Thanks, Stuka Joe! I think this simpler game will be a good place to try ideas out, and I'm looking forward to trying out some more complex and newer games after this. I'm liking the event cards as well, although I might tweak them a bit after this game. I think the inclement weather cards tend to favor the Allies.
@@charleslatora5750 Happy to help, Charles. I created those, and I've added a link in this video description to the file download page for them on Board Game Geek.
@@ZillaBlitz The cards are really cool. I have an ongoing argument with a friend about using cards in a wargame. I'm very pro, his default reaction is negative, that these sorts of events should be handled in-system. These cards work!
Thank you for this excellent presentation of an old Avalon Hill classic. I’ve been war gaming since 1969, but had only played this game once, over 50 years ago! You presentation has got me interested in trying this old classic once more. Well done!
Thanks, Gilbert, I'm glad you enjoyed it. To be 100% honest, as much fun as it was to explore this, I might suggest something like the latest edition of The African Campaign for a better gaming experience. The hobby has advanced a good bit since these times. :)
Thanks, Robert! One of the things I enjoy most about historical games is their potential for narrative, so I'm always thrilled to hear that someone has enjoyed the story element of a video. Thanks! :)
Thanks! It's fairly dated now, but it's been fun to see what wargames were like back in the day. I want to bring more of these to the channel, like the original D-Day, Stalingrad, etc.
ZB: Just getting into these games again (for the same reasons you outlined!). Your treatment is great. Clear with cool additions (like the cards). It's also clear that you actually enjoy the game and the enthusiasm is infectious. Translates into great narration/reasons for your moves. Thanks for taking the time to make these. Nothing like an old board war game! Cheers and keep it up... -Dan
Thanks for the kind words, Dan! I'm glad you are enjoying the videos. I feel like we're living in a great time for these games, and revisiting the older games is great fun too. I hope to revisit more older games in the future. :)
@@ZillaBlitz Thanks for doing these play throughs of the new games too. It's fun to see how things have changed (and how healthy the hobby is) when someone grew up on Guadalcanal, Tobruk and Squad Leader. Keep 'em coming... -Dan
Played it a lot in the 80's. Benghazi can be neutralized in a single move... In which case you simply bypass it to get to Tobruk and wait for Benghazi to be starved out. I learned the move from an old issue of the General. You need to control the roads first and foremost and defeat the British piecemeal before they can concentrate.
I can attest that as Rommel I do all of these things incorrectly in this playthrough. I really should come back to this and name the series "Rommel's Revenge". :) Thanks for stopping in. :)
I was just chatting with someone about this the other day. I'm really surprised at how well received this was, and how many people remember the game and still play now. I honestly thought it would get like a dozen views. :) So yes, I want too do newer games too, but I do think I'll be coming back to some older titles as well. Midway was my first wargame! I played that to death, whenever I could get someone to play. (It was not a good solo game.) Thanks for the comment and for stopping in! :)
@@ZillaBlitz Yes! do more old AH games....you know, so many of the games after these early AH games are SO rules Encumbered that you lose the "dash" of the action....you can concentrate on Action in these early AH games
Hats off for a really excellent video! You actually have made it interesting to watch a classic wargame being played. I am also quite impressed with your mad video skill, I can see I'm going to have to up my game.
Thanks, Boom! This was the first series I did, about a year ago, and I figured no one would watch, so I was happy that people liked it. I really enjoy making them. :)
@@ZillaBlitz me too! I really enjoy getting my narrative on! I started doing videos because I wanted to try and learn something new (video editing) in my old age (I'm 59... the horror 😁).
The "Bradenburgers" are actually called Brandenburgers. Named after the Prussian Province of Brandenburg where the unit had their first permanent headquarters.
My goodness, yeah. The Dice Roll Gods did not like the Axis this episode. With Allied reinforcements coming soon, it might be tough for the Axis in Tobruch now.
Thanks Randy! I'll definitely have to break out a few more of these older games at some point. I've got a couple of boxes of them lying around, with another box of the old Strategy & Tactics magazines with games. Those might be fun to revisit too. So much to play! :)
This was excellent. Brings back lots of memories. I still have my copy after all these decades! Just a quick correction, it should be Brandenburgers, not Bradenburgers.
Thanks! It was fun to revisit, for sure, despited how much I struggled as Rommel. :) And thanks on the Brandenburgers. A few people have mentioned that and the latest version of the cards has that correction. :)
Love your approach to this game. I have had that for over 40 years now and it keeps the old game fun, and it makes a great intro game for beginners...but then again; I never really liked chess much. :)
Thanks, Grumbling Grognard! I have a few of these older games, and I think I'd like to come back and try a few more of them as well. As you say, it's good for beginners and offers some good nostalgia as well. Thanks for stopping in!
Outstanding effort. I have very fond memories of playing this head-to-head and also by mail (not email, mail). We numbered every counter on the back, so we knew which was which. Great video!
Thanks! I should come back to another Avalon Hill game soon. This was a lot of fun. And that's awesome on the play by mail game. I tried that a couple of times a long time ago but it didn't really work out that well.
