I just beat the computer in three turns…

I agree with everyone who said start simplier and work from that.

But I think the Rus-Ger dynamic really gives a pretty look at the overall game.  And for an AI, I don’t think looking at units is the best way to start.  I think LL rules  where an
“aggressive AI” attacks with a remainder of 2
“mederate AI” attacks with rem of 3
“defensive AI” attacks with rem of 4

Would work for combat purposes.  although that can easily be exploited by a human.

But that kind of goes out the window without a goal in mind, which mean holding specific territories should be priority 1.
And for that I suggest re-valuing the key ones, similar to concept IPC value but more pronounced and strategic.

Here are the key territories and my proposed Values:

Germany
Ger - 20
EE - 12
Ukr - 6
WE - 6
SE - 4
Fin - 2

Russia
Mos - 20
Kar - 12
Cauc - 6
Eve - 2
Novo - 8
Kaz - 2

Thus you get 12 territories for a total of 100 pts.  So a calculation at the end of each rd of who holds the most points could be shown to have the lead.

Ex, Ger lost WE and Fin but holds SE, Ger, EE, Ukr, Japan took Eve and Kaz But Russia holds Novo, Mos, Cauc so the Axis total would be 46 and the Allies would be 54.  Showing the Allies leading the game.  which I think could hold up since post Japan’s turn Russia still holds Novo.

A secondary equation tied to this that adds up all units within these key territories and calculates their defensive value and offensive value.  Since form all of these territories you can get to Kar, you could probably calculate how many turns of purchases it would take to:
(for side that does not own kar)
1)  be able to attack Kar and take
2)  be able to attack kar and take and HOLD from a counter.
(side that does own kar)
3)  continue to be able to hold kar
4)  find ter with most enemies units, is an attack or strafe benefical (based on LL attack rules)

Example, If units are equal at 100 Axis and 100 Allies, but Allies earn 80 and Axis earn 60.  It wouldn’t be to hard to say, well in 10 turns the Allies will 900 pts in unit strength vs. 700.  Perhaps that gives the Allies the needed adv to attack and hold.

I think the first order should be to set up the inital “rally points” or key territories that MUST be held.  But I do think it would be easy for a human to exploit.

The real adv for the AI would be it could calculate it’s army strength much further down the road provided it was set right.  Which I admit would be very hard.  But I think if you work with some initial parameters you might be able to do a pretty good job.  I’m thinking if you assume all other territories except the initial 12 I laid out are “bonus”, you could then have the AI “assume” it’s income for 5, 6, 7 turns based on the LL playing style you give it.  Yet when their turn actually comes around they maybe able to buy some thing more b/c they hold half of Afr as well.  But for your initial Calcs you don’t really need to take all that stuff into account.  I think Less would be more in this case and would actual build a strong AI.

I’m just thinking of how I play now and I treat everything but those 12 ter as secondary, and it works for me, Infact I even treat half of those 12 as secondary.  Position I think would be a greater asset for a strong AI, not IPCs or even army strengh (if it is out of position).

fair enough. Let’s say you pull the armor back, and toss fighters in? Or one arm, one ftr?
Also it’s not just the german ftr but also it’s armor(s). Plus stalling it for 2 turns (by forcing it to pull back instead of allowing it to build up).

I’m not sure I follow, how does hitting EEuro hurt Germany more than attacking Ukr. It has 1 more armor anyway, and you have more guys to throw in. Further against a good PE bid you’d likely be creating a deadzone in Karelia even with armor there, or I could stack Cauc to force you from Karelia on R2. Either way I don’t see why attacking EEuro is going to hurt Germany more than hitting Ukr would.

Depending on the bid of course, but interesting is

sub vs sub in AZO

2 ftr vs trn, sub in BAL
8/3 vs Ukr

and maybe 5/1 vs Man (only w/1 inf Kwa bid or less)
ncm the trn to NOR and Germany has a tough task.

Yes very much depending on the bid if you ask me. IMO no Africa bid should ever happen unless you are prepared to bid 2 guys into Manch. I assume an Africa bid as against a PE bid this would be extremely risky, and create a potential deadzone out of Karelia. So yes I’d say this would work against only the very worst of bids.

