Axis & Allies:
Ralph Boerke's Tribute to Axis&Allies

Disclaimer: Axis & Allies is a registered trademark of Milton Bradley. The use of their trademark 'Axis & Allies' by Tacit Memnos Infinitum is not approved by Milton Bradley.

Axis &Allies: Menu Page

New Frames version of this site - Oct 1998

Origins:	What is A&A? (neat image added March 7/98)
	Origins of Axis & Allies
	Gamemaster Series from Milton Bradley
Strategy:	Strategic Points
	Overview
	USSR, Germany, UK, Japan, USA
	Tactics
	Art of War
Expansions:	Expansions
June 28th NEW	The A&A Expansions Forum
	Xeno, World At War, Europe at War Table Tactics, A&A Accessories, New World Order, more. Magic & Tactics Unlimited, Middle East Combat Gamers Paradise, I, II, and III
My Expansions	Tacit Memnos Infinitum Generals of Waterloo
News Hasbro's CD ROM version	Hasbro CD ROM version of Axis & Allies Computer Gaming World's article on PC A&A
	Links Axis & Allies Online Club (July 28) FAQ
* A&A Web Ring *	Axis & Allies Web Ring (Link to other sites on the Ring; added May 20/98; July 28))
	Rules
	New Free "South Pacific" Expansion, Map & Print Out!
	New Free RISK units with A&A Expansion
WWII:	WWII and Axis&Allies
PBEM:	( Not so ) Current PBEM Game
	Map for PBEM

What is Axis & Allies: [Top]

Image from side of Milton Bradley Box.

Axis & Allies is a game of 2-5 players. The game is a reenactment of World War II where the main protagonists are the Axis, Germany and Japan, and the Allies, the USSR, the UK, and the USA. The war is simplified by combining the combatants like the Axis forces of Italy, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Romania, et al, under the banner of Germany; likewise the UK represents all of the Commonwealth, the British empire and the free French. Other simplifications include the dismissal of diplomacy and the fusion of strategy and tactics with luck.

It is roughly April 1942, the true turning point of World War II, before Japan and the USA fought the Coral Sea and Midway battles, and before Germany was stalled at El Alamein, and while Germany was implementing Operation Blue the advance into the Caucasus (before Stalingrad). Unlike World War II there are no treaties stopping Japan and the USSR from fighting (actually these fought in the summer of 1939 and again in August/September of 1945), and the only way for the Axis to win is if Germany and Japan fight together against the other three.

The game always begins with the same startup positions for all of the Powers. But like Chess there are a million outcomes to the game. All in all it is a very good beer and pretzels type game if you have a few hours to kill.

RISK by Parker Brothers is a similar game in that they both use a map with territories and move units from one territory into another and fight enemy units using dice to determine the winners. However RISK is limited to a generic army unit while A&A has ten different types. A&A also uses the sea zones and is based in a timeperiod of history while RISK could be anytime. Although some people would classify RISK as a wargame of less skill and challenge I find both have their merits, but then again I do not have a Tribute to RISK page :)
[PS. Hasbro owns both Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers so they don't care which one you buy]

Units in Axis & Allies are divided into Land (Tanks and Infantry) and Sea (Submarines, Battleships, Aircraft Carriers, and Troop Transports) and Air (Fighters and Bombers) and Defence (AA Guns) and Production (Factories). There are some that can be captured and each has its own set of rules with respect to movement, attack and defence and any special features. The map is divided into 70 land territories (8 USSR, 8 Germany, 17 UK, 12 Japan, 11 USA, 14 Neutral) and about 58 sea zones. There are six Technologies that may be gained. All in all the aspects of the game make for some good sport.

To the Next Chapter: Axis & Allies Origins: From the Mind of Lawrence Harris at NOVA Games to Hasbro's CDROM

Axis & Allies Web Ring