Posts made by drummerinheat

@MakeMaps:

I like Romanian complex. It sets me up for reinforcing the Eastern Front if I do a DOW Russia 1st turn as Germany. I can exploit weaknesses behind Russian enemy lines using sea assaults with transports if I need to bypass the front lines Russia has set up against Russia and send units to take control of the IC two spaces away from Russia.

after dropping 30 IPC’s on a complex and then purchasing a navy to do sea assaults, I don’t see how you will have enough bodies to make a strong push into Russia.  That’s the entire argument against purchasing the complex.  It distracts from the main objectives.

Interesting to read about the differences between 1st and 2nd edition.  I picked up my copies of 1940 in January/February of this year.  I must have read a post from 1st edition.  Thanks for all the thoughts and replies everyone!

It seems the Pacific side has the issues.  The air/naval bases cardboard prints are off center and the board doesn’t quite line up perfect and my board was bowed up.  Even the new one they sent me is a bit bowed on Japan.  That sucks cuz it’s on both boards, so if it isn’t even, setting pieces on it is annoying.

YG, i saw the crooked base prints in your video and thought “those have to be from the pacific side”.  exactly like mine.  I don’t know why they just didn’t print the symbols on the map like you did on your custom map.  I’ve been looking for mini plane/anchor stickers for mine.

Def take pics and email wotc.  That’s what I did for my warped pacific boards and they sent me another board.  Came in a nice new box too.

@Chris_Henry:

I also didn’t enjoy the cardboard pieces. I usually play with my dad (I’m 27) and he has a hard time noticing the flat pieces. Shapeways, link below, has some great pieces. I bought a bunch specifically from eBard (I am not allowed to post links I guess, but it’s at shapeways.com, under “eBard Models”, and they are perfect. Naval bases, airstrips, and I even bought his capitals sets to add some nice flavor to the board  :-)

He was really great and actually only made the Sydney and India pieces because I and a few others had asked about them, so he was great to work with. Got them to me in a timely fashion as well.

He also has some factory pieces, but I had bought some from Shapeways through HBG’s site before, but am not seeing them there now. Perhaps that’s because they’re out of stock as was mentioned above.

Anyways, check out his stuff, was very happy with it.

Thanks for the recommendation.  Had to do a little searching but found factory pieces.  Got 30 factories for 40 bucks with shipping.

I saw that you were maybe looking for the pacific 2nd edition board.  I have an extra board.  The corners are a bit bent.  They came that way and i complained to Wizards and they sent me a new board.  Trade perhaps?

I recommend buying the games.  They come with enough pieces.  I started with 1941, then 42 2nd Ed, the 40 Europe and 40 Pacific.  After all four games, the only thing I am left wanting are those cool factories I see in YoungGrasshopper’s videos and extra Italian roundels (in case Italy gets wild) and ANZAC roundels in case I want to make a 7th playable country with house rules.

Also, check the “For Sale” part of the forums.  Perhaps you could get lucky and purchase someones extras.  I know i have an extra full pacific board!  Im sure some of these awesome forum members have extra stuff!

Perhaps focus Germany and Italy 100% together.  Both go for the exact objective and don’t separate objectives.

Options could be:
1. Take Gibraltar and close med. then focus on Africa/Mid East
2. Focus everything on Russia.  Forget about Africa.  Purchase Tank/Mech with Italy and mass a mini Southern Army to work away at Ukraine’s etc with can openers

The only difficult thing is helping Italy get it’s NO’s.  Hard to abandon that stuff when there’s 15 IPCs at stake in just the Med alone.

I always hope for the allies to force early decisions on me as the Euro axis, that way I can commit to something new rather than traditional “tried and true” battle plans.  It makes things interesting and difficult.

I see the consensus is against the factory.  I wish I could find the old thread discussing what the benefit of it was.  Maybe it was just a passing mention of the potential to put one in that territory.

I’ve read posts on here regarding purchasing a Major in Romania.  It seems to me to be a waste of ipcs. Wouldn’t it be better to spend that 30 on inf or fast units?  Am I missing something?  Is it to better equip Army group south?

They are both great additions.  I still remember opening up both boxes and reading about the new units and being very excited and a little overwhelmed.  That being said…

I have to go with mech though.  The board is too big and fast moving land pieces are key.  Although i do appreciate tacs, i usually do not purchase them like i do mechs.  Every nation needs mechs except ANZAC and maybe the USA.  Russia can use them to cover ground quickly to africa/china/india/western front, uk for Africa/Middle East/SE Asia, Germany for the Eastern Front, and japan needs them to fight china and take india.

