To me, the topic address one of two advancement choices.
Either advance separately along two fronts, (hence Germany moved a large force into Poland)
or. advance as one along one front (Austria moves into Ukraine, Germany moves into Austrian held territories clearing Russian single infantry as needed, thus can opening)
This rule change seems to be advocating for a change that makes the two front war more advantageous or viable than a 1 front battle. These are choices based on play styles established probably from earlier game types.
As written, (when Russia pulls out of Poland, they leave 1 unit to stall) ok, so Germany is stalled one round. What prevents Germany from moving next to Moscow or into Austrian contested/held Ukraine next turn? Remember if Austria is in Ukraine, Russia must choose which fronts to attack with its larger force, thus committing them for a turn. And if Ukraine is contested, Germany will be able to move a large force in without firing a shot.
Remember, you are knocking down Russia’s IPCs when you outmaneuver them and they retreat backwards.
Personally, its way to early to change rules, give the community months to try out different approaches, and then address recurring issues if a larger body agrees with the minority’s current distaste of the way this new game plays when compared to older tactics from other versions. Having lived through this with global 1940 being changed so frequently, and too early, only to cater to a vocal minority; I was left with less enthusiasm for the game then before. If the vocal members are upset with the game let them house rule it until the time that others come to the same conclusion. The game does not have to be “fixed” the month it comes out, remember, changes will persist for years to come, lets give the community at least half a year too, before we change things.
Basically as written, Russia can stall Germany once in Poland and once in Ukraine or Belarus, or Livonia. So if the Russians stall twice and they are 3 spaces away, by turn 5 Moscow can be contested or be collecting very low amounts of IPCs.
Remember if the Russians counterattack into these territories they are (stuck the round they attack) , move into Moscow, contest it and reinforce the other battles, and then they are stuck permanently.
Isn’t Russia going to lose all of the money from contested territories or retreating? Doesn’t this give the CPs a lot of IPCs when this is over?
Heaven forbid, there is another approach: Lead with Germany: Build up turn 1, Move into Poland turn 2 with Germany, reinforce and/or clear with Austria’s stack: Move into Belarus, Livonia, or Ukraine (whichever is empty, let Russia try to counterattack the combined German/Austrian stack) turn 3: Move Austria in the same clearing or reinforcing: Move into Moscow turn 4(contesting it if able) so Austria can then move in for the capture or contest-ation. This prevents any stalling other than by shear defensive numbers.
Here are the numbers for this argument:
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=30597.0
