How to Balance Any Axis and Allies Game - Bidding Rules Casual and Tournament Play

[@HamboneHQ]

Love the back and forth conversation with yourself! Well done.

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching! As I was shooting the self-argument scene, I keep thinking... "Man, I need more friends." :) Thanks for again watching and subscribing to the channel! What would you like to see next from us?

[@digitalnomad9985]

Thanks for the explanation, I found the references in the tournament bids confusing. Having said that, boy are those rules messed up! 1. In every real life application of the bid concept one bids for what one wants, rather than what one does not want. Here the "side name" in the bid is what you're bribing the opponent to TAKE. Maximally confusing, but it doesn't affect the function of the protocol. More troubling is: 2. What in the name of all that's holy is the point of not allowing the "change" to be deposited in the acceptor's treasury? That would potentially further reduce the plague of "book play" by possibly enabling a different purchase on the first or second round not available otherwise. I can see not allowing the savings of more than 2 IPCs, but that would be a pointless rule, because there is generally no advantage to getting the same material on a factory at the end of the turn over getting the same material anywhere on your occupied territory before the start of anybody's turn, so nobody would do it. The only advantage would be seeing how the game develops before deciding what to buy, and that advantage doesn't apply to Russia at all. Reforming this would allow more precise bidding to be practical, and more varied and creative play.

[@digitalnomad9985]

@@BoardGameNation "Man, I need more friends." If you want something done right... Great comic timing on the dialog. (monologue?) Hate, loathe, detest the 3.0 and 2.0 transport rules. I started with the first Milton Bradley edition.

[@DrBadassBRB]

Glad someone FINALLY answered this question!

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching and for all the help on our way to 1,000 subscribers!

[@joshdavis3743]

There was a PBEM website back in the day for AA revised for some reason half the bid was to be units, and half was ipcs that went to the powers initial income. So for instance a bid of 12 would be 6 ipcs in units (you'd specify in the bid), 6 actual ipcs.

[@BoardGameNation]

That would be interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[@christopherwilson2606]

I didnt request this video. But I'm glad so many people did. Great topic!

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it! Let us know if you get a chance to use it and how it worked for your group.

[@christopherwilson2606]

We play Anniversary. Always gave Allies a factory in India. But I like the 12 IPC gift to the allies better.

[@BoardGameNation]

Cool. Have you tried bidding for it instead?

[@christopherwilson2606]

@@BoardGameNation Totally plan on it

[@BoardGameNation]

Awesome! Let me know how it goes for you.

[@ordinarygolfer4342]

Ive only played this 2 times 20+ years ago, still love the videos

[@BoardGameNation]

Welcome back! Thanks for watching!

[@matthewreynolds2384]

Awesome production value on these videos! Analysis is top notch as well.

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you like them. I hope you get a chance to subscribe!

[@adamconner9302]

The bidding system is interesting. It's not something i've ever used, but I see the utility and how it could go a long way in making everyone happy. I tend to always get stuck playing the axis no matter what version of the game I play, but i'm ok with that. I enjoy trying nontraditional strategies too to almost handicap myself when playing against opponents of lower skill.

[@BoardGameNation]

I'm glad you found our video. The bidding process can make a big difference in a game. Thanks for watching!

[@killwalker]

Cripes. 2 infantry added to Egypt on the Anniversary board would be crazy significant.

[@BoardGameNation]

Yes it would! Have you tried bidding in AA50?

[@killwalker]

@@BoardGameNation i certainly am going to. Never really heard of it before. I used to play on Triple A, but i just prefer the actual board to fighter glitches. (So many that's why I stopped on Triple A) Plus I like actually rolling the dice. Do you think AA50 is overly one sided for the Axis on both scenarios? I usually do well as the Allies, but I love playing Japan I always feel unstoppable with my navy tactics.

[@BoardGameNation]

I think the balance of the game depends a lot on which set up you use. The 1942 setup seems to favor the Axis and the 1941 less so.

[@BoardGameHackers]

Yes! Another solid vid. How many subs did you reach again? 🙃😉

[@BoardGameNation]

1,000 and more every day! We are excited to see what comes next!

