This is my all time favorite game!!! I have played several games and the Axis usually win, but my opponents are still new to the game. We’ll see how it goes next game, I am supposed to be one of the Allies or Russia. Personally, I believe that the game is amazing, a step up from A&A, and definitely worth it!
I currently play with the Spanish Civil War, Croatia, Netherlands, Ordnance I, II, & III, Gruppe Monsun, Turkey at War, DAK, Sea Lion, River Monitors, Elite Fighter Squadron, Manchoukou, American Minorities, Alaskan Warriors, and I just added Oil Wars (can’t wait to try it out).
Yes, I think Manchoukou is worth it. It gives Japan some teeth in the mainland, but gives the Chinese the opportunity to create partisans and create havoc for an ill prepared Japan. I also use a few 3D expansions.IfMy games take about a weekend (if they get finished). But that is not caused by how many expansions I use. It is caused BH players studying the board, developing strategies, and making every move count. Our last game, I was the Axis and was crushing them. Then, towards the end of the second day, they finally realized that they could work together to achieve a common goal. They helped the US (the newest guy) develop a purchasing plan for the next several turns, started conduction specific operations with exact goals, and even passing written messages between each other so I wouldn’t know their strategy! Moscow went from a sitting duck to the fight of the game. I barely won thanks to cbemical weapons. If they had played like that the whole game, Idoubt victory would have been so easy or certain. So as far as is the game balanced between the powers, I think that it depends on the skill and strategic quality of the players present. A good player playing Germany can seem unstoppable, but the collective might of the Allies can turn the tide
Jinx: in my games, Japan usually tries to sack China to allow them a land path to India. I really want to try your Refusing the Dragon strategy. How has its results held up in gameplay?
For you fans…HBG will be releasing a 3rd edition in the future sometime. Right now they are working on other stuff, but worn on expansions always remains steady. I have been told that there is stuff in the works for South America at war and introducing the Axis Minors in a more prominent role in the game!