Axis & Allies Global 1940

  I acquired both the Axis & Allies 1940 Editions (Europe and Pacific) in the hopes that someday I would actually play the global rules. Each edition is a game of it's own, but when you combine games you get a single epic game that needs an entire gaming day to setup and play. The board dimensions are 70" x 32". WOW! 

  I have good memories as a younger man playing the original version. Who could have thought the original could be topped .... well here it is in all its grandeur. I did actually get to play this last week and was very glad to get the opportunity.

I think this is turn 2 and the Japanese Pacific fleet is coming after what little resistance the British forces can muster in this part of the world. Yes, that is 3 fully loaded aircraft carriers, 4 destroyers, 2 battleships, 2 subs, 2 cruisers and 2 transports. Oh .. and 11 fighters, 5 tactical bombers and 1 strategic bomber on the coast!

There are a lot of Rising Suns in this shot!

Battletech

I finally got to play a real game with some of the newly mounted WizKids Mechwarrior minis on the terrain I bought several years ago. The map is a standard map printed in a larger hex size using Heavy Metal Map. This game was mostly like the old days where we just pounded the plasma out of each other until it was time to quit. All mechs wound up with their center torso's completely ventilated and destroyed.

Heavy Metal Map

I mentioned Heavy Metal Pro in previous posts which is a pretty kick-butt Battletech utility set. The Same company makes a mapping program that is equally kick-butt. Heavy Metal Map is a program that lets you make your own maps in the standard Battletech map size with your choice of custom or stock graphics as well as pre-made maps from some of the released map packs of past years. The big draw for me is the custom print settings. I want maps to accommodate my 12mm Mechwarrior miniatures that I have based and this is the program to do that.

Heavy Metal Map interface

I have only had the program a short while, but I am impressed with the number of features present. This game aid gets two thumbs up from me!

Memoir 44 Online

Memoir 44 is another game I have not played in a while due time constraints, opponent availability and so on. Recently I have downloaded the Memoir 44 Online client. It is done very well and players are always available. The first 50 credits are free and then you can purchase credits in bundles after that. Each game can range in cost from 0 to 3 credits. This online adaption gets my highest recommendation. If you like this board game, you will love this port! You can get it here.

Disposable Heroes

  Tonight, R. Lee and I played a little Disposable Heroes, something neither of us has done in quite some time. We had a good time and I hope we do this again soon. The game was a non-historical situation with R. Lee fielding 800 points of Italian Paratroopers and I fielded my US Airborne with an early war Sherman in support.

2010 In Review

   Well, I had big plans for finishing several items on my 2010 list in December, but apparently my employer wasn't aware of my plans and sent me on the road for a few weeks. Eventhough I didn't finish all that I wanted in 2010 I still completed more than in many of the past few years. With Doc's help I have a finished platoon of WWII Germans which was the big item I wanted to have completed by the end of the year. I got the MechWarrior, HeroClix and pulp figures based. I also acquired a platoon of WWII Brittish from Mark at 'Daddy's Little Men.' Three fantasy armies were completed this past year as well that were not on the list to do. Several of the remaining unfinished items were started and are in various states of completion and will move on to the list for 2011. I hope everyone had a good gaming year and I am looking forward to the next.