I jumped through the hoops and downloaded these. These are fan-freakin-tastic! Wow. I gotta get these printed…
Thanks to IL for this. I now have to decide if I must shrink these for to fit my table/plexiglass (4’ X 6’) or just find a new way to display it…decisions, decisions…plus, I gotta find a sign company to do this bad boy justice…
My table is only 4 x 6…can I print this smaller and still have it be legible/proportional and all that? I assume the print is larger? Thanks for any advice! This will be the centerpiece of my gameroom!!
Anyone else get a smaller board that does not match the
Other? Mine is 1/2 cm smaller…would they exchange it if it’s a known problem?
I have taken Spain and weakened turkey and Sweden so the axis get little benefit from the true neutrals. I build many mech armor and a few aircraft with russia. While us starts opening a front in Spain, I like to swing the Russian forces through Turkey into the vicinity of Greece. If Germany is committed north or deep into Russia, they quickly face fronts in the south and west in a swift coordinated move. I like hitting Spain…if turkey and sweden are dealt with too…
If they hold up the gaps, they are defensive in a sense. I like them to get back from the coast, consolidate and crawl back to Moscow or threaten Japanese gains in the north. I don’t like a straight run back unless Germany skips sea lion for a pure barbarossa
I would not advocate for it since part of the challenge of the US is to be able to prioritize and manage both thwarted. The alpha 2 split board does a good kob as is, in my opinion. The difference between this and UK/India is that they are a world apart with separate populations…
Thanks for the feedback! It actually sounds like I am not alone in seeing the potential of hitting neutrals with the allies! I thought I was way out there! Have you guys won this way?!
Sweden worried me so I hit it and reduced it…southamerica was still open…
Has anyone tried a neutral crush with the Allies with Alpha 2 Rules? I am new to Alpha 2 (played as Allies for the first time yesterday. It had some interesting effects but I only was 5-6 turns in.
With Russia, I acted like I was pulling back initially and Japan dispersed. I stepped back in and took the neutral Mongolian territory that touches 3? Chinese ones as well as Manchuria. I instantly threatened several territories and had a northern Chinese Army “Spring up.”
Since Russia was kept neutral so long for Sea Lion on G4 (friend prepped by dropping in Scotland G3 and then landed and attacked G4 with overwhelming odds) . I poised near Finland and took it. Then assaulted Sweden from land and sea leaving one “enemy” true neutral convert. The same turn, I also rushed into Turkey and took it with a large mechanized Russian force (germany was occupied in UK).
Later the same turn, I swept into Spain with the US amphibiously. This approach opened up many new approaches. However, it is predicated on a quick takeout of neutral so as not give the Axis free standing armies. It had to all come down very quickly.
My question: This was novel and unexpected. Has anyone had any success with this in a long game, or was this a fluke? I note that my opponent is very, very good. He has meetup groups (many opponents) and studies the game and boards on his own to the exclusion of other hobbies. Thanks for any info. Please refrain from the infantile “you are a douche” for trying something different. Feel free to use “you are a douche” comments if you have something concrete to back it up other than general “that is dumb, you will get crushed” retorts. I am actually interested in getting insight into the game so support any negative or positives. If you have never tried it, please make this clear.
Axisplaya,
Thanks for the feedback…I have a board set and will model your conclusions. In general, I play folks that understand efficiency and that for Russia, every defender is important. At the same time, blocking a northern approach effectively and possibly interfering with German NOs is like having more defenders, in a sense. I am not yet convinced it can be done but I will take your observations into account during planning. It would really be great to stomp Finland and Norway with Russia… Just don’t know of it is doable…
Dead wrong. That means a strategy has to work no matter what the enemy does….no adaptation. Not true in games or war…
You have tried it and laugh or you assume as written it is funny? Several folks have played it out and think it credible under the specified conditions.
