@DoManMacgee A&A North Africa - OT ITA11.pdf Ok, I’m sending the last post about the first game played in the “Operation Torch” scenario (with the usual file that reproduces the situation on the battle table). The Axis players decided to sign a surrender at the beginning of Italy’s eleventh turn. Maybe the abandonment was a bit premature (they could have fought a bit longer until the capitulation of Tunis), but I think it is largely justified by the situation on the table. As I said in the previous post (before the tenth English turn), the UK (after our “war council”) has invested heavily in the fleet and air force to try to regain control of the Mediterranean and with it:
a) interrupt the flow of convoys towards the African continent of the Italian-German troops,
b) reopen the convoys to Malta (the Suez convoys would have been useless given the turns remaining at the end of the game).
As expected (me and the English ally), this attracted the Italian fleet and the Italian-German air force in SZ 6 (Algiers) giving life to an epic battle that contributed (definitely I think) to give a precise course to the continuation of the battle. An English destroyer was left in SZ3 to prevent the powerful German U-Boats from joining the party (and it certainly deserves a medal of valor, like the Italian submarine in SZ8 of the previous post). The survivors of this clash were very few, but this is certainly to be considered an advantage for the Allies.
On land the Axis did not fare better: the English swept away the Italian contingent of El Aghelia in a devastating way and my Americans occupied the Kesserine pass suffering very few losses (also thanks to the support of the French troops). The axis, taking note of the extremely difficult situation (and also considering the lack of supplies in the Tunis/Mareth area and the imminent arrival of the English from the East), decided to acknowledge defeat and put an end to the clash. I repeat: probably it could have tried to fight a little longer, but I think the fate of this battle was already sealed.
General considerations on the game.
After the game, we stopped, while it was still hot, to try to review the course of events. Surely tactical and strategic errors were made by both sides (first of all the incorrect or inappropriate use of mines … to understand their optimal deployment), but it was the first game on this scenario (and in any case the general experience with this game is very limited unlike other editions of A&A, at least mine). I reproached my son (who played with Germany) for being too cautious and not trying to push the Americans (me) when he had the chance (i.e. in the early turns): I think that if the Americans “settle down” it is difficult to avoid the continuous influx of troops and their push towards Tunis. It always remains (but this was a problem for all of us) to understand well which troops are the most effective and in which situations (and I think this is a “crucial point” of the whole game): the Axis has the Germans who have superior units to all the other players, truly devastating (to compensate for the Italians who instead … but it’s all historical, so ok), but the Allies have many resources, many more than the Axis and this risks making the difference in the long term (but this is also historical, so ok). And this was especially evident in the two naval battles that had opposite outcomes: in the first major clash the Italian navy and air force wiped out the English fleet in the central-western Mediterranean, in the second (possible after the English decided to invest everything in ships and planes) the Anglo-Americans prevailed, but this practically ended the battle. A note on the French troops: they risk becoming a really annoying presence for the Axis due to their ability to be self-sufficient (and therefore allowing flanking attacks … for free that help the allies and not a little). What to say in conclusion: I renew my compliments to Matt for the masterpiece he created (and I can’t wait to play Stalingrad), I confirm the impression that Axis and Allies North Africa is a very deep game strategically. This was only the first game (I think of many others) and I hope to be able to become an expert of this game soon, being a great fan of the entire A&A series. Obviously I await your comments (if you want to participate in this discussion). See you next time.
Axis & Allies North Africa questions
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I have some questions about the new game.
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How do you know were to place the French units? I do not see them on the setup charts.
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Is it a balanced game?
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What are the rules for stacking?
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What are the rules for supplies?
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I believe the rules are 8 units per territories unless otherwise indicated with a number on the board.
I believe French troops can placed anywhere on formerly Vichy French territory.
Supplies are too complicated to explain, the online rulebook is available here:
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@SuperbattleshipYamato Regarding the French question could you show me where it says that. When I look at pictures of the full setup there is always 2 guys to the left, 2 guys in the middle, then 2 guys and a tank on the right.
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@FranceNeedsMorePower I misspoke the tank is in the middle.
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@SuperbattleshipYamato Also how do the French pieces work? Do you get a guy and a tank for free each turn or do you have to buy it? What is the difference in between buying a green tank and a blue one?
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Screenshots are from the Axis and Allies North Africa Rulebook.
@FranceNeedsMorePower said in Axis & Allies North Africa questions:
I have some questions about the new game.
- How do you know were to place the French units? I do not see them on the setup charts.
They are on the German Set Up Charts.
- Is it a balanced game?
Yes, very balanced. Rommel’s Last Push the Axis have the initiative. In Operation Torch the Allies have the initiative.
- What are the rules for stacking?
Standard is 8 per Territory per side. Some territories are different as listed on the game board.
- What are the rules for supplies?
Page18
@SuperbattleshipYamato Also how do the French pieces work? Do you get a guy and a tank for free each turn or do you have to buy it? What is the difference in between buying a green tank and a blue one?
Page 29
Using US RPs you may buy one French infantry and one French tank if the Allies control Oran. French units fight as US units. The big difference is the French units deploy to Oran instead of a Convoy Zone, thus, they are usable on the Turn they are purchased. The units characteristics are on the Reference Charts.
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@AndrewAAGamer good day.
If America fails to eliminate the 2 French Inf in a territory , does it need to spend a Supply to attavk again on R2 and R3 etc?
I see from thr rules , there must be a result in each of the three territories, so the battles could go any number of Rounds, if the French hit the Americans on R1, keeping the defenders Vichy and not Free. -
@Witt said in Axis & Allies North Africa questions:
@AndrewAAGamer good day.
If America fails to eliminate the 2 French Inf in a territory, does it need to spend a Supply to attack again on R2 and R3 etc?
Yes
I see from the rules , there must be a result in each of the three territories, so the battles could go any number of Rounds, if the French hit the Americans on R1, keeping the defenders Vichy and not Free.
Correct. During playtesting additional supply was added to the US side to lower the chance that the Americans would run out of supply before some result was determined.
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@AndrewAAGamer Thank you for the help! Can the Vichy French Pieces move if they defeat the Americans?
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@AndrewAAGamer I have a question about the French supply trucks. I know they are add on pieces but if you did add them on what would be a good way to use them? Is their a optional rule in the rulebook that talks about them?
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@FranceNeedsMorePower said in Axis & Allies North Africa questions:
@AndrewAAGamer Thank you for the help! Can the Vichy French Pieces move if they defeat the Americans?
Nope.
Per the Rulebook Page 29
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@FranceNeedsMorePower said in Axis & Allies North Africa questions:
@AndrewAAGamer I have a question about the French supply trucks. I know they are add on pieces but if you did add them on what would be a good way to use them? Is their a optional rule in the rulebook that talks about them?
They were added to make your own scenarios. There is no Renegade recommendation as how to use them.
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@AndrewAAGamer thanks for explaining.
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