Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: composer99

Less beta testing, more sleeping off pneumonia.

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

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ORIGINAL: composer99

Less beta testing, more sleeping off pneumonia.

I appreciate the sentiment, and I've been sleeping a lot, but I need to keep active or I'll go nuts. So, this is just going to slow things down. On the plus side, I'm on to French setup now.

Had chest xrays this morning and an appt with my doc this afternoon, so I'll know more later. I was planning to show a picture of the scrapped units, but I forgot to add the CW units, so I have to see if I can get that back to add to the picture. If I can, expect it up soon.

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

While I didn't show you my USA, USSR, or Italian setups (because they span a lot more of the globe), this here is my Chinese setup. Patrice would hate it because it is so far forward, but I couldn't locate one from Peter, and so I used a combination of Steve's original and my own tastes (which are not always wise):
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Edit: Oh, forgot -- there as an Oil behind the FTR (yeah, I know), and an AT behind the 4-2 MIL.

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ORIGINAL: brian brian

If the Intelligence rules won't be part of MWiF At-Start, for the perfectly good reason that it would be an extra programming mega-challenge to include an ability to spend Intell points in just about every single phase of the game, perhaps the word Intelligence could be removed from the list of options on-screen...

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ORIGINAL: Centuur

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

While I didn't show you my USA, USSR, or Italian setups (because they span a lot more of the globe), this here is my Chinese setup. Patrice would hate it because it is so far forward, but I couldn't locate one from Peter, and so I used a combination of Steve's original and my own tastes (which are not always wise):
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Edit: Oh, forgot -- there as an Oil behind the FTR (yeah, I know), and an AT behind the 4-2 MIL.

I don't like the Chinese setup. Personally I would defend by making a choice. China can't defend everything with the new map, so I would only defend the Chinese heartland and forget about a forward defence in Fukien. I wouldn't defend Chengchow either. Also, I would prefer using a couple of 2 unit stacks with a gap, than using one unit a hex, since it is far easier or the Japanese (if he commits himself to eliminating China) to kill one unit a hex than two (even in Mountains...) at high odds without getting disorganised.
Also I don't like the large gap in the frontline near Canton. As a Japanese, I would set up two fastmovers there and try to make a run for the city of Kweilin.
China is going to lose units anyway, so it better make sure that while he's losing units, the attacker gets at least disorganised. Time is on the Chinese side, so every Japanese unit not capable of moving is important IMHO...

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ORIGINAL: brian brian

wasn't there a set of CW convoy set-ups made for the AI one could use as a time-saver?

I agree, the Chinese need to double-stack for safety. Chengchow is worth defending though, with two units it might take the Japanese several impulses to take, perhaps only in 1940 if they focus on the North Monsoon zone for the first winter of the game. All that time is additional defense for Si-An. Also China needs to be very careful with the MIL units that can't be replaced as their home city is controlled by Japan; using them on low-threat hexes and as emergency reserves. I would save their only fighter for defense against strategic bombing in Chungking.

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ORIGINAL: Ur_Vile_WEdge

I'd also like to throw my 2 cents in saying that I'd recommend a double-stack ZoC defense, possibly punctuated by mobile units (the Japanese can't hope to cover everything either) Remember, the Japanese planes have awful Tac factors, the chances of risking both guys to flipping are pretty small. I do have a bunch of ideas for a Chinese setup, but with the new map and all, I'd really rather want to wait before I get my chance to play with it before suggesting anything possibly idiotic.


Scrap wise, I probably wouldn't bother with the Sparviero, but that's only because I can't *ever* remember building an Italian carrier anyway :P

I'm not sure I'd scrap the French 75 mm. He's just as strong as his equivalents in the AT and AA fields, and field guns are always nice, especially on the Italian front.

For the Soviets, I like to keep the 3-1 but also get rid of the 4-5 MOT, and the trio of 3-3 inf. They might be useful later on, but you don't have enough build points to max out the force pools in the event of either the '41 or '42 attacks anyway; and I like having the stronger factors for both greater strength when the blitz comes, and a better chance during any attacks I might make on Romania, Finland, or Persia. (and I hate MOTs, but that's just me)

I also scrap the 5-4 MOT with the CW a lot. I mean, he could be real nice later on, and I realize that, but doing so insures you start with the two strong ones; since they're often your mobile reserve in those critical early game turns, and do things like conquer Portugal and fight in North Africa, even an extra factor or two can be worth it, IMO.


Convoy wise, if you don't have one set up already, I can put one together in about an hour if you want me to. Food in Flames (I never actually played with it myself :( ) gives you a bonus for directly importing a resource to the UK from each of India, Australia, and South Africa, right?


EDIT: NVM about the convoy thing; I hadn't refreshed since the time Red Prince uploaded his post

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ORIGINAL: Ur_Vile_WEdge



EDIT #2: You can save a convoy point going by the west coast of Australia, shipping through Cape Naturliste, SE Indian Ocean, SW Indian Ocean, Mozambique Channel, and then up the coast of Africa, instead of going through the Panama Canal. I'm also a little unclear as to why you have 4 CP in the Indian ocean and 4 more in the Azanian Sea. Is there some bonus you get for shipping all 4 Indian resources directly to the UK? I am teh n00b when it comes to Food in Flames :(

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ORIGINAL: brian brian

you're thinking too far ahead on the CW convoys....the whole Indian Ocean gets shut down temporarily by a good Japanese player anyway

you need a convoy point (or a French one) in the Red Sea to supply Egypt even if it isn't moving a resource

I scrap that French 2-2 Gun. The anti-tank assets are far more valuable. I even use a CW loan to build the 1940 AA unit. Priceless on the 2d10 table. I also keep the US 'magic transport'. It's cheaper, and it gets stuff to Europe (eventually), and is a re-org point. I never scrap any Western Allied lift. They can afford it all, and use it all too. I keep the Japanese ART, they need every Ground Strike roll they can get in the mountains of China, even a 4BP one, and which doesn't count against action limits.

