[1942 2nd Ed.] AA42 Skip the 9-12 setup

Hi everyone,

I have been enjoying using these unique units for 1942 Second Edition Tournament Rules.

Russia:
Cavalry c3/a2/d1/m2, can Blitz. Max 5 on the board at any time.
Purpose: Allows Russia some more attack power. Sometimes it is really difficult to buy tanks with the USSR’s limited income but you need still need the ability to move 2. Since they defend at 1, they won’t make the final battle for Moscow any more difficult for Germany. This unit adds some interesting attack possibilities especially if Russia has a decent air force.
HBG has some pretty sweet cavalry sculpts and they have colors that match nicely with the OOB sculpts.

Germany:
Maus Tank c8/a3/d3/m2, 2HP, can Blitz. Max 5 on the board at any time. Can only be built after Round 4. Repairs for free if it starts its turn on a friendly IC.
Purpose: Gives Germany another hard hitting unit. This one is mostly for fun and I don’t think the stats are very overpowered since I’ve put a limit of 5 on the board at any time. I also wanted to give Germany a bonus since I gave Russia Cavalry.
HBG has a Maus tank sculpt I use. I think Germany only built like 4 of these tanks irl but they’re fun to have in the game. If you prefer you can call them heavy tanks and use a sculpt of a tank that was actually produced in earnest.

US:
Marines c3/a1/d2/m1. Attacks at 2 on amphibious assaults (not supportable by artillery on amphibious assaults) Max 5 on the board at any time.
Purpose: Represent the US Marine Corps and allow Island Hopping to be a bit easier for the US player.
I used HBG’s dark green Marines for these units.

To balance these units, I also play with the “Tokyo Express” rule which gives Japanese Destroyers the ability to transport 1 Infantry. I haven’t figured out a good UK bonus which would balance well with these small tweaks.

My group also really enjoys the “free factory” House Rule, which gives each player (besides Russia, we decided the Russian extra factory does nothing but help the Axis) a free IC before the game begins with the condition that it must be placed on a territory worth exactly 1 IPC. Typically, Germany puts theirs in Libya, UK chooses either Persia or Belgian Congo, Japan places theirs on Malaya, and the US chooses Sinkiang (sometimes West Indies if the US player is wary of Japan producing on the free factory). We enjoy this rule because it keeps Africa interesting for quite a while. Sometimes the US will get to place a fighter or two in China.

As another house rule, we often give each player one tech token at the start of the game as well. Russia is typically excluded because the Axis players in the group contend that a) Russia had a dearth of scientists at the time due to purges, and b) they would rather each side only get two tech tokens, and I tend to agree with them.

@FranceNeedsMorePower

That’s a better idea, especially since Japan is usually somewhat stretched to the limits on their declaration of war on the US.

USSR: 42 (Russia worth 8, Caucasus and Vologda worth 6, Karelia and Novosibirsk worth 4, Archangel and Kazakh worth 3, Okrug, Yakut, Far East, and Buryatia worth 2
Germany: 40
UK: 24 (UK and India worth 6, Egypt and Australia worth 2, South Africa, Trans-Jordan, Western and Eastern Canada, Burma, New Zealand, Gibraltar, and Persia worth 1
Japan: 30
USA: 30 (Eastern and Western USA are worth 10, Central worth 6, Mexico and Panama worth 2)

Allows the USSR to hammer Germany and Japan. USA and UK are weaker to represent slower mobilization times. Also forces Allies to ensure USSR survives, or perish.

The Allies may indeed have problems getting numbers of units into Europe and Asia, but the whole reason they need to do this in the first place is because Russia has such woefully inadequate starting attack power!

The Soviets can barely trade with Germany or Japan for 2 territories a turn, before they start hemorrhaging ground units in the process, forced to make terrible trades at a loss just to prevent Axis blitz paths or landing spots. This means that the Germans can advanced along a broad front, with only modest sized stacks, and Russia is totally unable to contest them.

Instead, because they cant attack on their own, the Soviets are almost completely reliant on UK/USA to run direct counter attacks for them, against a relentless Axis advance. And this all happens in their own backyard, right in their own core Russian territories!

And its not as if Russia collapses only when they receive zero aid from the West (which might be understandable) but they collapse when they don’t receive the full maximum aid. Like literally almost all the UK/US ipcs from the early rounds dedicated just to holding the center.

The western Allies routinely send dozens of fighters and as many ground units as they can to prop up Moscow. And even then Moscow gets hammered.

