Just out of curioustity - what Major Power do YOU prefer to play and why?

[terje439]

I am just curious what Major Power people tend to play, why they play that Major Power, and I would also love an input on how you rate the countries in difficulty to play. (wow another of my awful sentences [:D])

I prefer to play Germany or Japan, why? Because they are the underdog I guess, and Italy is too weak to do anything of its own imho.
How do I rate the countries in difficulty (easiest to hardest):

1. Germany (probably because I have played it so much)
2. USSR (ok, defending against Germany is hard, but that is something you hopefully can plan for during 39 and 40 before being attacked)
3. USA (maybe not ideal for a noob, but still not too difficult)
4. Italy (you need help from your Axis partner to be successful)
5. Commonwealth (too widespread for my liking)

France and China is not listed, as I(/we) usually play with those countries under control of USSR/USA

[MButtazoni]

1. Japan - because they have ships to strike hard and fast
2. USA - because they have ships to win the game
3. CW - because they need ships to survive

all the other ground-pounder countries don't matter. [:D]

[YohanTM2]

ORIGINAL: MButtazoni

1. Japan - because they have ships to strike hard and fast
2. USA - because they have ships to win the game
3. CW - because they need ships to survive

all the other ground-pounder countries don't matter. [:D]

I think I have your strategy down for when we play!

[terje439]

I will trade you Yamatao for an SS panzer unit any time [8D]

[Mziln]

(1) Commonwealth - Because of all the Ships and friendly allies you have. It lets you have somthing to do each turn. [:)]

(2) Russia - What Russia decides to do effects everyone. You have plenty of options. Like invading Persia (when the weather clears) for the 4 oil resources. [8D] <= Persian sunglasses.

(3) U.S.A. - Because The U.S.A. is the lord of production. [&o]

(4) Germany - Because no one ever lets me play Germany as a first, second, or third choice. [:@]

(5) Japan - Because its the only one left (J/K). Because of all the Ships. There is not as much Land action as the others but plenty of Naval action.

[:D] (China and France are just ways to amuse the U.S.A. player, as Italy is for Germany) [:D]

[meyerg]

(1) Germany: you are in the thick of it the entire war. Most underrated skill a good German needs = playing defense 43 on.

(2) CW: you are in the thick of it on the side of the good guys. Most underrated CW skill = caution. Let the convoys go or a few Germans on the island, and life is unpleasant.

(3) Russia: Lots of cheap units and land to give up in droves. Most underrated Russian skill = the ability to roll low to end the turn in the summer!!!!!

greg

[terje439]

Lol I forgot Japan...that is what u get for writing msgs in the middle of the night [;)]

Sorry I would place Japan as my number 3, between USSR and USA, why I have Japan as number 3? It is fun to play, but you are almost guarranteed a 3 front war [:@]

[Irish Guards]

Well, the nations are so varied .... wildly different inherent capabilities. Hmmmmm....
I prefer a 2 player Germany/Italian w a Jap player, difficult to win ... yes. Ground Pounder Nations have to control seas to stall allies.

The spread is Axis w GER (ground pounder) Japs and Italians as Sea powers.
Allies, Rus, China and France as 1/4 pounders. USA, UK as sea powers.

Difficulty is just how well the other side plays, and style .... but in order

Ger, UK, Jap, Rus, USA, all depends on the other players.
So much depends on production and losses. There is timing involved as the ground pounders become sea powers.

The rest is history ....!!!!

[coregames]

1. I love the Commonwealth the most. They are often forced to fight alone against the Axis (unless you count China) for a year or more of game time, and this makes it the most challenging power I think.

2. Italy (or Japan/Italy) is also tremendous fun. The Italians are the X-factor for the Axis; in every Global War campaign I've been in, when the Italians did well, the Axis won, and when the Italians were mismanaged, the Allies crushed.

3. Russia is a blast, especially if the Germans don't go for a '41 Barbarossa, but even if they do, defending is an enjoyable challenge.

Germany and the U.S. are just too powerful early and late to make them as much fun to play I think, but any WiF challenge is still a fun one.

[vonpaul]

I prefer to play land powers
1. Germany
2. USSR
3. USA
4. CW
5. Japan
6. Italy
But they are all fun to play and i have played them all sometime in the past. Germany is the best fun ohhh a SS panzer unit or a me262 decisions decisions!

[Froonp]

I used to prefer naval powers (Japan, CW, the USA and Italy), but now that I'm playing Germany in our new campaign, I must say that it is a unique experience and I love this. Love playing Germany, love making the game go the way I've decided (Barbarossa, Sea Lion), love to have the others reacting to what I'm up to, love to produce that much of good units and have a use to them so early in the game !!!

But I still think that this is quite an incomplete way of playing WiF FE because there are vast arrays of land (i.e. maps) where you will never have to look at, and a lot of WiF FE 'things' that you will never do. I even think that it could be considered as boring late in the game, but this I cannot tell because we are in May 1941.

I think that the most complete way to play WiF FE is playing the USA or Japan, because they both have a decent share of land play, and a decent share of naval and air play. The USA is nice also for the sheer power, especially in the Pacific with those P-38s and those Essexes, but playing the USA is also a pain because of all the administrative things you have to do : Entering the war, managing the TRSs & AMPHs to be able to ship your armies overseas and invade your enemies. Playing Japan is extraordinary because of all the choices you have at start, and also because it is a pleasure to plan your defense and to ambush and fight the American Fleet in your own terms .

Playing the CW can also be seen as 'having a complete experience of WiF FE', but it is not the reason I love playing the CW. I love playing the CW because IMO it is the major power that leads the Allies, it is the CW that decide how to react to the Axis, and what to do next. I think that an Allied team must have a strong CW player to have chances of winning the game, and being a strong CW player is much more demanding that being a strong German or Russian player. And moreover, the CW is active and interesting to play all along the campaign, it is never boring.

They are all interesting in my opinion in fact, there's only Russia that I don't like, because it is very much restricted to Russia and land actions.

Well, these were my opinions

Cheers !

Patrice

[Froonp]

2. Italy (or Japan/Italy) is also tremendous fun. The Italians are the X-factor for the Axis; in every Global War campaign I've been in, when the Italians did well, the Axis won, and when the Italians were mismanaged, the Allies crushed.

I must say that I pretty much agree with this remark.
I think that Italy is the key factor in the Axis Team, and as "Coregames", each time I saw Italy doing well, the Axis did well, and each time it was left on its own, the Axis did not well.
And to go farther, I think that the game is often win if you consider your side as a Team, and if you coordinate your efforts as if in a Team, playing colaborative and communicative.
It can be seen as obvious, especially in the Allies where the USA and the CW have no other options that playing as a team, but it is even true between Japan & Germany, because Germany's actions and successes & failures will impact on Japan in a way or another.

Cheers !

[Irish Guards]

FRANCE

Irish Guards

[ElvisDaKing]

I only played twice WiF but it was realy great fun - I am patiently waiting for the release of this jewel and restrain my willingness to ask when it will be available :

I will play CW - It s the most challenging side.
Standing alone against the powerful axis machine - Have to combine sea and land ops - Fighting in Europe, Africa, Asia...

[Mziln]

[8D] Click here for link to download CWiF demo. Courtisy of Froonp (A.k.a. Patrice) [8D]

[YohanTM2]

ORIGINAL: Irish Guards

FRANCE

Irish Guards

Careful, he is known to attack with France...