I keep the 3-3 Soviet INF. Every warm-body helps against a '41 Barb, even the 2-1 GARR (always lives in Lodz under my command). The key is scrapping them after first loss and always improving the average quality of the Russian army. (So the 4-factors go too, and eventually the 5-factor). If you don't, and just keep building them, you will suddenly discover the great funneling as you approach central Europe and you will have far more units than you can ever use again. Spend the surplus from having a smaller INF pool build-out on O-Chits, you'll need them.

An Italian CV is great fun IF they can break out of their 'lake'. It is nearly useless in the Med itself, vs. the same BPs spent on land-based air. I sometimes lay down the Aquila on the first turn. If the Italians can't be the wandering bag-lady pushing a shopping cart on the Axis team, who can? The Graf Zeppelin is also great fun and just it's existence on the board can be a subtle pressure on the CW. The Japanese will applaud.

Your Axis strategy is one of eating the whole cake. I like the optimism. But Gibraltar, Suez, and aligning the Middle East all in time for a 1941 Barbarossa shouldn't be all that probable against good Allied play.

CW Transport set-up was mentioned....I find the CW has little choice but to be ready for a France First with their TRS set-up. Sending two White Print / Elite to Gibraltar is certainly "safe" but is a bit of overkill really. All the CW has to do is keep a close eye on Italian lift and landing capacities and defend accordingly. The anywhere at-start British INF and a gun is more than enough to defend against what Italy can throw at the Rock at-start = 2 land + 2 SB = 4 : 16 = 1-4 = -4 on 2d10 = success on 19 or 20 only, IF everything survives the Royal Navy, which will have an impulse to respond before three Italian divisions can actually land (not possible on a Combined). Almost any two units the CW can deploy there will be enough until the Axis get AMPHs or MARines in range. I would rather use the White Print in Malta with an early TRS move. (Hint: use Gort to re-org one or two of them in France for additional lift on the first turn).

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ORIGINAL: Ur_Vile_WEdge

Pardon me, I'm still not following why you're transporting massive amounts of resources from India instead of just shipping over the far less CP expensive ones from Canada. If the 4 CP in the Carribean are shipping 1 res from Australia and the three from Venezuela, then you're only adding 1 resource from Canada, and they're your easiest ships.

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ORIGINAL: Titan

Is there an option to have hex's under ones control shaded instead of the flags, the flags i find look abit distracting and busy. That would be my preference anyway plus the nice art works gets abit less obvious with those flags.

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ORIGINAL: michaelbaldur

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ORIGINAL: peskpesk

* Delay Defence

I like that you have put the HQ in the Russian zone .... I always build the HQ with cw later in the war ......

If Poland is conquered, how can you build the polish HQ later?

• Ge/It both DOW Greece
  
• Germany aligns Bulgaria (the 3-3 INF can take control of Salonica, allowing Italian units to move there)
  
• Germany DOW Hungary
  
• USSR claims Bessarabia (perhaps stupidly), but Rumania allows the claim (preferably in '40)
  
• Germany then Denies the claims by both Bulgaria and Hungary
  
• Germany aligns Rumania as a Full Ally during the next Axis DOW step
  
• Germany and Italy continue to pound on Greece, if it isn't already conquered
  
• Once Italy controls Athens, it can align Yugoslavia
  This then gives both Italy and Germany a good set of ports to transport units to Syria (which Italy has hopefully conquered, too), and the German attempt at sliding i the back door of the USSR can continue.
  
  So, here is the likely choice for a defense of Hungary:
  
  

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  ORIGINAL: peskpesk
  
  * Capital defence 39+ B
  
  
  
  

  
  This depends somewhat on where the German troops happen to be at the time of the DOW. If there are few troops in Austria, this may be a better choice:
  
  

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  ORIGINAL: peskpesk
  
  * Capital defence 39+ A
  
  
  
  

  
  I haven't even looked at the options for Greece yet.
  
  _____________________________
  
  
  Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done and why. Then do it!
  -Lazarus Long, RAH
  
  (in reply to Red Prince)

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ORIGINAL: peskpesk

* Border Defence

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ORIGINAL: peskpesk

* River Defence

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ORIGINAL: peskpesk

* Rear defence 39/40/41

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ORIGINAL: composer99

For Belgium given you expect Germany to hold Rotterdam I suggest two units in Antwerp and 1 in Liege.

Really, as long as Germany has the strength to secure Antwerp on the surprise impulse and has units in place to secure the Belgian resource hex, there is no real chance of stopping the Germans from getting across the Maas & the Dyle rivers.

But the above set-up at least slows down the seizure of Brussels. And if they flub the Antwerp attack, then the other Allies can even still get in there and slow them up even further.