This is one of my favorite games from AH. 4 page rules and lots of strategy. Whats not to like. The event cards thats new and I do not rememer the rule of keeping a unit in the base rule. Either its a newer rule or I forgot it. I did see you knew how to suround Bengasi. Some players don't. Wow the cards are beautiful but I would not use them because of play balance then with you die rolls wow. when I play the the germans I have already had some success to make the the Britsh pull back from Tobruch. I liked the idea of the 41/11 unit in the South. It is deas but it will hold up German units by preventing from using road movment and useing a supply or surounding the unit a sacrafice but its good as a delaying action.
Such a marvelous tradition with this game and it's always great to hear people's experiences with it and thoughts on it. On the rules point, I stumbled onto a number of ruleset evolutions as I was exploring this, so it's possible I just landed on a later/earlier version than the ruleset you're familiar with. I refined the event deck after this playthrough, as I think they favored the Allies too much, so they are a good bit different from what you see here. The biggest change was softening the cards that impacted Axis supply, as they really can end the game for the Germans.
I have two stories about AK you might enjoy. I had a friend who kept telling me how much better he was at war games than I was and how he was going to kick my butt. Anyway we both had the game and he said the game was one sided for the Germans. I disagreed so a game was set up. First I was the British and I stopped him at Tobruch. He made incredibly bad moves and lost both German divisions. He surrendered. He then said Well in the game the British had the advantage in the game. I said HUH? You said the Germans did. So he challenged me saying he will mop the floor with me as the British. I took Tobruch then Alexandria he lost again. He left angry.@@ZillaBlitz
Can't say I'm enamored with the Event deck, but we'll see. And, yes, of course you should have advanced with at least one unit (probably the Italian armor) to force a low-odds counterattack or more likely further Allied withdrawal. So far, so good, this is a great presentation! Thank you!
This is a first run through with the event deck and my initial thoughts is that the inclement weather cards favor the Allies too much because it throws off the Axis timing, which appears crucial. I'm going to see how things play out in this game then tweak the deck. My initial thought is to balance the weather so that there are as many favorable weather results as unfavorable. ~ And yeah, as I was editing this, I realized that I should have pushed forward after that attack. I'm sure I'll make more errors going forward. :)
@@MisterG2323 Those are interesting ideas, yes. I'd like to avoid "killer events", and that sandstorm early in the game basically amounts to a "lose a turn" type of event, which combined with the awful German supply rolls, really set them back. The sandstorm is the worst weather event in the deck, so getting it early like that for the Axis was really a tough hit. (The Expedited Shipping event helped the Axis, which was good to see.) Another thought I had was to make the cards hand-based, but I'm not sure that I want to do the degree of experimentation that that would take to test. For a start, I think I'll play out this scenario then redesign the deck some. I might make something like the Sandstorm only happen in 1942 or later, but then it starts to feel a bit gimmicky, so yeah... thinking. :)
@@ZillaBlitz The key, I think, is figuring out what it is the Event deck is meant to "simulate" above and beyond the randomizing of German supply and the overall randomization of combat results.
@@ZillaBlitz The AK and Blitzkrieg counters were okay. The other games (even those into the 80s cf. Civil War) definitely need fan-made upgrades for aging eyes
Thanks! ~ And I've added a link to the dice tower kit in the video description. I eventually shifted out of it for videos because the walls were blocking the camera view of the dice. But I still use it for non-recording gameplay. :)
Great video! Who are you playing against? Yourself? I am 58 years old and played a lot of AH games including this one in my childhood. Sadly I don’t have any one to play with. Have you tried this game with Tabletop Simulator?
Thank you, No Enemies! This was the very first video series I did, and sometime I want to come back to this for Rommel's Revenge. But maybe with a different North Africa game. Hope all is well with you, thanks for stopping in!
Ha! Yes! And I was reading that this was the first board wargame to have a supply mechanic in it. I remember playing when I was first learning wargames a long time ago and getting so confused by the supply mechanic that we decided not to use it. :)
Perhaps instead of the event cards affecting the entire map, make them more localized. Sandstorms in the vicinity of Toruk reduces ... anything within 10 hexes of Tobruk... just a thought. Maybe one that bombing of Malta allows a +1 die roll modifier for Axis supply, and you could add a couple more all calm cards, maybe for balance a Rommel is sick or called back to Berlin card and is not available this turn and has to start next turn back at Tunisia.
There are some really good ideas in here, John. Thanks! I've been thinking of updating the cards with new and more events, and then making them available for purchase from a print-and-play spot.
Good thinking John. I recall reading that the German Radio Intercept Service had an appreciable influence on some of the battles. Also the dreaded 88 Flak used in the anti-tank role had a huge effect on battles and morale. Some pointers for more event cards?
Thanks, Custard! Yeah, the Axis got slammed by the British Navy in the supply rolls. The sandstorms didn't help either. They'll need a strong next couple of turns to shift things.