Honestly if I was designing this thing from the ground up, I’d give Russia an airforce on par with the other powers. Like 3 fighters AND a bomber. Or hell even 4 fighters AND a bomber!

They’d still have the weakest starting airforce on the board.

I just think its rather lame, that the Russians are so nerfed in A&A. It feels totally ahistorical.

They had superior tanks to the Germans, even by the time this game is supposed to start, and yet it is the Germans who always tank drive. They had some the best fighter aircraft in the world by the time this game is supposed to start, and yet it is the Luftwaffe that always crushes. They had the numbers, and yet it is Germany who always pushes the massive ground stacks.

It just doesn’t look like World War 2.

The way the Royal Air Force is always camped out in Russia, and Monty is taking his tank columns on escapades through the Caucasus. For real?

If you want their income so low, they should have starting TUV. Or conversely, if you want them to have low starting TUV, then give them more income. But if you shaft them in both areas, then the game turns into this weird deal, with the western Allies running the show in Red territories.

The Russia design is just silly OOB. They have low income and as such will buy infantry and artillery as a matter of course, almost exclusively. They don’t need more inf, what they need is air power, so they can trade that infantry effectively, the way the other player nations do.

I think a single additional Russian bomber is a decidedly modest expansion compared to what they should really have, if you want to reflect their historical position during this period.

@Baron:

Young Grasshopper has made a video on YouTube  Cliffside Bunker Channel which explains clearly how it works in Global game.

Then you should read my thread on Convoy Disruption for 1942.2.
There is two mechanics invented to try.

Thanks again, took a look at YG’s YT channel and found the explanation for CD.  That clears it up nicely and now we can add that to the game as well.  Should be quite interesting to add this tactic.  He mentioned that it’s the responsibility of the player to point out to the other players where he can be CD’d.  Only thing I don’t necessarily agree with.  Should be the other person’s responsibility to keep an eye on the board for when/where they can CD.  Other than that it looks pretty straight forward now that I’ve seen it explained.

Taking a look at your thread as well.  :-)

I’m with you on the bonus staying pretty simple. There’s enough going on in Axis and Allies attached to the VC and worded as an objective bonus. Kind of primes players for the concept of an NO generally, if they like to move on to other games like AA50 or the 1940 games, so I like that aspect from a teaching perspective.

Its interesting you mention adding set factories to 1941. After AA50 I became very interested in the idea of just setting up a board with all the factories already in place, and removing the factory as a purchasable unit from that game. 1941 does the job for you in a way, by eliminating the unit from the roster, which makes the game a lot more straightforward. Especially for new players, its just one less thing you have to worry about (where to buy a factory, and how to exploit production etc.) When we first started trying to adapt 1941, we played a number of set factory games.

First idea was to just give each power 1 additional factory, but set in a place that would make sense for the period, but also be relatively balanced/entertaining.

We put it up to choice between a few different factory options for each power…

So for the Russians the question is between Archangel and Karelia?
Archangel factory has a potential upside for Allies in that it’s one space further from the immediate eastern front, but the downside is that its closer to Moscow if Axis control, and also closer to Japan via Urals. Still contested out of sz 4. Karelia provides some interest in that it gives G another early target, and an early foothold that it can use in sz 5 or sz 4. This draws more attention off Caucasus, but I think ultimately Karelia goes to Axis advantage, since Germany can get the drop on it so quickly. Archangel gets another round.

For the Germans: Italy seemed the obvious choice on balance and for the history.

For the British: Egypt, South Africa, or Canada? Its kind of a tough call here too, but the consensus view seemed to be that Egypt was simply too overpowered, and made the med too “do or die.” South Africa also felt a little overpowered, but did have a kind of classic charm to it, reminding me of many games in Classic where the UK would use that strat. On balance though Canada is a lot safer for Allies. It has a less dramatic impact on the opening round, and can be very helpful in rebuilding the royal navy after Germany sweeps it up. UK is under a lot of pressure already with production split up various places. The British are more likely to be torn between purchases if you put it in Canada, which has a kind of novelty.

For the Japanese: Manchuria. Manchuria is the only candidate really from the history, for what the Japanese had going in Chosen and the resources from Manchukuo. This gives Japan 6 production, on par with the other powers and able to match W.US production into the pacific. Basically Japan is less nerfed if they can hold it. The problem here though is the scripted attack on Manchuria on R1. This is the favored play for KJF already, but putting a factory in Manchuria just puts a big target on it. I’m not sure its necessarily a problem because it kind of reminds one of Zhukov in early days, albeit anachronous hehe. Japan can usually retake the territory on J1, so its not much of a problem and takes the first round production boost out. Just sets off an early pacific fight basically, encouraging Russia to send the fighter to China and try the Japan crush gambit.

