Best posts made by Narvik

As Ceasar said, while it is a good idea for the playability and balance, its far from historical truth.

According to International Law for that period, and that is the Haag convention of 1905 and 1907, a country that declare neutrality at the start of a world war, can not take part in any kind of warfare or let other partys use their territory. The Law says the neutral state must have a strong military force to protect and defend its neutral territories.

Based on the International Law, all neutrals should have strong Infantry/Fighter defense for self protection, stronger than the OOB set up, and even maybe let them grow with one additional unit every second turn, if that dont make it too complicated.

The OOB rules for neutrals dont model the historical truth, it models the collective safety mechanic that the League of Nations tried to implement after WWI, but was abandoned in 1938, when every neutral minor country in Europe reverted back to the Haag convention from 1905/07. Attack one member, and you attack them all. I love that idea, and maybe it would have worked, but no matter how beautiful the idea is, it was in fact abandoned in 1938 because UK and France denied the League of Nations to punish Italy and Japan after the attacks on true neutrals Ethiopia, Albania and Manchuria. PM Chamberlain said in his speach that the collective safety mechanic was dead, and that each neutral minor had to depend on their own military defense, or join the Western Allies.

Still, the idea of collective safety for neutrals is not dead in A&A. Attack neutral Spain, and all the neutrals of the world will attack you. Sorry but its not the historical truth, not for the first years when strict neutral Ethiopia, Albania, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Finland, Romania, The Baltic States, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Belgium and Netherlands all were attacked, and all this were strict and true neutrals, its not like they were pro something that would have justified the attacks, but the truth is that the rest of the true neutrals did nothing, strict neutral Sweden did nothing when its brothers Finland, Norway and Denmark were attacked, why would neutral Sweden do something if true neutral Bolivia in South America, or true neutral Zimbabwe in Africa, or true neutral Mongolia in Asia got attacked ? I just cant see the reason. A neutral is a neutral, when your brother get stabbed you turn your back to it, you dont suddenly join any fight, because then you are not neutral.

I’m a Boomer and when I grew up all kids were outdoor playing soccer, or climbing in threes or playing boardgames. My grand kids that are zoomers and Gen Alfa are always indoor, behind a pc, and their parents need to arrange a play date if they want to go over to their friends. I belive the last generations are lost to our cause

I was an adult the first time I played the famous A&A MB Classic edition in 1988, Now that was a great game, plastic soldiers and a beautiful map, simple rules easy to learn, and a lifetime to master. The Classic rules didn’t always produce results which made sense in the contest of the historical setting, like Submarines shooting down lots of Aircrafts, and Transports sinking lots of Battleships, so of course revisions and House Rules followed. I suspect the designer never joined the Navy nor Airforce so basically it was an Infantry game, and still is. The Ships and Aircrafts behave like Infantry because it need to be simplistic streamlined for ease of play. So I was told. Also the game balance was not fair, but what game is? In Chess white is favoured, and in Monopoly the first to go is favoured, and in Risk the owner of America always win. Anyway that could be solved with bidding. Then the Tournaments startet and LHTR solved the problems. Great fun.

I figure that Europe 1999 ed and Pacific 2001 ed was the golden age. Streamlined rules and beatiful maps with light colors but they could not be joined into a Global game and that was a misfortune. Then we got Revised 2004 ed with black water and black German pieces and really dark colors on everyting, but the game play and playability was superb. Best game ever. Except from the too dark colors.

My favourites are 50th Anniversary and Europe 2 ed and Pacific 2 ed. The only but is the high cost. No school kids can afford it, so they buy 42 or 41, with too dark maps. All the Theater games is too heavy with too complicated rules. also no rules are streamlined. You need to learn new rules for every game, and that is a loss. Some of the Theater rules could be streamlined. Like Road Movement. BotB have unlimited, NF have 5 and Stalingrad have 2+2. The Supply rule could have been streamlined. Unit cost and combat value could have been the same as the standard game, easy to remember. The Theather games are for nerds, not for the casual player. The nerds are happy, but I belive the franchise suffer from this. A&A have always been KISS =(keep it simple stupid. )

No need to design a new A&A game. Just take A&A 42 or Anniversary, give the map lighter colors, and use Tournament Rules. Now that should do it. Not a lot of traffic on this thread, where are all the players?

