2010 Advanced Game Playtest

[Mark]

Yeah - Moscow looks a little scary for the Russians for the next couple turns - especially now that Leningrad has fallen to the Fascist hordes. . .

I don't know who I am rooting for!  Do I want Brian and Mike to pull it off and defeat John?  Or - do I want the Allies to triumph over the Axis?

[John D.]

I think I talked Joe into building Katyushas!  - We'll see them in action in 43! I hope!

Now it looks as if I will have to begin sending trucks over to Joe! It may take almost a year to get him mechanized!

[Mark]

Are you guys testing out an alternative rule for Soviet mechanization?

[John D.]

Yes - Joe and I really like the rule. The Soviets will usually opt not to use lend lease for trucks early on - as they will need units ASAP. When things get a bit stabilized- they can ask the US for more lend lease to  get the trucks - say by 1943 - which kind of works out historically. It is a really fun rule - to truck or not to truck...

[Mark]

How many lend lease points to the Allies have to ship in order to motorize the Russians?

[John D.]

20 is what we are playing with.

[British_Mike]

Guys,

I've been a bit busy hence no posts, but I have been REALLY enjoying playing as Brian's evil Axis 2ic (basically his Scott Evil). Here are my highlights so far from this very interesting playtest.

Overall

 - the pace has been great - two experienced players on each side makes for quick turns.
 - the teams are well-balanced
 - the game is serving a valuable role as a playtest; some rules (Sov trucks, double mech in non-arid summer) are working really well. Others (my stupid candidate rule limiting rerolls) were canned.

Strategic level

 - the game is a test of the Fortress Italy model, with a twist (an annoying Axis outpost line in French North Africa). I have established the chain of island defences (Sardinia, Malta, Crete) and will be interested to see if it helps. My suspicion is that the Allies will sensibly avoid Italy and go for the main prize - France and Germany.

 - this sets us up for a great test of the Operation Roundup scenario, the 1943 Allied invasion of France.

 - in Russia, the forces are very thin and the double summer mech moves make for interesting effects. In Summer 41, the rules perfectly modeled the chaos of a long-range Blitzkrieg. Summer 42 saw both armies too broken to do much. I think Summer 43 is going to be CRAZY.

 - in economic warfare, the U-Boats have been put in their place by strong ASW. That's realistic.  It wasn't cheap for John to buy all those destroyers, but they are paying for themselves. We've maxed U-Boats since the start of the war, but the split between anti-transport and anti-economic tends to lead to failure in both.

 - John has been a very smart British player - he's tried to help his allies (France, Norway) yet has managed to defeat the U-Boats and close down North Africa with an early show of force. John smartly recognizes that the UK is not really threatened by an amphib landing, and from that flowed many good resource decisions.

Tactical  level

These lessons are classified for the moment.

Cheers

Mike

[Yoper]

- in economic warfare, the U-Boats have been put in their place by strong ASW. That's realistic.  It wasn't cheap for John to buy all those destroyers, but they are paying for themselves. We've maxed U-Boats since the start of the war, but the split between anti-transport and anti-economic tends to lead to failure in both.

You must concentrate on only one method.  While it can be tempting to try to hit transports, the continuous degradation of the UK convoys is where the most benefit can be had.

But I do understand the want to hit a "juicy" target now and then.  

- John has been a very smart British player - he's tried to help his allies (France, Norway) yet has managed to defeat the U-Boats and close down North Africa with an early show of force. John smartly recognizes that the UK is not really threatened by an amphib landing, and from that flowed many good resource decisions.

I consider John the "crafty" one in the Mark/John combo.  Mark is more like me- a lot of talk and some capabilities.  We are complimentary players to the powerhouses like John and my buddy Eric.

[Mark]

I think I have been insulted. . . John - a better player than me, bah

[British_Mike]

John is indeed the best player (trying to jinx him here), hence it was extra sweet repulsing his first Operation Torch attempt!! (I have to cling to these small crumbs of comfort).

On transports, I think it is definitely worth using U-Boats in an anti-invasion role.  On other occasions, it is probably not worth it. Then again, he has been defending the convoy spaces so heavily that it is not much safer and the payoff is so much lower.

John's also been smartly moving transports on the non-com movement. I am usually so off-balance that I can't afford the delay. As tanks can't mech after being shipped anyway, it is definitely the best way to move them.

Also noteworthy - John has hardly shipped a single fighter. He's basically been fighting in the Med with very limited air. That may change now he can put Spits on carriers and is building an escort carrier.

Cheers

Mike

[Mark]

I guess I need to play against John when I am back in June to prove to you guys who is the better player. . .  . . . Just because he has won 4 out of the last 5 games means nothing - I have just been toying with him.

[Yoper]

I think I have been insulted. . . John - a better player than me, bah

There you go thinking again!!!!

[Mark]

When are the next couple of turns scheduled?  I am REALLY interested in how things are going to play out in Russia for the next turn or two. . .

I'm thinking the Germans may need to start investing a bit more in France. . .let the Italians worry about the Med. . .  A Spring 1943 of the French coast looks likely.

By the way - what is the next turn?  Summer 1942?  You guys got to put some dates on these pics.

[John D.]

Autumn 1942 is next!
We play tomorrow!

[Mark]

What is the Victory Point level like - my calculation has the Axis around 30 VPs - is that right?