For the Americans: Szechwan, Philippines, or Hawaii?
I favor Hawaii for the history, and on balance. Philippines is more a gift to Japan. Szechwan in like a built in burma road bonus, but throws off the china balance more dramatically if taken. Hawaii is kind of out of the way, but it returns an American advantage in Pacific production 7 vs 6 Japanese production. Its a target to split Japan off focus on India and Moscow, so I like that aspect.

Basically you could let each player choose if you want to show them the advantages or overpowering exploits of production in different places. Or teach how cliff hangers can tilt to be all one sides over places like Egypt and Szech and Karelia. One additional factory to each player 3 Allies vs 2 Axis, is fairly straightforward. But then you basically revert it to a fixed production type game. It has the advantage of restricting and focusing everybody equally by the inclusion of new production elements.

1941 is a fun board to play around with because it’s set up is so fast and relatively simple play time, provided you include Artillery. The artillery unit is essential for this map to be fun :)

@Baron:

It is intended to be played with the starting board.

Fg A2D2M4C8, 1 hit, all hit destroy an enemy plane first, if there is any.
Give +1A/D to any TcB paired with.

TacB A2D3M4C10, 1 hit, gain +1 A/D when paired 1:1 with any Fg or Tank.
Can do a Tactical bombing raid vs AB and NB.

Now, the Fleet Carrier is A0D2M2C16, 2 hits, can now hold up to 3 planes.

This point is for balancing vs OOB full carrier with 2 planes:
2 Fgs= A6D8C20 (.7pt/IPC)  / 1 Fg+1TcB= A7D7C21 (.67pt/IPC)

3 TcBs= A6D9C30 (.5pt/IPC)
2 TcBs + 1 Fg = A7D9C28 (.57pt/IPC), but with Air Supremacy can rise to A10D10C28 (.71pt/IPC)
1TcB+2 Fgs= A7D8C26 (.58pt/IPC), but with Air Supremacy can rise to A8D8C26 (.62pt/IPC)
3 Fgs= A6D6C24 (.5pt/IPC)

There is probably some changes to compensate for the weaker planes units.
For instance, 1 CV with 1 Fg and 1 TcB should be added an additional Fg on board.
You can also put on board a Fleet Carrier 1 TcB or 1 Fg when there is 1 plane on a CV and at least 1 Fg or TcB in a Naval Base nearby.

Since in this HR TacB gets the best defensive value, it should be better to put on the initial board a TcB instead of an OOB Fg and put a Fg instead of a TacB.

Global 1942: Quick Start Guide

This module uses Alpha 2 and original out of the box rules unless specified here. This scenario begins in Dec 1941 with the Japanese attack at Hawaii. Germany is at the gates of Moscow and pushing her last strength to capture Moscow. Positions and units quantity, and type are based on actual positions for Dec 41.

Japanese Surprise Attack: On the first turn all Allied Naval and Air units on the Pacific maps defend at ONE against Japanese attacks. Land units fight normally.

Soviet-Japanese Non aggression Pact:  The Japanese may attack the Soviets only by announcing one turn before this intention. The Soviets can attack Japan only if all Soviet territories are under Soviet control. Note: if Japan attacks the Soviet Union any Mongolian forces bordering any Japanese forces are automatically at war with Japan
(Exchange units with Russian Infantry).

The new turn order, starting IPC total and control changes:
Soviet Union: 28
Control lost: Baltic States, Vyborg, Eastern Poland, Belarus, Smolensk, Western Ukraine, Bryansk, Bessarabia, Ukraine.
Germany 41
Control lost: Romania, Hungary
Control gained: Baltic States, Vyborg, Eastern Poland, Belarus, Smolensk, Western Ukraine, Bryansk, Bessarabia, Ukraine, Normandy, France, Yugoslavia, and Crete
Italy: 12
Control lost: Ethiopia, Italian Somaliland
Control gained: Greece, Tunisia, and Cyprus
Japan: 28
Control gained: French Indo China
USA: 52
UK: 30 Europe, 16 Pacific
Control gained: Ethiopia, Italian Somaliland
ANZAC: 10
China: 12 Territories
Vichy France: 7 (strict neutral)
Control gained: Southern France, Morocco, Algeria, Syria, and Madagaskar

