A&A Miniatures Game

[Der Panzinator]

Since there is not a thread dedicated to the new Axis & Allies miniatures game I thought I would start one.

Seems that the biggest disscussion so far on other threads has been how booster packs will be handled. The big question that hangs in the air is if the boosters will be random or non-random. Given the fact that there is mention of rare units already implies that the boosters will be random.
What I would propose is that we first let Avalon Hill and WoTC know what we, as avid gamers and consumers, would like to expect from this new game. Many of the WWII era wargamers may not be as keen to the collecting of minis as the fantasy or sci-fi crowd. So before the new game is launched maybe we can provide ideas and suggestions that may help to make this game successful.

I imagine that much of the work on rules and components have been completed since this game is due to launch this fall.
What can be influenced still is the way in which the boosters will be marketed. Maybe if there is compelling information and interest in making non-random boosters we can nip, what is already starting a controversy, in the bud.

Here are some ideas:

Booster packs can be built as theatre specific.
Eastern front
Western front
Pacific islands
North Africa

Or the boosters can be country specific:
German 1939, 1940, 1942, 1945
US 1943, 1945
UK 1940, 1942, 1945

Or they can be force specific:
Rusian armour platoon
US infantry company
German artillery platoon

I would really prefer that rare units are not even included, but if they need to be they can either be sold seperately in random packs that may include any piece from any force or theatre. Or there can be one unique piece in each booster pack that would be a leader piece or something.
Maybe even a hybrid of having non-random pieces and then one random. This might be fine since the random piece will be non-essential to the game itself.

[joahdave]

I totally agree,with all points made.Hopefully,AH is listening.

[Redcoat]

I think this is exactly how they should do it. I also feel they would do well to offer ready made terrain and structures rather than a top-down map like the other games (they can make more money too!). Wargamers like terrain.

[vogless]

Redcoat is so right on! I would love to see them create a modular terrain system for this game. I'm planning on using Heroscape terrain, but it looks a bit toyish. It would rock to have terrain deasigned for these minis. I would also like to see some reason to the boosters. Theater seems like a reasonable request to me.

[Der Panzinator]

Terrain would be a great thing for AH to offer.
That is the one thing that really takes a lot of time and patience to do. Even if they offered just some cheap plastic or paper buildings and maybe some plastic trees and other items it would be a good start before investing in anything more expensive. As far as I know there is no company that makes pre-made ready to play terrain for their games.

[vogless]

I had a few more though.

First off, keep the mini's historical. There were enough oddities and modifications during the war to keep the sculpters busy for years. This will also allow gamers who use different rules cheap, prepainted minis. If it does well it would be sweet to see other eras like the Civil War etc. I would also love to see naval minis later on for epic sea warfare.

Second, terrain. If they could figure out a cheap, veratile, and expandable terrain system, I thing all kinds of gamers would gobble it up. It would be awsome to see something like a Normandy set, a Stalingrad set, Fortifications, North Africa etc. This way, you could buy it all, or focus on your area of interest. I really like what Heroscape did on this front. You can buy a box and have a full fledged game or you can buy 20 boxes and have monsterous games. It's all up to you. If you just want to have small battles, buy 1 box and off you go. For major battles, buy as much as you like because it all works together. Plus, if this game takes off, you could use parts of sets for other eras.

Rules. I'd be fine with a basic mini game with the boosters. It would make it more inviting to new players and people who just want to get to it. For advanced rules, there are lots to choose from out there. Besides, they could always release a real wargame rule set that uses these minis under one of the game titles AH already owns.

Let's face it. Wargaming can be a super expensive hobby and can take huge amounts of time in modeling/painting. AH really has a chance to bring the hobby to a broader audience with prepainted and less expensive minis (and hopefully terrain! :D ).

[Redcoat]

Well said!

Could we be so lucky?

[TomJag3]

I think we'll be getting boards similar to the old Squad Leader boards. I think they used to make a larger board for a Squad Leader variant, large enough for micro armor. I'd like to see one with 2" up to 3" hexes.

[admiral_yamoto]

i think AH shouldve gone in a flames of war style. in other words, a non collectable miniatures game. im also wondering, are there going to be generals in this game? like Rommel, or Nimtz being a miniature?

[vogless]

Any word from the chat last night?

[Keldar]

i think AH shouldve gone in a flames of war style. in other words, a non collectable miniatures game. im also wondering, are there going to be generals in this game? like Rommel, or Nimtz being a miniature?

I think it was said during the chat that there would be specific ranks represented (i.e. S.S. Captain), but not specific people. At least not at this time.

Keep checking back here......http://boards.avalonhill.com/showthread.php?t=4689

I think they are hoping to have the log of the chat that included one of the game designers posted soon. http://www.houstontexans.com/fan_zone/messageboards/images/smilies/drool.gif

[Der Panzinator]

Hey cool. A new forum! :D

Any word yet on the chat log? :confused:

[armchairmilitant]

Just to keep things interesting or not.

[Plagued]

i think AH shouldve gone in a flames of war style. in other words, a non collectable miniatures game. im also wondering, are there going to be generals in this game? like Rommel, or Nimtz being a miniature?

(woo, old topic, but good point)

I'd buy good quality prepainted WW2 miniatures. It'd sure save me months of having to squeeze in painting/assembly time for my armies. Currently, AAM (39-45 set) is just a bit under the quality I'd want for commercial pre-paints.

[frogczar]

A&AM and FoW are two different beasts. WotC would not be able to make money if they made the game just like FoW with pre-painted miniatures. Additionally, A&AM is a far more simplistic game for a more casual gamer. WotC knows their player base and they have been listening very well to the various requests that have been placed before them.

I don't mind the random boosters. In reality you can spend a lot less money to collect this game then a non-collectable game like FoW (I should know, I play Warhammer 40k). The singles market is available for those of you who don't like boosters, in fact its fairly inexpensive compared to other collectable games.

While the idea of adjustable terrain is great (hex maps with adjustable terrain hexes), I don't think it fits real well with the "casual" theme they're shooting for. I'm content with the new maps, and the additional maps they will be producing, which is to accomodate player request.

There will be terrain tiles available for the new map scale in Combat Zone packs as well.

-Frog

[Grenzewolf]

AAM provides the best of both worlds for their target audience "The obssesive compulsive, Instant Gratification, War Gamer"

It's still a basicly simple game mechanic that can be expaned to expert rules if one chooses. Games are quick Beer and Pretzel style. Small skirmish or Battle Royal, Silly Alliances and Power Builds or Historical representations its more flexible than most.

The maps (especialy the V1.0 ones) are modular so with the addition of tiles you can represent just about any battlefield. It appears WOTC/AH now understand we want more maps.(See North Afrika thread by M2A0)

With all these things going for it; there is no way WOTC is going to give up on the revenue generating lottery of random boosters. Even after buying cases of each set and individual minis to construct my huge Armies I would still buy boosters just for the plasti-meth thrill of anticipation. Any device that inspires reflex or impulsive purchases that are emotionaly based instead of pratical is just too good to give up. A Collectors game is self sustaining once you get your consumer base hooked.

No way are they going to reinvent the wheel.

[DarkMercy]

Ahhh! More thread necromancy! Someone call a witchhunter!