This seems like its going to be an amazing series, never seen this game before so its all new to me, I only played like "Risk" (dunno if that is translated into Swedish or if its the actually name) so I am not that familiar with board games, but I have a few friends that loves them and I always wanted to watch, so this is perfect for me Zilla! :) Gonna enjoy watch this one! :)
Awesome! Yep, the name is Risk in English too, Flakey. There is a whole world of these games out there. Some get incredibly complicated, take a hundred hours or more to play, and have thousands of pieces. I've been away from the hobby for a while, but I hope to show more as we go forward. I think I'll try an unboxing of a new game this week. :)
Love the video (as I love them ALL Actually)....makes me want to get the game! Questions....what do you think of the rules allowing a Brigade to be sent FAR into the desert with no real/realistic supply issues? The road Around Tobruk, going through El Adem....Didn't Rommel build that during the siege? and the Tobruk defenses were farther back towards the sea?
Glad you are enjoying the content, Manuel, thanks! :) With regards to your points, I think every game has to strike a balance between playability and realism, and sometimes realism goes out the window for the sake of gameplay. Especially in these older games, they were still in many ways struggling with concepts and ideas that we take for granted now in wargames. Games have evolved a lot since this time, in most ways for the better. :)
I'm not at home at the moment but this one is either the 1964 or 1965 version. I'm not sure of the differences between the versions, but I think you can get any of them and then download the latest version of the rules from Board Game Geek.
Yes you be the mistake one you should have left the unit 7 that's 7710 that same space restart from instead of putting all three units into that one space against coastline they want the 7710 should have stay on the road walking the events of the armor so you couldn't advance in also what I like doing is putting a couple units out and swinging around to Brooke to cut to the road past the escarpment I would say why the east of tobrook and leaving a unit there to block the advancing allies in June and then when you're reinforcements come from your May reinforcements taxes they're the ones that supposed to hammer trabuck
Subscribing. Enjoy your self-criticism (holding off on moving closer to Tobruk). Don't have Afrika Korps. Have the very old TSR Games, The African Campaign. (How old? I think my copy is written on papyrus.) Good memories.
They aren't computer games, but you can play them using software called Vassal. Technically, the honorable idea is that one player owns the game being played. I'm not sure that holds for games long out of print though.
I noticed the Axis starter out with only one supply counter. What would happen if you moved adjacent to an enemy counter, where you have no supply counter close enough, when the rules say you have to fight?
I'd have to refresh myself on the rules to be sure, it's been over a year since I played, but I believe the attacking unit would be eliminated. So it's best to avoid that. :)
Thanks, Fredrik! A few other people pointed that as well and I've fixed the spelling error on the card. The latest version of the cards has that corrected. :)
Hi David - Happy to help! From the 3rd edition rules: Rule 23.3: Sea movement in and out of Bengasi is not allowed. And Rule 23.6: Units in a fortress which are surrounded by a combination of enemy ZOC and the sea are subject to isolation (see 24) unless they have a supply unit present. So yeah, those units suffer isolation as normal. Hope that helps!
Bengasi was a minor port. In Avalon Hill's Afrika Korps, things get generalized, and since Bengasi has a history of not being that large of a port, for the sake of the game it's considered not a port. Also, Bengazi was closer to the Italian Navy and the German air force so that would have an abstract impact on the transport and supply capability of Bengazi. In other wargames, one can get partial supply through Bengazi. In Panzer Armee Afrika Bengazi can offer partial support. In War in the West/War in Europe Bengazi again is a minor port, but one can use air power to suppress Bengazi as a port.
My advide would be; don't for afraid to product the game play. I mean if you get shitty roll that don't make for a compelling story or produce a fair insight into the game. Just pick the rolling that work best for the game. The magic of video editing...don't be afraid to use it!! 🙂
Hi Jeff! - As much as I can see your point, I decided at the start of this that I'd never do that. Whatever rolls we get, we get, even if it means that things turn out a little less exciting at times. The main reason I want to do that is that I like the tension that the authenticity creates. If the dice rolls were altered, I think it'd feel more choreographed than genuine, if that makes sense?
@@ZillaBlitz I can see where creative editing could become a slippery slope. Having said that if I had been playing the Axis I would have surrendered much sooner and asked for a rematch. LOL
@@jeffdetmer9967 Yes, I think that's a good point, in that if things go sideways too much it makes sense to either say, "Well, that didn't work out so let's rewind a bit and see what happens." or as you mention, just start over. I mean, there's not much point in continuing on when things are so clearly done. This was the first series I made so I was a bit hesitant to not see it through until the end. Now I make sure to play the game once through first, so that I'm not quite such a newb at the game. :)
@@ZillaBlitz The biggest problem I am having with games (broad games) is finding someone to play with. I joined a local games FB group but have had no luck matching up with someone that wants to play wargames. Any idea?
@@jeffdetmer9967 @Jeff Detmer Happy to help! -Have you checked out Board Game Geek to see if there is a local wargaming group in your area? - Alternatively, Meet Up might have some groups listed as well. - If you're on Discord, the COIN Games Discord server is pretty active, and that might be a way to connect locally, although that's geared more towards online. - VASSAL or Rally the Troops are two platforms for playing games online digitally, not the same as face to face, but still a lot of fun.
