AA50 Rules Errata and Q+A

The official FAQ has been updated per September 3, 2014.

http://www.wizards.com/AvalonHill/rules/AxAl-AnEd_Errata.pdf

I don’t have a copy of the old FAQ in front of me; does anyone know what the differences are this new version?

@Lozmoid:

I don’t have a copy of the old FAQ in front of me; does anyone know what the differences are this new version?

In the Global40-FAQ- thread a loophole in the rules has been discussed.
This loophole has been closed in all games starting from AA50.
See
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=28562.msg1320859#msg1320859
to read the new part that was introduced. If you follow the discussion there you will see what it is all about.
HTH :-)

If there is a transport in a sea zone adjacent to a land territory that the attacker wishes to conduct an amphibious assault, I understand that naval vessels can do one or the other (not both):

1. Conduct offshore support (cruisers, battleships)
2. sink the transport

This is due to the fact that you cannot split naval combats in the sea zone into two separate battles.

Can a fighter be allocated to sink the transport, allowing the naval vessels to conduct an offshore support shot?

I am afraid not: the friendly naval vessels are “dragged” into the combat with the Fighter.

Japan’s NO reads “Gain 5 IPCs if Axis powers control at least one of the following territories: Hawaiian Islands, Australia, and/or India.”

Should that be for each, or is just 5 IPCs if they have any of them?

@Mill:

Japan’s NO reads “Gain 5 IPCs if Axis powers control at least one of the following territories: Hawaiian Islands, Australia, and/or India.”

Should that be for each, or is just 5 IPCs if they have any of them?

The gain for Japan is only 5 IPCs. 
The axis has to control 1 (or more) of India, Australia, or Hawaii

Hi everyone!

It’s been a few years since I played any sort of A&A.  This version in particular saw limited play because I starting playing 1940 as soon as it came out.  I’m feeling the itch to play again, but I’m a little rusty so please bear with me…

Heavy Bombers: 
I seem to recall these being nerfed so as to roll two dice but only choose one.  These were not worth researching - I was kind of pissed!  Digging out my rules & FAQ, I’m not seeing this.  Did I dream it?

Closed Dardanelles:
I vaguely recall Germany and Italy could put a lot of pressure on Russia here.  Was this option for balance?  Did this edition favour the Axis?  Is this rule recommended?  I remember having an opinion about this, but no recollection of what it was!

Thanks!

There are 2 scenarios!  I assume you’re talking 1941.  Yes it favors the Axis and closing the Dardanelles goes a long way toward balancing it.

Heavy bombers choose best of two dice, yes.

Definitely talking about the Anniversary edition - never played 1941.

I remember being under the impression that roll-two-choose-one was the official rule.

Could I be confusing this with Global.  But IIRC, Global didn’t have R&D (unless I’m confusing Global with 1942).  :?

Sorry for all the confusion.  I haven’t played A&A since my child was born in 2012!

@Gamerman01:

There are 2 scenarios!  I assume you’re talking 1941.

Duh - I just remembered there were two set up options (I wasn’t quite following you).  Yes, I mean 1941 and have yet to play the 1942 set up.   :oops:

@Gamerman01:

Heavy bombers choose best of two dice, yes.

My rulebook and official FAQ do not seem to conform to this.  What am I missing?

I haven’t played Anniversary for several years so I hope I didn’t tell you wrong about heavy bombers, but I was pretty sure……

What does the rulebook and official FAQ say if it’s not best of 2 dice?

Global 1940 does have tech, yes, but the official rules do not provide for tokens and you can only get one new technology at a time.

Congratulations on the 4-5 year old!  Only a few more years and maybe you can have a new gaming partner.  Mine’s 16 and still not smart enough to play  :-(

My rules say SBR 1 D6 roll per Bomber. House rule I saw for  Heavy Bomber was SBR 2 D6 roll. Take better die roll + 1.

Axis roll will chime in here and give you the best option. He plays all the time AA50.

Anniversary Edition heavy bombers simply attack with two dice.

OK, but they can’t destroy 2 units with two hits, right?
You’re just saying they get double damage on IC’s?  Boy I don’t remember that being the case…

Two dice. Attacks and SBRs.

Looks like 2-choose-1 was an official rule for tech in Global, but not in AA50.

I think I remembered there not being R&D in Global because it was so weak as to never be a good move. :-(

@SS:

Axis roll will chime in here and give you the best option. He plays all the time AA50.

I’ve found a lot of A&A players don’t like Weapons Development. Not because it’s OP or unbalanced, but simply because it’s swingier than most other game mechanics.

It was my suspicion that technology was nerfed because of a lobby by noisy tech-haters. Some people want R&D to be so weak that it rarely or never is a part of optimal play. So I’m pretty skeptical about anyone who says R&D needs to be powered down.

I don’t really like house rules anyway, so it’s going to be virtually impossible to convince me on this!

@Gamerman01:

Congratulations on the 4-5 year old! Only a few more years and maybe you can have a new gaming partner. Mine’s 16 and still not smart enough to play :-(

My older daughter is 18. She is very smart and used to play Star Wars: The Queen’s Gambit with me at age 3 or 4.
Sadly she isn’t really into war games anymore, but she still loves QG!

CAN kill two units.

Still nerfed from Classic’s 3 dice.  :-o

@Mill:

Anniversary Edition heavy bombers simply attack with two dice.

Thats why they housed rule for this SBR plus In one of my 39 games the 2 D6 die roll per H Bomber is way to strong even for up to double the territory value. Ain’t right just having 1 H Bomber cripple a capital IC.
Also had it where a H Bomber 2 die attacks at A4 A1 on the other die only.

If you keep the 2 die per H Bomber then make the cost 20 icp’s.

@SS:

Thats why they housed rule for this SBR plus In one of my 39 games the 2 D6 die roll per H Bomber is way to strong even for up to double the territory value. Ain’t right just having 1 H Bomber cripple a capital IC.

R&D is a big investment - the prize needs to reflect that.  
eg, if you spend 36 IPCs on 6 research tokens, that could have been three extra bombers instead.  And 6 tokens is a long shot for HBs!

Regular Bomber:
Average hits in combat -  .67
Average damage vs IC (ignoring AA) -  3.5

“Nerfed” HBs:
Average hits in combat - .89
Average damage to IC (ignoring AA) -  4.47

Would you spend good money on R&D for that kind of increase?  I know I wouldn’t!  This is a garbage upgrade IMO.
I can only assume whoever came up with this house rule didn’t want R&D to actually be good.

2 Die HBs:
Average hits in combat -  1.33
Average damage to IC (ignoring AA) - 7

If you factor in AAs, the increase is even less significant (Bombers are all equal when they’re hit by flak)!

If you think the HB SBRs are too much, AA50 includes an optional rule for Fighter defense here.  Should solve any issues.
And of course you can also develop Radar!   :evil: