Thank you guys!  The rules lawyers in our group had the first two wrong!

Sorry if this has been already covered on this forum, but I did’nt see it anywhere.
1.  Can the USA aquire the pro-Allied neutral Brazil when the USA is still neutral itself?
2.  Does USSR get 5 IPC’s for no Axis sub in SZ125(either when its neutral or not?).
3.  When French territories are taken by the Axis and then later liberated by an ally, does that territory produce IPC’s for the liberating country or revert to French control?
Thanks!

Thanks!  Cool site!

What’s your avatar about?…I cant really see it.

As the Germans I would prefer to take care of the UK fleet in the north on G1…rebase all possible air to W. Germany.

@BJCard:

Yes, but is it worse for Italy to rule the med with 2 Transports from turn 1?  I think you lose Cairo pretty fast- and thus lose Africa- killing UK’s income (and hence fleet making abilities).

Italy should take Egypt anyway.  Our game did’nt get that far.  I had only 1 TRS(took Transjordan), but the UK had to evacuate Egypt or lose everything there on I2.  I would rally all UK remaining ships probably off the coast of S. Africa(IC to add stuff to the fleet), bring the CA, TRS in the Med south, the CA off the coast of S. America, DD already at S. Africa…any UK naval units from the Pacific…that would be: 1CV(FTR/TAC), 2CA’s, 2DD’s, 1TRS, plus Pacific side assets that I wont list since that depends on Japan…then add what would probably be 2+ SUBs and 1 or 2 more TRS…now you have a task force and can go where you want without much fear.

@BJCard:

The british should do the Italian raid every game, and NCM the carrier to the french fleet.  Most of the time the UK will with with 1 tac, 1 ftr to land on the carrier.  If the germans want to attack 1 DD, 1 CA, 1 CV, 1 Tac, 1 Ftr with air, than so be it- they will lose 2-3 aircraft in the first round, with another 1-2 in the second round (depending on how many hits the germans get).  If the German airforce is depleted that much, then subsequent UK builds are much safer.

Of course if the Germans build 1 CV, 2 Transports round 1, then the Tac will be needed in the defense of Great Britain…

Last week several of us here played out that scenario and it ended badly for the Allies.  Its worth it for Germany to lose 2-3 aircraft to help the Italians clear the Med.  Depending on the first round die rolls, the Germans need not finish the job, they can leave that to the Italians who have 1CA, 1DD, 2FTR’s to mop up.

@Striker:

It appears the Italy fleet raid was intended.

From Larry’s forums: http://www.harrisgamedesign.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=2537&start=8
@Striker:

I’ll be interested in hearing a reply from Larry or a playtester that says either “Yes, we intended that to be a possible opening move for Britain, duh.” or “Woops, we might have made and oversight there.”

@Krieghund:

Yes, we intended that to be a possible opening move for Britain, duh.

The key words here are “intended”, which is what you choose to use; the other is “possible”, which is what Krieghund used.  I think this game was very well playtested(other than AAP40 aircraft that can effect the Euro side).  The play testers made all sorts of things “possible” to give players many interesting things to think about.  I think the UK spending its naval assets like that in the Med is a foolish move…they dont have much in the way of navy after G1 and do not have many IPC’s to re-build a serious task force…as well, they have non-navel demands on their IPC’s.  Dont do it, its a trap!

1FTR by itself on Malta should not be a reason to divert a planned attack on Egypt so long as Italy has surface combat ships to protect its TRS(s).  I think there are other places more effective for the UK to put that FTR.  That 1 FTR is 1/3 or more of UK production.  I dont think Malta is that useful.  What would make it more useful is if no AB could be built on Sardinia or Sicily…making Malta important for fleet defense.

I disagree with a few things, but I want to comment mainly that Italy should be given as much of the Balkans as possible…let Italy align Bulgaria, no reason to give this to Germany.  The economic benefit(incl 4INF) to Italy is much greater percentage-wise, and helps Italy take down Greece for another NO(assuming they take Egypt).  I would even let Italy take Yugo the first real chance they can manage it…I2?