From: goudswaa@fraser.sfu.ca (Peter Goudswaard)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: A&A Fixing the imbalances, NOT!!!
Date: 7 Oct 92 07:27:57 GMT
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada

oberland@vax.sonoma.edu writes:

>Well, I think that the game is biased, and needs a few changes to the rules
>to even things out, as the Axis seem to win about 30% of the time,
>which is usually based on lucky rolls when it happens.

>Ideas:

>1:U.S. fleet in Hawaii did not have the Carriers in attack range.
>solution: switch the BShip and the Carrier in the Pacific.

Wrong wrong wrong!!!!!!   I have heard time and time again about the
inaccuracies of this -- the "Pearl Harbour" setup.  RTFM kids! "The
year is 1942" ... "Pearl Harbor has been attacked."   The Pearl attack
happened on December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, even I,
a Canadian, know that!  Sheesh!  Switching the BB and CV would require
changing the entire game setup!

>2:Change the GermaNavy.  Remember the Bismark?  Hm.... don't see it.
>BUT, I don't want it to be overkill, so substitute a BShip for the sub in the
>German Sea zone.(this IS where the bismark originated, afterall)

<Sigh>  The Bismarck was sunk on May 27, 1941, nearly a year before the A&A
timeline occurs.

>3:Add troops to empty zones in Russia, as well as Panama and Mexico

Quantity-wise, I can see this as being somewhat realistic, but in 1942, the
Russians didn't have their act together, and this is reflected by the
absence of the (poor) infantry on those zones.

>---
>optional, but recommended:
>4:Add a sub or transport to the German Navy, preferably in the Med,
>but out of range of the Brit. Battleship.

Again, "recommended" for historical accuracy, or game balancing?

>5:if all else fails, use the EQUALIZER(tm)
>Give Germany rockets to begin with.  This is historically accurate, and
>besides,  WWII was a CLOSE thing in Europe, not a piece of cake.

Although rockets were a psychologically effective weapon, they did not
play much of a strategic role in the war.

>Seems to even the game out nicely, and makes a Axis victory about as
>likely as for the Allies.

I am starting more and more to side with the fellow who once mentioned 
that using the Russia can't attack on the first turn rule, the game is
balanced 50-50, or extremely close to it.  Of course, there are players
of every skill level out there, and I know there'll be a lot of flames
on this one (don't bother), but the game really doesn't need balancing,
if you think so, you need to re-examine your strategies!

Signing off for a convenient week's holidays,
>Joe
>P.S. Don't use Economic victory with the above mods.-Axis will win most of the
>time.
-- 
 Peter Goudswaard                  _________                     _________
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