@Krupp:

Is there no way that the map could be postd into a j.peg? Or w/e.

I cannot open it.

Did you list the moves on the map itself IL?

Krupp - it’s a PDF. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader and you’ll be able to see it.

And he does illustrate all the moves, with notes for guidance. Very handy.

I think the problem with 12 is that it allows the Allies to win at the end of the U.S. turn with an insecure grasp on either Warsaw or Paris (which generally seem to be the ones most likey to put the allies over the top), which could easily be swept away by Germany on the start of the next turn. Whereas 13 most likely has required the allies to hold either Paris or Warsaw for a whole turn and then add the other during the next. While it’s possible that quick, simultaneous raids into Paris and Warsaw in the same turn could accomplish the same result, it’s a lot less likely.

If you’re going to play with a house rule of 12, you probably should require the game to go one full round from the point when 12 are taken; e.g., if the UK takes Warsaw for 12, the Allies should have to hold 12 until the UK’s next turn.

IL - nice strategy. I played out a scenario with it last night, and it defintely puts the Allies on the ropes early. However, I think your USSR opponent is using the wrong builds. I’ve started playing with a 10 infantry R1 build. I’m coming to the opinion that an offensive build for USSR doesn’t make much sense because (1) strafing, in general, has to be used with more precision in this edition because of the defense 3 tanks and (2) the way you are structuring your advance doesn’t leave many/any opportunities for a good strafing attack. I’ve seen it work against a poorer German player, but the advance you outline doesn’t seem to leave open the same windows. It seems the better play is to have as much fodder as possible for the allied fighters that will be keeping Moscow standing while the UK/US tackle Berlin.

Also, I agree with HolKann that the way to deal with Karelia is to turn it into a giant deadzone for Germany - or what happened in the game I played out last night - just write it off entirely, and divert a bomber from the US force in the UK to cut its ability to produce. USSR’s only hope is to fall back, create deadzones, hope for a dumb mistake by the Germans, and wait for the US and UK to ride to the rescue. By the time the Germans got to Caucuses (G4), there were approximately 33 Infantry/Artillery and 1 armor in Moscow + 3 UK fighters. The US’s 5 bombers were taking a toll on German production, and the 4 transports full of US troops had just arrived in the UK to support the UK landings, now occuring in Poland to disrupt supply lines. UK had also taken North Africa.

Of course, to accomplish this level of pressure, Japan had been allowed to run rampant, with the UK withdrawing its forces from India since it was obvious that they would be crushed by the massive force your J1 sends that way. By G4, Japan had conquered India, Australia, and even Egypt, opening the way for ending the UK threat to North Africa. Japan would also be ready to start advancing on US assets in the Pacific on J5.

Unfortunately I ran out of time to play it out, but it felt close to me. Rolling out a potential G5 assault on Moscow with the combined remaining German assets was not pretty against the force in Moscow, due to the lack of German infantry to absorb casualties. And with the US/UK beginning to land large amounts of troops in Europe, it was going to come down to how fast Japan could force them to redirect assets to the Pacific theater. The US/UK play definitely needs some tweaking - I made some mistakes with both that delayed a strong landing in Europe by a turn, which is obviously crucial as this strategy plays out.

Would be curious what others are finding… ?