I think it arrived!

[Imperious Leader]

If you see Djensen name in red, that should mean he is working on putting the info on this site.

[jim010]

… can’t … wait … have to pee … so bad …

[Most Holy]

It’s so funny seeing all the excitement right now as I know as well of all of you that we will be ripping this game big time starting as soon as we see it. Lol

[jim010]

I just want the pieces.  I have no interest in the game itself.

[Variable]

I actually have a lot of interest in the game. I have some other friends that I would like to get into war gaming that even AA42 seems daunting to them. Plus, there is also a new unit type (AA artillery) that I would like to see the rules for. Also interested in seeing the layout of the map. If it’s any different from '42 territory-wise. Looks like Larry will be going back to the optional rule from 2nd edition of no new industrial complexes being built. Really, the only thing I’m bummed about so far is cardboard in place of poker chips. The poker chips couldn’t cost that much, could they? I see plastic pieces sliding off of cardboard easily, let alone stacks of cardboard…

[Col. Ty Webb]

I’m with Variable. I may rip the game, if I think it deserves it, but I really hope it’s something I can get my friends to play. Then maybe Spring 42 won’t seem so bad, then maybe Europe or Pacific 1940 then global. I’m most interested with the map myself along with the initial setup, just for that reason.
The cardboard is a bummer, but I have chips if need be.
I’m just really hoping this is a game that stays true to A&A yet can be played in an hour and a half almost every game. Depending on the map, maybe there are some different setups and rules we can make to make it a longer game if wanted, but Right now I just want a true introductory game.

[jim010]

I suppose I could introduce the students at my school to it.

[djensen]

Enjoy. Box opening video to soon follow as soon as I can find some music for it.

http://www.axisandallies.org/p/axis-and-allies-1941-contents-of-the-box/

[gamerman01]

Holy cow!  Check out that map!  I wonder what the units cost?!  Are infantry down to 1?

[gamerman01]

Wow!  You can’t get from Western France to Germany in one turn with Allied transports!
Funny, because everything else is bigger/closer together…  Brings back memories of Classic…

But starting Russia worth only 7 and Japan only 9…
Can’t see the unit costs in this picture - I’m wondering if infantry cost 1 or 2…

[gamerman01]

Overwhelming -

In some ways this starter game has some improvements, in my opinion, from all the other incarnations of global A&A….

India worth the same as the Middle East!
Scandinavia only worth 1!  (Is worth 5, or half as much as Germany in AA50)

With these low IPC counts, maybe unlimited production from Classic is back!

[gamerman01]

Several sea zones with multiple islands - intriguing

Carolines and Phillipines together,
Solomons and New Guinea
Japan and Iwo and Oki

Whoa!  USA starts with more than 2X the income of Russia!  Was only 1.5X in Classic…

[gamerman01]

And now this has sunk in -

There is a starting complex in India, but none on Italy!  Wow, is that different!
Of course, with Africa worth almost NOTHING now…
But the Axis can’t build any boats in the Med…

At a glance, it looks like there will be a lot more action on the important fronts, and a lot less messing around with all the out-of-the way places (New Zealand, Africa, Brazil, Northern Russia)…  looks like it does have the makings of a shorter, more to the point game

[Col. Ty Webb]

I didn’t notice the India IC. That could change things from the regular game play as well.

[Most Holy]

Thanks for the pics Dave! Wow, china cuts Kwangtung off from French indochina. And Japan can get from Manchuria to the Cauc in one move! (if tanks work the same) really different. Can’t wait to get the low down on rules. I wonder if Jeremy will have this up on the FMG site once he reopens it.

[Yavid]

without artillery and tactical bombers and cruisers. It looks like infantry push is back.

Japanese tigers, British and American IS-2, looks like I finally have Heavy Tanks for everyone.

[Gargantua]

Dude…

You can blitz from Manchuria to the Caucasus in 1 move.

What the hell…

The U.K. with Russian Tanks = :S

Japan with Tiger tanks? - Lame.

Definetely like the multiple islands in 1 sea zone concept.  And the new up/down China.

[gamerman01]

Yeah, it’s interesting how he actually made some improvements while intentionally also “downgrading” the game so much for a different audience.

Mix and match pieces from other game, man.

Somebody wondered if tanks will only move one space instead of two.  I wouldn’t be surprised either way.  I’m wondering what the units cost - can’t see it on Jensen’s pic.

[Imperious Leader]

This game is a rehash of MB edition using new pieces and AA42 map redrawn.

I see the same strategy dynamic over again… Germans pile up in EE, the Soviets pile up in Karelia. It becomes an arms race over time. If the German player heads south, the Soviets in a reflexive manner shift to Russia and West Russia becomes the pivot point or the “no mans land” between them.

China was changed for easy Japanese access to Russia.

The sea zones are looking verbatim like MB edition with few exceptions…

I bet the rules for placement are not unlike MB edition, since it looks like new factories are not in this game.

No artillery also means MB edition.

[Hobbes]

[quote author=Imperious Leader link=topic=27523.msg970126#msg970126 date=1339001730]
I see the same strategy dynamic over again… Germans pile up in EE, the Soviets pile up in Karelia. It becomes an arms race over time. If the German player heads south, the Soviets in a reflexive manner shift to Russia and West Russia becomes the pivot point or the “no mans land” between them.[/quote]

The dynamic is somewhat different. On the MB edition Karelia was the strongpoint since you could either go through there or Ukraine/Caucaus (longer).
Here the main difference is that Karelia is the longer route to reach Moscow and you have 2 (W Russia and Ukraine) instead of 1.