@SS:
IL has the 3’ x 6’ map on site for download. I got mine printed long time ago.
Yes, but will that map be the same as the reprinted map?
No. That’s old version. Will just have to see what new map looks like first.
@SS:
Will just have to see what new map looks like first.
True. The WotC announcement sounds as if the map is unchanged: it mentions an “Updated A&A rulebook, with errata and rules clarifications” and it mentions “4 new sculpts”, but the other elements listed don’t refer to any changes. All it says about the map board is “Game board (24 x 46 inches), the largest Axis & Allies board”, which is the same size as the original. I assume that the phrase “the largest Axis & Allies board” should be interpreted to mean “the largest single-game Axis & Allies board” because the double-game Global map is larger.
Well its pretty clear this is not a straight-up 100% unaltered reprint of the original. There isn’t enough info to know what exactly is changing, but what we DO know is that this is not 100% identical to the original AA50… having said that, the dice are off the table and nobody knows with certainty what is and isn’t changing… until its released or we get a confirmation from AH/WotC, the map could be somewhat different (or unchanged at all)… we’ll have to wait and see.
@CWO:
@SS:
Will just have to see what new map looks like first.
True. The WotC announcement sounds as if the map is unchanged: it mentions an “Updated A&A rulebook, with errata and rules clarifications” and it mentions “4 new sculpts”, but the other elements listed don’t refer to any changes. All it says about the map board is “Game board (24 x 46 inches), the largest Axis & Allies board”, which is the same size as the original. I assume that the phrase “the largest Axis & Allies board” should be interpreted to mean “the largest single-game Axis & Allies board” because the double-game Global map is larger.
Is the Anniversary board bigger than the individual E40 and P40 boards?
Is the Anniversary board bigger than the individual E40 and P40 boards?
All pieces together, yes.
Each of the 1940 games, on its own, has a map board 35" w x 32" h.
Hmm…this is interesting. The Anniversary map board measures 46 x 24 (w x h), which works out to 1104 square inches. The Europe 1940 board (as does its Pacific 1940 counterpart) measures 35 x 32 inches (w x h), which works out to 1120 square inches. Have I done my math wrong or are the 1940 map boards really larger in terms of area than the Anniversary one? If the latter, then the Anniversary map board is bigger only in one direction (width), not bigger overall.
@CWO:
Hmm…this is interesting. The Anniversary map board measures 46 x 24 (w x h), which works out to 1104 square inches. The Europe 1940 board (as does its Pacific 1940 counterpart) measures 35 x 32 inches (w x h), which works out to 1120 square inches. Have I done my math wrong or are the 1940 map boards really larger in terms of area than the Anniversary one? If the latter, then the Anniversary map board is bigger only in one direction (width), not bigger overall.
I believe that width/length/long side, however you want to phrase it, was implied in his question. When people reference board size, they are usually talking about linear distance, not area.
Man, I thought this was the A&A Forum… I took a wrong turn and ended up on the Math Forum… The AA50 board is big… that should be the final answer!
Hmm, 46^2+24^2 is greater than 35^2+32^2, so the Anniversary board has a longer diagonal length, which is normally used to measure screen sizes.
The sculpt updates could be swapping out the original German/Italian Cruiser - it changed post Anniversary - and maybe a different Italian tank. Coz reasonz. The main reason there were so few Anniversary Editions is because there were issues with the tooling Hasbro still had that was used for the print run. There are fewer than 30,000 original Anniversary Editions on Earth. The game was never supposed to have a three panel board btw.
It is unfortunate that there will not be Mechanized Infantry, Tactical Bombers and Anti Aircraft Artillery in the game - important pieces that are a permanent part of the A&A family of units.
That it is being reprinted because of concern over secondary market value is hilarious if true. That it is being reprinted because it is low hanging fruit and an easy way to bring A&A back from the dead is more believable. Oh and the game was NOT revered internally - a birdy told me it was viewed as an annoyance by most wotc employees or an afterthought at best. Remember WotC pulled the plug on A&A at the Dawn of the Recent Golden Age of Board Gaming. Literally at the moment it had the most momentum it ever enjoyed at Wizards - and with little to no marketing support or online presence - they killed it.
