Best posts made by vodot

@FranceNeedsMorePower game balance and fun choices are always the priority for me, so assuming the setup you choose (Oztea etc.) is well-balanced, then the Dutch setup would also have to include compensatory units for Japan so that they could always choose to just conduct the normal attack and expect to win the normal way— in which case we get to see the Dutch fight a [losing] battle, which was a main objective here— or maybe Japan chooses to do something ahistorical with those units instead, in which case now the Dutch get to hang out for a while looking glamorous, or even perhaps doing something small and useful.

UPDATE: in the first post, I’ve now added some ‘before’, ‘after’, and in-process pics of printing and applying the overlays :)

@TitusJames haha yeah, funny how that happens :)

@Lompestein Awesome work! Big thanks for including the .xcf’s and brushes as well, that should help others get a leg-up on their own projects.

@reloader-1 said in [AA50] Map Overlays - Splitting Australia, the Balkans, and Sea Zones; adding Cairo, Malaya, Singapore, Rio, Cape Town, Recruitment Centers and tons more!:

@vodot

Nate, could I ask a huge favor - could you edit the Version 4 map file for me and remove all of the RCs? No other changes, I’d like to print it out but without those as a very nice vendor on Etsy (ummm… you!) made me a buttload of 3d printed pieces :)

Added Version 5 (no RCs or TSR) to the second post above. Thanks and enjoy!

All, I’m creating modular overlays for these incredible maps to do more aberrant things like subdivide Australia, change IPC values, add VCs and more - check out the thread and let me know what map tweaks you would like to see!

Hi @Timothy-Gengarella, I never found good printable artillery files for A&A so I drew up a few, including a generic “Advanced Artillery” piece for use in systems that use them, including GW36.

Shot you a PM with some details :)

Hi @Nuts, welcome to the forum!!

RE: new units, I think there are some fun options and at least one no-brainer: if you’re playing G40, those Somua S35’s go right in as drop-in replacements for the blue T-34s in G40! Finally!!

• Pzkpfw IV’s should also go right into the german armor unit mix, of course, especially for the first few german tank builds, along with the ubiquitous Panthers and a Tiger or two from 41.
• For G40 the CMP Trucks and LRDG Jeeps can do the same for British Mech Inf., since both the Italians and Russians (and French… sigh) already use use a Truck/Truck-ish sculpt for Mech Inf anyways.

The problem with the rest of the units is the limited number of powers with the sculpts available.

• The Tactical Bombers are great but if you aren’t already into G40 then you’re only getting a handful and for only a few powers. Do the British and Americans get them? I only see German & Italian Tactical Bombers so far.
• The Sd.Kfz armored cars make for great Light Armor pieces, but there’s only Germany and Italy represented.
• The 6-Pounder’s can swap in/out for British artillery in most systems. I don’t play with dedicated AT guns - and then, only the British have a sculpt.

There’s the multiple copies & paint option, of course… but if you’re buying multiple copies to paint units you’re much better off looking at all of the incredible community support and high-detail sculpts that have been created for A&A at places like HBG, IWNGU, Combat Miniatures, and even my own web store.

@atbot Awesome! The ability to hold chips/damage markers is a really cool innovation!

@cloud7707 awesome!

Hi @Aelban1 - here’s some info I have from measurements of the pieces done at some point - not sure which pieces these are, exactly, but I believe I took averages from the different units:

@radar Wow! Now that would be a conversation starter. Or ender. More impressive than the map is the mustache - Huzzah indeed!

UPDATE: Added an overlay that redraws the border between sea zone 37 and 38, uniting the Andaman Sea and the Malacca Strait and causing SZ 37 to border Sumatra for the first time.

Now that my indomitable son-- lover of the color blue and therefore of France, bless his mistaken heart-- has worked his way up to playing Anniversary with me, I’m finally going to tackle the addition of France and the creation of a plausible 1940 setup. I’m reviewing our years-old now discussion about France on a middle-weight map and hope to land somewhere constructive in the end.

Objectives:

1. Placate my child and get some blue units and TTs on the map!
2. K.I.S.S. Add chioces/fun but maintain middle-weight status.
3. Maintain loose tether to historical reality.

