Posts made by Hobbes

@MistuhJay:

“They think they can stop my G1 8 Armor buy!”

Priceless.  XD

My favorite one is the failed USA invasion: “no one told me that transports didn’t defend anymore!”  :-D

Enjoy  :-D

Hitler plays A&A Spring 1942, 2nd Edition

Hitler is also pissed about the 6 IPC cost:

Hitler rants about A&A Spring 1942, 2nd Edition

@Mallery29:

The point was to have WRus and Ukraine attacked R1 and load up in WRus (not a only WRus all-in, that’s a bad idea on Russia’s part IMHO)…not a fan of the barely hitting WRus…the stack in WRus with Ukraine hit gives 6 total planes to attack with WRus, but if those 2AA hit a number of planes with some luck of the dice, the game could be over without it getting past Rd1…that’s all I’m saying.

I think this is where the confusion is at…Germany to attack the WRus stack without having the Ukraine units would not be a smart move by Germany…could do it to weaken the Russian stack, but at what cost/risk to its own stack and by allowing the allies to toy around in the Atlantic. � Definitely a HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD type scenario, but this could easily blow up in the Axis face right away…

I think the general consensus is to attack Ukraine, so the point of view has to be taken with Ukraine out of commision. � Do you attack WRus now as Germany on G1? � I think even just doing 1 round of attacks and then retreating is not worth it…not going to risk it with a 55% chance of losing (you’d probably only eliminate the Russian inf while losing the inf/tanks on the attack with a distinct possibilty of losing FTRs).

If this was JUST an all out WRus attack (by Russia), I would proably hit WRus G1 too (ignoring Caucus) and deal with the Atlantic on G2.

Germany waits until the end of the Soviet round to decide. What territories did the Russians attack and what were the losses. Then it decides if it wants to attack West Russia or not, based on those factors. That’s why I have those tables already from 1st Ed., I can easily check the odds, based on territories attacked and Soviet casualties, and decide if it is worthwhile or not.
The WR + UKR Soviet opening is the best to prevent a G1 WR attack but the dice ultimately decide - if the Russians have more than 3 losses on WR or can’t clear UKR of German units then it can be worthwhile for the Germans to go after WR.

@Mallery29:

Odds change when you can sack two AAs…they change enough to make it difficult for the Germans to go after WRUS…you tried saying it was guaranteed kill…I begged to differ.  Hobbes says a aggressive German player would go after it…I think he is right to a point, but I don’t think it’s as advantageous as it was in 42.1.  The AA guns could sink the Axis in Rd1.  Loss of half the Air Force on Rd 1 would almost be like not taking France in Global./quote]

AAs on 42.2 make the West Russia attack actually easier. If you bring 7 planes the AAs will only shoot at 6. To protect WRus both AAs will have to be there, meaning that if Ukraine wasn’t attacked then either Caucasus will be without AA, or the AAs will be split between both territories and will only shoot at 3 planes on each attack.

@Cow:

classic was 5 ipc for an armor, they were 3/2 units, which were only purchased before an attack. Karelia was really close for germany and vice versa for russia. So it would turn into an infantry slugfest. If I was going to attack karelia, I’d buy armor the round before and hit it with all my might and hope for the best. Since the game is pretty much won or lost in karelia.

Ah, that was the difference, the defense at 2. I stand corrected. But yeah, it was pretty much decided on Karelia… once the Germans got a foothold and were able to produce then it was pretty much done.
The distance from Karelia and Germany is still the same though, although there’s now 1 more space between the former and Russia.

@Cow:

well the most cost effective attack army was still infantry/arty. I’d rather go back to the 3/2 armor @ 5, it promotes more action.

Besides all tanks with no cannon fodder, seldom works out for people, I don’t see why you would complain. If that is fun for someone to buy all tanks and slam it at russia or something, then that is fine. That person already has a high probability of losing, why punish him further?

I can see global making tanks 5 to keep russia alive, because of the pacific oriented nature of that game.

I get that for axis and allies to improve on previous 1942 iterations, they have to make the game more dynamic, but at the same time you can’t take all the action away and expect people to get on board.

