Posts made by MP84

Would anyone say though, that is in fact a good idea to let Japan take India? I mean really. The initial UK setup in India is not good enough to last over the span of even a few turns if Japan is funneling forces in. You can say that building an IC there is not a good idea, but what is the alternative? An IC in Australia? The Imperial Navy is far to strong to pretend that you can send your 2 inf/1 tank 1 infantry a turn over to SE Asia. I think that the UK is best used by causing problems in North Africa, strat bombing Germany, harassing the Japanese in the Pacific, and massing for Overlord. I just dont see a viable alternative to an IC in India. It is something that can be done in turn 2 (after watching Japans turn one) that can have an immediate impact on that theatre. It is either that, or basically admit that you wont have a say in the Pacific.

I guess I am a frustrated player who’s is tired of the watching the UK player do nothing(in most games i have seen). Sitting there building 10 infantry a turn, and fighting a delaying action in Egypt is not an effective use of the difficult to use, yet profitable UK.

@Flashman:

Sorry, but the Italian roundel is TOTALLY inappropriate, as it was used only by the ALLIED Italian air force after the country switched sides in 1943.
It should be the fasces symbol beyond dispute.
However much of a git Mussolini may have been, his regime wasn’t in the same league of evil as Hitler’s and Stalin’s, so to ban the fasces and still use the hammer and sickel is just plain daft.
Or is it really all about who ended up on the winning side…

Well, the green outside/red inside roundel was used by the Italians in WWI (again, as part of the Allies/Detente). But it totally agree with you. I think if the hammer and sickle is used in the game, all historically accurate insignias should be used for what is an incredibly accurate WWII game. I know that this would hurt sales in places like Germany and Italy(due to banned party imagery), but its already pretty clear Avalon Hill doesn’t give a hoot about AA. This would not be a endorsement of the Nazi or Fascist Parties; rather it would be an honest reproduction of who was fighting in this war, and what idealogies were being  We can pretend Nazis and Fascists didn’t exist, but sadly many brave people died to stop their evil from spreading.

@Uberlager:

That’s funny, I thought the colors were:

USSR - brown
UK - brown
Italy - brown
Japan - orangey-brown
USA - green
China - green

:-D

Haha. Too true. I think some painting is in order for most players who care about board readability!

@bbrett3:

A lot of people argue over this so i figure its about time to get some hard data on the issue

The UK rarely makes a breakthrough in the Pacific, but it is suicide to cede India and allow Japan to gorge itself on the soft underbelly of the Middle East and the USSR. An IC in India early in the game will at least make the Japanese devote time and money to make sure the British don’t cross the line. It is a necessary delay manoeuvre to stall Japan, and to give them an additional thing to think about. This is important early in the game because it should take the US a few turns to get their footing.

All that being said, it is possible that the UK, aided with smart purchases and good die rolling, could take Kwangtung, and Indo China, and possibly push into China. I’ve never seen it, but it theoretically is possible.

@tin_snips:

^^ agreed. the BB should be the biggest ship by far

Did you have all your BB? I was shorted one! Atleast it was the Soviets…i dont see them building them but still…

I voted Italy because I’ve been dreaming of this addition since i starting playing 10 years ago. If handled correctly, and with aid of some good dice rolling, they can swing the game.

Great Review TG!

It’s awesome to know someone got as excited about the unboxing ritual. I third the motion that the german transports are lame, but hey, kudos for trying to make unique units (sans the italian navy and air force).

All i all, I don’t think i can ever really get excited about a game of Classic now that theres so much more to be had in AA50.

Lastly, great Spandau reference.

@tin_snips:

yeah, italy was introduced quite well. they’re small, which they were, but have the possibility to expand and become much larger. i think they’re an interesting nation to play

Yea, for something as difficult as this, they were introduced quite well. I think they can turn a whole game around, depending on whos who.

First played in 1999, while i was in high school. I like that someone mentioned risk, because that’s what I had heard about AA. “Oh, you like risk? Well, see theres a better game….”

I liked AA so much that i made roundels and tons of house rules to mix Risk and AA.

@tin_snips:

i’ve only been playing AA50 since i got it. i enjoy it too much to be going back to revised or original

i’ve played 3 times in the past month, and hopefully again next week. it’s not too hard organising a game during the christmas break  :-)

That is awesome. I have my copy, but i haven’t been able to play with anyone yet. I’d love to play every week if possible, whether it be Classic or AA:50

@LT04:

I guess the D&D game went into overtime their site still has AA50 as upcoming.   :|

Pretty stunning isn’t it? I almost wonder how anyone knew when it would come out considering the publisher doesn’t seem to care.

It appears as if everyone is right. In WWI, the Italian roundel was green on the outside and red inside. However, after the fascist triple fasces, if appears to have reversed. I personally would have enjoyed the triple fasces roundel(i think each nation should have historically accurate roundels), but I am fine with the one included. It is linked to the Italians, and it seems to have been copied by the Iranians.

@Driel310:

Oh yeah, funny thing all the piececounts were correct apart from the USA we have +1 cruiser and -1 destroyer.  :wink:

Haha funny stuff. My soviet tray had +1 Destroyer and -1 Battleship

@C_Strabala:

Crazy question, why are the only unique Italian units their tanks & infantry? Why counldn’t Hasbro/Avalon Hill/Wizards Of The Coast come up with at least a few new units instead of recycling German & Japanese units? Second, what is the British tank in this game?

Yea…i definately wish Italy had all unique units…I also wish i had a solid gold toilet, but oh well.

Yea, 100 bucks…i make myself feel better by telling myself i supported the local board game shoppe.

@TG:

Nope, tried.  Avalon Hill won’t be supplying replacement pieces to the customer.  :|

Any idea why? That makes no sense whatsoever. How can they expect that no AA player will lose some pieces and want some extras to replace them??Am I seriously going to have buy a AA Revised just to get some pieces?

I’m not sure i really favor either a 41 or 42 setup, but I absolutely love the inclusion of NO’s and the new way techs are handled. It makes the game more fluid and organic, and less predictable. Buying naval units is actually possible now without people questioning your sanity. You can field a decisive field army, and still be able to fight it out on the sea and air. Who would have thought? A WORLD war with conflict in every battlespace.

It would not surprise me if it was limited edition. But Larry, if you are reading, great work! Best edition yet, all shortcomings aside! :-D

Does anyone know if you can order extra playing pieces from Avalon Hill? The supplied number of Italian Navy units is kind of a joke…If they have any success in Africa, they need to be able to send men and materiel over. Using the chips to designate mulitiple transports is very cumbersome. And if you lose 1 cruiser piece, you’ve just lost half of the supplied cruisers.

I am quite interested in ordering extra pieces for all the nations, so does anyone know if this is possible?

While we are talking about the pieces, does anyone have a positive ID on the Soviet bomber used in AA:50? I was thinking it might be a Petlyakov Pe-8, but the wingspan doesn’t really match the Pe-8.