Ok. One last hurdle left. I’m looking around for any French or Anzac troops that can liberate any VCs on the Europe map, just in case!
I’d have to say it was a well rounded Axis team effort. Yes, German ground troops did the heavy lifting. And German naval and air kept the Allied navies largely out of play. But the Italian navy kept Gibraltar (the single most important non-VC spot on the board?) out of Allied hands until the game was out of reach (winning an important coinflip battle on the way, which I was almost one piece short on). Freed from defending itself, resources were redirected to Cairo (which needed almost every piece) and further drew British resources out of the Atlantic. The Japanese took pressure off Cairo from the east with a quick capture of Calcutta and the elimination of the Allied navies in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Further eschewing a Pacific victory, the Japanese push to the Caucasus ensured than any Soviet counter would have to be so large that the Soviets could not effectively split their force and had to throw the whole stack at Moscow. And in the meantime, the Japanese were such a threat to overwhelm Sydney, that the Americans had to dedicate enough Pacific resources to at least ensure the game would last past 6-7 turns.
With the exception of losing the German navy TWICE, I’d have to say this was almost EXACTLY the Stalingradski blueprint to Axis success that I use. Ideally, I normally like to defend Gibraltar with a large German navy on the Atlantic side, supplemented by twin airbases on Gibraltar and Morocco for a double scramble. Then by the time I need the balance of the Luftwaffe, I retreat into the Med and try to hold Gibraltar from the inside. That, of course, starts the clock ticking – there is WAY too much coastline to defend if your navy is inside the Med. And with the size of the RAF you assembled, any moderate American foothold would turn into an immediate fortress (and if on an IC, a huge problem for a Germany trying to throw expensive late-push resources at Moscow to make the game shorter).
Assessment agreed, across the board (pun intended).
I had never faced a Japanese bug-out into the middle east, and made erroneous assumptions based on it. Specifically, it helped me decide to dedicate a certain amount of force in the Pacific, where usually I play a holding/trading game with Japan, and crank up the pressure in Europe economically.
So to me, your moves were unpredictable, and unorthodox, outside of Germany. This was to your advantage!
Also to your advantage was the fact that we were playing two different games… you to an 8 VC Axis visctory in Europe; me to an overall economic stangulation strategy with no regard whatsoever to VCs. But this is how we learn.
TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 Alpha 3 Final, version: 3.3
Game History
Round :10
Combat Move - Russians
Non Combat Move - Russians
1 infantry moved from Tsinghai to Novosibirsk
Turn Complete - Russians
TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 Alpha 3 Final, version: 3.3
Game History
Round :10
Purchase Units - Japanese
Japanese buy 7 infantry and 1 mech_infantry; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;
Combat Move - Japanese
1 mech_infantry moved from Samara to Urals
Japanese take Urals from Russians
1 mech_infantry moved from Yenisey to Evenkiyskiy
Japanese take Evenkiyskiy from Russians
1 armour and 1 mech_infantry moved from Yenisey to Novosibirsk
Japanese take Timguska from Russians
1 mech_infantry moved from Siberia to Soviet Far East
Japanese take Soviet Far East from Russians
1 bomber moved from India to 71 Sea Zone
