Oil strategy

[jusi]

Hello,

Playing with oil is great (I played WIF the 5th edition a long time ago, which did not have this rule). However it seems to be one of the hardest thinks to manage. How experimented players deal with oil, in particular for the Axis players (and France)?

After 2 games from 1939 to early 1941, I'm arriving to the conclusion that it's better for the Axis players to save oil than to use them as extra ressources whenever possible. Otherwise they are always limited in actions (usually no more ships available and only few planes with fuel). Indeed saving 2 oil points a turn prevents to build -- say -- 1 fighter every 2 turns, but it is still better than to build this fighter and not being able to use it after 2 months because it has no more oil. Of course a solution is to invade Middle-East but the Allied side usually doesn't agree [;)].

A related question: will the USSR be short in oil when at war with Germany (like France, so it would be a good strategy to save oil before the war) or not (like CW)? Of course it is still possible to obtain oil from the West side if there are not too much Axis submarines in the North.

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Julien

[Klydon]

I am no oil expert at all and have not played with it yet, but some observations from the cheap seats:

First, I think I like the 5th edition version where it cost oil to build certain units. (IE, when producing a armor unit, at least one of the build points had to have used oil). It is a lot easier imo than trying to deal with all the reorg headaches.

For the French, it appears the easy way to fix their early oil issues is for the CW to give them some. This appears relatively easy to set up to run from the Caribbean, Central Atlantic, Cape St Vincent and then on to France via Spanish rail.

I believe neutrals can only save a limited amount of oil, so there won't be this huge stockpile of Russian oil. They do produce 10 on their own, so they should be fine from the oil standpoint of view, although if they are saving oil, they can use regular resources to replace what oil they are saving since they have more industry than resources.

For the Axis, it appears to me that you would want to consider building the synth plants.

[Walker84]

I wouldn't consider myself an expert either but here's my 2 cents as well.

I've started my first global war with both oil and synth oil options on. Hell, the war was driven by resource shortages - hence the German's drive to the Caucausus and the Japanese invasion of DEI - so I felt I couldn't really play with this important aspect of the war abstracted.

The question then becomes, how good is the game engine at handling the treatment of oil resources from a transportation and a production perspective? Although I'm still learning the intricacies, the answer so far seems to be pretty good. One will probably need to play the game at least once through before hoping to master the whole production side fully as it is one of the most complex aspects.

An absolute must is to optimise your convoy network at the start of the game as I have found it quite onerous and slow to make adjustments when realising that I have surplus CPs in some sea area and insufficient in others. Also think about who you might want to trade with in future and make your plans accordingly. I found that when I gifted a CW resource to the French in Jan 1940 suddenly I was short of CPs for other production needs so lost a factory for a turn or two.

I've tried also to conserve oil by not reorganising every unit unless I really need it for the following turn. e.g. Japanese cruisers are still sitting disorganised after I used them for escort duties in 1939. I believe that if you can restrict use to 0.4 of an oil unit then you do not actually expend anything.

I have also learned how to save oil points. e.g. the CW can save the Persian oil to the Kuwait major port if it has 1 CP in the Gulf to transport it.

Although I try to glean all that I need from the rules, its also a case of reading other AARs and then doing it yourself by trial and error!

[paulderynck]

Germany and Japan should always maintain a reserve of at least 4 saved oil. Two for Italy. Even so Italy needs to take into account her fleet, air and HQ usages, sometimes keeping ships and NAV at sea rather than RTBing them all. Yes you lose 10% on searches from the turn before, but you can save a lot of oil expenditure over the game. Always try to take advantage of using the "free" .45 re-org oil every turn (i.e. up to .45 usage will not consume a full oil as long as you actually have the one extra oil available). And don't disrupt HQs without a very good reason.

If Germany does not do well in Barb, then she must build the Synths. In many games she eventually will anyway.

Once Japan takes the NEI oil she needs to keep it garrisoned - especially a white print unit in Palembang. An early loss of the NEI oil to invasion means doom for Japan.

France can avoid difficulties by storing her oil from Iraq in Syria. The next turn it can be used for re-org. Rinse and repeat. France also needs to be careful with oil dependent units, similar to Italy.

Even if Russia gets driven back to the Urals, she should try to maintain a line in the Caucasus and protect Baku and Tiflis. If the Germans get there, then that will end the German oil problems, plus they get to align Turkey. And also Russia will start having oil problems. For set-up Russia should put at least one CP in the Caspian to insure against having the rail links to the Caucasus interrupted.

The CW should try and save extra oil in the UK - to use to make up a production shortfall if the turn ends badly for her CP chains.

In general, oil is an inhibition to the Axis and will only cause the Allies problems if the Russians lose the Caucasus, and/or the Axis manages to align Persia and Iraq, and/or the CW CP chains get mangled several turns in a row.

As such, the choice of using or not using oil has a large effect on play balance and would be first choice to try and balance a game between players of varying experience. However, I find the oil rule simulates an historical and critical strategic consideration for the Axis and am personally loathe not to use it.

[WarHunter]

For the USA and USSR, i like to save 1 oil a turn, no matter what. When war comes, its really nice to see all that oil is reserve.

For Japan, building the Synthetic oil plant is very wise. Sooner is better.

Oil for Production or Front-line use, is a hard choice which the option brings to the game. Currently I'll wait and have fun without the option.
The game is fun with or without it.

[Courtenay]

I agree about saving the Russian oil, but once I get resources to western allies, I ship the oil to Canada and save it there. The British might need it.

I regard oil and food in flames as complementary. Both are options that help the Allies. I prefer to use the oil rule and not food in flames; however, if my opponent insisted on not using oil, then I would insist on food in flames to keep the production balance more even. I would never use both, and would always like to use one.

Until France falls, the British can ship the Iraq oil to Egypt, and then use it there. Similarly, the Burmese oil can be stored in Burma, and used there; alternatively, after resources to China, you can just ship it to China.

[paulderynck]

I think you meant the Persian oil can go to Egypt.

[jusi]

Thanks guys for your replies. synthesizing your answers, I get:
- save oil and keep reserve
- build the synth oil plant
- keep your fleet at sea whenever possible
- use trade agreements to share oil between your MP
- disrupt (and use) your oil-costing unit with care

I think I already did this, but I can (and have to) optimize each item to get better results [:'(]. To be tried in my next game.

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Julien