Axis & Allies

[mackamus]

Thinking of getting into this game with my friends. However, I was wondering if anybody can recomment which version of the game I should begin with?

Cheers
Mackamus

[Lord Cedric]

This is a really fun game, though it can be a bit daunting to set up the first couple of times as there are a lot of pieces to fit into small areas. I play the original version which I recommend. The game play can be quick, but as with most war games, it's the decision process that takes the longest. hehe. The rules in the rulebook are very helpful and come with a Q&A to assist players in understanding some of the more complex movements and certain map parts.

- Lord Cedric

[Omniassiah]

First what Axis & Allies? Board or miniature because I'm not sure what to tell you till you get a bit more specific.

[Lord Cedric]

First what Axis & Allies? Board or miniature because I'm not sure what to tell you till you get a bit more specific.

I had assumed the OP meant the board game which uses very small-scale plastic miniatures. That is what my reply referred to anyways.

- Lord Cedric

[ColShaw]

The original is the best, in my opinion.

[mackamus]

Thanks guys, but which one is the original? 1942?

[Lord Cedric]

The original would be this one from Milton Bradley:



- Lord Cedric

[pigasuspig]

Get 1941. It's the cheapest (maybe a little too cheap . . . ), but the most refined.

If you really want to jump in and go completely crazy with Big A&A, get both 1940 games. But if you can have half a dozen people play an all day game more than once, you should really be playing Diplomacy instead.

Summary follows:

Main line of games:
Original, as pictured above. Good enough if you get it for a few dollars.
A&A Revised: Much, much improved: certain issues are cleaned up, but basically the same game. Adds two new unit types: Destroyers and Artillery.
1942: The next "basic" version. Further adds Cruisers. A "cheaper" production in some ways, I think it replaces plastic factories with cardboard chips, and replaces paper money with a track along the board.
1941: The newest "basic" version. Has different sculpts than 1942 to encourage players to buy both for miniature variety. Even leaner and meaner. Shares production shortcomings of 1942, though. Said to be the fastest to play.

"Deluxe" Games:
Anniversary: A bigger, longer version. Adds special pieces for Italy and China.
Global 1940: Combination described below. The biggest, most monstrous A&A game ever, and likely to hold that title for a very long time.

"Theater" games:
Europe 1940, Pacific 1940: Both are basically the same game, but focus on their chosen theater with more detailed maps and more country's pieces. These two are meant to be combined into an insane 1940 game around the whole world, certainly the "ultimate" A&A.
Europe, Pacific: Early versions of the 1940 games. OBsolete and out of print now,

"Battle" games:
Battle of the Budge, D-Day, Guadalcanal.
Operational-scale wargames using familiar pieces but less familiar dice. Don't know much about them. I have Guadalcanal back home in storage, but only played part of a game once.

A&A Miniatures: Miniatures skirmish game with blind-draw booster structure. Totally different from all of the above.

[arthurfallz]

1941 is a good one (basically the latest "basic" edition), but I reccomend taking some time to draw up your own map. Eastern Europe (where Germany and Russia will be slugging it out) has tiny, tiny zones and it rapidly becomes confusing as to what is in what zone.

Also watch for how crippled the British Navy is in almost all Axis & Allies games. German fighters can fly all over Europe and snipe enemy fleets into oblivion with impunity. It's a beer and pretzels game, really.

[pigasuspig]

Also watch for how crippled the British Navy is in almost all Axis & Allies games. German fighters can fly all over Europe and snipe enemy fleets into oblivion with impunity. It's a beer and pretzels game, really.

Of course, the real Royal Navy took it pretty bad in 1941, so it is hard to call this inaccurate.

[mackamus]

Thanks guys that's been a great help, will keep you informed which one I go for