1 tactical_bomber moved from Archangel to Novosibirsk
1 infantry moved from Western Australia to Northern Territory
Japanese take Northern Territory from ANZAC
1 infantry moved from Western Australia to South Australia
Japanese take South Australia from ANZAC
2 artilleries and 4 infantry moved from Western Australia to 56 Sea Zone
2 fighters and 1 tactical_bomber moved from 56 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
1 artillery, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 56 Sea Zone to 41 Sea Zone
2 battleships moved from 56 Sea Zone to 41 Sea Zone
1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from 41 Sea Zone to Sumatra
1 artillery, 3 infantry and 3 transports moved from 56 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
1 artillery and 3 infantry moved from 42 Sea Zone to Java
Combat - Japanese
Battle in Sumatra
Japanese attack with 1 artillery and 1 infantry
British defend with 1 infantry
Japanese roll dice for 2 battleships in Sumatra, round 1 : 2/2 hits
UK_Pacific roll dice for 1 infantry in Sumatra, round 1 : 1/1 hits
1 infantry owned by the British and 1 infantry owned by the Japanese lost in Sumatra
Japanese win, taking Sumatra from UK_Pacific with 1 artillery remaining. Battle score for attacker is 0
Casualties for Japanese: 1 infantry
Casualties for British: 1 infantry
Battle in 42 Sea Zone
Japanese attack with 2 fighters, 1 tactical_bomber and 3 transports
British defend with 1 battleship
Japanese roll dice for 2 fighters, 1 tactical_bomber and 3 transports in 42 Sea Zone, round 1 : 3/3 hits
British roll dice for 1 battleship in 42 Sea Zone, round 1 : 1/1 hits
1 tactical_bomber owned by the Japanese and 1 battleship owned by the British lost in 42 Sea Zone
Japanese win with 2 fighters and 3 transports remaining. Battle score for attacker is 9
Casualties for Japanese: 1 tactical_bomber
Casualties for British: 1 battleship
Battle in Java
Japanese attack with 1 artillery and 3 infantry
ANZAC defend with 1 aaGun and 1 infantry
Japanese roll dice for 1 artillery and 3 infantry in Java, round 1 : 0/4 hits
ANZAC roll dice for 1 aaGun and 1 infantry in Java, round 1 : 0/1 hits
Japanese roll dice for 1 artillery and 3 infantry in Java, round 2 : 1/4 hits
ANZAC roll dice for 1 aaGun and 1 infantry in Java, round 2 : 0/1 hits
1 aaGun owned by the ANZAC lost in Java
Japanese roll dice for 1 artillery and 3 infantry in Java, round 3 : 0/4 hits
ANZAC roll dice for 1 infantry in Java, round 3 : 0/1 hits
Japanese roll dice for 1 artillery and 3 infantry in Java, round 4 : 0/4 hits
ANZAC roll dice for 1 infantry in Java, round 4 : 0/1 hits
Japanese roll dice for 1 artillery and 3 infantry in Java, round 5 : 1/4 hits
ANZAC roll dice for 1 infantry in Java, round 5 : 1/1 hits
1 infantry owned by the ANZAC and 1 infantry owned by the Japanese lost in Java
Japanese win, taking Java from ANZAC with 1 artillery and 2 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 5
Casualties for Japanese: 1 infantry
Casualties for ANZAC: 1 aaGun and 1 infantry
Battle in 71 Sea Zone
Japanese attack with 1 bomber
British defend with 1 transport
1 transport owned by the British lost in 71 Sea Zone
Japanese win with 1 bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is 7
Casualties for British: 1 transport
Battle in Novosibirsk
Japanese attack with 1 armour, 1 mech_infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
Russians defend with 1 infantry
Japanese roll dice for 1 armour, 1 mech_infantry and 1 tactical_bomber in Novosibirsk, round 1 : 2/3 hits
Russians roll dice for 1 infantry in Novosibirsk, round 1 : 1/1 hits
1 infantry owned by the Russians and 1 mech_infantry owned by the Japanese lost in Novosibirsk
