Thanks for the link.
Redjac
In Global War 2nd Edition, when is a unit required to be in supply? I have read through the rules and I believe I understand whether a unit is in supply, but I can not find when or how is supply needed. For example, one does not need to check the supply status of units for combat moves or non combat moves as far as I can tell. It may be in the rules and I simply missed it.
So to restate, what does a supply path do and under what circumstances is it necessary for a unit to be in supply in Global War 2nd Edition?
Any help appreciated.
Redjac
The are two plans at work here.
The strict neutral strategy should not work against a good player because of all the extra infantry (18+) that the Allies get. But those infantry take a while to get into battle. The troops is South America take at least a few turns to get into the fight if there are no transports handy in the Atlantic. It may even be a turn or two before all the extra income comes on line for the Allies as well. And the Axis get to decide when to attack the neutrals, so they have initiative. I have never seen the Allies attack strict neutrals.
As far a turn 1 attack by Japan on the U.S. - Japan can defend Hawaii and the DEI for a least a few turns from the Western Allies and the Americans. Japan can build a Aircraft Carrier turn 1 with a Transport. Attack Midway turn 1 with Infantry and Artillery. Attack American Fleet around Hawaii with 3 Fighters, 3 Tactical Bombers, 2 Bombers, and 1 Destroyer and 1 Submarine on J1. Turn 2 attack Hawaii with 2 Infantry, 2 Artillery, 3 Fighters and 3 Tactical Bombers. If any Destroyer or Submarine survived the turn 1 Assault on the sea zone around Hawaii they can help defend the fleet from the scrambling aircraft at Hawaii, or defend any American Assault on U.S. 2. There should be 4 Aircraft Carriers with planes and 0-3 support craft (Destroyers and Submarines). This should be more than enough to hold off American attack for a few turns. If there are any losses on the aircraft on any of the battles fly new planes to land on the Aircraft Carriers in the non-combat movement phase. The rest of the Japanese fleet, 2 transports, 2 Battleships, 2 Cruisers, 1 Destroyer and 1 Submarine can take Philippines turn 1 and can take Malaya turn 2. It can move on to capture the islands on turn 3 and later. Once the Philippines are taken, planes can be flown from China to cover the fleet at an airbase. The Japanese have enough fleet to match the British, Anzac and the Americans for at least a few turns. Japan does not have enough resources to fight China too while this is happening. So the Chinese will start producing 18 + income a turn and dominate the mainland. But this is the strategic problem Japan has always had. It has the initiative and not enough resources. IF you have to choose which Ally gets more money, choose the Chinese, as they cant leave China (except for Hong Kong and Burma).
All I ever see the Japanese do is build for a few turn or two, attack China turn 1 and 2, and then fight a traditional war against the DEI and try to hold on…
One Player played all the Allies. He loves to assault Gibraltar and head for Italy. We have seen it often so the Axis plan for it. Actually this last game the Axis counted on it.
He is good player in the sense that he rarely makes tactical blunders, but he loves to put all the American money on one side or another. I think the forum view is correct, that is a strategic mistake. It is better to balance your American resources based on the threat level - how close Germany/Italy vs Japan is to winning.
I am not saying that capturing the the strict neutrals or attacking on J1 is always going to be a game winner for the Axis. But they can be a tool in your tool box. See massive American navy heading for Italy? Close off Gibraltar with German Army. That is better than being seeing Rome overrun. Tired of seeing the Americans maul in the Pacific? Shake things up - kill a lot of their stuff on Turn 1. Also it is difficult to for the Americans to retake Hawaii after losing that many resources AND plan to retake England after Sea Lion.
We played this weekend. The J1 attack killed everything in the sea zone around Hawaii, invaded the Philippines and Hong Kong with no losses except ground troops. On J2 I attacked and captured Hawaii. Still, killing about 50 IPC’s of American planes and ships on J1 was not too shabby. Killed 4 Inf and 4 Fighters on turn 2 in the invasion of Hawaii. But I lost 3 Fighters and 2 Tactical Bombers in the assault. Poor die rolling. The loss was heavier than I expected. To my surprise the Americans went 100% on the Atlantic and reinforced Gibraltar. They only built enough not to lose the Western United States to the Japanese.
The Germans captured Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar and went on the strategic defensive. Later they captured Sweden and Turkey. The Italians got Saudi Arabia.
Over time the Japanese took the rest of the Pacific and the Allies surrendered around turn 8.
