From: (Rick Heli) Subject: playback.4 Year: 1936 Turn: Jan/Feb Axis: 16S Allied: 16S [fail] Commentary: The traditional race between the German and French tanks for control of the Rhineland was won by the Nazis when the Frogs failed to get their option off (the German's would have won the race in any event as I had the initative). No Spanish Civil war... Year: 1936 Turn: Mar/Apr Axis: 32S Allied: 19P [fail] Commentary: Japan decided to put the petal to the metal and go to war with Russia ASAP. The Commonwealth and France tried to guarentee Rumania & Greece, but failed. The initial battle in the Russo- Japanese war was won by Russia. No Spanish Civil war... Year: 1936 Turn: May/Jun Axis: 23S Allied: 7 Commentary: Japan takes the opportunity of war to gear up (production multiple moved from 1 to 2). The Allies finally get an option off as Stalin successfully purged. The Russo-Japanese war resulted in an inconclusive battle. No Spanish Civil war... Year: 1936 Turn: Jul/Aug Axis: 5P Allied: 42S Commentary: Germany started playing her usual Balkan resource games by supporting Bulgarian claims against Rumania. Russia successfully surrendered to Japan, thus avoiding a prolonged war. No Spanish Civil war... Year: 1936 Turn: Sep/Oct Axis: 6P Allied: 12S Commentary: Germany continues to garner the Balkan resources by supporting Hungarian claims against Rumania. The US geared up (production multiple is now 1/4) and talked about joining the League of Nations. No Spanish Civil war... Year: 1936 Turn: Nov/Dec Axis: 3S, 12P [fail] Allied: 19S Commentary: The first chance to get 2 options off for the Axis, and I blow one of them. Japan signed an oil agreement with Dutch and they demobilized at the same time. In the meantime, France and Britain guarentee Rumania and Greece, and offer financial credits. Guess what, we have a Spanish Civil war! Seeing as how it was winter, and the attackers could not win a victory, neither side wanted to engage in combat. FDR was re-elected in a landslide... Year: 1937 Turn: Jan/Feb Axis: 12S [fail] Allied: 10S Commentary: Arrgh! I failed again trying to woo Rumania back into the Axis camp. Russia supports the Spanish Republicans. Since we are still in winter, neither side presses the attack. Year: 1937 Turn: Mar/Apr Axis: 12S Allied: 6 Commentary: The Axis tried to woo Rumania back into their camp by offering an oil and a military agreement. France offered an economic pact with the Benelux countries. Fighting finally broke out in the Spanish Civil war as the Republicans (controlled by Russia) attacked the Nationalists (controlled by Italy). The battle was a resounding victory for the Nationalists. Year: 1937 Turn: May/Jun Axis: 13P Allied: 13S [fail] Commentary: Germany geared up to a production multiple of 2. France tried to match the gear up (and strengthen the Little Entente), but failed. In Spain, another victory for the defenders (Nationalists) against the attackers (Republicans). The Nationalists are now just one victory away from winning the Civil war... Year: 1937 Turn: Jul/Aug Axis: 18S Allied: 11S Commentary: Hitler offered a non-agression pact with Poland and demobilized the German army in an attempt to propagandize the minors. The Commonwealth supported the Republic (before it was too late). The final battle in the Spanish Civil war was fought as the attacking Nationalists overwhelmed the defending Republicans. The War is over, and it took less than a full year, so Franco is firmly in the Axis camp. Year: 1937 Turn: Sep/Oct Axis: 11S, 21P Allied: 13S Commentary: Germany ogt off two options, both aimed at grabbing much needed resources. Germany offered Sweden an enconomic/military agreement and they offered Russia a non-agression pact. France tries for a second time to gear up but fails. Year: 1937 Turn: Nov/Dec Axis: 22P Allied: 13S, 21P Commentary: Italy signed the Pact of Steel with Germany and invaded Albania. France finally geared up and they strengthened the Little Entente. Russia accepted the non-agression pact with Germany in order to get those cheap