Crazy that the Ottomans took India- The British could simply buy 10 infantry there if they felt it was threatened…
They did that in a turn, and added quite a few other purchases to India. It only fell later in the game when the Ottomans were up to 30ish ipcs, were throwing everything at Inida, and the German push to the west demanded more and more British attention there. But this leads to what is almost an unbearably long game…
The CP strategy has been the same in each of these games, but it certainly hasn’t been sunshine and rainbows.
A1:Purchased one fighter along with inf and art for first buy. Sent full Trieste army to Serbia, moved Tyrolia army to Trieste, and Bohemia to Tryolia. All other armies consolidate in Galicia. Leaving Romania alone…
A2:Pretty much same purchases as A1, as the Russians have consolidated in Ukraine for both games before falling back to Moscow, Austrian army held in Galicia and moved first purchases up to meet them. Germany also held in Poland which they took in G1, as their forces from Berlin and Hanover consolidated. The Austrians send the fighter they purchased on A2 east to fight the Russians, all remaining efforts turn west.
Romania is left to the remaining forces in Serbia and the Ottomans for now. It is vital one of those forces contest Romania so those forces cannot move into Budapest. This does leave Austria rather vulnerable and it came very close to falling in each of these games.
G1: All navy purchase, 1 battleship, 1 cruiser, 2 transports, save 2 ipc’s. Full attack on main British navy with all German forces. As I already alluded to, Berlin and Hanover forces move east, all other forces move west, taking Belgium and Holland. The Germans mostly fight defensively from here until Russia falls. Deploy ships in SZ10. Full attack on Poland, consolidate on G2.
G2: 1 fighter plus inf & art. Move battleship, cruiser and transports in SZ10 along with any remaining cruisers from the assault on the Brits to SZ12, destroy Russian battleship, amphibiously assault Karelia, picking up two inf units on the way. This is mostly to secure Karelia, so that future troops transports this way don’t have to worry about hitting mines. In both games, neither transport was hit in this initial assault.
From here purchased ground units on G2 move east towards Russia. Subsequent purchases move west, but have 2 inf & 2 art shuttled east before they do. Austria and Germany consolidate forces in Ukraine, then throw everything at Russia. Both times this has completely wiped out the Austrian forces, and left a small German force by the time Russia fell. One game turn 5, one turn 6. All remaining German forces moved to Karelia to prevent the Brits from landing there.
For the Ottomans, they have been able to take out India in both games, but it has taken a very long time. After turn 12 in each. The fall of India has been the point where each game has really felt like the tide has turned. I’m sure this is far from a perfect strategy, and has left Austria far vulnerable for my liking, but it has worked once, and I’d put the chances at winning this second one about 80% as the writing is on the wall.
How long are your games taking?
I’ve had one go 23 turns, with another going now that looks like it will be at least 17 turns. By the time those games end the war with Russia seems like just a precursor to the actual game! Those are both CP wins, or what looks like will be a 2nd CP win anyway. The two Allies wins we had were significantly shorter. So I’m wondering, are we way off base here, or in line with others are experiencing?
I agree with much of what Bill has said here. Playing the “keep the army in the field” and only fight their main force when you absolutely HAVE to strategy with both Russia and Italy, combined with heavy India investment with the Brits is the way to go for the Allies. I’m really hoping to find a CP strategy that can compete with this approach…
I have been looking for actual pictures of the 2nd edition setup before the game begins. It might be odd, but I visualize things better looking at it this way. I can get some photos of my groups board, but we are in the middle of a game, and who knows when we’ll be able to play and finish it. I have been able to find some of the 1st edition setup, but that does me no good at this point.
Does anyone know where I might find such a thing?
Thanks in advance for the help.
The bombers aren’t my end all be all strategy by any means, and I wont buy more than one or MAYBE two. (game dictating) However, at least in our games, it usually takes a few turns before UK and the US are able to mount an effective offense in the West. I use them to hit Germany in the mean time. Then, once we are ready, they become great support to our amphibious assault and further operations.
I always approach Britain as a supplemental force when playing them. Early on I like to build 1-2 additional bombers and strategically bomb Germany every turn to slow their push on Russia and weaken them overall. Then I try to mount enough of an amphibious assault group so that I can either take, or significantly weaken the territory the US is going to hit later that turn. This works well as the British and US go before Germany goes again.
As far as the India IC goes; I am tempted to build one there every time I play the Brits, but I hold off. In our group, I have never seen that IC last very long, it just ends up being a free IC for Japan.