Posts made by ll Duce

Thanks!

For some reason my brain just isn’t processing these 2 points, so forgive the noobish questions-

1)  Aircraft- do air units count the sea zone around their island/home space against their total move allowance?  For example, do Fighters in Japan count Sea Zone 6 as a separate space?  What abouyt taking off from a smaller island like say New Britain?

2. Is Dutch New Guinea considered an Island for Scrambling purposes?

You can do it, but by the time you turn to China, you’ll have a bitch of a fight.  China may not look tough, but the simple fact they can drop Infantry ANYWHERE in china means you’ll be playing whack a mole for a while.  All the while… the US will be gearing up… so again… same problem applies.

@marechallannes:

@ll:

Russia would be foolish NOT to attack Japan early on.  Not on R1, but it’s a definite option on R2.  If Russia moves all 18 Infantry into Amur, Japan cannot ignore it.  …

That’s a point, but don’t forget some japanese advantages:

Amphibious assault from Japan with navy bombardment, Tac-Bomber/Figther Combination and the three regular Bombers in Range.

Infantry on defence hits only on 2 or less.

A good point, however, the allies still benefit.  1) Japan is diverting a LOT of resources to retake the north and 2) it gives UK 1-2 Turns more to reinforce India.  It’s not so much about taking Land away from Japan or getting IPCs, it’s about forcing Japan to react and not follow through with her plans.  The biggest thing Japan needs to do is take out/minimize China AND India before the USA comes in.  Prevent them from doing that and the Allies have a BIG advantage.

Russia would be foolish NOT to attack Japan early on.  Not on R1, but it’s a definite option on R2.  If Russia moves all 18 Infantry into Amur, Japan cannot ignore it.  At the very least, it changes (if not derails) an attempt at a J3 India Crush.  Pushing into Korea (or Korea and Manchuria both) hurts Japan, badly.  Japan cannot afford to lose any IPCs that early in the game.

Say Russia hits the whole front (9 Infantry each in Manchuria and Korea).  Average, Russia will take both and have around 5-6 infantry each sitting there- even with Japan’s air power, that’s still not an easy fight to get them back.  And as always, anything that buys India more time hurts Japan.

@cond1024:

If I was Japan I would love for Russia to attack me every game R1, because to take Korea they would have to send at least 3 inf and the more inf they divide up the easier it is for Japan’s mighty airforce to take them down.  I would have no problem  as Japan to take 1 turn to eliminate the Russian Northern threat even if it delayed my attacks against UK.

Any troops Russia sends into China are fewer troops available to fight the Nazi when they come.

This is pretty much my thought as well.  In fact, I’m going to try adding USSR into AAP40 as a full player this weekend and see if that hampers the J3 India Crush.

Has anyone tried adding Russia to the game to see if that can balance it?  Add the 18 Infantry that USSR gets in Global.  Then rule that Russia cannot collect IPCs/buy units till she is attacked or declares war.  The existing troops can be moved as normal.

Once she is in the war, give an income equal to the territories on the board and any purchases have to be placed on the western-most territories (to simulate being shipped Eastward from the European front).

That would definitely change the game… but is it overpowering do you think?  It would seem to give the Japanese player definite pause against throwing everything southward in a India Crush.

Exactly- if you look at the hi-res pic of the board- it looks like the desert runs along the border between West and Central.  While the border itself it bright blue (not covered by the white of the desert as it is along the SW border of Algeria) the desert looks like it covers the entire border on the FWA side- making a crossing impossible.  But it Does need to be clarified.

Dammit… now I feel like an ass… my group never abided by the combat moves all at once rule… we did them one by one, it made the game a bit more dynamic.

@calvinhobbesliker:

@ll:

@WILD:

@calvinhobbesliker:

I think Z95 is more than 5 spaces from England. Also, they may be dead after G1

No you fly over France from London (or use the Alex ftr). You have to bring in the carrier in non combat if your London ftr survives, unless you take it as a casualty. I haven’t really looked at the German set-up, is a sea lion possible G1?

Theoretically yes, but its tough.  Germany needs to clear the CA from SZ112 and then either the DD & BB in SZ110 or the CA/BB combo in SZ111.  The more I look at it, a Scotland landing would be the best bet for a Sea Lion.  Soctland itself is empty, and attacking SZ111 means there’s no ASW to block your wolf pack from sinking the fleet there.  Use the Luftwaffe to take out the RAF, then all the Brits have is that lone infantry in London to deal with a Sea Lion landing up north…

G1 can’t land since there are blocks. By G2, there may be 10-11 inf in London. Remember that there is a French inf there too. Also, if Germany goes for Sealion, I won’t attack the It fleet

Actually there is a chance for a G1 landing if you’re brave.  There UK& French CAs in SZ112 and a UK CA/BB in SZ111.  The German fleet (1 CA + BB) can deal with the SZ112 Cruiser.  The SZ111 fleet is trickier- you’ve got a Sub in SZs 124 and 118 and I’d add the Bomber in Germany and possibly the fighter in Norway.  Those should be able to get rid of the UK fleet, leaving the way open for your lone transport from SZ 113 carrying 2 Infantry to hit Scotland.  It’s a risk… but if it pays off… you seriously endanger UK.