Project has three areas of focus:

1. France-related map updates
2. France-related rules updates
3. Neutrals updates

Map updates:

• For France we need… erm… France, so:
  – Recolor & roundel France. Split France? Maybe.
  – Split off, recolor & roundel Syria
  – Split, Recolor & roundel French African colonies/protectorates
  – Recolor & roundel French Indo-China Thailand
  – New Calendonia/Hebridies for flavor?
• Other updates:
  – Japan '40 vs '41 ownership changes
  – Correct & Recolor Italy’s borders & possessions for 1940 (Border with France, Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece)
  – Finally roll in Tjoek’s latest base map updates (mainly name centering, the IPC tracker, and a slight color shift.)

Rules updates:

• We need some Very Simple Rules™ for the inexorable fall of Paris and the subsequent creation of Vichy and Free France
  – I like GW36’s dieroll mechanic wherein you roll for TT + contents and individual ships to see what happens
  – “Vichy France” simply becomes German
  – For FF, UK commands like how US commands China, placing one new FF INF for every two FF TTs like China?

Neutrals updates: So many.

• Assign IPC values to relevant ‘True Neutral’ TTs
  – Sweden
  – Turkey
  – Saudi Arabia
  – Spain
  – Argentina Chile
  – Afganistan
• Create Very Simple Rules™ for Neutrals ala simplified G40/AA1914:
  – Neutrals have 2x IPC number of units defending, all INF except for 1 ART.
  – Aligned Neutrals join you, others you must attack and defeat
  – Invading True Neutrals requires paying IPC fee for each other True Neutral, or else they become enemy-aligned.
• Recolor/de-roundel Aligned Neutrals as required for 1940 setup:
  – Finland (pro-axis)
  – Bulgaria Romania (pro-axis)
  – Iraq (pro-axis)
  – Yugoslavia (pro-allies)
  – Greece (pro-allies)
  – Persia (pro-allies)

Finally, TT unit setup details and balance.

• Carve out Albania and give Italy units to occupy Balkans
• Pull German units back into Germany and give add’l units to invade & hold France
• Pull Japanese units out of FICT

For historical references I’ll use some close to hand websites:

WW2 Day by Day:
https://www.openculture.com/2022/11/watch-world-war-ii-unfold-day-by-day-an-animated-map.html

French Empire in 1945 (and 1939):
https://mapoftheday.quickworld.com/posts/the-french-colonial-empire-in-1945

French Empire Year by Year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6CV6K0qNX8

Hi @Lilkovski, welcome to the forum!

Thanks for posting these, your carriers look great! I will give them a try and post some results (EDIT: Results below!). Posting a blank template is always helpful for others who want to remix or continue the work.

There have been many carrier flight deck decal discussions here over the years, some of them containing artwork that is free for personal use and most of which is probably able to be relatively quickly reworked in GIMP etc. to arrive at blank templates, although the dimensions of these is always a topic for conversation and disagreement as the sculpts vary sometimes significantly from the actual historical ships.

Here’s a popular flight deck thread from @dedo from years ago with discussion, artwork, templates, and resources that you or others might find useful; additionally here’s @cyanight’s well-known carrier decal thread with some of his decals about halfway down the first page.

I actually used a still a third(!) image file/source for my own flight deck decals, but I am not going to post that source until I find where it came from so that I can confirm public use and give proper attribution.

Happy decaling!

@Lilkovski said

…the french one is a joke lol

Hey, you never know :)

Hi all, my first draft map for an AA50/Anniversary-based 1940 Setup (including France and Aligned Neutrals) is ready to rock. G40 Lite, anybody?

This idea was born and first discused two years ago in my “[AA50/Anniversary] Modular Map Overlays” thread. Because this is a whole new kettle of fish, I am splitting this idea off into it’s own thread here for further discussion, new rules, setup charts (oof), and of course playtesting/refinement.

Backstory:
My indomitable son, lover of the color blue and of Axis and Allies— and therefore of France, bless his mistaken 8yo heart— has worked his way up to playing Anniversary with me. With a few house rules and handicaps he makes for a ferocious opponent indeed, and has yet to be defeated by his father. He grieves, however, for the neglected G40 French soldiers sitting in their box. And so in his honor I’ve attempted to tackle the creation of a plausible Middle-weight 1940 setup based on an enhanced AA50 map; one that includes the glorious French Empire and his precious blue troops.

