Axis and Allies 1914 Series: Video 4, Germany

[@AChannelThatDoesNothing]

Note on the Ruhr: It is not necessarily dangerous for the Allies to invade the Ruhr. Several times I found that, due to Germany's laser focus on the Eastern Front, the Allies sometimes moved into the Ruhr, overextending themselves and allowing a painful counterattack by German forces. Keep an eye out for when a full scale (that means no 1-2 infantry walk-ins, I mean most of the stack) Allied invasion of the Ruhr would devastate Germany's economy and when it would be a brilliant opportunity for the German war effort. This applies to both the Central Powers and the Allies.

[@michaelowen7267]

Thanks very much for the new video! I always look forward to them. They are of very high quality and are much appreciated. (y)

[@victoryfirst06]

Great video again! I appreciate how you focus on clarity, conciseness, and coming to the point, unlike other people who are just rambling the entire video. Very appreciated! Small question: what do you think about an early France push into Switzerland (turn 4-ish)? I tested this in my solo game and this move combined with the Italians moving into Tyrolia looks very deadly. Have you ever come this across in your games?

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

Thanks! Regarding the French push on or around turn 4ish - I've seen a little of this, yes. I can't say it made things more or less interesting than they already are on the west front. An Italian push into Tyrolia can be dicey in the sense that whatever was placed in Vienna as a purchase on the previous turn is now able to attack the Italians immediately the turn following. A savvy Austrian should be able to make a decent fight of that. Of course the French and Germans will have a say in this move as well...

[@perryhastings590]

I have a question for AaA 1914 but i wasnt able to post it on those videos. If you capture a territory(for example, if germany captures a russian territory) would germany have to leave an inf on the captured russia territory to keep it or would it still be germany's if he took all his people and moved them off and russia didnt have any people there?

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

It remains German until recaptured by Russia or another Entente power. You do not need to leave a piece on the territory in order to retain control.

[@perryhastings590]

@thegoodcaptain1217 thank you very much! The rulebook isn't super clear on that since I think there's a line that says you have to leave a person in territories but I think it's referring to contested territories if the RR happens

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

@@perryhastings590 right. That’s true and a non-intuitive rule. Contested territories after the revolution require the presence of at least one CP infantry at all times. A bit strange.

[@PMMagro]

I have seen the Germans go into u-boats, more or less some uboats early and many infantry (apart from a few early fighters). It was surprisngly effective (no all out bringing the US in off course). The British/French/US got very worried gving the OIttomans espcially breathing room. Also it did affect Italy now being VERY concerend about Austria pushing in or able to push into Italy. The US did build a navy to fix it buit that did slow US and UK down help > France.

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

There's just no money in the water though and the Entente have the balance of the board economy. They also have more boats at start so the German player would have quite an uphill climb with this strategy. I can't imagine how even between inexperienced players this didn't end in an Entente win.

[@Sooper-Pumpkin]

What do you think about moving the German Togoland Infantry to Gold Coast because in my experience the France player if the German infantry is in Gold Coast rarely attacks and even if the do they're at a disadvantage and if they do attack to a draw the German infantry can still run away to Togoland and if they attack again using Low Luck logic that French infantry should be dead with a 1/3 chance the German infantry remains to walk in Nigeria the following turn and all of that is assuming the French attack at all

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

The only reason I don't do this is the off chance that all the Germans roll well in Africa. If/when that happens, then the Germans are able to consolidate their forces and be a longer lasting threat. Otherwise, no problem with this move at all. A detail without much of a difference in my opinion.

[@buttersurge8047]

15:30 well said 🙏

[@Einheit091]

Thank you verry much like always! Just a short question since you mentioned Swiss in the later stages of the game: Do the Netherlands have any relevance in comparison to Swiss?

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

Great question and I deliberated on spending time discussing that territory (and Denmark). However, in my experience, the vast majority of games see no invasion of either country. In general, this is because they are located away from the middle of the board where the balance of the fighting seems to occur. The simplified explanation for this is that if either army went to the north edge like that, the opposing army can own the resource rich areas in the middle and gain an economic advantage. There is a heavy incentive for both sides to stay towards the middle of the board on the west front.

[@AChannelThatDoesNothing]

@@thegoodcaptain1217 Yeah, I only seen those two countries being invaded towards the end when the Central Powers already effectively won.

[@jacobkline2542]

Hi I couldn’t find the rule in the rule book about creating a hostile sea zone without having to engage the enemy navy. I probably just missed it but do you remember what section of the rules that is in? Great video by the way!

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

First sentence on page 20 under Sea Combat: "When you have warships (not transports) in a sea zone containing enemy ships, you can elect to attack them or not attack them."

[@Beltayn7272]

Isnt it 42 potential IPCs? 35 to start, 3 for poland, 2 for belgium, and 1 each in nigeria and belgian congo?

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

Correct. Otherwise, if the Russians stack Poland, it's 39 as per the example at 24:23.

[@Beltayn7272]

@@thegoodcaptain1217 I was forgetting we had some holdover IPCs.

[@declanrussell1291]

As usual in axis and allies(and real life for that matter) Germany has to put the team on their back.

[@Partgaminguys]

uh did u use ottoman troops in france instead of actual French units????

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

@@Partgaminguys no

[@Partgaminguys]

​@@thegoodcaptain1217​ sry for asking but it kinda looks like ottoman troops tho, nice vid

[@eazyanimation]

Question, can Germany invade the Uk from SZ4?

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

SZ 4 boarders Scotland. Scotland can be invaded by Germany so yeah.

[@eazyanimation]

@@thegoodcaptain1217 is this a strategy that has been explored before? Or is it just crazy? 🤣

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

@@eazyanimation not sure what the strategy would be. I’ve seen it done maybe once in 70 games - the circumstance was that no entente units were within range and the sz was open so Scotland went down for two turns before it was recaptured.

[@mkultrafondler9159]

@@thegoodcaptain1217 Is there ever a viable strategy in navally invading the UK or is it just doomed to be recaptured immediately? I am aware it is unorthodox because it would not allow the centrals victory even if they captured Moscow also due to the Paris requirement, but no London would mean no British troops being deployed in Europe until it is liberated. I guess this would balance out though since there would just be more troops deploying in India and swamping the Turks. Have you ever seen a game where this was successful?

[@thegoodcaptain1217]

@@mkultrafondler9159 the “failure to launch” aspect here is why I feel I’ve never seen a Sealion in 1914. The UK is an economic powerhouse in this game and air units are not available to influence naval battles. Once Germany spams transports, the UK (or even just the French fleet) should be able to spar it off with a naval or land units purchase. I’ve never seen the UK be invaded, let alone have their capital captured. I don’t expect to ever see it. If it happens, I suspect it was through gross negligence.