Using Standard Rules
Stuck here at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait- my colleagues and I have played A&A the past few months. We started with the basic games and now have the 1940 Global game with both boards put together. We have an unused tent dedicated to our set up/game. Here is a recap of our most recent game this weekend.
We had 6 players. I was Italy and our Axis had decided on a big gamble- Take Out AMERICA Starting on Turn 2#!
Japan ‘played’ angry at the Korea/Northern China area and built 2 more transports giving them a total of 4 in Sea Zone 6 around Japan. The psychology of this game cannot be underestimated- his verbal discussion gave the Allies a sense of security in North America. Germany and Italy talked of beer in London (we can’t drink here in Kuwait) But, the Japanese were only one turn away from having their 3 infantry and 3 tanks in British Columbia and 1 Infantry/1 Arty in Alaska.
Turn #1 Italy liberated Gibraltar while their two fighters took care of the MED western Destroyer and Crusier. Germany annihilated the British northern fleet and built transports.
Mistake #1: The German transports were just in range of the British fighters and the Aircraft carrier/destroyer from in the middle Atlantic. All transports were sunk.
The Allies had standard moves/builds Turn 1.
Turn 2: Germany builds more transports and heads north towards Iceland. Japan lands their forces in British Columbia and Alaska (yelling Tora Tora Tora!). Italy lands two tanks/two infantry in Central America. Britain still thinks the Germans are coming after them and build tanks/infantry in London.
Mistake #2: a Sea Lane is left open for the Western US to transport two units to Alaska and they liberate Alaska with great rolls. All the Western US forces annihilate the British Columbia Japanese forces. Japan is kicked out of Northern America but its fleet was able to take out the Midway Relief Fleet- they own the Pacific.
Turn 3: Iceland is now a fortress of German Power ready to strike America on Turn 4. Britain still thinks it is the target. Italy has 2x fighters, 2xtanks and 2xinfantry in Central America but not strong enough to assault the reinforced Central USA. And, Italy takes a shot at Eastern US: 3 US Field Artillery versus (US left it too weak) and Infantry/Artillery but no shore bombardment (would have been a Battleship and Cruiser) thanks to a British Cruiser in the way= mistake #3. The attack fails !
America stomps out Italy in Mexico with 7 tanks and fighters.
Japan retakes Aleutian Islands, Alaska and British Columbia.
Turn 4: Germany is in Northern Canada having build a Naval Base in Iceland, Japan lands ALL of its planes in Alaska (sacrifices China and South Pacific- but Russia still has not attacked Japan). America builds homeland defense with its 80+ points for the second turn- it is all over.
Turn 5: With German and Japanese forces in Central USA- all the planes from Alaska plus a tank from British Columbia and the German forces from Quebec: the USA counter attacks and wipes them off the board. Russia is HUGE and invades Eastern Germany. Britain starts to rebuild its Navy. Italy sees the writing on the wall…
Game terminated with the Allies determined to win.
IF (the IFS): the three mistakes were not made as noted above and Italy did not roll 0 for 12 (that’s right, I missed 12 times in a row fighting America) and IF the Axis could have blunted the Russian onslaught coming in Turn 5-7, this may have worked.