Japanese win, taking Novosibirsk from Russians with 1 armour and 1 tactical_bomber remaining. Battle score for attacker is -1
Casualties for Japanese: 1 mech_infantry
Casualties for Russians: 1 infantry
Non Combat Move - Japanese
1 tactical_bomber moved from Novosibirsk to Russia
3 carriers moved from 56 Sea Zone to 41 Sea Zone
1 fighter moved from 42 Sea Zone to 41 Sea Zone
1 fighter moved from 42 Sea Zone to 41 Sea Zone
1 bomber moved from 71 Sea Zone to French Madagascar
1 bomber moved from India to Egypt
1 artillery and 2 infantry moved from West India to India
Place Units - Japanese
3 infantry placed in India
2 infantry and 1 mech_infantry placed in Korea
1 infantry placed in Korea
1 infantry placed in Japan
Turn Complete - Japanese
Total Cost from Convoy Blockades: 11
Rolling for Convoy Blockade Damage in 6 Sea Zone. Rolls: 5,4,6,3,2,2,3,4,4,6,5,2,6,2,1,1
Japanese collect 33 PUs (11 lost to blockades); end with 33 PUs total
Objective Japanese 3 Control Honolulu Or Sydney Or Calcutta Or Western United States: Japanese met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 38 PUs
Territory Summary for Japanese :
Paulau Island : 1 flag, 1 infantry
Korea : 1 flag, 1 factory_major, 12 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys
Japan : 1 flag, 3 aaGuns, 1 airfield, 2 artilleries, 1 factory_major, 2 fighters, 1 harbour, 15 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
Ceylon : 1 flag
India : 1 flag, 1 airfield, 1 artillery, 1 factory_minor, 1 harbour and 8 infantry
Northern Territory : 1 flag, 1 infantry
South Australia : 1 flag, 1 infantry
Western Australia : 1 flag
Sakha : 1 flag
Evenkiyskiy : 1 flag, 1 mech_infantry
Yenisey : 1 flag, 2 mech_infantrys
Soviet Far East : 1 flag, 1 mech_infantry
Amur : 1 flag
Yakut S.S.R. : 1 flag
Timguska : 1 flag
Siberia : 1 flag
Buryatia : 1 flag
Java : 1 flag, 1 artillery and 2 infantry
Sumatra : 1 flag, 1 artillery
42 Sea Zone : 1 flag, 3 transports
41 Sea Zone : 1 flag, 2 battleships, 3 carriers, 2 fighters and 1 transport
39 Sea Zone : 1 flag
West India : 1 flag, 1 factory_minor
Egypt : 1 flag, 1 bomber, 1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber
French Madagascar : 1 flag, 1 bomber
Urals : 1 flag, 1 mech_infantry
Russia : 1 flag, 1 tactical_bomber
Novosibirsk : 1 flag, 1 armour
Caucasus : 1 flag, 1 factory_minor
Samara : 1 flag
80 Sea Zone : 1 flag
Iraq : 1 flag
Production/PUs Summary :
Germans : 66 / 111
Russians : 0 / 0
Japanese : 44 / 38
Americans : 60 / 85
Chinese : 24 / 26
British : 29 / 29
UK_Pacific : 10 / 0
Italians : 17 / 29
ANZAC : 12 / 23
French : 3 / 0
Dutch : 0 / 0
Mongolians : 0 / 0
Neutral_Axis : 0 / 0
Neutral_Allies : 0 / 0
Neutral_True : 18 / 0
Dice Statistics:
Total
1 was rolled 4 times
2 was rolled 14 times
3 was rolled 12 times
4 was rolled 12 times
5 was rolled 7 times
6 was rolled 3 times
Average roll : 3.250
Median : 3.000
Variance : 2.157
Standard Deviation : 1.469
Total rolls : 52
Null / Other
1 was rolled 2 times
2 was rolled 4 times
3 was rolled 2 times
4 was rolled 3 times
5 was rolled 2 times
6 was rolled 3 times
Average roll : 3.500
Median : 3.500
Variance : 0.400
Standard Deviation : 0.632
Total rolls : 16
Japanese Combat
1 was rolled 2 times
2 was rolled 6 times
3 was rolled 9 times
4 was rolled 7 times
5 was rolled 4 times
Average roll : 3.179
Median : 3.000
Variance : 2.148
Standard Deviation : 1.466
Total rolls : 28
ANZAC Combat
2 was rolled 1 times
3 was rolled 1 times
4 was rolled 2 times
5 was rolled 1 times
Average roll : 3.600
Median : 4.000
Variance : 1.750
Standard Deviation : 1.323
Total rolls : 5
Russians Combat
2 was rolled 1 times
Average roll : 2.000
Median : 2.000
Variance : ?
Standard Deviation : ?
