Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: jjdenver

Hello,

I'm playing Fall Weiss and I hope the community will be kind enough to put up with a thread where I tack on newbie questions as I go. I have played the game a really long time ago - maybe 2 years (don't recall when) but looking at it now I hardly remember anything. So I appreciate any answers/advice as I go along here.

1) Is the initial pop-up about garrisoning hexes in the med still accurate: Gib, Malta, Tunis, Cairo, Damascus? Does the unit have to be "in" the hex or is "within 2" close enough? Previously I encountered a situation with Cairo where I moved a unit out and another unit in but got message that Italy was alarmed or something like that (this was with world at war not war in europe) - can I safely shuffle a unit out and another in?

I've removed any popup that does not factor into the mod, so if you see a popup asking for a unit to remain in a resource it is applicable. Only when notes/popups state a range should you assume so.

2) I know that in world at war there is some script that requires a unit within 2 of several cities for allies, I think: Damascus, Baghdad, Tehran. If units aren't around then Turkey moves toward axis. Is there such a thing in WIE?

I don't think this is applicable if I remember correctly.

3) Is it "usual" in PBEM for Egypt to fall to Axis? I seem to remember this being the case previously but am not sure. I know that in WaW it is "unusual" for Egypt to fall to Axis but I seem to recall it's the opposite in WIE.

It is not unusual for the Axis to take Egypt, in fact for the highest Axis victory Baku or Baghdad has to be captured (oil) so it's reasonable to expect the Axis to strategize a route to one of them.

4) What do the French usually spend on in PBEM? In WaW I usually buy a couple of diplo chits vs Spain to try to keep Axis from getting Spain during 41/42. I do no research, build a few AA and maybe a tank (but not usually). What is usual good play for French in PBEM with WIE-Fall Weiss?

AA and diplomacy are very safe options, however it's not automatic to assume Spain is the Axis target of diplomacy. There are another of other strategic options for Germany that are not present in the vanilla game.

5) Is Sealion a big problem in WIE-Fall Weiss? In know that in WIE I can usually buy a couple of AA, maybe send them to France, then back to England and along with maybe another corp + the units that automatically arrive, England is pretty tough to Sealion. Is it a bigger problem in WIE and Brits really have to avoid sending units to Egypt because Sealion is a big fear?

There is a very high risk of Sealion, there a number of strategic decisions that will aide Germany if they attempt it, including a decision event specifically for preparing for Sealion. A successful Sealion would also trigger some new events that are not in the vanilla game as well, it's a balancing act. But Germany can not lose sight of the war in the East, delaying until 1942 is not recommended.

6) Is complete conquest of France a big problem/fear for the allies or unusual? Can some units usually be shipped safely from Africa/mid-east to France?

It is quite easy to ship some units across the Med, but be careful not to allow some of the highly mobile German units (higher than vanilla) encircle Paris and trap all of your defending units. In my PBEM experience the risk of all of France always seems high.

7) Does CW need to build a lot of anti-sub stuff or is researching and relying on units automatically already arriving enough to fight the battle of the N Atlantic?

Axis subs are easier to destroy but there are more of them. Following behind in tech could be troublesome if Subs outnumber your destroyer units.

8) Does strat bombing work well for allies?

Extremely well due to increased range, and higher MPP values of some of Axis resources such as German Mine/Industry and Ploesti (Ploesti is worth 50 MPP for example). A big part of the game is the Allies trying to tighten the economic noose on Germany, and bombing is a big part of that. Germany for example can draw additional MPP from many more neutrals than in vanilla such as Vichy France, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Romania and Hungary.

9) Is there anything allies specifically need to do or be on guard for in the Med in 40/41? Or is the standard stuff like put a better unit in Gib, concentrate navy around Egypt and send a few units to Egypt - good enough usually?

Italy, like Germany has 2x surface fleet replacement cost, the UK should win a war of attrition in the Mediterranean at Sea but should be careful not to lose a decisive naval battle. Like many PBEM matches you have to prepare for the Axis to reinforce Rommel with additional strong units. Also Syria will lean towards the Axis every turn Iraq is Axis, so be mindful of that.