It was not a good test of the strategy because the American response was so aggressive toward the Atlantic. It may do worse if the Americans go all Pacific.
I understand that the Allies will net more money if we attack a strict neutral like Spain. But I am trying to figure out a way to hold Gibraltar from the Allies. Or at least hold it a lot longer. Every game the Allies start dumping troops and ships around that port in preparation for an invasion of Italy. The Axis cannot afford to match them transport for transport. My plan was to simply build infantry in France and Northern Italy and walk them over to Spain then Gibraltar. No money wasted trying to build a transport fleet and a navy to defend it.
On the money issue, if Axis grab Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Sweden then that is a +8 income bonus. The Allies get Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Angola, Mozambique, and Saudi Arabia. (I did not count Brazil, as the Allies can get it anyway.) That is a 10 point income bonus and it takes a while to get all of it. That is not so bad.
That however, does not count the extra 4 troops from Afghanistan, 6 for Mongolia, 2 from Saudi Arabia, 4 from Mozambique and Angola. Add that to about 6 more from South America and that is total of 18 additional troops that can be picked up to bring to the front. The Axis will lose some troops attacking the neutrals as well to add to the troop imbalance.
So the Allies get 2 more IPC a turn and 18 additional ground troops. The Axis lose some troops, hold Gibraltar without having to buy a navy and can attack the southern Russia with Italian Navy amphibious assaults assuming they have won control of the Mediterranean from the British. This may not be so bad…
I have never tried a J1 attack in Global either for the fear that an early U.S. entry would cripple Italy beyond repair.
But the Axis have their greatest force advantage on turn 1. Then they gradually lose the edge in military force due to the Allies greater income. With this strategy I am trying to use the greater force advantage of the Axis to wound the Allied Forces, specifically the American Navy so the Axis can grab territory while the Allies are weak. I was hoping to hold the island of Hawaii for a while.
The attack on the Philippines kills an American destroyer, submarine and fighter that normally get away. That is 24 IPC’s. The Cruiser, Destroyer, Submarine and Transport get killed turn 1 near Hawaii. That is an additional 31 IPC’s of lost force. That is 55 lost IPC’s of American force on turn 1. All of these forces will add to future American builds to make a Navy you have to deal with or turn 4 or 5 anyway. It will just be earlier in detail instead all at once.
The flaw in the plan is that the Japanese Navy in the DEI is weak compared to British Naval and Air forces. In addition, it will be difficult to deal with an aggressive Russia if I take all my planes away from Korea or Japan. I was hoping to take Hong Kong turn 1, Malaya turn 2 and build factories in Hong Kong, French Indochina and/or Malaya. Then build army and naval forces to defeat the British as required.
I will try the attack this weekend. We will see how it plays out.
Please post any specific or general flaws in the above plan.
My Japanese attack strategy in Global 1940 is in a rut. To break out I plan to attack the American Fleet around Hawaii on turn J1, capture Midway and attack the Philippines as well as Hong Kong. Play conservative in China and on the Russian/Korean Border. Capture Hawaii and Malaya and/or Borneo on J2.
Here is the more detailed attack plan.
Have the Germans attack the American Cruiser and Transport and British Destroyer and Transport with Submarines - one Submarine on each attack. Germans do traditional attacks on British Navy (hit sea zone 111 and 109) and attack France and Yugoslavia. G2 the Germans press toward Spain instead of heading toward Russia or London. G3 The Germans hit Sweden and Turkey. All of the German moves are to allow German capture by land of Gibraltar. This should prevent Italy from being overrun by an early entry into the war by America.
On J1 the Japanese build an Aircraft Carrier and a Transport. On J1 they attack Hong Kong, Philippines, Midway and American Fleet around Hawaii. Three Japanese Carriers with 1 or 2 Destroyers, aka the “Eastern Fleet”, (not sure where to place Destroyers) stop at Midway with a transport to capture it. Three Fighters, Three Tactical Bombers, Two Bombers and 2 Submarines and maybe 1 Destroyer attack American Fleet.
Two Transports with 2 Battleships and 2 Cruisers carrying 2 Infantry and 2 Artillery, aka the “the Southern Fleet”, assault the Philippines. Attack Hong Kong on J1 and play conservative in China and Russian Border.
These attacks will work and the Japanese Fleet at Midway can withstand any US1 American counterattack.
ON J2 press on and capture Hawaii with the Eastern Fleet and move the Southern Fleet to Malaya or Borneo.
I know that the players on this forum have played many games. Please point any and all flaws with both the tactics and strategy of this plan. Please point out any long term problems with the plan as well.
