@thedog Here is a quick pair of games. Axis solos played about 10 rounds
I used sorta the same openers that I'd been using before just to see what sort of impact it would have.
Typically what I had been doing with this map for solo was to sorta crib the computer's standard line, and then push it towards something more extreme just by trying to trade a bit more efficiently. So for example on G1 trying to keep all my attacks at least 80% odds to the attacker by battle calc guestimate (ideally 90-100%) but then usually one swingy coin flip type battles that's maybe more 50/50. So where the potential payoff in TUV trade seems like it could be worthwhile. These would mainly be like Air attacks vs ships (where attacker prevails vs draw might come down to just the opening round flak.) The logic is basically still standard A&A for me here, so try to find the battle that has the greatest potential to swing my way. I think I might be hamstringing myself a bit by focusing mainly on hit points over attack/defense power, but it's just an instinct that's very hard to break. Sometimes power I think is the more important metric here, since some unit types can just carve defend carving infantry to ribbons if they're not supported by other unit types. Or if they're advancing or defending in the wrong sort of terrain. Still my old habits tell me that in the grand scheme the player with more cheap fodder will still come out ahead round to round if they focus on the entry level fodder unit. In this case trained infantry, infantry elite, destroyers... trying to push the stack limit there first, then backing that stack with the heavier hitters once they're already pushing the limit.
As usual I started with Italy, since it always takes me a while to get back into the swing of things.
Italian opener: Based on the current set up, went with an air attack into sz 92 using all the fighter aircraft in range. Our computer German teammates rolled rather poorly vs the Brits so figured we could pick up their slack. I couldn't see much downside to trying it. It's just under 50% to the attacker, only 40/10 Draw/or defender prevails so pretty likely to sink the Brits there I figure. If somehow they go nuts with the flak in the first round then it's pretty swingy I suppose, but with normal results it seems pretty reliable.
The computer will sometimes send some ships, but I'm not sure if maybe all air is sometimes better and just let the sub escape? Surviving fighters just land in Algeria somewhere probably. Or maybe with some ships that can reach at m3 to make sure, leaving a destroyer blocker behind to stall the Brits perhaps, but then any of those ships committed are going to die in the exchange by rounds end.
Then I thought about it again and using only the fighters might be better, cause then we're only facing the flak. This is slightly better than a coin toss for attacker to prevail, just depending on that first round flak vs hits, but if it swings attacker it's not too bad in the TUV trade.
On the Soviet front, the Italian starting fighter sink the Soviet Black Sea fleet and then land at Varna to pressure the British in the Eastern Med. Maybe leaving a bomber of two behind in Ukraine for bunker duty and the early fighters since they can't reach that far. In the central Med I tried to take Malta, so pulling off the Libyan VC to try and make that happen and sacrificing a destroyer to block.
Main shuck-shuck would be sz 96 A into Benghazi for all the production coming over from Italy via Naples Sicily whatever can reach. Though Italy is somewhat limited in what they can spam because their maintenance is pretty tight and income sorta low.
I think how big Italy can go depends on the computer's G1 defense of Chernigov. If they lose that fight, Soviets can advance on central Ukraine, and things can get pretty rough for Italians Or similarly if Computer Germany takes say Rostov and Stalingrad, then Italy is collecting a bit lighter and has to stretch their logistics to get to the next nearest factory pocket. Sometimes I'd think Egypt would be the same like if Computer G blitzes to take the primo tiles hehe. That set us up pretty well and we tried to keep the pressure on methodically picking apart the British in the Middle East. Our first big setback came after taking Baku, where we jumped up to take Stalingrad to cover the computer German advance the next turn, but then lost the VC in Caucasus to Brit counter.
Second big setback came when the Soviets destroyed our main stack at Stalingrad, killing all 3 of our generals and causing a general panic. Thankfully we had pressed to take Baghdad so it wasn't an all out route, but definitely stalled us up. USA started to have an impact vs France, so we had repositioned to start covering Gibraltar. Wasn't sure if Germany would have the juice to hold in West Africa otherwise. Little awkward to get a pocket fleet back over their after focusing so much on the Eastern Med, but once we got there it seemed to do the trick. I think we definitely made a couple goofs in the mid game there, but managed an alright recovery and eventually crept on India so pretty entertaining.
2025-3-9-1941-Global-Command-Decision_Italy_round_10.tsvg
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1riQz6zg7IuvjCNw0zF-Z5mW62sL1ghCb/view?usp=sharing
After getting my bearings a bit, thought I'd try G. I feared that transport capacity boost might make my job a bit too easy on the water, but it didn't end up quite as pronounced as I thought. I did ultimately Sea Lion but it took me a while to get into position. Americans managed some alright drops vs Italy, as we pretty much bailed on them in North Africa to pursue our main line vs the Soviets hehe.
Here it was on round 10, Axis Victory when Computer Japan nabbed the Chinese VC to clinch it. USA actually went for Rome before the round closed, but I think it had already been TKO on Japan's turn, or pretty sure that's when I got the popup. In any case, I think we'd pretty much won, though Allies were making an alright press across the Med. Here was the final with a quick screen there.
2025-3-9-1941-Global-Command-Decision_Germany_round_10.tsvg
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KCwxeYr3ZMoRBftBMTmw0c8NGN7D9O0V/view?usp=sharing
Next out I'll give it a whirl with Japan
1941 Global Command Decision - Official Thread
