From: SANDY@dirac.physics.jmu.edu (Sandy Wible) Subject: Axis & Allies New Variant! Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 00:07:37 GMT Well, this isn't really a new variant, but it's a great game nonetheless. Sean Smallman and I made it based on some ideas from Paul Cunningham about two years ago, and have refined and refined it until it's as balanced as we can make it. So, here it is! It's totally public domain...well, I take that back. I ask for two things. One, play it! And, then send your comments and suggestions back in. Two, if you have ANY home game houserules, articles, or whatnot, for ANY type of game, and are interested in being published, please let me know! Our club would love to have you in our newsletter. Just send me a sentence or two describing what you have, and I'll let you know if it's the kind of thing we're looking for. Our club plays all kinds of games, so almost anything would be great. Here you go, and have fun! Axis & Allies 1939 Setup Variant rules Copyright 1993, Sean Smallman and William Wible. With thanks to Paul Cunningham for his ideas. I. Disclaimer This variant requires the Milton & Bradley Axis & Allies game. Use of trademarks owned by MB is not to be inferred as infringement of those trademarks. These rules may be freely copied and distributed as long as they are not altered in any way. In return for this privilege, PLEASE send your comments and suggestions via internet email to wodan@genie.geis.com! Thank you! NOTE: This is not an attempt at a simulation of 1939. It is merely a postulation on how the A&A game might look if begun earlier. The set-up is based on game-balance, not history. It is hoped that this opens up whole new ideas for you! II. Heading codes: INF infantry ARM armor FTR fighter TNS transport SUB submarine ACC aircraft carrier BTL battleship ICX industrial complex MARK control marker III. Territories When a space is listed as uncontrolled, take a control marker and turn it face down. It can be captured just like an enemy territory, and provides income appropriate to its value. Uncontrolled territoryies do NOT follow the rules of neutral countries (ie paying 3 IPC to occupy)! When an ally of yours takes one of your original spaces from enemy- occupation, the territory is your ally's, not yours. All countries claim the land they take! However, you can turn over the control of any territory at any time to another player. That territory will not produce double income that turn, even if traded to a player going after the original owner. IV. Players There are two options: No Preset Allies, or Treaties If you have two to four players, it is recommended to keep the old A&A alliances as "firm, unbreakable, rulebook-type" alliances, and play with Treaties (described later). Alliances should be thrown wide open only if every country is played by a different player. If alliances are variable, a country can in fact "turn" upon an ally on his or her own turn, even if the two countries share forces in a territory. Combat in that territory is immediately resolved, or else he or she must move the forces out of that territory during non-combat movement, relinquishing control of the territory to the other player (if it was not owned by the other player anyway). If the normal alliances are used, unbreakable (Russia/UK/US vs. Germany/Japan), consider the following Treaties to be in effect. As always, the generals of a nation are bound by the directives given them by their government. These treaties reflect these orders. In addition, using these treaties result in a more balanced game, more enjoyable for everyone, and winnable by any player. This makes an excellent two-player game. When using the Treaties version of play, allies are not allowed to move ground or air units to a territory owned by an ally, without transferring the ownership of that country. It is not possible to have a multi-national land force, at all, though allied sea vessels may occupy the same sea zone. Here are the Treaties in effect: --Russia does not enter the war until 1941. It gains no income, and may not move troops until that time. --Germany cannot attack Russia until 1941. Germany starts the