In all actuality it was almost pure luck that Russia did survive the war. If Hitler had not split his massive Barbarossa force to attack South, Moscow would have surely fallen. I think the best way to make the game a little more fair is have it start in 1940 or 39 like the new AAE40 will do. Starting at the beginning of 41 like AAE does highlights the ineptitude that Stalin had by not strengthening his front lines and purging his army in the 30’s by killing I believe 70% of his officers. If we are given control in 1939 the German force would be smaller than the Soviets (had the largest army in the world: equaled all other armies tanks put together and had more planes than all others combined), but the Germans have a stronger economy. So the Russian player is given time to move his forces (albeit outclassed forces) into position for a massive offensive by Germany. We could right Stalin’s mistakes and Hitler’s as well (he attacked Yugoslavia right before Barbarossa, killing 6 precious weeks of good weather that would be needed for the Russian offensive). But at the current state the game is pretty accurate, if there is a determined German player and a non-cohesive allied force then Germany will win 90% of the time. But if the allies work together (UK helping out Russia while the US does its thing to invade Europe) then the game swings to a very balanced game where dice rolls and a little luck is what usually wins the day, or a little mistake by either side, which is how the game should be IMO.
Some questions about rules
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I’ve finally started the game :-D
during the game, we found some confused points of gameplay.
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I did not understand why the AA gun is present in the battle board. as says the manual, AA can only shoot the planes with the single shoot but can not take part in combat land (in fact AA cannot be destroyed but only conquered). why is this on battle board card?
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an example mentioned on the manualon “transport movement” is not clear (page 28): it says that if a transporter begins its turn in a sea zone with enemy ships (one destroyer) can only move but do not load / unload .
I do not understand how it is possible that enemy ships (not sub) begin the turn in the same sea zone.
The rules are clear: a combat marine ends when the attackers withdrew, submarines submerge, one or Both players are destroyed.
According to these rules, is not clear how an english trasporter and german destoryer start toghether the turn in the same sea zone…
thank you very much to everyone for your answers :)
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1) The AA gun is pictured on the battle board simply as a reminder to roll for it before the battle starts.
2) The only way this can happen is if a power places new units in a hostile sea zone (see page 19 of the Rulebook). In the given example, Germany would have to have placed a new destroyer in the sea zone next to Denmark (and Germany) on its previous turn.
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Thanks a lot!
Now it’s clear! :-D