My review copy of Axis & Allies Europe 1940 has arrived

thanks!

I looked it up. Yes, you are right. It only applies to major ICs, so a minor one could indeed be built in Finland.

@gen-manstein Actually haven’t played with bid in solo games, so I hope that will be an advantage.

Wow,

Alot’s changed in the last 20 years of Axis and Allies.  You’ve got alot more playable countries to work with, namely France, China, Italy, and ANZAC.  USSR always goes after Germany now, the submarine rules are WAY different, Battleships and Carriers take 2 hits to go down, they made the cities on the board the victory conditions, there are diplomatic rules as in how and why the USSR and USA come into the war…

Also, a list of the new pieces:
-Artillery (pair with infantry to increase attack power)
-Mech Infantry (moves 2)
-Tactical Bombers (pair with fighters or tanks to increase attack power)
-Destroyers (anti-sub)
-Cruisers (less powerful Battleship)
-Air Bases and Naval Bases (increase range of planes and ships)

There are major and minor complexes now, SBR rules are different, and if you go into neutral countries now you have to fight instead of paying 3 bucks.

@Krupp:

Any word on whether there will be more than just infantry that pop up on these neutrals when they  are activated?

I think just infantry, what were you hoping for?

@Yoper:

I gave you the answer that I feel he will give you since it is similar to that which I believe he has given before.

Plus, it is better if you do the asking.  If you feel that it is a big deal, then take the time to ask a thoughtful question of him on his site and he should answer you.

Maybe I will. Who is the moderator on that site?

Meh, really, it simply depends on the Axis’ focus on any particular game.  It looks like Russia only gets a crappy +5 NO once it is at war with the Axis, so compared to pissing off the Americans, war with Russia (only) would be a much more palatable option for Japan.  18 land units, while it is quite a lot, would not be expected to be massed together right at the border with Japan, so they could be picked off a bunch at a time, and definitely doable if Japan gets a major industrial complex in Asia (which it probably will in most games).  Plus, Moscow it so far away that sending reinforcements east is probably not Stalin’s top priority, so Japan could hold onto the Russian IPCs for a long time, gaining back whatever the cost was in killing the units over 3-4 rounds.

Also, it is subterfuge to some extent; forcing the Soviets to respond to threats on their eastern front would pull some attention (and troops) away from the western front, which would help Germany and Italy pull off a successful Sea Lion AND Barbarossa in turn.  Kinda of like not letting your left hand knowing what the right hand is doing.  However, with a Sealion going into action on Round 3 or 4, Japan may be forced to focus entirely on eliminating India so that the UK is incapable of sending reinforcements anywhere else.

I’m wondering what Italy will be required to take in the Med to stop UK air from reaching England.  Definitely Gibraltar and Malta, and all of the African coast, excepting Egypt maybe.  Italy has its hands full.  Maybe it would be best for Germany to ditch Sealion and just go after the Med early and take what it can get?