That’s the only reason I’d risk all my tanks in E Euro. At least I know I’ll have another round to build before an invasion. I don’t like it, but in an unRR, no bid game (ie playing by the printed rules) I could see the tactical advantage to taking Manch, E. Euro, Baltic Sea and the sea zone to the west of France with Russia followed by a Kwang attack by the UK.

But herein lies the problem in a no bid no RR game why would Russia need to ever worry about Karelia. I would also question why Russia would need to attack Manchuria as in a no bid game the Allies start with such an impressive advantage they don’t need to do much to win.

Kar. should be taken the first turn, but only to partially delete it’s forces. Only as a blitzkrieg secondary effort to move your armor and fighters to Moscow. Destroy the UK navy all that you can also on the first turn. The Allies pose no threat in WE if you leave your forces there. Moscow can be taken in Round 2.
See:
http://axisandallies.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3420
It worked for me. With alot of luck. Depends on the option you play with also.
~Tyranny

@Hllrback7:

First- Where do you put your men at the end of a turn. Do you have to put them at the factory and leave them there till next turn. Or can you place them anywhere?!

Answered well.
@Hllrback7:

Two- Can you move men through an allied territory? Like if you have the three countries?!

Yes, any allied players forces may move through another allied players territories UP TO THE MAXIMUM MOVEMENT ALLOWED(1 for inf and aa, 2 for arm, 4 for ftr, 6 for bmr)
@Hllrback7:

Three- How does the defense counter-attack work after you are attacked. What dictates how you can attack after being hit?

If you have the Attacker/Defender Battle Board place all units on the appropriate spaces. As defenders are hit move them behind the line as losses which will get to return fire in the defenders part of the battle. Remove them from the board after each defensive round is completed.

Remember to place the battleships(bbs) on the board and use their one shot bombardment in amphibious attacks. Then remove the bbs as they are not part of the land battle and cannot be lost.

Also remember to place trans on the board in naval battles even as attackers. Though they cannot attack, they can be hit and sunk(your choice as to what you lose.)

It is almost always advisable to remove your lowest attack/defend dice unit first. Lose a tran(does not attack/defends @1 on a d6) before you lose the bb(attacks @4/defends @4.) Keep the bb to attack another turn, unless the tran cannot be attacked and has units that can unload to attack on land.) Also, it is easier to replace a tran and 2 inf(14 IPCs) than a bb(24 IPCs.)

Note that it is important to keep your carrier afloat if you have ftrs that are not adjacent to friendly territories. B4 losing the cv, lose a ss or empty tran if available. If not lose a ftr.

Another problem occurs when you have to decide between losing a cv or bb. Think what you intend to do with the remaining unit(s). If you have other ftrs available the cv would often be the better KEEP. Especially as it is cheaper to build 1 ftr(12 IPCs) for added punch than to build 1 bb(24 IPCs.)

Computer win? Isn’t that any oxymoron? Kinda like Lebanese government or Islamic Democracy.

Save it manually? LOL Yes, that’d be a bit tedious.

Unfortunately, I’m still stuck with the same problem, and re-installing the game hasn’t helped any. Does the A&A folder have a seperate sub-folder for saved games?

-Gioman

Key word is the Allied Navy. Now granted that you can pull all available troops in Europe and hit Karelia with a super stack, you still have a good chance of winning even against 18 inf, 3 ARM, 2 ftrs. However, there’s no way that the surviving force can poke through Russia on G2, especially if the Russians have reinforced entirely with inf. This is where the Allied Navy comes in, when you busy building ARM for an invasion force and have to wait for supplementary inf to arrive on time, chances are that UK and USA will be hitting you in Western Europe or Worst Yet(!) Germany itself – game over.

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My advice, fight the Eastern Front to contain the Russians outside of Eastern Europe, forcing them to choose between defending between Karelia or Ukraine if you need those 3 extra IPCs to end the game. Use the rest of those forces to protect WE and Africa. Remember a D-Day can ruin the Axis attempts at an EV. I’m interested in hearing your calculations on how to do it.