Just bought A&A but have concerns.

[Final Attack]

Hey guys,

Just got a copy of A&A!

However, I'm reading everywhere that it's HARD! to win as AXIS. This doesn't really make for an interesting game if you know your going to lose before the game begins. Are there any official rule variants to even up the teams?

[Final Attack]

Just saw a maSSIVE FAQ! Are there any REALLY common mistakes made by players I should keep an eye on?

[DY]

Which version of Axis and Allies did you get (there are 5)?

[Final Attack]

5! Its the Avalon one .... other than that I know nothing. I bought it in Brisbane australia

[Final Attack]

Oh I see what your saying. Allies and Axis 2nd revision by Avalon Hill.

[newpaintbrush]

Hmmmmm. Perhaps the response to this merits a new thread. (goes off to post).

Generally, you use a bidding system. Bunch of people get together and one says "I'll bid 5 IPCs (or whatever number) to play the Allies". Then everybody goes around and around and bids. Payers can increase their bids as they choose.

The ones that bid the highest play as the Allies. The ones that bid the lowest play as Axis.

The Axis players start with extra IPCs amounting to whatever the Allied players bid. (say the three highest bids were 12, 11, and 11, respectively. The Axis get 12 IPCs).

Then different variations say that the Axis can use the IPCs to buy and place units right away before Russia's first turn. (IPCs can be used for Germany or Japan). Other variations say that the Axis can leave the IPCs in a communal pool until needed.

Placement rules vary. Some say placed units must be somewhere with an IPC. Some say you can't build a new IPC. Some say you can't buy antiaircraft guns.

I personally favor allowing Axis to build only where IPCs are. Otherwise, you get some funny stuff like massive forces in Africa or French Indochina-Burma, etc. etc.

[DY]

The official tournament rules for bidding in the Avalonhill Revised editio (2nd edition has in fact been around for 18 years) is as follows:

Both players secretly bid an amount of IPCs for the Axis. The player who makes the lower of the two bids gets to play the Axis and may immediately spend up to 50% (rounded down) of their bid on units to be paced before the game starts.

Land or air units may be placed in any territory owned by that country that has at least one unit in it (in fact every Axis starting territory contains a unit). A naval unit may be placed in any sea zone that contains naval units owned by the same country.

The remaining IPCs are immediately divided between Germany and Japan to add to their starting cash pools in any fashion the Axis player decides.

Each Axis and Allies title is unbalanced. Every game has its own unique bidding system to "fix" any perceived imbalances. For the record, players have bid as low as $2 for the Axis in the current online tournament. I know one player who bid $4, one who bid $6 and two who bid $9. This gives you an idea that the balance is quite clo9se to even in the opinion of many players.

[pagan]

I bid 8 for axis

However I cannot get into these PBEM games. The tournaments are cool, but the games are too slow.

Looks like Im going to be a triple-A buff....

[Lobo]

Final Attack,
Just play the game and see how it works out. If everyone in your group has the same amount of experience with A&A, then it will be an even game. The slight advantage that the Allies have only becomes a factor when players develop a great deal of experience with the game.

Lobo

[series]

or, you can use it as a handicap, example, the experts play axis, the newbies play allies