2 or Less features Axis and Allies game-play, house rules and customizations, plus an eclectic mix of modern and old-school games that still float my boat. If you enjoy the fun, please consider a donation to the charity 'Cure Parkinson’s Trust' (the link below goes directly to their website donation page). But whatever you do, please subscribe, like, comment and share the love.
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solo would be playing both sides?
Yes, absolutely: Make the optimal choice for each side. Would be nice to have 'Bot' rules but I imagine that would be way too convoluted.
I’ve got North Africa on preorder as well. Just got Guadalcanal. Got in two games with my older son…I won both barely. Japan cut that lifeline between Australia and the US.😬
As North Africa's release nears, I'm on tenterhooks. 🤐
@@2orLessme too. I’m looking forward to seeing how they handle the game mechanics. They did well with Guadalcanal. It’s similar to basic A&A, but it’s got many different mechanics. Not crazy about that dice box though. Mine is wonky and the dice don’t settle into the slot cleanly.
@@rokassan Renegade have pre-release a version of the North Africa rules, but I'm yet to read through them. Have you seen my video giving an alternate to the Guadalcanal Battle Box? kzread.info/dash/bejne/oIWcusqfeNrKiJM.html
@@2orLessI am going to watch your video now.
Just grabbed a copy at my local board game store. Enjoying these videos in addition to my own playthrough. What perplexes me is the OOB setup for the Royal Navy home fleet versus the German High Seas Fleet. I know game balance takes priority over historical accuracy but the Royal Navy seems unrealistically weak at the start. You can outnumber the Royal Navy decently if you bring the entire German fleet plus their surrounding 4 subs. Wiped out the Royal Navy as Germany in turn 1 in my playthrough. Are you playing with the tournament rule setup? That gives Britain an extra cruiser in their home fleet. But Germany can still outnumber the British with the 4 subs. Germany was always at a quantitative disadvantage in fleet size throughout the war so I'm confused as to why the Home Fleet is so susceptible to be wiped out by Germany turn 1. Your thoughts on this?
I think the initial intention was for a mostly balanced game albeit with an Entente tilt. It may be my play style, not working hard at the naval combat in 1914 - but I don’t really see it as much of a naval game -- and the Central Powers need all the help they can get. However, if Germany encroach on U.K. waters there are mines to contend with which may leave their ports open if things go badly. In this playthrough I’m using the OOB setup - my latest 1914 playthrough uses the Larry Harris tourney rules plus my Righteous Air house rule that makes a lot of sense, to me at least.
@@2orLess absolutely, I'm already at the stage in my game where the land battles take utmost priority over rebuilding a navy for the central powers. More so Germany defeating the Royal Navy in turn 1 which really just serves to delay the UK from reinforcing France by a turn or so. Which is just a bit funny/jarring to me when it happens, given the everything we know about the Royal Navy, Jutland, etc. But I also see that the naval portion, already not that significant in the grand scheme, would suffer even more if the central powers didn't start with something comparable. I'd probably just hide in my ports and focus on land units. Love your Righteous Air house rule too. Will implement it in my next run!
Bought two (2) A&A Variant games off EBAY - OPERATION SEA LION ( Germans invade 1940) & A BRIDGE TOO FAR (Arnhem 1944) - Operation Sea Lion is very much like the D-Day edition with beach invasions against Brit beaches (blockhouses) and having to capture 3 cities (Plymouth, Dover, and London ) in 10 turns with LONDON being two areas separated by the Thames River - German Paras/Air-landing troops, Amphib Tanks, German/Brit airpower included - We';ve played the A Bridge Too Far version with 30 Corp tanks getting up to Arnhem A-Turn-Too-Late as the Germans tanks wiped out the Brit Paras the turn before. Lots of Allied Airpower effects German moves !
Nice: 😎I've wanted to pick-up a Sealion type game for a while, but I'm yet to blag one at the right price. I do have, and rate, the area/impulse game Storm over Arnhem - takes a bit of thinking about to work the the numbers in your favour but I've yet to find a definitive winning strategy, which can only be good for replay-ability.🍻
Axis and allies 1914? How? The Axis was from the second world war.
Axis and Allies is the generic title for the entire series of games. In this 1914 variant, the protagonists are referred to as the Central Powers and the Entente which doesn't roll of the tongue so easily. 🍺
I love the 1914 edition.
