Axis and Allies 1942 Edition Fact Sheet ( AA42)

In the forums here and at GTO, I have often read that the general consensus is that the allies had the advantage in Revised, but the axis have the advantage in Spring 1942.  I read of leagues where every game started with an allies +6 bid.  Everyone I play with (offline) feels the allies have the advantage in both, with the exception of one friend who feels the axis have the advantage in Revised.  I have begun to warm up to the axis in Spring 1942 lately, but I don’t know that I would go so far as to say they have the advantage. In my circle of family and friends, I am the most experienced A&A player. I know I ought to expand my horizons and play against some better players, thereby giving me the opportunity to learn more. Regardless, here is my question:

Do you think the Axis truly have a real advantage in a casual game without a fixed time limit, or is it only an advantage in a tournament setting with victory cities being the first deciding factor? I see it as clearly possible, if not probable, that the axis grab India and/or Karelia without losing any of their VC’s and time runs out, even if the allies are stronger militarily. The allies could be positioned to trounce the axis in the following round or two, yet lose because the axis hold 7 or 8 VC.

What are your opinions on the matter?

If you feel the axis have the advantage even in a long game, please explain why (perhaps citing a bit of your typical strategy). And please, let’s avoid the sarcastic joke strategies that have plagued some threads.

@Hobbes:

Check the Fortress Europe strat on my signature. You might find it to your liking :)

Yeah, I just spent a few hours on a response.  :oops:  Well, you know how this bunny gotta p wrath and all . . .

Generally, I like the idea, but I think the Allied counters I proposed, if properly executed, should leave the Axis with - well not PROBLEMS, but not an out and out victory either.

Strat bombing is good in 1942 also, far better than Revised.  Bombers drop to 12?  Woaah.  I mean, yeah, I’d probably still want to use bombers against hard targets, but this is ANOTHER whole Craig Coburn thing where he takes these Jap bombers and I-Bombs Russia.  He never COULD pull it out in Revised, but 12 IPC bombers changes things, it really does - especially with the new costs, insta-death transports, and even sub fodder rules.

(starts humming Aladdin’s “a whole new worrrlllld”)

@iGuitar93:

Yes I have previously played risk. I thought it was too much of a game of luck so I tried this one.

A&A is also a mixture of skill and luck, although you can use a Low Luck system that greatly diminishes the random factor built into it.

I don’t understand how Moscow can fall on G4, much less both London and Moscow.  Russia must play aggressively, building a mix of infantry, artillery, and tanks.  If Germany sends straight tanks, the Western Allies can drop the hammer much faster.

I really enjoy AA42.  It really is worth the money.  Sure, the spaces on the board are too small, but there are downloads to take care of that.  Play it a few times and you’ll be as hooked as I am.

I take back what I said about forgetting Africa.  With the new transport rules, it is much easier to fend off Allied convoy’s, especially for the first few turns.  I did some testing (having the new TripleA now) and this is what seemed to work best:

-Take out see zone 2 with sub and whatever air needed.  Leave Canada transport for Baltic fleet as it won’t have much of an escort with sea zone 2 dead
-take out battleship in sea zone 13 with remainder of air that can reach.
-grab 1 inf and 1 tank from Southern Europe, land in Egypt with all land forces that can reach and fighter that can reach from eastern front.
-take Karelia with Norway troops and reserves.
-consolidate on Karelia, Belorussia and Ukraine

Hold Eastern line (trading if need be) until Japs storm in back side.
trade Baltic fleet for any UK1 fleet build
Keep majority of air in Western Europe and buy a bomber a turn (for 3 turns).  Sink everything

Eventually Japan storms in as usual, and it takes 3+ turns for a large enough fleet to hold off Germany’s air.

Another thing I tried was taking the Japan fleet in the East Indies and spare fighters and take out India fleet, then move through Mediterranian see to hold Gibralter with the German Battleship.  This bought an extra turn or two of holding off allied fleet.  You don’t need it in the Pacific anyway assuming you destroy the Pearl Harbor fleet.

It caused me to lose all but Kwangtung on Asia initially, but I ferried so many troops in after the first turn it didn’t matter.  The allies have no supply line in eastern Asia to stop you, and with half the Japan fleet in the Atlantic with the German boats left, it made African and Western Europe landings impossible.  They only thing the Allies can do is Norway landings, which take twice as long from the US.

I’m not sure of a good Allied counter to this.  I did have the PC move the Russian sub to sea zone 2, which helped take out more units in that battle (still only lost a fighter and sub).

One thing about translating NA’s from AA50 would be Italy.  Without Italy, the NA’s would be in favor of Allies.

If you want to play AA50, use the AA 1942 pieces and IL’s big AA 50 map and download the rules from WotC/AH website.

Not sure about the techs.  Paratrooper would wreck havoc as the board is smaller than AA50 and LRA and paratrooper would allow you to reach almost any territory possible.

As for being bland, I would have to disagree, AA 1942 (AAR with AA50 rules) allows for different strategies, (not sure about a bid as it’s still new and people haven’t had enough time to play with it.

Play with it first before modifying.

Good gaming.