INF's. Year: 1938 Turn: Jan/Feb Axis: 2S Allied: 2S [fail] Commentary: Italy signed a peace treaty with Yugoslavia and disarmed (as a sign of goodwill and an attempt to sway more minors). France attempted to sign a treaty with Spain but failed. Year: 1938 Turn: Mar/Apr Axis: 24P Allied: 24S Commentary: Both Germany and Britain decided to gear up on the same turn. The German production multiple is now 3 and the British is now 2. Britain used the opportunity to increase the british navy with US loans. Year: 1938 Turn: May/Jun Axis: 7 [fail] Allied: 25S Commentary: The Axis tried to sign the Anti-Cominturn Pact, but failed. France gears up again (moving from a production multiple of 1 to 2) and signs military links with the Benelux countries. Year: 1938 Turn: Jul/Aug Axis: 7, 25P Allied: 26 Commentary: The Axis finally signed the Anti-Cominturn Pact and Italy gears up (production multiple to 2). The Commonwealth, not to be left behind gears up again (their production multiple is now 3) and they add the Indian factory. Year: 1938 Turn: Sep/Oct Axis: 29S Allied: 29S [fail] Commentary: Here's where Germany makes it big move; Germany demands the Sudatenland from Czechoslovakia. The Allies, hindered by the French political effectiveness (less than 7), fail to answer. Year: 1938 Turn: Nov/Dec Axis: 30P Allied: 2S Commentary: The Axis got the initiave, so were able to annex Czechoslovakia without the Allies being able to respond. France signed a military and economic pact with Spain. Year: 1939 Turn: Jan/Feb Axis: 44 Allied: 18S [fail] Commentary: Germany, running out of options to play (and because it was getting dark), decided to start the General War by declaring war against France/Commonwealth. Britain and France attempted to guarentee Poland, but failed due to the poor French political effectiveness. Final Build Point totals [WiF 1939 starting totals in brackets]: Germany: 176 [248] Commwealth: 346 [409] Japan: 326 [298] France: 137 [201] Italy: 156 [173] Russia: 157 [161] US: 254 [310] China: 64 [66] US Entry: -4 (+1 at end of DoD) Minor Coutries final positions: Allied (+) Axis (-) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C 15 Bulg, Hun o 14 n 13 t 12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P 11 Den, SpN r 10 Port, Swe o 9 Pol 8 Yug Iraq, Rum ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I 7 Aust, Neth n 6 f 5 Gre 4 Fin, Per ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Turk 2 1 0 Bel Nor Additional Notes: The following minors have +1 INF: Neth, Tur, Rum, Swe, Belg, Hung, Bulg The following minors have -i INF: Yugo Analysis: Rick and I did a DoD victory point calculation. CW just beat GE to win the game (375 to 373), but the Axis just edged out the Allies (933+100=1033 to 1011). This suggested to us that this is a resonably balanced game. Here are my opinions on the +`s and -'s for each side: Axis +'s: Spain is Pro-Axis The Suez Canal is still open Japan & Italy are around 1939 starting BP's The Allies have no controlled minors (espically Poland) France & Britain are below 1939 starting BP's A lot of Pro/Infl Axis minors (don't need to attack to get resources) US entry is -4 Allied +'s: Germany is below 1939 starting BP's The only Axis controlled minors are Bul and Hun (no Rum or Swe) No Sigfried line Russia & China are around 1939 starting BP's Austria is only Axis Influenced (Axis can't move through it) War declared in Jan/Feb US League of Nations is in effect Overall, I would say the game is tilted in favor of the Axis (Spain really helps!), but not overly so. The US entry is -4, which is OK for the Axis, but not overly so. The invasion of Poland is an extra +1 US entry becasue of Axis 18 and Japan needs to go for a major assault (don't forget the League of Nations!). Germany being below the 1939 BP goal is bad for the Axis as they can't just sit around, they have to go out and attack. Russia is as strong as we have seen her after DoD, and so are France and Italy for that matter! I would like to play this one out (I think it is viable senario).