Jumping forward - By the Spring 1942, the Russians had stabilized their front in the Ukraine. By Spring 1943, the Allies had invaded North Africa and driven the Axis back into Tunisia.
Jumping forward - By the Spring 1942, the Russians had stabilized their front in the Ukraine. By Spring 1943, the Allies had invaded North Africa and driven the Axis back into Tunisia.
Here are some more shots of the Origins game:
Army Group South’s deep penetration of the Ukraine all the way to the gates of Stalingrad in Autumn 1941 (the Germans attacked Russia early in the Spring of 1941).
Also - Rommel’s advance into Egypt. . .
Finally getting back to posting some of the pictures from the Origins Con in Ohio earlier this Summer. We had a blast playing a 3 day game of Struggle for Europe with 10-12 players coming in and out over the course of the game and about 3-4 die hards that played it through to the bitter end!
Here are some pics of the action - I’ll post more later so you can see how the game progressed:
Fall of France in 1940 - German battles in the Spring and the battle board of Guderian’s battle for Champaigne which pretty much sealed France’s fate. . .Note the placement of front line, support and reserve units on the battleboard which is unique to the game system. Better leaders can move more units from reserve to front line every round of combat.
IL was one of the first buyers of the first edition game several years ago. I think we turned him on to Skytrex and tumbling dice… Anyway, we learned a lot of what people liked and did not like so much with the first game. We took a lot of good ideas from different people and built this second edition a few years ago. The pics above are all from the second edition game.
I have been living abroad for the last few years so have not had much time to play or take it to conventions, but that is beginning to change. We will be taking this game to Origins in Ohio at the end of the month (as well as a playtest version of the Asia/Pacific theater) and am looking forward to taking over the World, er, I mean playing it there for a few days. :evil:
You could keep the system the same but just apply some variability to it. For example, for each surface ship, roll a d6: 1-2 = 0pp damage, 3-4 = 1PP damage, 5-6 = 2PP damage
For subs - 1-2 = 1PP damage, 3-4 = 2PP damage, 5-6 = 3PP damage.
Economic damage should average out the same as it is now, but you would introduce a little more variability into the results every turn. You could also devise some modifiers for technology or national advantages, like German u-boats get a +1; or once the Allies have centimetric radar or something, Axis subs receive a -1 modifier, etc. . .
the game comes with all of the counter/bases in files for you to print out. A good method is to print them out on glossy label paper (they are sized to be printed out on 8.5x11 inch solid sheets). Print out on an inkjet printer and then stick the whole sheet on white styrene plastic sheets. Then score the individual counters using a round razor wheel that is attached to a plastic guide (available at most stationary stores) to create your counters.
Our group also mounted the planes on small metal wire pegs so the planes stand up off of the counters by a quarter of an inch or so - you can get sense of what you can do with that in the pic below:
A couple of pictures from a game we played last weekend - one from the beginning of the game (Autumn 1939 turn) in France and one from the Summer 1940 turn in North Africa.
Hey - we are playing the Struggle for Europe and Asia at the Origins Game Convention in Columbus, Ohio 1-3 of May if you are in the Midwest.
The game does not come with pieces - you need to use your own or buy them separately from HBG, FMG or one of the other miniature sites.
I think it only makes sense to care about oil for the Axis. The Allies were awash with it. . .Even if the Russians lost the Caucusus they probably had enough from the Volga region and Central Asia to keep their war machine running - and the US had more than enough. Britain would either get it from the US or the Middle East - so it is accounted for in convoy damage.
I think oil rules - to be simple - should really just apply to the Axis. My vote is to assign certain territories as extra income for Axis only (like Java should only be worth like 1PP , but have like a 5 point oil symbol on it that is extra collected for the Axis if they own it.
I would go with the Kongo for BB, Shokaku or Kaga for the CV and Val for the Tac bomber.
The Kongo class and Shokaku or Kaga were the types that were more active during the parts of the war when Japan was still competing in naval battles (Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Santa Cruz, etc.) The Yamato and Musashi were not really around until late and were sunk almost immediately. Plus the kongo superstructure looks a lot cooler and unique for Japan.
The Val to me is a better choice than the Kate - it is more distinct from the Zero - so players can tell it more easily apart with its wings and fixed landing gear, etc.