game in 1939, gaining income normally. --UK may not attack Japan until 1940. The UK player does start the game in 1939, and controls the French and Polish forces, gaining income normally. --Japan may not attack the US or United Kingdom until 1940. This includes the Philippines, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and Burma, among others. Japan gains income and may build units. Japan may attack Kwangtung or the other Chinese forces. --The US does not enter the war until 1942, unless attacked first by one of the Axis powers. The Philippines are considered a US territory. Until the US enters the war, no income is generated, and initial starting money is not calculated and given to the US player until the beginning of his/her first turn (probably in 1942). --Mainland Chinese forces, however, do start the game in 1939, and are controlled by the US player. China gains no income at all, until the US itself is activated. The Chinese fighter may abandon Asia, and retreat to the Philippines, if desired. It may continue to move and attack from this location, though the US infantry and transport are not activated unless actually attacked by Japan. See the notes on the US. --Russia and Japan may not attack each other until 1942. V. Minor Allies Spain is a minor German ally. China is a minor US ally. Poland and France are minor UK allies. These minor allies are controlled by the German, US, or UK player, respectively. Use the same colored pieces as for normal units belonging to that player. The only difference is for China, when using the Treaties version of play. China is allowed to move and attack using her forces, even though the US has not entered the war yet. See the Treaties section above (IV) for more information. VI. The Board The board is not changed. VII. Order of Play The order of play needs to be changed: 1. Japan 2. U.S.S.R. 3. German 4. U.K. 5. U.S. Each progression of 5 turns takes place in a year. So, between the first turn for the U.S. player and the second turn for Japan, it becomes 1940. So, for example, using the Treaties version of play, Japan gets to go twice before the U.K. may attack Japanese forces. (See above.) VIII. Units The A&A 1st Edition Commander in Chief rule is not used at all. Another important note is that there are no AA guns on the board. They may, however, be purchased normally. With treaty play, fleets not at war may not hinder the movements of each other. One group of ships may pass through the occupied sea zone, but may not end their turn there. IX. AXIS set-up Japan (starts at 13 UPC/turn)------------------------------------ japan 2 INF, 1 FTR, 1 TNS, 1 ARM, 1 BTL, 1 ICX manchuria 3 INF, 1 FTR borneo-celebes 3 INF, 1 FTR (on ACC), 1 ARM, 1 ACC okinawa 1 INF carolines 3 INF, 1 TNS East indies, new guinea, and the solomans are uncontrolled. Germany (and Italy...starts with 18 UPC/turn)-------------------- germany 5 INF, 3 ARM, 2 FTR, 1 TNS, 1 SUB, 1 ICX southern europe 4 INF, 2 ARM, 1 FTR, 1 TNS, 1 BTL, 1 ICX italian east af 1 INF, MARK libya spain MARK Findland-norway is uncontrolled. X. ALLIED set-up U.S.S.R. (starts with 27 UPC/turn)------------------------------- russia 2 INF, 1 ICX karelia s.s.r. 3 INF, 1 FTR ukraine s.s.r. 2 INF, MARK caucasus 2 INF soviet far east 2 INF, 1 ARM kazakh s.s.r. novosibirsk evenki nat'l ok yakut s.s.r. America (and China...starts with 39 UPC/turn)-------------------- eastern usa 3 INF, 1 TNS, 1 ICX western usa 2 INF, 1 TNS, 1 ICX kwangtung 2 INF, 1 FTR, MARK phillipines 3 INF, 1 TNS, MARK china 2 INF, 1 FTR ssinkiang 2 INF hawaiians 1 INF, 1 BTL wake MARK alaska mexico panama west indies midway Brazil is uncontrolled. U.K. (with France and Poland...starts with 41 UPC)--------------- united kingdom 2 INF, 1 TNS, 1 FTR, 1 BTL, 1 ICX western europe 3 INF, 1 ARM, 1 FTR, MARK eastern canada 1 ARM india 1 INF, 1 FTR indo-china burm 1 INF, 1 TNS, 1 SUB, MARK eastern europe 2 INF, MARK anglo-egypt sud 1 ARM u. of south afr 2 INF australia 2 INF algeria MARK western canada 1 INF syria-iraq 1 INF gibraltar 1 BTL french west afr fr. equitorial kenya-rhodesia fr. madagascar persia new zealand Belgian congo is uncontrolled. Sandy wodan@genie.geis.com