Hi Patterson, sure thing! I talk about the cards a bit more in Episode 0 of this series, and here is a link to them on Board Game Geek (It's in the description too if you can't find this comment later). You can download the latest version there. I've modified them a couple of times since this first version. Link: boardgamegeek.com/filepage/223180/afrika-korps-event-cards
I think Episode 0 goes into some of the key mechanics in more detail, but you get a 10-hex road bonus and a 2-hex Rommel bonus that can really expand how far some of the units can move in one turn. Episode 0 goes into more detail: th-cam.com/video/zX0VrHsmWBo/w-d-xo.html
@@MansteinPlan1940 It's been a while since I played so I can't say definitively, and there are also a few iterations on the rules over time, so it's possible it was one way in an earlier edition and then changed. If I recall correctly, though, I thought it was any unit that spent 2 hexes of movement with Rommel that could get the bonus. I very well might be mistaken, though. :)
Hi 2001spqr! Happy to help! I'd want to run them through more testing before selling them, but the PDFs for the latest version can be downloaded free from BGG: boardgamegeek.com/filepage/223180/afrika-korps-event-cards You could print them right onto card stock, cut them up and you're good to go. Printing guide is in the Zip file too. :)
@@ZillaBlitz I will wait for your testing and recalibration to the game mechanic... it is my hope that I can purchase a deck from you sir in the future....with respect, cs.
Thanks! Yes, this was fixed in the updated version of the cards, so the latest version on Board Game Geek has this typo corrected. :) Thanks, though, for pointing it out!
I found a typo on one of the event cards It should spell Brandenburger not Bradenburger. ;-) The Brandenburgers were a special Unit of rather odd soldiers. --> Wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburgers
Thanks for pointing that out, Count Blue! A good number of people called my attention to that, and the error has been corrected. The current edition of the cards on Board Game Geek has the correct spelling. :)
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 86 | คู่เอก "คมเพชร vs ชาติพยัคฆ์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/m3q_dRYDuU8/mqdefault.jpg)
Excellent presentation! The old Avalon Hill classic still can deliver a good story. The cards provide extra surprises, too!
Thanks, Stuka Joe! I think this simpler game will be a good place to try ideas out, and I'm looking forward to trying out some more complex and newer games after this. I'm liking the event cards as well, although I might tweak them a bit after this game. I think the inclement weather cards tend to favor the Allies.
And where do the event cards come from?
@@charleslatora5750 Happy to help, Charles. I created those, and I've added a link in this video description to the file download page for them on Board Game Geek.
@@ZillaBlitz The cards are really cool. I have an ongoing argument with a friend about using cards in a wargame. I'm very pro, his default reaction is negative, that these sorts of events should be handled in-system. These cards work!
Best game ever made!
Definitely a classic with a still large following. :)
Thank you for this excellent presentation of an old Avalon Hill classic. I’ve been war gaming since 1969, but had only played this game once, over 50 years ago! You presentation has got me interested in trying this old classic once more. Well done!
Thanks, Gilbert, I'm glad you enjoyed it. To be 100% honest, as much fun as it was to explore this, I might suggest something like the latest edition of The African Campaign for a better gaming experience. The hobby has advanced a good bit since these times. :)
This is not just a game review, but superior story telling. I’ve played this game since 1971, well done!
Thanks, Robert! One of the things I enjoy most about historical games is their potential for narrative, so I'm always thrilled to hear that someone has enjoyed the story element of a video. Thanks! :)
This game just looks like fun fun fun....and the video is FUN like all of them
Thanks! It's fairly dated now, but it's been fun to see what wargames were like back in the day. I want to bring more of these to the channel, like the original D-Day, Stalingrad, etc.
watching you play brings back many fond memories of playing AK when I was a teen. Thank you
Glad you've enjoyed it, radar! Thanks for stopping in. :)
ZB: Just getting into these games again (for the same reasons you outlined!). Your treatment is great. Clear with cool additions (like the cards). It's also clear that you actually enjoy the game and the enthusiasm is infectious. Translates into great narration/reasons for your moves. Thanks for taking the time to make these. Nothing like an old board war game! Cheers and keep it up... -Dan
Thanks for the kind words, Dan! I'm glad you are enjoying the videos. I feel like we're living in a great time for these games, and revisiting the older games is great fun too. I hope to revisit more older games in the future. :)
@@ZillaBlitz Thanks for doing these play throughs of the new games too. It's fun to see how things have changed (and how healthy the hobby is) when someone grew up on Guadalcanal, Tobruk and Squad Leader. Keep 'em coming... -Dan
@@dansmith7617 My pleasure. And I agree. It's definitely interesting to see how the hobby has improved and evolved over the past 60 years. :)
Played it a lot in the 80's. Benghazi can be neutralized in a single move... In which case you simply bypass it to get to Tobruk and wait for Benghazi to be starved out. I learned the move from an old issue of the General. You need to control the roads first and foremost and defeat the British piecemeal before they can concentrate.
