Greetings, long time player. Began playing A&A 1st edition (yeah, WAYYYY back there). Played the crap out of 2nd edition, revised, and now playing 1942 weekly. Played many other simpler games, too like Risk and Settlers of Catan.
We’re ready to try a new game, be it another A&A or something completely different. I’m considering Advanced Squad Leader. I’m open to recommendations for any strategic war board game.
R1 -you MUST take Norway. Only way to allow the UK BB to survive. UK cannot afford to lose it. Russia can’t afford to lose the fighter, either, but oh well. :(
This also means you probably won’t have the power to attack Ukraine.
This really set Russia back.
G1 - they counter lightly on the russian front. They build up their navy in the baltic. AC+ others. Possibly transports.
Now, on UK R1, they have the threat of Germans landing in their capitol, the large baltic navy defending the sea, and any hope of decent naval help from USA is a round+ away.
Sea lion is much too easy in this version. Russia doesn’t have the financial capabilities of hitting hard into Germany with Japan building IC in Asia. US is busy trying to defen UK and forsaking Africa.
I don’t think a good axis player can lose.
Most games it comes down to holding Russia until reinforcements arrive.
Yes, that is what I’m saying I am having a problem with. Ignoring Japan, they become huge on the mainland dropping 9-11 armor per turn. Germany is dropping 6 or more. UK is out of it for a few turns due to loss of navy. USA simply takes several turns to be effective.
There are two generic Allied strategy.
The most common is KGF (Kill Germany First), where Allies ignore Japan and focus on Germany, I think this is easier to do and effective.
The second is KJF (Kill Japan First), where Allies focus on Japan, this is harder to do as from R1 you need to be committed.
If Russia falls before Allies have enough pressure on Germany than Axis usually wins and vice versa.
VS. the Axis strategy listed, I don’t see how KJF would even be remotely possible. I’m definitely ATTEMPTING KGF, but losing russia far too early before reinforcements arrrive.
Twice I have invaded Norway on R1 and both times were failures (one was a unspeakable failure). The loss of troops on the russian front was devastating for the remainder of the game. Russia does not have the income to loose troops like that.
Yes, the G1 move to Sz2 seems to cost germany a good chunk of its air force, but the loss of the UK navy and the time needed to rebuild benifits germany greatly.
I’ve actually had decent luck with 4 inf, 1 fgt on R1. I’ll give it a go with 3 inf/3 arm next time.
Can russia build a strong enough defense on in europe to start pushing west into asia to slow Japan?
BTW, going to look for the downloads you recommend now.
Man, this is so frustrating.
First off, long time player. Began with 1ed back in '84. Played 2ed for many, many years. It’s almost impossible for the allies to lose that game. Recently began playing revised. I’ve got maybe 20 games under my belt. As the allies, my opponent plays a strategy that I simply cannot find an answer to.
Normally R1, I’m stocking up on Inf, attacking WRus and maybe Ukraine. It seems attacking Ukraine on R1 can leave you mighty thin for defense.
G1, my opponent purchases all armor. With a bomber, fighter, and sub, Germans take out UK navy in 2. With fighters, Germans destroy UK BB in 13. With German BB, germans destroy destroyer in 15, then land troops from Southern Europe into Anglo along with Lybian forces.
G1 may or may not try to reclaim WRus, plus options on Karelia, Ukr.
This leaves UK without any navy. Sure they have the Indian/Aus navy, but Japan will wipe that out J1 unless UK moves india navy to South Africa. UK has to spend a couple rounds rebuilding a navy. Russia is going full defense because of the constant waves of Ger Armor since G has no threat for a couple turns from UK. USA is a couple turns from Shuck Shuck and always seems to get there too late.
Japan always drops a J1 IC on mainland. Begins taking India, China, Siberia. Drops tanks every turn and builds mroe IC’s when it is safe to increase tanks/turn.
I think in this situation, US needs to put pressure on Japan. Getting started is the hard part. I tried a BB and AC on USA1. Japan has the firepower left in the Pacific to sink this formidable US navy on J2. I’m wondering about Super Subs to help clear the pacific and start shucking from Alaska into Siberia ASAP.
With waves of tanks from Germany and waves of tanks from Japan, Russia is slipping fast!!
Yes, land units that did not move or engage in combat can move during non-combat into newly acquired territories.
Air units must end their non-combat in a friendly territory controlled at the beginning of the turn.
I feel it’s obvious that Russia must make a move on the eastern most grey territory (western russia??), but, I’m wondering about Norway on R1. There is a fighter there that can be brought against the UK fleet on G1. Anytime a grey fighter can be destroyed it is a benefit to all allies. Any benefit/downside to this move?
A & A revised OOB rules
1. Sub vs. Sub battle - attacking sub hits on sneak attack - does the defending sub get a shot? If the defending sub is in a fleet and is chosen as the causualty in a sneak attack, does it get to return fire?
2. Fig. on aircraft carrier - carrier moves 2 spaces to engage in naval combat (as does the fighter) and the carrier is destroyed leaving only the fighter. How far can it fly to land safely?
3. Fig. on aircraft carrier - carrier is attacked and destroyed. Fighter survives, how far can it move to safely land?
4. Land combat - territories: A - B - C. Two infantry in A and one tank in C attack B. Infantry die, can tank retreat to A? Tank dies, can infantry retreat to C?
