Thoughts about AAE40

[Emperor_Taiki]

@Imperious:

why not start the game in July 1940

Then we could not get a french army.

Yah, well there is the real reason :-D. I agree, I have desired French infantry for sometime. But from a gameplay point of veiw July 1940 is a better starting point if the battle of France is too be scripted.

I understand what your saying that the Fall of France does not directly inluence Russia like the accualy negotiaious between Molotov and Ribbentrop. But these are just dipolmats and what ever there decide is a prodcut the military and political envirment, that being one where France has fallen and the Soveit are not getting the long Franco-German war they wished. I think it is reasonable to say that the Nazi’s succses caused the deterioration of Soveit-German ties. Once the pact was unnecsisary to protect Germany fronm a two front war(or so Hitler thought) the Germans began to get more agressive in there diplomacy and eventually invaded. In order to allow for balance in the game I think the logic must folloe that if Germany had wated any longer to build up for an invasion of the USSR, the USSR would have struck first or at least intensily increased there war readyness to a point where in A&A they can collect income and attack German peices.

If France and Germnay were in a long war, then the USSR would have little reason to increase its defence or attack Germany. Once France falls, it takes Russia three turns to realize what they must do. Its not complelely supportable, but with only two politcal forces(the allies and the axis) it should capture the feeling and timing and should allow for the game desginers to create a more dynamic Battle of France.

[Adlertag]

Larry will never make a rule that says “Russia cant attack Germany before Turn 5” like in the Xeno games. ( This is not a complaint, its a praise actually). Larry’s way of solving this is to let Russia start with a lot of infantry only ( good defence but poor attack performance) and also a lot of the forces set up in far east.

Then Germany would face the exactely same decisions they faced in the real war. Attack France or Russia first ? They cant attack Russia before France are finished off, even if Russia start with tiny army, so the game will be kind of scripted anyway, but it is up to  the player to make his final choice.

[Emperor_Taiki]

@Adlertag:

Larry will never make a rule that says “Russia cant attack Germany before Turn 5” like in the Xeno games. ( This is not a complaint, its a praise actually). Larry’s way of solving this is to let Russia start with a lot of infantry only ( good defence but poor attack performance) and also a lot of the forces set up in far east.

What our your sources on this? I understand the concept, but it still runs into the problem of if the Battle of France isnt over in one turn, Germany loses, which causes the battle of France to be scripted. I aslo think that if Russia was able to control his forces from the start of the game they would just pull there infantry off the front lines so they were not wiped in Barbarossa, of course if the Germans do not kill large numbers of Russians on their first turn of attacking Russia, they would have no chance of winning.

There really is no reason the battle of France needs to be scripted if France can decide to become an pro-axis neutral at the end of a full round, only then starting the countdown to Russia’s entry.

[Variable]

@Emperor_Taiki:

@Adlertag:

Larry will never make a rule that says “Russia cant attack Germany before Turn 5” like in the Xeno games. ( This is not a complaint, its a praise actually). Larry’s way of solving this is to let Russia start with a lot of infantry only ( good defence but poor attack performance) and also a lot of the forces set up in far east.

What our your sources on this? I understand the concept, but it still runs into the problem of if the Battle of France isnt over in one turn, Germany loses, which causes the battle of France to be scripted. I aslo think that if Russia was able to control his forces from the start of the game they would just pull there infantry off the front lines so they were not wiped in Barbarossa, of course if the Germans do not kill large numbers of Russians on their first turn of attacking Russia, they would have no chance of winning.

Would it be possible to rebalance this by starting with a stronger German setup? That way the Germans could effectively choose to attack France or Russia. By giving Germany X pieces to setup in any German territory, they could begin the game with four choices: attack France, attack Russia, attack both, or build up stronger defenses. Either way, it keeps Germany from weakening itself to the point of automatically losing. The extra equipment would have to be held to land units though, so you don’t end up with some huge German armada in the English Channel.

[Emperor_Taiki]

Once Germany was at war with France and England( as it is at the start of the game) I have never heard any reason why it would be advisible for Germany attack Russia first, so that should generally not be a practicle possiblity in this game.

What I am talking about is creating a less scripted battle within the Battle of France, I want to decide how many forces are needed to take holland and whether my armor and mech inf should blitz through belgium or the ardennes( if there is to be no ardennes territory this could be simulated by blitzing through belgium and then deciding which French territory to attack, be it Calais, Central France or Burgendy.) it should be possible( not likely) that France lasts to the second turn  and without Germany being doomed to defeat.

[Adlertag]

This game are being designed by the best brains America has raised, and playtestet during several years by the top players from the A&A community. It will be good.

[Emperor_Taiki]

@Adlertag:

It will be good.

Amen brother! I am particularly am excited about how it sounds like tanks, mech inf, tac bombers, and fighters are going to support each other in order to give the game a true blitzkrieg feel.

but i think the game would be even better if there was a proper Battle of France.

dont you argee?

[Variable]

Either way, I can say this. AAE has become one of my favorites due to its unique rules. AAP is close, but a bit complex for newbies. This new pair of games definitely has the potential to revolutionize A&A as we know it. It will give the seasoned player something to really enjoy and  the beginner something to look forward to. Bravo to Larry and the crew :-D

[LuckyDay]

@Imperious:

I would love the wipe out france on G1 in every game. I can claim at least some satisfaction if i lose, knowing i took out france. To remove this is to take fun from the game.

totally worth the whole purchase price!

@Emperor_Taiki:

Yah, well there is the real reason :-D. I agree, I have desired French infantry for sometime.

so has france.  too biting?  ok, how about a question about what the piece would look like?  Can they really make a piece with the shoulder dropping a rifle and running away?

[LuckyDay]

i like the idea of Germany being able to choose to turn first on Russia instead of France/UK and I do not believe that those two would have so readily jumped to help Russia, though they would already be committed to helping Poland.

I’m less inclined to connect the fall of France to the entry of Russia into the war and think that the ‘not before turn X’ is probably the best route available.  I’ve been trying to work out a few territories that Stalin would have linked to his sphere of influence dreams that if ‘number B’ of them were taken or attacked by Germany would awake Stalin to the reality that Hitler would indeed at some point come after him, but it seems that really without this or Barbarossa that Stalin was totally duped by Hitler, much like the alleged ‘Calais’ landings that later crippled Hitler to defend France.

[Emperor_Taiki]

@LuckyDay:

i like the idea of Germany being able to choose to turn first on Russia instead of France/UK and I do not believe that those two would have so readily jumped to help Russia, though they would already be committed to helping Poland.
 
I’m less inclined to connect the fall of France to the entry of Russia into the war and think that the ‘not before turn X’ is probably the best route available.

Well its an indirect conextion that I am making. If Germany is fighting france then there is less reason the soveits have to fear Germany. Its a way of making the battle of france variable but not dooming Germany.

Anyways, it dosn’t matter anymore. It sounds like the game is starting June 5th(the day after the Germans finally took dunkirk) so the first part of the battle of France is already over and France(while they still have a large potion of theire orignal force) has very few options . I asked Larry about it and although his answer was not the clearest it sounds like he is going a similar route too what Adlertag(bump) suggested he would. IL posted Mr. Harris’s full responce in the AA1942 section.

[Shakespeare]

Will the UK have enuff forces to reinforce France on the 1st turn if Germany attacks the SU first?

[johnnymarr]

Will the UK have enuff forces to reinforce France on the 1st turn if Germany attacks the SU first?

LH
When you look at the English Channel and contemplate an attack on this island nation, you will see exactly what the Germans saw… a totally depleted British land force. The only thing that stands between you and capturing London is the RAF