I can attest that as Rommel I do all of these things incorrectly in this playthrough. I really should come back to this and name the series "Rommel's Revenge". :) Thanks for stopping in. :)
Please do more of these Avalon Hill Classic titles. Never had AK but played with a friend often. Had Midway, D Day, Blitzkrieg, Stalingrad.
I was just chatting with someone about this the other day. I'm really surprised at how well received this was, and how many people remember the game and still play now. I honestly thought it would get like a dozen views. :) So yes, I want too do newer games too, but I do think I'll be coming back to some older titles as well. Midway was my first wargame! I played that to death, whenever I could get someone to play. (It was not a good solo game.) Thanks for the comment and for stopping in! :)
@@ZillaBlitz Yes! do more old AH games....you know, so many of the games after these early AH games are SO rules Encumbered that you lose the "dash" of the action....you can concentrate on Action in these early AH games
Hats off for a really excellent video! You actually have made it interesting to watch a classic wargame being played.
I am also quite impressed with your mad video skill, I can see I'm going to have to up my game.
Thanks, Boom! This was the first series I did, about a year ago, and I figured no one would watch, so I was happy that people liked it. I really enjoy making them. :)
@@ZillaBlitz me too! I really enjoy getting my narrative on! I started doing videos because I wanted to try and learn something new (video editing) in my old age (I'm 59... the horror 😁).
Oh, that's not old! You've likely got decades of fun left. :)
Played it in the 60's and '70's! Had a great time. Allies usually win, but not always...
I won't give too much away for who wins, but I'm amazed at how many people still play the game. :)
The "Bradenburgers" are actually called Brandenburgers. Named after the Prussian Province of Brandenburg where the unit had their first permanent headquarters.
Thanks! Yes, a handful of people have kindly pointed out the error and it's been fixed in the latest version of the cards. :)
My first ever board wargame. I bought it in 1979.
Nice! I remember my first was Midway, Blitzkrieg might have been my second, and this might have been third. Thanks for stopping in!
My first Avalon hill game. Second game ever first being Axis and Allies.
I cheered loudly when the Axis finally got a supply unit, wow those rolls hit hard. Enjoyed this mate
My goodness, yeah. The Dice Roll Gods did not like the Axis this episode. With Allied reinforcements coming soon, it might be tough for the Axis in Tobruch now.
I like the idea of event cards...where would I get them ?😶
Awesome video! Glad to see more videos of these older games played turn by turn. Keep them coming. I’m going to have to get this on the table tonight.
Thanks Randy! I'll definitely have to break out a few more of these older games at some point. I've got a couple of boxes of them lying around, with another box of the old Strategy & Tactics magazines with games. Those might be fun to revisit too. So much to play! :)
I used to play this all the time.
Definitely a classic throwback! Very fun to revisit.
This was excellent. Brings back lots of memories. I still have my copy after all these decades! Just a quick correction, it should be Brandenburgers, not Bradenburgers.
Thanks! It was fun to revisit, for sure, despited how much I struggled as Rommel. :) And thanks on the Brandenburgers. A few people have mentioned that and the latest version of the cards has that correction. :)
What a great show thank you so much😀
Sure thing, E-4! Glad you enjoyed it. :) I wish I could have played better as the Axis, might have to try this one again sometime. :)
Love your approach to this game. I have had that for over 40 years now and it keeps the old game fun, and it makes a great intro game for beginners...but then again; I never really liked chess much. :)
Thanks, Grumbling Grognard! I have a few of these older games, and I think I'd like to come back and try a few more of them as well. As you say, it's good for beginners and offers some good nostalgia as well. Thanks for stopping in!
Outstanding effort. I have very fond memories of playing this head-to-head and also by mail (not email, mail). We numbered every counter on the back, so we knew which was which. Great video!
Thanks! I should come back to another Avalon Hill game soon. This was a lot of fun. And that's awesome on the play by mail game. I tried that a couple of times a long time ago but it didn't really work out that well.
This is one of my favorite games from AH. 4 page rules and lots of strategy. Whats not to like. The event cards thats new and I do not rememer the rule of keeping a unit in the base rule. Either its a newer rule or I forgot it. I did see you knew how to suround Bengasi. Some players don't. Wow the cards are beautiful but I would not use them because of play balance then with you die rolls wow. when I play the the germans I have already had some success to make the the Britsh pull back from Tobruch. I liked the idea of the 41/11 unit in the South. It is deas but it will hold up German units by preventing from using road movment and useing a supply or surounding the unit a sacrafice but its good as a delaying action.
Such a marvelous tradition with this game and it's always great to hear people's experiences with it and thoughts on it. On the rules point, I stumbled onto a number of ruleset evolutions as I was exploring this, so it's possible I just landed on a later/earlier version than the ruleset you're familiar with.
I refined the event deck after this playthrough, as I think they favored the Allies too much, so they are a good bit different from what you see here. The biggest change was softening the cards that impacted Axis supply, as they really can end the game for the Germans.
