Posts made by Corbeau Blanc

C’mon… you guys compare material help to 20 millions lives…

I’m from Canada and yet still well aware that there is huge difference between money and human lives. I’d rather pay money to equip someone to fight for me than take the bullet myself if I had the option…

I honor allied countries people that fought but you got to really take a harder look at that war if you can’t see the real fighting and bulk of the war occured between Russia and Germany.

For the UK strat, it’s very doable but you need a baltic carrier and France IC on G1. This leaves you with a weak Eastern front so it’s a race before Russia becomes too dangerous. If Japan and Italy are correctly played however, you can stall russians long enough to gain control of Atlantic. Anyways, I’ll post details later.

@General:

Hi mate,

Thanks very much for your response… and while I appreciate that you may be more versed in the inner workings and tactics of the game than I am… I don’t really understand some of your remarks.

Why isn’t India threatened?  The Japanese will take India on the next round and how am I able to take it without abandoning Egypt.  There is a carrier and a cruiser of the coast with 2 ftrs if I take it back the Japanese will re trade it with me.  What does “Deadzoning” it mean?

The Germans will Steamroll into karellia on the next turn using the bomber and fighter to assist.  Are you saying I go into Finland and let them take it?  Then my inf will be hitting on 1’s and they will have 2’s for theirs when I re take it.

I usually do buy 6 tanks but I’ve always thought it foolhardy for some reason… Thanks for setting the record straight.

I don’t see what the overall allied strategy is though… What is the aim of my game?  I don’t know how to get enough us forces into the fight to make a difference before Russia falls.  Where should UK invade?  France? Finland? Norway? Should US buy just airforce in the first few rounds to support UK?

Sorry for late reply.

• Deadzoning is an expression related to making a zone a death trap. This is normally achieved by having enough forces within range of the selected open territory to make sure that anything that finish it’s turn there is dead next turn.

In the case I mentioned you, you let them take Karelia one turn yes, BUT you have tanks from moscow within range, the forces you moved into Finland and the forces massed in archangel to hit Karelia. That’s min 8 infantry, 2 artillery, 3 tanks against a 5 armor, 2 artillery, 4 infantry if Germany move all it’s forces in Karelia and leave a gaping hole in Ukraine. Odd’s favor Russia in the subsequent turn to retake Karelia. This should lead to a simple swap from both side, with a buildup behind from both side since a clever German player will want to take Karelia and hold it, not just trade it.

• What I meant by India being not threatened in your exemple: You do have 6 units and 4 fighters within range but if allies intent was to hold on India for an IC strat from the begining, Russia would have sent in 4-6 infantry in Persia turn R1, R2 send 3 tanks +  infantry already in Persia into India before Japan strikes it. Add to that the UK egypt fighter still alive in your exemple. That’s the way to establish a proper India IC.

However, my exemple considered UK evacuated India instead to mass all it’s forces from India-Egypt to hold  Persia, capitalising on the fact Egypt forces were not taken out. ( which is still a logistic nightmare for Axis since it’s a force of 7 inf, 2 art, 1 tank, 1 fighter, 1AA gun.).

• Allies Overall strategy here would be based on Caucasus. It is the key here, since egypt lived in your exemple. With UK massed forces able to hold it’s doors, allies choice there is easy to make:

USA sink Italian fleet asap and remove All remaining pressure on Caucasus. USA secure Africa at same time, denying Italy’s NO. Helps Russia later with it’s own mediteranee landings in balkans/romania ( perhaps even Italy ) and stall Japan as much as they can.

UK build up and land in  Poland/Baltic most of the time to stress/cut German lines even more. France is taken whenever it’s possible.

Russia not having to worry about caucasus and mediteranee landings, having UK  support landings in the north, can really contest Ukraine and even trust trough Romania from Ukraine if left unchecked, achieving her +10 ipc NO while denying Germany NO. Germany will have no choices but shift her attention away from Karelia.

In short, the goal for allies is to have a strong Russia.  UK and USA act as support on each flanks of the Russian trust toward Germany. When Russia makes near if not 50 ipcs by R4, it means the German player is a very sad panda. I even sometimes build 2 russian transport at Caucasus if I see USA can protect them, makes getting the 10 ipc NO even more easy.

That G1 and J1 turn is far from optimal, India is not really threatened and Egypt did not fallen yet, the bomber being used in the attack against UK BB. But since Egypt forces are available, I would elect to abandon India and deadzone it.

The German east front set up has a weak point in ukraine while being based on the expectation Russia will defend both IC. However, Germany can’t really hold on any of thoses IC.

