Axis And Allies D-day strategy

@cernel yea probably helter skelter
I read in “Soldat” where the Germans were surprised and were happy Patton wasn’t in charge for the Anzio landings.

Idk but the USA kinda sucked in Italy. Was a WWI mode somewhat

Great for new players who what to give these older games a try!  :-)

For player/collectors like myself, I feel a sudden drop in the price of my collectible copies…  :|

@CWO:

My plastic storage trays are set up so that the butternut-grey ANZAC-pattern ANZAC pieces from AAP40(2) stand in for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa while the butternut-grey British-pattern ANZAC pieces from AAP40(1) stand in for Canada (which is understood to include Newfoundland, and which in principle would also include Eire if it ever went from being neutral to Allied).  That covers the six Commonwealth Dominions, in two groups of three each.  The only cross-set transfer I had to do was to allocate some of the AAP40(2) ANZAC AAA guns to the Canadian set, since AAP40(1) lacked an AAA sculpt.

I would have used the generic AA gun for Canada just for zero cross-set transfer

@Albert:

The terms D-Day and H-Hour are used for the day and hour on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. They designate the day and hour of the operation when the day and hour have not yet been determined, or where secrecy is essential. For a given operation, the same D-Day and H-Hour apply for all units participating in it. When used in combination with numbers, and plus or minus signs, these terms indicate the point of time preceding or following a specific action. Thus, H−3 means 3 hours before H-Hour, and D+3 means 3 days after D-Day. (By extension, H+75 minutes is used for H-Hour plus 1 hour and 15 minutes.) Planning papers for large-scale operations are made up in detail long before specific dates are set. Thus, orders are issued for the various steps to be carried out on the D-Day or H-Hour minus or plus a certain number of days, hours, or minutes. At the appropriate time, a subsequent order is issued that states the actual day and times.

Correct.  Good explanation.  WWII had many “D-Days”, but the one on June 6 1944 became so famous that it has tended to overshadow the rest, and to occupy a category by itself.

Our little group has played four games of D-Day so far and the axis won the first three by holding St. Lo. the fourth game was a narrow allied victory only because we added two more rounds to the game. At the end of ten rounds the axis still held St. Lo as usual. It took the two extra rounds for the allies to get it. We are now looking for ways to vary the game so that it does not play out the same every time. One idea I like is to increase the attack value of the allied airborne units to two. I am even thinking of having the two sides place their own units where they will for the starting setup. I would like to vary the unit types as well. We now have added many new types of units since this game was printed. This might require setting up a D-12 system.

@conanthelibrarian:

While I’m on here, any other of the smaller AA games (like battle of the bulge) that you guys recommend?  Im playing this with my 8 year old, and I like that he can understand and play with me.

Thanks alot.

@Krieghund:

D-Day is the easiest A&A game of all.  Battle of the Bulge and Guadalcanal are a little bit more involved.  However, if your son can handle D-Day, maybe he can handle one of those as well.  I think I’d try Bulge before Guadalcanal.  If you do, let him be the Germans, as it’s harder to play the Allies in that game.

I’d agree with this. Looking at the rules it might seem Guadalcanal is ‘simpler’ but you have to make many more “if I do this what will my opponent do,” decisions a lot faster and GCNL eliminates the reinforcement charts creating a daunting set of decisions regarding reinforcements.

If you are also new to BOTB playing the Allies will be a good handicap for you as it is tougher to play the Allies and will be easier and more interesting for him as the Axis on the attack.

I’d wait till you’re bored with D-Day though.

@Deadeye:

In thinking about it some more I think I understand where you are coming from.  You are saying German reinforcements are subject to strafing, Allied units are not.  And I suppose that is accurate to a very limited extent.

Yes, that is my point.

Conversely, the Allies will have a tough time jamming 24 reinforcements in one turn so they have their own inherent difficulties in bring in that many units.

Yes but you have eliminated the highest values which does not bring the Allies up against ‘clogged beaches’ with a big roll (over 7) as often as it does Axis up against air power with a small roll (less than .)

Allies and Axis roll the same thing for reinforcements with the OOB rules.  They roll the same thing with this change.  It does not result in a net advantage to either side.  What it does do is remove a wide statistical variance for a smaller one, reducing the factor chance plays in the fate of the game which conversely increases the factor strategy plays in the fate of the game.

Yes. It does. I am incorrect on any change in the difference between results.

@c64:

e) The most probable difference between the two sides is 1 unit (!) regardless of the method.

I’m glad you’ve found a rule that works for you. I guess I’m just a lot more averse to house rules than I thought.

Try TripleA