G40 Balance Mod - Rules and Download

[regularkid]

By popular demand, below is a link to an optional download that will enhance your G40 Balance Mod experience in three ways:

1. Vichy French territory will appear in as a distinct color (without the download it appears as the True Neutral color);

2. Marines will have a more distinct, faction-specific appearance (without the download, the marines appear as regular infantry units with tiny armbands. . . can be hard to distinguish)

3. The additional objectives will be listed in your objectives panel.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wlya7zued52et90/G40 Balance Mod Files.zip?dl=0

May 2, 2016 update - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ao3gsvihb5f0ivg/G40%20Balanced%20Optional%20FIles.zip?dl=0

Installation Instructions

1. Download the zip file and put it on your desktop. Unzip the file. Inside you will find three items:

• A file called “objectives.properties”
• A file called “map.properties”
• A folder called “units”

2. Locate the “World War II Global” folder or zip file on your computer.

For PC users, the folder is located at:
C:\Documents and Settings\YourName\triplea\maps

For Mac users, the folder is located at:
/home/user/documents/triplea/maps

3. If your “World War II Global” appears as a “zip” file, unzip it, so that it appears as a regular folder

Note: Unzipping “World War II Global.zip” will not affect playability of the map, since TripleA reads zip files and regular folders the same way.

4. Now simply replace the “objectives.properties,” “map.properties” and “units” folder in your “World War II Global” folder with the files of the same name from the “G40 Balance Mod” folder that you downloaded to your desktop.

5. Launch TripleA and run the G40 Balance Mod game. You should see the changes reflected!

[Shin-Ji]

In Windows 7, the folder is located at C:\Users\YourName\triplea\maps

[regularkid]

ah thank you

[nerquen]

Regularkid, could you please share the game xml file as well?

[regularkid]

Hey Nerq:

Am away from home for a few days, so don’t have access to original xml. But here’s an xml extracted from the saved game that seems to work alright. Will getcha the original when i get back.

ww2global40_2nd_edition.xml

[oysteilo]

Is there a thread where this mode is beeing discussed? I am interested to learn more what people think are good and bad changes

[regularkid]

hey, oystello. you can find discussions of the mod inside some of the games that are going on, but there isn’t a dedicated thread for it. feel free to start one. would be cool to hear from folks that have tried it what they think so far

[Balladeer]

It seems that after installing the mod the original game shows a wrong objective for Japan (or is this something that happened simulataniously and is unrelated?): F 5 PUsif Axis controls Dutch New Guinea, New Guinea, New Britain, and Solomon Islands.

Instead of the strategic outer defense perimeter.

[regularkid]

Balladeer,

The wording of the objectives panel has been changed for the Mod (thats what the “objectives.properties” file does). But its purely cosmetic; it has no impact on how the game actually calculates the objectives for World War II Global games (or any map). So when you’re playing standard G40, rest assured that the game is tracking and calculating the objectives with the standard conditions, even though the wording of certain conditions has changed in the objectives panel.

RK

[TheDefinitiveS]

Thank you regularkid. I know its not the official rules but just looking at the objectives it definitely does a lot for the map in a sense that you would be making more plays in different area. I also always liked the house rules of cruisers, battleships carrying 1 infantry. Are you still adding to this or is putting ideas forward stopped for now?

Cheers TDS

[regularkid]

TDS, the Mod Squad is always open to new ideas–particularly if you’ve played balance mod and have specific feedback. Always lookin for ways to improve.

[TheDefinitiveS]

Yes ill have to have a few games after the ones im playing now. There was an old idea on here about 3 years ago about making Argentina Pro Axis just to give that area of the board some attention. Not sure what it would do to the Balance (if anything) but may spread the war around the map a bit.

[regularkid]

intersante. I think the guiding criteria for the changes thus far have been:

1. Will this change improve balance?
2. Will this change improve historicality of game conditions/have a historic justification?
3. Will this change improve overall gameplay and fun?

If a proposed change checked all those boxes, it was a strong candidate. Also, for a number of reasons, we avoided changes that involved changing the starting unit setup; messing with unit mechanics (with the obvious exception of air raid rules); and changing starting territory alignment and IPC values. These types of changes are the most likely to generate controversy and snowball into something that unrecognizable as G40.

Appreciate your interest in the mod, and definitely look forward to your thoughts/feedback after you get a couple games under yer belt. :P

[variance]

If you make another updated version, could you please have All the NOs for each power listed in the game notes, and not just the revisions?  Some of us aren’t too bright and its hard to keep them all straight.  Thanks.

Love the mod!  :-)

[regularkid]

Yes

[gamerman01]

Does a Japanese sub in Z5 stop the 2 IPC’s for Russia if Russia is not at war with Japan?
NO just says “enemy warship”

[Adam514]

It does not stop it.

[gamerman01]

Thanks Adam -

[theROCmonster]

I agree we need to have a 5 IPC unit and the marine is perfect for it. Make it really cost inefficient, but allow it to be loaded onto Cruisers/Battleships is brilliant, but, IMO, it is a little too weak. Why not give marines 2 attack instead of 1 and keep the other text as is. 5 IPC’s is really pricey for what they do. They still wouldn’t be a great buy, but at least at 2 attack (3 when amphibiously assaulting) would be something. They don’t even receive artillery support…

[regularkid]

ROC, when the Mod was in development, they were actually play tested with the stats you’re proposing, and were found to be overpowered. Speaking from experience, marines, with their current stats, are bought and used in virtually Balance Mod game.

Also,  feedback/comments regarding mod rules should be posted in the feedback thread. http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=37553.0