.

If pre D-day is your start why are Russians in Belarus seems the German force in eastern Poland should be there instead?

“Historical” setups are borderline unplayable.
12 fighters 12 tacs on Hawaii. What can stand up to that?
The IPCs that is capable of destroying can’t be replaced.

You have to remember that if you setup 1000 IPCs worth of units on the board, but a power only collects ~80 each turn, then you are going to run into a lopsided situation in 2 or 3 turns where what you are producing is a trickle compared to the vast army you have in front of you.

Historical setups can only ever work if we design an entirely new game structure that addresses:

• the variable quality of units by country (probably needs a D12)
• the variable ability for countries to produce various things (Abandon IPCs, and adopt an economic system with three currencies: Manpower, Metal, Fuel)
  Infantry: 1 Manpower
  Mech Infantry: 1 Manpower, 1 Metal, 1 Fuel
  Artillery: 1 Manpower, 2 Metal
  Armor: 1 Manpower, 1 Metal, 2 Fuel
  AAA: 1 Manpower, 2 Metal
  Fighter: 1 Manpower, 2 Metal, 2 Fuel
  Tactical Bomber: 2 Manpower, 2 Metal, 2 Fuel
  Bomber: 2 Manpower, 2 Metal, 3 Fuel
  Sub: 1 Manpower, 2 Metal, 1 Fuel
  Destroyer: 2 Manpower, 2 Metal, 1 Fuel
  Cruiser: 2 Manpower, 3 Metal, 2 Fuel
  Carrier: 3 Manpower, 3 Metal, 3 Fuel
  Battleship: 4 Manpower, 4 Metal, 4 Fuel

This setup needs technology and some special rules:

Germany should have jet fighters/bombers on like turn 2-3, Heavy Tanks, Advanced artillery.

Super subs on turn 3

USA gets heavy bombers and LRA.

Germany should get a surprise force that appears on either front on turn 2-3 ( representing the Bulge offensive).

The number of aircraft represent front line aircraft. I think you are using just totals of planes, but you really want the main combat aircraft employed. Not Recon, Catalina seaplanes, etc.

I think pre-fall of rome might be a better date. (so a crank of the clock back to 1943)
Turn 1 would see a US/UK attack on South Italy (fully damaged factory) that Germany couldn’t really do anything to stop.
Italy would be raided senseless anyway, and just have a few units in the North and Yugoslavia

Germany would get things started with a Kursk-like situation.
(which a good non Hitler German commander won’t make the foolish attack)

The pacific would be at around the Solomons campaign

1943 would be a more “make or break” situation for the axis. With a little more flavor at the front. Starting tech for certain powers of course.

I have long been considering a 1942 setup, or 43 setup of my own. But for the size and scope of the board, its just too late for 44. So much was already so far gone for the axis that you really waste a huge amount of board on no action.

1943 also has Italy still involved (even if only in a super limited capacity)
And by 1943 the Japanese navy was at least still a threat. By 44’ their merchant marine was mostly underwater and their carriers had no trained pilots and their ships had no fuel.

Not too bad looking.