I’ve played 2 games of this testing it out with a couple of buddies and both times the Central Powers have trounced the Allies. As we are still learning the game, strats and rules I think it would be premature to glean anything from it. I’ll be playing my first 6-man game this Friday, but as it’ll be a bunch of noobs to the game (not to A&A in general but this one) it’ll be another learning game as well. For all I know I could be still playing some stuff wrong as the WWII versions are so ingrained in my head, anniversary and global anyway.
If I’m playing neutrals correctly, meaning attacking true neutrals doesn’t mobilize all the others against you like in 1940, in my first two games Germany has gone after whatever cheap territories they can scoop up in Africa, attacked neutral Denmark, Holland, Switzerland and Belgium first turn, and consolidated their fleet into sea zone 9 while wiping out the British fleet there. If all goes well they are earning around 40 IPCS. They’ll contest Belgium and Switzerland forever once France gets in there, but Holland and Denmark will earn them points all game provided they hold sea zone 10. Turn 2 they retreat their fleet back to Sea Zone 10 and add a battleship.
Austrians add a battleship immediately and never leave sea zone 18. From here they can hit Tuscany with their transport as well as Venice. They attack Serbia, Albany and Venice first turn and consolidate everything they have left into Galicia and look to the Ukraine. Both Germany and Austria keep adding fleet as they can. Battleships are so cheap in this game that it’s been working (so far), but again too premature to tell.
Those free hits for Battleships have been crucial to holding onto the CP fleets. So far I’ve found that by the time the British Indian fleet can get to the Italian sea zone Austria will have 3 more units there, preferably Battleships if they can do it. As Allies can only defend together but not attack, it requires the French, then the British, and then the Italians to suicide their Fleets there to remove it. Only the French can place in sea zone 16, and that’s only if they can afford it - India cannot build navy to replace it and Italy just won’t.
I agree with others that if the Central Powers lose their fleets forever, as well as sea zones 10 and 18 they are lost imho as it’s too easy for the Allies to mobilize against them. If they can hold the British to just reinforcing Picardy that’s huge. By the time the Americans get into the game Italy and Russia have been having severe problems. And with America only earning 20 IPCS and starting with virtually nothing I haven’t found them to be the threat they are in the WWII versions.
Both games the Ottomans have been screwed - no fleet off the bat and even a trickle effort from the Brits in India gives them major manpower problems. But with them I’ve pushed into Greece and walked into Bulgaria first turn, whilst contesting Trans-Jordan and Mesopotamia after they are invaded.
Again my first experiences with the game so take with a grain of salt. If after many games players are still finding that the Central Powers are losing too often then maybe consider a bid, but seeing as the game is barely a week old with a completely different play style with new rules on old units I’d like to see more playing before those conclusions are drawn.
2 cents
Gj.