Posts made by SgtBlitz

How are you holding SZ 110 from counterattacks on G2?  Ze Germans potentially have 10 aircraft they can throw at anything you build in SZ 110, and if you save your money on UK1 the 3 TRN the Germans have at the start of G2 can take London!

Ah, yeah, you’re right.  Hmm.  Germany has TWO major ICs now too.  Yeah, that’s probably enough production to hold the Bear off for awhile, especially with UK’s IPCs for the G4 production phase.  Plus Russia’s not doing anything till R4 anyway.

Damn, couple a Sealion attack with a J2/3 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and you could have a game changer here.  The trick must be to build enough navy to hold off the US in the Atlantic, enough troops to hold off the Reds, and have the Japs go crazy in the Pacific.  Win in the Pacific theater on J5 or J6.

Oh yeah, and isn’t INVADING RUSSIA!!! actually an invasion of a True Neutral country by Germany due to their NON-AGGRESSION PACT they had signed with them in 1939???

HERP.  A.  DERP.

Dumb rule is dumb.

Bah!  I would rather see part of the US’s income go to a Lend-Lease “special” every round, where the other Allied players could use as they see fit in their home countries.  Imagine 10 IPCs worth of material that could be built in the UK or USSR every round after war dec (limited to land units, not sure how many US fighters were given away during WWII).  That would help balance the game immensely. (I know, the Axis would not enjoy losing their edge they’ve got now with Alpha +.2).

Still, it seems in most games the US is spending heavily in the Pacific (like 70-100% most turns), while barely spending enough to keep some transports loaded in the Atlantic.  The Japs are way overpowered still with their insane plane armada and +10 peace NO, and US buy’s reflect that, especially at the beginning of the game, where everything is shoveled into the Pacific as fast as it can go.  It would be nice to see some sort of % economy build in the European theater each turn, even if it was Lend-Lease units built in other countries.

So, the only way to force the US to commit to the other theater is to provoke them, either with a combined German/Italian fleet at Gibraltar or a successful Operation Sealion, or with a Pearl Harbor landing.  If you don’t threaten those theaters then don’t complain that the game is unbalanced when the US plops all 82 IPCs on one side of the board!

Oh, yeah, “Der Fuehrer’s Face”, priceless.  There’s also “The Ducktators”, not as good but still has some funny bits in it.

There’s some pretty racist ones out there with Popeye and the Japanese as well.

SZ 112 is the gateway into the Baltic…  As long as you have SZ 112 defended you can pick up reinforcements with the 3 TRN in SZ 111 and invade England through SZ 110.

Don’t think the French could help all that much, except for defending England.  The Italian player on I1 can kill their fleet off Marseilles, and the DD off Madagascar is too far away to help in time for F2.  Even if the Brits try to reinforce the French fleet in that same SZ on UK1, they’re not going to reach SZ 110 in time to block on UK2/F2.

The UK could potentially move EVERYTHING in the Med to Gibraltar on UK1, to block SZ 110 on UK2, but then that way Italy gets to be a huge factor in that theater.  And the fight for SZ 110 is still dubious with Germany’s entire airforce in range to destroy it on G3…

Hmmm…  Thinking 1 CV 2 TRN may be the way to go from here on out for Germany!  LOTS of options and not too restrictive for G2 70 IPC buys, in case you change your mind about Barbarossa!

Same here.  I miss my “Spend 1000 Prestige to invade Spain and get the Italian fleet to assist in Sealion?” option from the original Panzer General.  That game was hella fun.

Sgt. Wonko,

How are you getting the DD in SZ 111?  Are you only landing 2 TRN on G2, since you have to buy that DD on G1?  Not sure if 3 INF 1 AA is going to work.

I would still do the attack with my ENTIRE fleet (CA, BB, CV, 2 FIG, maybe subs) protecting SZ 111, and build a DD or two to protect the transports (with 3 FIG scramble support) in SZ 112 on my G2 buy.  This way the UK is really hard pressed to kill SZ 111 AND SZ 112.  Would that work instead?

I guess the US could take Brazil first, THEN use those INF to go after the remaining Neutral powers in S. America.  So it wouldn’t be all bad (though hypocritical).  Plus, they wouldn’t be able to invade them until they were at war, so they still have to wait until US 3 or 4.  Still a large diversion, though, for only 6 IPCs.  You could get that much by taking islands in the Pacific, with the +5 NO.

If it really came down to it, I’m sure the US would have had no qualms about invading S. America to guarantee the US’s “Monroe Doctrine”, if it came down to an end-game Axis all-out attack on the US itself.

@Ruanek:

Historically, the Allies would never invade true neutral countries (and this game was designed with a desire to be historically plausible).  And the Axis had no problem doing so (and doing so did not make other neutrals want to join the other side).  I think the rules should be changed somehow to reflect that, because with the two most popular rules (normal and geographic blocks) the allies have an advantage.  Really, making true neutrals unattackable would solve all the problems.