[@SonicHusky]

@@BoardGameNationWow! So many subscribers in three years!

[@malikshabazz2065]

great stuff! I've got a 1940 game coming up next weekend with a bunch of my boys. Looking forward to it!!

[@BoardGameNation]

Awesome! Good hunting! Thanks for watching!

[@tylerbell6796]

How is this channel so small? Great content!

[@BoardGameNation]

Thank you! We are growing fast! Working on more content now!

[@Chris-jt4pl]

me and my friends have been playing the classic and 1941 version for 7 years, but the 1942 second edition for only a few months. we’ve found, like many, that it’s heavily favored towards the axis. we have played about 5 games now with the gencon 3.0 setup, but have seen little difference. do you still see bids to play as allies even with this setup or is it usually one or the other?

[@BoardGameNation]

Yes. When I played in the GenCon 1942.2 tournament in 2019, the average bid was +6 to the Allies. Thanks for watching!

[@Chris-jt4pl]

love all your videos, very informative even to extremely experienced players

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks and thanks for watching! Question: I am thinking about recording the final A&A matches at GenCon and turning them into a series of videos with commentary. Would that be something you would watch? Would the coverage of a game be better as one long video or a series of videos that are one round each? I guess that is a few questions. :)

[@Chris-jt4pl]

@@BoardGameNation that is something me and my friends have been wanting for a while actually. we enjoy watching other very experienced players to see how other people react to certain attacks and stuff, so this would be awesome! very hard to find a live video of a full game, most are just the online version which isn’t as fun to watch

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@pavelthedog6939]

Good idea...This reminds me of A&A Europe... 12 ipc go to each side to spend and place before the game starts... I can't remember if any can be saved .

[@BoardGameNation]

That sounds fun! I would think of that as more of a pre-game mod than bidding, but the same basic idea - giving players a chance to place units before the first move. It can make a big difference in any version of the game. Thanks for watching and being one of our first 1,000 subscribers!

[@pavelthedog6939]

@@BoardGameNation yes ..it is a pre-game mod designed and sanctioned by avalon hill ....makes each game a little different.... and ,overall, you're right about the slight axis advantage...they're so stacked at the start , but they can't afford to lose even one major battle or its pretty much over... the longer the game goes , the more it swings in favor of the allies... I'd love to go up against you in 1940 ,( pipe dream) .In my circle, I'm Napoleon... but i don't know if I'm really that good or if the competition is that bad 🤔

[@BoardGameNation]

@@pavelthedog6939 That sounds interesting. I hadn't heard of Avalon Hill sanctioning any particular variant. Where would I find it? Have you played AA Online by Beamdog through Steam? We could get in a game there. :)

[@pavelthedog6939]

@@BoardGameNationthe 12 ipc rule was in the rulebook of the AA Europe game released in 2000..it was a standard part of set up.. technically, A&AEurope along with Pacific was Hasbro designed for avalon hill.... I'm not too familiar with the on-line game universe ... Given a little time ,I'll see what can learn ... Thanks

[@BoardGameNation]

Cool. I will have to check those out. I love the mountain of optional rules in the back of the rulebook for Revised (2004). Tons of fun stuff. Let me know if you pick Axis and Allie Online by Beamdog.

[@marksy79]

Totally depends on the map & version etc in basic map allies should never lose, in 42 ambition old iPhone app I'd give up too 34 bids to play allies. Love to play these guys in Gen Con one day 🤞

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching! I always think it is interesting to hear what folks think about the different the different versions a bid of 34 would be pretty amazing. Love to see you at GenCon!

[@drshades1]

I invented an easy and streamlined bidding system several years ago. Larry Harris was intrigued and said he'd try it, but I haven't heard what came of it, if anything. This works for any version of Axis & Allies: STEP ONE: If players disagree on the side toward which the game is slanted, or if they believe the game is balanced, then no bidding takes place. STEP TWO: If players agree that the game is slanted toward one side, they both bid for that side. STEP THREE: Both players write a number on a piece of paper, then reveal their pieces of paper simultaneously. STEP FOUR: The player who revealed the LOWEST number wins the bid and plays that side. STEP FIVE: The winning number is the number of full rounds that the game is played. If the winning bidder has not won the game by that round, then the losing bidder wins the game, no matter the state of the board.

