I have only had the chance to play the game against opposition once and three times solitare. I love this game. Cmdr Jennifer has me convinced that an early try at Karelia is a valid strategy. Unfortunately, my friend who plays the British as also read her posts. My friend plays very well when he is not surprised. So this is what I was going to try.
An Overwhelming attack on the Baltic, plus take East Poland and the Ukraine on turn 1. Leaning heavily on the Italians I even transport an armor and an infantry from tghe med to the Ukraine. I hate watching my smug friend having a grand ol time in the Atlantic while Germany tries to defeat Russia before it is to late so that means 1 Bomber, 1 Fighter and a sub vs the British Battleship and transport. 1 sub and 1 F vs the destroyer in zone 6. 1 sub vs the Destroyer and transport off Canada. If I am lucky I will get both transports, but I do expect to get at least the closest transport and the British Battleship. I know this leaves the Italians in trouble, but I am counting on a U.S. obsessed with Japan, an overly cautious Britain and a defensive mind set in Russia. Plus I my first build is a German Battleshiip and two infantry.
Now the RAF could go after the Italian fleet, but what about Germany’s fleet. With no immenit threat of a Norway invasion, no transport, I move my infantry from Norway into Finland. On turn two I can threaten Karelia with at least nine infantry, plus tanks and Fighters. I am hoping that the German Baltic Fleet is intact. Britain could attack my Battleship and Cruiser with two fighters and a Bomber and probably win at a heavy cost, but then the Italian Fleet would likely survive. Off the three subs I had attacking in the Atlantic I expect one to survive. I don’t expect my allid opponents to be comfortable letting one of my subs live.
If all goes as planned and the Baltic Fleet survives, then ON Turn 2 I should have 45 IPCs to spend. I will spend 14 of them on a carrier and two of the Fighters attacking Karelia will land on it. With Transport I can attack Karelia with 11 infantry, 4 tanks, 2 artillery, at least two fighters, probably 3 and a Bomber, plus bombard it with a cruiser and a Battleship. That ought to take it. Last game that meant goobye to 10 Russian infantry and an artillery piece. With that accomplished I hope Britain will have something to scream about. Unfortunately, the US could help them out and wreck my fleet. But what I am trying to do is to take Britain and the US out of their comfort zone and buy myself some time.
It seems to me that whatever the Germans do I can think of an allied counter eventually. But until my friends get real comfortable at adapting to surprise, or Paul reads this, I will refrain from going all out for Egypt and Moscow starting with turn 1. I don’t get a chance to play often and having the game decided on turn 1 doesn’t thrill me. Of course it is worse to lose. :-D
For Japan, I expect him to do whatever he has to, to stale mate the U.S. Fleet in the Pacific and spend the rest taking over China, Burma and India before launching an invasion of Russia.