What has been your opponents  approach with Japan?  Has it been similar each game?  What turn is the U.S. Getting into the fray?  I assume that if Russia is your largest concern, your opponent is winning with the VC’s on the Europe map.  If that’s the case, after fortifying Moscow and snapping up Iraq and any African territory to net you bonus IPC for Russia, try to attack Germany in the west with USA and UK to open up a 2 front war ASAP.

Hope everyone’s ideas have helped spark a new strategy! Reading everyone’s thoughts always helps me look at the game with new perspective.  Looking forward to hearing how the next game goes.

Here is a general thought about the starting positioning/strategy of the axis.  No matter what, usually Germany will focus it’s efforts on either the UK or Russia.  A good axis player will keep you guessing up until the moment they strike.  Once that nation is the target, they are put on the defensive and it’s tough to turn the tables once you’re in that position.  A few quick thoughts.
1.  Are you retreating your Eastern Units?  I believe they all arrive back at moscow by turn 6.
2.  Are you sending a tiny force south through the Caucasus to snag Iraq and eventually some africa axis territories?  That’s bonus money!
3.  If you do really want to get offensive, help the allied cause by invading Scandinavia.  That will get you bonus money and cut bonus money for Germany.

All that being said, here are 2 excellent resources for ways to approach playing Russia:

This awesome post from Gargantua giving all Russia offensive fans hope! http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=34670.0

Also check out this youtube video series from YoungGrasshopper regarding Russian Strategy! https://youtu.be/JBK_hdAjUpw

Enjoy!

Italy taking London?! Now I’m intrigued!  That sounds crazy awesome.  Have no idea how it could work.  A risky move, no doubt. Like letting Italy clean up Paris after Germany does the dirty work.  I’m a big fan of non traditional strategies.

Thanks for the reply, but this is just the Europe side of the map.  The whole neutral thing doesn’t really work for the axis in global.  I was just looking for a completely different approach as the axis when playing the Europe board.  Was wondering if anyone has tried to target specifically the USA or England rather than the Soviets 1st.

I have played it once before.  It’s much bigger. Uses more in depth rules, different units for country’s, takes longer, uses 12 sided dice, has more countries to play with. It just depends on if you’re (as well as your play group) ready for something deeper.

The basics of this game played by either side can be ground down to some very basic principals.  Grind down/cut off/neuter one opponent rather than chipping away at all of them.  As the allies, it is common practice to cut out Italy.  It’s relatively easier than Germany and important.

As for the Axis, it’s pretty standard to focus on Russia.  I understand why.  It becomes a monster when unchecked (if played correctly of course).  Has anyone had other success based on focusing on England specifically?  Or do you dare…America?

I was recently attempting a turn 3 neutral crush (as axis) and attempting to take South America and try to sneak up on North America.  I know it sounds absurd, but i was bored of the “traditional” approaches and wanted to shake things up.  I ran into a road block when the English player decided to take Brazil the same turn I sacked Spain and Sweden (Italians Grabbed Turkey/Saudi Arabia) and nabbed South America before i could, thus making it too hard to mount an initial assault.

Any thoughts?

I found this group on Meetup.com http://www.meetup.com/axisallies-64/events/221333123/?a=md1_grp&rv=md1&_af_eid=221333123&_af=event  I haven’t been to an event yet, but i believe they meet every month.  I live about 100 miles west of Chicago.  What versions do you play?

I like this idea.  It’s a different approach that works on variables.  At a quick glance i’d say the main variable is what to do with Russia.  Making them stall the Germans is an art form.  A delicate balance of the right amount of strafing/counter attacking/retreating.

I like the Asia idea because i usually land a US force in the Soviet North and harass from there.

Very nice in depth post.  Thank you!

YG, i haven’t played enough times to really develop a “USA Strategy”, however, my thoughts on things i would be interest in knowing would be perhaps to do a few examples like:

1. Euro heavy offense options and buys.  Discuss Norway, Gibraltar, Med, Africa, and combining fleets with UK to Can Open Western Europe.
2. Pacific Defensive (If Euro offensive).  Heavy Sub/destroyer or air perhaps?  Blocking moves.  Island objectives.  Important sea zones

3. Pacific heavy offense options and buys.  Caroline islands, potential naval base, retaking Philippines, splitting japan navy.  importance of carriers, subs, and destroyers.  Can open with UK/ANZAC.  Money islands.  Other ideas on how to neuter japan

4. Euro defensive buy.  (If pacific offensive)  Harass gibraltar/N Africa? Rid atlantic of subs?  Any other thoughts….

Those are things i would love ideas for at least :)