I have the experience of playing Classic with 6 IPC armor before it was dropped down to 5 on Revised and I don’t honestly feel that it changes the ability to send armor stacks. You have 30 IPC to spend on armor, you buy 5 now instead of 6.
What it does is to make players think twice about spending so much money on armor and using artillery instead (which many people only bought if they had that extra 1 IPC around). And since on 2nd Ed. the Axis can win without having to conquer Moscow it also opens the game to other ways of winning rather than the old Japanese Tank Drive To Moscow (JTDTM).
Plus, it affects the Allies as well. I used to have at least a stack of 10 Soviet T-34s to act as a mobile quick reserve. Now it’s only down to 4, 5… comrades have become poor… poor comrades :cry:

@UrJohn:

‘too many’ degenerate all ARM buys.

“Dude, that buy was just degenerated”
“Man, don’t degenerate yourself by getting so much tanks”
“That move is an act of degeneration…”

Love the expression  :mrgreen:

@Mallery29:

If you G1 WRussia, I assume you would probably send your SS after the US DD and the 2SS/CA after the UK BB/SS, UK CA defeated by German BB (I possibly assume but could easily be wrong that you would go 7inf/2art/SS/tank?…

You need 3 subs to SZ7… imagining that I’d use all the planes on WR (which may not be required if some Soviets attacks go back on R1) then the deciding factor is what to do with the SZ15 fleet - either send it to land on Ukraine/Caucasus or to hit the cruiser and take Gibraltar, with 1 sub assisting.

My buy would also either be 12 INF, 1 ART or 4 INF, 1 ART, 4 ARM, depending on my mid/long term plans.

so
UK1: 2inf/art, save the rest. Finish of German CA, send Bomber and DD after BB, sink German SS off EUS w/DD
US1: 4DD, FTR.
G2: Redeploy airforce/SS to protect coast, position SS for eminent invasion
UK2: inf/art/tank, save the rest
US2: 2trans/2DD, NCM to Canada (spend on Pac w/rest)
G3: Close in on WRUS/Caucus. Russia continues buildup, position SS for invasion
UK3: Drop 2CVs, 1trans, 1CA, 3inf India (might have about 10 left for flex spending for troops)
US3: Reinforce UK fleet with the 4DD/FTRs. (continue to split money 50/50)

US should be building the shuck, and UK can counter w/troops now too…I’m sure France or Holland is defended, but you can’t defend both, especially since you are focused on the Bear…Russia just needs to hold long enough to wittle down France/Holland defense to plant marker…Don’t know what your German buys would be but will have to read after poker…Caucus may be getting pinched, but India should be able to grow legs here soon

After killing WR on G1, the optimal Axis strategy requires Germany is to move on G2/3 a stack to West Russia that the Soviets can’t destroy, with assistance from Japanese fighters, if necessary. Then the Soviets are forced to permanently lose Caucasus to the Axis or lose Russia.
Now, add to it also a Japanese push of about 10 ground units that reach Kazakh by J3 and the whole Soviet defense can shatter like broken glass.

@Mallery29:

I don’t think that will go as well as you think with the Indian IC coming into play now….42.1, yeah, I would definietly agree to go all in against Russia…but the reinforcements for Japan are going to be a long way off with E. Indies out and India threatening to advance/US Pacific involvement.

If the Allies go KJF after a successful G1 attack then Germany should be able to conquer Caucasus and then Russia. It’s impossible for the Russians match up Germany’s production.

Perhaps it is more clear this way: if West Russia is lost on G1, then the Soviets lose a total of 2 AAG, 12 INF, 3 ART and 4 ARM on round 1, or 3/4s of the value of their starting ground units, leaving them only 9 INF, 5 of which will be in Yakut. The Germans will lose a total of 12 INF, 2 ART and 4 ARM, plus planes on the R1 attacks and on going after WR but that still leaves them with an additional 13+ INF and 5+ ARM to deploy against Russia on G1/G2 on combat and non-combat moves, like retaking and stacking Ukraine.

Germany spends about half its ground force and most of its airforce and in return the Soviets lose 3/4s of their ground force and their income and they are earning -6 IPC than Germany due to losing access to Karelia, Belorussia and Ukraine. Germany’s income goes to 42 IPCs or more, while Soviet income is capped to 24 IPC.

After that, either Japan or Germany can go and get Moscow while the other stalls the UK/US.

