I'm sick
I know, I know...you already knew that.
But I have a cold. I've been in bed all day and didn't go to work.
Instead, I geeked out. How geeky? Well, let's just say that my friend Keith came by to visit me and keep me company after work and to play a game. He left recently, after I won by getting a freakishly lucky roll which gave Germany Heavy Bombers. I bought a desparate three bombers and a single roll at tech development and got the heavy bomber upgrade, which is one of those million-to-one things.
To be fair, we didn't really play it out. We just called it, since there was still a lot of action left, but with Germany having Heavy Bombers and four bombers, U.K.'s navy having fallen to the Luftwaffe, the U.S.S.R. under heavy pressure on the Western Front and moderate pressure on the Eastern Front, Japan had taken Australia, Hawaii, India, Germany controlled Africa save for one territory...it was really a forgone conclusion.
Anyway, I'm going to lie down and get some sleep.
As a side note, of course, it's fascinating how the Avalon Hill version differs from the Games Master series. There's artillery now and destroyers. Artillery attack and defend at 2 and will reinforce a single infantry for each artillery, upgrading them to a 2 on attack as well. Costs 4. Then the destroyers attack and defend at a 3 and cancel out subs; subs become just boats that attack and defend at a 2. Costs 12. And battleships now take two hits to sink, which was an optional rule that no one played with before, but changes things a bit. Makes life interesting.
Oh, and you can no longer get industrial production as a technology, which is okay, since it made games last forever. Expect Russia to fall, and Germany too.
Comments
It would seem geek sickness means gaming to clear ones sinuses rather than meds. Since adulation abounds in the details of the game, I suspect you are on the mend. Congrats to mate flats in diseased stats. Hmmmm.......
Posted by: papa | February 14, 2006 1:15 AM
Wasn't there artillery in the the Game Master version? Maybe I've just blurred them together.
Gosh, would I love to play a game of Axis and Allies again. I have also been thinking a lot of firing up an old NES for a round of Ghengis Khan.
Perhaps its because I picked up a paperback copy of "Ghengis Khan and the Making of the Modern World." Looking forward to reading it on a long plane ride in a couple days.
Hope you feel better.
Posted by: Basil Valentine | February 14, 2006 2:09 PM
A half glass of Milk of magnesia should do the trick, it will cure you in less than 24hs. But make shure to get a lot of air freshners and practice holding your breath for 10 hours straight.
It aint pretty but it works and yes I speak from experience.
It's not funny.
Posted by: Rahmat | February 14, 2006 2:53 PM
YIKES!
Posted by: Mara | February 14, 2006 2:54 PM
As a wedding present, Skylor sent me his copy of Diplomacy. I also have Axis and Allies (old school)and History of the world. I haven't really played any of them. It's the other games that get serious attention though. We like Puerto Rico, Carcassonne, and Once upon a time quite a bit. It's turning out that long games are just that. Too long. So, here we are, hanging out not playing board games but instead doing bored things. Ah, homework, the true nightlife.
Posted by: Mendon | February 14, 2006 5:46 PM
Yeah, we play Carcasonne every once in a while, too. I'm saving up for Tikal. You wouldn't believe how much the games cost over here. Axis and Allies was $100. Unbelievable.
Yeah, Basil, I forgot how good Axis and Allies was; it's been great to play again. Lot's of fun.
I've been playing exclusively Axis, mostly Japan. Usually, things look great for the Axis by the end of the second turn, then America gets into the fight and Germany falls and then it all collapses. Unless Russia has fallen.
Posted by: Nathan Dornbrook | February 15, 2006 12:48 AM
I am convinced that Japan needs to pretty much forget australia short of it being used as production center. If America and the UK can both throw production centers into Western China and India to really halt the offense of Japan. If Japan gets a hold in Asia it's so far away from every other production center that it takes such a long time to counter it's land war. As Axis, I've always favored a production center in what is roughly the area of Vietnam and Cambodia. Usually, I ignore U.S. boats after hitting the U.S. in Hawaii to destroy the fleet.
Germany is less important, so long as they don't majorly eff everything up. The U.S. usually focuses on them first because they're a great source of revenue. This is why I put that sub off their coast first turn. That way they can't produce boats in the atlantic until the second turn because they have to waste time killing units there.
Posted by: Mendon | February 15, 2006 1:38 PM
P.s. your strategy of eliminating anything floating in the atlantic remains the best advice I've ever gotten for Axis and Allies
Posted by: Mendon | February 15, 2006 8:17 PM
Hey, Mensch! The German Luftwaffe's sole job is to sink everything British or Americans put in the Atlantic.
Nifty idea about that U-Boat that's sitting in the Atlantic; usually, it goes after the battleship off Gibraltar.
I don't think you can stop Japan from taking Asia. I love it when Great Britian puts an industrial complex in India. Hey, free industrial complex! And it's just as good when the U.S. puts one in Western China. Japan can put four units per turn into asia from mainland Japan using the transports it starts with; I buy two more to start. From then on, it's eight units per turn into Asia. If the allies build in China and India, then that's five units per turn into Asia vs. Japan's eight, a losing battle. Russia could add to this, but throwing all this effort at Japan early on nearly ensures that Russia will fall to Germany.
But you're right about Australia. Usually, Japan's second move with that Pacific fleet is to take Australia, provided the transport lived through Hawaii.
Posted by: Nathan Dornbrook | February 17, 2006 9:26 AM
Hi Mark!
I hope you remember me (your lost Estonian-Norwegian friend).
Hope you would read this accidental note and write back. It seems it is easier to track your life in photos then to get your proper email address.
I am just so bad at blogs, MSNs, chat etc. Well letters and emails as well.:o)
But I wished so many times to get back in touch with you. Hope you don't mind.
In that case write back to ksenia@movafagh.com, so that I know that link is working.
Send my Hi again! to Mara.
Ksenia
Posted by: Ksenia Movafagh | May 23, 2006 6:04 PM