General Billote

"But of course we must evacuate...If only to get revenge on Vichy traitors when they least expect it." The trick is to evacuate with an HQ and five units ( the command limit, preferably the air unit, an armor unit, two corps 'Algerian and Mid-East and an army.) A pretty effective force under the command of a general, especially after building up experience in N.Africa. If you use the foriegn legions as two of the units your over-all defence isn't comprised too much. After all, your going to fall very quickly to any experienced axis player, might as well have an effective surviving force. Viva La France!

Loved this post. I've said it before, I'll say it again, This game really shines on hot-seat. So much better to see the expression on the enemy's face (especially a friend) when you sink his battleship!

Funny Sea Wolf- Was just watching that great Gregory Peck movie today...The one where he plays the Big Mac. "Duty, Honor,Country"... Great line at the end. "Do you think Eisenhower will make a good president?" " Yes I do....(Sigh) He was the best clerk I ever had"

(John) they've got plenty of disgusting cuisine without borrowing from the French...Take on some Fish Pie just for an opener...then you can travel up to Scotland if you'd like some Hagas (Sp?)...Don't even try to eat a sandwich with out pickle on it....Very British Relish...And then of course British Bacon which is about an inch thick.....YUCK...and cook your fried eggs in six inches of oil...great idea...

Point well taken Brian. This is a game for history buffs and a wonderful way to meet people with similar interests. Some of the oldest hands on this board routinely say "I will play anybody". And I've heard more than one seasoned player report that the newb they were playing played so strangely that they were have having a hard time beating them! If this game and community was all about being King of the Mountain we would all be playing King of the Mountain. [ December 22, 2002, 12:08 AM: Message edited by: General Billote ]

(Compassion) - I guess I'll have to wait and find out when someone tries it on me!

Cheers mate, You are the best!

LOL

" I too was sent on a late-war mission to Switzerland with a revolver in my pocket!"

'No more trash talking from you young man....You think I'm this cute, ugly alien.....but you've never seen me pissed off. I can make this finger do all kinds of things I haven't told you about and some of them aren't pretty...So mind your manners around here....Or I'm going have to introduce you to my cousin Frank....And you don't want to meet Frank....I can tell you that much." [ December 21, 2002, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: General Billote ]

Well put Mr Compassion...That's the rub isn't it...sinking the whole British Navy..But if the Germans have done that, Why not invade a defenceless Britian? there are a few stategies that take advantage of game mechanics. One is a 16 airfleet Nazi strategy that is unbeatable according to many.. I suppose that is an example of something that is truly gamey. Certainly "That's not fair...you invaded Canada and that's impossible" doesn't fall into that catagory.

(Compassion) But I don't play like that so "gamey" is for sore losers. I do hate that 16 air fleet strategy but that's not gamey, it's cheating besides if some tries to invade Canada on my watch they are going to get Bitch slapped. Someone must outline this "Early Canadian Strategy" it sounds like suicide to me. [ December 21, 2002, 09:10 PM: Message edited by: General Billote ]

I agree with Brian in some measure. John and I have discussed this many times. If you are allowed to do it within Hubert's rules than a strategy is not gamey. "gamey" is a word for sore losers. By all means people should protect their countries. But that doesn't mean that the Atlantic situation shouldn't be imroved to reflect some realism. Consider the panic a few U-boats off the East-Coast caused and the overwhelming American response. You can't launch a surprise attack by sea against America...Hawaii is one thing...N.Y.C is another. We would have been waiting...Why am I even even discussing this?...The whole thing is insane.LOL [ December 21, 2002, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: General Billote ]

(Brian) You may be right...I can beat the computer handily on +2 with either side but I'm not ready to take on the Elite human players. Still it's very hard to invade England when Britian uses the "coastal corp defense strategy". 6.0 is whole new ballgame in the med because you can't sucker punch the Italian fleet. I definately have some homework to do. I'm just to busy with work to do it!!! I won't even attempt to take you on until I take on JJ. Still I mostly play with my friends here in Chicago and my brother ( we've played these games together for over ten years so he's no slouch). Truth be said I'm not a big fan of the PBM or Lan (it takes to long). I like the head to head competition and taunting ( and beer drinking) that goes on during a Hot-Seat Match.( I'm old school like that) I would imagine that if there was a hot-seat tourney with timed turns that different players would come out on top. [ December 21, 2002, 08:28 PM: Message edited by: General Billote ]

That F-80 is mucho cool looking....

