The Battle of France 1940 (video interview)

I just purchased this game.  Before I get started, I had a number of questions, all revolving around the rule stating that one cannot strategic bomb or fire artillery into a space shared by opposing forces (i.e. Japan cannot fire artillery is a space shared by both Japanese troops and U.S. troops).  Given this point, when is a space shared?

If the U.S. lands troops on the beach adjacent to Nago, is the U.S. now sharing space with Japanese troops in Nago, Yabu, and Hokubu?  Once the U.S. lands on a beach, can the troops immediately attack either Nago, Yabu, and/or Hokobu?  Or must they wait until the beginning of next turn?  If they are able to immediately attack Nago, Yabu, and/or Hokobu, can they elect not to and just remain on the beach?

Does combat continue until one side is eliminated, the attacker withdraws, or the U.S. retreats when defending?  The rules seem to suggest combat works like in Axis and Allies World War I; one attack roll for each attacking unit, one defense roll for each defending unit.  If any troops are left on both sides, the combat ends, and the space becomes contested.

And finally, when the 23rd/26th Shipping Engineer Regiments attack Unaha and Uchima, the rules state that 4 IJN marines attack without U.S. return fire.  This rule suggests that combat only lasts for one attack roll per attacking unit (as I suggested above).  If combat occurs until one side wins, this rule suggests that the IJN marines destroy all units in Unaha and Uchima as the U.S. cannot return fire.

Now for two questions not revolving around shared spaces: When an LVT is offloaded from a transport, can it immediately move two spaces?  Or, as with regular Axis and Allies rules, once a unit offloads, it has no movement points remaining.

The rules state that Japanese troops within fortifications are impervious to air, artillery, and shore bombardment attacks.  Does that mean that fortifications cannot be hit by air, artillery, or shore bombardments?  If they can, then a unit in a bunker is impervious only until two hits are received.  The first hit destroys the bunker, the second hit destroys the unit.  If one reads accounts of the Battle of Okinawa, the fortifications were virtually impervious to shore bombardments and aerial bombings.

Any help would be appreciated!

Also some additional rules

All the same rules from Axis & Allies 1942 Second Edition apply, but there are some changes:

ORDER OF PLAY

Germany France Japan China Italy United Kingdom
and after they join: The Netherlands (in war with Germany and Italy but passive until the war with Japan) United States (neutral at the beginning) Soviet Union (neutral at the beginning)

ADJACENT TERRITORIES

The following is a list of what territories and sea zones are adjacent between the east and west edges of the map:
Alberta/Saskatchewan/Manitoba territory is adjacent to Western Canada.
Central United States is adjacent to Western United States.
Southeastern Mexico is adjacent to Mexico.
SZ 11 adjacent to SZ 64.
SZ 28 adjacent to SZ 64.
SZ 51 adjacent to SZ 64, 65 and 66.
SZ 52 adjacent to SZ 66.
SZ 64 adjacent to SZ 11, 28, and 51.
SZ 65 adjacent to SZ 51.
SZ 66 adjacent to SZ 51 and 52.

RESISTANCE MOVEMENTS

If the Allies free a French territory in Europe, two additional infantry of the French Resistance join them for each of the three territories (only once per game).
If the Allies free Norway, two additional infantry of the Norwegian Resistance join them (only once per game).
If the Allies free Yugoslavia, three additional infantry of the Yugoslav Resistance join them (only once per game).
If the Allies free Greece, two additional infantry of the Greek Resistance join them (only once per game).
If the Allies free Holland Belgium, one additional infantry of the Netherlands Resistance joins them (only once per game).
If the UK or USA forces free Poland, four additional infantry of the Polish Resistance join them (only once per game).
If the Axis powers occupy the Baltic States, 1 infantry units of the Baltic Resistance joins them.
If the Axis powers free Ethiopia, 2 Italian Resistance infantry units join them.

GAME DURATION

The gameplay is shortened in the following manner: Each player has 5 minutes for the Purchase & Repair units and the Combat Move Phase.
UNIT PROFILES

The units characteristics are the same as those in Axis & Allies 1942 Second Edition. New units are:

Minor Factory – can produce only 1 unit per turn. Minor Factories represent relics and cannot be purchased during the game. All other characteristics are same as those of an Industrial Complex.

Fortifications – can be purchased for 15 IPCs and they cover only one border with one adjacent territory or sea zone. They increase the defensive capabilities on infantry units from 2 to 3. If a territory with fortifications is captured by the enemy they are destroyed.

ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATIONS

Neutral countries are invited to war during the Purchase units phase (and they join the fight immediately – in case of USA, the Netherlands and Soviet Union later during the same turn).

Wars are declared and surprise attacks are made in the Combat Move phase.

At the beginning of the game the Allies are: UK, France and the Netherlands. If Japan attacks for example the Netherlands it automatically means war with the other Allies. China joins the Allies when Japan goes to war with them. USA joins the Allies if it is in war with Germany or Japan.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

The Allies start with 14 and the Axis with 5 victory cities.

The game ends after the 7th turn (short game) or after the 10th (long game). If the Axis powers don’t achieve victory by then, it is considered to be a victory for the Allies. The Allies can also win if they at any point control Berlin, Rome and the Okinawa island (or Tokyo instead of Okinawa). In that case the game ends instantly.

The Axis powers can win under following conditions:

The Axis control 12 out of 19 victory cities (and have control over their own capitals) – the game ends instantly when the 12th city falls.

OR

The Axis control London, Moscow and Calcutta (or any USA victory city or Sydney instead of Calcutta) at any point and have control over their own capitals – the game ends instantly.

NEUTRAL POWERS

All neutral territories can be accessed by Axis or the Allies, but it is considered as an act of war (occupation). For example the UK player may occupy Persia in order to attack Iraq or connect with the Soviet Union forces. The following are the defensive capabilities of each neutral state:

EUROPE

Sweden: 6 infantry, 1 fighter
Finland: 4 infantry, 1 tank (can join the Axis)
Switzerland: 2 infantry
Eire: 1 tank
Yugoslavia: 5 infantry, 1 artillery, 1 tank, 1 fighter (can join the Allies)
Greece: 4 infantry, 2 artillery (can join the Allies)
Bulgaria: 4 infantry, 1 tank (can join the Axis)
Spain: 6 infantry, 2 tanks, 1 fighter and none in Rio de Oro  (can join the Axis)
Portugal: 2 infantry + 2 infantry in Mozambique and Angola, and none in Portuguese Guinea (can join the Allies)

AFRICA

Liberia: None
Sierra Leone: None

ASIA

Turkey: 8 infantry, 2 tanks (can join the Allies)
Iraq: 3 infantry (can join the Axis)
Saudi Arabia: 2 infantry (can join the Allies)
Persia: 2 infantry and none in Northwest Persia and Eastern Persia
Mongolia (can join the Allies)
Ulaanbaatar: 1 infantry, 1 artillery
Buyant-Uhaa: 2 infantry
Olgiy: 2 infantry
Dzavhan: 1 infantry

SOUTH AMERICA

Brazil: 3 infantry, 2 tanks, 1 fighter (can join the Allies)
Argentina: 4 infantry, 1 tank, 1 fighter (can join the Axis and the Allies)
Paraguay: 1 infantry, 1 artillery (can join the Axis and the Allies)
Bolivia: 1 infantry (can join the Axis and the Allies)
Chile: 2 infantry, 1 tank (can join the Axis and the Allies)
Peru: 1 infantry, 1 artillery
Ecuador: 1 infantry (can join the Allies)
Colombia: 1 infantry (can join the Allies)
Venezuela: 2 infantry (can join the Allies)
Uruguay: None

AXIS ALLIES 2.jpg

Is there any chance for an upgrade kit for those who own the 1st edition but do not wish to buy the complete 2nd edition 1940 games?

Might FMG/HBG/others be putting one together? This would mainly be the new artillery AAA/AAA pieces I guess. Perhaps also with a sticker to correct the board (Korea SZ), but that might be pushing some copyright limits?

If guadalcanal played this way without the dice battle box, I think it would be a lot more popular. Battle of midway is everything you would want out of Guad. Simple movements and combat resolves quite simply, roll a 1 and attacker chooses casualty, roll a 2 and defender picks.  Great game.

Thanks Radar.  I don’t know what happened there but it won’t even let me modify it.  :(

Link fixed

@FieldMarshalGames:

$50 for a page of cardboard tokens!?!?!

That’s because they are OOP and collector’s items, just like that Honus Wagner baseball card.

Here is my changes to the rules for a free for all version.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Glad you like it.  I was actually thinking about making Operation: Barbarossa as a matter of fact.  Would make it card-based like SEALION.  Haven’t even gotten that on the drawing board yet.  Maybe later on.  Basically, I just make the maps people are most interested in.

Imperious: Are you saying you’d rather my efforts be geared soley toward WWII and away from the modern-day scenarios?  :-D

Rune Blade