Afghanistan? Really?

[tom730_slith]

OK, loving the game since I got it a few months after release and the original board game back in the late 80's! Love the computer version so much primarily because of the lack of space to set up (and leave up) the entire board game with all its components. Also being able to not only save games but also have the computer automatically save at various points has been a blessing!
After a couple years playing the game on computer only ONCE did Afghanistan come into play, which was when a very lucky Axis decided to move through Afghanistan to connect the Axis-dominated Middle East with Japanese controlled India. I just perused the ADG site and the rulebook for the final version of the boardgames and find that currently Afghanistan can be aligned with the Axis in much the same way as Iraq and Persia!
Has this been the case for recent versions of WIF?
What are your thoughts about importing this option into MWIF?
Personally I like it! As the Axis I usually go hard and fast after Egypt with Italy, and when successful it is a short stroll to activate Iraq and (a bit trickier) Persia. It seems to me that activating Afghanistan would be a big plus for the Axis and would allow not only a link up in India but would also possibly help with the conquest of India!
Thoughts for using this in MWIF?

[Centuur]

One can already "house rule" this, by making a compulsory DoW by the Allies and rolling the dice for no US entry effect.

I don't know what to think about this rule. But one thing is certain: the Afghan people hated the British for the attempts to get political influence in the country, this rule supports this. But how can one use the MTN that can leave the country? If both the MIL and the MTN are leaving, that leaves the place ready for a Soviet invasion.

[paulderynck]

RAW7 did not have an option to align Afghanistan, but as noted, it can be easily house-ruled.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: tom730

OK, loving the game since I got it a few months after release and the original board game back in the late 80's! Love the computer version so much primarily because of the lack of space to set up (and leave up) the entire board game with all its components. Also being able to not only save games but also have the computer automatically save at various points has been a blessing!
After a couple years playing the game on computer only ONCE did Afghanistan come into play, which was when a very lucky Axis decided to move through Afghanistan to connect the Axis-dominated Middle East with Japanese controlled India. I just perused the ADG site and the rulebook for the final version of the boardgames and find that currently Afghanistan can be aligned with the Axis in much the same way as Iraq and Persia!
Has this been the case for recent versions of WIF?
What are your thoughts about importing this option into MWIF?
Personally I like it! As the Axis I usually go hard and fast after Egypt with Italy, and when successful it is a short stroll to activate Iraq and (a bit trickier) Persia. It seems to me that activating Afghanistan would be a big plus for the Axis and would allow not only a link up in India but would also possibly help with the conquest of India!
Thoughts for using this in MWIF?

warspite1

Given the history of the country and their thoughts toward any invader - or would be coloniser - why would anyone be allowed to align Afghanistan? I would have thought that at the very least any such 'aligner' would have to have imposed upon them a massive garrison?

[tom730_slith]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: tom730

OK, loving the game since I got it a few months after release and the original board game back in the late 80's! Love the computer version so much primarily because of the lack of space to set up (and leave up) the entire board game with all its components. Also being able to not only save games but also have the computer automatically save at various points has been a blessing!
After a couple years playing the game on computer only ONCE did Afghanistan come into play, which was when a very lucky Axis decided to move through Afghanistan to connect the Axis-dominated Middle East with Japanese controlled India. I just perused the ADG site and the rulebook for the final version of the boardgames and find that currently Afghanistan can be aligned with the Axis in much the same way as Iraq and Persia!
Has this been the case for recent versions of WIF?
What are your thoughts about importing this option into MWIF?
Personally I like it! As the Axis I usually go hard and fast after Egypt with Italy, and when successful it is a short stroll to activate Iraq and (a bit trickier) Persia. It seems to me that activating Afghanistan would be a big plus for the Axis and would allow not only a link up in India but would also possibly help with the conquest of India!
Thoughts for using this in MWIF?

warspite1

Given the history of the country and their thoughts toward any invader - or would be coloniser - why would anyone be allowed to align Afghanistan? I would have thought that at the very least any such 'aligner' would have to have imposed upon them a massive garrison?

I was surprised it was in the latest WIF - given the lack of a strong, stable central government it just seemed odd. But if it's good enough for WIF I'll give it a try with MWIF!

[paulderynck]

It probably got included in RAW8 in order to justify the existence of the Afghan counters. [;)] Most likely the cleanest, freshest and least used counters of any in a WiF game box.