Posts made by Chris_Henry

I hear you man. Those are great, I definitely see wanting to stay different. You give other people options that way too by having two awesome selections to pick from. I’ll be coming your way for your bunkers soon though. Just made a large order to HBG, so gotta replenish funds! Bunkers, Atlantic wall, your coastal artillery, all awesome pieces I’ll be coming for!

@KingKuba:

That is a wild idea, Chris, in my opinion, Germany will have to be very weak on the western front to try that. If they move most of their units to fight the Soviets maybe that could be something to try. I’ll keep that idea in my back pocket though.

Haha like I said, 100% hypothetical. It’s definitely in the realm of could happen, but not at all likely too. I like to flip the script on some of these and think “what’s even in the realm of possibility?”. I like to try and think what the opponent might do, or what I might do if I was in their shoes.

Agreed on other posts re the Japanese fleet though. Try and spread them thin by hitting in multiple theaters. South Pacific, Central Pacific, China, Southeast Asia, Soviet Border Clashes. Because you’re right, if you let the Japanese sit back and build up a navy, it’ll become out of control, and they can hack at the Allies piecemeal if they catch them on the back foot. Trying to maintain some initiative in more than one of the theaters above is probably the best way to combat this. Wait until the right time for a major blow when they’re unsupported or spread thin enough to get a sound victory!

Hey Trenacker!

Just wanted to chime in here as well. I just received a ton of base set pieces as well. I should have all the mountain infantry, militia, coastal subs, torpedo boats, and cavalry I will ever need to play the game now!

I didn’t do an extremely detailed inventory (we store all our gaming stuff at my dad’s place for play), what I did get a good look at was great quality. Everything looked great.

The mountain infantry are probably my favorite new sculpt, super cool looking. The torpedo boats looked great as well. Not a lot too them, of course, but they look great, and now I don’t need to worry about how to signify what they are on the board!

@Munck:

@sjelso:

I am holding off on buying.  It just seems like it is too Beta.

My group has been playing the game for more than a year. In its current form it is very solid/polished.
… And far more balanced than anything A&A.

I agree Munck. sjelso, while there certainly are errors that need fixing, it most definitely is not “too Beta”. They’ve thought a lot of this out. I think some of their issue was having things implied in their minds, that really aren’t implied to everyone else in the same way. If you want the buy the game, it’s worth doing now still despite issues to be fixed.

First, I just want to add something for you to consider in the future. Doesn’t pertain to your current game, but something to think about if you ever end up playing with the Netherlands Fights Back Expansion.

If using that expansion, the Dutch are their own playable power, and their IPP’s don’t go to the CW. While true, they would get the money in exile still if you attack the Netherlands before Japan attacks the DEI, it’s not as strong as combining that income with the CW, which is obviously your concern here.

So again, it’s more of a reminder of potential strategy change if playing with that expansion in the future!  :-)

To address your actual question, you of course raise a good point. That’s a fair sum of cash going to the CW early on if the Japanese cannot strike for a couple of turns in the DEI.

I would say avoiding the Netherlands early on could definitely be a good route to go.

One thing I would say though, and this could be unrealistic, but you never know I guess, is to watch out for the UK deciding to attack the Netherlands themselves. Yes, the 10 IPP penalty for attacking a minor is steep. But if your the UK and you’re worried about the Dutch not being attacked for, say 3 turns after France falls, maybe you decide to take that risk and attack the Netherlands, and whatever DEI islands you can reach. You might end up recouping that money you lost in declaring war right away.

This would also give the UK a beachhead on mainland Europe. With the negatives of amphibious assaults, the Axis of course wouldn’t want this. A lot would have to be in favor of the Allies for that to actually hold past one turn, but circumstances being applied, it could potentially not be good.

Again, not saying this is best practice by any stretch. Just saying it would be something to look out for. You’d have to see how the game is playing out of course. The Allies could notice that Japan is realistically multiple turns away from considering an attack on the DEI, and could maybe find this worth while.

Probably too far fetched, I don’t necessarily think I would do this as the Allies. It’s more of a lesson in paying attention to what your opponent is doing, or could do I guess!

Really cool looking piece R DiStefano!

