Axis & Allies - the board game

[Fake Boris]

Also, a common misconception is that this game is about ICs. It isn't. Players competing for ICs will find themselves in drawn-out stalemates ending with someone researching Heavy Bombers.

The reason is simple enough: when the Axis reach production similar to the Allies, it probably has expended its early unit advantage, and with time evening things, the opposing powers will have a similar number of units with a similar production level.

The real Axis advantage (or, more precisely, its slim hope of winning), in truth, relies on its production centers and its starting units being at the right place at the right time. If you play for tactical positions, economic domination will follow. The Axis objective is to crush Russia before Germany is pounded, and the Allied objective is to pfund Germany before Russia is crushed.

In a game between experienced players, this means a 95% Allied victory.

[Dis]

yep, I learned this playing many, many games on the computer (mine wasn't that buggy)

go for germany and russia. Screw the rest.

yeah sometimes I mess around as Japan and strike at some U.S. territories. but that is largely useless. I only did it for testing purposes.

[Brent]

Do any of you ever roll for new technology? The people I know don't. They say there's too little chance to be worth the units you could otherwise build instead. I've done all right rolling for technology on the computer, but then that's the computer.

[Jon Miller]

heavy bombers are really nice

I generally do it when I am 'safe' with a lot of infantry but need some offense (I rarely do it even then...)

action against the Brits is a strong possibility as the Axis (not as strong as against Russia of course... but still strong, and a lot stronger than strikes against the US)

basically you hit Brits territories, a weak british player has the option between defending himself or helping russia, if he doesn't help russia russia dies, if he doesn't defend himself he dies

Jon Miller

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Brent
Do any of you ever roll for new technology? The people I know don't. They say there's too little chance to be worth the units you could otherwise build instead. I've done all right rolling for technology on the computer, but then that's the computer.

The only time when rolling for tech might be a good idea is when your side is clearly losing. That may you might get away with heavy bombers.

Usually, that means Japan rolling when Germany is dead or about to die, or the Western Allies rolling when Russia falls. I've played a game once when Germany, on the brink of defeat, rolled and got industrial tech. God that was ugly for the Allied player. But of course most of the time rolling as Germany is a bad idea, because your goal is to hold as long as possible and hope for Japan to make something big.

[:) Smiley]

In general I find building any factories to be a waste for the British- you need all the production you can get up in Europe.

So far as defending the continent from Japan, however, there is one deviously clever strategy I used, where I attacked Indochina from India with everything to knock out some of the enemy infantry (retreating after one round), then landed the plane in China.

This forced the Japanese player to throw everything at China, which now had two planes in it, and killed his entire land army.

Immediately afterwards, the US was in Shanghai (possible abuse of the mechanized infantry special rule?) capturing a Japanese factory. On turn 2 the Russians were in Manchuria, and the US was building battleships in Shanghai. Game ended there.

[Fake Boris]

Huh... if the US was building battleships, how was Russia doing alone against Germany?

[solo]

I agree on rolling for new technology: it's only worthwhile as a desperation move.

Originally posted by Oncle Boris

In a game between experienced players, this means a 95% Allied victory.

Which is a good reason for liking a factory in India. It leads to a more interesting and balanced game. You are also telling the Axis you think you can win without depending on the optimal Allied strategy of focusing completely on Germany.

Even if the Japanese attack India on the first turn and manage to keep the factory, the Allies need not panic.

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by solo
Even if the Japanese attack India on the first turn and manage to keep the factory, the Allies need not panic.

Really? don't you think the Axis would have a statistical advantage from that point? A Japan IC in India - especially that early - means Africa falls, doesn't it?

Oh and yes, the India IC means a much more interesting game.

[:) Smiley]

Japan had been put on the defensive (it was completely kicked off the continent)

Russian player was in the position to do very well as he didn't have to worry about the eastern front; in fact he was up some production from Manchuria.

[Dis]

I never do future tech when I'm losing. I spend it all in infantry.

I actually only get it when I'm winning and have spare IC's to use. Plus it ends the game faster when you are winning if you get heavy bombers or something.

[Vince278]

As the British this has always worked for me:

1. Build nothing but bombers. Two a turn if you can. Continually strat bomb Germany. Invite the Americans to send bombers to join in the fun. Watch Germany starve itself.

2. Send your fighters to reinforce Karelia's defense. Dare Germans to attack.

3. Use your navy to hunt down the German navy and to help out North Africa. If they threaten the UK, attack with what you and the US have and throw in the bombers to assist.

4. Fight a holding action in India and Africa. Have the Americans land troops to help.

Alot of this depends on American cooperation but isn't absolutely necessary. A good player should take advantage of the opportunities you are creating. Of course, if your allies aren't working together then you've already lost. This is true in any game.

[Dis]

poll question:

As germany, what do you do to the UK on turn 1?

Do you wipe out their navy? I usually do. Although this puts a hurt on german naval and air forces. And if you want to occupy their sea lanes, you have to sacrifice some aircraft (and your transport). But it does buy another turn before they start dropping off troops into your territories.

A lot of you seem to play germany defensively. But I play them offesnively. You have to put a hurtin' on russia. Especially their IPC's. You have to attempt to get Karelia (nothing suicidal of course).

[Vince278]

Sure, go after the UK navy but don't go overboard ( ). Save some energy for Russia. If Russia isn't soon on its knees then you eventually lose.
(Many of my games end with Japan in Moscow anyway.)

[Dis]

me too. The only time I take Moscow as Germany is when the Japanese have weakened Russia enough with their attack the previous turn and Russia only has enough IPC's left to put like 5 or 6 infantry on its capitol.

But I still try for Karelia. But if the dice rolls aren't with me, and I start slipping. It's infantry all the way.