We hadn’t finished after 6 hours, and I surmise it would have taken another six minimum to complete it. Now I understand why the belligerents agreed to an armistice!
On the other hand, now that we’ve got a lot of rules hammered out, I think the game will go MUCH faster next time (maybe 30 min a turn, instead of an hour a turn).
It seems a little scary that the CP could go hard against Russia and Russia would have a big army, while the Italians of all powers took Munich.
I agree; the Russians retreated back to Moscow as the CPs advanced, picking their battles and stalling. I don’t think Germany expected Italy to get quite so far; they reclaimed Munich their following turn.
@WILD:
Nice report, too bad you didn’t have another 6-8 hours to finish it LOL.
Thank you! We definitely wanted to finish it, but pesky things like ‘wives’ and ‘kids’ stood in our way. =)
Russia had a rather large standing army, so the CPs ended up forcing the Revolution.
Got a chance to sink some serious time into 1914 over the weekend. Loved every second of it!
I was able to play as France/UK (like I was hoping to), my teammate was Russia/Italy/America, and my two opponents were AH/Ottoman and Germany.
Just to hit the highlights, the CP hit Russia extremely hard. We didn’t have any issues with the Revolution rules, and Russia was out of the game by turn 4. Because of their hard push, their western front was near collapse; Italy was pushing its way into Munich, Britain was pouring a steady stream of infantry into Belgium, and France had been holding its own against Germany, defending its border. France built a steady stream of aircraft, ensuring air supremacy in most of the battles. Many times France would let Britain’s units soak up hits while it preserved its own (sorry, Canada!) while its artillery/aircraft/1 infantry would continue to hold the line.
By the time the CP swung their attention to the west, Germany’s income had been up to 45-50 due to its Russian expansion. This allowed them to quickly build up their western front and push Italy back down to its border. UK’s forays into Afganistan/Persia went extremely badly, eventually allowing all UK land units to be pretty much wiped out.
By turn six, battle lines had been drawn on the western front. 25+ UK troops stood in Belgium. France had massed its armies and substantial air force on Lorraine. American soldiers were positioned to invade Switzerland. Without the Russian threat to the East, Austria-Hungary had stockpiled units into Tyrolia and Triest, and Germany had fortified Ruhr and Alsace. About this time we had passed the 6 hour mark.
However, before the utter bloodbath could commence, we shook hands and signed an armistice.
I think the CP had the slight advantage in actual units, but America had yet to make its presence felt.
Takeaways:
Russian Revolution went off without a hitch. I think I would prefer if triggering the RR gave the CP one of their two capitals.
Each country felt balanced in relation to the others (America excluded). The Ottomans and British India fought back and forth, as did France & Germany and Italy & AH. Russia fought the CPs until turn 4–when the Americans entered the war. As far as America, they had yet to participate in a battle in order to gauge what their actual impact would be; their income felt a little light. Starting turn 4 with 60 IPCs spent was awesome, but 20 a turn after that wasn’t exactly intimidating.
France’s navy felt inordinately strong, allowing the Allies to establish naval dominance no later than turn 2. They had the option of destroying German subs in SZ 2, or parking a cruiser/battleship in SZ 8 so Britain could drop a fleet UK1. I chose the SZ 2 route, followed by SZ 8 on F2, with an otherwise invincible Allied fleet on UK2. At that point, Britain began shuttling troops across (8 inf a turn after UK 3) and French transports carried the Canadians to battle.
Air support was absolutely crucial in our game. A BIG part of Russia falling was the fact that it lost air superiority every battle; there were SEVERAL big battles that were swayed directly by who won air superiority. We even had one large-scale battle in Belgium in which fighters wiped each other out, ensuring a more even battle. I loved this aspect of the game.
Multi-National forces–while the CPs tended to use them (particularly to destroy Russia), I tended to keep them separate toward the end. I was more than happy to let Britain keep 25+ infantry on Belgium alone, ready to reinforce the French attack on Alsace.
Switzerland - I would have preferred Switzerland to be impassable to maintain to completely separate fronts-- Germany/France and Italy/AH; when Germany DID subjugate the Swiss on G2, things felt a lot messier.
