Slitherine

Being rather "green" to this game, I for the first time decides to play the Allies, and decided to be offensive from the start. While Germany crushed Poland I decided to attack on the western front. This seemed a good strategy and we are now writing January 1942 and I am still able to fend of the germans and Paris is still a free city. The French is thus very much involved in the war and have fully mobilized a while ago. Brussel fell in October 1941 and I guess that marks the final end to Blitzkrieg!

When Russia joined the Allies in October 41 Germany attacked imidiately even though most forces was consentrated in the west. As Russia I tried to take Berlin, but that was too optimistic it seemed. I now try to capture Krakow and create a defensive line on Polish soil. The Russian forces are in general too weak at the moment, but since I just upgraded my armour forces, it might turn the tide.

I might add that I did not give either parties any advantage in the setup, but realize now that even the AI is very good, it still can't beet the human brain so playing as the Allies, one should perhaps give the Axis at least one level advantage.

What are your experiences folks? Any comments are much appreciated.

I agree that the Allies are overpowered, but disagree that the AI is very good. You wouldn't have done nearly so well against a human opponent.

I tend to agree that the allies are overpowered. Against the AI, I've nerfed them somewhat by playing with oil consumption turned off.

The single player game is interesting only insofar as a tutorial for multiplayer. I also agree that the AI is terrible. That being said, one might think I don't like the game. Nothing could be further from the truth. The interface is one of the best, if not the best, for a grand strategy European theater simulation of WWII. Hands down better than any of its predecessors. And the AI, while not good, is no better or worse that others in its class.

It's best to play the game as Axis than Allies. Poor as it is, the AI does a better job on defense than offense.

Using your example, I've never lost France to the Axis...ever. What always happens is that the Germans keep pounding away at my Allied defenses till Russia enters the war. With massive superiority in troops, partly due to the fact that the Germans continue to pound at France while doing absolutely nothing to support the Eastern front, the Russians easily overwhelm the Germans and take Berlin. The game is usually over by mid 1942.