Objectives:

• Placate my child and get some blue units and TTs on the map!
• K.I.S.S. Add choices/fun, but maintain middle-weight status.
• Maintain loose tether to historical reality… meaning I need more or less 1940 borders.

To pull this off I need both map changes and rules changes for France and Neutrals in particular. Let’s get going!

The initial release contains:

The French Empire c. ~spring 1940:

• France proper split into Northern (capital) and Southern France
• Six discrete French African colonies and protectorates
  – Morocco
  – Algeria
  – French West, Central, and Equatorial Africa (which gets RC and becomes capital of Free France)
  – Madagascar
• Syria (maybe relevant with pro-axis Iraq next door?)
• French Indochina (remains ahistorically merged with Thailand, but no game-reason to split them)
• French Guiana (maybe relevant now that we have a VC-posessing pro-allied Brazil?)
• New Caledonia in the South Pacific …mostly for flavor/possible IPC balance

Lots of other changes to create viable 1940 setup:

• Addition of Albania (Italy, 1)

• Addition of British Guinana (Suriname) (UK, 0)

• Addition of **Nigeria Good Coast (UK, 1)

• Splitting Iraq (2, pro-Axis) off from Trans-Jordan (0, UK)

• IPC-ifying of many “True” (or game-functionally true) Neutrals:
  – Sweden
  – Turkey
  – Saudi Arabia
  – Spain
  – Argentina Chile
  – Afganistan
  – South American amalgamations
  – Angola
  – Mozambique

• De-possessification of various “Aligned” Neutrals:
  – Finland (pro-axis)
  – Romania Bulgaria (pro-axis)
  – Iraq (pro-axis)
  – Brazil (pro-allies)
  – Yugoslavia (pro-allies)
  – Greece (pro-allies)
  – Persia (pro-allies)
  – Eire (pro-allies)

• Many new features carried over from my latest enhanced AA50 map, including:
  – Upgradeable Recruitment Centers (scattered across the globe in strategic, historical locations
  – 4 additional VCs (Singapore, Cairo, Cape Town, and Rio de Janiero) in far-flung, southern locations to encourage nontraditional lines of play and a more truly global war.
  – The Trans-Siberian Railroad and Burma Road
  – A more ganular China designed to protract the Sino-Chinese War
  – A subdivided, richer Australia and Dutch East Indies, designed to make this part of the world as dynamic and enticing as it was to the actual historical powers.
  – An empowered Italy with more economy and Territory, and an thus an actual role to play in the struggle over the Mediterranean

• Finally, a couple of changes unrelated to 1940 but nice to have:
  – In China, split off “Jehol” (1, Japan-occupied, China Roundel) from Manchuria (3)
  – The addition of missing “Impassible” text to a few important regions: Sahara, Himalaya, Mongolia (functionally), and Switzerland (functionally).

Below are a couple preview images as well as the link to the full file.

Full Size Downloads:
(v7): https://www.mediafire.com/view/h2ctcn5ahox4r7q/AA50_1940ed_v0.7.png/file

Version 8: ANZAC, Canada + updates as of 9/13/2025

https://www.mediafire.com/view/wha2r078q7nugx6/G40_Lite_vodot_v8.png/file

Version 10: Communist China, Malta, the Azores, and the Maldives. (11/19/2025)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mBgt6KSM7oIE3uNmuESPSU2F1AhicYMG/view?usp=sharing

Changelog:

• v0.5 initial release
• v0.6 fixed busted medditeranean SZ
• v0.7 fixed missing Burma Road
• v0.8 new version with ANZAC, Canada, and latest Modular AA50 enhancements
• v10 includes Communist China, Malta, the Azores, and the Maldives. (11/19/2025)

Alright, my first draft map for an AA50 1940 + France Setup (v0.6) is ready to rock. G40 Lite, anybody?

Becuase this is a whole new kettle of fish I will split this one off into it’s own thread for further discussion, new rules, setup charts (oof), and of course playtesting/refinement. The idea was born and first discussed here, however, so I’ll leave the inital release preview and the link to v0.6 below.