These are really nicely done by one of the folks who plays this game:
Thanks for the compliment - there are a lot of ideas incorporated into the game - some of which have been brought up by designers on this forum. . .
Actually the leaders are an important part of the game and give it another dimension which is a lot of fun. Leaders have an ‘initiative rating’ which determines when they can move - we have done away with a more traditional Axis turn / Allied turn in favor of a simultaneous turn where you never know exactly if you will get to move before your opponent. A leader with a good initiative (like Rommel) stands a better chance of getting to move first (or last - depending on what he wants to do) on a turn than a leader with a slow initiative rating -like some of the early French and Russian generals. This adds a lot of flavor as you never know who might get the jump on you to attack a territory. It introduces a lot more uncertainty into the game. We’re playtesting it again in a couple weeks and I’ll post a few more pictures then.
Yes - all the minis are mounted on counters - and they stand up just fine under pretty intense gaming - not a problem
We played the game to conclusion over the weekend - it is not an afternoon kind of game. . . but it is not a World in Flames or World at War kind of 100 hour game either. . .
While it’s still under development, it was a blast - thanks! We have been using a simultaneous/alternating move concept which speeds up play quite a bit - and gets rid of the predictable “you move and attack, I move and attack” turn based system.
My friends and I have been working on a new custom variant - you can see some pics at:
http://www.ww2wargame.com/forum/index.php?topic=274.0
A lot of good ideas and suggestions from folks on this forum - a great community of wargamers - so thanks!
I thought the main problem was that the Bismarck’s modern AA guns were not calibrated and sighted to fire at planes that were moving as slow as the swordfish. The Bismarck had good AA weaponry - they just were too modern to shoot at old tech planes.
Though sometimes a bit abrasive with his criticism – I must say that Flashman has added a bit of witty energy to the variant board and some good constructive feedback. I can take offense a lot quicker than many – but he has some good comments mixed in with the barbs. . .I am waiting for the next Axis & Allies variant – the Rio de Oro Civil War game – I get to play the Palisario!
I love the Mad Max guy in the middle of Australia by the way – I laughed out loud when I got to that part of the map. . .
Well, Adlertag - I respect your constructive criticism of the map. I guess I have gotten more positive comments regarding morphing the map to increase the size and the number of territories where the war was actually fought than negative ones. If your idea of a WWII game is driving Tiger tanks through the Belgian Congo, then this is probably not the right mix of game vs. sim for you.
I’m actually continuing to work on other maps (well, unfortunately even larger)- perhaps it may prove to be more to your liking. Maybe some day and can collaborate with IL - his map making skills are certainly the best out there that I have seen so far.
Have you checked out IL’s revized War in Europe map? I really like the way he did terrain
Good news, Adlertag (and the rest of you aggressive types out there) you can attack any neutral you like. . .Actually, in the last game we played at Origins I invaded Turkey to get my Italians access to the Black Sea (it ended up not working out so well - but hey, I did it!). Neutrals also have the potential of joining Germany as well (e.g. if the Axis take Cairo, there is a chance Turkey will join the Axis) - If Spain or Turkey join the Axis, the game goes into all sorts of different directions. . . :evil:
Hi Adlertag! The rules are posted on line - you can check them out at:
http://www.ww2wargame.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=843cde70c6dfe44b62ecbabf7872b2b5&board=11.0
I think Imperious would part with his copy (sans pieces) and make a deal with you. You really need 4-5 like-minded folks to play the game, though. So if you don’t have a local group of gamers that are into games like this - you might not get a lot of use out of it - something to consider. . .
We have sold a few games to folks in Sweden - but not to Norway yet.
Had an awesome time at Origins - even better than last year! :-D
We ran two tables on Thursday and Friday (first time we have done that at a Con) and had 10-12 people playing on both days - which was a blast.
The “veteran” rematch between Michigan and New England ended up in yet another Allied Michigan victory and I was defeated once again by my arch-nemesis - Dan, as the Soviet Union and Craig as the UK. Eric managed an invasion on Japan in 1944, humbling John as Japan - looks like John and I need some practice before trying to go toe to toe with the Detroit folks again.
We ended up playing a great 1941 scenario game on Saturday to wrap up Origins with which was a very close game down to the wire and a great way to end the Con!
Thanks to everyone who came and played - look forward to next year!
If you are going, swing by and check it out at GenCon Indy
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