It was an amazing game, 11 hours straight! Well worth my drive from and to Chicago. Thanks for hosting, @SS-GEN !

As Italy, my strategy had several directives and characteristics:

1- creating havoc in Africa and the Middle East to force UK, and even USSR, to divert efforts to those regions, so to support Germany’s main thrust. I see this as my “remote can opener”. Result: pushed UK out of Africa (except a contained pocket in Johannesburg) and the Near East

2- secure gradual IPC growth by capturing as many small (often neglected) territories as possible. Result: These 1 IPC territories plus national bonuses (controlling Med islands) enabled me a whopping 60 IPC income later in the game

3- invest decisively in influencing neutral nations: Congo, Angola, and Turkey. This was a calculated risk, based on probabilities it was well worth the risk of dice against the IPCs saved/gained. Result: gained strategic advantage in Africa and Near East by controlling those countries, armies and IPCs.

4- corrode UK and US IPC gains by attacking their convoys as aggressively as possible with my super subs. Result: temporarily drove down Allies IPCs and slowed down their final advance across the Atlantic

5- relentlessly pursue the British navy in the Med, Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Result: destroyed British navies, securing Italy’s naval dominance (near-supremacy) in those regions, and helping Japan by corroding India’s defense

6- I refrained from supporting Germany in France and Balkans. Germany didn’t want my help in France, and my support in the Balkans was irrelevant against the massive armies Germany amassed in the Eastern Front. I thus diverted my land units to the Middle East. Result: US did invade Western Europe but it was too late. Italy gained oil rigs in the Middle East, helping the Axis to secure victory points needed.

Avanti Italia!

Thanks again. Lots of fun! Looking forward to playing soon. Cheers.

Realistic Vichy France Rules

Introduction: When playing Vichy rules, I was excited with the general concept but found that the game play could be improved by connecting playability with historical realism. I reviewed online variants to develop a ruleset that works in out-of-box and mod games. I added historical facts as footnotes to clarify some key rules. For feedback, please email: phd_angel@yahoo.com

Activation: upon occupying Paris and Normandy-Bordeaux, Germany has the option of continuing to fight against France or declaring the Franco-German Armistice with Southern France. It becomes the French State during Germany’s income collection. Vichy is friendly to the Axis under special conditions and exceptions. (1)

Setup: Replace France units and markers with Vichy ones in Southern France, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Madagascar, French Indochina, and SZ93. Remaining territories and units in Africa and UK remain Free France. (2)

Movement: Vichy units cannot move. Axis units can move in Vichy territories as friendly allies, except for French Indochina (which can be occupied by Japan for its IPCs).

Combat: Vichy units can only defend, never attack. They roll at regular defense rates, except for infantries in the colonies, rolling as militias (roll for 1 instead of 2). Axis units in Vichy territories defend and attack at regular rates. (3)

Income: Vichy collects no IPCs. Germany loots 17 IPCs when first occupying Paris and gets 3 IPCs per round as Vichy forced reparations. Adjust the IPC table (4).

National Objectives:

• Italy: Vichy Southern France counts for “Greater Roman Empire”
• Italy: Vichy colonies do not count for “North Africa” (5)
• Japan: its occupation of French Indochina negates “Trade with America”

End of Vichy: the French State can collapse in two ways, requiring markers, units and IPCs to be changed:

1. Occupation: Germany invades Southern France and declares its occupation in combat phase. No combat happens. Vichy units in Southern France and SZ93 are removed. Other Vichy territories and units become Free French, or become Axis if Axis units are present.

2. Liberation: Allies enter Southern France. Vichy territories and units become Free French, but Vichy territories hosting Axis units become Axis. France starts collecting IPCs.

Conclusion: Vichy rules dramatically affect the game in the Mediterranean. Germany benefits the most: it earns 3 IPCs per round (4), it gains a defense buffer against the Allies, and can move across any Vichy territory (e.g., Syria). In contrast, Italy cannot occupy Vichy territories and cannot enjoy the “North Africa” national objective (5) but can still enjoy easy passage to the Middle East…

Historical footnotes:
(1) Hitler wanted to neutralize France in the fight against Britain. He was concerned with its Mediterranean fleet and bases. In turn, France was happy not to be destroyed while maintaining rich colonies in Africa.

(2) French colonial officers were ambivalent about cooperating with Vichy, Germany or Italy. Weak ties led them to flip according to circumstances.

(3) Germany and Vichy agreed to coordinate military operations but rarely fought together. Vichy refused a military alliance with Germany. Moreover, colonial troops suffered low morale and often disobeyed orders.

(4) Germany exploited Vichy economically, extracting logistical support to 300,000 German troops in Northern France. In addition, Germany used Frenchmen captured before the armistice to work as slave labor in Germany.

(5) Hitler forbade Mussolini from occupying French colonies. But French Indochina was an easy prey for Japan interested in blockading Nationalist China and in attacking Dutch-owned oilfields.

Enjoy.
phd_angel@yahoo.com
Chicago, 2020

PS: Madagascar was added in setup in July 2023

Fellow Strategists,

Always looking for ways to improve your A&A experience? Upgrades, mods, strategies and customizations? On my new YouTube channel, I explore different ways to enhance the A&A gameplay.

Check out these two new videos:

🎥 Will This Map Improve My Axis & Allies Experience? A Review of the Anniversary Edition Deluxe Map
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmAgkzxMK7Y&ab_channel=PhDAngel
Customized maps look amazing but do they actually enhance gameplay? In this review, I break down the pros and cons of the Anniversary Edition Deluxe Map and whether it’s worth the upgrade.

Please subscribe the channel. Thanks!

PhD Angel

In reading “Tabletop Wargames: a Designer’s Handbook”, I came across the concept of cross-domain (page 45), which would remedy a major drawback in A&A gameplay: the tremendous downtime as players have to wait about 1 hour between turns.

Cross-domain means that other players can also move during someone’s turn. If I apply this concept to A&A, for example:

• Germany player purchases units and makes all combat moves; then all other nations can make a single combat move anywhere (if they want) and resolve it;

• then Germany player makes all non-combat moves; following that, each other player can also make a single non-combat move;

• then, Germany player mobilizes units and collects income. Next nation (USSR in G40) then starts their turn following the same cross-domain of combats and non-combats.

The big advantage is that it curtails downtime and keeps all nations engaged all the time, adding focus and excitement - and faster unit mobility. This seems pretty radical, as I’ve never seen this “house rule” discussed anywhere online or offline. I’m sure other players can find problems or appreciate advantages in this alternative mechanics…

What do you think?..

@Folgore77 - Thanks for posting these amazing photos reporting the game as it unfolded. This a great storytelling. I’d love to see it again in the future. Cheers,

I created a playlist of house rules on my YouTube channel. I just added two new variants for the game: super battleship, and tactical bomber target select. Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ-J158iTSmNLwu4n9icSZz5aUQcLPB_z

@Chris_Henry,

Congrats on a quite realistic Vichy mod (I write this in 2020). Much better than the silly Tolkien-like options I see throughout this forum. I like realism and simplicity, with minimized luck of dice.

I raise four major points with suggestions, for your consideration:

1. The uncertainty of allegiances pre-battle is quite interesting. But I try to minimize dice randomness. IRL (in real life), Vichy troops (just like Italians) surrendered as soon as seeing enemy superiority: thus, in the game, if Allies send more land + air units than defending Vichy units, there is no battle but surrender. Or, make it unlikely that a battle would ensue (for example, need to roll a 1).

2. IPC system, however, is historically inaccurate (as in most, if not all, Vichy mods I’ve seen): IRL, Nazi Germany profited handsomely on Vichy which had to quite richly sustain 300,000 German troops stationed in Northern France! So, in the game, Germany should actually gain IPC bonus, whereas Vichy and Free France gain nothing. How much, certainly 3 IPC, at least.

3. Finally, Germany never fought Vichy. IRL, with Operation Torch, Germany simply occupied Vichy in 1942, with no resistance whatsoever. Vichy units were disbanded. That can be also the case in the game.

4. My main doubt is to what happens to colonial territories. I agree that the Vichy setup should reflect what happened IRL: North Africa, Syria and IndoChina go Vichy, while other French colonies stay Free. However, I’m not sure as to the best approach to subjecting them to invasion, and who benefits from IPCs, if any one.

Congrats again on a quite realistic and fun Vichy mod.

phd_angel@yahoo.com

Just me, but I don’t think the game should be “balanced” just because real WW2 was far from being balanced. If I wanted balance, I’d play chess or checkers.

So: units that are hit by a sub’s surprise attack don’t fire back and are simply removed. Got it.

Good to know, because I’m coming across videos, threads and chats wrongly saying that they “fire back” from the “casuality zone”.

Thank you. I appreciate your explanation.

PS: Board glitch - I see your reply indented heavily to the right. I tried different browsers. Fyi.

@shakebox Cool. Welcome. I sent you a PM.

Hi everyone - Just posting on this call for players in South Florida to keep it active. Don’t be a stranger. Cheers.

@Darth-Vahl
Thanks so much for your invite. I’d love to meet to play, but I moved to Florida a few years ago. I should probably take this thread down… Regards,

I created a playlist of house rules on my YouTube channel. I just added two new variants for the game: super battleship, and tactical bomber target select. Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ-J158iTSmNLwu4n9icSZz5aUQcLPB_z

🎥 Axis & Allies Remote Tournament: Chaos in China:

Watch this unique Axis & Allies match using tournament rules remotely!

https://youtu.be/eYzwFTiN_R4?si=Ed35VFfWZn-QNr_K

🎥How to Find Players for Board Games (and Make New Friends)
How to find players for your favorite board games, especially Axis & Allies. This guide covers the best forums, communities, and hotspots to connect with fellow players.
https://youtu.be/qCpXJJIm5dU?si=dxaiwCmkj3DqVe-p

🎥6 Deadly Mistakes That Ruin Your Axis & Allies Strategy.
New players make common mistakes in Axis & Allies. Learn how to fix them, so you can win (and teach)!

➡️ https://youtu.be/4LW3Z_zfHjc?si=wDqazBvcV9VQVup_

Please subscribe the channel. Thanks!

@phd_angel said in New YouTube Channel: Improving the Axis & Allies Experience:

🎥 3 Easy Hacks to Boost Your Axis & Allies Gameplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXbO8zjBYzA&ab_channel=PhDAngel

Customization hacks for speeding up Axis & Allies gameplay. They streamline your actions and reduce time waste, keeping you focused on what matters.

Fellow Strategists,

Always looking for ways to improve your A&A experience? Upgrades, mods, strategies and customizations? On my new YouTube channel, I explore different ways to enhance the A&A gameplay.

Check out these two new videos:

🎥 Will This Map Improve My Axis & Allies Experience? A Review of the Anniversary Edition Deluxe Map
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmAgkzxMK7Y&ab_channel=PhDAngel
Customized maps look amazing but do they actually enhance gameplay? In this review, I break down the pros and cons of the Anniversary Edition Deluxe Map and whether it’s worth the upgrade.

Please subscribe the channel. Thanks!

PhD Angel

I’m hosting a game on the 22nd (of February, 2025) in Stuart, FL. Email me if interested:
phd_angel [at] yahoo [dot] com

@mart0468 - Sounds good. I sent you a DM.