@aequitas:

You nailed it Chris_Henry!

Nuff said. 8-)

Haha thanks aequitas! I certainly don’t claim to say this is fool proof, but that’s generally largely how I operate with the Italians/Med/North Africa!

@Herr:

I really can’t see Germany and Italy defending Gibraltar and Morocco against the US.

I definitely agree Herr KaLeun. That’s largely my point. They won’t be able to hold when the Americans come, not without some favorable things having happened before. My point was it delays US intervention in Europe, which only helps the Germans to hopefully knock on the Soviets and shore up defenses in the West.

@Narvik:

Greece had the Metaxa line, making the Italian army lose that campaign

Actually, the Metaxas line didn’t play a factor in the Italian campaign. It was along the Greek-Bulgarian border. Greece actually found a hostile Bulgaria to be their biggest threat. It was a bit more useful than the Maginot Line was (there is an interesting aside when Germany assaulted it, where a Greek garrison continued to hold out against the Germans. The local German commander was so impressed that he awarded them full surrender rights, and, if I’m not mistaken, allowed them to keep their weapons), but was largely abandoned once the Greeks pulled back way too early against the Italians to the north and west in Albania.

Regardless, I definitely understand your point, a fortification would have been a very interesting unit to have shown in the OOB game!

Welcome Gino!

As Charles said, it survives. Transports are only taken as a casualty if you’re side lost the battle and you have no other units to soak up hits.

I disagree with a good chunk of this strategy. There’s a lot of factors here that I think are being forgotten or overlooked.

As others have stated, giving all those territories to Italy doesn’t do a lot of good. Yugoslavia, Southern France, Bulgaria. Those are all much better used for Germany for two reasons. 1) Germany is the one who will ultimately dictate victory or defeat, they can much more effectively utilize that money. 2) The units from Bulgaria/money gained from European territories is not essential to Italian playability. The money they make is still so small, that you wouldn’t be able to ferry all of those units you’ve now activated to North Africa. It would take a few turns just to do that. Not an economical use, in my opinion.

Also, you mention the need to neutralize South Africa. While I understand your point on the UK building a mix of tanks and/or mech’s there, that is largely contingent on what Germany is doing up in Europe. If pressure is being applied, the UK will not be able to afford to divert a large some of money to the South Africa factory. That said, to play devil’s advocate, if the UK isn’t being harassed or threatened in any way, then yes, they can pump three units a turn down there. I think if that happens though, you’ve already lost the ability to “neutralize” it anyways.

I don’t fully agree that the Middle East will be untouched by that point either. If I’m ever the UK, I always immediately sent the infantry in West India west toward the Middle East and North Africa. I don’t divert too much UK Pacific money to this venture, but with the activation of Persia, and maybe a tank sent, that force and an aircraft within range can easily overtake the Iraqi standing army, thus robbing the Axis of that boost if they reach the area. The survivors of this small force, along with anything from South Africa, seem often to then reach/reinforce Cairo around the same time.

For German help, I tend to immediately build a destroyer and transport off of Southern France. I’ll then increase that naval force slowly as the game dictates in other areas. Germany, in my mind, is perfectly set up to attack/hold/reinforce Gibraltar when/if the Axis take it. I usually have the Germans defend there, while the Italians build up a defensive force in Morocco. Again, this is assuming they reach that far before the US comes in. But that’s also why I build a German transport right away. They can assist in getting west in North Africa more quickly, while other Italian forces can marshal strength for an assault on Cairo.

I’ll admit, I don’t do it often, but I fully realize and understand the large benefits of Italy can-opening the USSR as well. It’s a well versed strategy. Even if you don’t commit 100% Italian effort to it, even an initial wave early in Barbarossa can pay huge dividends to Germany for the first couple of turns in the assault.

The Italian NO’s are Italy’s best option to see real money come in. And the Italian NO’s seem to me to be something that have to be moved on quickly. Gibraltar, Southern France, and Greece are the obvious three to take and hold for the one NO, Cairo will be harder. Taking essentially all of North Africa also requires some speed. Land troops along the coast to take them all quickly. This is all assumed that the UK navy has been dealt with after Taranto as well, which it should be. If those can be achieved relatively early, it helps to get the strength needed to assault Cairo. German defense of Gibraltar will help alleviate the strain of Italian resources to help make this happen as well.

