@Black_Elk:
in times such as this i say……my god people…its just a game!
I know its just a game. That doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. :-)
Central USA was a ‘road apple’ to force a decision on Infantry shuck from placement on west or east coast.
All it did was force the shuck north through Canada, while at the same time making it essentially impossible for the USA to switch fronts rapidly. I feel it hurts the Pacific game more than any other single change that was made in the switch from Classic to Revised.
I could maybe see some argument for Central US, as an obstacle to recovering W. US, if the Japs manage to take it, but that circumstance is so rare that it hardly justifies the change from Classic. I preferred the older dynamic, where USA could feint Pacific or Atlantic, and then double back the other way at the last second if need be. Central US and Panama both contribute to making KGF more attractive.
If the map did not wrap at the edges, the problem with shucks between W. USA, and E. USA wouldn’t exist anymore, and the Allies would be forced to use their Pacific units in the Pacific. Japan conquering W. USA would be a major game changing event (much more than it is under the traditional situation) since USA could not retake it with tanks out of E. USA. Whether or not that is realistic shouldn’t matter, because all the other effects on the gameplay taken together would be so dramatic and beneficial. USA would have every reason to fight on two fronts, because losing W. USA to sustained attack by Japan would be an unthinkable. Japan would have a reason to press the fight, since a capture of W. USA would solidly cover their eastern flank.
I used to play classic like that before I had a hard look at the rules. It was a lot more fun. I have to say, however, Japan capturing Western USA (without a victory city system) was very anti-climactic… LOL. My friend was thrilled that I hadn’t paid enough attention to the Pacific and it was too late, as he rose the red flag over Los Angelos, only to realize that he sent all his men to take America, and that was basically end of the line… what to do from there?? :-D
But with victory cities, LA and such DOES have value.
However, a complete overhaul of the USA could do this more realistically…
Use the Axis and Allies Revised Lime colored British to be Europe US Forces (besides infantry sculpt, BASICALLY the same unit types), Axis and Allies Standard Green US Forces to be the Pacific forces. USA’s income is split so that IPC in the Pacific front goes one way, Eastern goes the other… here’s the catch… Central USA counts for BOTH theaters (essentially making it worth twice as much). Otherwise the individual USAs are way too weak. US forces are NOT allowed to cross the border UNLESS one USA half has fallen. The other half takes all of that half’s IPC, and acts as the “Acting Capital,” whether or not Eastern or Western USA fell. Hmm… I might have to include this in my house rules set that I was working on.
Plus, by making Central USA worth essentially twice as much, this also solves the problem some people have with America not being financially represented as best as it could be.