My review copy of Axis & Allies Europe 1940 has arrived

I agree that Ireland probably should’ve been a strict neutral, but it probably won’t make a difference gameplay-wise, as Germany most likely will never get troops into Eire or if they do, it won’t be for long.  There’s not much incentive for anyone to occupy Eire with no IPC value and no infantry and not even island status for scrambling…  And it doesn’t connect to anything strategic.

Djensen, thanks for the previews, been away for a while- wow I come back and we have photos and preview.  I get my copies in about 7-10days.  I can wait as I will be studying the new rules from this forum anyway.  The French infantry units are flipping sweet!!! Very nice!!! :-)  Map looks great of course.

Can you or someone please post a pdf copy of Europe rulebook plz?!?

So I had a chance to play this weekend.  It was fun.  Tried some different things so it didn’t play out just like any A&A game.  I played the axis.  Germany failed to take France on G1, but did kill off all the British fleet around UK only losing one fighter and 2 subs.  I had bought an AC thinking that not having to worry about Russia until the 4th turn I’d go at England and taking France would give me contol of Europe already.  Well not taking France with Germany really hurt my plan, so after the Allies started to buy infantry to seal up the East, and UK bought some men and a plane to go at boats and shore up defenses in England, I had to take out France with Italy, so they got the IPCs.  It worked out OK though as Italy then turned to Africa an rolled through starting more on turn 2.  Lucky rolls too.  Barely lost a unit.  Only problem I found was there are not enough Italian control markers to take all of Africa.  Had to put them on the borders as I got to the West and South.  Well, Germany bought a bunch of Transports on G2 and England bought a ton of Men.  With the fleet and a full AC Englan chickened out and didn’t attack with his planes.  He wanted the defense.  Germany rolled into England on turn G3 and won with one Tank and 2 fighters left.  Lost almost the full airforce, but now controlled England and France by turn 3.  Plus with all the extra money was able to build up the next turn.  America, now in the war, had spent early money buying transports and land units mostly, thinking he would jump to Africa and help out.  Now he was in defense mode as Africa was almost all Italian and Germany still had a decent fleet.  Germany bought more Transports and men and a couple plans on G4, and by the time Russia joins the war, they had moved a bunch of men as a defensive wall.  America bought more troops on US4, but with the Naval base in England, Germany moved over and landed in Canada on G5.  At this point my friend decided that even though the US was now in the  war, Italy was going to be able to help defend against Russia and Germany was going to keep hitting North America, and he through in the towel.  It was fun, but I had great rolls all night and that made it a lot easier.  Virtually every risk I took went my way.  I left the game set up and I think I’ll run through the motions to see if it would hold up.  The Axis were very strong at this point.  It was fun to land in America.  I’ve never done that that early before.  Not having a Russian front in the first 4 rounds made it too tempting and I had to try.  Thumbs up for the game so far, but I would have liked more US  transports and more control markers for Italy.

@boboshonda:

So I had a chance to play this weekend.  It was fun.  Tried some different things so it didn’t play out just like any A&A game.  I played the axis.  Germany failed to take France on G1, but did kill off all the British fleet around UK only losing one fighter and 2 subs.  I had bought an AC thinking that not having to worry about Russia until the 4th turn I’d go at England and taking France would give me contol of Europe already.  Well not taking France with Germany really hurt my plan, so after the Allies started to buy infantry to seal up the East, and UK bought some men and a plane to go at boats and shore up defenses in England, I had to take out France with Italy, so they got the IPCs.  It worked out OK though as Italy then turned to Africa an rolled through starting more on turn 2.  Lucky rolls too.  Barely lost a unit.  Only problem I found was there are not enough Italian control markers to take all of Africa.  Had to put them on the borders as I got to the West and South.  Well, Germany bought a bunch of Transports on G2 and England bought a ton of Men.  With the fleet and a full AC Englan chickened out and didn’t attack with his planes.  He wanted the defense.  Germany rolled into England on turn G3 and won with one Tank and 2 fighters left.  Lost almost the full airforce, but now controlled England and France by turn 3.  Plus with all the extra money was able to build up the next turn.  America, now in the war, had spent early money buying transports and land units mostly, thinking he would jump to Africa and help out.  Now he was in defense mode as Africa was almost all Italian and Germany still had a decent fleet.  Germany bought more Transports and men and a couple plans on G4, and by the time Russia joins the war, they had moved a bunch of men as a defensive wall.  America bought more troops on US4, but with the Naval base in England, Germany moved over and landed in Canada on G5.  At this point my friend decided that even though the US was now in the  war, Italy was going to be able to help defend against Russia and Germany was going to keep hitting North America, and he through in the towel.  It was fun, but I had great rolls all night and that made it a lot easier.  Virtually every risk I took went my way.  I left the game set up and I think I’ll run through the motions to see if it would hold up.  The Axis were very strong at this point.  It was fun to land in America.  I’ve never done that that early before.  Not having a Russian front in the first 4 rounds made it too tempting and I had to try.  Thumbs up for the game so far, but I would have liked more US  transports and more control markers for Italy.