This weekends game:
I. Rules
1. Weapons development goes into effect during mobilization of new units
2. Battleships “heal” during purchase units of next turn
3. Axis player - zero bid - trying to prove point
4. 1 on 1 with me trying to show that Axis cannot win as designed.
II. USSR
1. Two battles in EU - (battle board memory problems) - EEU, and just west of caucuses
2. 6 inf to Bur
3. 2 inf to western US territory (china or sinkaing, can’t recall)
4. 2 Fig to US terr.
III. Ger
1. Attacks UK med fleet
2. Attacks UK fleet w/air units, fails
3. Takes back terr. w. of caucuses
IV. UK
1. Fig from Ind. attacks Jap sub
2. Destroy Jap tran
3. Begin building up Navy in UK preparing to storm Normandy
4. Fig in Russia
V. Jap
1. Buys 1 IC and Transport(s)
2. Pearl
3. Minor battles in Asia (takes out US 2 inf, 1 fig) , large air force east of india
VI. US
1. 3 tran, land units
2. Attack Jap navy at pearl
3. Move 2 inf towards Alaska for reinforcement
4. Begin buildup of Navy for EU invasion
This starting strategy worked well, as Japan was held back in Asia for several turns without losing too much ground in russian europe. US and UK were able to begin shuttling armor into Europe and press hard towards Germany before Japan was able pressure Russia.
Game ended, however, when allies conceded. I made a huge error. Forgot to purchase units for USSR which left Moscow completely empty for a german invasion (1 tank). 50 IPC’s to Germany. Game would have still gone to Allies, but it would have been a LONG game.
Point was, though, that the Axis cannot win without an Allied error.
All air? Does this mean Pearl Harbor was not done? Also do you make sure to sink the Kwang tran and do the sub batlle on UK1.
If your playing LHTR, and you should be because the out of the box rules do not work, there is a cap on bomber damage equal to the IC’s land value and heavy bomber are limited to best of 2 dice +1 rather than 2 dice, so they are not worth it except if you expect a long game . If your using out of the box rules heavy bombers are extremely powerful and will reduce the axis to rubbble, that is, is Germany weren’t capable of sacking London on G1.
Yes, pearl harbor was done. I don’t recall exactly what happened piece by piece but all Japanese air units were on mainland asia after non-combat.
Yes, I sink the Kwang tran (usually with the destroyer, but once this failed, what luck :( )
I’ve looked at LHTR, but this weekend will be our 5th revised game. At this time we are using box rules.
I’ve mentioned looking into LHTR, and we probably will, but the consensus at this time is to play box rules. I’ve mentioned the bid, but one player is happy to take axis with 0 bid.
I’m sure this will change as our experience grows.
So, basically:
UK - take out Kwang trans, sub battle, either move into africa or defend India. Destroy baltic fleet, begin shuttling troops into (norway)
US - begin shuttling troops into N. Africa. Possibly utilize air to keep japanese navy small.
What is Germany doing? Where are the Siberian troops. Is India intact? Is Africa intact? Have you sunk the German navy? Where is the American fleet. All these nuances play a difference.
Germany is all infantry, build up europe, using fighters to disrupt sllied shipping.
India is usually intact R1 and sometimes R2.
Africa is (surprisingly) never an issue. UK defends and Germany never attempts to take it.
German baltic fleet sunk, german med fleet 50/50 survival.
American fleet usually working in the atlantic to start a shuttle to norway or southern.
Thoughts:
US lands in northern africa. Makes Germany defend three fronts (against Russia to the east, UK to the north, US to the south) Germany should fall easily. Can it be done before Japan blitzes through asia?
US lands in Norway. Germany doesn’t worry about southern, so they don’t fall as fast. US can blitz through moscow to fight Japan in asia.
US build IC in Asia. Can US/UK/Russia defend it long enough for it to be useful? Usually ALL of Japans air force is in Manchuria.
Split US between atlantic/pacific. Island hop in pacific, land troops in norway/north africa. Makes axis defend from both directions but less effect allied forces in both areas.
Ah, US and UK bombers in Moscow SBR on Japanese IC’s on mainland asia. Is it then worthwhile to dedicate IPC towards heavy bombers?
Long time A&A player, first time Revised player.
Rule book states BB takes 2 hits to destroy. First hit, lay on its side. If it survives battle, replace on board in upright position.
Does this indicate that it is “repaired” automatically if it survives battle after taking one hit?
i.e. German BB attacked by US takes one hit. Russia attacks next attempting to finish it off - how many hits does it take to sink it?
I played A&A a lot, years ago. Just last month I started playing Revised. I must say its a different game!
Now, on to my ordeal. We play a four player game - same players each game. I’m playing US/UK and the Japan player is very strategic minded. I’ve done a little reading here, but I do need to do much more. From what I’ve read, setting up a EUS to Europe US convoy is considered a good strategy. Now, turning a blind eye on Japan whilst doing so, I find that Japan has built up way too much in asia.
Japan’s first turn, they take Pearl, China, drop two IC’s on mainland. T2 they drop a third and end up dropping 8-9 tanks every turn there after.
Now, if US puts some pressure on Japan, it can slow them down. Otherwise, it seems I’m banking on a German error so that UK/US can march through europe before Russia falls.
So, with Japan dropping into asia immediately, is it better to:
1.) Use US to pressure Japan in pacific.
2.) Use US to land in Europe and push towards Germany
3.) Use US to land in (Norway) and drive through Moscow into east Asia. <–this I haven’t tried.