@Mallery29:

And is Germany really going to hit WRUS? No because the US/UK will have a fleet for Germany on turn 3, and nothing to defend itself with (considering it would lose its Air Force).

Aggressive German players can and will hit West Russia. Even if Caucasus/Moscow doesn’t fall to the Germans this attack is enough to punch the Russians out for the Japanese knock-out and Germany merely needs to slow down the UK/US, who will have to choose between building fleet/units for Europe or keeping India out of the Japanese grasp.

@AxisBrutality:

As I said, I am gladly open to suggestions. However, as mentioned no Russian FTR can land on W-Russia.So what do you suggest, just taking W-Russia and concentrate it all on W-Russia, correct ? But that still gives Germany 66% to kill the WHOLE stack, Germany has the money to go for it, and yes, I know Russia will be toast then, that’s why I want to take W-Russia barely, and save 1 INF, 1 Art, 1 Tank so that I have something besides 2 FTR to conterattack with, besides those 8 INF I buy + 2 moving from Evenki to Ark and 1 INF from Novo to Moscow.

LOL Well, it sure is a novel idea to me to simply trade WRus with Germany but I wouldn’t try it. :)

The issue here is the different perceptions of moving the Soviet fighter to Egypt - to me it is a possible choice to add to the Soviet options but it has a clear impact on other Soviet attacks and until 3 days ago I was winning with the Allies without having to make this move.

It’s not fun for the UK nor the U.S. watching Egypt die, and then Japan gets crazy and kills everything in East-Asia, 4 territories, then it’s not even the point to hold India, just give up and buy 3 FTR on London. And by J3, whole Asia and Middle East is dead, now Russia have to pour serious INF forces already on R3 to the East, they can’t afford that.

To me that’s normal, to see Japan overrunning Asia. It’s like my signature says: ‘I don’t care about Moscow as long as I’m holding Berlin’ :)

@AxisBrutality:

Exactly, that’s why Russian FTR has to GO to Egypt, I mean, do you have any other suggestion? Without that FTR, Germany can attack Egypt, and both E-Indies UK strategy, and possibly Meditteranian UK strategy which I will test out this weekend, is going down the toilets. You seem to recognize how Germany and Japan get a LOT stronger if they can’t be checked between Egypt - India, I consider this actually Southern Russian Flank, which is UK’s task to defend so that Russia can concentrate on eastern front.

Either way, that Russian FTR is going down to Egypt, no matter what. UK can’t do squat without that. Germany can sabotage one excellent, possibly two excellent strategies for the UK by allowing an attack on Egypt. Can’t let that happen.

A question of trade-offs. To me having the chance to doing a 66% attack on UK1 may not be worth the 82% risk of a G1 attack on West Russia.

Since Russian FTRs can NOT land on W-Russia on R1 anyway, and since Germany can in theory attack any Russian stack they want, I’ve checked it on the CALC now, then I can’t see how that 1 Russian FTR can do anything good in Russia.

The only thing I see you are against is that you are not sure if Russia will win an attack in Ukraine, they will, I ran the sim on dskelly, 85% chance that Russia will win that.
If Russia just sits and waits with Russian stack on W-Russia or whatever, Germany can attack no matter what, even if you and I concentrate it all on W-Russia only, Germany still wins an attack by 66%.

At least this way, Russia knows that by taking out Ukraine, there is no immediate threat to Caucasus, Germany has 1 less FTR, and then Germany can choose if they want to attack the Russian stack on W-Russia or not. Either way, Germany can attack it as mentioned with 66% odds anyway.

Nothing Russian can do about it, absolutely nothing. Just as Germany and Japan can’t do nothing when Russian FTR goes to Egypt, Egypt is safe and E-Indies fleet most likely dead for Japan.

So it’s a matter of risking your Russian stack, but as I calculated on dskelly, Russian stack is under threat ANYWAY, no matter what you do, lowest odds for Germans at 66% and up to 85% or so, and 85% is the same odds Russians have when they take out Ukraine.

Maybe W-Russia should only be taken BARELY, so that there is no Russian stack there for Germany to attack, saving 1 Tank for Russia and rather lose 1 or 2 extra INF.

