Designer Notes
British Columbia: This is a fun SC, three different power and three fleets can reach Columbia in the first year. If two powers bounce in Man or NPO then the third can sneak in or all three units are around Columbia then it comes down to a bounce or an alliance based support.
Russia, Britain, USA: A strange triangle with the combo very pausible and have different strength
Russia/Britain: A powerful allaince between the two of them, their is 9 units. With Tor-NWT and Vla-NPO (and even Mos-Sib!) can kill the USA early in the game with Tor S Sib-BrC. Alliance between the two can really start cutting up the Southern part of the board.
USA/Russia: An interesting alliance that can kill Britain, and even impact areas far away as Africa.
USA/Britain: A strong naval alliance that take out France and Russia with ease, if Britain and USA can agree to a DMZ and have Toronto fleet go into Europe, Britain now has all 4 units to bear on France. USA goes into the East and attack Russia and Turkey while Britain also attack Russia and start surrounding France.
Russia and Vlad: Russia has three options with F Vlad, first is Vlad-NPO which gives Russia a shot at SanF or BrC, he could combine Vlad-Sib and Mos-Cau ensuring Asia for Russia or perhaps a daring Vlad-ArO and then ArO-WAO and then would be in a great diplomatic position to auction off that fleet or even grab far away SCs, can you say Russia in Morrocco in 02'!
Central Europe: Several changes were made to Central Europe, now Germany is THE power that can control Belgium but now easily indentified as a "leader" and can be more often ganged apon due his power. Austria has now two coast spaces and can build a navy faster while having a flexible position as in Classic including the ability to attack Germany effectively and go for Switzerland. Italy has stronger reasons to go into France, for Morrocco and Switzerland, weakening France. France being the ultimate pwoer of Classic is weaken by the USA backdoor and Italy but has more nuetrals around him.
USA: Has an interesting position to deal with, Canada as a whole is a great prize and has to be in either friendly or American hands at some point. Canada however has Russia and Britain also. Mexico is a gimme SC but the rest is will be hard to aquire 1st year. The strength USA has is that it can effect both sides of the board and with some movement can shift pressure from one side of the board to another.