Interesting. Yes the ability to put subs in the med probably greatly increases their utility by precluding the uk from placing a destroyer in the english channel to protect a landing in Morocco, which hopefully bus Italy some time to earn some objective money. I know they only have two, but with such a small economy the NOs increase Italy’s capacity to contribute by quite a bit, proportionally speaking.
Balance
-
I have only played 2 games of AA50-42 w/o NOs, but I’d be willing to play axis with a $9 bid, same as in Revised.
What’s funny is that I actually managed to lose a couple a NO- games in the 41 scenario as allies… :-) before I figured it out.
I have heard rumors that even top Revised players tried a German naval strat soon after the game was released. But not for long… So don’t underestimate experience/n00b factors :-D
-
I think the reason we didnt play national advantages is we never played with any optional rules in the previous games and when we tried it in the 1941 version the game just dragged out forever. However I think we played it our own way where you could build as many units as you wanted on your capital. So everyone was going for there national advantages and loading up with infantry and having these huge massive battles. took forever. we like to be able to get a game in in 5-6 hrs. if it runs over that then it gets dragged out for days.
The revised edition the axis had a definite advantage without any optional rules. The axis player would have to make a mistake to lose that game.
-
@The:
The revised edition the axis had a definite advantage without any optional rules. The axis player would have to make a mistake to lose that game.
Ehhhh……
There are no optional rules in the Revised edition, and axis need about 8-9 ipc in a unit bid to balance the game, assuming fairly experienced players on both sides.
Also there are no national advantages in AA50, that is in Revised Enhanced, in AA50 there is National Objectives = NOs.
-
NO or NA…you knew what i meant.
As far as the bidding goes. Ive read where ppl on here do that but we have never tried it. Not really sure how to incorporate the bid system. It would also be a hard sell bc my play group is stubborn and are set in their ways…lol…However im interested in hearing more about bids and how they work.
-
The best bidding system, imo, is that player(s) starts bidding downwards for the side that they believe to be at a disadvantage.
Let’s say player A bids 10 for axis in AA50-42, w/o NOs. Player B bids 9, and player A says OK. Then player B gets axis with a $9 bid. Then player B buys units before the game starts, and places these units wherever he wants.
Some bidding rules states only one unit pr. territory, and other bidding rules you can place several units on the same territory. -
In my ftf play group we think that 42 with NOs and tech is faily well balanced as long as access to seazone 16 is not allowed. We are all pretty good players.
-
In my ftf play group we think that 42 with NOs and tech is faily well balanced as long as access to seazone 16 is not allowed. We are all pretty good players.
lack of sz 16 access really limits Italy’s options and the Regia Marina is subject to early destruction. If one must play it I suggest relaxing the rules a little allowing access to the portion of sz 16 which is west of the Dardanelles. This allows Italy some better logistics as they can reinforce Bulgaria, some better protection for the fleet, while still denying access to Russia.
-
lack of sz 16 access really limits Italy’s options and the Regia Marina is subject to early destruction. If one must play it I suggest relaxing the rules a little allowing access to the portion of sz 16 which is west of the Dardanelles. This allows Italy some better logistics as they can reinforce Bulgaria, some better protection for the fleet, while still denying access to Russia.
That’s a really interesting thought. Is this just a suggestion, or have you actually played games with this house rule in effect? If you have played with this rule, then how did it work out?
-
yes, I like it too, but I have been trying to not stray from the ‘official’ rules as much as possible in our local FTF group. But this is already an optional rule, so tweaking it a bit seems pretty sweet.
It “Middles” the affect… not too PRO-Allied when on, and much more PRO-Axis when the original optional rule is not in play.
8-) -
It “Middles” the affect… not too PRO-Allied when on, and much more PRO-Axis when the original optional rule is not in play.
8-)Of course, in general, an open Dardanelles favors the Axis, since Russia has to worry about defending the Caucasus from Italy’s <cough>massive bombarding fleet and airforce.
However, I have noticed on multiple occasions where an open Dardanelles works against the Axis (the Allies! use it), and where a closed Dardanelles worked for the Axis (Allies couldn’t use it).
In my latest game where this is the case, it was the '41 scenario and the UK fleet chased the Italian fleet through the Suez (never to return) and actually docked in the Black Sea, protecting Caucasus from the Jap and Italian fleets in Z34, and pasting two German tanks and two Italian fighters on Bulgaria. This was early in the game - maybe round 3 or so. Yeah, the open Dardanelles didn’t work out so well for the Axis there… Also, on the next turn, two UK fighters in Z16 helped annihilate a large German fleet in Z5, (made possible by a carrier buy to be placed in Z6 if necessary - it wasn’t)
Having the Dardanelles open was quite possibly a deciding factor in helping the ALLIES win. Like I said, this is just the latest example. It’s kinda like not allowing Island complexes. Tends to slow down the Axis early on, but tends to help the Axis later on.</cough>
-
So anyway, I just prefer playing with the Dardanelles closed (and with escorts/interceptors - side note) because it was closed in history. Wasn’t that the reason for the optional rule?
I also prefer it because I think it’s ridiculous that the Italians could possibly heavily bombard Caucasus from the Black Sea. I still can’t figure out why the Italians start with 2 cruisers and a battleship, when in past A&A games there was just a battleship and transport off Italy. But anyway, I digress. I try to stick to the rules, and a closed Dard is an official optional rule, so I play with it closed unless my opponent insists…
Suggested Topics