@WILD:

@calvinhobbesliker:

I think Z95 is more than 5 spaces from England. Also, they may be dead after G1

No you fly over France from London (or use the Alex ftr). You have to bring in the carrier in non combat if your London ftr survives, unless you take it as a casualty. I haven’t really looked at the German set-up, is a sea lion possible G1?

Theoretically yes, but its tough.  Germany needs to clear the CA from SZ112 and then either the DD & BB in SZ110 or the CA/BB combo in SZ111.  The more I look at it, a Scotland landing would be the best bet for a Sea Lion.  Soctland itself is empty, and attacking SZ111 means there’s no ASW to block your wolf pack from sinking the fleet there.  Use the Luftwaffe to take out the RAF, then all the Brits have is that lone infantry in London to deal with a Sea Lion landing up north…

Even doing that is incredibly risky.  The British forces aren’t exactly even in a Taranto battle.  Chances are the Italians will lose the Cruiser and be able to repair the BB next turn- not a good trade off to losing a Cruiser and Destroyer and possibly a Tac Bomber.  I still say its better to concentrate everything near the Suez Canal and make a stand till the US can enter Morocco/Algeria.  If anything, use the small French fleet to damage the Italians just to force them to think what to buy.    There’s a good shot Italy will jump to 16-17 IPCs after her 1st turn. (South France, Bulgaria, Kenya, Tunisia and maybe Sudan)  Lets assume her 1st purchases (with 10 IPCs) is a just a Transport.  On turn 2, you’re talking either 2 fighters, or even a Destroyer+Cruiser or even subs.  It really makes any potential UK naval win into a Pyrrhic Victory.

On turn 1 the UK naval forces in the med amount to 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer and a Carrier with 1 Tac Bomber.  It’s suicide to send that against 2 Cruisers, a BB and a Destroyer.  Using the Alexandria fighter in a naval assault is also bad- Alexandria is already weak and you need all the support you can get.  A better strategy would be to move the CV and destroyer into sea zone 96 and force Italy to engage you.  That also blocks an supporting BB shot on any amphibious assault by Italy on Alexandria.

No, you have to go through Nigeria.

They have a good shot.  BUT Germany and Italy need to be aggressive and coordinated at the outset in order to pull it off.  Italy can keep the UK busy in Africa, and Germany needs to do a balancing act by either throwing the Luftwaffe at UK and then all guns east or the reverse, hold Russia at bay and pull a fast Sea Lion.

The thing that really worries me is UK’s split income.  The fact that 16+ IPCs have to go to India means that UK is weaker then she appears.  To me, the UK will need all her IPCs centered in Europe to survive till Russia and USA rev up.

Italy and ANZAC are my favorite.  Italy simply because the allies CAN’T ignore you but they usually do.  By the time they realize their mistake, you have a nice little empire and can be a lot tougher then anyone thinks.  (I find that a lot of players somehow equate Italy’s real-life ineptitude in the war into “ok, hey can’t do anything without Germany” in-game)

ANZAC does the same thing in AAP40.  I’ve had a couple games where I played the Aussies and had the Japan player look down and mutter “where the hell did all those subs come from???”  (make a quick land grab in DEI then pumped everything into sub fleet with some fighter backup.)

I stumbled across this on Evilbay and have been doing some reading up on it, I am really impressed with the detail on the pieces, I’ve been thinking of splurging and getting a copy, has anyone here played it?

Here’s the website:

http://zigguratgames.com/

Honestly, if they return to “front” style games I see several options.  I think they would definitely lean towards US involved fronts for obvious reasons.

1. North Africa.  This just SCREAMS for a game.  You can involve the US, UK, Germany and Italy, even starting in 1940 with Italy’s invasion.  The game would be heavy on logistics, say the board broken down by “routes” marked by supply points.  The more supply points you have, the easier it is to attack, stack units etc.  (a nice idea would be steal the “starvation” rolls from the game World War IV, just modify it as fuel instead)  Sea power would be huge in the game, not as offense, but as lifelines to both sides.

2)  The allied invasion of Italy.  This could be the size of AAE40 if you set it up right.

3. Okinawa.  Considering this was one of the bloodiest land battles in the Pacific with over 150,000 casualties combined and one of the biggest deployment of armored units in the theater I would love to see it.

I am smack in the middle of my first game but I am noticing something interesting.  I am playing Japan- and am starting to love mech Infantry!  I’ve already pushed 6 into China and I likely will be going to add 2-4 more.  Now I know historically MI was virtually non-existant in the theater, but since the board does not take into account terrain I’m finding the MI’s move of 2 crucial to my China strategy.  With the Chinese ability to place troops in newly captured territories turning that part of the board into a giant “whack-a-mole” scenario, I found I need speed to respond … Tanks are just too pricey and footsloggers too slow. Anyone else finding this with their Japan ground plans?

I tried letting the ANZAC grab 2/3rds of the East Indies (Java and Celestes) and let the British take Sumatra.  This allowed me to make ANZAC into a very serious sub threat to the Japanese.  Load the area with Aussie subs and the occasional Destroyer and you can effectively seal off the area from any amphib assault.  Also, putting a AB on Celestes put the whole coast into bombing range.