I have two stories about AK you might enjoy. I had a friend who kept telling me how much better he was at war games than I was and how he was going to kick my butt. Anyway we both had the game and he said the game was one sided for the Germans. I disagreed so a game was set up. First I was the British and I stopped him at Tobruch. He made incredibly bad moves and lost both German divisions. He surrendered. He then said Well in the
game the British had the advantage in the game. I said HUH? You said the Germans did. So he challenged me saying he will mop the floor with me as the British. I took Tobruch then Alexandria he lost again. He left angry.@@ZillaBlitz
That's too funny! Nice story. :)
Can't say I'm enamored with the Event deck, but we'll see. And, yes, of course you should have advanced with at least one unit (probably the Italian armor) to force a low-odds counterattack or more likely further Allied withdrawal.
So far, so good, this is a great presentation! Thank you!
This is a first run through with the event deck and my initial thoughts is that the inclement weather cards favor the Allies too much because it throws off the Axis timing, which appears crucial. I'm going to see how things play out in this game then tweak the deck. My initial thought is to balance the weather so that there are as many favorable weather results as unfavorable. ~ And yeah, as I was editing this, I realized that I should have pushed forward after that attack. I'm sure I'll make more errors going forward. :)
@@ZillaBlitz Possibly restrict Event draws as a function of German supply rolls? Or as a function of time passage?
@@MisterG2323 Those are interesting ideas, yes. I'd like to avoid "killer events", and that sandstorm early in the game basically amounts to a "lose a turn" type of event, which combined with the awful German supply rolls, really set them back. The sandstorm is the worst weather event in the deck, so getting it early like that for the Axis was really a tough hit. (The Expedited Shipping event helped the Axis, which was good to see.) Another thought I had was to make the cards hand-based, but I'm not sure that I want to do the degree of experimentation that that would take to test. For a start, I think I'll play out this scenario then redesign the deck some. I might make something like the Sandstorm only happen in 1942 or later, but then it starts to feel a bit gimmicky, so yeah... thinking. :)
@@ZillaBlitz The key, I think, is figuring out what it is the Event deck is meant to "simulate" above and beyond the randomizing of German supply and the overall randomization of combat results.
Thank you for the video! You made it sound interesting. I look forward to the others.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, thanks for stopping in! :)
I had one of the first two editions. I would love to find a copy of the fame. I wish they could make an apps of these Avalon Hill games.
It'd be nice to see some of these get updated and come back to life, for sure. Copies are pretty available on Ebay, if that's something you do. :)
Pink and Blue counters .... those were the days, my friend
I think if I did this again I'd try to get some of the nifty updated counters. :)
@@ZillaBlitz The AK and Blitzkrieg counters were okay. The other games (even those into the 80s cf. Civil War) definitely need fan-made upgrades for aging eyes
Hi Zilla, great presentation of one of my favourites! By the way, where did you procure your nifty Dice roller?
Thanks! ~ And I've added a link to the dice tower kit in the video description. I eventually shifted out of it for videos because the walls were blocking the camera view of the dice. But I still use it for non-recording gameplay. :)
Fantastic presentation - I do not know this game at all, or at least I didn't until you explained it so well
Thanks, Dodgee! It's been fun to do these. :)
Great video! Who are you playing against? Yourself? I am 58 years old and played a lot of AH games including this one in my childhood. Sadly I don’t have any one to play with. Have you tried this game with Tabletop Simulator?
Yep, just playing both sides to the best of my ability. I do that quite often. I've only played a little on Tabletop Simulator. :)
My first game in 1969 ;)
3:11 - That's not an Italian brigade, it's a division.
8:18 - Brandenburgers is misspelled.
Thanks for pointing those out! I fixed the Brandenburgers typo in a later edition of the cards. :)
Great AAR, Blitz!
Thank you, No Enemies! This was the very first video series I did, and sometime I want to come back to this for Rommel's Revenge. But maybe with a different North Africa game. Hope all is well with you, thanks for stopping in!
That was excellent. Really well done, enjoying this. :)
Thanks, OLP! I wish the Axis had done better, they'll need some good fortune to crack Tobruk now.
I don't remember event cards. I still have this in a closet.
I explain the event cards in Episode 0. I created them for the game to create a bit of variety. :)
First playing this over 50 years ago, what I remember from that version was the eventual 3-1 on Tobruk.
It seems that things were simpler back then!
Ha! Yes! And I was reading that this was the first board wargame to have a supply mechanic in it. I remember playing when I was first learning wargames a long time ago and getting so confused by the supply mechanic that we decided not to use it. :)
2-1
Perhaps instead of the event cards affecting the entire map, make them more localized. Sandstorms in the vicinity of Toruk reduces ... anything within 10 hexes of Tobruk... just a thought. Maybe one that bombing of Malta allows a +1 die roll modifier for Axis supply, and you could add a couple more all calm cards, maybe for balance a Rommel is sick or called back to Berlin card and is not available this turn and has to start next turn back at Tunisia.
There are some really good ideas in here, John. Thanks! I've been thinking of updating the cards with new and more events, and then making them available for purchase from a print-and-play spot.
Good thinking John. I recall reading that the German Radio Intercept Service had an appreciable influence on some of the battles. Also the dreaded 88 Flak used in the anti-tank role had a huge effect on battles and morale. Some pointers for more event cards?
