Axis & Allies 1941 First Preview

[Hobbes]

My initial impression based on the pieces and map:

Yuck!

Now, regarding the map, here’s something new and unexpected (compared to Spring 1942)

• It doesn’t seem possible to transport units directly from the US to the UK anymore
• The distance between Berlin and Moscow is the same as Spring 1942, but the distance between Tokyo and Moscow has been reduced by 2 territories, if you go through Siberia. In fact, if you land in Siberia you’re directly threatening Moscow.

[crsluggo]

I’m hoping that the rules are tight. I can trade out pieces at will….
I really don’t want to be playing '41 Alpha 3+…

[knp7765]

Well, I will say that I like the new sculpts that are country appropriate. Seems really weird for UK and USA to have Soviet tanks or for Germany to have Japanese ships. Looks like they really went “bare bones” on this game. At least it’s cheap. Curious to see what 1942 2nd Ed. looks like.
[quote author=Hobbes link=topic=27527.msg969953#msg969953 date=1338978026]

• The distance between Berlin and Moscow is the same as Spring 1942, but the distance between Tokyo and Moscow has been reduced by 2 territories, if you go through Siberia. In fact, if you land in Siberia you’re directly threatening Moscow.
  [/quote]
  Remember some of the old games when you actually had Japan rushing across Russia with tanks and capturing Moscow? It looks like now they can do so with infantry. I know it’s a smaller map, but I’m surprised they made Russia into so few territories.
  [quote author=Col. Ty Webb link=topic=27527.msg969930#msg969930 date=1338967140]
  Also wondering about abilities like submarine’s surprise attack, or SBR.

Would think they would be removed for simplicity, but with the destroyer present the sub rule may stay.
[/quote]
Yeah, I thought they would have destroyers as sort of a “sea infantry”, so you just didn’t have battleships and carriers. But since they also have subs, I would imagine they can still surprise strike unless a DD is present. I wonder if Battleships will be 2-hit ships.

[marcoflowers]

My 2 cents:
US has 17 IPC of territories, but on the Nat Production strip on the top of the map its initial position is on 15…

start speculating…

[knp7765]

Yeah, I noticed that too. I wonder why? I guess we will find out when we get the rule book.

Notice how many territories are now worth 0 IPCs? Plus, how low some of the main territories are. I am wondering what the cost of units will be. If they are the same as our current games, nobody will be buying much each round.

[Make_It_Round]

At one point Krieg said that there would be extra incentives to buy the 1940 reprints…

I’m led to think that those games will incorporate all of the new sculpts seen here in 1941 (where nation-appropriate), as well as the ‘antiaircraft artillery’ for each power to be released with 1942 later this summer.

The expected, and much-needed, reworking of the rulebooks, boards and set-up charts is pretty much a given.

As I said before, I believe that the off-nation sculpts included in this edition will be highly collectible to invested players as ways to represent tech developments or house rules; but most experienced players will probably hold off until the fall when they’ll see the same treats included in Europe 40 and Pacific 40 revised.

[Hobbes]

[quote author=marcoflowers link=topic=27527.msg969965#msg969965 date=1338980861]
My 2 cents:
US has 17 IPC of territories, but on the Nat Production strip on the top of the map its initial position is on 15…

start speculating…[/quote]

Could be that the Philippines start in possession of Japan… but then it’s 1941…

[lozmoid]

I expect the U.S. 17/15 IPCs issue is a mistake.

[Guest]

I think I would wait and see what the new German and Russian sculpts from HBG look like.  The cardboard chips are just sad, and no ICs either.  But yeah it might be good if you want to show someone the game.

[CWO Marc]

I know that the WotC preliminary announcement gave some of the new sculpt identifications, but I’m wondering if a full list has been released yet by Larry, Krieghund or some other official source.  Does anyone know this?

Failing that, could djensen perhaps post pictures of one of each of the news sculpts alongside one corresponding piece each from Global?

[Panther]

No artillery, cruisers and AA-guns.
I’m curious about the rules.

[allweneedislove]

usa 17ipc vs usa 15ipc on the ipc tracker. i hope this is a rule we do not know about and not a misprint.

[jim010]

I like the Hood, Stalin tank, Tiger tanks.  Russians have their own transport now, too!  Be a welcome addition.

Don’t like that too many units are shared.  Why is that?  They now pretty much have unique units for each country by now.

[Variable]

Okay, at first I will admit I was thinking “Seriously with these sculpts?” Removing old correct nation specific pieces and replacing them with new incorrect ones? It was a bit shocking to see what they went with here. The map, still small? Still ugly? I didn’t want to like for some reason. I own every other game in the franchise and this just didn’t seem to compare. I guess because we all expect it to have everything everyone wants for $30…

But, I then read all the posts from the more open minded people here, as well as all of the arguments as to why it’s bad, or lame, or interesting, etc. I then let it all marinate on top of my morning coffee…

I think I like it! Yeah, the sculpt choices are not the best for every nation. Yeah, the map is a little weird. But, you can’t please everyone. This game is not for everyone. It’s for our kids. It’s for our non-grognard gamer friends who want to hang out on a saturday and BS over a couple of beers. It’s for game night at home with family instead of watching nonsensical “reality TV”.

And after further consideration, I’m buying more than 1. I will give it as gifts. I will steal the pieces for house rules. I will find new ways to have fun with an iconic game that I’ve loved since buying 2nd edition in Toys ‘R’ Us with my dad as a kid.

[allweneedislove]

i like the small map and more streamlined units, should make for a nice quick game.
hopefully this will be the gateway [s]drug[/s] game to get some friends hooked on axis&allies.

with so few land territories i am guessing tanks will only move one space.

[gamerman01]

[quote author=Lozmoid link=topic=27527.msg969985#msg969985 date=1338985746]
I expect the U.S. 17/15 IPCs issue is a mistake.
[/quote]

I bet so too

[gamerman01]

Great post, Variable - I enjoyed

I wasn’t even thinking about my kids, but when I mentioned it this morning, they were actually very interested! Have had trouble getting them into Anniversary… Don’t want to play Classic with them because the rules and gameplay are sooooo different they’d have to unlearn it like a lot of us had to.

Think I’m gonna be buying this to get the kids going (11 1/2 and almost 14)

[Clyde85]

[quote author=Hobbes link=topic=27527.msg969953#msg969953 date=1338978026]
My initial impression based on the pieces and map:

Yuck!
[/quote]

Funny, that was my exact same reaction.

[gamerman01]

The idea is backwards, not forwards guys!  They’re not trying to make a challenging, fulfilling game for the veterans!  So don’t judge it that way.

Of course it’s a shock to see such a map after you’ve been playing GLOBAL 1940!!

Still laughing after reading the person who hoped to reel his friends in to Global 1940 eventually through this game. � Dude, if they won’t play Spring 1942 or Anniversary or Revised, they are never going to get to Global 1940 by starting with this basic game. � You might as well try reeling them in using Risk!

[Gargantua]

You know what… I get it with the sculpts.

If you buy right into the concept, that this version is FOR NEW PLAYERS, than having sculpts, which are much more clearer to understand, (specifically, the ships being the same)  Makes it easier to know what comprises an enemy force.

Sometimes new players I have played with, have had a hard time, telling the difference between destroyers/cruisers/battleships, or tacs/bombers/fighters, for example.