I just got the Europe game today. I have the Pacific game also but only set up the Europe side of the game. Here are some of my first impressions of the game, in no particular order:
1. First of all, I think with the map being so big, with the neutrality rules, and with the optional tech rules, this game has so many options. So many spaces being between Germany and Russia allows the other Allied players time to really get units into the game before they have to worry about Russia falling. With Germany and Japan having so many units to start off the game with, I think tech rolls will benefit them the most, at least early in the game. Perhaps buying a couple of tech dice a turn with Germany and Japan is a good option. I think that violating strict neutral territories is actually more of an option for the Axis, especially if Germany does it in the first few turns. The opposing team doesn’t automatically get the remainder of the neutral infantry… they still have to activate the territories, and may not have the transports to actually get the infantry anywhere fast enough to count. Other strict neutrals, such as Sweden, are going to be really hard for the Allies to get to as long as the Axis control the surrounding territories…
2. Speaking of strict neutrals, I’m wondering if the Axis taking out Turkey is a good option. Actually, I found the rules about the Turkish strait confusing, so I’m not sure after reading the rules if land units are capable of moving from Greece to Turkey. If it is possible, then perhaps Germany can build a bunch of infantry to hold off Russia while German tanks go into the Middle East/Africa/India to help out Italy and/or Japan. It could be enough to swing the game in the Axis’ favor.
3. Germany is going to have to put as much pressure as possible on the UK for the first two turns if Italy is to have any chance of securing the Med and taking out Egypt. The UK fleet off of Gibraltar and north of Egypt can take out the Italian battleship, cruiser, and transport, especially if the carrier joins the fight, allowing another UK fighter to join in the fight. The threat of a sealion will probably at least force the destroyer off of Gibraltar to block Germany’s Baltic fleet on G2. But it may not be enough to stop UK from destroying the Italian navy anyway. If Italy retaliates with the rest of his fleet and airforce, then the French navy can attempt to finish off the remainder of the Italian navy. The UK can use the transport off of Egypt to either activate units in Persia or Greece, causing even more problems for Italy. If Germany builds up enough surface ships/transports, then UK may be forced to send their entire Gibraltar fleet to UK, thus saving the Italian fleet.
4. Even if UK loses a few African territories, these territories aren’t worth that much and UK is still going to have a large enough economy to really help out. Italy won’t be able to keep Africa without Germany and/or Japan reinforcing it. So it seems to me that Africa will really matter in this game.
5. I suppose Germany and Italy could give up on Africa altogether and go all out against Russia, but then UK will quickly secure all of Africa/Middle East and then be able to just transport infantry into Russia. So it doesn’t seem to me that it would work, especially with Italy not gaining any national objectives.
6. I think that which way the game goes will often depend on which country, Japan or USA, can get enough units to reinforce their respective allies. So the other countries need to hold out while Japan or USA comes in to save the day.
Well, those are just a few thoughts that I’ve had about the game so far. I like playing with tech since I think it can really change a game and make each game different. It really seems like there are going to be many different strategies to try out with this game, making it worth the cost.
2. Speaking of strict neutrals, I’m wondering if the Axis taking out Turkey is a good option. Actually, I found the rules about the Turkish strait confusing, so I’m not sure after reading the rules if land units are capable of moving from Greece to Turkey. If it is possible, then perhaps Germany can build a bunch of infantry to hold off Russia while German tanks go into the Middle East/Africa/India to help out Italy and/or Japan. It could be enough to swing the game in the Axis’ favor.
Yes this is the old 2nd edition trick coming back to the fold. You don’t need a medd fleet if you can move into Turkey from Europe and Panzers can get to Africa easily.
Problem is you got everybody else at war with you ( all the neutrals)
@Imperious:
2. Speaking of strict neutrals, I’m wondering if the Axis taking out Turkey is a good option. Actually, I found the rules about the Turkish strait confusing, so I’m not sure after reading the rules if land units are capable of moving from Greece to Turkey. If it is possible, then perhaps Germany can build a bunch of infantry to hold off Russia while German tanks go into the Middle East/Africa/India to help out Italy and/or Japan. It could be enough to swing the game in the Axis’ favor.
Yes this is the old 2nd edition trick coming back to the fold. You don’t need a medd fleet if you can move into Turkey from Europe and Panzers can get to Africa easily.
Problem is you got everybody else at war with you ( all the neutrals)
Yeah: Brits get 4 African inf, Americans get all of South America, Western Allies get Spain and Portugal(invadable from EUS), Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia
So, when a country would invade a strict neutral, do the numbered armies on all of the other strict neutrals activate immediately? And if so, for which of the Axis/Allied countries (opposite the invaders) would they activate as?
Example: Germany invades and conquers Turkey. All other strict neutrals align with the Allies, and their armies activate as UK here, USA there, and Russia there.
Or, do these newly allied strict neutrals become just pro-allied neutrals and then printed armies would activate by the first allied country to enter?
So, when a country would invade a strict neutral, do the numbered armies on all of the other strict neutrals activate immediately? And if so, for which of the Axis/Allied countries (opposite the invaders) would they activate as?
Example: Germany invades and conquers Turkey. All other strict neutrals align with the Allies, and their armies activate as UK here, USA there, and Russia there.
Or, do these newly allied strict neutrals become just pro-allied neutrals and then printed armies would activate by the first allied country to enter?
They become pro allies
Guys - think of it this way. No one will EVER invade a strict neutral in this game unless the game is over, in which case… the game is over.
The rules punish you exactly the way they should for breaking a historically neutral power.
