Q&A with Axis & Allies & Zombies Game Designer, Scott Van Essen Part 2

@Krieghund Thanks again for all your fast replies. And seems I am getting most issues right.
Having said that: being VERY far removed from your level of (tacit) knowledge of all things A&A among some of the guys (sorry no ladies unfortunately) that I play with I am known as ‘the guy that is looking for rules issues and strange/improbably combinations of rules…’ - and in this case: cards :)

Thanks for reply, so it sounds like most of us agree that the rule is written poorly and that there is a logical “AA” way to interpret it, thanks!

@thrasher1

Risk 2210 is an excellent variation on Risk. Risk Legacy is also supposed to be really fun. I’d look there.

So Dave and I took another crack at this and in preparation for the Gencon Tourney, took out all but 2 of the escalation cards. Didn’t play with a bid this time, I was the Allies.

Taking the Escalations out works well. I support this change–there are 6 copies (including the identical Zombie Rise) in the deck to start. Greg’s rule also says that you can’t draw a second escalation when you are resolving the first–at most you will draw 2 cards.

OOB, having 6 Escalations and also reshuffling them back into the deck, led to more confusing and overlapping play. Sometimes you could have 3-4 cards active, all at once–this rule change means at most you will get 2, and at most, twice per game. Even if you aren’t playing with the Tournament Rules, I’d suggest removing escalation (and zombie rise) from the game when they appear, then they can at most be seen 6 times.

Almost every new player I’ve introduced to this version said “dang, why do we keep drawing that draw two card!” Having 3-4 special powers/rolls on one turn seems kind of abusive and too luck driven (one game we had 2 of the “draw special reinforcements” and so the Russians got 3! free units for each of 3! zombie liberated territories).

See you at Gencon, Good Luck, Have Fun. Jon

Thanks Taamvan for the props…yes, I will be having a Zombie tournament at GEN CON. I am excited about it and really trying to nail down all the rules questions before then.

And yes, I have a tendency to lean towards the Axis as well and it will be interesting to see how much they are will to give up in a 3 hour game.

Right now, these are only preliminary but here is what I have come up with so far…

http://www.headlesshorseman2.com/uploads/3/4/0/0/34000156/aazrules19.pdf

Also, there will be some rule changes especially with the zombie cards and techs. I will keep you posted.

@taamvan:

… but remains … to be … seen

And depending on the roll results, have to kill the remains again…  :-P

-Midnight_Reaper