Because you have good taste. 😁
this is relaxing to watch im getting a copy of this game shortly
Cheers: You'll have a blast when you do.
Never played this version, how is it different than g40?
It differs in many ways, most notably: single round combat where areas (and it's IPCs) may remain ‘contested’, at times for several turns - there are fewer unit types, and a condition that infantry must be first in-last out of an area. A while ago I made a video going deeper. kzread.info/dash/bejne/dWihpqtwnq_Jkrw.html Overall it's a shorter game than G40, but when you're stuck in the trenches, it can feel longer... not in a bad way - I'd say, atmospherically longer. 🤨
@@2orLess thanks, looks fun.
Good video. Thankfully, have all of those except the true limited release, original (rare and expensive), Battle of the Bulge (need to get it), Zombies (don’t care), and North Africa (ordered).
Cheers my friend. 🍻 Keep digging in those thrift shops and garage sales, BotB is super-cool. 😎
I'm intrigued by this variant and look forward to trying it. Thanks for posting. (Is Renegade Games going to make a large Neoprene map for 1914???)
Thanks for your comment: You'll have a blast when you get to play it. 👍 As far as I'm aware, there is no Neoprene map available but the Renegade reprint has a slightly lager map than the original edition.
Wife and I just finished our game of 1914. Ten turns, Allied Victory. Germans went for broke way to early on turn six. We love this game
Wow, great that you're sharing it with you nearest and dearest.👫 It's a hard job getting a Central Powers victory, but when you do, man-alive it feels special. So, your homework... 👨🏫 Reset, go again. Lol. 😆
Now playing a game of this.
Yay, get stuck in. 🍻
Nice cross over, but why are the guards weaker than the drones?
Thanks for your comment - it’s a fun variant. 🍻 I initially made the Praetorian Guard Aliens weaker because the Queen Alien can spawn 2 replacements each round. On subsequent plays I often found them under par: hence the number 1 optional rule may double or quadruples their effectiveness. For a good challenge I recommend using options 1, 2, 3 and 4 (found at the bottom of the rules BGG download).
@@2orLess cool, thanks
Cool watching the series
Glad you're enjoying it. 🍺
I decided to get the 1942.2 version but now i'm kind of changing my mind.
Extra comment are those flag thingy's included in the game or are they custom?
@@srt-studios Stretch the budget, get them both... 👹 you know you want to.😆 The battle/movement flags are self-made - bent paperclip and photocopied decal. I still have them but often now use flat discs, with the decal, stuck on.
Glad you are back, Mate. I like watching your videos
Cheers my friend - I keep getting lost in Cricket 🍻and MotoGp 🏍 atm, not to mention the monster of a game, Europa Universalis: the price of power that is clawing for attention. Lol 🤪
Yes can't wait 4 nO 2 , i also have brawling Battleships by lost battalion games which i will crowbar into this hopefully, it has mines , Zeppelin's, storm's, duds , destroyers, all the nation's, looking fun , I'll let u know how 😂 get on 👍🐬
Three and a half divided by 4 , yes i agree bt it doesn't sound very solitaire freindly !!! , i have a verry affordable card air combat game for vis ferry purpose!!!! Bt haven't tried it yt 🌊🐬👍🐦
Most games are better with beer and friends but this is easy enough to solo: make the optimal move for each side, or failing that let a dice roll decide.
1940 global is in my opinion perfect. I have a large family of cousins and friends that like playing it
It certainly hits the mark when you want a full-on experience without a game getting too rule heavy. 🍻
U need HEROES OF NORMANDY 👍
Oh yes, I remember seeing it a while ago. Adding it to my Future Purchase list.
🐬🐬 ur dice ar Amazon 🌊🐦
They're feral sometimes. 😆
Appreciate these comments are coming three years after the event, but Austria-Hungary should bless their cotton socks for their Balkan outcomes. Thanks for the play-through. I've recently acquired a copy and have set to playing myself.
Thanks for your comments: it's nice to know the series is still being enjoyed. 🍺 I'm sure you're having fun with your version on the table. - - And yes, that Romania roll was fortunate. 😁
Hello 1or more, i like your channel, but haven't u thought of some of the excellent horse and muskets games , ;;!! M ? , might I rudely suggest Kingmaker+ variant cards 🦤🐬🪶👍
This is looking like a very good game , yikes,,, 👍🐬
It's a great game, especially good when using the advantage tokens. This particular play through was... well, a thrill-a-minute ride.