Waw, harsh game for the allies!

So if England falls, USA better gets some DD blockers in the Atlantic.

Although, if England falls, isn’t the game usually over?

It was.  That’s why I can’t really make a call on how even the game sets up.  The rolls were so hot for the Axis and so cold for the Allies.  Other then France holding off Germany in G1, all the other battles were wins for the Axis with minimal loss.  And I do believe if I had gone at Russia with both the Axis countries after England fell, it would have been a relatively easy victory.  Splitting them and taking Germany to NA was fun, but not the best choice.  I did it just to say I did it.  America could have held out a long time, I’m sure, seeing as they could put 20 infantry out a turn with their new found wealth and two major ICs.  But it was fun and I look forward to another game of E40 before we do a full Global!

Man that sounds really sweet!

what does G1 and G2 etc. mean?

@Doomreaperx:

what does G1 and G2 etc. mean?

G1 is Germany turn 1 and G2 is Germany turn 2. Etc.

okay, thank you. Im just a “noob” =P

Hey everyone.  Just got my copies of AAE40 yesterday.  Very excited.  Getting ready to check them out.  Plan on playing all next week.  First a few games of just Europe, then I’m going to try out the massive Global game.

I got mine some days ago, but I had just opened it now… It looks quite good, but

I think the “Europe” part is not bigger than the old AAE game released some years ago.

Waw, harsh game for the allies!

So if England falls, USA better gets some DD blockers in the Atlantic.

Although, if England falls, isn’t the game usually over?

The American player makes a lot of money and can easily defend aganist Germany. He should have built a fleet to block the way to the American mainland. It clearly was badly played. America has no standard builds but instead needs to build based on what is going on. He could have built a bunch of Battleships and destoryers to bar the war and also built guys and tanks to defend the mainland. The other issue is that America should rarely play defenseive. With their IPC count they can easily afford losses that would cripple most other nations. A 1-1 trade is a win for America.

Even if the UK falls most of the time the German player looks to Russia cause its a lot easier to go there then to build massive amounts of transports to go bother America. I have seen America take back a conquered UK from Germany before. Its not easy or cheap but they can afford it.

@boboshonda:

It was.  That’s why I can’t really make a call on how even the game sets up.  The rolls were so hot for the Axis and so cold for the Allies.  Other then France holding off Germany in G1, all the other battles were wins for the Axis with minimal loss.  And I do believe if I had gone at Russia with both the Axis countries after England fell, it would have been a relatively easy victory.  Splitting them and taking Germany to NA was fun, but not the best choice.  I did it just to say I did it.  America could have held out a long time, I’m sure, seeing as they could put 20 infantry out a turn with their new found wealth and two major ICs.  But it was fun and I look forward to another game of E40 before we do a full Global!

Honesty with a skilled American player they would build a mix of tanks and guys to kick you off the mainland should you manage to land. It should be impossible for Germany to gain a foothold that America can’t break given the supply issues involved. Also with a decent Russian player building for 4 turns before war taking Russia shouldn’t be easy by any stretch.

I have a somewhat idiotic question involving the rules. Can land units attack air units?

Yes

Excellent review!

So DJ… ready to review 2nd edition yet?  :-D

@Make_It_Round:

So DJ… ready to review 2nd edition yet?  :-D

I second this!