Details for v0.6:

The French Empire, c. ~spring 1940:

• France proper split into Northern (capital) and Southern (becomes Vichy) France
• Six discrete French African colonies and protectorates
  – Morocco
  – Algeria
  – French West, Central, and Equatorial Africa (which gets RC and becomes capital of Free France)
  – Madagascar
• Syria (maybe relevant with pro-axis Iraq next door?)
• French Indochina (Frenchified; remains ahistorically merged with Thailand; no game-reason to split them)
• French Guiana (maybe relevant now that we have a VC-posessing pro-allied Brazil?)
• New Caledonia in the South Pacific …mostly for flavor/possible IPC balance

Lots of other changes to create viable 1940 setup:

• Addition of Albania
• Addition of British Guinana (Suriname)
• Splitting Iraq (2, pro-Axis) off from Trans-Jordan (0, UK)
• IPC-ifying of many “True” (or game-functionally true) Neutrals:
  – Sweden
  – Turkey
  – Saudi Arabia
  – Spain
  – Argentina Chile
  – Afganistan
  – South American amalgamations
  – Angola
  – Mozambique
• De-possessifying of various “Aligned” Neutrals:
  – Finland (pro-axis)
  – Romania Bulgaria (pro-axis)
  – Iraq (pro-axis)
  – Brazil (pro-allies; drops to 2 IPC, a Neutral VC? Whaaat?)
  – Yugoslavia (pro-allies) (no more “Balkans”)
  – Greece (pro-allies)
  – Persia (pro-allies)
  – Eire (pro-allies)

And finally, some unrelated changes that potentially improve any AA50 setup (and therefore actually belong in this thread):

• In China, split off “Jehol” (1, Japan-occupied, China Roundel) from Manchuria (3)
• Addition of “Impassible” to a few important regions:
  – Sahara
  – Himalaya
  – Mongolia (functionally)
  – Switzerland (functionally)
• …and probably many other changes I’ve forgotten.

Below are a couple preview images as well as the link to the full file.

Full Size Download (v0.6):
https://www.mediafire.com/view/l61zki2myh8b1cw/AA50_1940ed_v0.6.png/file

Discussion thread here! https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/41968

For fun, here’s a look at all of the changes that have gone into this version of the map!

Now for some Very Simple Rules™ for “G40 Lite” …or whatever this is called. Note that sections 1-3 below have nothing to do with this 1940 setup and simply catch up to a couple of the new (an totally optional) features on this and my other AA50 map overlays: Recruitment Centers, the Burma Road, and the Trans-Siberian Railroad.

0.0 Starting Assumptions
0.1 Unless directly contradicted by the following, all rules for Axis and Allies: Anniversary Edition (with errata) shall apply with precedence.

Misc. Rules for AA50 Modular Overlays:

1.0 Recruitment Centers
1.1 Recruitment Centers count as eligible Territories for the placement of newly-purchased Infantry units (only), as long as the RC was in controlled at the start of the turn (not newly-liberated/captured).
1.2 The Production Capacity for Infantry units at a Recruitment Center is the IPC value of the territory.
1.3 Recruitment Centers may be “upgraded” into Industrial Complexes. The cost to build an Industrial Complex in any territory with a Recruitments Center is reduced by 5 IPCs. Recruitment Centers that are upgraded in this way cease to have any function.
1.4 Captured Recruitment Centers in non-neutral territories cannot be used by the capturing power. Captured Neutral Recruitment Centers may be used (and/or upgraded) by whoever controls them.

2.0 The Burma Road
2.1 The Burma Road shall be considered “Open” if the Allies control every Territory through which it passes.
2.2 If the Burma Road is “Open” up to one new Chinese Infantry unit may be placed as an Artillery unit instead.

3.0 The Trans-Siberian Railroad
3.1 During the NON-COMBAT MOVE phase, USSR Infantry units that begin and end their movement on the Railroad may move two spaces instead of one.