Allies in this case:

RUSSIA buys are wrong for a start. You don’t answer a 5 tanks buy G1 with a russian fighter and some odd units. Buy 6 tanks

Defending Karelia here is also an error as UK has been opened options, you don’t want to tie their airforce in karelia. So you deadzone it. Take out Finland with all Karelia forces, bringing the AA gun with you. Moscow 3 infantry and artillery join the 2 infantry in archangel.

Ukraine is weak, 3 german units. There is only 1 infantry in range and some tanks to retake it next turn.  Smash it with everyting in range, your moscow tank and 5 infantry.

Place 3 tanks in caucasus, bring in the 2 khazak infantry.  Place 3 tanks in moscow and bring in novo 2 infantry. Close the gap in east ukraine with 1 of the 2 belorrusians. Leave 1 infantry in Karelia.

Result here is Karelia is a death trap, 3 tanks from moscow reaching it with Finland forces and Archangel forces. You opened a new front in Ukraine while ensuring the ennemy must commit tanks to retake it AND having ALL of your 6 russian tanks within striking range to counter attack Ukraine, Germany NO .

This is one of the case where you risk/sacrifice the lone remaining transport from UK and take France (keeping the destroyer safe ). Plan your buys accordingly but France gives you 11ipc so you just do it, sending your whole airforce to back it up. It will Kill some german units, give you 11 ipc and force germany/Italy to retake it, less units to Russia.

The rest is pretty much obvious,
UK main job will be to regroup all it’s forces between Egypt and India and hold Transjordan as long they can to deny Italians NO while allies sink asap their fleet. Then deazone India from Persia. This removes all pressure on caucasus and let Russia concentrate on breaking Germany.

US strikes at Moroco asap, perhaps even turn 1, also risking/trading their transport for that german fighter while setting up to sink Italians.

That’s about it.

Allies have the edge.
They can count on what lynxes point out :

• G1: Attack egypt
• G2: Try to Take Karelia
• J1:  Grabs it’s land while positioning for India
• J2:  Try to take India.

There is other variants but the very fact axis moves are pretty much previsible means they can be exploited or countered.

There is NO reasons India and Karelia should fall round 2 if you know what you are doing and if they do fall, it’s because you choose to do so in order to exploit other openings.

The worst threat to allies is a conservative Russia that ignore Japan.

There is an edition I have of an axis and allies expansion made by Xeno games : World at War

Here is a link to a random ( but well made :) ) fan site describing it
http://pages.prodigy.net/lldbeutin/World_at_war_page.htm

As in aniversary edition, China is a power but with a factory and it’s own income
France is also a power with it’s own factory and it’s own income

Italy is not however a power. I think this would have been great and made the game perfect. It is the best version of A&A I ever played except that it is slighty scripted for the first few  turns.

To agree with calm dragon, Germany do enjoy a 2 move/attacks first turn to simulate their blitz

You can move the carrier in either combat OR non-combat move.

You can not do both, like for exemple moving 1 square in combat move and then another square in non-combat phase.

KGF is easy to spot.

An advised Germany will simply build a France IC and go in turtle mode.
Hold it’s front line and produce only infantry every turn, using it’s airforce to swap.

KGF also means Japan becomes a monster, placing IC in East Indies, India, they can easily take Africa by themselves.

Also, saying that having the Italian fleet retreat from med is the same as destroying it, is wrong. That fleet can conquer territories and can always come back supported by Japan. Persia and Egypt can be both hit fom Indian ocean where Japan normally rules supreme, so Italian NOs and the channel can be kept by axis.

I did this too a couple of times, I land on round 2 with US and I ‘‘sacrifice’’ the transport in worst case scenario.

The hardest to deal with is If finland is stacked with 4 german infantry and 1 fighter, however it normally means UK BB and transport are alive.

Russia can straffe Finland one battle round from Karelia and let UK drop in Finland on their turn supported by it’s whole air force/pot shot. It’s likely you will win but not take the territory ( killing a german fighter in the process). Fighters lands in Karelia, which can now be holded firm against Germany ( assuming german planes went after UK navy/Egypt ).

Round 2 US come by and take position as you reffered. Drawback is that Germany enjoys 5 IPC and possibly it’s baltic transport one more turn.

Title:  A bridge too far 1941
Date:  April 10th, 2009
Special Rules:  NO’s
Victor:  Allies Victory by Concession
Game Length:  4h
Bias:  About equal.
Description:
Allies: Adopted a Kill Germany First (KGF) strategy.  UK divided it’s forces between India and Europe. USA made landings in Norway and Congo Africa via Brazil while still sending reinforcements in Pacific.  Russia kept their ground in front of Germany , fighting for the big 3s.

Axis: Japan conquered  most of Asia but were stalled in the Burma jungles, faced by the dreaded Indian IC, dubbed: ‘‘call center’’.  Germany steadily advannced on Russia, marching trough Poland.  Italy was overwhelmed in Africa after breifly holding Egypt.