U throw sum dice game , ps the ottoman anthem waz iz quite lisnable if i say si myself 🦤
Allso Turkey wanted to allign whith the Allied powers, complicating the Italian stand ,as libiya was coveted by both power's so it wouldn't have been impossible for rhe Italian to join the CP 😮
Aww cmon man , the KMS Emden was a king in the Indian ocean for over a year stoping any easy transport in the ocean , allso only infantry builds in India as there was no industry there at all,,,,, also belgium should b en Glish aligned not french ,,,,, ad nausea A .😮
Thanks for your comment: 🍺 the rules allow the bigger build in India, saying it represents troops from the Pacific British Crown colonies staging in Bombay. Not sure of the historicity but it's a game
@@2orLess yes but the Kms Emden was very active thus stopping these puny sick reinforcements , think Bismarck turned up for d day , not good 👍🦤
Really well done series on how to play this game. It's very helpful for a noob to this game like me. Also, I really like your idea for rolling the dice instead of using the battle box (which is less than ideal). I'll have to make one for myself. Thanks!
Thank you. It was a fun series to make. 🍻
Hey, I'm thinking of buying another A&A in addition to my Anniversary Version. I'm wavering between Europe 2nd and 1914, which game would you recommend? How are the playing times for both? Thanks for your reply.
I would think 1914 is your better choice. Hard to gauge anyone’s play speed, but if you have Anniversary as your midpoint, 1914 will be a little longer, and ’42 a little shorter. 1942 2nd edition may feel like a backward step compared to Anniversary with Anniversary‘s extra playable power (Italy), Research and National objectives, none of which are in ’42. That’s not to say ’42 is bad, I like the extra difficulty ’42 has in getting the U.S. involved in the European theatre and it is my go to game when trying-out new house rules. 1914 is a different kettle of fish. There are fewer unit types, generic sculpts, the rules on movement and combat differ from other Axis and Allies titles, and the stalemates in territories for multiple rounds may seem torturous to some - to others it is the crux of the game and its attempt to mimic WW1 trench-warfare is laudable. Having said that, if the major powers play aggressively and utilize the limited movement capability from contested areas, it doesn’t have to be a stodgy slog. There’s a complete 1914 play through on my channel - check it out before committing your hard earned money. kzread.info/head/PLwjWyLUbWGIHStzxelEpPdtbq3lLrqPm3
@@2orLess Thanks for answering! How is it balanced? Is it possible to win with both sides?
@@2orLess I meant Europe 1940 2nd Edition. But anyway, great answer.. Thanks!!
@@herrmatash3116 The central powers have a hard time with this version, but when they get a win it’s special. A balance, is to use the Larry Harris tournament rules, they work well and have an additional challenge of economic and political collapse. There’s also a house rule to delay Italy joining the Entente for a couple of rounds which throws a curve ball.
@@herrmatash3116 My bad, lol… really if you’re going for Europe ’40 it’s best paired with Pacific ’40--then you’re gonna need a bigger boat. I’d probably still lean towards 1914 because of the similarities between Anniversary and, what would be, global ’40.
Congrats on completing a fun and interesting game & video series. We’ve not used the tokens before, I like how you introduced them for this game, we’ll have to try that next time.
Thank you, it was fun to make. 😄 Picking 3 tokens from 4 is about the most fair way I've found, while still adding a random element - I quite like mixing both sets, and using the first six drawn, regardless of the, often, imbalance. That gets your brain working overtime. 🤔
Great video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
My pleasure. Are you tempted to purchase a copy?
@@2orLess Yep! Found a use copy that a bought. Only played one game with friends and a cuple of solo games.
@@Malakai705 Yay, 'One of us, one of us, one of us'. 😄
I have 7 people in my household so we normally play 1940.
Privileged position, not only a ready made crew but set-up time must be cut down to minutes; rather than the hour+ it takes me. 😎
Enjoy your strategy discussions and how well you represent each side. I’ve never been able to do that with solo play. Look forward to the ‘final’ turn.
