For noobs: German Don't List

OOB, or out-of-the-box, is used as an adjective that’s paired with whatever thing is being talked about in a given context: OOB sculpts, OOB rules, OOB map board and so forth.  It basically refers to any component of an official A&A game in the form in which it’s found inside the game box, without modifications.  For example when it refers to sculpts and units, as my fellow sculpt enthusiast Wolfshanze notes, the term can be used to draw a distinction between the sculpts in the A&A box and the sculpts that can be purchased from third-part sources like HBG, or alternately between the unmodified sculpts in the box and the painted versions of the sculpts that are customized by model-painting hobbyists.

Do I paint over the plastic pieces that come with the game?

You can but the small, soft plastic miniatures aren’t ideal for taking paint.  The ones like the boats with flat surfaces should do fine.  You can prime them first, but its hard to do detail at this scale unless you’re really good.  Another consideration is that you will have to mass produce quite a few minis in order to have full sets for most of your games, otherwise you’ll end  up mixing painted and unpainted stuff which is kind of confusing to the eye.

-What if I mess up? Do I just wash the paint off and start over?

Not after things dry.  You can use the technique of wiping wet paint (I use cotton gun cleaning rag) away from unintended areas, this works like an eraser.  If you recoat/re-dip a small mini like these all your detail will be lost in layers of paint.

-What is the purpose of buying the expansion miniatures?

for fun.  FMG sells a lot of cool sculpts but they are not universally used in AXA, primarily in other similar games (eg Global
War)

-Are expansion miniatures already painted?

No, unless you buy them that way eg Axis and Allies Miniatures Game

-Can expansion miniatures be used to play my 1942 2nd ed?

Yes, but they are only variant sculpts (eg different halftracks, different tank models) or house rules.

Game questions:

-Is it difficult to learn?

Yes, though not for a wargame.  Rules are fairly simple though subject to much interpretation if not read carefully.  Should take 3-5 games to get good then 3-5 years to get awesome.

-How long does a came last on average?

42.2; About 4 hours to surrender, a bit longer until victory conditions.  G40/G42 take more like 10 hours-14 hours.  WW1 5-7 hours.

-How does A&A compare to say, the hexagonal war games of the 70s and 80s?

It is much less complex than a chit game.  Logistics and “rock-paper-scissors” unit balance aren’t in AxA.  Combat and movement are dramatically simplified.    Where chit games (aka Avalon Hill) games are a detailed, complex and abstract slog, axis and allies is a lighter, more “army men” sort of game with the depth coming from repeat play and learning from mistakes.  The quality of the pieces and the layout of the map are a huge draw in comparison to large paper maps, hundreds of similar, boring pieces and rules that are incomprehensible outside the context of each game.    Games like Memoir 44 and AxA try to capture strategy, tactics in a more playable and engaging format than a realistic, unit by unit, “order of battle” style game, but try to be much more in depth than games like Risk where there are no unit types and every team is essentially the same.

Yeah, I play the original version of A&A 3rd edition.  My buddy and I always give the Axis Super Subs and Jet Fighters to try and even up the odds.  We haven’t gone as far as using the editor to give more advantage to the Axis…yet.

Still though…the Axis is definitely more fun to play in the 1st few turns. :)

It seems I am the only one here who has a different opinion than everybody else  :-D the thing with japan is that if you have good navy positioning, you’re starting navy should be enough to hold off the us for a couple of turns without you having to buy anything. During these precious turns, grab as much money as you can in Asia, and then use this income to have an arms race with the US.

If you start purchasing navy right off the bat, the India will wipe you off off Asia. This doesn’t even take into account russian pressure from the north. So in my opinion, only make navy buys when you have the income to afford it.
(P.S If you dont do pearl harbor, the us can pretty much put pressure on you without buying anything at all, let alone going 100% pacific.

How do i start a game?

Thanks for the explanations everyone, I understand it now.  A good way to help novice players out a bit.  I’ve probably played a hundred or more games of the classic version and that would have been helpful at the beginning.  Unfortunately the two that taught us were more interested in winning than properly teaching the game.  Once I purchased the game myself things changed dramatically.

My teaching method for newbies is to basically get them up to my speed as quickly as possible.  This means that the first game or two I will point out things, even if it is detrimental to my own side, so that they learn for the future.  That way they have a fair chance and enjoy the game and want to play again.  After a game or two they’re normally doing well on their own and I can enjoy a good challenging game.

Did the same thing when I was teaching my son Starfleet Battles.  Now he more than gives me a tough fight and in fact wins quite a bit.  His Kzinti has beaten my Lyran five time in the last seven games!  So this bid idea will be of use if I need it for newbies in the future.  Good idea.  Thanks again.

If the allies go full tilt KGF its not really possible for the Germans to keep up pressure on Russia for ever. However the dont have to as Japan will do that instead.
One thing I find helpfull as Germany is to switch from light to medium trading against Russia. Seems to me that Russia have to sacrifice much more IPC each trade as they have much less air.

Now that I understand the rules properly (well some of them anyway :lol:) I can see a whole new set of options for the UK, in Egypt, India & possibly the Med, perhaps including SZ37. wittman’s G carrier in the Med is also making a whole lot more sense. And my use of R fighters looks set to change. I will just have to be sad enough to play one more solo game to test these out I guess.

I can not think of any previous game I have ever had which would have interested me enough to be as sad as that! :-D