I’ve been a fan of A&A since the early '90’s. Play the revised version with mates a lot. We seem to exclusively play with all national advantages, and recently I have devised a new combined axis strategy.
I find ppl often ignore the German fleet and don’t defend it well enough. First turn build is usually straight navy: 1 BBS and an AC. These go to support the fleet in the baltic. I then attack the brit BBS in Gib with 2F, 1B and the BBS and trannie (load the trannie with 1 man). I send 2F against the DD in Egypt, and 90% of the time casualties do not effect Germany’s standing long term. I then land the troop in Gib and capture it so allies can’t attack the BBS, sub and trannie effectively.
I push to reclaim some land in europe, usually belorussia and arkangel, and then focus on leaving most of my air superiority in WE. This leaves me with strong attack opportunities on GB turn two, after all - 2xBBS, plus max airpower = bad sitrep for UK.
I find the german fleet can hold off any atlantic invasion force long enough for Japan to take most of the allies mid map holdings and secure the game. After t1 i generally build 10 men and a fighter, afterall Germany’s blitz ability leaves its tanks in the rear after an attack and not susceptible to loss.
Japan:
I figure my build revolves around whether or not the trannie is sunk round one:
If it is:
Build 3 trannies, 2 inf
If not:
Build 2 trannies, 4 inf, save 2IC.
First turn i hit the US fleet in Hawaii with sub, F from Caroline, DD, B from Japan.
Only other attack is China which i hit with all Inf from MAN and KWAN, plus 2F from EI carrier, 1F from FIC and 1F from MAN, 1F from JAP, both atatcks should win with limited losses.
I then ship the tank, arty and two inf over from JAP if i have 2 trannies, or a tank and a man if only one.
This leaves me on round 2 with approx. 3inf, 1 Tank, 4F to attack ssingkiang, and a second assualt force of (if 3 trannies purchased) 5inf in JAP, plus 2 Inf from PHIL, plus one from OKI, and the one in MAN = 8 Inf, 2BBS, 1bom, 2F to attack butyralia. I find this is a necessity to rid the yanks from the mainland, weaken INdia’s support, and break Russia’s back by round two.
It leaves the allies with too many battles to fight, and not enough resources to fight any. Russia has no troops to bear down on Japan as they are committed against Germany, America cannot place anywhere near enough to hurt Japan, and Britian has to decide between India and GB by end of the first or second round.
There are contingencies of course for slight things the allies can try to do, but the aim for Germany is always holding on for long enough that Japan can win the game. Works a lot of the time, but is obviously a strategy to employ when people are using the advanced rules with National Advantages.
Anyway, that’s a contribution from New Zealand lads. Enjoy.