Rules for G40 Lite:

4.0 Neutral Territories
4.1 Neutral Territories (unless marked “Impassible”) are now legal playing spaces on the map, subject to the following rules.
4.2 Neutral Territories have a Standing Army equal to a number of Infantry twice the IPC value of that Territory (e.g. a Territory worth 2 IPCs has a Standing Army of 4 Infantry). This Standing Army is placed on the map immediately the first time the Territory is invaded, and is never placed again.
4.3 Neutral Territories may have one of three Alignments which appear immediately below the Territory name on the map: Pro-Axis, Pro-Allies, or Unaligned (if there is no alignment text below the Territory name).
4.4 Neutral Territories of any alignment may be invaded by any Power during that Power’s COMBAT MOVEMENT phase.
4.5 If the invading Power’s Alliance matches the Alignment of a Neutral Territory (e.g. an Allied Power invading a Pro-Allied Neutral), that Territory immediately joins that Power. Place a Roundel belonging to that Power in that Neutral Territory and adjust that Power’s IPC income accordingly, and place that Neutral’s Standing Army in the Territory as Infantry units belonging to the invading Power.
4.6 If the invading Power’s Alliance does not match the Alignment of a Neutral Territory (e.g. an Allied Power invading an Unaligned or Pro-Axis Neutral), that Territory’s Standing Army is placed in the Territory in the form of Infantry belonging to a Power of the opposing Alliance’s choice, and a Battle will occur here in the CONDUCT COMBAT phase of the Turn.
— 4.6.1 If the invading Power is victorious, place a roundel belonging to that Power in the Territory and adjust the IPC Income of that Power accordingly. If the invading player retreats or is otherwise defeated, leave any remaining Standing Army units in the Territory. They may not leave the Territory until it is invaded and controlled by a Power matching their Alliance.
4.7 Each time an Unaligned Neutral Territory is invaded, other Unaligned Neutral Territories may align against the invading Power.
— 4.7.1 For each other remaining Unaligned Neutral Territory, the invading Power may pay 1 IPC. If they do not, roll one d6. On a roll of 3 or less, that Territory remains Unaligned. On a roll of 4 or more, that Territory aligns against the invading Power (it is now considered “Pro” that Power’s opposing Alliance) for the rest of the game.

5.0 United States
5.1 The United States begins the game with 0 IPCs.
5.2 Until the start of the 3rd US Turn, the US income is halved (round down)
5.3 Until the start of the 3rd US turn, US units are restricted in the following ways:
— 5.3.1 US land units may not enter any non-US Territory.
— 5.3.2 US naval units may not move.
— 5.3.3 US air units (except the fighter in China) are restricted to only Territories and Sea Zones that contain US land or naval units.
5.4 If any US units or Territories are attacked before its 3rd Turn, the above rules shall immediately cease to apply.

6.0 Soviet Union
6.1 The USSR’s starting IPCs are halved (round down).
6.2 Until the start of it’s 3rd Turn, the USSR’s income is halved (round down).
6.3 If original USSR Territories are attacked before its 3rd Turn, it’s income immediately reverts to normal.

7.0 France and Vichy/Free France
7.1 When Paris is French-controlled, France is a Major Allied Power, moving last each Round.
7.2 When Paris is captured by the Axis, any IPCs France currently has in its treasury go to the conquering Power and IPC incomes are adjusted as usual.
7.3 The first time that Paris falls to the Axis, France will split into:

• Vichy France (a minor Pro-Axis Neutral Power controlled by Germany), and
• Free France (a minor Allies power controlled by the UK)
  Use a distinguishing marker to denote Free French units and Territory control (see below for some free Free French Roundels!).

The following special procedure is carried out to split Free France off from [now Vichy] France. Reminder: this is only done the first time Paris falls to the Axis.

Creation of Vichy France:

• 7.3.0 Northern France will remain the Capital of [Vichy] France and under German control, but *no [Vichy] French units may every be present there.
• 7.3.1 In Southern France:
  — 7.3.1.1 Immediately remove all French and Allied units there, place a German roundel there (if not already Axis-controlled), and adjust IPC incomes accordingly.
  — 7.3.1.2 Add one [Vichy] French AAA Gun and two [Vichy] French, one Italian, and two German Infantry units there.
• 7.3.2 In Algeria:
  — 7.3.2.1 Immediately remove any French or Allied units there, place a German roundel there (if not already Axis-controlled), and adjust IPC incomes accordingly.
  — 7.3.2.2 Add one [Vichy] French and one German Infantry unit there.

