Finally learning the oil rules, some advice needed

[alexvand]

I'm finally playing a game with the oil rules. (Solitaire while I learn the rules.)

For which major powers is it worthwhile to build their Synth plants? (Axis seems obvious, but Italy too?)

How early do you build them. I know it's worth more to build them earlier, but is it worth dropping everything to build them as early as possible?

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: alex_van_d

I'm finally playing a game with the oil rules. (Solitaire while I learn the rules.)

For which major powers is it worthwhile to build their Synth plants? (Axis seems obvious, but Italy too?)

How early do you build them. I know it's worth more to build them earlier, but is it worth dropping everything to build them as early as possible?

Instead of "dropping everything", one option is to save build points for 1 or 2 turns in advance of building the synthetic oil plant (or factory) - so gearing doesn't get messed up.

Fr example, save 2 BPs for each of 2 turns and then commit 4 more BPs to build an oil plant.

[paulderynck]

ORIGINAL: alex_van_d

I'm finally playing a game with the oil rules. (Solitaire while I learn the rules.)

For which major powers is it worthwhile to build their Synth plants? (Axis seems obvious, but Italy too?)

How early do you build them. I know it's worth more to build them earlier, but is it worth dropping everything to build them as early as possible?

Japan - absolutely mandatory you build them prior to going to war with USA.

Germany - it depends. If going for a Close the Med or a Sitzkrieg strategy, then build them early. Otherwise wait and see if your Barb looks likely to get to the Caucasus. If that fails, then you MUST build them asap.

Italy - not worth it to spend 10 BPs for the one in Libya which will immediately become a target for the Allies to either take or cut off from the homeland. You must rely on your German friends. Italy really can't afford the production hit to build Synths.

None of the Allies really need to build them. I have seen the CW build one when facing an all-out BoA, in order to supplement production if the CPs get murdered, but I'm not convinced it is cost effective - I personally think not.

[alexvand]

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

ORIGINAL: alex_van_d

I'm finally playing a game with the oil rules. (Solitaire while I learn the rules.)

For which major powers is it worthwhile to build their Synth plants? (Axis seems obvious, but Italy too?)

How early do you build them. I know it's worth more to build them earlier, but is it worth dropping everything to build them as early as possible?

Instead of "dropping everything", one option is to save build points for 1 or 2 turns in advance of building the synthetic oil plant (or factory) - so gearing doesn't get messed up.

Fr example, save 2 BPs for each of 2 turns and then commit 4 more BPs to build an oil plant.

That's what I was thinking of, I just know you get more use out of it the earlier you build it. But those early build points are very valuable in terms of getting units on the board to act earlier. I'm just wondering what people's perspectives on how early to build these things.

[Centuur]

I always build the Japanese SYNTH early 1941, so that they arrive in time when the war with the US starts. If you build them earlier, you lose precious buildpoints which have to be used in China.

The German ones are a bit more difficult. I don't tend to build them early when going for a Sitzkrieg or a Close the Med. I wait until early 1941 for the first one. After that, it depends on how things are progressing on the map. If the Axis can go for Iraq (but that depends on what the USSR is doing too), I wouldn't go for another one before I know for sure that that's not going to work anymore.

[Aranthus]

As Italy, unless you are planning to not be at war with the CW for years, I would not build synth plants. This is because the first one you build is really the Libyan oil fields (cost 10 BP). and once you go to war with the CW, it will likely be of no use to you. After you build that, you would then have to spend 8 BP more for the synth plant that you can put in Italy. A total of 18 BP for one usable oil is too steep a price. Japan and Germany should build all of the synth plants as early as possible. As Shannon has suggested, saving two or three BP a turn is a good way to build the plants quickly without sacrificing other production.