[@BoardGameNation]

That is interesting! Thanks for sharing it. How many times have you tested it?

[@drshades1]

@@BoardGameNation Alas, none yet. 😞

[@BoardGameNation]

Would you like to try?

[@drshades1]

@@BoardGameNation Yes, but I only play face-to-face. 😞

[@BoardGameNation]

Can I ask what city/region you are in? I might be able to put you together with other folks.

[@designation7395]

Lovely ideas! Will you be doing any play throughs? Livestreams and the such? Keep it up and congrats on 1k!

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks! We just finished a playthrough of Azul. It was out first attempt and it was kind of a test. We learned a lot, but all and all I think it went pretty well. Love to get your thoughts on it. What would you like to see?

[@designation7395]

@@BoardGameNation First i’d start with your favourite game: A&A 2.2. I think that’s a good start. Later on, once you’re better at filming playthroughs and are more comfortable with it, I would love to see a War Room play through, but that’s difficult, and for a later date.

[@BoardGameNation]

I appreciate your thoughts. You are right. The 1942.2 playthrough would be much easier than one for War Room. It would also be pretty easy to get the players together for it. I wonder if it would make any difference to you if the game was played in the studio or on location at a game store. Is one cooler/more interesting than the other?

[@designation7395]

@@BoardGameNation A game store would provide a cool background, but my eyes are typically on the table during playthroughs. Location doesn’t make much of a difference to me, but a game store would be different to other playthroughs I’ve watched.

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks! We like to feature locally owned game stores/cafes/bars when we can. But, setting up a playthrough video on location is kind of an undertaking. We will need to give it some thought. Do you play Axis and Allies only or do you also play other games?

[@ceoavenger9500]

Michigan subscriber

[@BoardGameNation]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@yairaguado9184]

Ur so underated

[@BoardGameNation]

Thank you. That is very kind. We are growing every day. We doubled in size in the last 4 months and with your help we hope to do it again and again!

[@kpdbt3055]

Great video I would like a Board Game Nation shirt for my birthday!

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching! We are working on getting merch together! What kind of shirt would you be interested in? T-shirt, polo, jersey?

[@brevemclendon6579]

Sweet. Now I just need a tournament.

[@BoardGameNation]

You also use some of this in your casual games, as well. Plus, GenCon is just around the corner! :) Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@GaveMeGrace1]

Thank you.

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching!

[@potatos5493]

I really like your video it really helps me beat my Dad in the game..I wish I can get my friends to play..

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching! I am glad they help! Have you tried to find other players in the your city? Maybe call around to local board game stores or look on Meetup.com. You can also head over to AxisandAllies.org. They have some player matching threads. Good luck and thanks again for watching!

[@potatos5493]

@@BoardGameNation thank you for telling me

[@BoardGameNation]

You're welcome! Good luck!

[@brendanpang4059]

Very helpful video! How would you feel about using a 6 IPC Allied bid in 1942.2 in the Gen Con Version to place 2 Soviet infantry in Caucasus so that the Ukraine battle is more likely to be successful by sending 10/11 units?

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching! Good question. I would say that the USSR attack on Ukraine is favored to win, but it can't stand up to a counter attack and it requires putting most of the Russian offensive units at risk. I don't think that adding two more infantry is going to make a big enough difference to make Ukraine defendable. As I said in the video, I think the Sub placement in India is the best. The American units in China is interesting, but I would also be curious about a Russian tank in Yakut to set up 2nd round attack in Manchuria. Anyway, lots to play with. Thanks again for watching!

[@brendanpang4059]

@@BoardGameNation Oh ok, I just don't like seeing the Ukraine battle go badly for the Soviet player. But question. If the IPC bid is big enough that multiple units can be bought, do they have to be placed in the same territory? And even if they don't have to be, do they have to all belong to the same country? Like if Allies got a 9 IPC bid, woulda UK sub by India AND a US infantry in Szechwan be allowed?

