A&A Europe - Game 1 - Post-Game Thoughts

Axis & Allies Europe (1999) 

Game: Axis & Allies Europe (1999 Edition – 2^nd Edition updates)

 

Post-Game 1 Thoughts

The Economic Answer 

Germany failed to solve the economic problem. Combined the Allied forces earned more than twice what Germany earned. Allied earning at the beginning of the game is 89 IPCs. Germany earned 40.

Beginning NPC

Allied: 89

Germany: 40

There was only one way to balance the NPC – take over all Allied Convoy Centers and take over the ENTIRE Middle East.

Convoy Center Value: 30 IPCs.

A full convoy would mean Allied earning was cut to 59. 59 vs. 40 would be much more manageable than 89 vs. 40.

Middle East Value: 8 IPCs (16 total swing).

The Middle East would have added 8 IPCs per turn for Germany and the Allies would have had to pay that directly to Germany, meaning they were losing 8 IPCs per round.

If Germany could have taken control of all Convoy Centers and the Middle East, the earning would basically be balanced: 51 vs. 48.

All they would need at this point would be one or two spaces in USSR and then the game would be perfectly balanced. Then, anything could happen.

But Germany was never able to grow economically fast enough. At their peak, they were earning 45 IPCs and were only taking away 7 IPCs from Allied Convoy Centers.

The Military Answer

Unable to balance the game economically, Germany had one chance to win the game – take over an Allied capital city.

Germany’s focus was never on building an invasion force or navy strong enough to challenge UK. They devoted resources to delaying the Allies in the Atlantic and to taking over land territories in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

They did not have a strong enough force in either location though. By dividing their forces and trying to win in two locations, they failed to properly win or secure either.

The Problem with Tanks

One problem with tanks in this edition of the game is that they defend at 2 instead of the more traditional 3 in other editions of the game. While Germany has a strong attack force to begin the game, they are unable to defend new territories taken as well.

Germany was slow moving in this game. They focused on the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. They did not properly use their strong attack forces in the early rounds to weaken USSR. They did not use their tanks to spread out quickly and earn additional IPCs.

By the time Germany was fighting in Ukraine, USSR’s forces had grown too strong. Germany misused their tanks and had them placed for defense, which was not their strong suit. USSR was able to destroy too many German forces leaving Germany with no means to counterattack.

The Problem with Combined Allied Forces

In this edition of the game, any Allied force in a USSR territory with a factory can be transferred over and become a USSR unit. Every round USA and UK built fighters to fly to USSR. Germany had no answer for this. By not attacking Leningrad early and often, Germany allowed the Allies to consolidate forces and build a massive air force for USSR. USSR was then able to use these extra forces to attack and defend.

Lessons for Germany’s Next Game

1. Move faster and keep a single focus. Dividing forces and trying to fight in too many places only leads to failure in multiple places.

2. Take Leningrad and prevent the Allies from providing USSR with extra air units.

3. Remember how tanks operate and what their weaknesses are. Don’t lose them by leaving them in hard to defend locations.