All in all, I generally see Italy as an Axis stall tactic. While it’s hard to win the game if Italy has done terribly, it also isn’t essential for Italy to go ham over the Mediterranean/Middle East/Africa to assure victory either. By getting NO’s and staying somewhat aggressive, you make the Allies respond. Every IPC spent by the UK and USA that goes toward the Mediterranean is that much less being focused on Germany as it attempts to smash through to Moscow.

Loved this one back in the day. I’d say this is the version that really got me hard core back into A&A. My twin brother dad and I played classis all the time when we were kids. Got a little older, still played and loved it, but other games as well. But we got Europe and it got me looking into everything A&A. Made me find Pacific. We used to combine the two maps together, even though they obviously don’t remotely work, and play them both as a huge global game before we had Global 1940. Doing that led me finding this forum, Global 1940, HBG, etc.

This game definitely has a special place for me!

EBard’s store on Shapeways has all that. Large and small naval bases, and a dry dock piece. I’ve really been happy with his stuff.

EBard’s store: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/ebardmodels?li=pb

Small Naval Base: https://www.shapeways.com/product/E6LH5RYSA/small-naval-base-x36?optionId=62871890

Large Naval Base: https://www.shapeways.com/product/WERN7YFD6/large-naval-base-x12?optionId=43770990

Shipyard: https://www.shapeways.com/product/FKBW9ZGZM/shipyards-x6?optionId=42684779

Large Shipyard: https://www.shapeways.com/product/3ZGKYXNYB/large-shipyard-x6?optionId=42112739

Floating Drydock: https://www.shapeways.com/product/7N2YYXNTC/floating-drydock-x6?optionId=43142628

Shipyard with Pier: https://www.shapeways.com/product/ATBT3CD9U/shipyard-with-pier-x9?optionId=37710062

His capital set is incredible too. I haven’t bought any yet, but he’s made some really cool looking general/commander models as well. They are nation specific, and even branch specific at times.

Interesting take on China. I get what you’re saying for sure. Very true, Soviet LL is a risky business when you know what’s coming from Germany eventually, especially when you’re already, presumably, sending some LL to Republican Spain. I think you’re right, probably no way to “win” the civil war in the 1939 start. I doubt they meant for it to be fully “won” very often though.

Though I will say, remember for your 1939 start that “If one side retakes a territory from a foreign power they keep control of it.” So it’s possibly the CCP could grow a bit if they pick their spots right. But all in all, I completely understand the want for a expansion here.

Definitely agree with you on convoy raiding. Every Allied escort getting a free shot at every Axis sub is tough. Essentially assures subs getting destroyed. I think one thing that would largely help with that would be to simply say each Allied escort gets only one shot total. But again, I could certainly see an expansion helping with this too, and adding some flavor!

Haha don’t get me wrong, it’s the very reason we can’t get many games in either! It revolves around whenever my wife is out of town for a whole weekend basically! We’re hoping to clear some space soon, and find a more permanent larger table top that we can use to keep the game set up for longer periods of time. We know it can’t stay on my dad’s dining table indefinitely, which is why we try start to finish in a whole weekend!

Interesting Munck, I had not heard that! Don’t want to derail this thread, maybe I’ll open another, but what is it about China that makes you say “biggest issue”? Unbalanced in your mind? Or just not exciting?

Battle of the Atlantic. I hadn’t really considered that, and don’t have the slightest what that might entail. Could be very interesting!

Kind of like my response to you in the other thread, we just accepted this takes a long time, so we welcome the minutia (we’re also three in our group).

That’s a bummer to hear about Island Warfare. I remember hearing about a potential expansion a while back, but never heard more. Didn’t realize it just got cancelled! Hopefully they worked their way back to it!

Yea, was just a thought there really. Could maybe not alter at all. But I could see a combination of the two being a bit of a pain.

