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House rules - 12/30/2019 2:49:02 AM   
murdock762

 

Posts: 41
Joined: 12/9/2019
Status: offline 		Was thinking of some "house rules" to help the 1939 start (as Allies) play more like the historical timeline. Basically to contest france and play my best, but make sure France still falls in time to keep some semblance of a historical campaign.

Here are my ideas - looking for any suggestions

1) No moving troops from North Africa / Middle east back to France

2) No breaking down any French Planes or other units to boost production

3) Not using any of the special land unit perks to make elite french tank or Anti-Tank divisions

4) I know this will be controversial - but no BEF force from England (or Canada) to take off the pressure. I think this is the most unbalancing factor, an aggressive England can pump quite a few units into France which keeps the war going just long enough to really start getting some more units from the French production

5) Considering leaving all maginot line forces in garrison mode, so no splitting off small divsions or activating those garrison units. No sure if this really matters

As a related idea, I wont touch the US forces until war is declared on 12/7/41. No preloading an invasion fleet and landing it that first turn. (However will spend the production to build units)

Basically I am try and think of some ideas so that I can still play the game to my best abilities, but get a real test from operation Barbarossa. Yes I know can just start from a later date, just trying to think outside the box

**** will add the only playthrough I did I accidentally had italy declare war on the very first turn (didnt read notes carefully enough my mistake) and I think that really confused the AI as italy doesnt contribute much and caused Germany to split forces all over africa and italian-french border instead of focus on the battle for the low countries ****

< Message edited by murdock762 -- 12/30/2019 2:57:10 AM >
Post #: 1
RE: House rules - 1/8/2020 7:56:06 PM   
murdock762

 

Posts: 41
Joined: 12/9/2019
Status: offline 		Was going to give it a try, but instead I just used the 1940 start (which also gives Norway to the Axis)

That may be a better option for people who are looking to play a "historical" play through. Will post results

(in reply to murdock762)
Post #: 2
RE: House rules - 1/8/2020 9:05:26 PM   
AlbertN

 

Posts: 3693
Joined: 10/5/2010
From: Italy
Status: offline 		Currently the game does not need any House Rule by itself - just play with the 'Italian Option'.

(in reply to murdock762)
Post #: 3
RE: House rules - 1/9/2020 6:16:12 AM   
murdock762

 

Posts: 41
Joined: 12/9/2019
Status: offline 		As I said I think Italian option (vs the computer) is actually a detriment for the Axis. Italy contributes nothing to the war as it cant force the passes on the border, and it causes the AI to split the German forces between France, North Italy (where they get blocked in behind the Italians out front) and North Africa where they do nothing.

Instead of concentrate everything in the low countries

(in reply to AlbertN)
Post #: 4
RE: House rules - 1/9/2020 4:10:14 PM   
kennonlightfoot

 

Posts: 1530
Joined: 8/15/2006
Status: offline 		Based on my limited experience:

1) No moving troops from North Africa / Middle east back to France
I found out this has its own problem. If you move the French from Africa it apparently lets the Italians join the Axis side. This will allow them to take N. Africa while its undefended. I am not sure if this is equivalent to playing the "Italian Option" or not. It seems like it may be negative enough that the Allied player wouldn't want to do it.

2) No breaking down any French Planes or other units to boost production
French don't seem all that able to defend themselves but I can see using this limitation.

3) Not using any of the special land unit perks to make elite french tank or Anti-Tank divisions
Still think the French start 1939 with sever disadvantages, like the Germans being able to take all the low countries with out any negative effect.

4) I know this will be controversial - but no BEF force from England (or Canada) to take off the pressure. I think this is the most unbalancing factor, an aggressive England can pump quite a few units into France which keeps the war going just long enough to really start getting some more units from the French production
I think the German would welcome the chance to wipe out a few British units while overrunning the French.

5) Considering leaving all maginot line forces in garrison mode, so no splitting off small divsions or activating those garrison units. No sure if this really matters
If this required should do the same to the Germans.

As a related idea, I wont touch the US forces until war is declared on 12/7/41. No preloading an invasion fleet and landing it that first turn. (However will spend the production to build units)
That tactic isn't as good as it sound. A weak early attack may be vulnerable to being overrun.

I think most of the 1939 scenario problems are due to the weakness of the Allied side relative to the German.
The British air is to weak to do anything equivalent to "winning" the Battle of Britain.
The British don't have enough land units to garrison against a Sealion and still have enough force in Egypt.
The Lower countries can be invaded early by the Germans so there is no "Phony War".
Neutral countries are easily overrun because of the default positions of their garrisons.

I hope the developers eventually fix the low country early invasions. Some kind of penalty like all going to the Allied side if any one of them are attacked (probably the most historically accurate result). Could put in some negative effects like bump in Allied production if attacked before historic date.

(in reply to murdock762)
Post #: 5
RE: House rules - 1/13/2020 9:25:14 PM   
murdock762

 

Posts: 41
Joined: 12/9/2019
Status: offline 		I started a new game as the Allies, I turned both the AI experience and logistics up one level. I used the 1940 start so Norway is occupied and Germany declares war on low countries first turn.

Overall I think the 1940 start will lead to a more historical timeline then the 1939 start.

The biggest issue I had with France, was no supply trucks and none in the que. So even building them on turn one, I was without any trucks for the opening few rounds. Looking at my house rules from top of the post, I committed to not breaking down any units for production. I also removed the entire BEF out of France on turn 1. Even with those constraints I was able to hold France until July 1, 1941. However I might have gotten a little lucky in terms of very rainy weather in 1941 keeping the Germans from running wild. As soon as the weather cleared the Germans obliterated my thin line and almost the entire French line was off the board in a number of turns.

Also as I expected keeping Italy out of the war really helped the Germans by allowing them to focus units in one theater instead of spread things around.

So bottom line if you want a more "historical" game I would start in 1940 instead of 1939 - and leave Italy out of the war until Paris is captured and the historical event fires.



(in reply to kennonlightfoot)
Post #: 6
RE: House rules - 1/13/2020 11:57:46 PM   
Twotribes


Posts: 6929
Joined: 2/15/2002
From: Jacksonville NC
Status: offline 		As long as you leave a garrison in Algiers I believe the Italians don't activate.

(in reply to murdock762)
Post #: 7
RE: House rules - 1/17/2020 7:12:11 PM   
murdock762

 

Posts: 41
Joined: 12/9/2019
Status: offline 		This will be my final update.

Using the 1940 start (as allies) I got a much more historical game then I experienced in my 1939 playthrough.

France fell in mid 1941, Germany then conquered Yugoslavia. No DOW by axis on Spain or Greece - but they started invasion of USSR in May 1942.

So not a historical timeline, but overall 1940 start feels plausible whereas the 1939 start went way off the rails.




(in reply to Twotribes)
Post #: 8
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