[WarInEur] More on France 1940

[Hansen]

I like the political point "wave" idea. Hopefully you can model it as X
event, then political points per cycle as follows Y1Max, Y1 Min, Y2Max, Y2
Min, Y3Max, Y3Min,... So the amount can vary over time (potentially going to
zero). The Max and Min numbers for the cycle give the range. The Axis player
can know what his min is, but not what his political max is. This can
reflect the more minor political maneuvering (getting the British ambassador
blotto) that isn't in the game. As an example, the fall of France might be
coded as max 11, min 9 to give a tight distribution around the standard 10.

I think that with the changing unit strength for France as an option, the
blitzkrieg of France is likely to be doable again. Now on to the BEF. I
agree that a check on the BEF at the fall of France makes a reasonable
"trigger". As per Kent, we may need to make it in France an in a hex number
1900 or higher (aka Northern France). Of course thinking of gaming this, the
Axis has an incentive to pin, isolate and destroy UK units while not
touching Paris so that the bonus will be achieved even if the BEF was
committed. So maybe the answer is that starting with the invasion of
Belgium, a count is made of UK troops in France on border of Belgium or in
Belgium. This forces the UK to commit the troops to the front lines. After
that first turn of violation, the UK has to have the troops in hexes 1900 or
higher (or maybe 2200, make it a variable if you can). This forces the UK to
be in the North of France. Now you keep track of the UK forces in France per
turn for X number of turns. A separate count of UK divisions flipped in
combat is kept. The sum of UK units in France and UK divisions flipped is
then averaged over the 16 turns from the invasion of Belgium or invasion of
Belgium to the fall of France (which ever occurs first). If the BEF
commitment is less than 10 on any turn, add 1 PP for every unit less than
10. This forces the UK to commit to France, commit to the front lines (at
least initially) and keep up the commitment. The Axis may target destroying
UK troops, but it is for the normal reason of destroying the opponents army,
not to game the political points.

I suppose an even simpler version would be the count of UK troops in hexes
1900 or higher at the fall of Paris and number of UK troops flipped since
the invasion of Belgium. That would achieve the same goal and be less
coding.

Now as to the PP, From Warsaw to Paris gets you from the initial 38 PP to 59
PP (Poland +3, Denmark +1, Holland +1, Belgium +1, Paris +5, France +10).
Norway and Yugoslavia add 2 more potential points. Entering Egypt another 3
to get you to 64. Greece could be 1 more for 65. So for the UK to give 1 PP
per UK division below 10 not committed to France, he doesn't have to commit
much to avoid the dreaded 75 PP. So I agree with Kent that something more
than PP should be used as an incentive.

First is a chance for France to join the Axis or for Vichy to join the Axis
(almost as good as France but less troops). There will also need to be some
provision for reinforcements for France/Vichy. The outcome can be somewhat
random and dependant on the number of UK troops committed. If either
happens, then let the French navy/merchant fleet be added to give the
Germans unlimited numbers of troops in North Africa. Also let the Germans
ship RR to North Africa from major port to major port. Also make the Eastern
and Western med partially open to the Axis. Units shipped in the middle Med
are normal. Into the Eastern or Western Med have a chance of getting through
unscathed, flipping or being destroyed and the extraordinary shipping
ability ceases. Likewise for supplying the ports in Eastern or Western Med,
with the supply in full, supply blocked and supply blocked and the
extraordinary shipping in the Eastern/Western Med ceases. Now the Germans
have the potential for some real campaigning in NA with the cooperation of
the French. The cooperation with the French coming from feeling abandoned by
the British.

As to the Battle of Britain, perhaps designating a period of time from the
fall of France in which if the Germans gain air superiority or air supremacy
X number of turns, they get a PP bonus. If the allies get superiority or
supremacy Y times then PP bonuses are deducted. This would promote an "air
war" which would be pretty meaningless in geographical terms, but would have
the political impact.  The side that fails to fight the air war (or fights
and loses) takes an impact on PP.