ps. for a G1 tutorial I would say go with a couple openings. Start out on the water. New players like buying ships in my experience. Ships are a lot of fun! :-D
The Graf Zeppelin, if you buy it, has a different series of optimal opening plays than would a Bomber Buy, or a Romania IC, or some other combination purchase they might try.
I think the plays outlined by YG at the outset are pretty solid. He had the following…
@Young:
The following blueprint may be changed according to popular opinion.
Research & Development
None
Repair Units & Facilities
None
Purchase New Units:
1 Aircraft Carrier
2 Transports
Combat Movement:
SZ#106 - 1 Submarine
SZ#110 - 2 Submarines, 1 Battleship, 2 Fighters, 2 T.Bombers, 1 S.Bomber
SZ#111 - 2 Submarines, 2 Fighters, 2 T.Bomber, 1 S.Bomber
France - 7 Infantry, 4 M.Infantry, 3 Artillery, 6 Tanks
Yugoslavia - 9 Infantry, 2 Artillery, 3 Tanks, 1 Fighter
Non-Combat Movement:
1 Cruiser, 1 Transport into SZ#113 / 2 Infantry from Germany into Norway
3 Infantry from Norway into Finland
3 Infantry from Germany into W.Germany
6 Infantry, 3 Artillery, 1 AA Gun from Germany into Poland
1 AA Gun from Germany into Slovakia
1 AA Gun from Germany into W.Germany
3 AA Guns from W.Germany into France
1 T.Bomber from Poland to W. Germany
1 T.Bomber from Germany onto new Aircraft Carrier
1 Fighter from Slovakia to Southern Italy
All surviving air units from the Atlantic into W.Germany
Place New Units:
1 Aircraft Carrier into #112
2 Transports into #112
Collect income:
$39 income
$10 National objective
$19 Capital gain
= $68
Here’s another way you might play it…
Purchase New Units:
1 Aircraft Carrier
2 Transports
Combat Movement:
SZ#91 - 1 Submarine (“Das Boot” to deter Taranto)
SZ#106 - 1 Submarine
SZ#110 - 1 Submarine, 1 Battleship, 2 Fighters, 2 T.Bombers, 2 S. Bombers or 1 S.Bomber*
(optional retreat battleship to sz 112 if totally diced)
SZ#111 - 2 Submarines, 2 Fighters, 2 T.Bomber, 1 S.Bomber or no S.Bombers*
*note: it is possible to pair the Strategic Bombers in different ways, for example you can send both together into 110, or not, depending on how much you want to risk in 111. You might even consider taking a hit on one of these S. Bombers over a fighter, even if the cost in TUV is higher, to preserve a stronger G2 scramble defense or the ability to magnify the attack capability of a tactical bomber that survives. Its worth considering the loss in total TUV vs what the unit can do the following round. Its ideal to preserve these Strategic bomber units if at all possible since they have the most reach, but there are some cases when you start taking heavy hits, that it might actually be better to take a hit on a strategic bomber over a fighter, when your back is against the wall. You did buy a carrier after all, and strategic bombers can’t land on carrier decks, or scramble out of airbases ;)
France - 7 Infantry, 4 M.Infantry, 3 Artillery, 6 Tanks (Polish T.Bomber optional)
Yugoslavia - 7 Infantry, 2 Artillery, 1 Fighter (“Romania Bounce” retreat to Romania after strafe)
Non-Combat Movement:
If UK scrambles and loses out in the trade, then consider the following on Non Combat…
1 inf from Romania to Bulgaria
3 tanks from Eastern Front back to Germany (max amphibious threat from 3 total transports you will have after placement)
1 Cruiser, 1 Transport into SZ#112 / 2 Infantry from Germany into Norway
1 Infantry from Norway into Finland
3 Infantry from Germany into W.Germany
6 Infantry, 3 Artillery, 2 AA Gun from Germany into Poland (or if focus south in Slovakia, leave 3 inf in G to transport)
1 AA Gun from Germany into W.Germany
2 AA Guns from W.Germany into Denmark
1 T.Bomber from Poland to Norway, if you didn’t send it to attack France.
1 T.Bomber from Germany onto new Aircraft Carrier, if it survived.
1 Fighter from Yugoslavia to Southern Italy, to cover Taranto.
Of the surviving air units from the Atlantic, if possible at least 3 total fighters or tactical bombers into W.Germany (optimal to use AB scramble and the movement advantage the following round.)
If UK does not scramble, and preserves all fighters for defense against invasion…
Abandon the sz 112 plan and focus on sz 113 or 114. You can leave the cruiser in sz 114 if you want to ensure that the Russian cruiser cannot enter it to block your G2 options against the East. In this case, rather than reinforcing Norway by Sea, you can pull the 2 infantry from Germany back to Poland and concentrate on the eastern threat from this territory rather than Slovakia.
Place New Units:
All ships into sz 112 if the Atlantic attacks went well, i.e. the Tactical Bomber survived and UK doesn’t have enough fighters to threaten counter attack. If something went wrong in the Atlantic attacks, or the tactical bomber was taken as a hit, then you can consider 113, or even 114 as a safe zone (out of reach of UK based air.)
I think that’s how I would try to manage a Carrier + 2 transport buy, Graf Zeppelin opening.