I definitely get what you’re saying on being effective! While I totally understand that want, we go a bit further in the other direction. We’ve just accepted that this game will take at least a full weekend, and quite possibly have to remain set up for a time after. We just figure we might as well add some of the cool stuff to it if it’s going to take that long anyways!

Reminds me of an old movie called “The Devil’s Brigade”. A combined US/Canadian commando unit that was formed. Fun movie, but as CWO points out, probably not considered the norm, yet alone something worth showing in a strategic level game such as this.

Yea, I know there’s VC’s there. But as you said, they don’t have much to do with the islands. I think one of the only ones really close to that are keeping Japanese ships out of the bottom of the map.

Like I said, I don’t know what it would be yet, but something to spice it up. I used to add a house rule to some A&A Global 1940 games where you had to hold two thirds of the originally Japanese controlled islands, or 6 of 8, however many there are, before you could attack Japan. The idea being they were needed to land planes and build troop strength before an assault on Japan. Not saying it needs to be a rule like that, but something to entice warfare in those areas. As of now, the US fleet can reach Japan from Hawaii in a single turn. It’s conceivable that’s the only focus in a game sometimes!

I have not been sold on Oil Wars, to be honest. The rules seem a bit off to me for it. You’re telling me that it costs Germany the same amount of oil to move all of it’s land units as it does for ANZAC to do the same? Doesn’t make sense to me. I used to play around with a rule (never tested I should add) where the oil you had could combat move 5 units/per oil, or whatever it is you wanted to make it, and that oil had to be present in the same territory where units originated. This would require supply areas to be closely protected, and a gradual build up to happen. The problem with oil to me, is that a game as strategic level as this already has that built in. The money a territory is worth, the units built, etc., all that has an implied resources used to build/manufacture, logistics to move whole corps, and oil/gas/ammunition/food/etc. used to move armies. That’s how I’ve always viewed the monetary values of territories in all A&A games/variants at least.

Interesting take on China/partisans. I see what you mean in terms of having conflict happen between the CCP and KMT, even while they’re “allied” to take on the Japanese.

With your China question, as well as the French resistance question, I can tell you definitively that HBG is actively working on a Partisans Expansion. They seem extremely excited about it. The have the shipment of pieces for it already too, I think they’re just putting the final touches on the rule set. So that might come true in the near future, which is why I didn’t list. I agree, French Resistance was obviously huge, as well has partisan brigades on the Eastern Front. Will look excitedly for this expansion.

Similarly, they also had a commander piece created. My guess is there’s a future expansion regarding that coming as well. Would be interesting to see if they can re-roll missed attack/defense shots or something like that. Or maybe they could soak up one hit a turn or something, similar to tanks in A&A 1914. I think another cool thing would be if commanders could command “multi-national forces”. By that I mean, if say a US commander shares a territory with a mix of USA, UK, and French forces, for example, he can command the entire force of all nations all on the USA turn. That would expend UK and French movement, in this example, for their respective turns of course. Might be too hard to keep track of, but that could be interesting.

Just curious what it is everyone else would like to be seen done in future expansions? Might immediate wishes are (in no particular order):

1. South America - Would love to see ways to get it more involved. This is alternative history, not factual! Which means I’d love to see Argentina and/or Chile turned to the Axis, and a localized war happen there. Pull the US into another direction that way as well.

2. Island Warfare - Similar to A&A issues, there still isn’t a lot of necessity to island hoping. Would love to get an island hoping campaign in there, with incentive for the Japanese to actually defend the islands as well. I’ve seen house rules of not allowing ships to be outside of range of a friendly naval base, that could be an intriguing way to guarantee some of this. Would be neat to get the historically important islands into the game somehow. Rabaul, Solomons, Iwo Jima, etc., all get a bit lost I think.

3. Axis Minors Expansion - Would love to see these be individual player nations as well, like Turkey and Netherlands. Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Finland, and (maybe?) Siam. Maybe they still move/attack/etc. with Germany, but their money is their own, and they build at their individual home countries. Would add cool flavor I think.

4. Commonwealth Expansion - Similar to the Axis Minors above, would love to see South Africa and especially Canada have their own forces. Same as above, probably still linked to the UK in move/attack, but uses their own money and builds from their own territories.

What do you all have on your minds in regards to this?