On their biggest push toward Russia, Germany was stopped near a bridge in  Poland and ambushed by two subsequent massive allies landing that destroyed all of it’s panzer forces, luftwaffe and opened a clear way for the Red Army. It was soon followed by surrender.

Observations/Recommendations:
Allies won, despite their heavier losses in Poland, they still had a huge production advantage and there was no way for Germany to replaces it’s tank and planes. Japan was stalled long enough and failed to take India.
Link:  None

That is what makes submarines very dangerous when combined with an airforce.

Let’s say you attack a 3 fully loaded carriers with 6 fighters, you have 6 subs and 2 bombers.

Results will be that your 2 bombers might as well not have been used since you end up losing them versus fighters which can’t shoot subs. So obviously, you go only with subs and have a field day.

If the ennemy has a destroyer escort to counter your subs, he actually still shoot himself in the foot. The reason is that he actually give you the option to select subs as casualties from his fighters, enabling them to shield your air force.

In short, in lowluck ( I hate it but everyone plays that ), you will lose 5 subs first round and take out 2 carriers, 1 destroyer, +1.3 added casualty ( 1 fighter ). You then retreat planes and keep up on the remaining carrier with last sub that can’t be shot from planes anymore. IF he elected for 3 CV losses, your job is done and you withdraw bombers.

For a German player, the only thing you need to strafe the ally fleet is your starting fighters and enough subs to soak up the first round of casualties + 1 sub remaining so you can retreat planes. Italy could do it to a lesser extent.

I’m pointing this out because an opponent of mine insisted that his planes was not shooting my subs but my planes instead, yet he did have a destroyer which actually played against him overall.

@Capt.:

I like more Infantry and keep the offensive with them.  R1 - 4INF 2ART 2ARM.

Try R1 - 1BOM 4INF 1ARM?

Here you have a 2ARM 1BOM and a bunch of Infantry to take back a little from
Germany Round 2.  The Russian bomber(s) can come in handy later too.

That’s my usual build.

Especially when forced to play low luck, 1 bomber and 2 infantry do wonders to swap territories and you can operate on all fronts from Moscow.

All chances are that Japan R1 position themselves to be a threatto India and the whole African east coast.

If USA place itself to threaten Italian Fleet R1, Japan R2 is in position to make sure the cannal stays open to Indian ocean for the Italian Fleet if germany and Italy could not do it by themselves.

Italy playing after Japan makes sure Italian fleet can break free. I normally always do tha with Italy and go hunt for extra IPcs ( Austrlia, guinea, zealand, madasgascar, etc… ). This ensure you get  stronger Italy for the rest of the game even if losing NOs.

In 2 games, I even got hold of India with Italy, placed an IC on it and was operating from there supported by Japan.

Then again, when in position, you can absolutely take 1 bishop with a pawn while 1 infantry have very low odds to take out a single fighter.

Canada, Québec, Montréal for me, seems I’m not alone.

I’ll help you with my eastern front basic strat ( I’m sure others came up with similar ones, it’s in most part a classic opening). You need an AC in Baltic to make this even more reliable but it’s not necessary, question of taste. Also, sink most of the Uk fleet but preserve ALL your planes.

Operation Barbarosa:

German Attack:

• Baltic States ( 3 infantry) – using Tranny:  3inf + 1art + 2 armor ( 1 casualty )
• East Poland ( 2 infantry) – 2inf + 1 art +2 armor ( 1 casualty )
• Ukraine ( 2 infantry)- 3inf + 1art + 2 armor ( 1 casualty )

This result in several things:
-      Solid frontline that deny any worthwile retaliation from Russia turn 1.

• Force Russians to reinforce Caucasus or lose it : Germany
          potential attack with 5 armor, 4 infantry, 1 art, 1 fighter, 1
          bomber -VS -  Russia 4 inf ( can be bolstered to up 10 inf, 1
          art, 1 tank* and 4 prod units )
  -       Force Russians to evacuate Karelia with German potential
          attack at 5 armor, 8 infantry, 1 art, 2 fighter, 1 bomber, 1 pot
          shot -VS- 5inf/1art ( bolstered to up to 9 inf, 1 art, 1 tank*
          and 2 prod units ) ATK odds being 95%  ( near undefendable )

The momentum achieved should enable you on turn 2 to swap Karelia, Belorussia and East Ukraine with minimal forces. Minimal forces means you don’t commit anything more than you need to swap ( use fighters ). That is true for Karelia unless sure you can 100% hold it ( Russia blundered ). Ukraine must hold before this consideration, use Italians and fighters to secure it from R2 retaliation.