Actually I am with straights being blocked if the Russians can discourage a landing on Novgorod…if they don’t land in ussr, I am not worried about them…
Sorry for poor editing and string of repeated “howevers” :|
First off, this website is a blast to read. I am glad it is a resource!
With all the happy crap out of the way, I pose a question to the community at large. I have grappled with my feelings about Sea Lion. I do not like the fact that its success is a foregone conclusion, but it is if the German player is determined.
However, with a static setup from any historical game, there are going to be parameters. I am OK with that. However, I want to come up with some good responses. The most creative I have seen is the surrender of England posted by James Aleman. If you think it is pure nonsense, put your pieces on the board and go through several turns. It is interesting.
However, I like options. I am working on an option in which the German boon becomes a net loss. If UK builds land units etc. as if to offer a determined defense, Germany will build many transports by necessity. However, this is not a problem in that they can use them to swing around in the North Sea and hit Russia quickly. I would like to develop a plan that causes Germany to pay for their evil!
Specifically, I am interested in building some Russian Navy units. In conjunction with scrambling fighters at the Leningrad territory (Novgorod?) some defensive punch can be built up quickly if the initial battleship and planes are used. I realize that Russia must strike a balance and cannot allocate TOO MANY resources here. At the same time, if they neutralize a second front and lead to greater expense for Germany or stall them, it is worthwhile!
This fleet would not be enough, of course. I would think whatever remnants of the UK fleet would also be useful in catching the German fleet between a hammer and an anvil. If the German fleet can be quickly neutralized after Sea Lion, I argue that taking UK might not be worth it. Specifically, after taking it, the US will come and reclaim it. It is only a problem for the allies if the Germans can resupply and draw repeated landing from the US.
I am asking for assistance from anyone who likes to think theoretically about the game for entertainment in crafting a plan whereby the Germans take UK for a round or two before giving it back for good. Such a plan would not have to destroy the German fleet immediately but keep it bottled until such time as it can be beaten or buy Russia an extra turn or two.
Another thought I had was in conjunction with a Russian fleet and in consolidating the UK’s was to play some games in Great Britain. Specifically, some folks Sea Lion calls for a direct landing on London. Others stage a fight from a captured Scotland as well as from a landing on London. I was thinking about walking a line of offense and defense from the UK. Specifically, if they build up in London with Artillery and Infantry, they could attack a piecemeal landing on Scotland and then defend (not likely successfully) London with their retreating elements and production.
Any thoughts about the development of this initial at-work between clients purely theoretical plan?
I know this is controversial…however, SeaLion is a go if you want it to be. UK cannot truly stop it.
With that said, I believe (and it is counterintuitive to my 20+ years of AA playing) that taking London does not win the game. In addition, it may actually HURT Germany. If you build the fleet, America is still coming. What is more, Russia will be a powerhouse. Conscription is coming. And if they start encroaching on Germany, the IPCs will be hard to overcome.
Also, consider this. Can Germany both defend UK and itself against a rich USA as well as well armed Russia. Only temporarily. And the price may be too high in the end…
http://www.mediafire.com/?uc2murm898uie
How about 2nd time is a charm? I am apparently a tech-reject…
http://www.mediafire.com/?9d66mkucp9hd5
Here ares some clearer pics. The wife taught me how to focus the stinking camera…. :|
Enjoy!
I have also been at it since the late 80s….God, I am a geezer! The new games are much more complicated and do lead to more questions. Sites like this really help grow a hobby. Before the internet, I might have gone months or longer not knowing about a release!
thanks for the kind words. I just submitted a bunch of pics to BGG. Three are up and 12 more waiting for approval. I sort of wish I could post stuff here first….
The table is from Geek Chic. It was pricey, but lets just say I drive an economy car and have no other hobbies…well that is how I convinced the wife, anyway! It is nice for games with separate boards like this—it is all smoothed out.
I went to Gen Con one year with my wife and convinced her a payment plan over six months would be OK :evil: