Something different

[General Norde]

After playing A&AR for a year and after trying some alternative game settings and rules me and some friends of mine started looking for something new, something different so that we would not get bored. (Trying new stuff and playing different games from time to time prevents drowsiness )

We found a game called ATTACK!, worth 60$ with its critically needed expension set. That game is simply great. As A&A offers an excellent preset map with almost infinite strategic possibilities, ATTACK offers a FFA (free for All, "risk" like) gameplay. Although not so interesting in a 2-4 players game, this game simply rocks when you play 5+.

Advantages comparing to A&A:
-The game has a unique combat system that greatly encourages mixed armies (inf/art/tanks/planes combos). Which is, according to me, much more realistic.

-A little bit more complex ressource system that forces players to not only gather IPCs, but to find specific ressources (minerals/factories/Oil/rails) to compete with the other nations.

-A very amusing fleet battle system (makes me think of that old "Battleship game")

-Can be played with up to 8 people if you want.

-Political underground coups, diplomatic blitzes and ideological competition

Disadvantages:
->>> Much lesser intriguing if you don't have a minimum of 5 players.

- Some players begin weaker and some stronger.

- Can take long if you don't use the "Eagle system"

- Defense has a strong advantage against the attacker, so this sometimes encourages stacking although I haven't seen to much yet.

Differences that do not make the game better of worst.
- You choose you 4 starting territories like in the "risk" game.

- Many neutral countries at the beginning of the game, they can be invaded of asked to join.

- No steady alliances, you can attack whoever you want, when you want. If you are a born diplomat, you'll appreciate.

- Trade. Nations can trade oil, IPCs, and political action cards.

- Ressources always distributed randomly at the beginning of the game so that the game board is always different.

- Game ends when a player is eliminated or when some specific eagle cards are played. At that point, each player calculates his victory points according to his government type.

- Its unbalanced gameplay (dis.) make it an easy to modify game as you don't have to worry about keeping the game ultra-balanced. (adv.).

Hope you'll give it a try.

[series]

I got Attack and it's expansion for 15 bucks! Good buy if you ask me.

Anyway, wanna know something REALLY fun? Use the Axis and Allies miniatures for attack! It looks so awesome...

[ButchOHare1]

Attack! is half way between Risk and Axis and Allies IMO. The board is huge for sure which is one drawback to A&A. I do like the diplomatic part of it. The rules are easy.

The combat system is not as good as Axis and Allies. The individual pieces are not as nice either, although you do get a lot of them.

It's a fun game overall. If you like Axis and Allies it's worth trying out.

[DocD]

I agree Butch. That board is way too big unless you got an unfinished basement to play it in. The combat system could use an overhaul and the costs for units is ridiculous.

The good things about the game include the diplomatic and propaganda rules. I also thought the oil rules were awesome.

For a light-hearted game, with a twist of AandA, it is OK.

[series]

Originally Posted by DocD

the costs for units is ridiculous.

I agree with ya there- i mean, most of my games are 2+ hours of building up troops, and 20 minutes of fighting...

[Lt M Cotten]

So how big is the combined map?

[series]

Originally Posted by Lt M Cotten

So how big is the combined map?

Im estimating about 4+ feet wide and 2 feet... um... the non-wide way... but I'm not sure how exact that is.