From then, evaluate the situation in France and Africa, try to hold the eastern front using pressure and swapping, even ideally further denying retaking of territories. You should have quite a good IPC income, extending the life of your baltic fleet further more could be considered or not.

Have you considered:

• It takes 4 transports to achieve the same rate of drops in Congo 1 single transport can do from Brazil. You are still 1 transport short.
• Also, even before reaching seazone 23, how thoses multiple transports survive the trip from east coast to seazone 12 after the drop in Algeria?  You will need support ships, aka way more than 15 ipcs…

‘‘I said having an extra transport or two gives you more flexibility than the IC.’’

I disagree. One sure thing is that an IC with a prod of 2+ is worth 4 transports as soon your supply lines overstretch 2+ turns away. That’s without mention of the fact you won’t need to protect each joint of an equivalent transport chain. This is especially more true in AA50 as transports don’t count as casualties.

There is cons, notably the posibility of ennemy capture or SBR, but overall if the option to build an IC to shorten transport routes is there, it’s normally always a better move than buying 3 more transports to achieve the same ''reinforcement" rate on the frontline. This said, as long you have the income to use thoses ICs but then again, your extra transports would be idle as well.

But I guess it’s really another debate, IC or transports :P

For me, it is about doing unexpected moves, ensuring the game will not be classical. Most players like to play on their own terms, with the most optimal opening and expecting their opponent to respond in kind. I like to not do that.

Be it a US brazilian IC to the unlikely german or russian navy, I might just do it if only to mess things up.

This is to say, playing the player opponent is normally a better way to win than trying to play the game. For instance, I normally win in chess against my friend because he rely mostly on his knights. I will always trade any same value piece for his knights and then force him in game terms he don’t favor.

In A&A, if you know your opponent likes to KGF for exemple, it’s easy from turn 1 to focus on infantry turtling while putting the maximum hurt on his fleet. Then with Japan, make some obvious but controlled mistakes to lure the USA in the pacific. Choosing the game you want to play is to choose the batlefield.

Which in my opinion is why many favor Low Luck which is close to Chess as opposed to people like me, who prefer a risk factor that emphasis a psychology factor like poker. Deceit, traps, lures are tools I like to use in my games, whithin the rules of course.

I’m not reiventing the wheel, thoses are old Basic concepts: Master the basics, Choose the Battlefield (When, where, how ), Know your opponent.

I guess I’m an hypermodern from your descriptions ;)

@DY:

@Corbeau:

By German Turn 3, US did not play yet. The transport is still in seazone 22 preparing for it’s first drop. To strike seazone 22 on german turn 3, the bomber need to land somewhere on allied controlled Africa’s south west coast. Sudan is too far.

You are correct, I guess I should be referring to G4, where you can easily pick it off in SZ23 from France

Why not just shuck guys to Alg and run an trn down to SZ23 as required (and when “safe” to do so), thereby spending only $7-$14 on extra transports (which give you more flexibility) as opposed to the IC @ $15

How would it be safer to shuck down in Algeria? We established you can’t hit sea zone 24, so I already can pretty much move to sea zone 23 when “safe” to do so from there.

I normally setup my main fleet turn 3 in sea zone 7 to swap France. So the whole France bomber issue is rarely one for that long. Turn 2 I do merge in seazone 12 to get a drop in Algeria but that’s the only time I drop there.

Also, worse case scenario if France hold, it’s not that hard to protect a transport from a lone bomber.

By German Turn 3, US did not play yet. The transport is still in seazone 22 preparing for it’s first drop. To strike seazone 22 on german turn 3, the bomber need to land somewhere on allied controlled Africa’s south west coast. Sudan is too far.

Myself always go for India IC if I have to build one with UK.

RUSSIA

• Russia build 6 tanks, evacuate Karelia if needed to create a deadzone on Karelia And reinforce Caucasus.
• 2 infantry to Persia if it can afford.
• 2 tanks prod placed in Moscow, makes 3 with starting tank to streghten deadzone.
• 4 tanks built in Caucasus

Japan

UK

• build Indian IC.

USA

• USA carrier based fighter land in Australia
• Hawai fighter land in Austrlia  ( If Japan took Hawai turn 1, UK should have more room to breath )
• West Coast Bomber land in Australia

By round 2, 4 russian tanks and 2 infantry are in India before Japanese turn ( you might not even need all of them ). IF a full tank build for Russia is too daring for you, it is still doable with Infantry provided you move them in Persia round 1. After Japan turn, Uk reinforcement pop and USA fighters land there. USA Bomber will keep any lone japan transports honest in the sector…

While some things can go wrong and stop you from doing all the above, most of the time you can do it. Russians tanks can always come back to Russia once the IC is secure. Often, you can also take the offensive depending if you go full KJF with the US to force japanese fleet on defending Japan island.