AAG40 FAQ

@gamerman01:

A surprising answer.  Good thing you asked, calvin.

This one needs to be in the official written FAQ.

Why is it so surprising?  Facilities are units, and they also keep tanks from blitzing.

@calvinhobbesliker:

@Krieghund:

@calvinhobbesliker:

In Italy’s NO for E40, that there are no allied units in Africa, do “units” include AA guns, IC’s, or air/naval bases?

Yes.  The Axis must capture these so that they are no longer Allied.

@calvinhobbesliker:

Is Madagascar included as part of Africa?

Yes.

Ok, I get the fact that you (axis) have to control the tt’s w/IC, and bases (all facilities) and any AA guns. I get that French Mad is part of Africa, but if it is still allied w/no units on it (unoccupied) the axis would not need to control it to get that African NO. There could be unoccupied French and UK tt in Africa, and Italy would still get the NO if I’m reading it correct.

Ok another question that stems from an earlier post in this thread regarding Russia and not being able to attack a tt of a power in which you are not yet at war.

This I know:

1. Russia doesn’t get its at war NO until its at war w/one of the Euro axis powers.
2. Russia can declare war against Japan at any time. This will allow the Soviets to invade the pro neutrals, or even strict neutrals I guess.

Does Russia declaring war on Japan also allow it to move units into any friendly (allied) power’s tt.

Example:
Say fly a Soviet ftr down to Egypt (could be there R2) so Italy would first have to declare war on Russia to attack Egypt I2. The way I see it Russia is the only power that could be neutral (to the Euro axis), but still move into its allies tt.

Could you clarify Krieghund.

@WILD:

Ok another question that stems from an earlier post in this thread regarding Russia and not being able to attack a tt of a power in which you are not yet at war.

This I know:

1. Russia doesn’t get its at war NO until its at war w/one of the Euro axis powers.
2. Russia can declare war against Japan at any time. This will allow the Soviets to invade the pro neutrals, or even strict neutrals I guess.

Does Russia declaring war on Japan also allow it to move units into any friendly (allied) power’s tt.

Example:
Say fly a Soviet ftr down to Egypt (could be there R2) so Italy would first have to declare war on Russia to attack Egypt I2. The way I see it Russia is the only power that could be neutral (to the Euro axis), but still move into its allies tt.

Could you clarify Krieghund.

I think this is only allowed if the UK is at war with japan

I don’t see it that way. Russia can move into its allies tt once its at war. It doesn’t say it has to be at war w/all axis (or include Euro axis). Russia doesn’t have any reliance on what UK does, or who the English are at war with as far as I can see.

If on US2, there’s a axis sub on a US convoy zone, and the sub decides to raid the convoy, does the US get to collect its wartime NO that turn?

The axis power would have to declare its self at war w/US on its own turn (before combat move) in order to raid the convoy on US turn (collect income). Then when the US turn comes round the US would have to declare its self at war (before its’s combat move phase) to collect its war time bonus (at the collect income phase). The US could also make attacks that turn as well. You can’t just move a German sub to the convoy zone then on the US’s turn announce by the way we are at war and I’m now costing you $.

Research development

Can ANZAC research developments?

Can France research developments?

Do you have to be at war to research?

Thanks in advance……

@leddux:

Research development

Can ANZAC research developments?

Can France research developments?

Do you have to be at war to research?

Thanks in advance……

Yes.

Yes, if they still have money on F1 (but why :S )

No.

@gamerman01:

“Units” to many of us is short for “military units”, meaning movable pieces.
Facilities are facilities, not units.  The rulebook is very ambiguous there, by just saying “units”.  That’s why calvin asked - because the reader can’t tell for sure.

I’m sorry, but there is no ambiguity in the rules here.  Facilities are listed as one of four subclasses of “units” in the Unit Profiles section, and they are referred to as “units” several times elsewhere in the rules.  Land, air and sea units (the other three subclasses) are referred to collectively as “combat units”, which is what you have referred to as “military units”.

If I may be so bold as to interpret the intent of Calvin’s question, I believe it was to be sure that the wording of the NO was intended to intentionally include facilities, which it was.  If it had intended to exclude them, it would have said “combat units” rather than simply “units”.

@WILD:

Ok another question that stems from an earlier post in this thread regarding Russia and not being able to attack a tt of a power in which you are not yet at war.

This I know:

1. Russia doesn’t get its at war NO until its at war w/one of the Euro axis powers.
2. Russia can declare war against Japan at any time. This will allow the Soviets to invade the pro neutrals, or even strict neutrals I guess.

Does Russia declaring war on Japan also allow it to move units into any friendly (allied) power’s tt.

Example:
Say fly a Soviet ftr down to Egypt (could be there R2) so Italy would first have to declare war on Russia to attack Egypt I2. The way I see it Russia is the only power that could be neutral (to the Euro axis), but still move into its allies tt.

Could you clarify Krieghund.