Total rolls : 1
British Combat
2 was rolled 1 times
Average roll : 2.000
Median : 2.000
Variance : ?
Standard Deviation : ?
Total rolls : 1
UK_Pacific Combat
2 was rolled 1 times
Average roll : 2.000
Median : 2.000
Variance : ?
Standard Deviation : ?
Total rolls : 1
Another nice move by you - clipping my transport in S Africa. I hoped to make you choose to either face two more land units, or scramble a fighter and lose the use of it on defense.
If my US fighter makes it through the AA in Egypt… and if it manages to hit… what will you lose?
Please hold off… I have to redo my combat move vs. Japan.
Ok - OOL vs Egypt if my US fighter makes it through and gets a hit…
Deployment of kamikazes off Japan, plus do you scramble with Japan?
Oh, there’s still a war in the Pacific? :wink: Hang on…
Hint: zoom in once in a while on that stack of ships… you quietly assembled 10 transports, there. :lol:
If the US fighter breaks through and scores a hit, he can have the Japanese bomber. Those AA guns still have a job to do on UK10.
I don’t think whatever I decide on Japan matters. For snickers and giggles 3 kamikaze against the battleship, 2 against 1 cruiser, and 1 against the other. No scramble.
This whole “take Japan” thing is my fallback plan just in case I get very lucky in Egypt… :evil:
TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 Alpha 3 Final, version: 3.3
Game History
Round :10
Purchase Units - Americans
Americans buy 3 armour, 3 artilleries, 1 bomber, 1 destroyer, 5 infantry, 3 mech_infantrys and 1 transport; Remaining resources: 1 PUs;
Combat Move - Americans
1 unit repaired.
1 submarine moved from 94 Sea Zone to 98 Sea Zone
3 mech_infantrys moved from Libya to Tobruk
Americans take Tobruk from Italians
1 fighter moved from Algeria to Egypt
1 submarine moved from 54 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
3 artilleries, 3 infantry and 1 mech_infantry moved from French Indo China to 36 Sea Zone
3 artilleries, 1 battleship, 1 carrier, 2 cruisers, 3 infantry, 1 mech_infantry and 6 transports moved from 36 Sea Zone to 20 Sea Zone
2 armour and 1 infantry moved from Kwangtung to 20 Sea Zone
2 armour, 3 artilleries, 1 battleship, 1 carrier, 2 cruisers, 4 infantry, 1 mech_infantry and 6 transports moved from 20 Sea Zone to 19 Sea Zone
1 transport moved from 6 Sea Zone to 19 Sea Zone
3 fighters and 1 tactical_bomber moved from 6 Sea Zone to Japan
2 fighters moved from Kiangsu to Japan
1 bomber moved from Kiangsu to Japan
1 armour, 4 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys moved from Kiangsu to 19 Sea Zone
3 armour, 3 artilleries, 1 battleship, 4 carriers, 2 cruisers, 5 fighters, 8 infantry, 3 mech_infantrys, 1 tactical_bomber and 9 transports moved from 19 Sea Zone to 6 Sea Zone
3 armour, 3 artilleries, 8 infantry and 3 mech_infantrys moved from 6 Sea Zone to Japan
1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Caroline Islands to 33 Sea Zone
1 artillery, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 33 Sea Zone to 23 Sea Zone
1 artillery, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 23 Sea Zone to 17 Sea Zone
1 artillery, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 17 Sea Zone to 6 Sea Zone
1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from 6 Sea Zone to Japan
1 tactical_bomber moved from 6 Sea Zone to Japan
3 fighters moved from 6 Sea Zone to Japan
Combat - Americans
Kamikaze Suicide Attack attacks 1 cruiser owned by the Americans scoring 1 hits. Rolls: 2
Kamikaze Suicide Attack attacks 1 battleship owned by the Americans scoring 1 hits. Rolls: 5,6,1
Units damaged: 1 battleship owned by the Americans
Kamikaze Suicide Attack attacks 1 cruiser owned by the Americans scoring 1 hits. Rolls: 6,1
Battle in 98 Sea Zone
Americans attack with 1 submarine
Germans defend with 1 transport; Italians defend with 2 transports
Americans win, taking 98 Sea Zone from Neutral with 1 submarine remaining. Battle score for attacker is 21
Casualties for Germans: 1 transport
Casualties for Italians: 2 transports
Battle in 42 Sea Zone
