@Perry:
I find that people oftenly advocate that either US or UK should get Norway.
But I find it more advantageous if Russia can get Norway instead.
UK claims LEN on UK2 or UK3. Then on RUSSIA3 or RUSSIA4, Russia blitzes a tank WRU-LEN-NWY, and claims it.
Of course it only works if Germany empties NWY on G1-G2, but I find that they oftenly do so anyway.
I was actually just going to mention russia as a good alternative to own Norway. However, im not sure what your suggesting, as germany probably isnt swapping norway if their fleet is dead in sz 5, and Uk is landing in Karelia. But i guess if germans stack in karelia and/or you leave their baltic fleet alive, they can swap. But I like UK can opening karelia for russia to blitz a tank. Baltic fleet must be dead for that option.
As for a norway IC. For one, Is it useful pumping US tanks? I think id be building alot of infantry there as well. A stack of tanks can’t do a whole lot by itself, except increase the threat on dead zones. I like 2 Trans much better than an IC, anyway. As flexibility is the key to turtling germany. My prefered route with allies lately is a triple threat TWICE!! I secure sz5 for the British, and I like 5 tranports min. I can now threaten WE, GERMANY, and EE with 5 trans of units from the North. Now I have the USA having 8 -10 trans shuck in africa, with the tail end of the shuck in the med. Now I can threaten WE, SE, and BALKANS in the south the 4 -5 trans of US gear. When germany is facing that much pressure threatening 5 territoires in europe, due to the flexibilty of the allied shucking systems in both the north and the south, they are pretty much rendered ineffective in pushing toward moscow.
Not much sense to Germany or Russia building ICs in Revised. Germany already starts with the ability to make 16 units a turn–that’s all you need. The only interesting places I’ve seen Germany place an IC are Western Europe (for naval strats) and Ukraine (to help aggressive stack there). And I’d argue stacking Ukraine is better achieved by simply buying more land units and moving em out.
ICs are expensive enough as it is–no need to buy em w/o reason.
@Slip:
Are you finding this is working under WBC rules?
Yes.
@Slip:
What is a common J1 response to this strategy, combat, NCM and purchases?
Can’t give 100% specifics because every player is different, but I’d imagine a Japan player will just dive on Pearl anyway with every ship/plane available.
@Slip:
What have you found are the impacts of Germany running free in Africa?
USA has to do mop-up work, sending whatever Atlantic forces it has to Africa to protect UK’s IPCs.
Never. Never build an IC with Germany.
Two transports cost 1 IPC more. They can shuttle four units into Ukraine a turn, or can hit Egypt. Transports make the Allies require more time to hit the German med fleet with pure air, and if the Allies draw within two spaces of the Med fleet, the Med fleet can suicide along with German air to kill the Allied fleet.
Early game, you don’t need an IC, transports are better. Late game, you can’t afford one.