Randy from ipswich, Ma, 49. About to move to Seabrook, NH after 25 years in Ma. I work for UPS as a delivery driver. I am married to my wife Sherrie and have seven children by her. My oldest is bvandyke on this forum, and my third son is the infamous hurricane known as dessertfox. I’ve been playing A&A since high school and have been on again, off again with it. Most of my games have been classic. Anniversary saw an uptick in my play time. When I turned 40, I had the pleasure of having Larry come to my birthday party. I’ve been playtesting with him since, especially with War Room and his latest.

Grasshoppers tourney actually was the catalyst for my deep dive into global. I have a Youtube channel under the nom de plum crockett36. I am a tinkerer. Nearly every game we are adding something like multinational attack for the allies or paratroopers.

Interview with The Captain

@crockett36

I have some interviews in the queue, but if anyone is interested in being interviewed or you have a bee in your bonnet about something AnA related private message me. You do not have to be a champion or a house rule guy. I’d love to talk.

United States Playbook

We do not play chess. The sides do not start off equal, and by the end of the first turn and even into the second, the ability of the Axis to destroy units within close proximity is enormous. The Allied situation is dire from the start and gets worse. Most games played online, even with bids, end with Axis victory.

Therefore the principles that guide this Allied US strategy playbook are:

1. to preserve the Allied starting units
2. to give ground where it is hopeless or prudent
3. to determine the place of the battle when possible

The options we have are many and dependent. On the other hand they are not entirely reactionary. The strategic defensive objectives remain the same. We must save London, the Atlantic, Moscow, Egypt, India, and the Pacific. In that order in my view.

The strategic offensive objectives are perhaps a little different than the Axis powers. Whereas they are going for either early London, Middle Moscow, middle or late London and an economy that is at parity with the United States at war, the Allies are generally not going to take Berlin or Tokyo or even Rome. Rather the Allies are going for a radical dashing of the economic ambitions of the Axis and a capitulation. Keeping the Germans contained on the Russian front to the gates of Moscow and no further, kicking the Italians out of Africa and keeping them out of the Middle East, containing the Japanese to a fight for China and southeast Asia should give the edge to the Allies.

Accomplishing the suppression of Axis ambitions is achieved in two ways: and his ability to make war. The former is obvious, the latter may not be. Destroying an enemy’s ability to make war boils down to economics. Economics in this game is represented on the board by the cash values of the territories and the convoy zones on the map. In order to reduce your opponent’s income, you can do one of three things: take possession of his territory, disrupt his convoys, strategically bomb his factories. Conversely, it means not losing your own territories to the aggressors. These factors determine our strategic offensive objectives.

Destroying an enemy’s ability to make war by disrupting his convoys can be a devastating strategy. In fact in several sea zones on the map, it is catastrophic if done in numbers. Parking your navies in the Sea of Japan and in sea zone 97 to the east of Rome are prime examples of this endgame tactic.

Likewise, two strategic bombers will shut down minor factories and cost the enemy double to restore them to full capacity. Five bombers will almost guarantee shutting down a major factory. Losses will be high and costly to the ally who pursues this course of action but worth it. Be aware that Germany has two major factories so he can ignore the loss of one of them. Also be aware that German itself cannot be reached from London. A point in Scandinavia or Russia must be secured or maintained in order to thoroughly execute this strategy against the Huns.

In the East, you must get very close to the Island of Japan in order to bomb her. Iwo Jima or the Soviet Far East seem the best candidates. Some have even suggested Korea. Allied planes and tactical fighters can reinforcement Korea from Hawaii if the Soviets were to capture it. A strategy that keeps Russian troops on the east coast of Russia must be used in coordination with these plans.

Be careful of the kamikazes. You can non-combat move into a K-zone without triggering their wrath. An attack on a navy in Sz 6 with subs and air will not provoke Kamikazes.

Having discussed how to destroy the enemies ability to make war, we move on to how to eliminate the units on the board. How to do this with the resources on the board and the limited time before a catastrophe like the fall of London or Moscow or Bombay occurs is the crux of the game. Historically it was agreed upon by the Allies that stopping Germany took primacy over stopping Japan. Victor Davis Hanson says that for all that kind of talk, a bifurcation developed that the West Coast produce goods for the Pacific war and the East Coast produce goods for the European theatre. Unfortunately, for playability’s sake, the US economy is not correctly represented. When you read VDH, there is a common refrain, “America produced more of … than all of the other combatants combined.” Obviously this is not our situation.

