From: oberland@vax.sonoma.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: A&A - I think the AXIS may be able to :)
Date: 21 Nov 92 08:04:03 GMT
Organization: Sonoma State University

In article <of3D9xC00VpH06OEw7@andrew.cmu.edu>, Erik Lauer <el0g+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>  oberland@vax.sonoma.edu asks
> 
>>P.S. Question:
>>What would you do if you were UK in the following situation:
>>2i, a, 2f, b in UK
>>-UK sea zone has sub and transport in it(ENEMY)
>>
>>1i in S. Africa
>>(enemy)1f in lybia, 1a and 1i in egypt, 1a in syria, 1i in FrWAfrica
>>(enemy)bs in syria(has control of suez), plus trans.
>>
>>2i and 1f in India, plus transport
>>30 income
>>Based on my game, this is likely to happen first turn(It did, twice).
>>WHAT should UK do for its turn to keep from being crushed?
>>WHAT is their best strategy?

Playing NO first - attack for Russia
 
> You did not tell me enough for the India stuff, I attack Kwangtung if
> Russia took manchuria, otherwise I send it to syria.  Move in in SA  inf
> north.  Take all UK planes, attack fleet sorrounding me.  Next turn,
> when US fleet will show up (i.e. all the transports US build turn 1), I
> build lots of transports and a few inf.  11 transports defending against
> 4 fighters and a bomber is effective.  AC is less good:  it does not
> transport men, takes fighters away from Karelia to be effective.  Of
> course Factory in India is worse than that.

I seem to take Africa and Asia then.  Fine with me.  I can send 4 i into
Africa and make a wall against the Brittish.  Also, if they fail to build a 
IC in SAfrica, then I take it shortly.

IF the build an IC there, they are out 15IPC.

Either way, according to your plan, I can transport 4i and 4 more if I
position myself correctly(BS and transports out of range in suez or ayria)

> The UK best strategy is to have lots of transports with the US
> transports, moving lots of land units to garrison Karelia, take Africa,

HOW do they take Africa?  Wishful thinking?  No IC there according to your
plan.  1a,2i, and f, plus 4i/2a transported in.

> and threaten lots of places in Germany.  Having more transports than you
> can use to ship new inf is useful, since you can move inf both from
> Britain and Africa or Karelia to attack Germany (or some other place in
> Germany).  This makes the German player be defensive or get conquered.
Remember: you cannot TOUCH Africa until turn 3 with your plan!
(well, the US can, but there go more of that magic "11" transports)

Also, consider:
WHO cares about Ukraine and Norway?  I have 7IPC minimum on turn two
from Africa.

I will sacrifice my planes to kill all those transports, BTW.
11trans @11 vs 4f and Bomber should be fun.
2 hits vs 2 hits, likely 3
8vs 2f, B = one hit, 1 hit
7vs f, b, 1, 1
etc
AVG 5 hits on you.

I see not many transports left, and Germany building 13I in Germany for turn 3
attack.
Those fighters from Karelia cannot reach W. Europe.
They are of no help in the sea battle.

Also, 11trans?  Get real.  You do that, and you NEVER take africa back within
time.  Remember, it is not what you build, but what you have to use against
me for invasion.  reducing you 5(avg) transports is way bad for you.
6 trans split between two forces(REMEMBER THIS... they are not all one 
attack) is going to be mighty bad for your attack.

I have 8-10i in W europe, and 13-16 in Germany, plus flak, minimum on round 3.
By round 4, more(one turn, most likely 3, will be mostly infantry build)
6 trans will not make a dent.

Also, what about the poor Japanese?  They own Hawaii, and are
taking Alaska as well as threatening W. us and central America.
To build 11 trans by turn 2 would leave you open to invasion(you spend
almost all $$).  Build a transport or fleet in the Pacific?  Build
men to retake those lost places?
again, more precious $$ siphoned off.

They also can Bomb you from Hawaii with their bomber on turn 3.

(note-you most likely lost your fighter in Hawaii battle, but the Japanese
still own it and have transports in range of all sorts of stuff.
So, you build something to kill Alaska forces/Mexico/etc?
oops, more $$ gone from Atlantic attack.

PLUS, you have to build MEN with those transports unless you don't want to
attack at all on turn 3....  Where is allthis $$ coming from?

I would love to play with you, because you would give me Africa, Asia, and the
Pacific.  looks like 40ipc for Japan by round 2.
looks like 40 or so for Germany, also.

You better build something large, and take a fighter from Karelia or two
(and they had better be yours, or they are no good in an attack) and
put them on a carrier, or you will have to wait until turn 4 to start your
invasion.  Meanwhile, I am still ahead of starting ipc, and can hold
you off until turn 5 or 6.

AND... do the math for UK.
turn 2 income:-9
turn 3 income(soonest they would attack with your plan)-11 or 12
Hm... looks like those 11 transports will have little to transport.
(esp if I Bomb you from Germany on turn 3)
turn 4(attack me, or Africa, your open wound)-15 or 16(Aust. and NZ taken)
Remember, I get to attack the US back, and if successful, you get NO ipc
for the retaken(by the US) territory.
I bomb you, and UK gets a whole 8-10 to build with(you don't get $$
for territory invaded in europe that I take right back until round 5!)

At this point, the UK is not a threat, and Japan surely is(6-8a per round,
OR 10i/2a(or whatever you like best)
Japan should have 30 or so PIECES stacked in range of Moscow by turn 4, and 
be ready to attack by turn 5.  Figure an attack of 100 the first turn,
due to mostly tanks. OUCH.

I may be nearly dead, but Japan takes Russia , due to my trading pieces with
him on a frightful scale.