Each unit may only be paired with one other unit at the same time.

no offence taken.

I too (as you can tell) like the long posts like just like I like the long games of A&A…BOTH show the kind of thought I like to put into things…but than again I’m a game geek as my wife so often and fondly calls me and something about the written word brings out the talker in me (I can’t’ figure that one out yet since I cant spell to save my life and if anything I’m under educated when compared to most people).  ANYWAY…

The points you make (as well as several others that have been posted on this topic) about “flow control” of the game do help.  I’m not saying they don’t.  When you get in a check out line at any store, the line that has “the best checker” is always the faster line in comparison to the other lines regardless of how many persons are in line and how many items they have. in other words how well, the assembly line works is as important to how many parts need to be put on and how complicated it is to put each part on.

The more Powers you have in a game, the more parts in the assembly line.  The minor powers are well…just that…minor parts in the assembly line and in the case of France they take seconds compared to the several minutes that the BIG powers take to do their turn.

However, when you lay out the game in an assembly line with each power (no matter how small or BIG they are) in a line (as the turn order is “out of the box”) that makes the LONGEST critical path possible.

If you can cut the game into two halves (Europe and Pacific) and make them into two separate critical paths, you can shorten the time it takes to play each round by half or more (depending on how many “BIG POWERS” there are in each assembly line). Its a the over lapping of critical path activities where ever possible that will save you the most time.

Example:
If Germany takes 15 minutes to do their turn
And if Russia takes 10 minutes to do their turn
And if Japan takes 15 minutes
UK takes 10 minutes
ANZAC takes 5
Italy takes 5
USA takes 10
China takes 2
France takes 1

Because everyone has to wait in line for each other in one assembly line that’s a critical path of 73 minutes per round (give or take several minutes for slow play or fast play).  Now a good checker could clear that check out line in maybe 70 minutes just buy their skill, so having a banker, a task master and a chess clock to help keep everyone moving through the assembly line can obviously help. But it can only do so much.

Now, multiply that by the number of rounds it takes to play the game of tug-o-war in the examples above at IF the shortest tug of war is 10 rounds, that’s a game that last…700 minutes or 11.66 hours.

Now, break the critical path into two assembly lines and it would look more like this.

Europe Pacific
Germany, 15 Japan 15
Russia, 10 UK, 5
UK, 5 ANZAC, 5
Italy, 5 USA, 5
USA, 5 China, 2
France, 1

41 minutes 32 minutes

You still have the 73 minutes to play “each round, but you did it in 41 minutes on one board and 32 minutes on another board.  You just shorted each round by 32 minutes (73 – 41 (the longest critical path) = 32 minutes).

Now, multiply that by the number of rounds it takes to play the game of tug-o-war in the examples above at IF the shortest tug of war is 10 rounds, that’s a game that last…410 minutes 6.8 hours.

Breaking the game into two critical paths IS more than possible in this EPIC game (IMO) because there really is that much of a separation between the two theaters of war in this game when compared to any games before it.

Players on the pacific should probably wait till the round on the Europe board is finished before starting another round (this will probably help with any “overlaps”). But in short, by having the tow half played at the same time (overlapping critical paths) you just shaved an approximate 4.86 hours off the game compared to the 30 minutes that you could shave off by keeping them in one critical path chain and having a good “system” to get everyone through the check out line faster.

BUT…while this idea has plenty of merit…like in construction, the more tasks you have running at the same time, the more crew you need. So having both half’s of the board being played at one time would require a minimum of 4 players compared to 2 players, so for some people, this idea just wont work because they don’t have the available players.

@Bruda_Iz:

@Razor:

I like to play US because I like to be the Arsenal of Democracy that kill the Fascist retards.

Sorry if my answer is too political.

Ban politics from this forum.

LOL Da Comrade!

