If you want to feel like that guy in those “Old Spice” commercials… than play A&A 1940 Global.
Recall the OP did say he was a newbie. Everyone is at one point.
Global may be overwhelming to such a player.
CWO Marc’s post is good.
One thing to consider is game playing time.
Experienced players (may?!) complete a global game in one sitting, but a group of newbie?
I know my FTF group Anniversary games can go 7-12 hours, and we are 25+ year veterans of A&A.
I have done some more research and read your advice carefully.
Games like Twilight Imperium, for instance, is the kind of complexity that isn’t daunting, but exciting in my mind. I expect the same for Axis and Allies. So with that said, I will go for the '42 2nd version if I can hunt one down and, if I end up liking it a lot (which I expect I’ll do), I’ll invest in Europe '40 and its asian theatre counterpart. Maybe this’ll let me have boards for my family AND for my friends who are more into board games. After all, it seems like a tradition in this community to own more than a single version of A&A, hehe.
Cheers guys, thanks for the info.
I’d recommend 1942 second edition. It takes up less space. If you like that make sure you buy the Europe 1940 and Pacific 1940. If you can afford it buy all three.
The series has a tendency to produce less of the big box games and once they go out of print the prices skyrocket. Maybe buy Europe 1940 and Axis & Allies 1942 second edition. Pacific 1940 will be easier and cheaper to buy later if Europe 1940 goes out of print. I recommend 1942 second edition because it is the “main game”.
Just some advice.
If it’s helpful, here’s what Larry Harris says about this topic in the rulebook for A&A 1942 2nd edition (located at http://www.wizards.com/avalonhill/rules/A&A1942_2ndEd_rlbk_NonSku_PDF.pdf) :
“When it comes to the Axis & Allies “family,†call up in your mind a family portrait. Standing over there on the left is Axis & Allies 1941. It is designed to be a quicker and less complicated experience. It also comes with a completely new line of iconic units including, but not limited to, Tiger tanks. On the other side, standing on the right, are the twins Axis & Allies Europe 1940 and Axis & Allies Pacific 1940. These two must be seen and played to be believed. They’re not for everybody, however. There’s a longer playing time and a few more rules to contend with, but what the heck . . . you deserve it! Standing front and center in the family portrait is this new Axis & Allies 1942 game. As Goldilocks would put it, this game is “not too hot and not too cold; it’s just right†(depending on your taste, of course).”
@CWO:
If it’s helpful, here’s what Larry Harris says about this topic in the rulebook for A&A 1942 2nd edition (located at http://www.wizards.com/avalonhill/rules/A&A1942_2ndEd_rlbk_NonSku_PDF.pdf) :
“When it comes to the Axis & Allies “family,†call up in your mind a family portrait. Standing over there on the left is Axis & Allies 1941. It is designed to be a quicker and less complicated experience. It also comes with a completely new line of iconic units including, but not limited to, Tiger tanks. On the other side, standing on the right, are the twins Axis & Allies Europe 1940 and Axis & Allies Pacific 1940. These two must be seen and played to be believed. They’re not for everybody, however. There’s a longer playing time and a few more rules to contend with, but what the heck . . . you deserve it! Standing front and center in the family portrait is this new Axis & Allies 1942 game. As Goldilocks would put it, this game is “not too hot and not too cold; it’s just right†(depending on your taste, of course).”
+1
Global is the best? Or something else?
Global is the best? Or something else?
Each A&A is best for something different.
1941 is best for an evening game (as the others take longer) or as an introduction to new players, being easier to explain and get a game going (in my view at least).
1942 is best for a day game (as 1940 takes longer) and some on this forum will highlight various benefits over 1940. Here is an example:
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=36052.msg1418663#msg1418663
1940 is much loved by many, but can be difficult to play face to face given the time it takes.
My own newbie path was via 1941 6 months ago to 1942 a few months later to a 1940 game now being played “by forum” (i.e. playing by computer against an opponent on this forum, with each player posting his turns in one of these boards). I am enjoying all the extra nuances and elements of 1940, but grateful that I did not start with it. This progression path appears fairly common among those who began with A&A since these variants all became available.
What is “best” for you will depend on your A&A experience and personal preferences. If you are a newbie I would recommend the path I took.
I went strait for global and have not looked back. I am in the proses of building a group of guys up to play once a month all day event as I feel the game needs this amazing of time to be played well and all the way through. By far the best version in my opinion once you get through the rules and there is always something else to learn. Best game to just run full tilt into the game that we all love. And the map and set up is eye opening the first time you see it all set up.
Welcome CraneDeNicollo. My friend got me started on Global 1940. I have also started playing Global 1939 which is a very complicated game but plays like Global 1940 with slight rules variations. Recently, my ten year old grand daughter took a real interest in the game and my friend suggested the 1942 second edition version. It was simpler but still a real challenge. I have one a game against my teacher in the Global 1940 so I felt some what confident as I entered the game but soon found myself scrambling to just survive as my grand daughter lead Germany in a global tear. She says she wants to be President some day…God help her enemies if she makes it. Now she plays the ANZACS and China in the Global 1940 game pretty much on her own. Both games are great but her trouncing of her grandpa in the 1942 games have inspired her to learn more. If you are wanting to gain experience and learn stratagies, I recommend 1942 to start with.
