Long time since my last post on this thread...
I have run 5 games using the Minor Axis and Allied Powers rules posted earlier in this thread; all played on the "Deaths Head" map.
Overall, the rules work and playability is very good. The addition of these minor powers defiently adds a nice layer of strategy without burying you in rules or adding too many additonal hours to game time.
After running these 5 games, I have made several refinements. The set up charts worked fine - balance was good - so no changes to my previous post on unit set up. I did revise Mech Infanty/Cruiser stats and revise unit costs to AA50 levels. Listed below are the latest version of the rules.
I highly recomend giving them a try.
OVERALL GENERAL RULE BASE USED:- Use AA50 rules and unit costs
- Use China rules per AA50
- Use SBR - Factory Damage rules per AA50
- Use CAP rules per AAP
- Use Naval Base, Air Base and Convoy Rules per AAP/AAE
- Use 1D6 Damage Repair rules for Battleships: Adjacent to Industrial Complex or Naval Base
- Use "Dog Fight" rules for aircraft in land battles
- Use Escort Fighters @ 1 / Defending Fighters @ 2 for SBR per AAE
MINOR POWERS:- Minor Axis Powers: Vichy France, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria
- Minor Allied Powers: Canada, India, Australia, Free French
PLAYER ASSIGNMENT:- German player controls Minor Axis powers
- Separate player controls Minor Allied Powers or UK player controls Minor Allied powers
UNITS TO REPRESENT Minor Axis/Allies Powers:- Minor Axis - I used sculpts from The War Game. This was perfect because they are all german units types and they have multiple colors (White - Finland; Tan - Bulgaria; Gray - Vichy France; Yellow - Bulgaria; Brown - Romania) to cover the Minor Axis powers. You could also use Xeno (they mass produced the Gemran infantry in a ton of colors); MB version of AA; or a few cans of spray paint.
- Minor Allies - Light Blue spray paint on UK scuplts for Free French. I used green UK scuplts from AAR for India and the yellow/tan AAE UK units for Australia. I used the standard AA50 units for the UK. Canada used UK units with a UK roundel underneth to identify them (I will eventually spay paint each Minor Allie a distinct color). Again, this kpt all Minor Allied units in the UK sculpt family which worked nicely.
ADDITIONAL UNITS- Mechanized Infantry Cost: 4 / Att: 2 (3 if supported by Art) / Def: 2 / Move: 2
- Fortification: Cost:6; Intial 2D6 at 3 or less. Makes Infantry defend at 3 (1:1 respectively). Cannot be destroyed - but can be taken over by enemy.
ORDER OF PLAY:Germany and Minor Axis operate during the same turn. UK and Minor Allies operate during the same turn.
1) Germany/Minor Axis
2) Soviet Union
3) Japan
4) UK/Minor Allies
5) Italy
6) USA/China
MINOR AXIS RULES:- Germany receives posted IPC value for each Minor Axis territory (as in standard game play); provided it has not been conquered by an Allied army.
- Germany is not required to have any units in these territories to collect the IPC value (as in standard game play)
- If the Minor Axis territory is conquered by an Allied army, Germany no longer collects this income value (as in standard game play).
- If Finland, Hungary, Romania or Bulgaria are conquered by an Allied power, these Minor Axis powers no longer have the ability to collect their IPCs or field military units, regardless of whether these territories are retaken by the Axis. If these "home countries" are taken any units they have in other territories are removed from play.
- Minor Axis powers collect a fixed IPC amount at the end of their turn, regardless of whether they conquered any Allied territories: Vichy France - 3IPC; Finland - 3 IPC, Romania - 6 IPC, Hungary - 4 IPC, Bulgaria 4 IPC
- Increase in IPC value for territories conquered by Minor Axis powers are applied to Germany only. This is true whether the Minor Axis power conquered the territory by itself or in conjunction
with German units.
- Minor Axis IPCs cannot be shared with other Minor Axis powers or with Germany. If a Minor Axis power is conquered by an Allied power, the Allied power receives wahtever IPCs that Minor Axis power has.
