Axis and Allies Expanded Global Scenario

Greetings friends,

I have finished my first version of the Solitaire variant. I’m affraid I still have to test it. If there is any volunteer here to test it I will thank you!

Here you have it: http://www.mediafire.com/folder/jxx1jyxyhsbyh/Axis_%26_Allies

There are 3 files:

I will thank you feedback about rules if you can test them, your corrections and suggestions too.

Best regards,

Jose Manuel

Axis gets full advantage in the early turns, this forces them to get more aggression there for no reason for them to use peace as a shield and if I am playing as the allies, I’d rather have them be aggressive at turn 1 than turn 4.

@Arreghas:

You are indeed proving to me that changing any rule set is complex indeed and requires very thoughtful analysis.

Yes, that’s quite correct.  An important point to remember is that a complex game such as Global 1940 is similar to other complex devices (such as automotive vehicles): they are systems consisting of multiple interrelated parts which are designed to work together in a particular way and which reflect many design choices and compromises.  Sometimes it’s possible to make minor or even major alterations to some of those components without affecting significantly the performance the overall system, but sometimes even a minor adjustment to a single critical component can wreck the whole thing.  (Take as an example the recent Galaxy Note 7 debacle.  There’s been speculation that Samsung may have changed the electrolyte in the lithium-ion batteries to something less stable, or that it may have gone too far in thinning the separator which keeps the positive and negative sides apart so that the battery doesn’t short-circuit and overheat.)  And design considerations have to take into account the fundamental question of what purpose the system is supposed to serve.  A luxury limousine, a Formula One race-car and a semi-trailer truck are all automotive vehicles, but they’re all optimized to do specific jobs and they all place different leves of emphasis on different capabilities such as passenger comfort, baggage / cargo-holding capacity, speed, fuel consumption efficiency and so forth.

@phd_angel

Thanks so much! Sorry for the delayed response here. I was on parental leave with my son, so I wasn’t online much the last few months!

I definitely appreciate the feedback. I’m with you, my hope for any houserule is to keep a semblance of realism while working out whatever game play issues there were that made the houserule pop up in the first place!

The uncertainty of allegiances pre-battle is quite interesting. But I try to minimize dice randomness. IRL (in real life), Vichy troops (just like Italians) surrendered as soon as seeing enemy superiority: thus, in the game, if Allies send more land + air units than defending Vichy units, there is no battle but surrender. Or, make it unlikely that a battle would ensue (for example, need to roll a 1).

I definitely agree overall here, I think this one got away from A&A mechanics the most. Part of me didn’t want to make it completely against the Axis, but I think something like you suggest on bringing more men (or maybe twice as many), would void any combat.

IPC system, however, is historically inaccurate (as in most, if not all, Vichy mods I’ve seen): IRL, Nazi Germany profited handsomely on Vichy which had to quite richly sustain 300,000 German troops stationed in Northern France! So, in the game, Germany should actually gain IPC bonus, whereas Vichy and Free France gain nothing. How much, certainly 3 IPC, at least.

I also get your point here. However, the main goal for me in creating the Vichy France rule was an overwhelming thought by players that the Axis has too great an advantage. By creating Vichy in this scenario it weakens the Axis some by taking away from them, as well as adding to the Allies by adding the Free French. I think if we were to give the Germans more IPC’s, it takes away the point of creating the rule in the first place (which again, was to try and help weaken the OOB Axis advantages).

Finally, Germany never fought Vichy. IRL, with Operation Torch, Germany simply occupied Vichy in 1942, with no resistance whatsoever. Vichy units were disbanded. That can be also the case in the game.

I also agree that combat did not really happen, at least on a large scale. I suppose I don’t know enough to understand every potential action that might have happened, no matter how small. This was again something designed to make the German player think twice before just invading the Vichy territories. It’s going to cost them a bit. Again, just a device to hopefully help balance.

I personally don’t like the idea of bids at the beginning of a game. We try and either house rule to help change, or just deal with it how we can. But yeah, the main hope/goal here was to have a somewhat realistic scenario, while also hopefully tipping the scales a bit away from the Axis, while not ruining gameplay and design too much.

Thanks so much for your input! Hope 2021 is treating you well!

Chris

D12 version I use in a 1941 variant of HBG Global War:

Incorporates SPA / SPG / Motorized Infantry / Light & Medium Armor / Commander (General).

I use National Advantages to address Heavy Armor (Russia & Germany).

Cost/Move/Attack/Defense

INFANTRY:  3 / 1(2) / 2(3) / 4(6)
Combined Arms: Attack on (3) when supported 1:1 by Artillery or SPA.
Defend on (6) during 1st round of combat when supported by Fortification (10:1).
Move (2) during Combat or NCM when supported 1:1 by Mortorized Infantry.

ARTILLERY: 4 / 1(2) / 3 / 4
Combined Arms: Increase Infantry Attack to (3) when supported 1:1.
Move (2) during Combat or NCM when supported 1:1 by Mortorized Infantry.

SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY (SPA): 6 / 2 / 4 / 4
Combined Arms: Increase Infantry & Mech Infantry Attack +1 when supported 1:1.
Initial Bombardment: On Defense, successful hit results in immediate removal of enemy land unit.
Cannot Blitz.

MOTORIZED INFANTRY: 4 / 2 / 3 / 3
Transport (1) Infantry or (1) Artillery 2 spaces during Combat or NCM Move.
Cannot Blitz.

MECHANIZED INFANTRY:  5 / 2 / 3(4) / 4
Combined Arms: Attack on (4) when supported 1:1 by SPA or any Armor.
Combined Arms: Blitz when supported 1:1 by any Armor.

LIGHT ARMOR: 6 / 2 / 5 / 5
Combined Arms: Increase Mech Infantry Attack +1 when supported 1:1.
Combined Arms 1:1 allows Mech Infantry to Blitz.
Blitz.

MEDIUM ARMOR:   7 /  / 2 / 6(7) / 6
Combined Arms: Attack on (7) when supported 1:1 by Tac Bomber.
Combined Arms: Increase Mech Infantry Attack +1 when supported 1:1.
Combined Arms 1:1 allows Mech Infantry to Blitz.
Blitz.

SELF-PROPELLED GUN: 8 / 2 / 6(7) / 7
Attack on (7) while enemy Armor is present.
Non-Infantry Land unit must be chosen as casualty.
Combined Arms: Blitz when supported 1:1 by any Armor.

COMMANDER (General): - / 1 / - / -
Fixed number of Commanders per Nation.  If destroyed, replaced on fixed turn schedule by nation.
Coordinated Attack: Provides (1) called shot against any Land unit during 1st round of Combat.
Organized Retreat: Allows Land & Air units to retreat after 1 full round of Combat. No Defense rolled in round 2.

I’ve put together a sample card for General “Vinegar Joe” Stillwell, if anyone’s interested.

Dude, just click the link they work fine.

At least Avalon Hill releases Diplomacy.