MWiF Global War Hot-Seat (AAR)

[Red Prince]

The US Entry Pools (before choosing any options):

[Red Prince]

And the options available to be chosen. Note that there was not quite enough time to get the fleet to Pearl.

[composer99]

I'd say pick the Intern CV Béarn option first. If it doesn't generate tension you can still pick one more of each of the Ge/It and Japan options. I recommend Resources to Western Allies and Resources to China.

[Red Prince]

So you see, I don't agree with my previous posters at all, since I'm worried about a French conquest, followed by an invasion of Spain.
Of course, if you're convinced that you're able to get a large enough garrison on the USSR-German border, things are different. However, count you're land units and count those of the Russians and you'll find that it isn't that easy to start a Barbarossa 1940...

In return, I may end up in a position where I don't agree with my own previous post; in order to do this, the USSR has to completely abandon the Japanese border. This might make it favorable to DOW the USSR in 1940, with little US Entry effect (55% chance of a 1 or less being added, if a chit is drawn).

Remember, too, that I intend to begin 1940 with the series of events: Italy and Germany DOW Greece (to get Bulgaria aligned), and then the USSR demands Bessarabia, and the claim is allowed. This last is to test the movement of Rumanian units as a full Axis Ally. It isn't the right choice for either side (DOW of Greece, demand Bessarabia) if this were a "real" game, but it was part of the planned test, so I'm going to do it anyway. That adds a good handful of Rumanian units to the German totals. It might even be enough to push things over the top. I'll have to count up at the beginning of next turn to see where things stand.

Anyway, Germany is going to do its best to build out its MIL pool, just to get those units in the game quickly. If Germany can do things right, they may be able to break the Pact before M/J '40. Normally, that would mean instant DOW on the USSR, but it isn't absolutely necessary. Of course, if Germany wants Finland involved, they better plan to do it that way. Otherwise, the Soviets might DOW first just to keep Finland Neutral.

[Centuur]

The gear up can't be chosen, since the tension isn't high enough (requires 11 tension, and you've only got 7...).

I would embargo Japan and (if succesful) also freeze there assets. It is deadly to occur in 1939. No hamburgers for Mc Donalds in Tokyo... [:D]

Since France is such a mess, the Bearn has to be captured first, since you don't want a Vichy appearing with the CV not in Metropolitan France. So against Germany, I would first choose the capture of the Bearn and than go for the resources to the Western allies (if the first one is succesful). Than next turn, it's gear up time...

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: composer99

I'd say pick the Intern CV Béarn option first. If it doesn't generate tension you can still pick one more of each of the Ge/It and Japan options. I recommend Resources to Western Allies and Resources to China.

How important is the Bearn, really?

The reason I ask is that if it does generate a chit getting moved, it's only one. If I choose one for each of the pools and get a chit moved, I'll be in position to Gear Up Production at the end of J/F '40 !!!

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

The gear up can't be chosen, since the tension isn't high enough (requires 11 tension, and you've only got 7...).

I would embargo Japan and (if succesful) also freeze there assets. It is deadly to occur in 1939. No hamburgers for Mc Donalds in Tokyo... [:D]

Since France is such a mess, the Bearn has to be captured first, since you don't want a Vichy appearing with the CV not in Metropolitan France. So against Germany, I would first choose the capture of the Bearn and than go for the resources to the Western allies (if the first one is succesful). Than next turn, it's gear up time...

Two things:

1. The Bearn can return to base and be in Metro-France this turn
2. Choosing the Bearn is an "All" option, not just a Ge/It option

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

So you see, I don't agree with my previous posters at all, since I'm worried about a French conquest, followed by an invasion of Spain.
Of course, if you're convinced that you're able to get a large enough garrison on the USSR-German border, things are different. However, count you're land units and count those of the Russians and you'll find that it isn't that easy to start a Barbarossa 1940...

In return, I may end up in a position where I don't agree with my own previous post; in order to do this, the USSR has to completely abandon the Japanese border. This might make it favorable to DOW the USSR in 1940, with little US Entry effect (55% chance of a 1 or less being added, if a chit is drawn).

Remember, too, that I intend to begin 1940 with the series of events: Italy and Germany DOW Greece (to get Bulgaria aligned), and then the USSR demands Bessarabia, and the claim is allowed. This last is to test the movement of Rumanian units as a full Axis Ally. It isn't the right choice for either side (DOW of Greece, demand Bessarabia) if this were a "real" game, but it was part of the planned test, so I'm going to do it anyway. That adds a good handful of Rumanian units to the German totals. It might even be enough to push things over the top. I'll have to count up at the beginning of next turn to see where things stand.

