Plastic Playing Pieces

AG124 · Feb 10, 2009, 1:55 AM

@ Black Fox - Yes; thank you for the reply (I like seeing the continuation in-depth discussion on this subject). I never felt terribly comfortable with the idea of Tank Destroyers, and after reading your analysis, I now fully agree that they are inappropriate for a basic set for a strategic game on this level. I also see your point in relation to light and heavy tanks; they would serve no purpose that is not already served on the A&A battlefied by other unit types.

@ Black Fox and Imperious Leader - I like your ideas for Fighter/Bombers, and agree with Imperious Leader and yourself that a reduction in attack values imposed by the presence of enemy fighters would be a good idea. I’m afraid I have to agree with Imperious Leader about the Medium Bomber class however; one aircraft type to fall between fighters and bombers in terms of capabilities is enough. I wouldn’t despair to see Medium Bombers included though (however, we must remember that the more unit types that are included in an initial basic add on set, the more shared unit molds there will have to be due to the financial impossibility of including unique molds for every type of unit).

That leads me to another thought - does anyone here think that it would be a good idea for FMG (or Table Tactics) to do a more advanced set for players who want to develop a more complex and/or tactical set of rules, or even players who want a greater variety of molds for purely asthetic value? The release of such a set would have to be contingent upon the financial success of a basic set aimed at A&A players as a whole however, and should probably depend upon indicators of interest from the community (here and elsewhere, such as BGG). I would imagine there is considerable interest in a variety of German and Soviet armour molds, as well as multiple molds for Japanese and US naval units.

BTW - Black Fox or Imperious Leader; just to keep the discussion active for the benefit of Field Marshall Games (or Table Tactics), as well as other community members, do you have any commentary in regards to my post on the previous page? And what is the total list of new unit types which you think would be appropriate for an initial basic set for the whole community, and a possible later advanced/asthetic set?

Imperious Leader · Feb 10, 2009, 4:50 AM

BTW - Black Fox or Imperious Leader; just to keep the discussion active for the benefit of Field Marshall Games (or Table Tactics), as well as other community members, do you have any commentary in regards to my post on the previous page? And what is the total list of new unit types which you think would be appropriate for an initial basic set for the whole community, and a possible later advanced/aesthetic set?

Yes but its very elaborate.

I don’t see the need for medium tanks, or all sorts of units except:

One new Mechanized Infantry type: all nations need one of these

One SPA/Tank Destroyer type…these are hunters of tanks

One unit that represents elite class but this is special for the Germans and Soviets only for Germans its the Waffen SS elite armor and for the Soviets its the Shock Armies and Guard Armor units. To give this special class to the other nations would ruin the game IMO. Its like adding a very rich sauce all over a roast. It should be used sparingly to just give a little flavor to the war.

One new fighter-bomber unit: all six nations

One new fortification unit representing: Maginot/ Siegfried line, Sevastopol fortress, Atlantic Wall, earthworks around Moscow, Stalingrad, Singapore,Malta, Gibraltar, etc…

Plus new technology pieces as per oob: Heavy bombers, super subs, rockets

ElCapitan · Feb 10, 2009, 7:19 AM

I would be in for replacing initial pieces with better quality in greater numbers. I might even get two sets if the quality is there.

El Stef · Feb 10, 2009, 1:51 PM

Hi Axis & allies community,

This is my fist post here, so let me intruduce myself shorty. I live in Bruges and play A&A now for nearly twenty years. ( all the edtions) It is an unique game.
I’ ve only played it twice, but im my opinion so far, AA50 is the best edition (playwise). I love miniatures, i buy games even lousy ones, only for the plasic pieces included. So i was delighted to see the quality and historicity of the A&A pieces improve every edition, but disappointed with the last game. My initial awe when opening soon disappeared ( great box and boxes, lousy miniatures and map).They indeed missed an oportunity, still a great game.

Regarding this thread:
50€ ok for me
A) Pieces: a new replacing set would be OK, for the following reasons:

historical acuracy pieces; rather OK
colors: Italy / USSR problem
quality: to much bended broken, and simply ugly
SCALE: it should be nice to have pieces withe right scale: infantry 1/72 (20 mm) mobile & artillery units approx. 1/300( 6mm), air units 1/700 (2mm) and sea units approx. 1/2000. It looks better and types ar easily recognisable.
The tiny destroyers and subs could be glued on clear plastic bases.

B) Pieces: a set with new pieces fine (but not realy necessary

new rules
not a tactical game: a tank represents a mobile armoured army, a soldier a mostly infantry army. (in fact both types of armies have artillery included). A fighter represents a mixed air fleet, a bomber a strategic air fleet (So to represent escorting fighters you can increase the defense value of the bomber in the air combats optional rule)
if you want new rules and pieces you can srape them together; other editions, miniatures, selfmade, other games, …)
but new pieces are always welcome.

