My review copy of Axis & Allies Europe 1940 has arrived

@Trapslick:

Is there a limit to how many units any air craft carriers or transports can take?

Air Craft Carriers can carry 2 planes (Tactical Bombers or Fighters, Strategic Bombers cannot land on carriers. So the possible combinations are 2 fighters, 2 Tac Bombers, or 1 Fighter and 1 Tac Bomber). Transports can carry any 1 land unit + an infantry (so 1 infantry + tank, 1 infantry + artillery, 2 infantry, etc.)

Your basic strategy is correct (there really isn’t much Russia can do in this game but delay the inevitable and save as many troops as possible for Moscow), though I’d emphasize the UK’s immediate priority is dissuading a Sea Lion attack (easy) and establishing Naval supremacy in the Med (usually not that hard after the Taranto Raid).
I would also heavily recommend taking S. France on Germany’s first turn and looking to help the Italians in the Med. In order to win as the Axis, you need 8 Victory cities, which means you have to take either Cairo or London, and the easiest time to take these are early game before the America come’s barreling in. It’s tricky, but this game definitely isn’t friendly to the Axis powers.

I would say that france would benefit the axis because of their first turn fall and their additional income to germany and Italy, this would make the game a 3v2 like all axis and allies games.

and with mech-infantry it is quite comfortable even from germany. therefrom you can help out even in southern italy, if there is no allied obstacle in the way. ;)
this way you can cover mostly the whole of continental europe (except russian territories).

Arminius Germanicus is correct.  Pro-Allies neutral is still neutral.

IMO Germany has to do some things early game to have any chance at all.
1. Take out France turn 1(or have Italy finish it off)
1. Kill the UK fleet turn 1 and build transports to get ready for SeaLion
2. Take London or failing that cripple the UK(with subs sitting off their coast) to the point that it becomes pretty useless.
3. Have a large enough fleet to force Amercia to spend time building esort fleets instead of just rushing transports into Africa or Europe.
4. Build a stack of tanks for the attack into Russia. Because if Germany doesn’t attack Russia will.

@Dylan:

Do you mean beginner’s game or “beginner’s game” ?

I meant what I wrote, the game is meant for newcomers to the Axis & Allies universe, or for vets like us that want a short, quick game.

Yes, but with so much information overload I started doubting my own thoughts and ideas.

@Krieghund:

@GrayBlaZe:

Hey Keighund, got a question; Why could it not be considered to be up to a nine person global game instead of six.  I do understand that playing France, China or ANZAC will be very minor, however, it’s possible for nine people to draw straws and last three places got it get the minors.  Or am I missing somthing?  I’m assuming that it’s just listed as six because that is the max number that would be a good game to spread playing around equally so nobody is just totally eliminated fast with France or having to play limited China.  Is this correct?  Thanx……

You’ve already answered your own question:

@GrayBlaZe:

When they state the number of players, it is just a recomendation.  You could very well play with nine players except; France, China, & ANZAC would be quite boring, unless a newbe or child was playing with you, it would be good for them to play a minor country.  If you are playing with six then some player would play two counties, however, they are still considerd nine different armies; if you play two they don’t mix there income.  So it always be nine indiviual counties weither you play with nine people or two.

The “official” player mix listed in the rules is what we consider to be the best mix for optimal enjoyment of the game.  There’s nothing stopping you from changing that if you have more than six people who want to play.  I do think, however, that getting beyond six will definitely get into territory that could be at least somewhat boring for players of minor powers (ANZAC, China and France).  A seventh player playing all three wouldn’t be too bad, though.

The latter.