Ipc change in new A&A

[Darksideknight]

After reading this new article today and thinking over the new starting ipc change, I was excited about what it might mean to the game. I have played A&A against a very tough opponent who plays a strong Germany even with their disadvantage in the original. The problem seemed to be if the bulk of the German army got past Ukraine, the allies would be able to get a very fast foothold on Southern Europe, as well as Western Europe. I liked the 40 starting ipc total for Germany. It seems like Germany will actually be able to take on Russia and be able to keep the allies off of its doorstep for the first four or five rounds when you take into account their ability to expand. Some changes I hope to see.

#1. With the new American Ipc count at 42 that the Atlantic is much like it is in the Europe edition,(Takes two turns to unload troops on to German soil.)

#2. That the main Japanese front is to the South Pacific and against the western United States coast. Hopefully they won't be able to be as effective against Russia as it was historically. ( In most of the games I've played, the Japanese can get a foot hold on China and India relativly quickly, and then are able to expand into the Middle East, large parts of soviet territory and sometimes parts of Africa. All of which historically never happend. ) Most of Japan's expansion happened in the south Pacific and hopefully that will be Japans best shot for territorial expansion in this game. This would also be good for the game because the opponents I play use all of the american ipc might against germany. I would like to see alot more action in the pacific before the game is decided. So in this case more Chinese and American forces in China, and more British might in India and Australia, factorys in both I hope.
#3 Larger German Navy at the start of the game. The two sub, two transport, one battle ship thing just doesn't cut it for me. I would like to see Germany be able to fend off the allies with alot less risk of aircraft in the opening two or three rounds this way building German navel units would be of some use,it seems in the original the German player doesn't have the steak to work with, all it's Ipcs must be spent on aircraft or ground units.

Just some ideas I hope the makeover designers have taken into account. I think these would make for more exciting gameplay, less stockpiling of ground units and more realistic historical recreation.

Any other Ideas please respond.

Thanks- Jason

[Drax Kramer]

I am interested how is game system going to prevent Germans from repeating the A&A:E strategy: invest heavily into ground units and capture Moscow? There has to be something that will force Germans to invest some of the additional IPCs into the Western&Mediterranean theatres. A&A:E failed to deliver since it turned itself into the race between Moscow and Berlin. There is only one optimal way for Germany to win and it essentially killed the game.

Another concern of mine is increased Japanese IPC base. If anything, Japan was the power in least need of additional IPCs given the relative ease Japan could conquer Asia and eliminate USN Pacific Fleet. Unless there is a method for Allies to contain Japanese expansion in Asia (with industrial complexes in India and China) and the way for US Pacific Fleet to survive the first turn, we will face stronger Japan with little or no incentive to fight the Pacific war.

So, far my judgment is "Too soon to tell". I already have both Europe and Pacific games so new pieces are not going to turn me on by themselves nor the new graphics. I am looking forward to the following articles.

Drax

[solitaire77]

Originally posted by Drax Kramer:
I am interested how is game system going to prevent Germans from repeating the A&A:E strategy: invest heavily into ground units and capture Moscow? Perhaps lowering the consequences of a taken capital would help. Maybe you should keep the Russians from getting their IPCs, but maybe Germany shouldn't get them? Making it so the stack attack must still win on the defensive home front would be a start.

Another concern of mine is increased Japanese IPC base. If anything, Japan was the power in least need of additional IPCs given the relative ease Japan could conquer Asia and eliminate USN Pacific Fleet. I hope there is a corresponding decrease in the value of inland eastern Asia territories, or I entirely agree that Japan has it easy.

So, far my judgment is "Too soon to tell".It is certainly too soon to tell, but why should that discourage rampant speculation!

[Darksideknight]

Originally posted by Drax: Unless there is a method for Allies to contain Japanese expansion in Asia (with industrial complexes in India and China) and the way for US Pacific Fleet to survive the first turn, we will face stronger Japan with little or no incentive to fight the Pacific war.
Drax, I definetly agree, even with the fleet in Australia which is small, and the Indian fleet. The new ipc change creates little reason to bring the US into the pacific conflict early in the war. We will have to wait to see Japan and Americas set up to determine fully. Additionally if the Atlantic has another space this will probably determine if the US goes to the pacific or not. I hope that Germany will be more than one territory from Russia's factorys! Other wise it could be lights out early against a skilled Axis player. Even with the victory city in Manilla, I just can't see a US concentrated attack in the pacific. That is if they kept most of the board and setup intact. Now the British however do have a good shot at fighting the Pacific war with their new set up. After building a complex in Australia, they could slow Japan down alot. But with what i've read so far, Sounds like the incentive is much like it is in the old game with the allies. Go all out for Germany and knock em' out early before the yellow menace can expand. Unfortunatly what I am afraid of is the Axis being too strong. Japan didn't need a boast, and eight tanks right of the bat for Germany should be interesting to contend with.

Originally posted by: Drax I am interested how is game system going to prevent Germans from repeating the A&A:E strategy: invest heavily into ground units and capture Moscow? Drax isn't that the same goal in original A&A :confused:

In A&A Pacfic Japan should win every time collecting 22 victory pts- easy. In Europe I felt that the game was perfectly balanced if you know what your doing. I hope the play tests were done right with this game and the allies still have a somewhat slight advantage no matter how small. I think pure complete balance in a game where it's two on three is impossible anyway- (just my opinion don't quote.) With the Axis collecting what they are (40) Germany, (30) Japan, I'm thinking the that the US territory that ups them to 42 are the Hawiai and Alaskan territorys as well as midway. This is probably the significant pacific territorys Mike refered to in his post. With what I know about the game so far, sounds like a AXIS ADVANTAGE TO ME! I Hope this is not the case. But if it is i'm sure there will be a way to remedy it, just like the bids players make in the flawed pacific game. Oh well just got my fingers crossed this isn't another flawed game. No matter how much I would like to see a more balanced game just hate to see it balanced into a unstopable Axis!!!! Someone else weigh in. Maybe I don't know, Mike? Please reasure me this isn't the case!!!

-Jason

[Darksideknight]

[ January 12, 2004, 08:00 AM: Message edited by: Darksideknight ]

[Mike Selinker]

No matter how much I would like to see a more balanced game just hate to see it balanced into a unstopable Axis!!!! Someone else weigh in. Maybe I don't know, Mike? Please reasure me this isn't the case!!!For the Axis to be "unstoppable," they would have to start with control of Canada, Eastern Russia, the Suez, and Central America. And they don't. There's no indication that the Axis has a greater than 50 percent chance to win the game.