Therefore kill Japan first strategy or kill Germany first strategies have been developed. I prefer the KGF strategy, and it was the agreed upon Allied strategy historically. The big question is can I pop Germany’s balloon before Japan’s expands beyond control. This question has validity. However, mathmatically it is nonsensical. If Japan’s economy grows to 70 or 80, it would still be dwarfed by the combined Allied income that would result from the shrivelling of the German Reich.

In light of these encouraging thoughts, let’s look at KJF strategies. I have mentioned bombing Japan from either Iwo Jima or Soviet Far East. This can be done in two ways. Russian troops can move to SFE and be reinforced with American fighers and troops. That could be done very early in the game, even T1, assuming a J1 attack. Alternatively, the Russians could be gathered in Sahka on T1 and a subsequent move to SFE could be arranged by T3 with impressive results.

Alternatively, an Iwo Jima assault would need to be a tour de force. It might take 2 or 3 rounds of navy and air builds before you could attempt it. If one takes the same meat grinder approach as seen on the Eastern front, US waves of ships cannot help but overcome the Japanese. You must be willing to bleed. A substantial number of subs in your fleet can directly impact the enemy’s capital ships. Bombers can be used against the fleet and turn around and impact the struggle for Eurasian.

@black_elk said in Advice to Renegade! What is on your top 10 for adjustments to G40 3rd edition?:

So the Q was for Global 3rd Ed, but while we’re at it… I just got 3 to add

1. A legacy version of the base game (midscale board), that is simply called “Axis and Allies” ie don’t include a start date year or an edition number in the name for that one. It should present as the basic starter set. Provide unit set ups for a couple dates like AA50 did, but do that in the manual instead. The idea being that it’s easier to re-print or revise or download material for unit set ups in a manual than on cards/boxes. So you could do 1942 as the default, but also 1941 or 1943 say, just by referencing a page in the rulebook.

2. Axis and Allies Global - Sell it as a single complete game, rather than 2 separate theater games. For packaging maybe have 1 box be for the maps the cards and all the paper stuff, and then have units sold separately? I think the players that are most interested in the more advanced game just want G40, rather than Europe and Pacific 1940. By selling the sculpts separately there is less need to divide the boards by theater, and then it can build on the starter unit set included with the base “Axis and Allies” game mentioned above.

3. Include a small Art book/History of the Axis and Allies game and it’s creator, including the images from all the cover boxes and such. Legacy style! I just think that would be a nice touch and cool to see.

THIS! THIS! HERE DEVELOPERS! READ ABOVE! This is gold! If you read this upvote this. I will be reading this on my channel. Good to hear from you BE!

https://youtu.be/G4yYjYsAIHc

black elk,

can I read your post on my youtube channel? important stuff that might percolate throughout the community. Thanks.

crockett36

PS argothair, I posted your russian strat from allied playbook on my channel. thanks.

another option is to roll in real time with a zoom call or facetime. Or youtube live set to private or unlisted. brings a comraderie like the real thing, especially for big battles. Amps up the fun factory by 20.

Thanks Guam Solo! I am going to read the thing on Youtube today and hope to get to the British strategy as soon as I get a new laptop. I find England to be the most challenging of the Allies because they have to do so much with so little. Really cool that the game imitates history so well. Egypt is the key. I have that from a very high source!

@gamerman01 You’re obviously the kind of guy that keeps civilization going. Again, many thanks!

@axis-dominion Do you ever feel like that happens most to the Russians & Chinese?

@dawgoneit Damage battleship, 2 subs, 1 dd, 2 carriers & 3 planes! God save the Union!