Greetings
El Stef

TG Moses VI · Feb 10, 2009, 6:05 PM

Great first post!

I agree with you completely.

Unit scale is something that hasn’t been talked about yet. It’s a great idea, though unfortunately I have a hard time squeezing in different unit types into an already crowded territories/sea zones. Having much larger units would compound that problem. Still, I wouldn’t mind seeing slightly larger units (tanks, artillery) compared to infantry. It adds a nice flavor to the game.

air units 1/700 (2mm)

That’s tiny!!

Imperious Leader · Feb 10, 2009, 10:21 PM

the AA planes are 1/700 scale

Imperious Leader · Feb 11, 2009, 1:30 AM

Here are some pics of some possible units to be represented:

Grey light=Italian
Tan= UK
Grey Dark= German
Yellow= Japanese
Olive= USA
Brown= Soviet

tin_snips · Feb 11, 2009, 1:51 AM

i thought the only nation that needed a colour change on its units was Italy (to prevent confusion between Russian and Italion pieces). i don’t think japan needs one though

Imperious Leader · Feb 11, 2009, 4:09 AM

well they asked for all pictures for all possible nations. I got french too but it might crack my camera

tin_snips · Feb 11, 2009, 5:03 AM

i’m surprised the japanese didn’t break the camera, that yellow hurts my eyes!

El Stef · Feb 11, 2009, 12:28 PM

About scales:

The playing pieces are for the moment around this scale:(approximatively)
INF: 20mm - 1/72
ARM: 6mm ) 1/300
ART: 6mm - 1/200 ?
FTR&STR: 1/700
NAV: varying between 1/2000 & 1/3500

There is lot you can buy or use from other A&A games. Of course painting wil be necessary and it is expensive. Often those models are too fragile for A&A ( especially when i’m losing)

INF; a lot on 1/72 scale
ARM: GHQ 1/285
AIR units; 1/700 Aoshima, Pitroad and Fujimi (very nice models !)
NAVAL: on the 1/2400 scale a battleship is around 10 cm. The A&A war at sea models are good but to big (1/1800)
We could consider 1/2400 ( BB = 8 cm) or even 1/6000 (Figurehead) . Smaller units have to be based.

I’ am using wargame models in my variants on A&A and A&A Guadalcanal ( it is neat tomove around white zero’ s with the red sun on their wings).
For the moment i’ am working on a big game board (100 x 160 cm).
For the rockets i use metal models of V1’s and adapted AA guns with small rockets attached. Often we use a house rule regarding tech together with special models:

cheaper R&D
random element in tech
advanced units are more expensive ( jets , heavy bombers, …)
you can produce them only after the tech breaktrough

Greetings
El Stef

Adlertag · Feb 11, 2009, 3:08 PM

The rocket mold must be a V2, because the V1 looks like a fighter with short wings.

(no links, no book recommendations, just trust me on this one)

El Stef · Feb 11, 2009, 4:13 PM

Yes , I agree

Much cooler. But V2’ s are hard to find in small scales. And the sets avalaible now and then are very expensive.
Besides, V1’s could be shot down or “tipped” down by AA or fighters. So rocket attacks not immune for AA- fire!

Greetings
El Stef

Adlertag · Feb 11, 2009, 7:17 PM

@El:

Yes , I agree

Much cooler. But V2’ s are hard to find in small scales. And the sets avalaible now and then are very expensive.

No, they are not

Imperious Leader · Feb 11, 2009, 7:19 PM

INF: 15mm - or 1/87 HO scale
ARM: 1/300
ART: 1/300
FTR&STR: 1/700
NAV: 1/2400

These are the correct AA scales after many thousands of pieces purchased.

Also, the V2 would need to stand up and it wont look right if mono color. You want the V-1 because its more identifiable as a rocket. otherwise it would look like a Saturn V rocket standing up 1 inch.

If you had the V2 on its side it would look like a zeppelin. Remember the level of detail is limited so any ‘torpedo looking’ hunk of plastic is gonna look weird.

I do have another V-1 model which is attached to a ramp. Ill get a pic soon.

Imperious Leader · Feb 11, 2009, 7:20 PM

Thats not a V2. Its not even close. Id much rather have the V-1 model than that.

Ill take some more pics.

Adlertag · Feb 11, 2009, 8:10 PM

Also here are some good infantry molds

http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/PeriodList.aspx?period=1

here some of my favourites, the german mountain troops

Adlertag · Feb 11, 2009, 8:13 PM

I also want nation specific molds for the aussies

I love the guy with the sword

Antholin · Feb 11, 2009, 8:41 PM

The Aussie’s must have run out of ammunition, judging by the sword wielding commander and the guy about to throw a beat down with the stock of his rifle, while gripping the barrel. Portrays the Mad Max effect very well, you don’t mess with Australia. :-D

TG Moses VI · Feb 11, 2009, 8:54 PM

Why can’t our German infantry look as good as those! :-D

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