Poll: The Most Important Naval/Air Starting Pieces

OK. Obvious distinction that I missed there.  Thanks!

@NDfan:

How come there seems to be 3 kinds of planes?  Or are there two different sizes for the bombers or fighters??

In the 1942 edition there are only two, but as others have explained they are represented as historical models of fighters or strategic bombers for each nation.  These aren’t necessarily the most representative types each nation used, but are distinctive.  While the primary fighter types of the major combatants were single engine, the U.S. twin engine P-38 modeled in the game is a fighter.  (It wasn’t used on carriers, so I would have liked a single engine plane instead…thought most likely it would have ended up being another USAAF fighter rather than USN anyway.)  The axis powers primarily used twin engined bombers even for strategic bombing.  That is why Germany and Japan both have twin engined bombers.  The German model is a Ju-88, and the Japanese is a “Betty.”

Allied powers used a mix of two and four engined bombers for heavy bombing with the latter type being used for the bomber models in the game.  The UK gets a Halifax, and the US gets a B-17.  The Soviets, fighting for survival on the homefront didn’t have much need of 4 engine types during the war, and instead relied on twin engine types.  The four engine model in the game looks like the Pe-8 with gun positions in rear of inboard engine nacelles.

Other fighters in the game are UK’s Spitfires, Soviet Yak-3’s, and German Bf109’s.

In the A&A 1940 games there are three types:  fighters, tactical bombers, and strategic bombers.  So for A&A Pacific 1940 the U.S. has a twin engine P-38 fighter, a single engine tactical bomber (the Dauntless dive bomber), and a four engine strategic bomber (B-17.)  The Japanese have a “Zero” fighter, a “Val” (dive bomber) tactical bomber, and a “Betty” strategic bomber.  The UK has the Spitfire fighter, the Mosquito tactical bomber, and the Halifax strategic bomber.

@Fearless:

@skinny1:

@Fearless:

Buy another game. That’s what i did. Proud owner of 3 1942’s.

Did you print one of IL’s maps to use that many pieces on?

Yes. My buddy printed one at his work.  Turns out his brother has some crazy printer that is 80" wide at his work.  Trying to find out about that.  I play on a ping pong table at times so i can have a crazy big map.  I’m looking for a map that combines the new Europe/Pacific together so I can play that on a massive map.  Although that will get expensive to buy units for those.  The rule is no plastic chips unless absolutely necessary (crowded territories is the only exception but that comes up rarely).

Nice. That is a big printer.

@Krieghund:

The setup chart on page 6 shows that each power receives a number of IPCs with which to start the game.  This number also happens to be that power’s initial income level.

Ah, I always thought that meant what your starting production capability, not on hand cash.  I read a rule saying the the capability is the same as your “starting ipc’s” so I guess you do in fact start with money.  Thanks everyone for your time!

That CAP rule in good old Pacific always remained a mystery to me. As far as I remember you can only use airplanes that didn’t take part in any combat. Now who would let any airplane sitting around doing nothing in combat ?  Japan not using airplanes in her attacks ?  That’s why I never used CAP, not once.

@habs4life9:

But how would you define “the start of the game”?

I would limit it to those territories that are under Russian control at the time of set-up.  It would not apply to territories that Russia conquers and then loses (recognizing that the rationale of the rule should apply to territories like the Ukraine–but when was the last time the British or Americans captured the Ukraine anyway?).  As a practical matter, the rule tweaking I suggest is intended from preventing the British (primarily) from bailing the Russians out in Karelia.

I just ordered that thing. Its awesome!

I really need to get some more f2f games in with some experienced players. I play my uncle who used to play the classic MB version with my brother. My uncle is really good at seeing things that might be a potential problem in future rounds so I try to pay attention to what he does and file that information away for future use. It is hard to remember all that stuff sometimes though. I have played all the AA board games with my uncle and he usually beats me in the global games but we are pretty even in the battle specific games like Bulge or Guadalcanal.