W-Russia can be attacked with let’s say 8 INF, 1 Art. That should do the trick. Originally I have 9 INF + 3 INF on Caucasus which take care of Ukraine. So I can use 8 INF, 1 Art and will lose 4 to 5 INF or so. So I have 1 extra Art + 1 Tank “saved”. So it’s up to Germany if they want to attack 4 INF with 1 Art. But at least it’s not a stack.

To sum it up = Attacking Ukraine = 85% Russia win
To sum it up = Attacking W-Russia “barely” - 8 INF, 1 Art = 89% Russia win , 1 INF, 1 Art and 1 Tank saved.

Maybe you never have had the experience before but if the Soviets lose the West Russia stack on G1 then they are knocked out for 2-3 game rounds and an experienced Axis player should be able to conquer and hold Caucasus with Germany on rounds 2-4. with Japanese fighter assistance.

In fact, if the Soviets send their fighter to Egypt then West Russia G1 is even more attractive as a German counter.

@AxisBrutality:

A counter attack against Russians on W-Russia can only be done with with 3 German INF, 2 Tank, 4 FTR and 1 Bomber. � Russians should have 6 or 7 INF, 2 Art, 1 Tank. German force is stronger but Germany has a low INF-shield, half of it’s attack are planes.

5 fighters: NW Europe, Norway, Germany, Bulgaria and Poland, landing in Belorussia if necessary. This is a trade-off: Germany sacrifices part or most of the Luftwaffe to get the initiative and the numbers necessary to push the Soviets against the ropes and outnumbered on the ground.
This is a strategy already known for the 1st Edition of the game, check on the Articles Submission section the Spring 1942 Case Blue Axis Strategy. And it is one of the best KJF counters by the Axis.

Now, if you go all out on Russia in W-Russia, only 1 FTR with 1 Bomber can threaten potential UK Fleet outside London. Since UK DD and Transport survives after G1, 2 Carriers stacked with 2 UK FTRs and 1 US FTR, again might get a green light, because most of the German FTRs, has to land on Belorussia, Baltic States or Poland, which makes UK Fleet beyond range of attack on G2.

Which also means that almost no UK units are build on India, making it easier to an early Japanese push - and I’d trade that and control of Karelia and the Eastern front (which a successful WR attack on G1 allows) for having an UK fleet on the Atlantic - it is impossible to prevent it if the Allies want it, this way the Axis get 2 great trade-offs in return.

That’s one thing. Second thing is that Russia could attack Ukraine and Belorussia, and isolate W-Russia as I suggested. Then no Russian stack can be threatened what so ever. Russia will have 5 INF on Moscow with 1 Art, 1 Tank. Then Russia can buy 8 more INF, so basically, Germans in W-Russia can’t do much against Moscow or Caucasus for that matter, and Leningrad is under pressure anyway, so it doesn’t matter if 3 German INF invades Leningrad from Belorussia or W-Russia. I’ll also block Arkhangel with 2 Russian INF from Evenki, I can take 1 INF from Moscow, and make that 3 INF on Arkhangel. So basically, the shield will be complete and Russian FTR from Moscow, can freely fly to Egypt.

I don’t agree you can defend Caucasus under those conditions - 4 INF and 2 FTRs are no match for 5 German ground units, plus planes, plus the Med fleet (if the Black Sea is open). Plus you’re giving up Karelia to the Germans, along with Belorussia (permanent +4 income for Germans, -4 for Soviets on round 2, and add to those values 2 from Ukraine if Caucasus falls on G1), which is definitely something you want to delay as quickly as possible, since afterwards it will be impossible to retake it for a long time.
This is the whole propose of the G1 attack on West Russia - to punch the Soviets hard and be able to use the IC on Karelia - if the Soviets don’t attack WR on R1 they are merely making it easier for the Germans to achieve those aims.

@AxisBrutality:

Let’s introduce option 5) which is an extention of option 4) Take West Russia and Ukraine AND send FTR to Egypt. This is the best thing Russia can do.

Ukraine can be attacked with 3 INF, 1 Art, 3 Tank, 1 FTR, that should be more than enough to take it.
With this attack there is 85,6% chance according to calc, that Russia will win this, and have at least FTR alive, most probably 1 Tank taking Ukraine. Basically Russia has to sacrifice 1 more tank than usual in order to ensure that UK can have a lot of fun and great options which will help also Russia.

