Booster Distribution, Observations, and Questions

[ahzad]

Hi all I've been a lurker here for a while thought it was about time to say hi...and ask some questions. I love the game it's one of my top 3 at the moment, being a huge WWII buff and a veteran (not of that era :) ). I think the fact that the game can be played out in 7-10 turns is a good idea and you can get 2-3 games in a nite. The fact the rules are simple, and the minis are pre-painted (which kept me from getting into FoW b/c I hate to paint anymore) are a big plus, it helps when teaching the game to kids (though I like what the guys are doing over in the HHR forums, kudos!)

I've noticed that my allied forces are overpowering my axis forces in sheer number. Every booster I get seems to be dominated by the allied forces. Is that a common occurence for others or just random chance that I'm getting so many allied troops?

I like contested skies a lot, but my only gripe is that there really should've been a plane in every box, especially for a set that calls itself contested skies. I've not seen any reason to make the planes a rare, they aren't that impressive, are kind of fragile, and their only advantage is being able to drop them anywhere on the map. Maybe I don't have enough planes yet to see any significant benefit, I've only got 3 out of 18 boosters.

Do you think we'll ever see a pacific set, with different ships, and aircraft carriers b/c that would be cool as I don't know what?

I would also love to see some stand alone map sets become available for the game, I've printed out the maps that are in the downloads area, but it would be nice to see those for the non-internet crowd. Also sort of map related has anyone done away with the maps and went to measuring? If so how has that worked out for you?

Again thanks for a great game.

terry

[PatrickWR]

Terry,
Welcome aboard! I hope you'll jump in on HHR discussions whenever they pique your interest....another voice is always welcome!

I agree that it would be cool for planes to appear in basically every Contested Skies pack. I'm always puzzled by the choices of some "rares" verus some "uncommons". For example, the Japanese only had like 100 Ka-Mis, yet the tank is an uncommon in the game? Whereas the BF-109 was THE aircraft for Barbarossa, yet most players will be lucky to field 2 of them?!

But that's just the nature of a collectible minis game. I've sort of come to grips with that. There's always the secondary market for folks who want to field a platoon of (gack) King Tigers.

[DHKnecht]

I'm one for the map sets as well, but not sure whether WotC will do that anytime soon.

As for Pacific, I'm sure that will be done, but probably not with A&AM. Instead the naval war game coming out should feature that.

Finally, I have a good distribution of Axis v. Allies -- 343 Allied units v. 301 Axis units (with very little trading so far). The more boxes you get, the more this evens itself out. I have, however, gotten some boxes that were 80% Allied, but I've also got a similar number of boxes that were 80% Axis. That's just the nature of the beast when it comes to collectible games.

[JuKaBaLa]

I bought a case as in Set II.
I'd got 4 of 5 planes (missing Zero), all germans (3 PZ IV, but only one Puma), all americans , missing only the Comet and SU-85, almost one of each uncommon and 4 of each common. With more 20 dollars I get the missing pieces from ebay and selling the case's not desired pieces (like 1 "Mac" japanese car and others like it) I will complete the entire colection for a cost of the case.
I think this as good distribuction. Sure for set IV I will buy a case again.

[]´s

[CdtWeasel]

I'm glad planes were rare, you only really need 1 or maybe 2 for a 100 point game, would do me no good to have 12 of them. Also don't forget the AAA contests the skies and you do just about get one of those in each pack. If you are going to buy more than 6 boosters of a set it is much better to get a case. This gives you all the commons and uncommons, and most of the rares. I suppose I do have more allies than axis, but thats most likely due to the 3 major vs 1 major army distribution. Adding in the minors it definetly evens out.

Oh and a war at sea game has been announced for naval warfare.

[general hoth]

got 2 zeros, one sturmovnik, one stuka and three messerschmitt. havent got anything for the allies (who had air suppremacy in 1944) to fend off the axis air units. what about making planes uncommon? :confused:

[Anubis]

I don't care about the planes too much, however I agree about the plane in every box.

I got a booster case of set 2, which was even. I also got one pack of set 1 with consisted of, M3 Stuart, Lee, 2x Fucile, 2x Mosin, MG 42, Imperial Sergeant, and a Type 89 Mortar. Perhaps I'm just lucky in the eveness of my packs, however I do seem to get WAY too much allied armor, and none of the good ones. I have only the one sherman that comes in the starter set. Anywho, it just depends, like DHKnecht said, it evens out with the more packs you buy.

[Towelie]

I bought 5 boosters of Set I, and guess how many panzer IVs I got...thats right. Distribtion can be a funny thing, in my shared case of set 3 we got all 5 planes. Although no Pershing :(

[Kaufschtick]

Hi all I've been a lurker here for a while thought it was about time to say hi...

I've noticed that my allied forces are overpowering my axis forces in sheer number. Every booster I get seems to be dominated by the allied forces. Is that a common occurence for others or just random chance that I'm getting so many allied troops?

