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After capturing Gibraltar through Spain, Germany has a whole lot of territory to defend from a sea borne invasion. I think it would be more correct if Portugal was neutral to start, forcing the Allies to pay for invading her. There should then be some limits placed on Gibraltar concerning units it can hold, and how it can be attacked.

Any thought on this?

Royson58

Portugal *is* neutral in all scenario's.

I dont see a particular reason to limit the amount of Axis or Allied units Gibraltar can hold; if the defender stacks it mile-high, he is bound to be weak somewhere else.

Also, if we start with stack limits on Gibr, then all the other smaller territories should have
limits as well: Malta, Crimea, the Pacific Islands...where does it end?
Quite a job to play balance as well.

-von Schmidt

ORIGINAL: von_Schmidt

Also, if we start with stack limits on Gibr, then all the other smaller territories should have
limits as well: Malta, Crimea, the Pacific Islands...where does it end?

The actual area occupied by each and every island or spot like Gibraltar is known. The historical ammount of troops held in each of these spaces is known as well. If there was a requirement to introduce stack limits (reasonable thing if you ask me), it could have been done, without any damage to the play balance.


Drax

the times I've held gibraltor as axis never really affected the ensuing allied invasions of 1944 and later. sure it is benefical before 1943 to hold this, but later all those troops in gibraltor are a waste. with german population limits what they are, its extremely hard for the axis to hold portugal, spain, western france and the netherlands against an allied invasion. once one of those places has been taken away, all the troops in gibraltor have been bypassed.

It is funny to me that just a month ago one of the preferred strategies as the Axis was to take Gibraltar. How many players see this in their games now?

After I tried it a couple of times I decided that Gibraltar really doesn't matter that much as the Allies, as long as you get whatever fleet you want into the Med before Gibraltar is taken. Going through the Suez seems to work fine as the Western Allies. It does hinder Western Allied invasions a bit in the early game, since there isn't nearly as much flexibility (having to go around Africa). But as time goes on it will become harder and harder to defend those additional areas. It is hard enough to defend against a human WA player even without adding Spain and Gibraltar to the mix.

Anyway, the purpose of my post is to see how many invasions of Gibraltar are happening now, and whether Axis players still like this strategy.

For some reason (bug, maybe?), Portugal was a dark gray, just like most German territories, before I had even invaded Spain, and never touched Portugal.

Regards,
Royson58

For some reason (bug, maybe?), Portugal was a dark gray, just like most German territories, before I had even invaded Spain, and never touched Portugal.

did you invade any islands or the piece of land just below gibraltor? those are portugese.

Anyway, the purpose of my post is to see how many invasions of Gibraltar are happening now, and whether Axis players still like this strategy.

personally I thinks its still a valid strat. I like to trap the allies in the med and then invade england without having to worry about their fleet. its tough for the allies, because they have to make a decision to abandone or fortify the med on turn 2.

ORIGINAL: aletoledo

For some reason (bug, maybe?), Portugal was a dark gray, just like most German territories, before I had even invaded Spain, and never touched Portugal.

did you invade any islands or the piece of land just below gibraltor? those are portugese.

Sounds like the allies (AI?) took the Portugese Azores; the island group west of Portugal. This will cause P. to join the Axis, turning the color dark grey.
You can also check by looking at the status of Portugese colonies in southern Africa (Angola?).

-von Schmidt

von_Schmidt, you're correct!

I hadn't noticed that the Allies had taken the Azores.

Thanks!

--Royson58--