Jumping forward - By the Spring 1942, the Russians had stabilized their front in the Ukraine.  By Spring 1943, the Allies had invaded North Africa and driven the Axis back into Tunisia.

Here are some more shots of the Origins game:

Army Group South’s deep penetration of the Ukraine all the way to the gates of Stalingrad in Autumn 1941 (the Germans attacked Russia early in the Spring of 1941).

Also - Rommel’s advance into Egypt. . .

Finally getting back to posting some of the pictures from the Origins Con in Ohio earlier this Summer.  We had a blast playing a 3 day game of Struggle for Europe with 10-12 players coming in and out over the course of the game and about 3-4 die hards that played it through to the bitter end!

Here are some pics of the action - I’ll post more later so you can see how the game progressed:

Fall of France in 1940 - German battles in the Spring and the battle board of Guderian’s battle for Champaigne which pretty much sealed France’s fate. . .Note the placement of front line, support and reserve units on the battleboard which is unique to the game system.  Better leaders can move more units from reserve to front line every round of combat.

IL was one of the first buyers of the first edition game several years ago.  I think we turned him on to Skytrex and tumbling dice…  Anyway, we learned a lot of what people liked and did not like so much with the first game. We took a lot of good ideas from different people and built this second edition a few years ago. The pics above are all from the second edition game.

I have been living abroad for the last few years so have not had much time to play or take it to conventions, but that is beginning to change.  We will be taking this game to Origins in Ohio at the end of the month (as well as a playtest version of the Asia/Pacific theater) and am looking forward to taking over the World, er, I mean playing it there for a few days.  :evil:

You could keep the system the same but just apply some variability to it.  For example, for each surface ship, roll a d6: 1-2 = 0pp damage, 3-4 = 1PP damage, 5-6 = 2PP damage

For subs - 1-2 = 1PP damage, 3-4 = 2PP damage, 5-6 = 3PP damage.

Economic damage should average out the same as it is now, but you would introduce a little more variability into the results every turn.  You could also devise some modifiers for technology or national advantages, like German u-boats get a +1; or once the Allies have centimetric radar or something, Axis subs receive a -1 modifier, etc. . .

the game comes with all of the counter/bases in files for you to print out.  A good method is to print them out on glossy label paper (they are sized to be printed out on 8.5x11 inch solid sheets).  Print out on an inkjet printer and then stick the whole sheet on white styrene plastic sheets. Then score the individual counters using a round razor wheel that is attached to a plastic guide (available at most stationary stores) to create your counters.

Our group also mounted the planes on small metal wire pegs so the planes stand up off of the counters by a quarter of an inch or so - you can get  sense of what you can do with that in the pic below:

A couple of pictures from a game we played last weekend - one from the beginning of the game (Autumn 1939 turn) in France and one from the Summer 1940 turn in North Africa.

Hey - we are playing the Struggle for Europe and Asia at the Origins Game Convention in Columbus, Ohio 1-3 of May if you are in the Midwest.

The game does not come with pieces - you need to use your own or buy them separately from HBG, FMG or one of the other miniature sites.

I think it only makes sense to care about oil for the Axis.  The Allies were awash with it. . .Even if the Russians lost the Caucusus they probably had enough from the Volga region and Central Asia to keep their war machine running - and the US had more than enough.  Britain would either get it from the US or the Middle East - so it is accounted for in convoy damage.

I think oil rules - to be simple - should really just apply to the Axis.  My vote is to assign certain territories as extra income for Axis only (like Java should only be worth like 1PP , but have like a 5 point oil symbol on it that is extra collected for the Axis if they own it.

I would go with the Kongo for BB, Shokaku or Kaga for the CV and Val for the Tac bomber.
The Kongo class and Shokaku or Kaga were the types that were more active during the parts of the war when Japan was still competing in naval battles (Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Santa Cruz, etc.) The Yamato and Musashi were not really around until late and were sunk almost immediately.  Plus the kongo superstructure looks a lot cooler and unique for Japan.

The Val to me is a better choice than the Kate - it is more distinct from the Zero - so players can tell it more easily apart with its wings and fixed landing gear, etc.