Strategic games are a fundamental column toward thinking and enjoyment. Personally, I prefer games with a little more panache in terms of objectives, strategies, and education. One classic game that stands out among the rest is the board game “Axis and Allies”. This game, published in 1984, is one of those games that anyone can enjoy. Designed for five players, it is a long time span, averaging in numerous hours.
The game is set in 1942, at the height of the WW2. The two sides, the Allies (Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States) and the Axis (Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire), are at war with each other. The game board is a large map of the world, with corresponding territories that are either controlled by the Allies or the Axis. Each region has a “GDP” value to it, which is currency each turn for national production. Armies and Navies cost quite a bit to build, and some regions are worth only 1 GDP while others are worth as high as 10 GDP.
The pieces consist of a variety of land, air, support, and naval pieces (a total of 370 game pieces). The land forces include tanks, infantry, and artillery. The air forces consist of fighters and bombers. The naval forces are much more complex, consisting of aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and transports. The support forces include factories and anti-air guns. Ten dice accompany the set, for attack and defense.
But the most valuable portion of this game is the historical reality involved. If Germany is played, the player finds him or herself surrounded by enemies: Russia to the east, Britain to the south and west, America farther west. To attack in any direction will cause problems somewhere else. And to simply wait will allow your enemies to overwhelm you in numbers. This is where strategy comes into play.
Similar to chess, a player must think turns ahead. They must know the movement points of each piece, attack and defense rules, GDP output, and a prediction of enemy plans. To play as America, a player will find that the US has a great number of GDP points (similar to American productivity during the real war) but small armed forces.
The choices involved are limitless, and each game is different from the last time it was played. Strategic thinking comes into hand. This is where videogames are limited and where board games are masters of: strategic thinking at hand. A video game can be restarted, can be paused, and will usually result in multiple chances. With a board game (with real people around you), there are few second chances. Every move is vital, and to make a mistake can cost dearly.
Therefore, this game is only one of a dozen games that compel a person to think outside the box. To train your mind, in the way chess or crossword does. The CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates, usually has a small crossword puzzle in his pocket whenever he travels. When he has time, he attempts to solve it, and through this, he challenges his mind continuously. Knowledge is a fundamental component of the human existence, and training your mind daily is a major boost to that goal.
Official Website <http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/prod/axis>