Indeed!  The Allies were supposed to be “the good guys” in WWII, and they (at least superficially) played by the rules most of the time.  The Axis powers, however, ought to be able to run rampant over True Neutrals, at least until the US enters the war on US3, IMHO.  The US entering the war was what really solidified the world opinion on what side was going to win, before that a LOT of neutrals were actually favoring the Axis.  Read up on Portugal in WWII, that supposedly “True Neutral” switched sides like 3-4 times during the war, depending on what sides were nearby.

In fact, over HALF of Germany’s original territories that it STARTS THE GAME WITH are frigging conquests of essentially True Neutral countries already!  Poland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway had ALL signed non-aggression/peace treaties with Germany, which were so much scrap paper when the war actually started!  Why in hell would Hitler stop there in 1940?!?!

Here’s a WWII propaganda cartoon that was made in 1940 before the US entered the war:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ntLZTqcMlI

There are SO many other strategies and what-ifs you could try if Hitler invaded Spain and/or Turkey too!  Too bad Larry straitjackets the game with his current idiotic rendition of True Neutrals…

Yeah, its a good strategy, especially for the Allies.  The Axis have MUCH less maneuverability than the Allies do, and the way the True Neutral rules work currently its almost always in the Allies favor to break neutrality.  How many games have you played where Japan was in position to attack S. America when the Allies break neutrality, EVER?  Meanwhile, the Axis have the most to gain from attacking the True Neutrals in Europe through Turkey and Spain, yet to do so gives the Allies +8 and 10 free INF in S. America!  It’s laughable, man, its like why do we even have the neutral countries in the first place, if its suicide for one side to invade them at all?

Sgt. Wonko, TITANS, Jercules, gh2 and I have been playing some variant where we’re instituted a True Neutral Block house rule, where invading a T. Neutral country only activates the other countries JUST in that region of the world.  Such as if you invade Spain as the Axis, only Portugal, Switzerland, and Sweden territories get turned pro-Allied (example of European T. N. bloc).  Works much better and makes more sense historically, (as WHY would the ENTIRE WORLD change sides if Germany invaded Turkey???).

Ok, so you ARE expected to try to protect those 3 TRN off Scotland, good.  Guess this is still a situational strat though, as if the UK brings too much navy in range of SZ 111 for UK2 its not recommended…  I hate throwing away navy units for no good reason too.

Has anyone tried this?  How did it work for you?

From what I hear the Scotland drop seems to be this: On G1 you purchase a CV and 2 TRNs.  On G2 you buy 8-10 TRNs, depending on UK1’s build, and invade Scotland with 6 INF.  Do you move your SZ 112 fleet (CV, 2 FIG, CA, BB, maybe few SS) to the three transports off Scotland to keep them alive, while building a DD in SZ 113 to keep your 8 TRN build alive with scramblers, or do you just let those 3 TRNs die and build 10 TRN on G2? If there’s an example of this attack somewhere on the forums please post a link, I’d like to see some of the specifics.

I’m guessing you just let the 3 TRN suicide and use the 2nd wave to finish the job on G3.  It would be nice though not having to throw them away to attempt this strat.  Has anyone tried landing an AA gun with the INF on G2, or is that not worth it?  I’d like to lose the least amount of material while still posing maximum threat.

@Idi:

@SgtBlitz:

With the new rule of Russia and US war dec after London falling there’s no WAY Germany can hold both the remaining Allied powers off.

Is the new fall of UK rule your talking about newer than this one dated Jan 13/11?
9. The United States may declare war on any or all Axis powers at the beginning of the Combat Move phase of its next turn if London and/or any territory in North America is captured by an Axis power.

Yes, that’s the one.  Germany ain’t going to hold well if both Russia and the US can get some licks in on Round 3.  Well, excepting that the US and Russia players aren’t complete oblivious fools.  I would hope a 10 transport buy on G2 would provoke SOME Allied response.  Though with Germany starting the game with 2 major ICs in Alpha +2 the Axis can turtle a lot more effectively than they could in OOB/Alpha +1.  I have yet to try Sealion myself with the new Alpha +.2 as it seems the UK is pumped up WAY too much to make Sealion plausible.

I DID win an E40 game quite awhile ago where I pulled off Sealion on G3 and gradually pushed the US and Russia back to win the game around G6-7.  But that was with a US economy in the 60s and Russia in the 20s-30s.  Add 30 IPCs total to those two Allies with Global and Germany needing even MORE fodder to take the 7 plane defended UK, and you have a losing proposition here.  But if you help out the other two Axis powers enough, Sealion may still be worth it.

I think if Italy helps out just right and buys the Germans enough time to hold off the initial attacks while building up a combined fleet through Gibraltar, its possible you could pull Sealion off, and still keep most of the Kreigsmarine and the Regia Marina alive.  The Japs should have a field day with the US panic buying in the Atlantic, and the Italians should face little opposition in Africa once they get through Egypt.  Only hard part I see is getting diced for London, the entire game can falter by Round 3 if the Germans get a little bit less than even odds.