TripleA Turn Summary: Russians round 7

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition

Game History

Round: 7

    Purchase Units - Russians
        Russians buy 2 armour and 7 artilleries; Remaining resources: 0 PUs; 

    Combat Move - Russians
        1 armour moved from Tobruk to Libya
              Russians take Libya from Italians
        1 armour moved from Libya to Tobruk
        1 infantry moved from Caucasus to Rostov
        1 artillery moved from Caucasus to Rostov
        1 infantry moved from Caucasus to Rostov
        1 infantry moved from Tambov to Rostov
        2 bombers moved from Russia to Ukraine
        5 infantry moved from Russia to Vologda
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Vologda
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Vologda
        5 infantry moved from Russia to Smolensk
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Smolensk
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Smolensk
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Vologda
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Smolensk
        5 infantry moved from Russia to Bryansk
        1 infantry moved from Tambov to Bryansk
        2 infantry moved from Tambov to Bryansk
        2 infantry moved from Tambov to Bryansk
        1 infantry moved from Tambov to Bryansk
        1 infantry moved from Tambov to Rostov
        1 mech_infantry moved from Novosibirsk to Nenetsia
              Russians take Nenetsia from Germans
        1 infantry moved from Tambov to Rostov
        3 infantry moved from Tambov to Bryansk

    Combat - Russians
        Air Battle in Ukraine
            Russians attacks with 2 units heading to Ukraine
            Germans launches 2 interceptors out of Ukraine
                Attackers Fire,  : 0/2 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                Defenders Fire,  : 0/2 hits, 0.33 expected hits
            Air Battle is over, the remaining bombers go on to their targets
        Strategic bombing raid in Ukraine
                Germans roll AA dice in Ukraine : 0/2 hits, 0.33 expected hits
            Bombing raid in Ukraine rolls: 6,6 and causes: 6 damage to unit: factory_minor
            Bombing raid in Ukraine causes 6 damage total. 
        Battle in Bryansk
            Russians attack with 14 infantry
            Germans defend with 1 armour and 3 infantry
                Russians roll dice for 14 infantry in Bryansk, round 2 : 1/14 hits, 2.33 expected hits
                Germans roll dice for 1 armour and 3 infantry in Bryansk, round 2 : 1/4 hits, 1.50 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Russians lost in Bryansk
                1 infantry owned by the Germans lost in Bryansk
                Russians roll dice for 13 infantry in Bryansk, round 3 : 3/13 hits, 2.17 expected hits
                Germans roll dice for 1 armour and 2 infantry in Bryansk, round 3 : 2/3 hits, 1.17 expected hits
                2 infantry owned by the Russians lost in Bryansk
                2 infantry owned by the Germans and 1 armour owned by the Germans lost in Bryansk
            Russians win, taking Bryansk from Germans with 11 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 6
            Casualties for Russians: 3 infantry
            Casualties for Germans: 1 armour and 3 infantry
        Battle in Rostov
            Russians attack with 1 artillery and 5 infantry
            Germans defend with 2 infantry
                Russians roll dice for 1 artillery and 5 infantry in Rostov, round 2 : 3/6 hits, 1.33 expected hits
                Germans roll dice for 2 infantry in Rostov, round 2 : 1/2 hits, 0.67 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Russians lost in Rostov
                2 infantry owned by the Germans lost in Rostov
            Russians win, taking Rostov from Germans with 1 artillery and 4 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
            Casualties for Russians: 1 infantry
            Casualties for Germans: 2 infantry
        Battle in Smolensk
            Russians attack with 8 infantry
            Germans defend with 1 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys
                Russians roll dice for 8 infantry in Smolensk, round 2 : 2/8 hits, 1.33 expected hits
                Germans roll dice for 1 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys in Smolensk, round 2 : 2/3 hits, 1.00 expected hits
                2 infantry owned by the Russians lost in Smolensk
                1 infantry owned by the Germans and 1 mech_infantry owned by the Germans lost in Smolensk
                Russians roll dice for 6 infantry in Smolensk, round 3 : 1/6 hits, 1.00 expected hits
                Germans roll dice for 1 mech_infantry in Smolensk, round 3 : 1/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Russians lost in Smolensk
                1 mech_infantry owned by the Germans lost in Smolensk
            Russians win, taking Smolensk from Germans with 5 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 2
            Casualties for Russians: 3 infantry
            Casualties for Germans: 1 infantry and 2 mech_infantrys
        Battle in Vologda
            Russians attack with 8 infantry
            Germans defend with 2 infantry and 1 mech_infantry
                Russians roll dice for 8 infantry in Vologda, round 2 : 3/8 hits, 1.33 expected hits
                Germans roll dice for 2 infantry and 1 mech_infantry in Vologda, round 2 : 2/3 hits, 1.00 expected hits
                2 infantry owned by the Russians lost in Vologda
                2 infantry owned by the Germans and 1 mech_infantry owned by the Germans lost in Vologda
            Russians win, taking Vologda from Germans with 6 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 4
            Casualties for Russians: 2 infantry
            Casualties for Germans: 2 infantry and 1 mech_infantry
        Cleaning up after air battles