Thank you. Yeah, splitting your mind is not always easy - it helps that I potter: often dividing a single turn over a few hours while playing another title, or two 😏(gaming addict🤣), watching cricket (cricket addict 😬) and MotoGp (. . .addict 🤐). I'll come back to the table with fresh eyes. Don’t know if this like is helpful to you - kzread.info/dash/bejne/imiFmtOMfrvdfdo.html -- it’s a house rule video that helps devise multiple personalities in solo Axis and Allies. 😳
Big naval victory for Japan. Well done video.
Enjoyed watching your video and hearing your strategies for each side. Just got my first copy of the game from Renegade Games. Enjoyed playing it with my son. Will have to try some of your suggestions (like the special abilities tokens) in our next game.
Thanks for your comment, glad you enjoyed the video - It turned into a cracker of a battle 😲(just finished it today). Once you get the into the flow of the game, the special tokens add a nice twist to later plays.
Had most of these at some point in time. The only ones I kept was the MB original version and 1914. 1914 is just so much fun, my brother and I had a lot of fun with it.
This was a pleasant trip down memory lane for you, then. 😁 No time like the present to set-up and go again. 🍺
Great vid!
Thank you, I hope it's of help. 🤓
@@2orLess It was very helpful -- have been thinking about getting 1942 2nd Edition, but may reconsider for the Milton Bradley Classic edition because it's a simpler faster game which would be easier to get my friends into.
@@charliedoom Classic is a good place to start and they come up regularly on the 2nd hand market.🍻
Another solution I’ve seen is to buy dice of different colors and color dice the results e.g 1 red, 2 blue, 3 green, etc
Yes I saw that solution too; when trying it, the trouble I had was having to either manually line the dice against a battle card or remembering which was which dice colour across the unit types. 🤔
Funnest version: Classic Quick filler: 1941 Only have one: Anniversary Worst: Zombies No real place anymore: Revised Something Different: 1914 Pro Level: Global
@2orLess 0 seconds ago Thank you for adding to the conversation. 🍺It's the child in me that loves, and thus defends Zombies despite its nuances ('nuances' is me being polite ).🤣
I have many versions. D-Day is strange, you just end up with a pile of dead units and the board becomes empty, very unrealistic. The 1984 what most call original version is probably the best place to start. It takes many plays to grow tired of it and is cheap to get second hand. 1940's Europe and Pacific feels like a proper accurate WWII game with the inclusion of Italy, Anzac and Chinese. A better map than the original, more types of units. It's really good that China is more than 2 territories. The 1940's have the most complexity which I like. If you want to play a short game, just play ETO or PTO alone, they are fun.
What’s your advice for someone that doesn’t own any versions and wants to buy a copy in the UK?
Fortunately, the U.K. 2nd hand market has plenty to offer, nearly all versions are available, plus a number of retailers offering the newer and the re-released versions. As for which suits you, think about your budget, the time you have to play and the space you have available (whether you can leave a game set-up for a number of days or if you must soon break it down). Also consider the group you’re intending to introduce the game to and/or, if you’re looking at solo play, how complex you want the game to be. If this answer has nudged you in some kind of direction and you want more info, don’t hesitate to ask. 😁
@@2orLess thanks, I definitely like the look of 1914, but I stumbled across axis and allies as my girlfriend and I were looking for a ww2 board game. What’s your recommendation for the WW2 setting?
@@TheAbraxasvirus 1914 is a great game provided you’re okay with the often static battle lines. For a WW2 game, you won’t go too far wrong with the Anniversary edition, or slightly cheaper, the 1942 2nd edition. I’d also think about the Revised edition (which will have to come from the 2nd hand market). The revised has a good balance between speed of play and variability with its optional rules. Good Luck with it.
Looking at the board, depending on how many transports are available, it would seem to me the UK could ferry 6-8 units into Karelia, and be on the doorstep of liberating Russia. If there is a French transport with French units available, the same would apply fewer units plus 2 battleships to help out, at least to soften up for the UK.
Liberate Moscow.
Oh, crikey yes you are right with that move--wish I'd paid attention to it back then. 👍 I think I had become target fixated, 😵💫 seeing the western-front as the Entente's imperative. Moscow liberation would have thrown a spanner in the works. 🧐 I could even have just moved a pair of transports with an infantry/artillery combination: it would have been enough to distract. Medal for you Sir.
Has anyone viewed the game board for Axis and Allies : North Africa???
