Noob Blindsinded

[Fearless]

Alright, I guess i'm not a total noob as I owned one of the original versions in the early 90's and played that game many times with my bro.  Back then our games usually ended with nuclear bombs with one of us smashing a fist or two on the board and all the pieces flew in the air.

That aside I just picked up a copy of the latest all excited about the new rules and board.  However, after reading the instructions there is no technology!?!?  I mean NO TECH board or even a word in the manual about it?  How is this even possible they got rid of tech?  I thought it was great.  I know the game wouldn't come out as balanced when someone got the Heavy bombers but it added a degree of mystery to every game and it altered strategy.

What happened to all the TECH!?!?!  IL has a map in PDF i d/l and there was a section for the tech on the map edge.  If that came with the game it wasn't in my box.  If someone has rules for tech that they play with I'm listening.

If i'm missing this piece can someone tell me where I can d/l the missing info we have a big match this Saturday and I'm really shocked there is no tech!>!>!>

[SAS]

Spring 1942 is supposed to be a simplified version, so they didn't include tech.  There is a thread on this 1942 board somewhere where I think IL posted his ideas for tech for this version that I think are almost identical to the AA50 techs...

[Herr KaLeun]

I was actually glad that they removed tech. I'll try to explain why.

A&A is, imho, supposed to be a game of strategy and tactics. The dice inevitably introduce an element of chance, but the essence of the game is, that good play should prevail over poor play. And I think that a key element of good play is, to purchase the right units at the right time in order to deploy them where you need them.
Spending money on tech instead, adds an element of randomness to the game that I don't like at all. It basically replaces strategy with gambling. I've often seen it in pre-1942 games, especially when someone had the US, was clueless about what to do with all the money, and just decided to give it a try, hoping for heavy bombers or so.

[Veqryn]

you can always add tech...

its not like you are forced to play by the rules, or not add stuff on...

revised tech or aa50 tech, both of them can be added
or some sort of house rules tech that you make up yourself

personally... when i play with tech with my house rules, we do this:
tech costs 10 ipcs
and you get the tech at the end of your turn, 3 turns from the turn you pay for it

so for example, turn 1 usa, i purchase tech, for 10ips (or 2 techs for 20, or 3 techs for 30, etc.)
END of turn 3 usa, i get my tech (we do aa50 tech, so that means we choose a column then roll a die)

[St. Louis]

My group plays you get the tech right away, but it costs 30 IPC's! 30 30 being how much one "should" have to pay in order to get the technology in on turn

[skinny1]

I was actually glad that they removed tech. I'll try to explain why.

A&A is, imho, supposed to be a game of strategy and tactics. The dice inevitably introduce an element of chance, but the essence of the game is, that good play should prevail over poor play. And I think that a key element of good play is, to purchase the right units at the right time in order to deploy them where you need them.
Spending money on tech instead, adds an element of randomness to the game that I don't like at all. It basically replaces strategy with gambling. I've often seen it in pre-1942 games, especially when someone had the US, was clueless about what to do with all the money, and just decided to give it a try, hoping for heavy bombers or so.

I tried using tech once or twice in the older games and just did not care for it either. I am glad AA42 did not include it. I do miss things that Revised had like the VC board, the marshaling cards, plane flight markers, and IPCs. I copied the things from Revised and also copied the damage markers from AA50 to use with AA42 and I found some IPCs on BGG and had copied of those made for my AA42 game. Now I have what I consider a complete game and I do not miss the tech.

[Fearless]

Thanks for the replies guys.  I ended up finding the tech info from that AA50 rulebook and used that.  I gotta say i'm very disappointed about the size of this board.  Love the individual units being unique for each country but man does the board suck.

[MrMalachiCrunch]

I pretty much agree with Herr KaLeun.  I don't miss the technologies much.  On the other hand it did force resolution to games.  I've had revised games go into extra innings where a slow advantage in attrition would require far too many turns to play out.  It often favoured the axis.  Say by turn 8-10, the Germans have a huge wall of infantry and are locked exchanging 1 territory.  The allies attacking seperately will really find it hard to push Germany back at this point but long term you eventually win.  While the Japanese are earning large but its pretty much a stalemate, africa is solidly in allied hands but the Japanese are always threatening.  The Germans could build nearly 2 bombers per turn, or a fighter and bomber per turn.  I prefer all bombers, greater range and threat projection, slightly better offense per IPC versus fighters, disadvantage few units per IPC versus a fighter.

Initially, the shear number of transports makes an attack too expensive, however, eventually, the allies have to start matching by adding carriers and fighters.  A fully loaded carrier cost 42 IPC total defense of 11, 3 units versus 3 bombers, cost 45 IPC, total offense 12 a slight advantage to Germany.  Basically, the allies have to spend an equal amount on defense as Germany does on offense, however bombers are much more versitile.  Then at some point Germany just goes all out on Tech.  You will get about 1 tech per turn.

[Funcioneta]

A loaded carrier costs 34, not 42. However, allies should fight for the Pacific if they want prevent those stackfests. It also prevents japanese assaults on America

[Wa rChild USMC]

i just use tech anyway, dont need the board

[MrMalachiCrunch]

Hey Funcioneta you're right but...... I was refering to the old game where you did have technologies, and in that game a fully loaded carrier was 42 versus 45 for the bombers. 

[Funcioneta]

Yep, that was the price for Classic. In Revised was 36, in AA50/AA42 it was 34 and in AAP40 is 36/37/38 (depending wich plane lands on carrier)