With you all the way. If Russia gets reinforced than certainly the same should be true for massively large countries like the U.S and Canada which aren't even fully represented on the map. And canadian units should be able to operate under British command

There would have to be a little more to the naval game to really draw more sea dogs in. I know that you for one (John) find aspects of the naval game extremely frustrating. Especially the inability of german raidiers to get through the straits of Norway.

When I play vs Human I always try to escape with and HQ, the Airforce unit and a couple armies... But everyone knows I find the free french sorta romantic. Those units if used properly are useful in deterring an Axis invasion of Britian. Let's face it against a good Axis player you need all the help you can get. France is going to fall no matter what...the question for me is can I buy enough time to get some useful units out. It also allows you to attack Algieria and Iraq with French Troops. Freeing up Brit's for Norway. The French HQ ( Billote of course)actually fights pretty well after gaining some experience ( on par with the Italians for sure) but you've got to get it out of France. I look at the French as sort of a B.E.F with teeth. Without an Hq the Free French forces might as well be garrisions( especially in Africa).

Interesting, There seems to be some concensus on this issue. I also agree with those who have said ( on other threads) that Canadian Units should function as "under command" when in range of a British HQ. Perhaps the Vichy issue could be an option. If the Axis is using the option then when France falls they are asked a question about whether to create Vichy France. If the Axis annexes all of France they should definately be penalized with Eastern European War entry but what should happen to Vichy Armies and Navies? Do they just disappear? [ December 21, 2002, 07:09 PM: Message edited by: General Billote ]

I concur....These rules are way out of wack....I wan't more Troops, I want more Tanks, I want planes and Aircraft carriers... And for those Vichy Traitors....not one Lousy Corp. But seriously while we're sorta on the subject. It bothers me that the Free French troops don't benefit from Tech gains in AT Weapons. French troops are supplied by the British so this makes no sense to me. I'm not saying the French should benefit from any other Tech, just the ground troops. There is no reason why French Armies should be obsolete by the end of the war. It's not historical. In reality the Free French were much better equipped and trained by the time France was liberated than they were when war broke out.

I'm always amazed when I hear of a true war game store still open anywhere! We had one where I grew up in Montclair NJ in the 80's. It was a really extensive nerdy one too. I bought 3'rd Reich there but had a pretty hard time getting my friends to play with me. And then the dawn of the PC age dawned....and the store went poof into thin air as I imagine most of them did.

Thanks Carl...fantastic stuff as always...( This will be pictures or another entry from the French embassy in America.)

I would very much like to see them too...

What I would like to see, and this goes for all units, is the ability to buy units at ANY tech level you have achieved. Just because you can buy tech level 5 Jets or Tanks doesn't mean you should not have the option of buying lower tech less expensive stuff. A country in a pinch could throw lower quality, less expensive troops onto the field and the high tech units would be truly special like they were in the war. With this system you would have to pay to upgrade units as well.

"Alright...alright"..."No need to get bent out of shape"" I'm looking at my notes as we speak. It late summer 1940..." The British situation: "the danger of an invasion of Britian is over."" Their fleet is sitting pretty with the loss of only a few cruisers."" all their carriers are in the med with the idea of gaining experience for their pilots by pounding Italian positions."" They have additional fighter squadrons in Gibraltor and Malta."" But they are not very effective because of the IC situation." "The fleet is extremely beat up and will take months to re-fit."" Monty is trying to save enough to set up a proper HQ"" research is picking up across the board" The German situation: " The 10'th 14'th and 8'th army alongg with two panzer groups have gone to italy to "assist" the Italians after the embarrassment of Bari". There are Air units in Southern France and in Albania keeping the British fleet from having total freedom of movement. Rundstedt and Bock are in Italy..."WHOOOOOO HAAAAA!!!!! Bock just loves those Italian girls!!!!!!" " Agreements with Romania and Hungry are almost completed" The Russians: Are about to annex the Caucauses. Romania and Hungry are about to enter into the Axis.. The Italians:" Have a half strengh Battleship and a few subs that ran to the safety of Nazi air cover." "The assault on Vichy Algeria is quite nasty and protracted....With French troops under myself being used and Britian's resources stretched to the max." " the German are easily running arms in at night through the beat up fleets and their own mine fields. I will finish the entry on the assault of Algiers tonight. [ December 21, 2002, 02:05 AM: Message edited by: General Billote ]