Nothing is out yet apart from speculation. 🤔 I'm expecting my copy in August (2024)... waiting with bated breath. 😳
Found myself approaching the Axis and Allies franchise recently. I'm glad I found this very well-made, explicative video. Thanks for all the insight into the different versions of the game. If you don't mind, I would like to ask a question: I myself am a WW2 history buff, but my friends aren't as into it as I might be. Fair enough, but still, I had the intention to try and drag some of 'em into a game. Which of the many titles would you recommend that might be appealing in terms of time and content to non-dedicated people? Sorry for the long question, and I want to excuse myself for the possible spelling and grammar errors. Have a nice one and stay frosty, Ciao! from Italy :)
Thanks for your comments. Great question, hard to answer. 😁 I’d recommend you think of 3 categories: If you want to draw your friends into the general field of Axis and Allies perhaps think of the campaign game, D-day, and maybe A&A& Zombies. Zombies is always fun to non-war gamers. 💀 If you’re intending to play games more traditional but not too heavy, you won’t go too far wrong the original Europe and Pacific titles. But if you feel you can generate a more challenging intent from your group, then Anniversary or 1942 2nd edition are games that are a not too intimidating or too long to reach a conclusion. For more advice hit me up here or ask away on a Facebook group I recommend. facebook.com/groups/284219041598621 Hope it helps.🍻
@@2orLess Thanks a lot for the swift reply, really appreciated, and thanks again for the insight and the valuable information. I'm grateful to learn that there's a healthy and loving community surrounding the Axis and Allies titles. I'll see if my friends could be interested in playing the games, but I too was thinking about a "smaller" theater, such as in the Pacific or Europe. Anyway, I can't thank you enough for the video and the comment. Have a wonderful life, cheers!
@@simoblues It was my pleasure. 😊
I'm not sure if you read these comments but I'm trying to learn to play the game so here it goes my question :) At around 33:31 you finish the german fire phase but: why don't the two cannons in the pump station land-fire with their strenght 5 to the many units you have stacked in the connected area at the left? In my game the guns decimated my commandos and I wonder if I played it correctly. A second doubt is that in my game the guns were "out of action" but I land-fired with their strenght 5 anyway, as I understood they were "out of action" only for naval fire... EDIT: I saw just immediately after 33:31 you actually fire with the guns haha, sorry for the comment! But I still wonder about my second doubt: do "out of action" guns land-fire? Thanks for the video! :)
Thanks for looking in. Yeah, I'm no expert, but scanning the rules, I only see that... "A Gun which was marked as having Already Fired" during the Naval Attack Phase of that Game Turn may still attack Commandos." I cannot see a specific rule saying a gun made out of action in the naval phase does not get to fire in the land attacks... but it would seem appropriate it can't. 😁
I'm considering getting this now that it is available again for a reasonable price from Renegade games.
Go for it my friend, it's great game; somehow mixing brevity with complexity. 🤔 And yes, the price is now much more appropriate.
@2orLess I've preordered the North Africa one which looks great. Looks like they've used the supply system from battle of the bulge and added some other mechanics that are new, such as flank attacks.
@@leebearfield1405 Oh, I'm champing at the bit for that one. 😬🤯😵💫
@@2orLess yes it's probably gonna be horrible, 12sided dice yuk , probably hex az well , lots better out there, we live in hope hopefully 🎉
@@BrianMarcus-nz7cs O ye of little faith...😄
Thanks for posting this. Never played much A&A, but I do love gaming The Pacific Theatre! (nice Empire of the Sun map on the wall!)
Ah, you have a good eye Sir. 🧐EotS is a cracking game, really interesting combat system. Must bring that to the table again and soon. 🍺
Appreciate your video and call out on combat rules. My copy from Renegade Games arrived today, so I plan to start playing this weekend!
Glad you liked it. Good luck with it this weekend. 😁
Great review! Thank you for sharing. Just ordered Renegaid games Axis and Allies anniversary edition. Can’t wait to play.
Good choice. 👍 If you're not already signed up, this facebook group has 7k members always ready to natter... see you there. facebook.com/groups/284219041598621
Thank you for this video and the bot rules. Will these rules work with Lies Spies and Supplies ?
My pleasure. I don't have the LSS expansion but I would imagine it working or being adaptable.