Lend Lease: The US or UK player can send a total combined aid to the Soviet Union of 30 IPC. Procedure: Buy a transport(s) and place it off board in a Lend lease Box. These transports can’t be used for any other purpose other than Lend Lease. Each Transport sends a fixed 5 IPC (place IPC under transports). No more than 6 transports can be allocated for this purpose. Lend Lease aid is first available on turn 1. However, the Soviet player does not actually get the aid until turn 2. The IPC sent can only purchase non-infantry land units and air units of any type. Lend Lease cannot be used for Naval, Infantry, or factories, etc.

Interdiction: Any European Axis Submarine, Plane, or Surface ship located in open sea
(Not Baltic, Black, Mediterranean) can deduct 2 IPC each from this total. If they are located in any convoy box, they can cost 3 IPC each from this total.

Note: If Japan and the Soviet Union are at war, Japanese Submarines, Planes, and Surface ships located in Sea Zones in 3, 4, and 5 can cause reductions to Lend Lease payments.

Minor Axis Allies: Finland, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary have unique forces (use German pieces) these automatically join the axis on turn 2. They can freely move on that turn and Germany can move into them or build units (Romania). Germany does not gain the income from these areas until they are activated on turn 2, or attacked earlier by the Soviet Union. The factory in Romania can start producing units on turn 2 as well.

This module does not use technology or National Objective rules. However, Paratroopers and Mechanized Infantry technology are standard rules. Paratroopers however are restricted to a one sea zone rule, which means they can’t cross any more than one sea zone before landing.

Changes in Strict Neutrality:  Attacking a strict neutral only activates other strict neutrals within 2 spaces of the invaded neutral. Vichy France is a special case. It is strict neutral; however, axis units may fly over or move thru these areas without triggering any change. Also, an attack from any player results in only war with the area under attacked; all other Vichy areas still remain neutral.

SETUPS:

SOVIET UNION:
Sea Zone 127: 1 Destroyer
Sea Zone 115: 2 Submarines, 1 Destroyer
Karelia: 3 Infantry
Novgorod: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 1 Armor,
1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Air Base, 1 Naval Base, 1 Minor Factory, 1 AA gun
Archangel: 3 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Vologda: 2 Infantry
Russia: 10 Infantry, 4 Mechanized Infantry, 3 Artillery, 2 Armor,
2 Fighters, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Bomber, 1 Major Factory, 1 Air Base, 1 AA gun
Tambov: 3 Infantry
Rostov: 3 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Volgograd: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 1 Armor
1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Air Base, 1 Major Factory
Urals: 1 Minor Factory
Kazakhstan: 1 Minor factory
Sea Zone 100: 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine
Amur: 4 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 5: 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine
Sea Zone 4: 1 Submarine

GERMANY:
Normandy: 2 Infantry, 1 Minor Factory, 1 Naval Base
Holland: 2 Infantry, 1 Naval Base
Paris: 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 2 Fighters, 1 Airbase, 1 Minor Factory, 1 AA gun
Denmark: 1 Infantry
Norway: 2 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Sea Zone 113: 1 Battleship, 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer, 2 Transports
Western Germany: 1 Infantry, 1 Major Factory, 1 Naval Base, 1 Air Base, 1 AA gun
Greater Southern Germany: 1 Infantry, 1 Minor factory, 1 AA gun
Germany: 2 Infantry, 2 Bombers, 1 Fighter, 1 Air Base, 1 Major Factory, 1 AA gun
Poland: 1 Infantry
Eastern Poland: 1 Infantry
Yugoslavia: Control
Greece: 1 Artillery
Crete: 1 Infantry
Vyborg: 2 Infantry
Libya: 1 Armor
Tunisia: 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Naval Base
Baltic States: 3 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor
Belarus: 6 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 2 Armor, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber
Smolensk: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 2 Armor
Western Ukraine: 1 Infantry
Bryansk: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 2 Armor, 1 Fighter
Ukraine: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 2 Armor, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber
Sea Zone 103: 1 Submairne
Sea Zone 107: 1 Submarine
Sea Zone 118: 1 Submarine
Sea Zone 125: 1 Submarine