Americans attack with 1 submarine
Japanese defend with 3 transports
Americans win with 1 submarine remaining. Battle score for attacker is 21
Casualties for Japanese: 3 transports
Battle in Japan
Americans attack with 3 armour, 4 artilleries, 1 bomber, 8 fighters, 9 infantry, 3 mech_infantrys and 2 tactical_bombers
Japanese defend with 3 aaGuns, 1 airfield, 2 artilleries, 1 factory_major, 2 fighters, 1 harbour, 15 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
Americans captures 38PUs while taking Japanese capital
Americans converts factory_major into different units
Americans win, taking Japan from Japanese with 3 armour, 3 artilleries, 1 bomber, 5 fighters and 2 tactical_bombers remaining. Battle score for attacker is 26
Casualties for Japanese: 3 aaGuns, 2 artilleries, 2 fighters, 15 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber
Casualties for Americans: 1 artillery, 3 fighters, 9 infantry and 3 mech_infantrys
Battle in Egypt
Americans attack with 1 fighter
Japanese defend with 1 bomber, 1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber; Germans defend with 1 artillery, 5 fighters, 1 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber; Italians defend with 3 aaGuns, 1 airfield, 10 armour, 1 factory_minor, 1 harbour, 8 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys
Italians win with 3 aaGuns, 10 armour, 1 artillery, 1 bomber, 6 fighters, 9 infantry, 2 mech_infantrys and 2 tactical_bombers remaining. Battle score for attacker is -10
Casualties for Americans: 1 fighter
Non Combat Move - Americans
4 infantry moved from Algeria to Morocco
2 armour and 2 infantry moved from Eastern United States to 101 Sea Zone
2 armour, 2 infantry and 2 transports moved from 101 Sea Zone to 91 Sea Zone
2 armour and 2 infantry moved from 91 Sea Zone to Morocco
4 transports moved from 91 Sea Zone to 102 Sea Zone
4 transports moved from 102 Sea Zone to 101 Sea Zone
1 tactical_bomber moved from Eastern United States to 90 Sea Zone
1 tactical_bomber moved from 90 Sea Zone to Morocco
5 fighters and 2 tactical_bombers moved from Japan to 6 Sea Zone
1 bomber moved from Japan to Kiangsu
4 submarines moved from 6 Sea Zone to 19 Sea Zone
4 submarines moved from 19 Sea Zone to 20 Sea Zone
1 aaGun moved from Yunnan to Kweichow
Place Units - Americans
1 bomber placed in Eastern United States
1 destroyer and 1 transport placed in 101 Sea Zone
3 mech_infantrys placed in Kwangtung
3 armour placed in French Indo China
2 infantry placed in Central United States
3 artilleries and 3 infantry placed in Eastern United States
Turn Complete - Americans
Americans collect 68 PUs; end with 107 PUs total
Objective Americans 2 Outer Territories: Americans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 112 PUs
Objective Americans 4 Philippines: Americans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 117 PUs
Objective Americans 3 Defense Obligations: Americans met a national objective for an additional 5 PUs; end with 122 PUs
Objective Americans 1 Homeland: Americans met a national objective for an additional 10 PUs; end with 132 PUs
TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 Alpha 3 Final, version: 3.3
Game History
Round :10
Purchase Units - Chinese
Trigger Chinese Loses Burma Road: Chinese has their production frontier changed to: productionChinese_Burma_Road_Closed
Chinese buy 8 infantry; Remaining resources: 2 PUs;
Combat Move - Chinese
Non Combat Move - Chinese
5 infantry moved from Jehol to Manchuria
1 infantry moved from Kansu to Shensi
1 fighter moved from Jehol to Hopei
1 infantry moved from Kweichow to Shensi
1 infantry moved from Sikang to Shensi
1 infantry moved from Tsinghai to Shensi
3 infantry moved from Yunnan to Burma
Place Units - Chinese
5 infantry placed in Manchuria
1 infantry placed in Burma
2 infantry placed in Shensi
Turn Complete - Chinese
Chinese collect 24 PUs; end with 26 PUs total
That will certainly make things interesting, as I made zero purchases to sustain this war past the point when I saw it would be over!
