Posts made by Mountaineer

The US should be able to defend sea zones south and west of Iceland against all threats. That was a US/UK agreement in WWII that allowed the UK to concentrate East of Iceland.

It is best to take all of France on G1. Leave nothing.

Actually, members of I Corps are offended when you call it “eye” corps. They are “First!”

I have to agree, the Axis are still at a disadvantage. Perhaps Plan A would be simpler if you just split the US income between East and West lik ewe do with the UK. I also think you can combine the intent of Plan B&C wiht that large NO and a minor IC for Japan in FIC. That would work well and provide Japan the financial footing they need to challenge the US.

I don’t care much for bidding.

How do you play so many games at once?

I like it, especially since I think Canada should be able to fight independently. However I agree with Kobu, any concerted effort to conduct Sealion in the face of a determined British defense will ultimately cost the Germans a successful Barbarosa, unless your USSR player has an off game with dice.

I go for Sealion if the odds look good, but if not, then I hit the British somewhere else. I will not spend the time building an excessive amount of limited-use transports in the face of the Russian threat to my East.

This game is about economics. You need easy and cheap victories, while giving none yourself. Don’t buy transports if your dad will sink them easily, you would be better holding one turn for a following turn larger purchase or buying aircraft. For Germany, hit where you have the best chance to win and take the most cash. Use the NO’s to guide your grand strategy. But other posts above are correct, there is a tipping point where all you can do is slow down the inevitable Allied win. There are some good posts here that can guide your next game.

BTW Mountaineer, 4 transports for a G3 sealion? What do you expect UK to be buying once they see your carrier, AA guns?

It is very simple, if the UK chooses to fight in Africa and defend the UK, then he will be poorly defended. Add to that no ability to reinforce from Canada, because you strike those transports, and your airpower will offset any other large defensive units. If the correlation of forces is too great for a G3 Sealion, then you use your transports for an assault into Leningrad. I prefer to not purchase so many transports because that limits your purchase of ground forces to your own detriment. You need Infantry, armor, and artillery.

A large British purchase of defenders in England is just as effective for our German objectives. You then ensure that Italy exploits opportunity in Africa and that you destroy any British fleet remaining in reach, while throwing your weight at Russia. Your carrier and associated surface fleet ensure there in so Normandy landing in the near future.

Do you think its best to hit Normandy and Paris?  I found that this kills all my inf and means my mechanized forces are going to take losses.  Plus UK can just counter invade Normandy on UK1 to stop my production there a round.

Also, Germ has to split its aircraft a bit, they don’t have enough to smash the allied shipping.  I prefer to leave sz 110 alone since Allies can scramble aircraft there to make it a real fight.

I do take all of France. A also purchase some foot infantry with the carrier, sub and 2 transports (for G3 Sealion). Part of the UK Navy you do hit has to be the transports from Canada and the ships closest to Denmark/Norway. Finally, you have 2 planes which can ht southern France and get to Northern Italy for a scramble if necessary to protect Italy. By making the moves I posted above you enable Italy to focus on North Africa.  If you do fall short in any attack on France Italy can also follow that up depending on your priorities.

OBTW, your correlation of forces in attacking all of France is risky, that is why your planes have to assist and you cannot take down the entire British fleet. If you have to weight any attack, make it the one on Paris.  :-D

On G2 it is more infantry, purchase another transport, 2 subs, maybe a plane and position for Sealion. Start moving Infantry and armor east for Barbarosa. On G3 you can purchase the tanks/mech infantry for Barbarosa to help the light infantry. Finish any British fleet crazy enought to be in range of subs and planes.

I’m finding Japan much harder than Germany.  For instance when is the best time to take FIC?  Sure is nice getting that 10ipc NO.  When to strike at the allies, J2 or J3?

Wait until J4, because you can. Gain the 10ipc and build a carrier +Soldiers and transports every turn. If the Allies let you build up, preposition in the Carolines for the starburst attack you will make on J4. When you do attack, focus on gaining Japanese NOs and taking those away from the Allies. The planes for your carriers come from the starting set up. Crush China J1-J3.

Smash France–all of it, cripple British Navy, take Hungary and Finland, buy carrier and subs.

Fight harder and develop nukes… Actually, I like Alpha+2, makes it more of a challenge.

21. Thou must understand that war is first of all a study in political will and economics. Carefully count the costs before declaring war and then again before every move and thy opponents move.

18. Thou shalt not cry about unrepresented tactical matters (e.g. effect of good commanders, the difficulty of wooded terrain, etc) in a strategic board game.
19. Thou shalt not criticize the lack of political details (e.g. late German mobilization in 1943, unrepresnted meglomaniacs, etc) in a simple boardgame.
20. Thou shalt not criticize the lack of technical representation between playing pieces (e.g. difference between tank varients) when they are representative of corps and armies.

This was under a Europe 40 posting: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YI70XFEH

I pasted into power point and then printed.

The 3d one.

alpha + set up.pdf

Use what is posted on the first page of this string. I also took some work others had done and updated these 3 attachments to match.

Alpha+ 12_15_10.pdf

The real issue for my opponent was the “reality” of sub vs sub conflict. We are not sure it ever really happened in history.

Calvin, since you seem to be an official for Larry on the game, what do you think of adding the NB in Scotland and AB in Norway? I know Stavanger was the only concrete runway in Norway and it was not only heavily defended, but had air and naval radar for German early warning. It was a point of departure for German raids into Naval bases in North England and for defending the Baltic.

Also, has anyone looked at the force ratios for Germany and USSR in 1940? I know USSR tanks and fighters were in greater numbers than what is depicted in the game. I also know that it is tough to balance a game for historical accuracy and playability.

He considered submerging, but they were sitting with 2 transports. My opponent made several mistakes, but they were most likely because he was still dealing with the new rules. I missed an opportunity to scramble early in the game myself. I just look forward to playing on the Axis side to see if I can win it.

I just played a long game of G40 as UK/Russia using the 12/15 Alpha+. Went well. Germany tried to attack Russia on G1 but did not set up very successfully for it. They did not transfer many units east, did not rotate their fighters east or south to defend Italy. Overall, I cannot tell if the game is balanced yet or not until I play another time or two this week, but I like it.

I want to critique the USSR set up some because it is historically incorrect. Stalin had made the choice to defend heavily in the south–the Ukraine. However, given the start date for G40, USSR would still be shifting units in 1940 after the disaster against Finnland, and still be reorganizing from the purges and changes in force structure. So you could argue that you still have time for that shift.

I would like to see a NB in Scotland and an AB in Norway. After all, the UK did have large fleet locations in the north and the whole reason Germany invaded Norway was for the strategic airbase location of Stavanger (and to secure the northern resources of course).

My German partner was really upset when 1 USSR sub sank 3 German ones, given the advantage of the roll and the sneak attack. It did seem rediculous and highly unlikely given how few subs actually attacked one another in WWII. I don’t know how to correct it, especially since it was really more a case of rotten luck with dice for him :) I would not change the way subs work or the dice rolls needed.

I do think the USSR is overpowering for the Germans to grapple with. I would like to see fewer ground units, and maybe a bit more air/tank. 22 JUNE 1941 USSR to German ratio in men on the front was 1:1.14 and in aircraft and tanks there was nearly an even match in numbers. Germany was never able to have a higher ratio again but they need it that first crucial turn when they attack or they will never have a chance.

Otherwise, great game. I look forward to the day when Larry and the boys wrap up the game changes.