JAPAN:
Manchuria: 3 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 1 Fighter, 1 Minor Factory
Korea: 1 Infantry
Jehol: 2 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Shantung: 1 Infantry
Kiangsu: 1 Infantry
Kiangsi: 1 Infantry
Kwangsi: 2 Infantry
French- Indo China: 1 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Fighter, 1 Bomber
Siam: 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Japan: 1 Infantry, 1 Major Factory, 1 Air Base, 1 Naval Base, 1 AA gun
Sea Zone 6: 3 Battleships, 1 Cruiser, 2 Destroyers
Sea Zone 19: 1 Cruiser, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 20: 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 36: 1 Cruiser, 2 Destroyers, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
Formosa: 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
Sea Zone 25: 3 Carriers, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 3 Fighters, 3 Fighter-Bombers
Caroline Islands: 1 Cruiser, 1 Naval Base, 1 Air Base
Marshall Islands: 1 Naval Base

ITALY:
Northern Italy: 3 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Air Base, 1 Major Factory, 1 AA gun
Southern Italy: 3 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 1 Fighter,
1 Bomber, 1 Air Base, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 95: 2 Battleships, 1 Cruiser, 2 Destroyers, 1 Submarine, 2 Transports
Sardinia: 2 Infantry
Sicily: 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
Sea Zone 94: 1 Submarine
Sea Zone 96: 1 Submarine
Yugoslavia: 1 Infantry
Albania: 1 Infantry
Greece: 2 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry
Tobruk: 2 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber
Bessarabia: 1 Infantry
Ukraine: 2 Infantry

MINOR AXIS ALLIES:
Finland: 5 Infantry, 1 Fighter
Hungary: 4 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Romania: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor,
1 Fighter, 1 Air Base, 1 Minor Factory
Bulgaria: 4 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry

VICHY FRANCE:
Southern France: 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Fighter, 1 Naval Base
Morocco : 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
Algeria: 1 Infantry
Syria: 1 Infantry
French West Africa: 1 Battleship, 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 1 Naval Base
French Madagaskar: 1 Infantry

UNITED KINGDOM:
Sea Zone 106: 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 111: 1 Battleship, 2 Cruisers, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 119: 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
United Kingdom: 3 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 3 Bombers, 1 Fighter,
1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Major Factory, 1 Air base, 1 Naval Base, 1 AA gun
Sea Zone 110: 1 Carrier, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 2 Cruisers, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 125: 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
Gibraltar: 1 Infantry, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 91: 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
Malta: 1 Infantry, 1 Air Base
Alexandria: 1 Infantry
Egypt: 2 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 1 Fighter, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 98: 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
Trans-Jordan: 1 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Armor, 1 Fighter
Anglo Egyptian Sudan : 1 Mechanized Infantry
Union of South Africa: 1 Transport, 1 Minor Factory, 1 Naval Base
Iraq: 1 Mechanized Infantry
West India: 1 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Fighter
Kwangtung: 1 Infantry
Shan State: 1 Infantry
Burma: 1 Infantry
India: 2 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Fighter, 1 Minor Factory, 1 Air Base
Ceylon: 1 Carrier, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Destroyer, 1 Naval Base
Malaya: 1 Infantry
Sea Zone 37: 1 Battleship, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 41: 1 Submarine

UNITED STATES:
Eastern United States: 1 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Armor,
2 Fighters, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Major factory, 1 Naval Base, 1 Air Base, 1 AA gun
Central United States: 1 Major factory, 1 AA gun, 1 Naval Base, 1 Air Base
Sea Zone 101: 1 Battleship, 1 Cruiser, 2 Destroyers, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 89: 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 64: 1 Cruiser, 1 Transport
Western United States : 1 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Bomber, 1 Major Factory, 1 Air Base, 1 Naval Base, 1 AA gun
Sea Zone 10: 1 Carrier, 2 Cruisers, 1 Destroyer, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber
Sea Zone 31: 1 Destroyer
Hawaii: 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Naval Base, 1 Air Base
Sea Zone 26: 2 Battleships, 2 Destroyers
Sea Zone 13: 1 Submarine
Philippines: 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Fighter
Sea Zone 35: 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport

CHINA:
One Infantry on each Chinese territory and one Fighter in Szechwan

ANZAC
Sea Zone 42: 1 Cruiser
Northern Territory: 1 Infantry
Queensland: 1 Infantry
New South Wales: 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Fighter, 1 Minor Factory, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 62: 1 Transport
New Zealand: 1 Infantry
Sumatra: 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter ( ANZAC does not control Sumatra for income purposes)