This is interesting, and it never came up in playtesting.  The question, of course, is whether or not it’s a problem.  I suspect that it may be, but it could be one of those instances where it’s not worth it to the Soviet player to do it in the long run.

If it is a problem, it will need to be fixed in the errata.  What do you all think?

@gamerman01:

I’m surprised the Russian air to Egypt issue never came up in playtesting.  It’s an obvious exploit of the rules that came up in the first 1940 game I played (I was not Russia).

There were four different playtesting groups, and none of them discovered it.  Of course, when you’re concentrating on the big picture, sometimes details escape you.  Was it a problem in your game?

@gamerman01:

If calvin had to ask “to be sure that the wording of the NO was intended to intentionally include facilities” as you said, then the rulebook wording was ambiguous (by definition).  The E40 rulebook was well done (you sound defensive - like you wrote it, which you probably did), but not perfect.  Nothing to be ashamed of there.

Thanks, but the only thing that I’m defending against is adding unnecessary length to the FAQ.  :wink:

It’s a fine line to walk.  You want to eliminate as much confusion as possible, but making it too long makes things harder to find and makes the rules writers (myself included) look bad.  I could write an article on the art and politics of FAQ writing.

I maintain that there is nothing ambiguous about the wording of the NO.  The terms are defined and used consistently.  There’s a difference between asking “What did you mean by that?” and “Did you really mean what you said?”  At any rate, if it gets asked frequently enough, it’ll get added.  Sometimes the most clearly stated rule still gets questioned, especially if it clashes with people’s preconceptions.

@gamerman01:

You still haven’t answered me about why ground troops can walk (drive) from Eire to Scotland across a channel that is 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, when there is no other water (that is not a canal) that any ground unit can ever walk across.  Why the inconsistency?  Who would know you could walk from Eire to Scotland unless they read what you said or it’s put in the official errata?

The short answer is becuase Larry wanted it that way.  I’ve never asked him why.  I would assume it’s for game play reasons.  This question has been raised often enough to warrant inclusion in the FAQ.

@gamerman01:

I’m always only seeking clarification and trying to eliminate ambiguities and misunderstandings.

And you do a good job of it.  :-)

@gamerman01:

Which made me realize - the Russian at war NO should also require that USA is at war.  That’s where the money came from, and why Z125 and Archangel have to be clear.  But yet it is possible for USSR to collect this NO 4 times with the US being neutral.

US aid to the USSR began in June 1941, immediately after it was attacked by Germany, and six months before the US entered the war.

As far as the facilities being considered units:
I wouldn’t have picked that up either. Honestly though I only skimmed the rule book (very impressed by the way). Common sense would have taken over however and told me you should also have to take away there ability to mobilize. After rereading it though I see where Krieghund is coming from. They do call them units when purchasing, and mobilizing, and it is clearly under “Unit Profiles”. Some times when you have to link several things together to get the correct interpretation, things get lost. It still would have been clearer to just simply include allied facilities in Africa in the NO to remove any question.

As far as the Russians can be on its allies tt when only at war w/Japan:
I like that ability, but I’m sure it wouldn’t fly with the historical sector. There are other things to consider here too. You could put a Russian ftr on Scotland R1 to force Germany to go to war early if it wants to invade Scotland (which it won’t). Then that ftr could be on England R2 for def (another 4) for a G3 Sea Lion, allowing Russia to start attacks (early) R3 on Germany. It might not make much difference if Germany was planning a G3 Barbarossa, but if Germany is going Sea Lion, it may want to wait til G4 to attack Russia. Plus Russia would get it’s war time 5 ipc bonus R3 as well (plus its 2 free inf in E40). Plus the Russian ftr on England throws the G3 Sea Lion out the window. Then there’s some scenarios of putting the Russian ftr on a UK carrier, that would put Germany/Italy in the same circumstances. In any event it could be a benefit to the allies, but your right it does cost Russia the use of a ftr possibly, so would it be worth it in the long run.

Edit: I hope you don’t rule on this to fast, and take the ability away. I want to catch my opponents off guard first. We’ve talked about Egypt, but not Scotland. My German opponents seem to like to build navy G1 :evil:

The funny soviet trick sending units to UK when is not yet at war with West Axis but is at war with Japan … one more reason to make a non-agression pact USSR-Japan rule

Seriously, I have played the game and I cannot see any reason to not DOW Japan USSR1 (USSR2 as much) … and so, no reason to not DOW USSR Japan 1 if not at war yet. In fact, there are many many incentives. It’s totally ridiculous that Japan and USSR start the game at war (even if not ‘officially’) before than the USSR-Germany and USA-Japan wars

A non-agression official rule is a must. A economic penalty for the attacker would work (maybe 15-20 IPCs?) I don’t know how Larry cannot see this … I guess that Italy and UK players could also make a unofficial non-agression pact for that matter, but they would still start at war without a official rule  :-P