New player quick set up instructions

These instructions are for those of us with the original printing of Axis and Allies Pacific 1940 and who want to get up to speed with the least hassle.  Hopefully this will save you hours of searching through many threads and sites.  (Update:  I can now post links.)

If you have a newly acquired copy of this game, there are several things you should do to fully appreciate it:
1.  Contact Wizards of the Coast online, by email, or phone (# listed on the back of the manual) to request they send you the extra tac bombers for Japan and the correct battle strip.  These are sent for free and it takes about a week.  (They send 6 more of the Japanese tac bombers.)
2.  Download Larry Harris’ (game designer) alpha set up for the AAP 1940 map.  It is dated Sept. 9, 2010. and is found in the following thread: www.harrisgamedesign.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2531  It fixes many recognized/frustrating problems in the OOB (out of box) set up.  I’ve now played both and the alpha is more versatile.
3.  Download the latest Official FAQ for AAP 1940 (dated May 10, 2010).  Note however that it is older than the alpha set up, so more things are changed in the alpha above.  You can find this link via the first post in the AAP40 FAQ sticky.  (It points to the correct link on Larry Harris’ site, despite the Feb. 2010 date.)  The direct link is http://www.harrisgamedesign.com/pdf/A&A_Pacific_1940_513_FAQ.pdf    Beware that there was an earlier version of the FAQ dated Feb. 1, 2010 that is incomplete.  You might come across this older download in other threads, etc.  It is missing several new Q&A’s and other additions, mostly in red lettering.

Have fun conquering or liberating the Pacific!

Note that this topic is for updating the first edition of Axis and Allies Pacific 1940.  My understanding is that the alpha I linked to above is the final used in AAP 40 Second Edition.

I’m updating this thread as potential help to others searching to play first edition AAP 40 with the SE rule set.  I might post a new thread as well.

There are a number of additional changes for AAP 40 SE not mentioned in the FAQ as best I can tell.  These were incorporated into AA Europe 1940 SE and Global and substantially alter the basic rule set.  Areas to familiarize yourself with in the new SE manuals online are:

1.  Scramble limitations/changes–limited to three aircraft per airbase.  Also they can scramble to defend in the sea zone when amphibious assaults are launched against other territories in the same sea zone they cover.  Also, scrambling is allowed from coastal territories (contrary to the FAQ link above.)
2.  AAA guns can now be taken as casualties (e.g. “meat shields”) and they cost 5 IPC’s rather than 6.  Also each gun can fire up to 3 times and multiple guns can fire.  The maximum number of firings is the number of aircraft attacking or 3x the number of AAA guns in the territory, whichever is less.  The attacking player gets to choose which air units to assign as casualties after the roll.  Also, there are now colored pieces for each nation’s AAA.
3.  Strategic/tactical bombing raids.  This has been reworked for the better as originally strategic bombing raids were suicidal wastes of IPC in the original 1st edition.  “All of the air units have attack and defense values of 1.”  This applies to escorts, defending fighters, and the strategic bombers.  Now SBR’s are dangerous to defending aircraft (as the Luftwaffe was well aware in WWII.)  Additionally, SBR’s do more damage in each attack as their die roll has 2 added to it for determining damage points!
4.  Tactical bombing raids have been updated.  Same as strategic bombing raids, only by tactical bombers or strategic bombers against air or naval bases only.
5.  Mechanized infantry now supported by artillery.  Gets 2 attack when paired 1 for 1 with artillery.  (This was part of one of the later FAQ’s I linked to.)
6.  Convoy disruption now determined by die rolls.  Each DD, CC, BB, or AC based aircraft gets to roll one die to determine points lost.  Subs roll 2 die.  There is more datail in the manual.
7.  There are some changes to the national objectives.  I haven’t fully reviewed these yet…still wrapping my head around the other gameplay changes.

I should add:
8.  Kamikaze attacks no longer require capture of a specific Japanese held territories first.  Instead,  “if an Allied player attacks Japanese units in or declares an
amphibious assault from one of these sea zones” (same ones with the Kamikaze symbol), then the Kamikaze strikes can be conducted.

Disregard the first post, I need to update for the new SE set up and rules.  Something of sufficient quality with both rule changes and setup should be stickied for those who bought AAP40 earlier.