Well, like to kill the communist ones too. Or better yet see the fascists and communists kill each other.  :-D

This would only apply to the global game. But after a side wins(for the people really really into this game and with tons of time in their gaming group) has anyone thought about taking it to the next step? Maybe a fight between the allied powers(Russia vs USA and the UK) or if the axis powers win its even better as it would be Japan vs Germany and Italy to see who can control the world? Now for the allied version you would have to set up some sort of  house rules as Russia more then likely won’t have a fleet(unless Germany and Italy are taken and then Russia builds a fleet to help with Japan). You could give both sides all the advanced tech and let them fight it out. I think it would be a fun war as both sides have massive incomes and more then likely the UK and the USA would have part of Germany…or at least have freed France and stationed units there.

Why do you think it’s better in Germany?

Well the boost helps alot if you want to attack Russia on G2 (G3) while they are “weak”.
(Need to build an IC in Romania or upgrade the one in Germany)
Let Italy taking Paris means (for me) to delay moving Italian troops to the Balkans and Cairo.

I like to conquor Arfica, but the sooner this is done the sooner the Italian forces can help in Europe.

For me africa ends at cario, the simple goal is to hold it and prepare for the US fleet to come. The logistics and troops for invading terriotories south of sahra didn´t´t pay off in IPC or strategic value. Only endless coasts you cannot defend.

Sandbagging means not playing your best - purposely weighing yourself down.  If you want t keep Sea Lion an option, Japan shouldn’t declare war till turn four (maybe three).

Understand it, thx for clarification

Thats true,
they are only candiates for joining the EU like Turkey for example…
I Know they Play qualification for European Soccer campionship,
but so does Israel and turkey too… Funny Thing ;)
Think it was intended that iceland counts to European “belonings,”
but it would Be Nixe if Krieghund could clearifiy this b/c imo this rule applies to the European and African (contnental) mainland…

@Wakrob:

As per my play with A&A1940 Europe, I feel Axis has it very rough in the Global version.

Our game-
G3 takes London after obliterating Brit navel presence in the first two turns.  I hadnt realized how many planes could get there.
Japan chooses not to go to war with anyone but Russia until J3.
Italians rolled bad in almost every engagement.

I think slow rolling Japan might have been a bad idea.  The money it prevented US from getting seemed more than offset by the easy Dutch/ANZAC National Obj bonus’ the allis got.  And Italians never had much luck, Cairo never fell.
But you’d think taking 35 IPC’s from London and pretty much locking UK out of the game on the western hemisphere should be an easy win.
Germany staled out in Russia after taking Leningrad.  US eventually staged 7 full transports, 2 full Carriers and a Battleship off Gibralter.  Germans 4 Fighters and 4 Tact Fighers guarding London decided to strike first at the fleet and failed.  US takes back London next turn easily.  Axis player concedes at 1:30am in the morning after about 7 turns.
German had held London for about 4 turns.

My opinion stands that Axis have it very hard in this A&A version.

Wak

ARGH!!!  You had the game man, you had it!  If Germany can knock England out of the war it is very difficult for the Allies to come back from it.  Attacking the US navy from England is difficult if not impossible since they can build twice the amount of IPCs you’re making every turn in the Atlantic.  You had 8 planes in England, all you had to do was shuck enough infantry there to defend it and you’re golden.  Let the Americans be the ones sinking tons of money into transports to retake England while you’re already sitting pretty with your own transports and tons of inf from W. Germany to reinforce.  With 8 planes as defense those 7 loaded transports would have had no chance if you’d had a stack of 10+ infantry present.

I’m guessing sorry-bitch-ass Italy was in danger so you felt you had to attack in the Atlantic to save them.  It was easier to me to defend against the US Gibraltar threat by reinforcing Italy with my own inf/tanks from W. Germany fora few turns until they get enough infantry made to hold the capital.

@fanofbond:

T Where as aa42 would, in my opinion leave me felling I had just chosen to play a lesser game

I wouldn’t say AA42 is a lesser game. It is definitely shorter and smaller but for people like me that don’t have the room to set up an AAG40 game, AA42 fills the niche nicely. I added in NAs, NOs, a 1941 setup (thanks to Hobbes), and research and development to AA42 to make it a little better, or more like Revised with AA50 rules. And AA42 does not have all of the errata or set up changes to balance the game. Also, at retail price it is about $150.00 cheaper than AAG40.

@LHoffman:

@spectre_04:

What is this new reduced Japan aircraft setup I keep hearing about???