Take OOL in Egypt strictly by defense value. AA Guns first. In case of a tie, Japanese units die first, then Germans, then Italians.
OOL noted, although I think it won’t matter - if you hold it at the end of the turn, it’s over -
I ran it through the battle calculator - I have a 0% chance of winning - with you having 17 + units left… Allied Banzai!
TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 Alpha 3 Final, version: 3.3
Game History
Round :10
Purchase Units - British
British buy 2 armour, 1 mech_infantry and 2 submarines; Remaining resources: 1 PUs;
Combat Move - British
3 armour, 3 artilleries, 7 infantry and 3 mech_infantrys moved from Anglo Egyptian Sudan to Egypt
1 mech_infantry moved from Belgian Congo to Anglo Egyptian Sudan
1 mech_infantry moved from Anglo Egyptian Sudan to Egypt
1 bomber, 6 fighters and 3 tactical_bombers moved from Algeria to Egypt
Combat - British
Battle in Egypt
British attack with 3 armour, 3 artilleries, 1 bomber, 6 fighters, 7 infantry, 4 mech_infantrys and 3 tactical_bombers
Japanese defend with 1 bomber, 1 fighter and 1 tactical_bomber; Germans defend with 1 artillery, 5 fighters, 1 infantry and 1 tactical_bomber; Italians defend with 3 aaGuns, 1 airfield, 10 armour, 1 factory_minor, 1 harbour, 8 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys
Italians win with 10 armour, 6 fighters and 2 tactical_bombers remaining. Battle score for attacker is -106
Casualties for Japanese: 1 bomber
Casualties for Germans: 1 artillery and 1 infantry
Casualties for British: 3 armour, 3 artilleries, 1 bomber, 6 fighters, 7 infantry, 4 mech_infantrys and 3 tactical_bombers
Casualties for Italians: 3 aaGuns, 8 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys
Non Combat Move - British
3 infantry moved from Belgian Congo to Anglo Egyptian Sudan
1 infantry moved from Rhodesia to Belgian Congo
1 artillery and 1 infantry moved from Union of South Africa to Rhodesia
1 destroyer moved from 109 Sea Zone to 104 Sea Zone
1 destroyer moved from 104 Sea Zone to 91 Sea Zone
Place Units - British
2 submarines placed in 109 Sea Zone
2 armour and 1 mech_infantry placed in Union of South Africa
Turn Complete - British
British collect 29 PUs; end with 30 PUs total
Congratulations, sir! The game is yours - very well played.
I’ve learned a valuable lesson about VCs - one I’ve not had to think about before. Your pivot of Japan to the center of the board seemed like a clear opening for me (which it was… Japan fell because of it), but it bought you the game. It was a winning strategy.
And no, it was not the Stalingradski strategy - it was much better.
I’m up for another game, if you are. I need redemption! :-D
Let me clarify… a shot at redemption…
The move of Japan’s navy into the Red Sea wasn’t planned. I had no other way of killing off that Allied navy and they were going to be the reason I couldn’t hold Egypt. That was more about opportunity than it was some great plan :)
Thanks for the compliment, but it basically was your idea. In essence, you can take your time reaching Moscow one spot at a time if, and only if, you can keep the Allies off of your back long enough to shift your buys from offense to defense.
I’d love to have your company in another game. Want to switch up sides and you can helm the Axis?
It’s a deal! And thanks in return for the compliment.
I’ll start one up as soon as I can -
