Posts made by miamibeach

France is a non-factor, Germany and Italy fighting UK alone for a while, the huge number of Jap aircraft that can potentially get to Europe to effect that theatre can unbalance this game unless the global set up makes some adjustments.  Big potential Axis advantage.

I assume the German player will destroy the French DD and CA in SZ91 on their first turn.  The UK could make an ill advised attack on the Italian fleet, and might not destroy anything(flip the BB?) and in return lose a FTR and a TAC.

If I could see the SZ’s better in the photos I could form a better reply, but the Germans have 5 subs out there.  Germany and Italy can take out all three French land areas on their first turns.  Germany can take France/Holland&Bel with no aircraft if they wanted to do that(not saying I would use 0 aircraft…but for sure use the air that can not attack UK naval units)…and use whatever Luftwaffe is within range in combo with SUBS where I can.  Its possible all the UK TRS are sunk on the first turn, and it could be difficult for UK to build any TRS on their first turn.  The Germans will move the Luftwaffe closer to the Med and Atlantic as they advance in the direction of Gibraltar.  I think it would be suicide for UK to try to get land units into Malta.

Do you really want to move the FTR out of Egypt?..and if UK abandons(or reduces) Egypt, then I would imagine that FTR going somewhere other than Malta(India, S. Africa?).  It would take two turns to get the FTR’s from UK to Malta.  I just dont see doing this.  If the global game started with something in Malta(1 INF, 1 FTR, and 1 SUB in the SZ, AB), then I could see a possible opportunity to do what you want, but even then I’d be very tempted to send the FTR in Malta to Egypt.  UK building an airbase in Malta is like building it for Italy.  I think a competant Axis player would force a competant Allied player to abandon any idea of sending units to Malta, and if the Allied player did this, force the Allied player to pay a high cost…ie, losing Egypt, losing Malta, and the units UK used in the adventure.

I’m not sure of the viability of this all (that’s why we play the game), but I don’t think Italy can bypass a fortified Malta that easily.  Consider the scenario I broached before.  Around turn 3 with 2 infantry, 4 fighters/Tac Bombers, and an airbase on Malta.

As UK, how much consideration do you give to what Germany does or will do?  This game is not UK vs Italy.  I dont see how UK gets 2 INF into Malta, and if they do, at what cost?  Would it be better for UK to have two extra INF in Egypt?  As to the FTR’s/TAC bombers…do you mean 4 in total or 4 of each?  Either way is Malta really the best place for those aircraft?..are you assuming Egypt is Italian at that point?  And if you think Malta is the best place for those expensive and valuable units, how long do they sit there (assuming the Italian fleet is sunk)?..would they not be better off in India, USSR, Africa, or on CV’s somewhere?

Two other points, 1.  Once Italy has taken Egypt and Italy has a producing factory there, the Italian fleet is less useful since their primary objective of protecting the transport of units out of Italy has become less necessary.  2.  Beware Japanese getting a large number of aircraft into the European theatre…its very easy for them to do, and they can do it fairly early.  I think the global set up has to be changed dramatically because of their number of aircraft(28?).

After Egypt is taken by Italy(turn 2-3?), then Italy takes Malta(turn 3-4?).  I’m not sure what the UK can get into the Med by then?  I think the first concern for UK in the Med is hanging on to Egypt rather than worrying about Malta…any FTR’s UK has available might go to Egypt for defense.

What kind of fleet will the UK have in Europe?..Germany will try to seek and destroy any UK fleet as soon as possible using subs as soak-off with its FTR’s/bombers doing most of the sinking.  By turn 2-3 the Germans have Spain and then Gibraltar…so its unlikely a UK fleet of any size will make it into the Med.  The Med should be closed by the Axis and Malta take with no effort.  If the UK does venture into the Med, Germany can destroy it or render it useless, and trap it if Gibraltar is in German hands for a follow up Italian fleet/air attack.

I as UK would leave Malta empty, try to defend Egypt as best as possible, build an IC in S. Africa, keep the UK fleet intact and build it up.

I think Italy’s initial builds should be: 1.  Replenish(if any) what the two transports need for next turn.  2.  Naval(not sure what though) to defend against any possible near future naval/air strike, which could be very little depending on UK moves, so possibly no naval builds, and 3.  Save IPC’s in light of future construction of the IC in Egypt, and future builds in Egypt(tanks, and the odd INF).

I hope there is a Gibraltar rule that prohibits surface combat ship and transport movement into and out of the Med unless you control it.  That would make Spain even more important.  I agree Spain is too weak.

All Japan has to do is take Sumatra, then send a CV or two(with support ships) to the Red Sea, and now its an easy and fairly early transport of aircraft to Europe.

Unfortunately, Malta is a waste of time and IPC’s for UK.  I think Malta should have begun with a sub in its seazone, 1 INF, and 1 FTR.  If UK is doing all that, then its not building a fleet, or assisting USSR, or defending Africa.  Malta can be made harder to take, but it will be taken…so all those assets will be eliminated.

Italy should get southern France, but need to take out Egypt ASAP…build a minor IC in Egypt.  If the Italian navy gets sunk, then at least the Italians have a way to keep something going in Africa.

As for the balkans…Italy should take everything, they need the IPC’s, but its actions there should not take away whatever maximum effort they can have against Egypt.  Use the fleet(invasions, BB, etc…) against Egypt as early as possible.

The only thing out of wack are the 28 Jap planes, but if you play AAP40, you see why they need them to be competitive.  The aircraft in Europe for UK and especially for Germany should be significantly greater.  Japan can get their aircraft into Europe and effect that theatre.

I think UK building a factory in Egypt is risky…I see the Axis taking Egypt.  I agree that Italy should try to get as many IPC’s as possible, but I’m not sure how the neutrals work yet.  By taking Syria/Jordan, Italy can then more easily take Egypt which is also more strategic.

Japan can easily get as much of its arifoce into Europe as it wants…after about turn 3.  I’m not sure who will have the biggest advantage, but Japan could have the biggest impact in many ways.

One of Italy’s opening moves can be to invade Jordan and Syria…UK should try to solve that some how on its first turn.

Japan will easliy be able to transfer as much of its huge airforce to the European theatre as it wants after about the third turn.