    Non Combat Move - Russians
        2 bombers moved from Ukraine to Egypt
        1 mech_infantry moved from Novosibirsk to Russia

    Place Units - Russians
        2 armour and 7 artilleries placed in Russia

    Turn Complete - Russians
        Russians collect 33 PUs; end with 33 PUs
        Objective Russians 2 Spread Of Communism: Russians met a national objective for an additional 9 PUs; end with 42 PUs

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Defenders Fire,  : -0.33
Germans AA : -0.33
Attackers Fire,  : -0.33
Germans regular : 3.33
Russians regular : 3.50

Savegame

@crockett36 luck turned around.

TripleA Turn Summary: French round 6

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition

Game History

Round: 6

    Purchase Units - ANZAC
        ANZAC buy 1 submarine; Remaining resources: 4 PUs; 

    Combat Move - ANZAC
        1 transport moved from 62 Sea Zone to 54 Sea Zone
        1 armour moved from Queensland to 54 Sea Zone
        1 infantry moved from Queensland to 54 Sea Zone
        1 armour, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 54 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
        1 armour moved from 42 Sea Zone to Java
        1 infantry moved from 42 Sea Zone to Java
        1 submarine moved from 39 Sea Zone to 37 Sea Zone
        2 fighters moved from Queensland to 37 Sea Zone
        1 infantry moved from Alexandria to Egypt

    Combat - ANZAC
        Japanese scrambles 3 units out of Malaya to defend against the attack in 37 Sea Zone
        Battle in Java
            ANZAC attack with 1 armour and 1 infantry
            Japanese defend with 1 artillery
                ANZAC roll dice for 1 armour and 1 infantry in Java, round 2 : 1/2 hits, 0.67 expected hits
                Japanese roll dice for 1 artillery in Java, round 2 : 0/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                1 artillery owned by the Japanese lost in Java
            ANZAC win, taking Java from Japanese with 1 armour and 1 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 4
            Casualties for Japanese: 1 artillery
        Battle in 37 Sea Zone
            ANZAC attack with 2 fighters and 1 submarine
            Japanese defend with 1 carrier, 1 destroyer, 3 fighters, 1 submarine and 3 transports
                Japanese roll dice for 1 submarine in 37 Sea Zone, round 2 : 0/1 hits, 0.17 expected hits
                ANZAC roll dice for 1 submarine in 37 Sea Zone, round 2 : 1/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                ANZAC roll dice for 2 fighters in 37 Sea Zone, round 2 : 1/2 hits, 1.00 expected hits
                Japanese roll dice for 1 carrier, 1 destroyer, 3 fighters and 3 transports in 37 Sea Zone, round 2 : 2/5 hits, 2.67 expected hits
                1 fighter owned by the ANZAC and 1 submarine owned by the ANZAC lost in 37 Sea Zone
                1 fighter owned by the Japanese and 1 submarine owned by the Japanese lost in 37 Sea Zone
                ANZAC roll dice for 1 fighter in 37 Sea Zone, round 3 : 1/1 hits, 0.50 expected hits
                Japanese roll dice for 1 carrier, 1 destroyer, 2 fighters and 3 transports in 37 Sea Zone, round 3 : 3/4 hits, 2.00 expected hits
                1 fighter owned by the ANZAC lost in 37 Sea Zone
                1 fighter owned by the Japanese lost in 37 Sea Zone
            Japanese win with 1 carrier, 1 destroyer, 1 fighter and 3 transports remaining. Battle score for attacker is 0
            Casualties for ANZAC: 2 fighters and 1 submarine
            Casualties for Japanese: 2 fighters and 1 submarine
        Moving scrambled unit from 37 Sea Zone  back to originating territory: Malaya

    Non Combat Move - ANZAC
        1 infantry moved from New South Wales to Queensland

    Place Units - ANZAC
        1 submarine placed in 62 Sea Zone

    Turn Complete - ANZAC
        ANZAC collect 14 PUs; end with 18 PUs

    Combat Move - French
        2 infantry moved from Trans-Jordan to Iraq

    Combat - French

    Non Combat Move - French

    Turn Complete - French

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Japanese regular : -0.17
ANZAC regular : 1.50

Savegame

@crockett36 ool?