If you have an original and are concerned over it losing value, don’t. In time people will still want one of the original games and the value will come back - maybe not what it’s at now though - heh. If you are one who always wanted one and can now GET one at a reasonable price, then rejoice! Hopefully someday Wizards of the Coast will understand what they have on their hands and infuse some experience, passion and new ideas into the old girl. Axis & Allies Endures.
Reveal - WotC is working on a House on the Hill - Axis & Allies variant called: Bunker on the Hill.
Yeah, I had always wanted a copy of this, but I could never justify the high price tag. I’ll definitely be getting one of these reprint editions.
The sculpt updates could be swapping out the original German/Italian Cruiser - it changed post Anniversary - and maybe a different Italian tank. Coz reasonz. The main reason there were so few Anniversary Editions is because there were issues with the tooling Hasbro still had that was used for the print run. There are fewer than 30,000 original Anniversary Editions on Earth. The game was never supposed to have a three panel board btw.
It is unfortunate that there will not be Mechanized Infantry, Tactical Bombers and Anti Aircraft Artillery in the game - important pieces that are a permanent part of the A&A family of units.
That it is being reprinted because of concern over secondary market value is hilarious if true. That it is being reprinted because it is low hanging fruit and an easy way to bring A&A back from the dead is more believable. Oh and the game was NOT revered internally - a birdy told me it was viewed as an annoyance by most wotc employees or an afterthought at best. Remember WotC pulled the plug on A&A at the Dawn of the Recent Golden Age of Board Gaming. Literally at the moment it had the most momentum it ever enjoyed at Wizards - and with little to no marketing support or online presence - they killed it.
If you have an original and are concerned over it losing value, don’t. In time people will still want one of the original games and the value will come back - maybe not what it’s at now though - heh. If you are one who always wanted one and can now GET one at a reasonable price, then rejoice! Hopefully someday Wizards of the Coast will understand what they have on their hands and infuse some experience, passion and new ideas into the old girl. Axis & Allies Endures.
Reveal - WotC is working on a House on the Hill - Axis & Allies variant called: Bunker on the Hill.
Interesting information to be sure. So what is your background or connection to WotC, if you may share discreetly?
No connection but been playing for a long time and its cool A&AAE is coming back. Hoping for some work to be done on 1942 2nd Edition - love that game. It would be cool to have a new setup including tactical bombers and mechanized infantry in that baby! A&A 1942 3rd Edition! Oooh yes I would pay $80.
FROM THE WOTC SITE… “Upon its release nearly a decade ago, the Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition became an instant classic! Now this deluxe board game designed by Larry Harris, returns with rulebook updates and streamlined gameplay.With over 650 playing pieces including the largest board ever created for an A&A game, this beloved board game is a must have for the strategy gamer enthusiast”
What do you think “streamlined gameplay” means?
@Young:
What do you think “streamlined gameplay” means?
This is what I am most curious about.
From the wording it reminds me of 1941. They promote 1941 saying: “This game is designed to for quick set up and streamlined gameplay making it the perfect introduction to A&A mechanics and play style.”
So for the AA50-reprint this could mean a somehow (moderate) “simplification” of the ruleset. Now we can only speculate about what could be meant…
It could certainly mean that the actual rules have been simplified. A more minimalist interpretation, however, could be that the rulebook has been revised (as Krieghund has indicated previously) to make it clearer and easier to use; a rulebook that’s easier to consult during play would, technically, “streamline” the playing process without the content actually changing in a substantial way. (I’m not saying that the rules aren’t likely to have changed in some way; I’m just speculating on what a marketing person might mean by “streamline,” which sounds great but is a little vague on its own.)
@CWO:
It could certainly mean that the actual rules have been simplified.� � A more minimalist interpretation, however, could be that the rulebook has been revised (as Krieghund has indicated previously) to make it clearer and easier to use; a rulebook that’s easier to consult during play would, technically, “streamline” the playing process without the content actually changing in a substantial way.� � (I’m not saying that the rules aren’t likely to have changed in some way; I’m just speculating on what a marketing person might mean by “streamline,” which sounds great but is a little vague on its own.)
Understandable… when I was a waiter I was constantly in search of new adjective words to help me upsale the soup of the day (just a little story about me).
@Young:
when I was a waiter I was constantly in search of new adjective words to help me upsale the soup of the day
My favourite line for describing a wine I’ve just tasted is, “An impertinent little vintage, with a soupcon of pretentiousness.”
