@BasileII:
Correct me if I’m wrong, but USSR and Germany have around the same amount of IPCs every turn (depending of course on the NOs).
Germany: 30 at start+9 (at best) from France (6 of these at best on G1)+2 from Finland+2 from Yugoslavia (let’s say they take it). And a one time 17 IPCs bonus.
Over 3 turns, they have 30+40+17+43=130 IPCs
USSR: 39 IPCs every turn, which makes 117 IPCs
But every russian production is going to Berlin, which means, in my idea, that Germany is actually at an economic disadvantage against Russia. Plus, Germany is the attacking power, so the more it advances the easier for Russian drunk footmen to reach its armies.
Imagine if you build transports and CVs to attack UK. Maybe you could take it, but you will then look desperately at the russian juggernaught coming for your women.
You’re absolutely right. Germany does have three advantages, though. The first is that they have a more starting units (and especially more tanks, mech inf, and fighters). Mech Inf and Tanks that attack France on G1 can make it back to support a G3 attack on Russia. The second is that new production infantry from Moscow and Stalingrad won’t make it to the front line until R4, which means that for a G3 or G4 attack, you’re only dealing with on-board forces. The third is the Pripet Marsh. If you take East Poland on the first round of attack, you can then decide whether to go north or south for the second round of attack, based on which is less fortified, and there will be an extra speed bump in their shifting defenses to meet you.
I think there will be an interesting tension on the German-Russian front. Because Russia’s income is so high in comparison with their starting forces (relative to earlier versions of A&A), there’s a real incentive to attack early (before G4) to catch them before they solidify their defenses, and to chew up some infantry before the stacks get tall. Because of this, Russia may want to withdraw all but a token force from the front lines to preserve units, which will ironically give Germany the capability and incentive to attack even earlier. If Russia pulls forces back on R1, I’m seriously considering a G2 attack.