Alpha plus

@theROCmonster:

I recommend playing the newest alpha. The new alpha rules allow scrambling from not island airbases as well, which I believe is huge. The entire flavor of the game is changed with the new alpha rules VS out of box. Also out of Box I think UK just falls to sea lion everytime…

theROCmonster, he is playing the G40 2nd edition (recently released). The OOB rules include the the newest Alpha (nicknamed Alpha 3.9) with the couple changes Port Hardcore mentioned. I guess you could call OOB 2nd edition Alpha+4, or the final Alpha.

I would go OOB 2nd edition instead of Alpha+3.9, like kcdzim said. The changes between the two were minor compared to the changes that took place through the Alpha project (like the scramble rules from Alpha+1 allowing all airbases to scramble, but only 3 units). 1 UK inf missing in Egypt surprised many ppl thinking the game is axis bias, but like he said it probably balances the Med which is a battle with-in the war. Adding Korea to the Nap just makes sense.

What I would do is play OOB 2nd ED a few times, and decide for yourself which side has an edge (every group is different), keeping in mind that the allies have a longer learning curve and it normally takes a few games for them to figure things out. If in the first game you lose Moscow in turn 6-7, then figure out what the allies need to do to save/delay that in the next game. I would also plan for a two day game the first time LOL (2-10 hour sessions).

@ozimek1:

I realize that the AA guns are more effective when definding in the west against Allied “liberation” attempts. The big question is whether the tempo gain of bringing them east is worth it, and ultimately more efficient.

What I mean is: Yes, an AA-gun is better at defending a stationary stack than advancing with the aim of possibly taking some very random pot-shots at enemy planes. That is pretty obvious. � BUT they happen to start on the board in round one, and they typically won’t be needed in the west for the first several rounds. Bringing them east from the beginning will add some momentum to Barbarossa, but at the cost of a less attractive puchase mix during the mid-game if they are to be replaced by newly purchased AA-guns or their equivalent in infantry. Is the boost worth that downside?

There’s no yes or no answer to that.  Even on G1, where I move the aa guns depends on what went down on G1.  I’ll still be making those choices on G2-G3, depending on how the game is playing out.  The aa guns in the East have limited utility because they have no attack value–their utility is to lessen Russia’s odds of a successful counter-attack.  Whether Germany needs them out there depends on what Germany and Russia are doing.

I would avoid buying new aa guns mid-game as Germany.  With that in mind, I’d keep half the aa guns back, barring exceptional circumstances.  There’s the possibility of moving east until G3, and then turning back, in time to protect Berlin.

@techroll42:

Got both for $70 each.

Well some of us get to school late via the shortbus :P

3.5 is just changes made to the original 3 setup. I was confused because I got cards from here saying that there was no italian destroyer and transport in 96 and I was just questioning if it had been removed. We have since marked those ships on our cards.

Right - good clarification.

Yea, that would help.

I’m not thinking it possible to take England with Germany.  Not early in the game anyway. (Defined = First 5 rounds of play.)

@Fishmoto37:

A stalemate exists in China. The Soviets moved their 18 infantry back up to threaten the Japanese but have never attacked. Japan was forced to garrison Manchuria. They need those infantry in china as they have mostly expensive units facing the Chinese and Indians. Japan never made it to the Indies as the U.S. had major fleets moving west. The Japanese did defeat an American fleet in the Marianas but with all that income they will be coming again.

After eleven rounds the stalemate in China has been broken and the allies are pushing the Japanese back.  The Indian westward march has been checked by Italy. Japan has broken the Siberian armies and is starting to claim Soviet territory.  12/27/10

IMAG0014.JPG

Yes, they upgrade for free when at war. If however you want it to become a major IC before going to war you must pay 20 IPC as normal per IC.