Great vid!
New subber.
Thanks for the sub, John! Much appreciated, and I hope to keep making more videos. :)
Enjoyed that. Works really nicely with your event cards. The die roller seems to favour the allied forces though!
Thanks, Custard! Yeah, the Axis got slammed by the British Navy in the supply rolls. The sandstorms didn't help either. They'll need a strong next couple of turns to shift things.
This seems like its going to be an amazing series, never seen this game before so its all new to me, I only played like "Risk" (dunno if that is translated into Swedish or if its the actually name) so I am not that familiar with board games, but I have a few friends that loves them and I always wanted to watch, so this is perfect for me Zilla! :) Gonna enjoy watch this one! :)
Awesome! Yep, the name is Risk in English too, Flakey. There is a whole world of these games out there. Some get incredibly complicated, take a hundred hours or more to play, and have thousands of pieces. I've been away from the hobby for a while, but I hope to show more as we go forward. I think I'll try an unboxing of a new game this week. :)
@@ZillaBlitz Well you have a supporter here for sure! :) will watch them all!
There's a really good system (VASSAL) for human vs. human digital play as well. :)
Love the video (as I love them ALL Actually)....makes me want to get the game!
Questions....what do you think of the rules allowing a Brigade to be sent FAR into the desert with no real/realistic supply issues?
The road Around Tobruk, going through El Adem....Didn't Rommel build that during the siege? and the Tobruk defenses were farther back towards the sea?
Glad you are enjoying the content, Manuel, thanks! :) With regards to your points, I think every game has to strike a balance between playability and realism, and sometimes realism goes out the window for the sake of gameplay. Especially in these older games, they were still in many ways struggling with concepts and ideas that we take for granted now in wargames. Games have evolved a lot since this time, in most ways for the better. :)
Which Ed is this? Looking it up looks like maybe 3 editions. If I was to buy does it need to be one or l another of the editions that makes it best??
I'm not at home at the moment but this one is either the 1964 or 1965 version. I'm not sure of the differences between the versions, but I think you can get any of them and then download the latest version of the rules from Board Game Geek.
@@ZillaBlitz ok thanks, yeah I think 1st ed is pretty cheap on ebay but looks like maybe different board than what you played on so wasn't sure
That might be. I'm fairly sure I've got the 1965 edition.
Yes you be the mistake one you should have left the unit 7 that's 7710 that same space restart from instead of putting all three units into that one space against coastline they want the 7710 should have stay on the road walking the events of the armor so you couldn't advance in also what I like doing is putting a couple units out and swinging around to Brooke to cut to the road past the escarpment I would say why the east of tobrook and leaving a unit there to block the advancing allies in June and then when you're reinforcements come from your May reinforcements taxes they're the ones that supposed to hammer trabuck
These are great tips, thank you! :)
Subscribing. Enjoy your self-criticism (holding off on moving closer to Tobruk). Don't have Afrika Korps. Have the very old TSR Games, The African Campaign. (How old? I think my copy is written on papyrus.) Good memories.
Welcome! I’m really good at self-criticism. :) The African Campaign is another old one, for sure. :) Recently updated version available as well.
I played that game in the 70s and.played the Germans and won .
Nice, your Rommel was better than my Rommel! :)
How do you play avloknbull games online?
They aren't computer games, but you can play them using software called Vassal. Technically, the honorable idea is that one player owns the game being played. I'm not sure that holds for games long out of print though.
Bengazi ist gefallen! For you ze war ist over.
Ha! :) I don't want to give too much away, but ... yeah, this was kind of one-sided. :)
I noticed the Axis starter out with only one supply counter. What would happen if you moved adjacent to an enemy counter, where you have no supply counter close enough, when the rules say you have to fight?
Ok I just saw the Benghazi situation, but they were a weak unit. So I guess what happens when the units are more even?
I'd have to refresh myself on the rules to be sure, it's been over a year since I played, but I believe the attacking unit would be eliminated. So it's best to avoid that. :)
Hey, did you make those game shelves?
They are actually old IKEA shelving. :)
The german special forces were called Brandenburgers
Thanks, Fredrik! A few other people pointed that as well and I've fixed the spelling error on the card. The latest version of the cards has that corrected. :)
Fun game but the supply die rolls determine who wins.
Yes, definitely has a huge impact, especially if they go sideways for the Axis.
Are you sure the allied units in Bengasi have to surrender? Bengasi is a port, isn't it? Can't the British supply it by sea?
Hi David - Happy to help!
From the 3rd edition rules:
Rule 23.3: Sea movement in and out of Bengasi is not allowed.
And Rule 23.6: Units in a fortress which are surrounded by a combination of enemy ZOC and the sea are subject to isolation (see 24) unless they have a supply unit present.
So yeah, those units suffer isolation as normal. Hope that helps!