[@BoardGameNation]

Bid units can be placed in sea zones or territories that already have units of the same power. You don't have to spend all the IPCs on the same power, but you can't mix the bid units with the units of any foriegn power. I hope this helps!

[@sandal_thong8631]

I was wondering what you would say about bidding with new players since they don't know the game (Axis & Allies or any game with bidding). Spotting a newbie 12 IPCs still might not help them win, but could be interesting. I was also hoping you'd say what's the bid for each version that makes it "even". With so many plays and tournament bidding there must be data.

[@BoardGameNation]

There is some data. You can find it here: headlesshorseman2.com I am not sure how it shakes out for other versions, but in 1942.2 the typical bid is Allies +6. I hope this helps! Thanks for watching!

[@thegorb2653]

I think bidding is good for axis for balance, my move away from AA was more to do with wanting more mechanics for those areas of world war 2 not covered by axis. I moved to axis and Allies Europe advanced ready to bring that to the table.

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching! There are a lot of great features in the Europe and Pacific games, but the added complexity adds to the play time. That's awesome if you have the time and space for it. Thank again for watching!

[@thegorb2653]

@@BoardGameNation absolutely agree, but yeah I find that the game covers way to much of just basic military not enough tactics and the other sides of the war like economics. I see things like triumph and tragedy & cataclysm as the future for world war 2 gaming, simple yet able to add these small complexities into the game.

[@BoardGameNation]

Have you checked out War Room by Larry Harris? Sounds like you'd love this game! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKDblJWgaatrfKc

[@thegorb2653]

@@BoardGameNation yeah definitley more up my alley missed the first round but preordered 2nd edition maybe 2 weeks ago, keen to get it on the table.

[@BoardGameNation]

@@thegorb2653 - Me too! I have a the copy Tom sent to unbox, but I haven't had a chance to play it yet. Need to find a table big enough first! :)

[@BoardGameNation]

Thank you for watching our How to Balance Any Axis & Allies Game - Bidding Rules Casual and Tournament Play. Other than wondering why I am talking to myself... what questions do you have?

[@Macfierce1]

We definitely find that the axis win in most of our games. Its just VERY hard to stop Germany when they buy men and artilery on their first few turns and then just go all tanks. Sure they sprinkle in a sub or two and some airforce as well, but it's REALLY hard for Russia. So this is going to work very well.

[@BoardGameNation]

Glad you found us. You might also like our video laying out the tournament setup for 1942.2. It helps to give the Allies a better chance of success. Thanks for watching!

[@Macfierce1]

@@BoardGameNation I watched last year’s final game recap. I very much enjoy the way you guys do it. we tend to play anniversary edition and if we’re really feeling crazy global 1940. But both of those are entirely inappropriate for a tournament. they’re just too much and take too long. I love your five hour rule and I love that you guys decided to go through round five in that game. I’m also a fan of the kill Japan strategy that you guys played. I usually do the same, but nowhere near as aggressive as you guys did. My strategy was always to build one capital ship every turn with the United States and then a screen of submarines and destroyers. But there simply isn’t enough time for that to work. I can’t wait to try the two carrier one plane build on my buddy. Haha! He won’t know what hit him! Too bad I live on the East Coast from what I gather you guys play out by LA .

[@BoardGameNation]

@@Macfierce1 - Well, if you enjoyed our coverage of last year's event, you are going to want to keep an eye out for all that we have coming this fall. We went back to Gen Con and captured the histories of loads of A&A games, including several World Championship matches, and the finals of the 1942.2 (5 hours) tournament, Global (10 hours), and the new North Africa (4 hours). The World Championship this year was settled on the Anniversary map (each match was up to 6 hours long.) We hope you will tune in!

[@jforozco12]

What is your opinion on the annivesary edition?

[@BoardGameNation]

Big fan! 😀 kzbin.info/www/bejne/amKQg2ScYpKig9U

[@MrPistola2]

That settles it Gary…. I would like 12 IPC before we play regardless of which side you want!!! Lol

[@BoardGameNation]

You got it! :)

[@Thesussysuscat]

So .. what axis and allies do you think is the least balanced? Most?