Are the Germans attempting Sealion?  Or do you want the Allies to THINK they are going to try a Sealion?  Buy 1 CV, 1 TRN, 1 INF.  Stack up most of your fleet in the Carolines while leaving some token force to go after the DEI once you war dec.  For Sealion to work, you MUST put pressure on the US in the Pacific, either the turn right before the Germans’ main attack or the same turn.  With the new rule of Russia and US war dec after London falling there’s no WAY Germany can hold both the remaining Allied powers off.  This starter buy can also keep the US’s builds closer to Hawaii and the West coast, due to the implied threat, if you and Germany are faking Sealion.

If you’re having a more leisurely game, 3 TRN and a J2/3 war dec is the way to go.  Earlier is usually better, especially if you can grab the entire DEI before the UK/ANZAC gets to use any of it (especially if you can keep your transports alive for India later).  Focus your army in China onto ONE target, be it eliminating the Chinese, killing the Russians, or sending them into Burma; spreading them out is how the opponents win.  60-70 IPC Japan lasts a hell of a lot longer than it would otherwise, and if you are careful to keep your starting air force and transports alive you get even more gas out of your buys.

Landed some US bombers there in some of the earlier AAG40 games I’ve had.  You can reach from England to hit SZ 97 and land there.  Might work as a softener attack before the UK turn, opponent probably won’t expect that attack from England.  Can’t say that it won me the game though.

Run your 18 INF back to Moscow as fast as you can at game start…  You don’t have enough 2/3/4 attack strength units as the Soviets to stop the Germans if they are serious about Barabarossa from G1 builds on.  You’ll be glad you did when it comes down to the major battle for Moscow on G6/7, history repeating itself for the win.  Losing a few IPCs from the Japs doesn’t break the USSR immediately.

If Hitler decides to go for Sealion (or gets diced in E Poland  :-D), stop, and wait and see what the Japs are doing after a few territories inland.  I usually make a decision to counterattack or not around Yen or Tim if the Japs are threatening either through China or Siberia (though earlier counterattacks work if you can send a few planes to help).  Commiting a few offensive units to the stacks helps in spades, why its best to wait.  You can even help out in China and get your 2x stacking action with the Chinese.

First off, don’t get that hung up over a stupid in-forum dice rolling game.

It’s probably NOT your G1 buy why you lose games.  You can even get away with an all land units buy G1 instead of ANY naval with the new scrambling rules.  It’s how you set the pace of the game, retaining initative, and responding to your opponent’s moves that drives victories in AAG40.  If you get tunnel vision on one front at the expense of the others, trust me, you won’t make up the difference in enough time to offset those losses.  All three powers must push for control in their respective theaters separately, but work together towards defending their new conquests until the IPC edge the Allies enjoy falls to the Axis’ side (especially with Germany and Italy here).

You must achieve your side’s objectives on ALL fronts, using your side’s forces cooperatively, so that everyone works towards a common goal; be it the Japanese isolating the UK Pacific to hardly any IPCs so they are unable to send reinforcements to Egypt to counterattack Italy, or Germany whittling down the UK for several early rounds with naval attacks/Sealion and giving the Italians extra staying power in the Med.  Most of all, having an overall strategy where you keep the Allies reacting to YOU, not you to them.  Contest every IPC where it’s possible and edge out as much early advantage as you can with the superior firepower you’ve got, as you can afford to take some chances at the beginning of the game.

Otherwise you’re doomed to fail, especially as the Axis, since time is against you the moment the game even starts, with the Allies IPC advantage.

That being said, I like G1 buys of 1 CV 1 DD 1 SS, lets you get dominance of the Atlantic for cheap and gives you a LOT of options later on.  I would advise against early armor and mech buys, as its much economically cheaper to send piles of INF/ART at the Soviets for Barbarossa.  When you’re halfway to Moscow, THEN start the MECH/ARM buys.  With the Russians’ ability to retreat at will Russia is ALWAYS going to be a slow grind.  Don’t forget holding on the other fronts, either.  Keep the other Allied powers so busy they CAN’T fly all their fighters into Moscow in a last ditch rescue attempt when that time comes.

Meh, I think Hitler could have won a local offensive to take Moscow in 1942, if he’d played his cards right.  The Germans actually consolidated some Russian pockets from the 1941 winter counterattacks and cut off a major counteroffensive at Kharkov in spring 1942.  Seriously, at Kharkov in 1942 Stalin was probably directly responsible for at least 270,000 Soviet casaulties, most of them prisoners of war, by refusing to give the order to retreat until it was too late.  With the Germans taking the initiative after that Soviet defeat they could have made a decent stab at Moscow with what they had left from 1941.  If the Germans had been able to cut the rail lines leading into Moscow and pushed the supply line for Russia back into the Urals, they might have stood a chance.  But since this is HITLER we’re talking about here…

1943, not a chance.

Yup, the Russians changed tactics by retreating from the Caucasus in 1942, using scorched earth methods and torching oil wells as they left.  This was probably the main reason they won on the Eastern Front, by forcing the battles from the open steppes where the Germans had the advantages in tactics, planes, and armor, and bringing them in to the streets of Stalingrad to be ground down into dust.