Thanks in advance.
Commander Jennifer,
How do we check on your games? Where are they?
Redjac
theRocmonster,
You are correct that if Germany builds a carrier, destroyer and submarine on G1 and brings in some planes to scramble from Western Germany it is very hard for the British navy to drive them from the sea on UK1.
The German assault on England via Sea Lion on G3 is not automatic. They have to successfully complete two strategic bombing raids and repel the British navy on Uk1 with little or no loss to their air force. But you are right, if they do, they only face 16 Infantry (on average), 1 Artillery, 6 Fighters (assuming they lost none in interceptor duty), 1 Tactical Bomber, 1 Bomber, and 4 Anti-Aircraft Guns. The Germans will bring 22 ground troops, 5 Fighters, 5 Tactical Bombers and 2 Strategic Bombers. Even with the Anti-Aircraft Guns the Germans should roll over the British.
But I don’t see any way to stop Sea Lion. Unless the game designer intended for Sea Lion to be a weak strategy because of the removal of the German NO for London and the new rule allowing Russia to invade if London falls.
I just have not played any games where London fell under the new rules so I don’t know how the Russian offensive strategy will play out vs Germany and the Balkans on R3. As soon as I do, I will let you know.
Clyde,
I tried the British attack on the German fleet on UK1. With 1 DD, 1 BB, 2 CA, 3 FTR, and 1 SBR attacking the fleet it went very well. The German AC, BB, CA and were burning wrecks and his planes went down in the ocean. At that point Germany must build a new navy, which means less money for transports, or give up Sea Lion.
Nevertheless it is a risky attack in that both sides are about equal strength. But when you realize you have nothing really to do with the remainder of the British navy and that you can retreat after the first round of combat to save your planes then it is not such a bad attack. Roll well the first round, stay and wipe out the German navy. Roll bad, take the losses on the British navy and retreat the planes back to England.
Also it is not so easy for the Germans to defend against even when they know it is coming. One of the fighters flies on to Italy after the battle. A good many of the others land in Belgium/Holland preventing them from scrambling to help the German navy’s defense. For example any fighters or tactical bombers that attack London proper in a raid or attack the DD and TR near England cannot land in Western Germany. They must land in Holland/Belgium.
So if he commits a number of fighters to the strategic bombing raid on London, at least those planes must land on a carrier or Holland/Belgium. It is something at least.
Clyde is correct. The new aircraft rules apply only to strategic bombing raids. And that is what I am talking about.
Imagine London is not bombed via strategic bombing raids on G1 and G2. Assume also no convoy disruption and DD and TR are killed off the coast of Canada. What do they have for defense for Sea Lion on G3? They have 21 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 7 Fighters, 1 Tactical Bomber, 4 Anti-Aircraft Guns, and 1 Bomber for defense. This assumes they built maximum Infantry and saved enough to build a Fighter on UK 2 and flew the planes from Africa to England.
Now if the Germans successfully attack with strategic bombing raids on G1 and G2? What do the English have to defend on G3? They have only 16 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 6 Fighters, 1 Tactical Bomber, 4 Anti-Aircraft Guns and 1 Bomber. This assumes 11 damage on each strategic bombing raid and all other facts the same.
The Germans roll over the English on G3 easy. Only way to even slow it down is to get lucky on some sea battles on UK1 or UK2.
The very latest Alpha 3 removed the British Fighter in Normandy, the Airbase in Gibraltar, and added 1 Bomber to both London and Berlin.
In addition, the bombing rules changed to make Bombers do 1d6+2 damage on strategic bombing raids. Combined with a change to make all aircraft hit on a 1 on a d6 during air combat before a raid means it is very possible to bomb London on G1 and G2 to reduce the number of defenders you face as the German on G3.
Favoring the Allies, the Axis no longer have a NO bonus when occupying London, and the Russians (and the Americans) can declare war on their turn anytime after London has fallen to the Axis. So you can set up the Russians to invade Poland, Romania, etc, on R3. I have just never tried it, so was asking the forum if anyone had and for their results.
We are playing again this weekend. I will play all the allies. I will buy 6 Russian Tanks on R1 if Germany does a Sea Lion build on G1, and set up to invade Romania on R3 if he builds the transports on G2. We will see how it plays out.
