Classic Axis and Allies Accessory Pack

Download the rules to 1941… that’s a modern version that should work with Classic (add-in any 1942SE rules you want).

I continue to play classic as it is used in a summer historical gaming program that I teach in.  The 6th through 10th graders pick up the rules pretty quickly, and generally we can play enough in the time alloted to determine a probable winner.  We have just purchased the 2004 edition, and after my initial review of the game, we might work some aspects, mainly the destroyer into the Classic game rules.

I am not a fan of the new board, as it looks depressing, and the though of staring at it for several hours over a 5 day period is even more depressing.  The use of victory cities makes the game much more complicated for a beginning gamer, while the classic game of focusing on the capital simplifies the game greatly and clarifies what each players objectives are.  I am not a fan of the National Advantages either, especially as some of them are incorrect historically, and it one case, totally wrong.

All of the weapons development focuses on increasing attack capabilities, nothing increases the defense capabilitiesl.  By the end of the war, with the development of the Hedgehog and Squid antisubmarine projectiles, and use of larger depth charge patterns, the Allies were killing over half of the subs attacked, and aircraft were using sonobuoys, homing torpedoes, and Magnetic Anamoly Detection gear to locate and attack submerged subs.

There is no consideration of the proximity fuze used by the US and UK from 1943 on, which drastically increased the effectiveness of anti-aircraft fire, to the degree that between intercepting fighters and anti-aircraft fire, the Japanese were taking losses of 90% of their aircraft in conventional attacks.  Also, the British and the US shared all information relating to radar with each other during the war, so if the British get to use radar for their antiaircraft, so should the US.  Also, radar allowed for far better positioning of intercepting fighters, so in theory, your fighters should be able to defend at 5 with radar, rather than 4.

Japanese tanks were not exactly potent, to say the least, yet Japanese tanks have the same attack as the Sherman, T34, or Panther.  The Allies loved to see a Banzai charge, as the normal casualty exchange ratio started at 10 to 1 and at times hit 700 to 0 (Merrill’s Marauders in Burma).

The Germans did attempt to use the Stuka in the Battle of Britain as a strategic bomber.  After one week, it was withdrawn because of heavy losses.  When they tried again with fighters later, the British had a field day shooting them down, and German fighters never had the range to really attack anything significant in Britain.

Overall, I do not regard the Revised Edition of the game as an improvement over the Classic edition.  We will likely incorporate the destroyer into the classic rules, most likely using the destroyer rules from Axis and Allies Pacific.  The units will also prove useful in expanding the Axis and Allies Europe game to five players, and for my expansion of the Pacific game, as we will now be able to distinguish between Indian and Australian units, or use the odd color of the UK units for the Dutch.

@ncscswitch:

Russia?  WORST possible move in the game.  Sure, build a Yakut IC, defended by your consilidated INF and tank from the Eastern territories.  That is 5 less INF that Germany has to chew through the round after Russia buys it, and perhaps more later as Russia places some units at the new IC to defend against recurrent strikes by Japan… not to mention the free SRB run Japan would get to destroy an addiitional 1-2 Russian INF’s per round.  Not to mention that, no matter what Russia does, Japan WILL take that IC in Yakut, and then start building westerward bound forces to use against Russia.

As always, it depends on the situation……A not often used resource for the allies:

A Russian ic in Yak can be a nice tactical resource at the start of the tech war. In case Jap gets heavies (maybe a lucky last resource), its nice to build that Rus ic in Yak (and move the aa into Yak). Now Jap has the tough choice to take it or not. If they take it, they are vulnurable to allied SBR runs. If not, than Jap can get huge cash flow problems.

In some case (but less often than the Rus Yak ic) UK can do the same trick in Ind. Since both UK and Rus were already in range of Jap SBR runs, it wont make a lot of difference.

Hi all! I’vebeen working on this forum. I will also be working on a site that will have a small game you can play in your browser! Tell me what you think.

thanks for the tip for going to win98/95 mode. it runs much more smoothly on XP with 98 on!

@Yanny:

Heres how I would do it.

Russia: Buy 3 Tanks 3 Fighters

I think he meant 3 arm & 3 inf(24 IPCs as compared to his 41 IPCs purchase above.)

He just got a lil excited.
He’s an A&A Addict, y’know! :P

But that’s 8)

@Kantabricus:

The Allied pressence there has to be enough to hold, but not to the extent of making the German player think Africa is lost (ie 4 - 6 US infantry a turn). The Germans have to think every turn, that Africa is retakable, so that they keep on investing in an African Campaign.

First, I seldom put a ftr in Africa against a player who I know is average or better (I don’t want to lose it by skill, insight or luck.) Second, with a 2 inf bid in AES, I rarely put more than 2 inf/1 arm more in Africa (4 inf/1 arm /o a bid.) After 2-3 turns I’m either shipping inf to Ukr, Cau or sunk. :) (just the fleet.) If you have bothered to ship another group of 2-3 inf or 2 inf/1 arm on US3-4 you’ve just slowed the Allied push on Germany! Thank you. :wink:

I like the “Kriegsmarine Pacific ploy.” I had forgotten it. It’s been a long time since I felt threatened enough, as Germany, to try it. I think I’ll try it the next time I’m Gemany anyway, but I’ll have to look at how much it opens up the Eurobelly.

Ha, in A&A, I took over Russia with Germany on the second turn! Ending up EV winning on the 4th, since the Japanese (AI controlled) player couldn’t figure how to attack on the first turn.