ORIGINAL: Dabrion
ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets
The changes to Belgium and the Netherlands have a major effect on game play.
The change is not as dramatic as is it seems. It only affects a FR first, because FR cannot garrison the Ardennes while Belgium is neutral. I would even say the weakness in that part of the Front is historical.
For the usualy Ne -> Be -> FR steam roller this change is rather irrelevant, given GE unit density and quality.
The Belgian hex that has been given to the Netherlands means that the Germans can take out the Netherlands (both ports) in Rain or Snow with certainty and zero losses. Then they are set up to take out Belgium without needing the Para unit. That can be done in Rain and Snow too. Come the first turn of Fine weather in Mar/Apr (or May/June) the French are under serious attack in the Belgian Clear terrain.
That is a substantial change.
Using the old map, the Germans have to either wait for the Para to take out both Amsterdam and Rotterdam, or risk a naval invasion by a division, or be lucky with the turn ending before the Brits can land units in Rotterdam. Without Rotterdam, the Germans have to wait for the Para to arrive in Mar/Apr to take out Belgium with confidence - otherwise they risk the Allies holding Brussels and 4 Allied Corps supporting Belgium.
This looks to my eye like the the changes in the Lowlands lets the Axis gain at least an impulse, and possibly a full turn for their attack on France.
