Posts made by Weekend Gamer

Mr. Ghoul,

I am trying to get a PBF game together on this.  Would you be interested?  If so, send me a PM with your e-mail.

I agree it’s tough to win as the Axis.  Having Russia purchase infantry for $2 PLUS the partisans makes Russia very hard to conquer.  Also, I’m not sure what edition you are referring to, but I have the 3rd edition rule set.  I actually purchased my set at the Xeno Games store here in Jacksonville in the early Nineties.  Man, if I had known they would close soon after . . . .

Let’s see if we generate any more interest.  I would be interested in hearing any rules tweaks you might suggest to give the Axis a little more punch – ideas include:  (1) bidding; (2) modifying unit costs; (3) modifying unit offensive/defensive values (for example, making a tank defend at a 3, just as in AA Revised); or (4) modifying the Russian rules slightly.  I also could go on and on, but let’s test the waters first.

WG

Hey, everyone.  Any of you guys ever play this version of A&A?  It’s based on Classic A&A, but set in 1939.  The game starts with Germany invading France and Poland (backwards historically, but in other respects more historically accurate than the 1942 version).  Some neat features of this game:

• Germany and Japan each get one double move turn a game – one turn where they get to build, attack, non-combat, place builds, attack again and then collect IPCs.

• After the fall of France, you roll for each French territory and fleet to determine which ones go “Free French” and which ones go Vichy.  The Axis get income from the Vichy territories but can’t move their units (except for fleets, but that’s a roll of 1 out of 6).

• Germany has until Turn 4 or 5 before Russia can declare war on Germany.  USA must wait until Turn 6 (if memory serves), so Germany has some time to wear down the British before biting off the Ruskies.

• Japan starts the war at war with China only.  Japan has the option of when to use its double move.  The only downside is, if you don’t use your double move on Turn 1, the US consolidates its fleet off L.A. and, presto, no Pearl Harbor.

• Each country (except the British, I believe) has country-specific units and/or attacks they can use.  Germany has panzer tanks (that defend at 5!) and panzer grenadiers.  Russia has its guards.  American have their Marines.  Japanese have “Bonsai” attacks (the inf. attack at 2, but CANNOT break off the attack once declared).

There are other neat features to the game.  If anyone is interested, drop me a line.  I will scan the rules and e-mail you the .pdf (unless I find a link online).

Almost forgot – if you want to look at the map, it’s on ABattlemap under “New”, click “World at War”.

WG

@Jennifer:

@dezrtfish:

@Jennifer:

Paint,

That’s exactly why I dress like a slut for GenCon. :P

LOL, are you trying to recrut for the convention?

Yes, because the players I meet there are meat.  Dead meat.  We need intelligence!

Yeah, Jen, dressing like a slut.  THAT will appeal to the upper brain types for sure . . . errr, maybe not . . . .

Wait a minute, didn’t I see you on “Beauty and the Geek”?

WG

Jenn, I like that approach as well.  In fact, I think we are saying some of the same things.  You do have to pick your spots as Russia.  It can’t be a tit-for-tit battle with Germany – not for long, anway!  But from earlier posts, I had a vision in my mind of two stacks sitting opposite each other swapping territory back and forth with tank blitzes.  I have NEVER seen that in any game I have played.  I guess as Russia I haven’t been fortunate enough to have a German player be so obliging in leaving territories open like that.  :-P

Randmacts,

I’m up for a game, but if you’re looking to prepare for the tournament, why not play Revised since that’s what we’ll be playing in the tournament?  I can show you how the dice rollers work.  If you’re interested, drop me a line.

WG

Arrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhh.  Just lost my whole friggin’ post because I wasn’t logged in!!!

Let’s start again:  Crit, I agree you need to reinforce the Novo front– it’s a delicate balance.  And Jen, I’m not advocating suicide, just not handing territory to Jerry on a silver platter.  Played correctly, I don’t see Japan seriously threatening Russia before J3 at the EARLIEST, and if you pay attention to that front, you can hold the Japs off for a while.  So, worst case, you have 3 turns where you are building at least as many troops as Germany and Germany cannot forget W. Europe.  And by G3, the Allies should have opened at least one other front on Germany.  So is Germany seriously outproducing Russia (in terms of infantry ONLY, not IPCs obviously) the first few rounds?  Not likely, unless you let it.  At some point (usually R3 or R4), I am seriously backing off and letting the battle come to me as Russia.  But I have had battles where I have suffered HALF the losses Germany has suffered, so dice play a factor there too.  Besides, Russia is REALLY boring to play if all you do is sit back and wait for the b – – – – slap to hit.  Make the Krauts work for it!

WG

Crit,

Point taken about Switch.

Anyway, if Germany pickets you, what choice do you have as Russia?  Sit there and starve (from an IPC point of view)?  Also, you’re never going to fend off Germany and Japan by yourself.  Hopefully, your trusty allies have sent some help by the time your fodder is running low.  If not, it’s a sushi dinner with Lager to wash it down before you know it . . .

WG

Jen,

Without getting too bogged down in the numbers-side, I tend to agree with Switch.  Germany is infantry starved until G3 at the earliest.  Why not bleed Germany white to prevent the Krauts from building up too early?  Even if you are correct that Germany retakes territories with no losses on ITS turn, what about the next Russian turn?  So Russia attacks with 3 inf. and a fighter on 2 out of 3 (using a tank on the other), where does that leave Germany?  If Russia retakes with no losses, Germany now needs 4 inf. to retake (which she doesn’t have readily available) or, best case, only 3 inf. (assuming one Russia loss to retake on prior turn), which is still a stretch.  And over time, Russia at least trades even with Germany.  This is not sustainable forever, but Russia is simply buying time until the Lymies and Yanks  show up.  Isn’t it easier on the Brits and Yanks if they have a thinner German front to penetrate once they arrive?

A lot of this hearkens back to my days playing Classic, but I think the same applies to Revised.  Not to mention that Switch guy seems pretty smart to me . . .

WG

Mateooo,

I live in Jax and your game list reads like mine, except I would add:  AAE, AAP and W@W among others.  Sadly, my old game group has pretty much broken up, so I don’t get to place FTF much anymore.  Are you still trying to get a local group together?  If so, drop me a line.  I’d be interested – AA Classic, AAR, Fortress America, whatever.

WG