Bengasi was a minor port. In Avalon Hill's Afrika Korps, things get generalized, and since Bengasi has a history of not being that large of a port, for the sake of the game it's considered not a port. Also, Bengazi was closer to the Italian Navy and the German air force so that would have an abstract impact on the transport and supply capability of Bengazi. In other wargames, one can get partial supply through Bengazi. In Panzer Armee Afrika Bengazi can offer partial support. In War in the West/War in Europe Bengazi again is a minor port, but one can use air power to suppress Bengazi as a port.
Subbed.
Thanks Charles! I hope you enjoy the content. :)
@@ZillaBlitz 👍👍👍👍👍
My advide would be; don't for afraid to product the game play. I mean if you get shitty roll that don't make for a compelling story or produce a fair insight into the game. Just pick the rolling that work best for the game. The magic of video editing...don't be afraid to use it!! 🙂
Hi Jeff! - As much as I can see your point, I decided at the start of this that I'd never do that. Whatever rolls we get, we get, even if it means that things turn out a little less exciting at times. The main reason I want to do that is that I like the tension that the authenticity creates. If the dice rolls were altered, I think it'd feel more choreographed than genuine, if that makes sense?
@@ZillaBlitz I can see where creative editing could become a slippery slope. Having said that if I had been playing the Axis I would have surrendered much sooner and asked for a rematch. LOL
@@jeffdetmer9967 Yes, I think that's a good point, in that if things go sideways too much it makes sense to either say, "Well, that didn't work out so let's rewind a bit and see what happens." or as you mention, just start over. I mean, there's not much point in continuing on when things are so clearly done. This was the first series I made so I was a bit hesitant to not see it through until the end. Now I make sure to play the game once through first, so that I'm not quite such a newb at the game. :)
@@ZillaBlitz The biggest problem I am having with games (broad games) is finding someone to play with. I joined a local games FB group but have had no luck matching up with someone that wants to play wargames. Any idea?
@@jeffdetmer9967 @Jeff Detmer Happy to help!
-Have you checked out Board Game Geek to see if there is a local wargaming group in your area?
- Alternatively, Meet Up might have some groups listed as well.
- If you're on Discord, the COIN Games Discord server is pretty active, and that might be a way to connect locally, although that's geared more towards online.
- VASSAL or Rally the Troops are two platforms for playing games online digitally, not the same as face to face, but still a lot of fun.
looks fun!
An oldie but goodie, for sure. :) Thanks for stopping in, MJ!
Custom cards? Nice.. care share on this?
Hi Patterson, sure thing! I talk about the cards a bit more in Episode 0 of this series, and here is a link to them on Board Game Geek (It's in the description too if you can't find this comment later). You can download the latest version there. I've modified them a couple of times since this first version.
Link:
boardgamegeek.com/filepage/223180/afrika-korps-event-cards
How did you move your axis units that far during the first turn?
I think Episode 0 goes into some of the key mechanics in more detail, but you get a 10-hex road bonus and a 2-hex Rommel bonus that can really expand how far some of the units can move in one turn. Episode 0 goes into more detail:
th-cam.com/video/zX0VrHsmWBo/w-d-xo.html
@@ZillaBlitz I read the manual and if I remember correctly wasn't the Rommel unit only able to add +2 hexes into one of the units only per turn?
@@MansteinPlan1940 It's been a while since I played so I can't say definitively, and there are also a few iterations on the rules over time, so it's possible it was one way in an earlier edition and then changed. If I recall correctly, though, I thought it was any unit that spent 2 hexes of movement with Rommel that could get the bonus. I very well might be mistaken, though. :)
Brandenbergers, not Bradenbergers. Admiral Canaris would take exception to you misspelling the name of his elite unit.
Yes, this was fixed in an updated version of the cards. Thanks for pointing it out though.
Perhaps you need to send some scouts out to look for Wonderkids.
Or Wondersupplies! Such an unfortunate run of luck for the German navy.
@@ZillaBlitz “I'd rather have lucky generals than good ones.” Napoleon.
@@ABiggles I'm going to use that quote in the next opening. That's PERFECT!
Can one purchase such cards from you?
Hi 2001spqr! Happy to help! I'd want to run them through more testing before selling them, but the PDFs for the latest version can be downloaded free from BGG:
boardgamegeek.com/filepage/223180/afrika-korps-event-cards
You could print them right onto card stock, cut them up and you're good to go. Printing guide is in the Zip file too. :)
@@ZillaBlitz I will wait for your testing and recalibration to the game mechanic... it is my hope that I can purchase a deck from you sir in the future....with respect, cs.
Sounds good. Happy gaming! :)
Not bradenburger its brandenburger😉
Thanks! Yes, this was fixed in the updated version of the cards, so the latest version on Board Game Geek has this typo corrected. :) Thanks, though, for pointing it out!
Map looks nice, but the counters look rather bland
Well, it's 58 years old. So there's that to consider. :)
I found a typo on one of the event cards It should spell Brandenburger not Bradenburger. ;-)
The Brandenburgers were a special Unit of rather odd soldiers.
--> Wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburgers
Thanks for pointing that out, Count Blue! A good number of people called my attention to that, and the error has been corrected. The current edition of the cards on Board Game Geek has the correct spelling. :)