NO or NA…you knew what i meant.

As far as the bidding goes. Ive read where ppl on here do that but we have never tried it. Not really sure how to incorporate the bid system. It would also be a hard sell bc my play group is stubborn and are set in their ways…lol…However im interested in hearing more about bids and how they work.

I think the reason we didnt play national advantages is we never played with any optional rules in the previous games and when we tried it in the 1941 version the game just dragged out forever. However I think we played it our own way where you could build as many units as you wanted on your capital. So everyone was going for there national advantages and loading up with infantry and having these huge massive battles. took forever. we like to be able to get a game in in 5-6 hrs. if it runs over that then it gets dragged out for days.

The revised edition the axis had a definite advantage without any optional rules. The axis player would have to make a mistake to lose that game.

its only a risk if there isn’t a game plan for doing it. I always do it but by doing it it allows be to play the other two allied countries a certain way. Allowing me to get the ball rolling much quicker and getting to Russias aid MUCH easier. So even losing the bomber and fighter, as long as you get those ships then its well worth it, if you play the other allies appropriately.

I think the balance is in favor of the allies in 1942 version. The only time my play group has seen a axis victory is using optional rules. The one rule we always play with is the way for a victory is to take a capital and keep it for 1 full revolution. We have lost victory cities before and it not matter because they can be taken back. So we don’t play with a victory city option.

This strategy is a little risky that Im going to propose but its become a staple for me and a friend when we play on a team together. We both like to gamble a bit. I don’t have a board in front of me so sorry if there is some confusion.  Oh we do not play with any optional rules or national advantages.

Turn 1 we take the Russian bomber and fighter and attack the German navy to kill everything but the sub. Then attack the two German owned countries bordering Moscow. You will have to give up Karelia easily turn 1 to Germany. But thats a good trade off to get rid of the German northern navy and get a buffer for Moscow. This will allow GB to land troops on the Scandinavian countries as early as turn one with out a threat of Germany killing the GB navy.