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching! Hard to say. I haven't played them all... yet. I think that on average they are all fairly balanced. Typically, a bid a few IPC either way can balance most games. I always think it is interesting how different people view the various versions. Some see 1942.2 as slightly slanted to the Axis. Other have said the Allies are over powered. It that is the sign of a great game. What do you think?

[@DaDitka]

I have found that if you don't play the Russia Restricted option, the original board heavily favored the Allies. If I'm the Allies and I can attack with Russia on the first turn, all I have to do is attack Norway and wipe out the German units, as well as attack Manchuria and kill the Japanese, and the Axis almost never are able to recover. I'm not knowledgeable enough on the other boards to say one way or another.

[@andrewgrandfield7214]

I can't figure out why you have players losing their unspent IPCs.

[@BoardGameNation]

I see why that would be confusing. The rules for bidding in tournaments state that any unused portion of the bid is lost. This may have just be done for simplicity. Not sure. Thanks for watching!

[@nolimit7959]

Never liked using the very unmanly Bidding system, me thinks they're for Newbies- however since many versions favor the AXIS, I would just move existing units to vulnerable spots on the Map, eg 42 game: do you really need Brit units in New Zealand or W Canada where they're useless?!

[@BoardGameNation]

Thanks for watching! So, you are making your own pre-game modifications? Do you have particular set of changes you like?

[@man-yp1gb]

I usually do what I do in chess to decide what side one takes. 1.) Take a marker roundel from one of each side. One represents the Allies the other the Axis. Put it in my hands and roll my hands up in a ball then shake. Then I present both my hands closed up with a roundel marker in each. Next I have my guest player choose a hand, I then open my fist to reveal a side they get. Voila!

[@BoardGameNation]

As long as that works for you and your friends, great! Thanks for watching!

[@man-yp1gb]

Thanks, my dad showed me that when we play chess, except he would have a pawn in each hand.

[@dnaseb9214]

The game is unbalanced only in high end play. For regular players they dont have that problem.

[@BoardGameNation]

I think that is probably true, but as players get better they may want to play at a higher level. Understanding the rules for bidding would be helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@dnaseb9214]

@@BoardGameNation very good point

[@davidburke7085]

??? I find this whole bidding as if the Allies are losers in the game as being insane. Its utterly clear the Axis has it tougher. Its absolutely clear. Hanst anyone learned how to properly play Allies after all these years?? LOL. What insanity.

[@BoardGameNation]

The bid vary based on who is playing, which is kind of the point of it. Thanks for watching!

[@davidburke7085]

Oh, I know the way the video presented it, and to that degree that al makes sense, no objections to that sort of biding, but when you discuss such things with many players, it seems to me they think that its literally the Allies that have some terrible deficit. I cant even comprehend that. It literally sounds like they havnt played a very accomplished Allied player who knows the game inside out. The fact is that I have seen endlessly, unless the Axis does very well in the first two rounds, The advantage instantly falls to the Allies, and it requires some bad rounds or mistakes on the Allies part to regain a decent chance for the Axis to have a potential to win again. Thats why I specifically said "I find this whole bidding as if the Allies are losers in the game as being insane". Yes you can make things look good for the Axis if you make the best moves for them in the first couple rounds and things really go well for the Axis, but any flaws or blunders or poor rolls is extraordinarily detrimental to their ability to win if that happens. Its not so far off a do or die situation. But no, clearly I wasnt being critical of a general bidding system, it was specifically the notion so many seem to hold that the Allies are usually the ones apparently who get bid up and thats simply ludicrous to me where all else is relatively equal.

[@davidburke7085]

Again, sure, obviously according to your video, but again, thats also CLEARLY not what I was saying, to repeat, I said " I find this whole bidding as if the Allies are losers in the game as being insane." Perhaps you havnt seen what I have where so many seem to feel the Allies are at the disadvantage due to game design, my point was I find THAT specific concern unfounded once you have played an Allies player who knows the game very very well.