I like contested skies a lot, but my only gripe is that there really should've been a plane in every box, especially for a set that calls itself contested skies. I've not seen any reason to make the planes a rare, they aren't that impressive, are kind of fragile, and their only advantage is being able to drop them anywhere on the map. Maybe I don't have enough planes yet to see any significant benefit, I've only got 3 out of 18 boosters.

terry

Hi Terry, welcome aboard! If you haven't looked at buying the boosters buy "the case", you might want to check into it. You'll save a little dough and you'll even out your piece count too. Looks like roughly 4 planes to a case, 2-3 of each uncommon and 4 each on the commons. On the rares you have a good chance of getting 11-12 different per case.

I started out buying individual boosters, and for the money and piece count "cases" are much more economical as well as giving you a pretty balanced distibution of pieces both Allied and Axis. I should add too, that I'm speaking of "factory sealed cases".

Good luck. Watch out, it's kind of addicting, or soon you'll be saying..."Hi, my name is Terry, and I'm an AAM plastic addict!" :D

[Colonel_Panic]

Bought three Set I Boosters the other week, and I pulled a Tiger, and two crocs ;-)
Plus Pz IV, Sherman, Stuart. Much more heavy stuff in the earlier boxes. Set II very often rendered One rare *** or Chineese tank plus 8 inf figures, when I pulled them anyway.

[Richter von Manthofen]

With single boosters I think (for Set I) that you could expect:

random rare
1of each commander
1 of (pz IV, Sherman, Stuart, 222, Humber)
1 of (MG - 3 UK GE JP, 251 Jeep) --- the latter two could be switched - I am not sure, but there was a thread about this

and at least two commons of the Allied and Axis side each and another random.

I do not think that this system was done for Set II and III.

As the Allies got 25 units the last two sets and the Axis only 20 you should expect to get more Allies than Axis. (Set I was 25/23)

What was said for the case distribution is true. From 3 cases (1 SET II two from III), I got in each case 4 of each common 2 of each uncommon + 6 extra uncommon (unfortunately the same for both Set III cases) and two times 12 different rares an a double rare (Zero). It was interesting that I got 11 planes out of two cases. For Set I I did no statistics, but AFAIR It was 11 different rare with the Carro Armato as double.

I am not sure if I will buy single boosters anymore - cases are the way to go (maybe to split with (a) friend(s))

[dmacleod66]

in the case i shared with 2 friends 4 of the 5 planes were pulled( no messersmit)
but i didn't pull one of them out of my 4 boosters share of the case but did get all 3 rare US tanks and the Su 85.

[Zar]

In order to play the big battles that I and my group like we buy 4 cases and split them between the 3 of us. We get enough of what we like to field a good size force. My russian friend has 6 sturmoviks! I am looking for my third Stuka.

[Meatpack]

Wow, I must be getting some rotten luck when it comes to contested skies, though I haven't bought an entire sealed case, I've bought at least a case's worth plus and I have 3 Flakpanzers, 2 Su-85's, 2 MGC's, but I have yet to pull the Pershing, 105 Sherman, or mustang. that and I've only pulled 3 Elite Panzer IV's. Though I have 8 japanese armored cars, woohoo.

I am noticing a pretty high ratio of allies to axis as I started collecting axis exclusively and traded away most of my allies stuff. Lately I've been holding on to it for completeness of my sets and my allies have surpassed my axis in a short time. I get lots of crappy allies and not enough crappy axis ;).

I'm definitely preordering a case or two of set IV.

[ahzad]

Hi Terry, welcome aboard! If you haven't looked at buying the boosters buy "the case", you might want to check into it. You'll save a little dough and you'll even out your piece count too. Looks like roughly 4 planes to a case, 2-3 of each uncommon and 4 each on the commons. On the rares you have a good chance of getting 11-12 different per case.

I started out buying individual boosters, and for the money and piece count "cases" are much more economical as well as giving you a pretty balanced distibution of pieces both Allied and Axis. I should add too, that I'm speaking of "factory sealed cases".

Good luck. Watch out, it's kind of addicting, or soon you'll be saying..."Hi, my name is Terry, and I'm an AAM plastic addict!" :D

It's to late, I'm already an AAM plastic addict :) Good thing I'm the manager of our LFGS and get stuff at a discount, woot!!

looks like cases will be how i'll buy in the future.

[ArmyVet]

I must be the only one then ..... I have German units coming out of my .... well, you know. :p

I buy booster packs and all I ever pull is German stuff. I don't even play the German's. So, I trade alot of it here but, it never fails ..... I keep getting more.

I'm sitting on a King Tiger and x2 Tiger I's right now. :( I have no Mustang's or Comet's. :(

[Lagduf]

I'm sitting on a King Tiger and x2 Tiger I's right now. :( I have no Mustang's or Comet's. :(

:eek:

I have none of the german heavy armor, biggest German tank I have is the SS Panther. No Tigers or King Tigers for me.

I did manage to pull 2 KV1s and 2 T38s from set one though.