Anyway, Germany is going to do its best to build out its MIL pool, just to get those units in the game quickly. If Germany can do things right, they may be able to break the Pact before M/J '40. Normally, that would mean instant DOW on the USSR, but it isn't absolutely necessary. Of course, if Germany wants Finland involved, they better plan to do it that way. Otherwise, the Soviets might DOW first just to keep Finland Neutral.

Don't forget: if Japan DOW's the USSR they have to get into position first. The HQ's are all in China. Also, the USSR gets reserve units in Siberia if the Japanese attack. Sure, this isn't nice, but a 1940 Barbarossa is even worse. The USSR is than looking at at least 2 years of total war against him, before the USA/CW can help him against the Euroaxis. So get those units out of Siberia into Europe and see what the Japanese will do. If he shifts his attention to the USSR, China is going to survive. Also, you can time you're railmoves to make sure you don't advertise this move. It takes 4 impulses to take 4 units to Europe. No way should you allow any Barbarossa to start in the summer turns of 1940. It's deadly and will mean a allied loss of the war. Keep that German army on the border, doing nothing. You can always decide on not defending the resources in Siberia and start you're defense there around Chita/Irkutsk.
Build Pilots for the planes, INF and CAV now and you'll probably be able to keep the Germans sitting at the border until 1941.
Did you make you're count of units (and take into account that you'll need a garrison in France). Even with all the MIL on the board, it will take the Germans far to long to get enough garrison points. In S/O 1940 they might be getting close, but a good USSR building program, together with stripping Persia and Siberia of almost all units, should be enough. If Japan DOW's? Fine: start building cheap MIL to counter the Germans...
The Japanese shouldn't concern the Russians. The Germans are far more dangerous now...

[composer99]

Personally speaking, I always pick the new TRS option when interning the Bearn, so it's not critical.

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

ORIGINAL: Centuur

The gear up can't be chosen, since the tension isn't high enough (requires 11 tension, and you've only got 7...).

I would embargo Japan and (if succesful) also freeze there assets. It is deadly to occur in 1939. No hamburgers for Mc Donalds in Tokyo... [:D]

Since France is such a mess, the Bearn has to be captured first, since you don't want a Vichy appearing with the CV not in Metropolitan France. So against Germany, I would first choose the capture of the Bearn and than go for the resources to the Western allies (if the first one is succesful). Than next turn, it's gear up time...

Two things:

1. The Bearn can return to base and be in Metro-France this turn
2. Choosing the Bearn is an "All" option, not just a Ge/It option

Than return the Bearn to France (I would suggest Bayonne) and choose another option. If Vichy is created without the carrier being in France itself, you'll get a modifier of 2 on all rolls for the territories. This than means that if Vichy is created, Free France might not be created if all territories go Vichy. I don't know the exact percentage of the possibility that this might happen, but with the +2 it is very well possible and no longer a very small possibility.
You can of course always leave the capture of the Bearn until you really have to, but it isn't nice if you than want to gear up and are forced to choose the Bearn option to prevent this from happening. As Germany, I might be tempted to create Vichy to see what happens with the Free French if a French BB or CV isn't in France at that phase...

[micheljq]

About CV Bearn, if you pick the CV it can give the U.S. a not so bad CV when it enters the war with Japan.  Of course, we know U.S. have great carriers but the best ones appears later in the game and having the CV Bearn in 1942 can be helpful, there are not so many U.S. carriers present in 1942 and Japan has the advantage for a time being.

For the TRS option, of course it gives a TRS on map it's great, but it does not add to the force pool.

[Extraneous]

US entry option
4. Intern French CV - You can only choose this entry option if the French CV “Bearn” is on the map and Paris is Allied controlled.

You can either:
Remove the French CV from the game and put a random US TRS from the force pool on to the production circle to arrive as a reinforcement next turn; or
Put the French CV in the construction pool. It is a US unit for the rest of the game.

CV Béarn 1 attack, 7 defense, 1 anti-aircraft, move 4, range 3, yellow 2

CV Béarn allowable US aircraft:
1939 F3F, BF2C Goshawk, SBC-4 Helldiver
1940 F4F-3 Wildcat, TBD Devastator, SBC-4 Helldiver

Note: with the exception of the F4F-3 Wildcat and TBD Devastator all the aircraft are biplanes.


1x TRS 0 attack, 5 defense, 0 anti-aircraft, move 3, range 2
2x TRS 0 attack, 5 defense, 0 anti-aircraft, move 3, range 3
1x TRS 0 attack, 5 defense, 1 anti-aircraft, move 3, range 3

2x TRS 0 attack, 5 defense, 0 anti-aircraft, move 4, range 3
3x TRS 0 attack, 5 defense, 1 anti-aircraft, move 4, range 3
3x TRS 0 attack, 5 defense, 0 anti-aircraft, move 4, range 4
2x TRS 0 attack, 5 defense, 1 anti-aircraft, move 4, range 4

Subtract 2 from each die roll if any on-map French CVs or BBs are not currently in a Metropolitan French port.