- Minor Axis powers must always leave at least 1 unit in their capital nation at the end of their turn. In the case of Vichy France, this includes the territories labeled Vichy France and Tunisia.
- Finland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria must always have a direct supply line back to their home nation at the end of their turn. This rule does not apply to Vichy France.
- Some units are not eligible for purchase by Minor Axis powers as noted in the set up charts (blacked out). Minor Axis powers cannot build Industrial Complexes.
- New units for Finland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria are always placed in the Minor Axis Power's home country. New units for Vichy France can be placed in Vichy France or Tunisia.
- Vichy French units may only defend, they may never attack. Vichy French units can move to other Vichy occupied territories (Vichy France; Tunisia, Morocco, Northern Algeria, Algeria; West Africa and French West Africa). German and Italian forces can pass through/end movement Vichy territories in North Africa. German forces can pass through/end movement in Vichy France in mainland Europe.
- Allied Force may not pass through Vichy territries withoout attacking. The exception is for naval unit movement as outlined in AA50 rules (sub/transports).
- If North Africa is cleared of Axis forces (German/Italian), any remianing Vichy French units (including naval units) in Africa become Free French Units and are now contolled by the UK player.
ALLIED RULES:- Minor Allied powers operate as stand alone nations. They can build all unit types, including ICs.
- The IPCs for UK, Canada, Australia and India must be managed individually. UK - 46 IPCs; India - 17 IPCs; Australia - 10 IPCs; Canada - 4 IPCs; Free French - 0 IPCs (Free French collect no income).
- Industrial Complex in Calcutta (India) and New South Wales (Australia) are permitted a maximum placement of 4 new units (as opposed to labeled IPC value limit). Industrial Complex in Quebec (Canada) is permitted a maximum of 2 new units (as opposed to labeled IPC value limit).
- Except for the Convoy IPC sharing listed below, the IPCs must be used by their respective nation. IPCs cannot be shared between UK and Minor Allied powers or amongst Minor Allied powers.
- The 9 IPCs linked to the (4) British convoys located in the Indian and Pacific oceans can be allocated to either India or Australia as deemed by the UK player. The 3 IPCs
linked to the British Convoy located near New Foundland can be allocated to Canada as deemed by the UK player. The UK player can make this decision at the end of each round, during
the Collect Income phase.
- During the Mobilize New Unit phase, the UK player may place up to 2 units each in Calcutta (India) and New South Wales (Australia) and 1 unit in Quebec (Canada). This is in addition to the amount permitted by India, Australia and Canada noted above.
- If a single Minor Alllied power attacks and conquers an Axis territory, then the IPCs are applied directly to that Minor Allied power. When an attack against an Axis territory is conducted by multiple Minor Allied forces, the UK player must announce during the combat move phase which Minor Allied power is the "lead" attacker. This "lead" attacker receives the IPCs if the attack is successful and the territory is conquered.
- Free French collect no income. Any conquests by Free French troops are added to the UK players IPC value.
- Each time Western France, France or Vichy France are liberated by an Allied nation and held for 1 complete round, place 2 Infantry as Free French Units in that territory during the UK player's non-combat movement phase.
- Mid-East Oil: Trans-Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Tehran and Iran represent allied controlled oil reserves. If the Germany or Minor Axis forces take these territoires, the IPCs are paid to Germany from the Allies directly. If Italian forces take these territories, the IPCs are paid to Italy from the Allies directly. The allies can choose who pays the IPCs (either UK, Minor Allies or U.S., not Soveit Union).
- Russian Oil: Caucasus represent Russian controlled oil reserves. If the Axis forces take this territory, the IPCs are paid to Germany (or Italy) for Russia directly.
Image of Deaths Head Map (Assuming I posted it properly...):
Link to MS Excel version Set Up Charts, IPC Chart and Rules:http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=f209fe65b016190991b20cc0d07ba4d2a8a1a6316787b5b1
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