Has anyone considered adding an Economic victory/loss condition?
Remember in Classic, the Axis could win an economic victory if they managed to capture 84 IPCs worth of territory and hold it for a full round. Back then, the Axis started with 57 IPCs so they needed another 27 IPCs to win.
So, perhaps you could say if the Axis gain $X or more (just by what’s on the income chart, no national objectives included) and hold it for one full round, then it’s an Axis economic victory. On the other hand, if the Axis are driven down to $Y or less, then it’s an Allied economic victory.
The Axis in Global start with 66 IPCs. In the first round, Germany/Italy stand to gain an extra 16 IPCs from French territories and the Pro Allied and Pro Axis neutrals in Europe. If Japan attacks round 1, they should get another 10 IPCs (Hong Kong = 3, Philippines = 2, French Indo China = 2 and at least 3 Chinese territories). So Round 1 would bring the Axis total to about 92 IPCs, Allied counter attacks not withstanding.
So obviously the Axis win amount should be well over 100 IPCs but I’m not sure how much would be a fair amount. The Allies start out with 175 IPCs. If you subtract the Allied territories that the Axis is sure to take round 1, that brings them down to 156. So after round 1, if the Allies took nothing back from the Axis, it stands at Axis 92 IPCs, Allies 156 IPCs.
Also, we have to remember that Brazil, Iraq and Persia are each worth 2 IPCs and the Dutch East Indies are worth 11 IPCs. So that is another 17 IPCs that one side or the other will eventually capture. For the sake of argument, lets just say since Iraq is pro Axis, we will include it with the Axis total and since Brazil, Persia and the DEI are pro Allied, we will include them with the Allies total. That comes to Axis = 94 IPCs, Allies = 171 IPCs.
Perhaps a good amount for an Economic Victory would be if the Axis powers combined income is more than the Allied powers combined income for one full round, then the Axis win. That amount would be 133 IPCs. At that point, the Allies combined income would be 132 IPCs. These amounts DO NOT include any of the strict neutrals. I think if the Axis were making that much money, then it would be really hard for the Allies to still beat them anyway.
As for the Allied Economic Victory, perhaps simply cut the Axis beginning total in half. If the Axis are making 33 IPCs or less, the Allies call it. After 1 full round if the Axis are still at 33 IPCs or less, then it is an Allied victory. After all, if the Axis are making that little money, they aren’t going to be bouncing back.
I am not sure if either of these conditions would shorten or lengthen game time though. For the Axis to conquer and keep 133 IPCs worth of territory might take some time, unless they get lucky and capture Eastern US in which case the game is nearly over anyway. Also, barring any spectacular blunders by the Axis, it could take some time to knock them down to 33 IPCs. Young Grasshopper’s 12 VC by round 5 rule would probably still be shorter.