France survives turn 1, what now?

@akreider2 said in China: attacking with infantry 3 vs 1:

For me, I’m interested in the scenario where Japan has relatively unlimited resources to crush you (in terms of planes) and a handful of infantry. So you are balancing your goal of maximizing the probability that you will kill that one infantry, versus preserving your infantry for the 2-4 turns that China can expect to live by retreating.

This is typically in the first 4 rounds of the game when China is retreating/generally getting crushed.

Would hit with 2 then, but again it depends on what else Japan has to hit. Their resources are not always unlimited (e.g., Russians, British, Americans in play)

@Ichabod:

Lately it seems some Axis players have been purchasing a German Navy on round 1 and then they declare war on Russia later like round 3 or 4 because Germany builds navy. Germany then “threatens” London, but the real objective is Cairo and the middle east.

As a counter to that growing threat, would it not makes sense for the UK to hit Iraq round 1 instead of other options being:

1. Activate Persia
2. Kill Ethiopia
3. Taranto and Ethiopia
4. Acivate Perisa and Hit Iraq (risky). You have to use the mech at Egypt and pick up the tank and an infantry from the med. Likely to not capture without taking a plane hit.

Obviously doing Ethiopia and Taranto assumes risk. Maybe the same as Iraq and Taranto?

Anyways, what are the thoughts on Iraq UK1?

Iraq UK1 is an unnecessary risk. If you activate Persia UK1, you can attack Iraq UK2 with free troops and thus Egypt is better defended on UK1. You don’t lose your valuable airplanes rushing the attack. Turn order gives you the edge over Italy’s Syria landing.

Marsh

I say Germany always because Germany is your powerhouse as far as income, and the more income you can bring in for Germany the better chance you have of taking Russia since you can spend more, while I do like to bring an Italian Force into Russia this force is there to support the German force, take the first hits in counter attacks and keep my German units around much longer, Southern France also allows the Germans to build their own fleet to transport units to africa which can give you a big boost and can usually bring an Axis victory in the Med.

(The way I play Germany:)
Create 1 huge army that marches into Russia and arrives in Bryansk G5, ready to attack Moscow G6, together with purchases from G5 (aircraft in Berlin/fast in Ukraine). Purchases in G1/2/3/4/5 are always aimed at maximally reinforcing this marching ‘deathball’, like ghr and Demandr described.

Russia has no choice but to surrender Leningrad+Ukraine and Germany should gladly take them with some token forces (1 to 2 inf + air).

What the Allies CAN do about this (very generally speaking because of all the variables): Russia retreats into Moscow while building a lot of inf + ART(!). RAF helps to defend it. UK + USA getting strong at Gibraltar/London + Middle East and, very important, setting up ‘bomber command’. Comes G6 Germany cannot attack Moscow because it is too heavily defended. Luftwaffe is tied into Russia (making life easier for the allies preparing for DDay) because otherwise Russia begins counter-attacking, ending the German presence there. Germany can take Caucasus + Stalingrad but NOT in force because then the Russians can break out where it is most effective, attacking and destroying the German army defending Bryansk if there is still some there. If there is not, because all the Germans are in Caucasus/Stalingrad, what is to stop Russia from retaking Leningrad, Ukraine and all those juicy eastern-european countries? Nada.
Too bad this game has no ‘out-of-supply’ rules as this is exactly what happend in Russia, starving the massive German army in Stalingrad.

In the pacific, the USA + ANZAC have Allied task number 1: prevent an Axis (Pac 6VC) win. This does not mean Japan has to be killed (though you can certainly try), but Hawai + Sydney must be held. If Japan crushes India this is an easy job. If Japan clearly invests in taking Hawai/Sydney (luckily the USA goes after Japan so can react), the task is more difficult, but India will be safe  longer and can even become strong strong strong if Japan focuses too much on Hawai. Most Japanese players I have seen, invest heavily into taking India and Middle East and THEN they try to take Hawai/Sydney. This gives the USA breathing space to invest around 20% per turn into the Pacific, spending 80% of its income into Europe. By the time Japan is ready to invest into taking Hawai the USA can switch to near 100% into Pacific (depending on the Japanese investments) without a problem because its forces in Europe are already massive.

Note that I am using the LL system in my games (and posts) to predict/dictate what major powers must do to stay alive. The LL system is usually pretty accurate and if the dice screw you up, well, then it’s the dice, not strategy, that cost you the game.

thanks again

For the most part every turn you control them you gain the income.  A few of them are just one time NO’s

In your Global 1940 Alpha 2 games, how long does is usually take the Allies to liberate London after a Sea Lion?

France surviving the first round attack by Germany puts up a very interesting rest of the game. Various things can happen.

1. Italy takes France on their turn making Italy a very rich country. 30+ IPCS gives them a strong I2 purchase letting them destroy the British navy in the Mediterranean Sea, fulfil their NO’s, take over Africa and the Middle East and most importantly open a new front for Russia and survive whatever America can throw at them. This makes Italy more powerful than Germany so there should be Italian intervention going on in Russia and the French coast.

2. The French open a land campaign against Germany and Italy causing trouble. Creates an opening for British and eventually American troops to land and land fighters. More importantly it takes Germany’s attention off of Russia and Italy’s off of Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. This almost gaurentees that America will invest in Japan.

3. France can build a fleet with England to land troops early in the game. This can in turn put more heat on England as Germany may build a navy as well. Puts alot of heat west and off of Russia. The Navy can later help Germany and attack Russia in two places. This navy that France and England builds may make America fully invest in Japan as well.

The last 2 of these these seem to ask for a German capture of London as a German capture of Moscow doesn’t seem possible at that point. The first looks like America will invest in the Europe side. This begs for the capture of Moscow.

In conclusion I think that the French surviving the first attack doesn’t make the Axis lose but it limits their choices.