Topics created by D511

Yeah, I kind of agree with you Variance. Europe is where most of the action is. Plus, if you just play Europe, it takes up a lot less space on the table.
Yet, every time I think, let’s just play Europe, I already start to miss the Japanese. I just can’t seem to get into a game without the Japanese making trouble on the other side of the board.

If you liked the first addition get the second.  At first blush the differences don’t look that big, until you play it.  I’ve only played the second version a small fraction of the number of first addition games but only due to a lack of time.  Luckily a friend  bought it and left it at my place when it first came out.  Of course I did buy the other 3 versions of AA our group has access to!

It seems the first game was slanted towards the allies the second game has a slight axis advantage.  Those slants may take several games for you to notice.  I would recommend that if you have a local group you play face to face with to get it, don’t study the forums for what others think but rather just play it in your group.  I love how strategies can change so quickly when feeling out a new game.  What worked the first game might look plain silly in the forth game!  It’s not often you get a change to do that with a new board game so have fun with this one!

Wittman is right about the importance of taking Paris with Germany.  A couple weeks ago, my group had an interesting development– Germany failed to take Paris due to horrific rolls.  Usually, that would end the game, but the Italian Player ended up taking it, and he went wild with the extra income-- he controlled all the Med and knocked the Allies out of North Africa and was well on the way to South Africa by I5 or I6.  Despite Italy’s success, Germany was never able to get that subtle edge over the Soviets.

Without the income boost, Germany cannot mount a very viable SeaLion, AND the build-up to Barbarossa is too anemic to make the push on Moscow really strong.  It is amazing how vital that 17 IPC boost is for maintaining a good head of steam.