Big Battles - a LOT of our battles were calculated in order to try to wipe the other side out in 1 round of combat, which led to a LOT of bloodshed. This was cool. =)
France dropping an infantry in Albania F1 - this was AWESOME. AH hadn’t taken or contested Venice turn 1, France activated 4 Italian troops, and everything from Venice and Albania piled into Trieste I1. Not sure how many times this will happen if people expect it, though.
This was the most fun I’ve had playing Axis and Allies in a long time. I think the game will move a lot faster next time we play, which I am very much looking forward to!
I would DEFINITELY trade cruisers’ extra movement for shore bombardment, any day!
Germany attacks a territory where Britain and France are defending.
Britain has 1 infantry, 1 artillery.
France has 1 infantry, 1 artillery, and 1 fighter, which wins aerial supremacy.
Do all defending artillery (including UK’s) gain the bonus? Or just the French?
I’ve been hunting for this answer in the rulebook; if I’ve missed it there, could you give the page it’s on? Thanks in advance!
I tend to agree.
I had always assumed that Moscow would still count towards a CP victory after Revolution. When the official ruling stated otherwise, I immediately thought why would the CPs bother driving into Russia if Moscow can be denied to them precisely because they are successful? It practically dictates that they then have to take Paris and Rome, while either one is difficult enough to achieve from distant Berlin and Vienna with the Allies shipping units in by sea.
If the Revolution works broadly in favour of the Central Powers (which it should since it is the successes of their armies that bring it about), then I think it may have to be moved so that it occurs at the end of a Central Powers turn; then if they get too many units trapped in Russia it is largely their own lookout.
But somehow the mechanism whereby the CPs might decide it is against their interests to capture a tt, and therefore decide not to attack it, should be removed.
Agreed. Until the Revolution is worth the effort, we will be playing without the RR rules. Moscow will be just another capital.
I always break out Deviser’s little numbered roundels/cards; the Pacific fleet markers can get to big for some sea zones!
Great review-especially the in-depth criticism. Bravo, sir.
I would DEFINITELY get a set (or two) of these, especially if they were standard size.
I tried the western push with the Central Powers; I got a large German army into Burgundy (Swiss route) but from there it just couldn’t be reinforced from Berlin quickly enough, and died a horrible death as the Allies took turns to attack it.
The Munich factory would have balanced this nicely; perhaps unlimited rail would swing things too far the other way.Mind you, the Allies can move armies around so quickly by sea; something has to balance this.
Two quick questions- how did Germany’s navy fare after turn 1? And what did AH do? Attack Italy?
I wonder how effective a German blitz into France would be. Delaying or ignoring Russia, getting Austria Hungary to take Italy, and winning with Rome/Paris VCs. Committing to any sort of major action on the Eastern front would surely destroy this idea; you’ve pretty much got to commit 100 percent to beating down France to have any sort of chance.
Does anybody know why it takes Larry Harris so long to post his report of the first US-turn?
It`s not that I expect big surprises but I think it would round off the official walk through turn 1…
It probably wasn’t worth the time of “Spend 20 IPCs, move navy off the coast of England.” =/
@Old:
Old Gamers never die they just Home Rule themselves into oblivion. :evil:
Hear, hear!
Er, where exactly is the “Read More” button you mentioned?
Great timing! I was just looking for something to read at 5 in the in the morning. Â =D
Thanks!
As America…build stuff that other people need, pick an Axis player to kill, and do it.
Lol’d at this. Isn’t this EVERY Axis & Allies game? =D
UK-possibly build 1 fighter for Auspicious, 1 Inf for India-go all out KJF!
Japan- “bum rush Russia!” seems to be the preferred strategy (especially if Germany builds 4 Inf round 1, two tanks round 2). Russia doesn’t usually last past round 3.
See the thread below about tanks.
In WWI they were a breakthrough weapon, practically useless in defence.
An effective breakthrough weapon-deserving of more than a 2 for attack. An attack of 3, boosted to 4 with art, would be ideal.
Poor Italy gets no love.
Viva la France!! =)
Something that’s been bothering me- tanks seem extremely underwhelming. Attack 2, defend 1 for 6 bucks? Absorb a hit only on attack? Should be a 3/2 for that price, or drop the cost to 5.
I understand it has to do with balance, buy AA42’s tanks are 3/3, move 2 for 610 IPCs, and even THAT seems barely worth it.