Have you considered using Kickstarter ?

@Narvik

This post will cover the 1939 Pacific Set up.

USSR far east: 10 inf, 2 Art, Tank, FTR, Tac,
NB (Vladivostok) Pacific Fleet: DD, 2 Subs
Sovjet Volunteer Group in China: FTR TAC in Yunnan + Chonqing

Japan Inf, Main factory 3 NB ( Yokosuka, Sasebo and Kure) AB
Manchuria: 4 Inf, Art, Tank, FTR NB (Port Arthur)
Korea Inf
Occupied China: 7 Inf, 3 Art, FTR, BMB Minor factory (Kiangsu) NB (Shanghai)
Formosa, main AirBase
Air Bases on Paulau, Mariana, Caroline, Marshall
Combined Fleet: 2 CV + 4 air, 3 BB, 3 CA, 2 DD
5th fleet, CA
Trsp Fleet. 3 Trannies
3th Fleet: CA DD
2nd fleet: 4 CA, 2 DD
Caroline CA DD
Marshall 2 Subs

USA west coast: Major factory, AB, inf, FTR NB (San Diego)
Pacific Fleet: CV + 2 air, 3 BB, 5 CA, 2 DD, Tranny
Hawaii 2 Subs
Asiatic Fleet: DD, 2 subs, Tranny
Phillipines: I Marine inf NB (Cavite) AB

China:
KMT, 32 inf + Camco factory in Yunnan + Tank, (Hunan) FTR TAC (Yunnan) from USSR
Red Army CCP 2 Inf Hunan
Prince De 1 cav
Emperor Puyi 2 inf

UK Pac
India minor factory 2 inf Uk + 2 Inf punjab
Ceylon NB (Trincomalae) CA, DD, 2 Trannies, AB
Hong Kong inf, NB (China station) CA tranny
Singapore Fort, NB, CA, DD, Sub, Tranny

Burma Inf
Siam Inf
FIC Inf (French)

Australia Minor factory, NB (Sydney) CA, DD, Tranny, Inf
New Zealand NB (auckland) CA, DD, Tranny
East Indies CA, Sub (Holland)

I dont belive we had oil here in Norway during WWII, I think we found it in 1965, at the bottom of the North Sea, and any way there would be no technology to get it up from the deep of 4 miles before the 1960s. As you know, the oil in the Middle East is just some feets under the sand, and is easy to get up, some places it even pops up by itself.

I love an oil rule. With no oil your battleships, aircrafts and tanks cant move. Lack of oil was the sole reason that the Italian battleships never left port during WWII. There should be some oil in Amerika too, since 60 % of all oil was produced there, like Venezuela and Mexico, and Texas. And you should add, that you need to track a path between your oil and units that are not blocked, if you want to move something other than inf

@Requester45:

I totally agree with all of you, however Vann is right when he says that it’s probably to appeal to the younger crowd.

I am 50 and it appeals to me, man, so dont blame the age.

Oh, and since many of you wont buy it, I will buy 10 copies, just to support WOTC.

Yes, my way to honor and respect the veterans is to buy as many copies of A&A Zombies that I can afford, and store in my basement.

Enough

@Narvik

GERMANY - TURN 1 - FALL 1939

TECH: Uranium Factory + Pervitrin (energy booster)
PURCHASE: Sub, Bomber, 3 Inf

COMBAT

BATTLE OF POLAND
Ge. 2 BMB SBR> Warzava (Poland) 50 % damage
113: BB >> 114, shore bombard> Pol
Ge: 7 Inf, 2 Art, 3 Tank, 2 Mech, mnt inf, 2 FTR, TAC attack> POL 4 Inf, Tank, FTR
Loss:
Ge: Inf, Tank + POL: loss all

BATTLE OF ATLANTIC
112: Sub > 109 CV, 3DD, convoy Loss: CV dam, 1 convoy point loss
Sub > 110 DD conv Loss: 2 conv points
Sub > 111 3 BB, 4 CA, 2 DD, conv Loss: Ge Sub UK BB damaged
Sub > 119: SS Athenia Liner. Loss: Liner sunk

90: CA (graf Spee) > 82 Convoy Loss: 2 conv points

Total UK convoy loss: 6 IPC (= 600 000 tons of shipping in real war)

non-comb move

Start of Holocaust: 100 000 civilian poles killed

@Caesar:

you should add a rule that UK can declare war of Italy but suffers some kind of backlash for it.

