Historical Timeline in AAE

[Devlin]

I am a huge fan of Axis & Allies, so I finally bought a copy of Axis & Allies Europe. It is pretty good, but I have one major complaint. What year is the game take place in? It doesn't make any sense that the US is at war with Germany while Germany hasn't invaded Russia yet. It was a good half year by the time Pearl Harbor happened. German Forces were close to Moscow by December 1941.

Does anyone know of set up rules that are more historically accurate? Or does anyone follow a house rule that makes the US wait a turn before joining the war?

Other than that it is a pretty good game after one play. I like the new units, especially the destroyers and artillery, great improvements.

[Tyro]

I don't know about the timeline question.

But which is better, Axis and Allies, or Axis and Allies Europe

[tw252]

The game starts in Spring 1941. And in terms of game balance, I would say AA is better.

[mikoyan]

For game balance, I like the AAE and AAP. The problem i have with AA is that if the Axis or Allies flub the first couple dice roles it's downhil from there. In the Europe and Pacific, dice rolls can be flubbed and it's not terribly detrimental.

[Imperious leader]

The game starts June 22, 1941. The turns are about 6 month periods. It takes the americans a few turns to get going anyway so i dont think its exactly "unrealistic". As you may know the Americans landed in africa in november 1942. That translates in the US player 'getting' into the game in force by turn 3.

If you want to be more accurate i suspect you can hold back the US forces for a turn. I would further impose a graduated income scale for them to model the "mobilization" of the US economy for the war effort.

Does anybody have any good house rules for AAE?

[warspite]

Actually, it's hard to say exactly when it starts. The U.S. can start the naval war right away, which Roosevelt did by escorting convoys to/from Britain prior to Pearl Harbor. The Germans really aren't in the right position at start, and the Africa Corps hasn't started any push towards Egypt. Really, it's almost a free hand by either side towards the Eastern Front - the Russians could attack first, though it would be a waste. Typically, though, the Germans spend a couple of turns mobilizing before launching Barbarossa. Either that, or craftily building a secret invasion force for Sea Lion (saving turn one income, as per A&A).

Either way, the Americans are several turns of ASW away from braving the Atlantic, so, it's early '41. Any advanced US air forces are either Lend Lease or the advanced volunteer squadrons. Doesn't really matter, since there aren't any weather effects, or other time-dependent events.