A&A North Africa - TO I8.pdf Hello everyone, I propose the position on the board at the beginning of the eighth turn of Italy in the “Operation Torch” scenario to have your opinions on the strategy of the game in practice (often “abstract” considerations are made, before playing, which then “clash” with what actually happens on the board). In this game I was assigned the American (we decided to draw by lot at the beginning of each game the power with which we will play in order to be able to experiment and try the game under various aspects). This is only the third game we play and the first ever with “Operation Torch” (so there may again be involuntary errors in the rules, but games also serve this purpose: to clarify doubts and avoid errors for the future). The English have (as I think is obvious) heavily attacked MM in the first turn and took Tobruck in the second, wiping out all Axis resistance, but they lost Malta (this also seems to me an almost inevitable thing if the Axis decides to concentrate on it) and a good part of the fleet has sunk due to the mines around the Mediterranean Channel (very lucky shots by the Axis) and the action of the Italian air force, managing however to eliminate some German supplies. The Axis has destroyed a good part of the American convoy with its 3 U-boats (it sank the 2 destroyers and part of the cargo) and is preparing for an offensive to the West towards Casablanca. The Italians I imagine will try to create a front around Tripoli, waiting to be able to organize a counteroffensive against the English if the latter “stretches too far” without due preparation. As an American I plan to invest in the very first turn in planes (forbidden in turn 7) that can serve as escorts to convoys against the terrible German U-boats, but also as attack/defense units; I will also take destroyers and some ground troops (in addition to the fixed 10 supply) trying to contain the German initiative in Algiers to try to organize a counteroffensive as soon as there are enough troops. I also have to understand which convoy to use and which is more convenient (considering that in the seventh turn I could not choose being forced to use the one in Casablanca). It is the first time that we play this scenario which, however, gives me the impression of being a bit unbalanced in favor of the Allies (maybe it will have depended on the initial moves, on strategic and tactical errors, I don’t know). However, it seems clear to me that only the Allies can, in this scenario, aim for a total victory (since Tunis is a concrete and achievable objective, if everything goes well), while Cairo seems to me really a utopia for the Axis. But I would like your considerations as experienced players. Eventually I will update you on the continuation of the match (I think we will resume it on Saturday).
Spending supply to defend
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Does the defender decide to spend supply in any or all attacked territories at once or is it per territory in the order the attacker chooses?
Example here, the UK could raid Benghazi to destroy supply while attacking Mersa Brega and Tobruk.
If Axis can spend all supply up front they can defend both territories, if not the Attacker could choose to resolve Benghazi first and has a good chance of there not being any supply remaining for Germany to defend in Mersa Brega.
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@Stucifer my reading of the book is the Axis are screwed. As the attacker, the UK can resolve combat in Benghazi first and destroy those supplies.
“Combat in each space takes place at the
same time, but each affected territory or sea zone is resolved separately and completely before resolving combat in the next contested space. As the attacker, you decide the order in which each combat occurs.”That’s an expert level play too!
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@cmmiles that’s how we played it out, I could see an argument for the other case so I’ll try to ping @Matt-Hyra
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@Stucifer The attacker chooses the order of attacks. The defender pays for their defense only when that particular attack is commencing. Not all at once like the attackers do.
Indeed, a good UK plan. A good Axis plan would be to have a couple of reserve supply in El Agheila.
~Matt
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@Matt-Hyra
I thank you! I have to say the combined scout cars/bomber attacks can be quite brutal with the supply constraints.We all enjoyed your game very much on our epic axis & allies weekend. We probably played it 6 times 🤓
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Another rule clarification please:
If an attacker attacks a territory with ONLY scout cars and/or planes, is the defender still required to retreat if they do not spend supply (or have no supply available) to defend?
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@mikawagunichi hi.
No supply is ever needed for Scout Cars or Air units . -
@Witt I understand that is the case when attacking, but to be clear I am asking when defending against only these types of units.
For example, if I have a stack of 10 inf and no supply in a territory or any adjacent territory, can my opponent attack me with a single scout car and force my entire stack to retreat?
Thank you for your quick response.
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@mikawagunichi said in Spending supply to defend:
Another rule clarification please:
If an attacker attacks a territory with ONLY scout cars and/or planes, is the defender still required to retreat if they do not spend supply (or have no supply available) to defend?
Yes, they must still retreat. The good news is that they don’t lose control of the territory, if it’s controllable.
~Matt
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@Stucifer said in Spending supply to defend:
@Matt-Hyra
I thank you! I have to say the combined scout cars/bomber attacks can be quite brutal with the supply constraints.We all enjoyed your game very much on our epic axis & allies weekend. We probably played it 6 times 🤓
6 games in one weekend? That’s a record at this point. Which scenarios and who won them?
~M
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@Matt-Hyra @Stucifer Is flying back from my house as we speak. We played Operation Torch several times, though we messed up some rules so I wouldn’t put too much credence into the results until the final game when we played correctly (to our knowledge).
In that game it came down to a US attack on Tunis on the very last round, which the US won. Great finish.
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@mikawagunichi @Matt-Hyra @Stucifer We played like 3 to 4 incomplete games with the wrong rules lol.
Then i think 2 games of Operation Torch with the correct ones. Allies won both, but it seemed like the Axis wouldve/couldve won the second game if managed better. The above referenced encirclement certainly didn’t help.
I think North Africa is my favorite edition, it’s so good.
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@Daaras Practice games are a great way to get the next one right!
~Matt
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@Matt-Hyra Yeah, we had a lot of rules learning to do, but we seem to know them now. I can’t wait for the next AAA weekend!
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@Matt-Hyra yep I’ve done two already. Learned a lot of the rules before inviting a buddy over for the inaugural match. I love the new tactical layer that North Africa adds!
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