I think you are on to something. In fact every player, except USA, should be free to declare war on any enemy or neutral, but if they do they will suffer a backlash. USA did not have this freedom of DOW because they had the Congress, but every other nation could. The only ting that prevented them from making favorable DOW,s were fear of suffering backlashes. In fact every nation that unprovocely attacked innocent neighbours did in fact get banned and blocked from the international trade. When Benito attacked France, then Italy was denied American oil the next day, forcing Germany to share the Romanian oil, which led to all Italian battleships staying in port for the rest of the war. Same with UK, they wanted to attack neutral Norway and Sweden to cut of the iron ore trade, but did not dare that because USA warned that in that case they would be banned from trade, so they had to wait and let Adolf do the first move.

I suggest that the German 5 IPC trade NO can be used on every playing nation. Every player start with a 5 IPC international trade NO. If you make an unprovoced attack on any neutral or enemy not yet at war power, then you lose that 5 IPC NO. But if you are the victim then you keep it. Now UK must decide if an unprovoced Taranto raid is favorable, or is it better to let Italy make the first move. I think this is in the spirit of A&A, and all the silly special rules we have seen the last years are not. Tanks you for listening, man

@djensen

The decline in love of A&A is sad. 10 years ago there were like 100+ patrons, now only 20.

Anyway, I suggest a new perk for the distinguished patron. You should be able to lock your own thread. Currently only mods can lock a thread. So I got this Blog running, “The Grand Strategy Game”, but I don’t want it to be an open discussion thread, I want it to be a locked Blog thread. If you can make that happen I’ll be distinguished in 2027. (Can’t afford this year sorry, on a budget) Also I have a Blog with a lot of pics. I don’t know the cost of a pic. I want to pay for my Blog, I’m not a freerider. How many pics do Gold cover and how many can distinguished cover? My Blog is based on pics.

@HBG-GW-Enthusiast

In my basement we call it the plastic men

@Narvik

USSR - TURN 1 - FALL 1939

The border war with Japan ends in cease fire agreement. Stalin and Hirohito (The Japan player) shake hands, and now Stalin has his back free to attack Poland.

Also, carpenter George Elser (far right) shows up in the Game Room.

@Narvik

USSR T1 Fall 1939

Purchase: TAC, Tank, 3 Infantry

Combat move:

Novgo: 2 FTR, 2 TAC, 2 BMB attack> Pol
Belo: 4 Tank attack> Pol
W. Ukr: 4 Inf, Art attack> Pol 3 Inf
Loss: Pol lose all

non-combat move
Kill 150 000 civilian poles
Deport 320 000 civilian poles to Gulag

Amur: TAC (Sovjet Vol. Group) to Szechwan

@Narvik

JAPAN - TURN 1 - FALL 1939

TIENTSIN INCIDENT

Background story: China printet too much money and made hyper inflation. USA, UK and USSR gave loans in silver to China to stabilize the Yuan (chinese money). Cheng, the manager of the Japan controlled federal reserve bank in occupied China got killed by Juntong (a chinese spy) when he was trying to stop the allied aid.

Hirohito now give a warning to FDR and Chamberlain
-Stop supporting china
-Turn over the suspects of the Cheng assasination.

Also Japan will now block US and UK access to Shantung (where US and UK consessions are located) by blocking sz 19.

@Narvik

USA - TURN 1 - FALL 1939

PANAMA CONFERENCE: All Latin and South American states agree to stay neutral, but also to an Pan-American security zone. US warships will start neutrality patrols outside the coast of America.

The Einstein & Szilard warning make FDR start both the Manhattan Project and the Tech Agency, with Vannevar Bush, to develope radar, sonar, radio etc

FDR give a $ 45 mill to China, and economic sanctions on Japan. (FDR family is heavy into China trade)

FDR suggest Cash and Carry to UK.

-John M. Kaynes warn about the New Deal.
-New Deal is dead in Congress and Supreme Court.

Neutrality declarations by minors: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, USA, Ireland and Italy. Also Spain and Portugal sign the Iberian Pact to stay neutral.

@Narvik

USA TURN 1 Fall 1939

Tech: Uranium Factory (Manhattan Project) + Tech Agency
Purchase: East Coast: CA

Non-combat moves

Start neutrality patrols in Atlantic:
101: CA to 89
101: CA to 88
101: CA to 86
101. Tranny with Infantry to Panama

101: SS Normandie (France) is interned by FDR

Pacific:
Tranny with silver to 36 Kwangsi

@Narvik

CHINA - TURN 1 - FALL 1939

TIENTSIN INCIDENT: UK police-force in China turn over 4 suspects of the Cheng assasination to Japan police.

UK refuse to turn over silver or stop aid to China

Purchase: 3 Inf KMT, Inf CCP

@Narvik

UK - TURN 1 - FALL 1939

Chamberlain (UK), King (Canada), Smuts (South Africa), Sheik Al Khalifa (Bahrain) DOW Germany

W. Churchill is promoted First Lord.

ANGLO-TURKISH TREATY: UK will guarantee and arm Turkey

OSLO REPORT: Hans F. Meyer turn over german military tech paper to Neville.

Governments in exile in London. King Selassie (Ethiopia), Sikorsky (Pol) and king Zog (Albania)

WHITE PAPER: UK is restricting jew immigration to Trans Jordan.

Egypt: King Farouk II declare Egypt neutral. Still, the 1936 Treaty give UK right to have troops in Egypt and defend Egypt from foreign aggression.

Princess Fawzia marry Reza Sha to form alliance between Egypt and Persia against UK.

@Narvik

UK TURN 1 Fall 1939

Tech: Uranium factory (named “Tube Alloys”)
Purchase:
UK: DD, FTR, Tank, Art, 2 Inf.
Canada: FTR
Turkey: 2 Inf + AA-gun paid by UK.
Iraq: Airbase (RAF Habbaria)

Combat:
UK: BMB SBR> W. Germany
Loss: BMB UK

Non-combat moves

Operation Fish: UK: Tranny with gold to Canada (to pay for Cash and Carry stuff)

BEF: UK Tranny with Tank + Inf to Normandy

Blockade: UK, Sub to sz 110 + Sub to sz 112

Can: Tranny with Inf to UK

Start a protected convoy system:
UK: 2 BB, 2 CA, DD to sz 119
UK: CV, CA to 109
UK: DD to 106, DD to 107, DD to 108, DD to 117, DD to 118, DD to 91, DD to 111
Gib 91: BBa CA to 88
Egy 98 BB CA Sub to 81

@Narvik

ITALY - TURN 1 - FALL 1939

The Elser bomb just happened. Unfortunately the german player (Adolf) was not present during the bombing, so the game goes on. The elephant in the room is that WWII could have been real short, just 3 months, if Elser had been successful.

No help from Italy. Adolf ask Benito (the Italian player) to join the war. But pope Pius XII just made a veto to attack catholic countries like Poland and France, so Benito can’t join the war at this time.

PURCHASE
Italy: Tranny, TAC, Inf
Hung: Inf
Sweden: DD build in Italy. (sailing this DD home almost pushed Sweden to join the war)

non-comb move

Hung/Slo: Inf (Slovakia) move to Poland

In this Blog Spain, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Albania and Greece are italian client states, and purchase, combat and moves during Italian turns.

@Narvik

ANZAC - TURN 1 - FALL 1939

Menzies (Aus), Savage (N-Z), Linlitghov (British India) and Nepal DOW Germany.

Gandhi protest, since he is against British rule.

ANZAC give a £ 10 mill loan in silver to China, and open Burma Road

PURCHASE
India: Inf
Aus: Inf + aircraft factory

non-comb move

India: Tranny with Inf to sz 74 ( later to Sudan)
Aus: Tranny with Inf to 57 (later to Trans Jordan)
N-Z: Tranny with Inf to sz 61

India: Truck with silver to Yunnan (via Burma Road)

Image show the game table being moved to new Gaming Room