If the German Bombers get through on G1 and G2 he does not lose as much in the invasion as one might think. 2 bombers average 11 points of damage now. So that leaves me 28 less 11, only 17 points to buy troops on UK1. So 5 Inf. But UK does not have to buy off all the bomb damage, 1 IPC to get to 10 damage, and then pay just 4 IPC’s per infantry (3 for the infantry and 1 IPC to repair the factory for the unit. So 6 infantry. 7 infantry if UK gets a little lucky on bomb damage.
If I get the Italians in Africa, the UK will collect 28+1 (africa territory) +2 for Persia and +5 for NO bonus. Assuming no submarine convoy disruption, that is 36 IPC’s. But will lose 11 IPC’s (if UK shoots down 1 bomber on G2) or 16 IPC’s if all three get through. 16-6 to get to 10 damage, and 4 IPC per infantry, so 7 more infantry.
Absent some luck on anti-aircraft, UK will defend with 17 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Bomber, 6 Fighters and 1 Tactical Bomber vs Germany’s 16-26 ground troops, 5 Fighters, Tactical Bombers and 3 Bombers.+ Assuming 11 Transports, that is 22 ground troops plus planes so - Germany loses about 2 planes to anti-aircraft and 16 ground troops in the invasion. They capture London 99% of the time. They still have AC, wounded BB, 1 CA and 4 Fighters, 4 Tactical Bombers and 3 Bombers surviving to protect England from America. This assumes no naval attack on UK1 or UK 2.
So I might as well attack their fleet on UK 1 in the hopes of exchanging ships for planes and I can retreat back to England if things go bad to save the planes. Not a great attack, but I am not going to use the ships if London falls anyway.
I will scramble if I have even chance of winning the battle or better. But the German player can hit all areas except the DD and TR near London (sea zone 109) and the BB and CA (I think it is a CA at sea zone 110) with good odds. If you scramble and he wins big, you have lost the planes that you will need for invasion defense.
Scrambling to attack the bomber raid on London is the same. He brings 2 bombers and 2 fighters and I can only scramble 3 planes. 4 dice at a 1 to 3 dice at a 1. Not good odds.
The attack on his fleet at sea zone 112 is the same. He has a wounded BB, CA, AC, 2 fighters, and 2 more fighters and a tactical bomber he can scramble. All I can bring is 1 BB, 1 CA (2 CA if the one near Gibraltar lived), 3 Fighters, and 1 Bomber. I used to be able to add another fighter from Gibraltar by buying an AC for it to land on on UK1. There is no airbase in Gibraltar, so this is not possible anymore.
Edit: I forgot to add the DD from sea zone 109 that can join the sea battle. Maybe a close fight now.
All of the above tactics have below 50% chance of success. Since I am going to lose London with the standard defense anyway, I might as well try it. But a strategy that requires one to get lucky to succeed is not a sound strategy.
Our little gaming group as been playing the latest version of Global 1940 Alpha 3. I play all the Allies.
The Germans buy an Aircraft Carrier and a Bomber on turn G1. The Germans bomb London on G1 with 2 Bombers and 2 Fighters as escorts, and bomb London again on G2 with 3 Bombers plus escorts. On G3 they invade with 16+ plus ground troops plus all the planes they start with (5 Fighters, 5 Tactical Bombers, plus the 3 Bombers less losses) and they almost always succeed.
I usually buy all infantry on UK1 and UK2 and move all the planes from the Mediterranean to London in time for the invasion. This has not been enough.
Since I have not been able to beat them in the West, I have been thinking of putting pressure in the East. My plan is to buy all tanks on R1 and moving them to the front on R2 with all the infantry and artillery if Germany presses a Sea Lion strategy on G1 and G2. This will allow me to attack Poland, Romania and threaten the Balkans (if Germany captured London on G3) on R3. I can move the Russian Cruiser to block any German invasion on Leningrad on G3 so I can move back to the east if I have to. All the Russian NO money is in Germany, the Balkans, Finland, Norway and Sweden, after all.
Has anyone tried this? It is the only idea I have to fight Sea Lion absent a massive American build in the Atlantic and I am loathe to do that because I hate seeing a rampant Japanese Empire.
I know members of this forum have discussed Sea Lion and its defense at great length. But since the change of the bombing rules and the addition of the new German Bomber defending London has become a lot harder. Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
P.s I am getting tired of playing London only 2 turns before seeing the Swastika fly over London.
I tried the turn one German attack on Russia this weekend. Combined it with a Japanese air strike on Pearl Harbor as well.
