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ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

Green for Default, Blue for Override.

Once France falls, the Germans will be able to attack the convoys in the Bay of Biscay with submarines based in Brest and naval air units along the coast. That means the North Atlantic convoy route should be shifted to the Faeroes Gap (as happened historically). Making that happen can pose a serious problem for the Commonwealth. The convoys can't simply move from one sea area to another, so they first have to return to port - where they arrive disorganized. You either have to have a complete replacement fleet already in port to sail out into the Faeroes Gap, or you need to reorganize all the convoys, or you suffer serious losses to your convoys in the Bay of Biscay, or you tear your hair out with no resources getting through to the United Kingdom for a turn because there are no convoys in either the Bay of Biscay or the Faeroes Gap.

For that reason, some players prefer to start with some convoys in the Faeroes Gap and others in the Bay of Biscay. The downside of having convoys in the Faeroes Gap before France falls, is that they are more vulnerable to German submarines coming through the North Sea.

Like many decisions in WIF, there are arguments for both viewpoints and you get to "pick your choose".

All these risk versus reward decisions, with no pat answers, seems to add a "richness" that I've yet to experience in my wargaming experiences. Winston Churchill was quoted as saying that the greatest threat to the survival of Britain in WW2 was from German u-boats. My impression is that MWiF (WiF) models this, and the Battle of the Atlantic, at both a detailed tactical and strategic level. I look forward to seeing how all this plays out and what grave mistakes I'm sure to make.

By the way, isn't setting up CW convoys in the Faeroes Gap to start with "exploiting" future knowledge that the CW wouldn't have, or certainly couldn't conceive happening? That is, the fall of France. I know ... we all exploit this knowledge in playing strategic WW2 games. [:)]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

The Game is in Sep/Oct Allied impulse #2, ie the Allies first impulse. France and the CW have just declared war on German, and the Germans are surprised. Thus they can not intercept. See picture:

ORIGINAL: rkr1958
OK, so that's what going on! It didn't occur to me that the Germans could be surprised by a DOW from the CW and French after they (the Germans) started the war. So on the first allied impulse of the GW scenario, both French and RAF bombers get a free go at bombing production and oil targets in Germany. I need to add that on my list of tactics when I play the allies.

15. SURPRISE
Major powers and minor countries are surprised when a major power declares war on them, even if they are already at war with someone else. However, they are not surprised by a major power or minor country they are currently at war with. Furthermore, they are not surprised by land or aircraft units attacking from, or flying over, hexes controlled by a major power or minor country at war with them last impulse.

The effects of being surprised last only for that impulse (the “surprise impulse”).

Clarification: Controlled minors (and their units) can both surprise and be surprised; for this rule they are treated the same as their controlling major power.

ORIGINAL: composer99

They also get a free go (with land-based air) at German naval units if any are in range; which is why it's usually a good idea, when setting up as Germany, to count the range of CW and French aircraft (including extended range if you're playing with that option) and set up the amphib and transport units out of range.

ORIGINAL: composer99

As paulderynck notes, the aligned minor units ought to be included in the pact garrison.

You may wish to verify by adding up the garrison of the German-national units. If that garrison comes up 4 short, then you're good. If not, there's a problem.

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: composer99

As paulderynck notes, the aligned minor units ought to be included in the pact garrison.

You may wish to verify by adding up the garrison of the German-national units. If that garrison comes up 4 short, then you're good. If not, there's a problem.

They seem to add in if I'm counting correctly. And, with respect to counting I'd like to make sure I have it right.

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: composer99

As paulderynck notes, the aligned minor units ought to be included in the pact garrison.

You may wish to verify by adding up the garrison of the German-national units. If that garrison comes up 4 short, then you're good. If not, there's a problem.

They seem to add in if I'm counting correctly. And, with respect to counting I'd like to make sure I have it right.

When counting if a unit is within 3 hexes of a "common border", can that count cross a all sea hexside? Unless I'm missing something (which is entirely possible), that's the only way I can my count to match the form.

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

Back to what, I think, I'm learning. With respect to oil, the game seems to be teaching me to take advantage of 0.4 or less fractional oil points when reorganizing. What I mean for example is that if reorganizing everything would cost 2.5 oil points then this will round off to 3 and result in wasting a half of oil point. In that case, I would decide not to reorganize a lesser important unit (say a CA), which then would cost 2.4 oil points total and round down to 2 oil points saving me a full oil point. That is, choosing to not reorganize a unit that cost 0.1 points could save me a full point. Also, if for countries like China and the Soviet Union (prewar) if you keep the reorganization cost to 0.4 or less, then you expend no oil points.