Question about the initial set up of a game

I saw your post sitting so long I registered to give you a few pointers on maps. Most if not all the WotC map packs are themed in some way. Originally they were 2" hexes but were changed some time ago. The map packs you mentioned are themed as follows: North Africa - 3 Desert maps and on reverse side 3 jungle maps. Eastern Front - 3 town/factory maps and on the reverse side 3 Russian steppes maps. There are two starters, the one in the cardboard box is the old one and contains 12mm mini’s and 2" hex maps. the new starter is in a blister pack and has 15mm mini’s and 3" hex maps. The maps in the new starter are mixed forest/hills/clear. The rules and revised cards are downloadable through the WotC site.

Something like MechanizedWarfare suggested works best; US & UK vs GE usually works well. A free-for-all is interesting to do sometimes, but often it simply ends up with two players joining up against the third who doesn’t have a chance.

@cleveland:

Does a face up disrupted counter effect the Goliath’s special ability?

The two dice rolled as part of Remove Control are unaffected by disruption.
However, if they succeed, then the subsequent attack will get the -1 from the disrupted counter.

@Der:

Soviet Union

BA-10M (Armoured Car, Unc)
BT-7 (Tank, Rare)
Degtyarev DP-27 (LMG, Common)
IS-3 (Tank, Rare)
Soviet M3 Lee (Tank, Rare)
SU-152 (Assault Gun, Rare)
T-35 (Tank, Rare)

… I’ve listed all the units in the set already under the thread called “Set V Unit List”

I completly forgot about the T-35!

Also, how long do the games run?
The AH site says 30-90 minutes, but for what size battle is that?

If you don’t count the time to formulate your armies, games rarely last only 30 minutes. 30 minutes is usually for a scenario that gets you into the action right away. Tournament games usually last between 60 and 90 minutes. Recreational games can last up to 2 hours if you’re taking your time. You’re first few games will probably last 2 hours.

Not for what point total he wants to play. It’s usually 45 minutes-1 hour/ 100 points you do. At 250 point armies, which is reaching the limit for point totals maintaining game balance (post 300 you’ll see huge balance issues), expect to play and hour and a half- 2 hours, maybe more in the beginning as you learn the rules. It also depends on the scenario you’re playing.

@Garfunkle:

What size is the standard playing surface?

Well, normally it’s the 2x2 maps they give you. But you won’t be able to play on that surface with the point totals you want to do. You’ll need at least one more starter set to have the ability to play on 4x2 maps or 3x3. Hell, I sometimes consider getting a third starter set for even more maps, as sometimes I feel like 4x2 isn’t big enough. I play 150-200 point battles.

@Garfunkle:

Is there good after market support for terrain and miniatures?

The terrain are maps that come with the game. Some people eventually play using 3-d terrain, but then you have to either play using houserules, or go out and buy hex-terrain, which is a whole new set of expenses.

@Garfunkle:

What scale is 15 mm anyway?

Basically 1:120. It’s more like 1:121, but 1:120 is the accepted number for buying terrain for the game.

@Garfunkle:

Are these plastic minis easy to mod and repaint?

Yes.

@Garfunkle:

I would like to have the ability to field a 250 point army

That’s like fielding a 6,000 point army in Warhammer: it’s really big and might make the game take longer than you want. Before making any army goals, play the game a few times. Having a crapload of miniatures to choose from for army building is sweet, but actually fielding 250 points might be hefty for you, since you mentioned that your kids impede gaming somewhat. 150 points is usually big enough to have alot of fun and see lots of units, but small enough that the game doesn’t last forever.

Welcome aboard. May you make every cover save and ignore enemy Superior Armor… :)

-=Grim=-

Most of these suggestions would go well with the House Rules sets on the other A&AM forums; most of the sets have one common idea when it comes to planes: only units with the SA: Anti-Air should be able to shoot them. Me? I think MGs should too, but that’s just me. But a Garand shooting down a Stuka? Silly. Infantry never did enough damage to planes to warrant how easy it is in the game rules.

From the HHR:

Air Rules

HHR uses the Flak Only Rule. Only Flak and other planes can shoot at planes. The four flak units so far are

the 20mm Flak 38 the Quad 50 the Bofors 40mm the Wirbelwind

The Luftwaffe Inf has been stripped of its AA ability, further changes subject to a full review of that unit (coming shortly). Although the Wirbelwind hasn’t been formally reviewed, we have already voted to give it Double Shot. Any other units that are going to be recognized as Flak units are either future releases or may be introduced on a case by case basis.

All Flak units get a 4 hex zone of defensive fire. During defensive fire, if a flak unit scores a disruption on a plane, and rolls 3 sixes while doing so, then the plane is Aborted and is immediately removed from the map to the off map area with a face up disrupted counter. It may come back onto the map the following turn with its face up disruption counter if the owning player so desires.

Yes, the Soviets don’t have a dedicated AA unit – but their standard AA gun was a knockoff of the Bofors weapon.

From DerickRL’s House Rules (different than HHR):

Aircraft:
When attacking aircraft, all ground units, without the SA: Anti-Air, use their long range infantry attack as a medium range attack, and their medium range attack as their short range attack(with -1 to each die). No long range attacks against aircraft are available to units without the Anti-Air SA.

All soldier units get +1 on each die to cover rolls from aircraft in town or forest hexes.

All short and medium range hexes are considered to be adjacent for purposes of defensive fire attacks against aircraft by Anti-Air units

Artillery & Assault gun’s can not attack aircraft unless they have the SA: Anti-Air.

All units with SA’s: Blast and/or Bombardment cannot attack aircraft.

I think a mix of the two would be nice, since I like HHR’s, but I also like how in the latter units get +1 cover in towns and forests vs. planes.

-=Grim=-

Please check out the poll. I’m cross posting this to get a good response rate…

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=6317.0

@Ubermarine:

The Polish Calvalryman is a nice touch to the game.  Thay will be easy to use in groups of 3 or 4 against soldiers.  Im thinking the best way to use them will be to hide and rush machine gun nests.

Not just machine gun nests but also for going after BAR Gunners, anti-tank guns, and commanders. But I really don’t think you need more than 1 or 2 to accomplish this. It is very easy for the cavalry out of line of sight.