TripleA Turn Summary: Italians round 7

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition

Game History

Round: 7

    Purchase Units - Italians
        Italians buy 1 infantry; Remaining resources: 0 PUs; 

    Combat Move - Italians
        1 artillery moved from Albania to Greece
        1 armour moved from Northern Italy to Albania

    Non Combat Move - Italians

    Place Units - Italians
        1 infantry placed in Southern Italy

    Turn Complete - Italians
        Total Cost from Convoy Blockades: 10
            Rolling for Convoy Blockade Damage in 97 Sea Zone. Rolls: 1,3,3,4,3,1
        Italians collect 0 PUs (10 lost to blockades); end with 0 PUs

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Savegame

TripleA Manual Gamesave Post: ANZAC round 6

TripleA Manual Gamesave Post for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition

Game History

Round: 6

    Purchase Units - ANZAC
        ANZAC buy 1 submarine; Remaining resources: 4 PUs; 

    Combat Move - ANZAC
        1 transport moved from 62 Sea Zone to 54 Sea Zone
        1 armour moved from Queensland to 54 Sea Zone
        1 infantry moved from Queensland to 54 Sea Zone
        1 armour, 1 infantry and 1 transport moved from 54 Sea Zone to 42 Sea Zone
        1 armour moved from 42 Sea Zone to Java
        1 infantry moved from 42 Sea Zone to Java
        1 submarine moved from 39 Sea Zone to 37 Sea Zone
        2 fighters moved from Queensland to 37 Sea Zone
        1 infantry moved from Alexandria to Egypt

    Combat - ANZAC
        Japanese scrambles 3 units out of Malaya to defend against the attack in 37 Sea Zone
        Battle in Java
            ANZAC attack with 1 armour and 1 infantry
            Japanese defend with 1 artillery
                ANZAC roll dice for 1 armour and 1 infantry in Java, round 2 : 1/2 hits, 0.67 expected hits
                Japanese roll dice for 1 artillery in Java, round 2 : 0/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                1 artillery owned by the Japanese lost in Java
            ANZAC win, taking Java from Japanese with 1 armour and 1 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 4
            Casualties for Japanese: 1 artillery
        Battle in 37 Sea Zone
            ANZAC attack with 2 fighters and 1 submarine
            Japanese defend with 1 carrier, 1 destroyer, 3 fighters, 1 submarine and 3 transports
                Japanese roll dice for 1 submarine in 37 Sea Zone, round 2 : 0/1 hits, 0.17 expected hits
                ANZAC roll dice for 1 submarine in 37 Sea Zone, round 2 : 1/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Japanese regular : -0.50
ANZAC regular : 1.00

Savegame

scramble?

TripleA Manual Gamesave Post: Russians round 7

TripleA Manual Gamesave Post for game: World War II Global 1940 2nd Edition

Game History

Round: 7

    Purchase Units - Russians
        Russians buy 2 armour and 7 artilleries; Remaining resources: 0 PUs; 

    Combat Move - Russians
        1 armour moved from Tobruk to Libya
              Russians take Libya from Italians
        1 armour moved from Libya to Tobruk
        1 infantry moved from Caucasus to Rostov
        1 artillery moved from Caucasus to Rostov
        1 infantry moved from Caucasus to Rostov
        1 infantry moved from Tambov to Rostov
        2 bombers moved from Russia to Ukraine
        5 infantry moved from Russia to Vologda
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Vologda
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Vologda
        5 infantry moved from Russia to Smolensk
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Smolensk
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Smolensk
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Vologda
        1 infantry moved from Russia to Smolensk
        5 infantry moved from Russia to Bryansk
        1 infantry moved from Tambov to Bryansk
        2 infantry moved from Tambov to Bryansk
        2 infantry moved from Tambov to Bryansk
        1 infantry moved from Tambov to Bryansk
        1 infantry moved from Tambov to Rostov
        1 mech_infantry moved from Novosibirsk to Nenetsia
              Russians take Nenetsia from Germans
        1 infantry moved from Tambov to Rostov
        3 infantry moved from Tambov to Bryansk

    Combat - Russians
        Air Battle in Ukraine

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Savegame