If the US entry option 4. Intern French CV is chosen it becomes a US unit and is exempt from the –2 for not being in a Metropolitan French port just like sunken BB’s.

[paulderynck]

IMO it has more value to trade in for a TRS. Either way, it definitely needs to be done before France is Vichied. The sequence of play allows you to wait until an end of turn where the axis is in Paris.

OTOH you need to get a Tension chit in on both sides to have a hope of gearing up next turn, and the difference in production is worth more than one TRS. So if you pick options solely against one side you have the best chance of getting a Tension chit moved on each, but my gut feel is that the odds of success for gear-up next turn doing that are less than 50%.

So if it were my decision, I'd try for the two Tension chits and if it works, forget about the Bearn and gear-up next turn. If it doesn't work then intern the Bearn next turn.

[brian brian]

I like the slow CVs to sail out with the BB groups.....so I re-build the Bearn as the USA. It is also nice to have in Pearl Harbor if the Japanese actually do climb Mount Tanaka in your game...

[brian brian]

I just skimmed through all the combat results posted....the Germans are averaging 6.6 on land combat rolls with only a couple 3s and no 1s or 2s. With I forget how many impulses of Fine weather in the North Temerate in 1939, that is quite a winning combo of luck. So France may be due for some of that to swing their way.....

A good French move when things are falling apart is to rail move a factory to Bordeaux....or even more than one. In case the Germans decline Vichy...

with Defensive Shore Bombardment in play, the BEF should be perfectly safe sheltering under the cover of the Home Fleet anywhere on the coast. I'd send Wavell to Bordeaux too, though the Queens can't get that job done.

The Russians need to operate in Realpolitik mode in WiF and prioritize their threats. The real Stalin almost waited too long to bring the Siberian Army back to Russia...


The Japanese are averaging 6.4 on their land combat rolls, which are more critical for them as they attack fewer times. I've always thought that if you could collect the data points from a whole lot of games of WiF, you could easily correlate Japanese map position in China to their land combat dice result average...

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

I like the slow CVs to sail out with the BB groups.....so I re-build the Bearn as the USA. It is also nice to have in Pearl Harbor if the Japanese actually do climb Mount Tanaka in your game...

Warspite1

Tanaka? [;)]

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

IMO it has more value to trade in for a TRS. Either way, it definitely needs to be done before France is Vichied. The sequence of play allows you to wait until an end of turn where the axis is in Paris.

OTOH you need to get a Tension chit in on both sides to have a hope of gearing up next turn, and the difference in production is worth more than one TRS. So if you pick options solely against one side you have the best chance of getting a Tension chit moved on each, but my gut feel is that the odds of success for gear-up next turn doing that are less than 50%.

So if it were my decision, I'd try for the two Tension chits and if it works, forget about the Bearn and gear-up next turn. If it doesn't work then intern the Bearn next turn.

Paul, doesn't Paris need to be French-controlled in order to chose the Option 4 to intern the CV Bearn?

I do agree, though, that the two tension chits are probably more important than an extra CV or TRS on map at this point for the US.

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

I just skimmed through all the combat results posted....the Germans are averaging 6.6 on land combat rolls with only a couple 3s and no 1s or 2s. With I forget how many impulses of Fine weather in the North Temerate in 1939, that is quite a winning combo of luck. So France may be due for some of that to swing their way.....

A good French move when things are falling apart is to rail move a factory to Bordeaux....or even more than one. In case the Germans decline Vichy...

with Defensive Shore Bombardment in play, the BEF should be perfectly safe sheltering under the cover of the Home Fleet anywhere on the coast. I'd send Wavell to Bordeaux too, though the Queens can't get that job done.

The Russians need to operate in Realpolitik mode in WiF and prioritize their threats. The real Stalin almost waited too long to bring the Siberian Army back to Russia...


The Japanese are averaging 6.4 on their land combat rolls, which are more critical for them as they attack fewer times. I've always thought that if you could collect the data points from a whole lot of games of WiF, you could easily correlate Japanese map position in China to their land combat dice result average...

Hear is a look at the complete 1939 weather around the world:

[Red Prince]

Once again, the End of Turn report:

Each of the first 2 turns had about the average number of impulses, with 7 each. The Axis benefitted from good weather, but the Allies gained each time with a low die roll ending each turn early.

Here's what happened between the end of the 2nd turn and the beginning of the 3rd:

Entry Markers
USSR placed 1 marker on Defense (2161 [3])
Germany placed 2 markers on Offense (2600 [4], 980 [2])

US Entry
USA drew 1 marker to the Ge/It Entry Pool (1959 [3])
USA chooses Resources to Western Allies (Ge/It-6); USE-3 (1 chit moved, 4 of 4 [4])
USA chooses Resources to China (Ja-4); USE-2 (1 chit moved, 2 of 5 [1])

Ge/It Entry: 18
Ge/It Tension: 13
Chance of DOW: None
Ja Entry: 21
Ja Tension: 11
Chance of DOW: None

Pre-Build Scrapping
CW scrapped FTR, LND-3, 2 x CVP-1
Germany scrapped 2 x LND-3

Builds:
China (4): 2 x GARR
CW (13): 3 x MIL, 3 x CVP-1, 2 x CV(2nd)
France (4): 2 x MIL
USA (11): 1 x INF Division, 1 x GARR, 1 x AMPH(1st), 2 x CVP-1, 1 x Pilot
USSR (8): 2 x INF, 1 x Pilot
Germany (18): 1 x MTN Division, 2 x MIL, 1 x MECH Division, 1 x CV(1st), 1 x FTR-2, 1 x CVP-1, 2 x Pilot
Italy (4): 1 x SUB, 1 x NAV-3, 1 x CL(Repair)
Japan (12): 4 x MIL, 2 x CVP-0, 1 x CV(2nd), 1 x Pilot

J/F '40 Gearing Limits (above 1):
China: 3 x Infantry
CW: 4 x Infantry, 3 x Ship, 4 x Air
France: 3 x Infantry
USA: 3 x Infantry, 2 x Ship, 3 x Air, 2 x Pilot
USSR: 3 x Infantry, 2 x Pilot
Germany: 4 x Infantry, 2 x Armor, 2 x Ship, 3 x Air, 3 x Pilot
Italy: 2 x Ship, 2 x Submarine, 2 x Air
Japan: 5 x Infantry, 2 x Ship, 3 x Air, 2 x Pilot

Conquest:
Tunisia cc by Italy
Uganda cc by Italy

Factory Destruction:
Germany destroys Blue Factories in Lille (2), Lodz, Warsaw
Japan destroys Blue Factories in Canton, Shanghai

New Year Scrapping
CW scrapped LND-2, 2 x ASW Escort, 1 x GARR
France scrapped FTR-2, Replaces CL De Grasse with CVL De Grasse (Force Pool)
USSR scrapped SUB
Germany scrapped 2 x LND-3, does NOT replace BB Gneisenau
Italy scrapped 2 x CVP-1, TRS, CA Pisa

Reinforcements:
CW assigns Pilots to FTR, CVP
CW places its MIL in Glasgow, Cape Town, Auckland, FTR in London, CVP in Hull
France assigns Pilot to FTR
France places its MIL in Dakar, Bordeaux, GARR and FTR in Paris
USA places CV in Norfolk, GARR in SD
USSR assigns Pilot to LND
USSR places GARR and LND in Odessa
Germany assigns Pilots to FTR, LND
Germany places its MIL in Leipzig and Munich, LND in Stuttgart, FTR in Dusseldorf
Italy places BB in La Spezia
Japan places its MIL in Hiroshima, Nagoya, Seoul, Taihoku

Trade Agreements:
Germany modifies its Trade Agreement with Italy, adding 2 BP
France sets up Trade Agreement with China, sending 1 RP
USA sets up Trade Agreement with France, sending 1 Oil

Victory Totals
Axis: 24.5
Allies: 42.5

Initiative:
Axis wins the Initiative on a tie, 7-7

Turn 3 J/F '40

Axis wins the Initiative on a tie, 7-7
Axis chooses to move first in J/F '40
Axis Initiative +2

Things could have gone a little better for the Axis in '39, given the excellent weather (see Post #338). France would seem to be in rough shape, the CW has a decision to make regarding the BEF, and the USA got its wish -- the chance to Gear up at the start of 1940.

On the Axis side of things, they took their chances, and made some progress, but at a cost: US Entry is going to be earlier than anyone might have expected. Italy got Malta easily, but the Axis is not yet present in the Middle-East.

Here's what the world looks like at the start of the year 1940:

[Red Prince]

To start off 1940, Germany (and its friends) decided to risk taking the first impulse, figuring that even in bad weather, they'd still be able to do some damage and advance on Paris before the Allies could regroup. Turns out it was a bad risk.

The weather roll could not have been worse for the Axis. Not only did they get the worst possible weather, but it's highly likely they'll end up with the first and last impulse, which drops them back again on the Initiative track. Unless they want to spend their last O-chit, they won't even take Paris this turn (in all probability). That means the French 7-6 ARM will be coming into the game at the start of M/A '40. Germany isn't going to like that.

Here's what the Axis faces on New Year's Day: