Posts made by pmelmike

@elevenjerk:

Italy can normally take Egypt either round 2 or 3

Without German help I haven’t seen them be able to hold it for more than a turn.  I always buy infantry and a fighter UK1 (sea lion) and after that I make sure cairo isn’t taken or kept by the italian.  Even getting diced on my Toranto I was able to have it back by turn 4

As the UK, Egypt has always fustrated me. Could you elaborate as to how you accomplish that?

What I’ve seen in the past is Germany helping Italy out by taking out any remaining UK/French navy in the Med on turn 2 with their Air Force.  That allows Italy to hit Egypt with their units in North Africa and two full transports, usually on turn 3.  After that happens it’s been very difficult for the UK to retake it without US help.  Plus if Japan holds off on attacking the western Allies until turn 3/4, that will keep the US from getting to the Med until at least turn 5 or so.  By then, Italy normally as a minor IC there and a decent naval force.

I agree that it makes sense for the Russian player to abandon Moscow if holding it is impossible.  However, if this happens and Italy takes Egypt that gives the Axis their 8 victory cities.  In my experience, Italy can normally take Egypt either round 2 or 3 and Leningrad/Stalingrad fall before Moscow.  Are we assuming that since Japan went hard after the Soviets that India can threaten/retake Egypt?

@AK_Grown:

@Cow:

People hate J1? I cannot play a live game of global without it! How do you sit there for an hour before anything happen? Your group would make me upset. I would need another activity to do while playing this game. Perhaps a fighting game would suffice or madden.

The old-timer players (not age, but guys who’ve been playing since '98) in our group are very against it and think its a losing strategy every time.  Most of the time is Japan setting up for a large territory take-over in J3 or J4.

I have no problems with down-time between nations, its a chance to BS with buddies who aren’t going.  When Japan gets drawn, most of the players read/play video or BS until their next turn.

Very true AK_Grown, a large part of the game is the interaction between the players and A&A provides plenty of time for that.

I personally like a G1/J3 declaration of war…gives Germany the initiative, lets Japan deal with China and get into position. Plus keeps US from getting their crazy bonuses for a few turns.  Also this lets Japan try to bait UK or ANZAC into an unprovoked attack.

As far as an allied strategy:

US: Continuous destroyer and sub chain from Western US, Hawaii, and Australia.  This threatens SZ6, protects Hawaii, and gives cover to ANZAC transports.  You can also mix in some battleships and loaded carriers.

ANZAC: Build subs and transports in order to threaten DEI and lone Japanese transports.  Fighters are also a good purchase.

UK: Hold out until US destroys Japanese fleet and help China keep Burma Road open.

Soviets: Never consolidate your infantry in Asia.  If Japan leaves Korea and Manchuria weakened then consider attacking.

Just be wary of German air attack on the Allied fleets.  I routinely see 10+ German aircraft in West Germany.

Yes a good German player will always have a navy and air force to content will allied fleets off the coast of France. It takes some cooperation between UK and US to prevent their ships from being sunk. If the UK has three fighters to scramble and several destroyers and the US provides the capital ships, it is very difficult for the German player to prevent them from landing in Europe and to keep buying enough units to defeat the Soviet Union.

In the Pacific, I normally keep a continuous flow of destroyers, subs, and sometimes battleships or loaded carriers from Western US, Hawaii, and Australia.  This keeps Japan and the DEI threatened, protects Hawaii and keeps ANZAC transports covered.  Subs are very usefull here because they force Japan to keep buying destroyers.  The less money Japan can put into to land units and transports the better for the allies.  It’s also usually worth it to suicide your units to kill Japanese capital ships because they generally can’t afford to replace them.  At least not at the rate that the US can.  If you start eliminating carriers and battleships you’ll see Japan retreat from the DEI and India every time.

As far as Europe is concerned, it all depends on how the fight in Africa and Russia is going.  You can land units in Africa straight from the Eastern US in order to poke Italy a little bit.  I personally like to have a nice little “transport bridge” from Eastern US, Gibraltor, and SZ 110.  A loaded carrier, maybe a battleship, and a couple of destroyers combined with the UK fleet should be enough to keep the German fleet at bay.  With this setup you can hit Normandy every turn to harass Germany and help the Soviet Union out.  Or you can go for the Med. and hit Italy pretty hard.  It all depends on which axis power needs the most attention at the time.

Hmm…interesting.  I can see how going after Africa would weaken operation Barbarossa.  However, in almost every allied victory I’ve seen the US invaded Europe through the Med.  I was thinking that a formidable German force in that area plus the fact that UK will lose income much faster could help prevent this and have some serious benefits.  Such as opening up a front in southern Russia or forcing US to help UK out in Africa.

Guess I’ll just have to see how it plays out.

In games I’ve played in the past I’ve never seen much of a German pressence in the Mediterranean/Africa so I wanted to gave a go at it during my next game.  The only realistic staging area I see is Southern France.  However, I normally let Italy have that territory to supplement their low income so that will have to be worked out somehow.

Anyone ever seen a succesfull German Africa campaing?  Feel free to present/debate plausible strategies as well.

So I’ve been out of the A&A loop for about a year but recently decided to dust off old dice boot and get some friends into the game only to discover that there is this new 1940 2nd edition.  Since its been released for a decent amount of time I was hoping I could get some advice about how much of an improvement this is and if there is a way to pick up only the new pieces as opposed to buying two more games.

THANKS!

With the new rule stating that no Major IC can be build on foreign territory, can Japan build a Major IC in the Chinese territories they start out with?

I personally prefer AAG40 for a few reasons.  1): The new units in AAG40 add new strategy and options to all of the countries.  2): The addition of France and ANZAC is a nice touch.  3): Neutral countries add yet more depth and strategy to both the Axis and Allies.  4): More money on the board means more intense and exciting battles.  5):  Allowing Germany and Japan to choose when they go to war keeps the Allies guesing and lets the Axis players set the pace of the early game.

Both versions are great, but AAG40 is the better choice if you want the complete AA experience.  IMO anyway

Wow!, this thread has gotten pretty hostile.  Forgive my intrusion because I have nothing to say about the playtesting.  The game, considering all factors, is an all-around good time in my opinion.  However, I do have to say MaherC, you are hilarious! and I don’t mean that as a compliment.  I’ve never seen someone get so angry and use such malicious language on a board game forum.  But do cut me some lack because I’m so new here…… please. :-D

I realize that a majority of people feel the game is slightly allied biased, but I myself have not played enough games yet to make such a conclusion.  So to some, an allied vicotory may be old news, but I felt I had to brag just a little about the outcome of this game.  We had six total players and I was Russia.  To make a long story short, Sea Lion failed, and Germany attacked Russia on G3.  However, since there is only a minor IC in Germany, the German player only placed 3 inf in the empty territory at the end of their turn.  On R3, I invaded Germany by sea with 1 inf, 1 tnk from Novgorod supported by 1 ftr, 1 tac from Novgorod plus the BB bombardment.  The only way I could get the aircraft there was by buying an AC in Novgorod so if I had bad dice, I was toast.  Germany did, however lose the battle along with a few others along the Soviet/Nazi border.  At the end of the turn, Russia made $98 so the Axis surrendered.  The only reason I wanted to post this was because I saw three things that I never have before: 1): Russian AC, 2): Russian amphibious assault, and 3): Russia capturing Berlin.  In the German player’s defense, it had been a long night and we were all pretty tired and needed sleep.

What have been some of the game enders (either side) that you have seen in your games?

I tend to agree with allweneedislove.  Most countries just cant afford the risk/benifit ratio.  My strategy:  if you are an offensive and wealthy nation like the US, Germany or Japan (after you take india), then buy tech rolls.  If you are defensive or poor like USSR, UK (in the beginning), Italy or ANZAC then don’t.

I have a similar question so instead of starting a new topic I’ll just piggyback on this one.  When you upgrade a minor IC to a major IC does it take effect imediately or is it considered a purchase and must be placed at the end of your turn?  At first I assumed it was treated as a new unit but the wording in the rule book calls it an “upgrade”.  Just want some clarification.  Thanks in advance.

I do think that it would take away from some of the game’s fun and misery for that matter.  It’s a great feeling as Russia when Germany invades with an overwhelming force but your infantry stack holds. You wouldn’t get that with the absence of luck.  However aggravating it can be sometimes, strategy and luck go together in the game (and in real war).  At least this game is not as bad as Risk where one unit can hold off an entire army.

Oztea’s technique does sound like a good middle ground if you wanted eliminate some of the luck though.

Has there been any word of when an official decision will be made?

I’m not so sure.  On page 33:

“5 IPCs if the Soviet Union is at war, the convoy in sea zone 125 is free of Axis warships, Archangel is controlled by the Soviet Union, and there are no units belonging to other Allied powers present in any territories originally controlled by the Soviet Union.”

It doesn’t say anything specifying which continent it applies to so the way I read it, yes they get the bonus if they declare war on Japan.

Well you have much more experience than me seeing that I started Nov last year (maybe 10 games total).  It does make sense I guess for a country that doesn’t make much money to save it for powerfull purchases.

I just witnessed something I’ve never seen before by the italian player.  On turn one, he decided to save all of his money!?  He attacked southern france with 2 inf, 2 art, 1 ftr from northern italy, invaded syria with the tank from northern italy and 1 inf from southern italy, activated bulgaria with 1 inf from albania. On the UK turn, they killed the italian SZ 95 fleet and activated Greece with one infantry from egypt.  So the italian player killed the transport in SZ 99 with a ftr from southern italy.  All ftr’s landed in Albania.  He said he saved his money to bolster his mediterranean fleet with his 27 IPC’s next.  I was very surprised because i’ve never seen a player skip the purchase units phase and wanted a more experienced player’s input.  Do you think this was a good idea and could it be used for other powers or is it a better idea to spend your money.

I understand that the UK Pacific and European economies are seperate but what about bonus income?  Is there a certain way if has to be split or is it up the player to use it as they please?