I am pretty sure it just involves removing 6 planes from a number of different territories.

Actually, Japan loses 8 planes and a transport, while the Allies lose 7 planes and a transport(which would’ve been killed anyway in a J1 attack)

okay works for me…guess i need to read the rule book a little more, doubt it will happen in my games but if it does I know the rule now, thanks again.

Nice strategic move seeing you could buy the carrier to get your plane into the battle!  Will have to remember this one for my bag of tricks.

My buddy will sneak in that “retreat to any square you attacked from” move to get his Russian inf around the board if I flank them.

@Bodeacious:

30% of a Powers total IPC buys 1 roll for random tech (max 1 per turn). I might give that a go. Advantages small countries that may not be able to take advantage of the tech, and stops large powers from going crazy. No diminishing returns. Maybe yanks can’t purchase until at war.

All powers can buy research from round 1.

I agree, the rule is good because if you use tokens the USA should have every single tech in the game by round 20, and if they’re a little lucky could have all the ones they want by round 10.

@Fishmoto37:

First game of global after six rounds. We averaged about one hour for each round. Two players and first global for each of us. I am having trouble posting more than one photo with each post. So will make three posts for three photos of setup after six rounds.            Edit: If I use my sons digital SLR camera I cannot post even one photo.

@Fishmoto37:

@BJCard:

Interesting…

No british land forces in South Africa?  I tend to buy at least 2 ground forces down there every turn.

Soviet Battleship survived?  If I’m Germany I wouldn’t let it past denmark- hence it is going to probably die.

German Carrier in the med?  Interesting.  How does Italy have its Battleship?  Did you buy one or did the UK not do the Taranto raid?

I purchased the German carrier with two fighters to help Italy defend the Med. No the U.K. did not do the Taranto raid. On G1 took out one battleship, one cruiser, two destroyers and two transports of U.K. Also captured France, Normandy and Yugoslavia. Walked into Finland and Bulgaria on non-combat move. Had 71 IPCs for the second round. I do not know how much more aggressive I can be. I did not lose any planes on G1 but only had 1 sub left.

Allies surrendered after the 9th round as the Axis were out producing them in IPCs. Japan was the big dog with 70 IPCs. Germany and Italy combined had about 85 IPCs. Germany is a real challenge to play as they are really boxed in. Taking Africa seemed to be the key but Japan clearing the pacific of the U.S. fleet and starting to put pressure on the Soviets was a big help.

Thanks Larry for the best Axis and Allies game ever, keep up the good work! :-D

The other issue is that Japan in the global game has nothing to do until turn 3 either, so this could seriously backfire.

The Japanese player simply has to say “if you declare war on me it’s gonna cost you Siberia” and the Japanese make a serious push into Russia with all his planes and Russia is screwed.  Buys the Pacific allies some time but may cost you Russia.

@Funcioneta:

No, India cannot colect income for european territories, even if London has fallen

I know.  I just thought you meant it would be no fun to be “out of the game” or something.

“Taranto Raid” refers to the November 1940 assault by the United Kingdom on the Italian navy, docked at Taranto.

It’s often used on this forum to describe a first-turn attack by the UK on Italy’s Mediterranean fleet.

I was thinking (if players agree) to have Russia & Japan put 1-2 ipc’s in a NAP fund. Let it grow, and the player that breaks the agreement (with an actual attack) forfeits the NAP fund to the other player. Allow Russia to declare war in name only (no attack) so it can invade neutrals (which is a silly loop hole anyway, Russia should just be allowed to invade neutrals from the get go).

Make a list of things that would be a deal breaker, like Russia in China or UK Pac tt’s, or allied attacks on Jap from Russian land ect…

@tytyboogie:

question 1- when a submarine gets a hit on its surprise strike…does the defender still get there casualty shot?

Only if it’s a sub and the attacker has no destroyer.

@tytyboogie:

part2-can sea units(not destroyers)attack getting at least one shot on a sub before it submerges?

No.

@tytyboogie:

question2 -can UK collect the ten ipc bonus income for both europe’s side and pacific’s side?(as long as they meet requrements)?

NO IPCs go to the UK’s Europe economy.