10) In WaW my usual allied diplo strategy is just to try to keep Spain away from Axis until US can enter in 42 and diplo them, and other than that not much diplo until maybe 42/43. Is something different usual in PBEM WIE-Fall Weiss?

Entirely different! I think you will just have to go with the flow, but in the beginning it makes sense to target Spain in diplomacy, but if the Axis make a play for Greece you may be forced to re-spend on new chits, pro-Axis Greece (any amount Axis leaning) is high risk of joining the Axis in 1940.

11) In WaW the UK can rely on the 10 strength ports in India to keep RN ships at 10 strength. Is it usual to fight them at 8 strength or ship them all the way back to UK to repair to 10 in WIE?

As mentioned attrition is in favor of the Allies.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jjdenver

Thanks for the replies. A few notes.

Popup says leave unit at Tunis. I did so but moved a unit out of Algiers to France and the unit along the Libyan border north. I got a message that French morale had dropped for abandoning positions in the Med. There is something wrong with what the popup tells us in Fall Weiss.

You are right, I'm not sure how this was not noticed before unless it was removed from the vanilla version at some point (I still draw this popup media from vanilla). The one time 500 NM drop I'll remove for Algiers and replace on my next update. There have been a few patches since I last updated the game and I plan to in the near future after reviewing them

About Egypt, what I meant is that in WaW it's very difficult to take Egypt if CW makes reasonable preparation (buy engineer and start dig-in, maybe send another HQ, maybe send another corp/army and make sure there are 1 or 2 fighters there). It seems in WiE it's very easy for Axis to take Egypt (iirc). I was curious if this is still the case, sounds like it is. I wasn't asking whether Axis might attempt to take Egypt, but more about how easy it is for them - which I think the answer is: easy!

There are a few factors that play into this in my play experience in PBEM, and depends how aggressive each side is in 1940. There are a number of handicaps against the Italians early on 1) Most likely there navy is maximum 8 strength 2) they have to pay additional MPP for supply east of Tobruk 3) the Libyan ports begin the campaign at 0 supply so German units can't show up for a few turns at least 4) Strategic Bombers have very long range and can make HQ linking difficult as well. So in my experience if the UK does attempt to take Tobruk and force the Italians back then it becomes quite easy for the Axis if they are allowed to sit back and prepare for a decisive offensive. As well if you play the Axis you will feel the DAK are expensive

All of France strategy for axis. What are pros/cons of this approach please?

I don't think the pros/cons are much different than other versions, closing the Mediterranean is highly desirable as well Spain can be brought into the Axis. The downside is that in my experience a weak Barbarossa is harder for the Axis to come back from, the Soviet offensive capability in 1942 is much stronger than vanilla.

I have a new question. There is a DE for allies around Nov 39 about whether to adjust borders. I'm not sure I fully understand the significance despite reading the notes. It moves SU 5% away from allies, but the notes mention that Su can align Lithuania next year and get economic benefit from that. To me, the 5% move away from allies in Nov 39 is a bigger and longer impact than getting Lithuania income in 40. Is this accurate or I don't understand fully how much benefit Lithuania gives? Also if SU refuses to adjust borders does this mean they can never align Lithuania? Or that Germany gets a chance to keep Lithuania, and tick off the Soviets thus pushing SU closer to allies and increasing SU income in the process?

quote:

ORIGINAL: jjdenver

All of France strategy for axis. What are pros/cons of this approach please?

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I have only played the FW game in the community pack, its very dated.

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ORIGINAL: crispy131313

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I have only played the FW game in the community pack, its very dated.

Well what are you waiting for? Give it a shot!

I saw there are still PBEM matches up with the very old version from the community pack, they don’t know what they are missing.

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ORIGINAL: crispy131313

Italy, like Germany has 2x surface fleet replacement cost, the UK should win a war of attrition in the Mediterranean at Sea but should be careful not to lose a decisive naval battle.

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ORIGINAL: crispy131313

Glad to hear you are enjoying it. I just checked out some of your YT videos on SC I would look forward to seeing your play through once the update is finished.