, or the number of attacking air units, whichever is the lesser.”

It’s written plainly, 3 shots per AA gun OR the number of attacking air units, whichever is the lesser. So 4 AA guns vs 2 aircraft is still only two shots from the AA guns.

Hope this helps.

C

Abosoultely fantastic! If there was 1 made for Alpha +3 it would be perfect, but this is still fantastic.

C

Played a game of A&A Global Alpha +3 tonight (finished about an hour ago) with 3 people, I was playing the UK, ANZAC and France. I had 2 French Infantry take Lybia from Italy, she responded by amphibiously assaulting (missing with the Cruiser bombardment) 1 Infantry, 1 Arty and 1 Tank and supporting it with 2 fighters. I successfully defended keeping 1 Infantry alive and killing everything save 1 fighter.
Absoultely perposterious dice rolling but incredibly funny.

Hope you enjoyed the story.

C