Strict neutral invading is a good idea for the Axis around the middle east as it will connect them together with the invetable J3 India crush and followed up by a J4 attack on west india and then unite around africa and the Suez canal.
#4 on the original post i don’t agree Africa will be all that important there is only 1 territory in there the Axis will want and this is Egypt because of Cairo and the Suez Canal so the Italian fleet can expand and maybe work on stealing all the African IPC’s. Britain should be more worried about the Eastern front. Even though there is a large amount of territories between Moscow and the Germans because they should worry about the fall of Stalingrad and Leningrad so the British should support the Soviets after the threat of Sealion has passed (G2).
@The:
Strict neutral invading is a good idea for the Axis around the middle east as it will connect them together with the invetable J3 India crush and followed up by a J4 attack on west india and then unite around africa and the Suez canal.
#4 on the original post i don’t agree Africa will be all that important there is only 1 territory in there the Axis will want and this is Egypt because of Cairo and the Suez Canal so the Italian fleet can expand and maybe work on stealing all the African IPC’s. Britain should be more worried about the Eastern front. Even though there is a large amount of territories between Moscow and the Germans because they should worry about the fall of Stalingrad and Leningrad so the British should support the Soviets after the threat of Sealion has passed (G2).
The Axis also want South Africa, and if South African forces activate the 4 inf, that will help retake Africa. In addition, the US can take over South America for 6 more ipc’s and 8? more inf. The US/UK can also take Spain and Portugal for 3 ipc’s and 8 inf near France.
J3 India Crush won’t happen in Global because Indian DD’s can block it, Japan usually won’t attack J1, and Brits can withdraw to West India to avoid getting killed by planes and then recapture India
Dont forget if that brit carrier ends up in the med next to italy the german airforce can sink it on G2. The italians can pretty mucb ignore it and land one transport of folks on africa
@Imperious:
2. Speaking of strict neutrals, I’m wondering if the Axis taking out Turkey is a good option. Actually, I found the rules about the Turkish strait confusing, so I’m not sure after reading the rules if land units are capable of moving from Greece to Turkey. If it is possible, then perhaps Germany can build a bunch of infantry to hold off Russia while German tanks go into the Middle East/Africa/India to help out Italy and/or Japan. It could be enough to swing the game in the Axis’ favor.
Yes this is the old 2nd edition trick coming back to the fold. You don’t need a medd fleet if you can move into Turkey from Europe and Panzers can get to Africa easily.
Problem is you got everybody else at war with you ( all the neutrals)
Yeah: Brits get 4 African inf, Americans get all of South America, Western Allies get Spain and Portugal(invadable from EUS), Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia
Yeah, but how easy will it be to actually activate all those infantry? Plus, even activated, without transports they are not going anywhere very quickly. As an Axis player, I may even wish that the Allies are distracted by building transports to move infantry when building a different type of unit might be in their best interest. It probably all depends on the timing.
@The:
Strict neutral invading is a good idea for the Axis around the middle east as it will connect them together with the invetable J3 India crush and followed up by a J4 attack on west india and then unite around africa and the Suez canal.
#4 on the original post i don’t agree Africa will be all that important there is only 1 territory in there the Axis will want and this is Egypt because of Cairo and the Suez Canal so the Italian fleet can expand and maybe work on stealing all the African IPC’s. Britain should be more worried about the Eastern front. Even though there is a large amount of territories between Moscow and the Germans because they should worry about the fall of Stalingrad and Leningrad so the British should support the Soviets after the threat of Sealion has passed (G2).
Well, what I meant by #4 in my original post is that since UK won’t lose much of its income unless Africa is taken out, it will probably be best for Italy, with the help of Germany and/or Japan, to try to actually take it out. Otherwise, you are looking at a UK that can transport around 10 infantry into Russia every turn, at least once they get 5 transports and enough surface fleet to protect it. That doesn’t even take into consideration what the USA is bringing in.
Well, what I meant by #4 in my original post is that since UK won’t lose much of its income unless Africa is taken out, it will probably be best for Italy, with the help of Germany and/or Japan, to try to actually take it out. Otherwise, you are looking at a UK that can transport around 10 infantry into Russia every turn, at least once they get 5 transports and enough surface fleet to protect it. That doesn’t even take into consideration what the USA is bringing in.
Ok i understand i thought you meant that the loss of Africa wouldn’t matter much.
@calvinhobbesliker:
The Axis also want South Africa, and if South African forces activate the 4 inf, that will help retake Africa. In addition, the US can take over South America for 6 more ipc’s and 8? more inf. The US/UK can also take Spain and Portugal for 3 ipc’s and 8 inf near France.
J3 India Crush won’t happen in Global because Indian DD’s can block it, Japan usually won’t attack J1, and Brits can withdraw to West India to avoid getting killed by planes and then recapture India
Italy should build a defence wall at Cairo to stop the South African counter.
Also with the J3 india crush rid the British DD’s on J3 and invade India on J4. Hold IPC’S in reserve to build units in India after it has been captured.
@The:
Also with the J3 india crush rid the British DD’s on J3 and invade India on J4. Hold IPC’S in reserve to build units in India after it has been captured.
First you would need to pay 20 IPC’s to build the IC back to a major. You do know that taking over a major complex reduces it to a minor in Global, don’t you?
Yes but i forgot about that so you would keep enough to rebuild it or enough to build 3 fighters which gives you two hits out of three.
If you rebuilt t what would you build?
3 figh 50 ipc
3 arm 38 ipc
Shouldn’t rebuild it
maybe
1 arm, 2 fig 26 ipc
11 def value so nearly two hits
