I’m using a piece of rubber shelf liner (like ‘Grip-It’ on Amazon) between tabletop and each A&A board. Stuff is like $1 a roll at the grocery store. Slight dampening affect and definitely keeps things from sliding around.
Well, to answer your question… when I play as Japan in this game I build ICs in China or Malaya in order to turn out ground units for taking India. I would rather spend 12 bucks on 3 mech inf than 18 bucks on tanks and the rest of my money goes towards building Navy to ward off the US. Your power lies in your airforce so what you really need (more than tanks) are just guys to lose, but plain infantry move so freaking slow.
That’s your best bet. Plus you’ll get a lot of extra units so you don’t have to use poker chips.
That is what I did with AA42. My boys didn’t want their copy so I bought it, with 1 game played, for $20 to add to mine. Now I need a bigger table so I can print one of IL’s maps for AA42 to have a good sized board for more pieces and less chips used.
I just think that if they are treated like airbases and naval bases then it would be easy, any territory can buy them, and they give an extra move if the unit starts at that location.