I would assume it is a vid card driver issue you are having maybe, upgrading that usually helped alot of games out in NT4, but some just plain would not run.
I can offer a really useful and detailed response for classic (2nd ed.), but I haven’t played First Edition. Are the two similar enough that a 2nd edition example would be helpful?
It doesn’t matter either way if he’s got them and you don’t you’re going to lose. Therefore the purchase of AA guns is irrelevent. Obviously if you’ve developed Heavies and have some extra cash then AA’s can be bought, but remember that someone with Heavies is likely going to target your factories so that you cannot develop this tech yourself. Once he can eliminate that threat the game is over. In other words you need to develop tech while you still can.
"I downloaded A&A Iron Blitz from The underdogs.org and I think its an awesome game. "
I find a major contradiction here. The package is put together soo poorly that it is not even played on the zone, or ever was (cept for the first 2 weeks it ever was spammed).
If you are serious about wanting to play on the zone, you are in for a very big surprise. The bugs that show up in online play in every phase dwarf anything you’ve seen while playing the AI offline. And this is an understatement!
Only way I’m building an India factory is if Germany does not attack Egypt on G1. Then I can transport two infantry from africa to India, move my tank to Persia…and move all UK air in range of FIC in preparation for a counter on UK2. With my 4 infantry and fighter in India all Japan can hit with would be 4 infantry and bomber and this is assuming Japan can take out the Uk tranny with a fighter…a low odds proposal from any angle.