Already considered that option but you need both FTRs. To attack WR under the WR+UKR scenario you have these options:

• 9 INF, 2 ART, 2 ARM or 9 INF, 2 ART, 1 ARM to West Russia
• 3 INF, 1 ART, 2 ARM, 2 FTR or 3 INF, 1 ART, 3 ARM, 1 FTR or 3 INF, 1 ART, 3 ARM, 2 FTR to Ukraine

The problem with sending 3 ARM to Ukraine (which come during the calculations) is that West Russia can quite easily be vulnerable to a G1 attack. An average of 3 Soviet INF lost while taking WR means that Germany can attack WR on G1 with everything at its range and try to kill the Soviet stack (at a big price for the Luftwaffe but this move completely devastates the Soviets) with 82% odds on regular dice, 100% if playing low luck.
If want to send the Moscow FTR to Egypt, then you have to attack Ukraine with 3 ARM and pray… first that you take Ukraine (80% odds), then that you don’t lose more than 2 INF on the WR attack…

You can find below a pic of the results table. In yellow are the average remaining units on WR after R1. The values in red represent German odds for WR on G1 above 80%.

@Mallery29:

I think this is more balanced than 42.1, I’m just saying having CVs with two hits would be great (take a beating like the Yorktown/Saratoga). 
The only problem is that it seems a KJF strat seems more successful than a KGF at the moment, but I can be wrong on this.

2nd Edition actually favors more the Allies on Asia than the 1st Ed, if you are trying KGF. Japan will eventually take over the Indian IC but the more units the UK manages to build the better overall for the Allies, since its focus should  be first on taking that IC rather than going after Russia.
The big issue is figuring out the US shuck since it is more similar to Global than anything else because of the UK not being into range of Eastern US and the distances have increased. And where exactly are the best landing spots.

Just finished all the calculations for the possible R1 attacks and combat results and then use them to calculate a possible G1 counterattack on West Russia (why WRus? check this:http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=25203.0).

The Soviets have 4 ‘safe’ openings for R1, listed in an order of low to highest risk of a German WRus counter, assuming average losses while conquering WRus (2-3 INF)

1. West Russia
2. West Russia and Belorussia
3. West Russia and Baltic States

• With these 3 options Caucasus may fall to the Germans on G1 but the Soviets can send the Moscow FTR to Egypt

4. West Russia and Ukraine - no FTR to Egypt but Caucasus remains in Soviet possession

And there’s also the ‘risk’ openings. With those the odds are either low or WRus falls on G1:
5) West Russia, Ukraine and Belorussia (65% odds of all 3 attacks succeeding)
6) West Russia and Finland (West Russia will be crushed on G1)
7) West Russia and any other two territories other than Ukraine and Belorussia. (low odds of all attacks winning, WRus G1 crush)
8) Not attacking West Russia

Now, the question is, which one of the first four to choose? Send the fighter to Egypt and most likely Germany will take Caucasus or/and stack Ukraine on G1, giving her 4 IPC and forcing the Soviets to abandon Karelia… decisions, decisions…

So far, I disagree with what’s stated above.

I’ve played 5 games as Allies and only lost 1 - the Allies have some really tough challenges but so do they have already on AA50, AA42 1st Ed and Global.

The main problem with playing the Allies right now is that people have no idea of what strategies work or not because of the different SZs and the 2 additional ICs. For the Axis the choices are almost the same (specially Germany) so it’s easier to play Axis and win, specially if you’re going KGF.

To me it is a challenge to figure out the best Allied play. How to set up the US shuck with the different new SZs on the Atlantic. Or how to best use the UK Indian Ocean fleet.

Just looking at the game and criticizing rejecting the new features/rules just because they are different from previous or not up to our individual expectations, or we don’t want to learn new strats, doesn’t really help improve your gameplay, IMO.

Hey,

The TripleA version is called World War II v5 and is almost finished (the issues remaining are graphic).

You can get it here:http://tripleadev.1671093.n2.nabble.com/World-War-II-v5-and-v6-tp7580415.html;cid=1345036224943-950. You’ll have to manually install it since it hasn’t been added to the map depot yet.

The Soviet Empire State Building
Revolution Square (Times Square)
Kapital Street (Wall Street)
etc…