Creation of Free France:

• 7.3.3 The UK player may now select one French-controlled Territory to become the Capital of Free France. Replace any French units there with Free French units, and place one additional Free French Infantry and one Free French AAA Gun in that Territory.

Fracture of the French Empire:

• 7.3.4 For each other French-controlled Territory on the map, roll one d6:
  — 7.3.4.1 On a roll of 3 or less, the Territory and any French units present in that Territory join Free France. Replace these units with Free French units.
  — 7.3.4.2 On a roll of 4 or greater, the Territory and any French units present join [Vichy] France: place a German roundel there if west of India, or a Japanese roundel if east of India, adjusting IPC incomes accordingly. Any Allied units that were in these Vichy Territories may attempt to immediately relocate to an adjacent Allied-controlled Territory if one exists. If there is no such Territory, they are destroyed. Axis aircraft may land in Vichy Territories the same turn they are created, including Nothern and Southern France and Algeria.

Fate of the French Navy:

• 7.3.5 For each individual French Ship on the map, roll one d6.
  — 7.3.5.1 On a roll of 1, the ship is scuttled - remove it from the map immediately.
  — 7.3.5.2 On a roll of 2 or 3, the ship joins the Free French— replace it with a Free French version and leave it where it is.
  — 7.3.5.3 On a roll of 4 or 5, the ship sides with Vichy France— move it immediately to SZ 13.
  — 7.3.5.4 On a roll of 6, the ship joins the Axis: move it immediately to SZ 5 and replace it with an equivalent German unit.
• 7.3.6 All other French units on the board (air & land units not in French Territories) immediately become Free French. Replace them with equivalent Free French units.

7.4 While Paris remains Axis-Controlled, Free France remains a Minor Allied Power controlled by and moving together with the UK, and Vichy France remains a Minor Pro-Axis Neutral Power controlled by and moving together with Germany.

Vichy France is subject to the below rules and restrictions:

• 7.4.1 Vichy France collects no income and makes no purchases, instead placing one additional new infantry in Southern France at the end of the German turn for every two Vichy French territories on the map.
• 7.4.2 Paris is German-occupied: Vichy French units may not enter Northern France.
• 7.4.3 Vichy French is not at war with the Allies: land units may not enter or attack non-blue (original French) Territories.
• 7.4.4 Vichy French naval units may not leave SZ 13.

Free France is subject to the below rules and restrictions:

• 7.4.5 Free France collects no income and makes no purchases, instead placing one new Infantry in the Capital of Free France at the end of the UK Turn for every two Free French Territories on the map. Up to one of its new Infantry units may always be placed as an Artillery unit at its capital instead.
• 7.4.6 Free French units are not restricted to only blue territories in the same way that Vichy units are.
• 7.3.4 If the Free French capital is captured by the Axis, the UK player may choose a new capital for Free France at the start of its next Turn.

7.5 When Paris is liberated by the Allies, France immediately becomes whole again and the Vichy and Free French Powers are dissolved back into one France, which reverts to being a Major Allied Power moving last after the US.

• 7.5.1 The first time Paris is liberated by the Allies, place two [additional] French Infantry there after the battle.
• 7.5.2 If Free French units took part in the battle to liberate Paris, place an [additional] two French Infantry there.
• 7.5.3 All Vichy French units remain [now normal] French units.
• 7.5.4 Replace all Free French units everywhere with equivalent normal French units.

Here are some Free French roundels, if you need them:

Here are the modules from the “G40 Lite” release that can be used with any AA50 map. They have also been posted to the first post in this thread.

1. Jehol (1) split off from Manchuria (3)

2. “Impassible” text added below Mongolia, Switzerland, Sahara, and Himalaya, which becomes important if playable Neutrals are used.

3. Playable IPC-ified Neutrals:
   – Sweden (2)
   – Turkey (2)
   – Saudi Arabia (2)
   – Spain (2)
   – Afganistan (1)
   – Northern South America (2)
   – Peruvian Central [South America] (1)
   – Argentina Chile (2)
   – Angola (1)
   – Mozambique (1)

@FranceNeedsMorePower I thought of you and your username :)