It had mostly positive results. The attacks on the Soviet Union went off flawlessly. Lost only one infantry. But the best part was the Soviet player had never seen it before and just retreated back to the Ukraine and Leningrad on Russia 1. To say he had panicked might being going too far, but it is fair to say it was not what he was used to. The Germans will smash Leningrad on G3 and kill his entire northern army and all his planes. We finished the first two turns and there no way for him to stop it.
In the Pacific, the Japanese used planes from 2 carriers and 2 destroyers and 1 submarine to sink the surface fleet at Pearl Harbor. His fighters did not scramble. On US 1 he flew his planes to Pearl and Wake Island and moved his navy to Pearl as well. The best part, sort of, was that he built all submarine for the US on turn 1 and placed them on the west coast. This force the Japanese Carriers to retreat away from Pearl Harbor. I could attack the American fleet, but the counterattack from the submarines combined with local planes will cripple the Japanese fleet. Likewise he was not used to the turn one attack and has focused all his attention to the Pacific. The Japanese may live to regret it but the Germans are loving it.
In Mediterranean the Italians are suffering. The British destroyed the Italian army at Tobruk, defeated the Italian DD and TR near Malta and based everything in Malta. I attacked with the Italians and destroyed the British navy. But my damaged BB and CA were in turn sunk by the French Navy. He has two CA (1 US and 1 UK) and two TR off Gibraltar and troops garrisoning Gibraltar. The Italians have no navy and no money coming in.
While the turn one attack on the Soviet Union and America does not have to be combined, I wanted to see if an global early attack helped the Axis. In the Pacific the British are down Borneo and Hong Kong so their money is down already. Even taking Java only raised their money to ten IPC"s a turn. The Japanese should get it all of the DEI on turn Japan 3. In Russia the Soviets will lose Leningrad on G3 and will never get it back. I will be advancing toward Moscow soon.
Now a veteran player may retreat the northern army because he will realize he cannot hold Leningrad if attacked on the Germans on turn 1, but so far it has been favorable to the Axis.
In hindsight, maybe I will attack the Americans on turn 2 in the Pacific next time. Though I cannot explain because I am kind of tired from playing A&A late, the Japanese “feel” out of position. The carriers are at Caroline Islands, as they were safer there than sailing straight back to Japan. The rest of the Fleet is north of Java and is not strong enough to attack India or Australia by itself. They will be low on infantry and artillery after this assault on Java. They have about 2 Infantry and 2 AA guns on the island. Not sure of the exact number of troops, 2-4 is there garrison force. But they flew their planes to Wake and Pearl and from America and Australia, so they are out of position to defend Australia…
When we play next week, I will be able to tell more.
Our little gaming group has made the G1 attack on Southern France a standard move. It allows German submarines or transports to be built on G2. Normally this means that the Germans do not have enough forces to hit Normandy as well. But no matter they catch it the next turn. The British fighter gets away but sometimes the Germans get their Egyptian NO bonus as early as turn 3. It helps.
Lately one player has decided to attack Spain, Turkey and Norway on turn 3 with the Germans. Almost every game. It worked well the first time when it was a surprise. Not so much thereafter. He loves the flanking move near the Caucasus and being able to reinforce Gibraltar.
Fellas,
Do Strategic Bombers hit for 1 die of damage they bomb (a d6) or 1 die +2?
Alpha 3 rules state they do just 1 die of damage to the target. This will be a change back to the original rules if correct.
Guys,
Did you notice that America should make less money? Assuming there are no Americans in Paris and America does not have the Phillippines then America should only make 70 IPC’s per turn. This is less than the 75+ they normally made in Alpha 2. Granted they could get more with captured territory in Europe or Asia but they could do that in Alpha 2 as well.
If this change is combined with loss of the UK NO of no German subs in Atlantic, then the Allies have lost 10 IPC’s a turn that were relatively easy to obtain. This is a plus for the Axis in my book.
Sea Lion is much harder in Alpha 3 than in Alpha 2 because of the change in the AA Guns taking hits now. But maybe it was too easy in Alpha 2. Now if you want to invade England you will need to wear down the Brits in economic warfare. A submarine campaign combined with a bomber campaign may be necessary step before Sea Lion. I never really did like the idea that Sea Lion was as easy as - kill British Navy on G1, build TR fleet on G2, and invade on G3. There were not many strategic decisions for the UK to make, just build infantry in England, fly all the planes home, and hope the Americans get here soon. May be more fun for the Axis and Allies to play out a German submarine campaign now that German submarines do 3 convoy damage.
So far, without any playtesting, I like what I see.