Was it worth adding ART to the game?

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Lucifer, it’s not nice to ask a lady her age.  But I’m 30 if you must know.

    Anyway, anyone who does not play with tech in the game is playing a juvenile version of Axis and Allies.  Juveniles have a hard time following too many variants of the rules so they have to be dumbed down to be understood.

    Anyway, AA Guns would get 1 shot at 1 against air power each round.  That means if you attack with 5 fighters and take the territory in one round, only one of your planes gets shot at.  This seems to be a bit more powered for the attacker and less for the defender if you ask me.  However, likewise, if you attack Russia and it takes 10 rounds, then you run the risk of losing 10 aircraft over the course of the battle.

    Likewise, determining the value of SBR runs is in question.  It’s no longer a static average of 3 IPC lost per round and an average of 3.5 IPC in damage done.  Now it’s a potential to do 10 IPC in damage to Germany without loss by a single bomber, or the potential of that AA Gun hitting in Round 1 of the bombing run, Round 2 of the bombing run, round 3 of the bombing run, etc.  So you do more damage, but you run more risk as well.  (Not to mention you could have 3 guns protecting Germany and each one would get a shot!)

    I, for one, like the idea of deterrence to SBR runs myself.  Many American and British pilots lost their lives bombing Germany because Germany was canvassed with AA Guns!

    The 50% or more of America’s assets going against Japan is to give Germany some aid as well as make the game a little more fun in the long run.  21 IPC in equipment going to Europe every round from America is still a significant source of funds.  This is not going to kill any KGF or SGF strategies, but it will force you to develop your long term, mature and sophisticated gaming strategies and rely less on the infantry push mechanic. (Since you’ll be stacking infantry slower, which means the Germans could amass more armor/fighters to over whelm you faster.)

    As mentioned before, the whole idea of the artillery change is because I do not remember too many Large Howitzers plowing into close combat with the enemy.  Tanks mingled, infantry mingled, fighters mingled, bombers mingled.  Artillery sat safe behind the lines when their infantry were attacking.  However, because they have the effect of +3 attacking punch if coupled with an infantry unit in Revised, I thought it too powerful to let them hang back.  Thus, I reduced them to only hitting on a 1 and having no effect on attacking infantry.  A significant nerf for the added benefit of letting them hang back. (Not to mention since they do not physically enter the territory they also cannot takes possession of the territory.  Just like a Battleship cannot.)  And since they only attack once on attack (every combat round on defense) this is hardly “radical.”

    I dunno Lucy, maybe you need to go back and re-read the definition of “radical.”  Those changes are relatively moderate and benign but rather force the game out of the stagnant rut it has found itself in and force people to make some tactical and strategic decisions.  People have begun to default to standard things they have seen others do and we’re heading right back into the infantry push mechanic more and more each day.  Artillery has become almost a rare event in a battle.  Too expensive to lose for Russia/England/Germany, too weak to be of much use in small battles (90% or more of the game.)  Armor is still a good flavor, but 3 armor < 5 infantry on defense, so infantry still win out.

    Not to mention, under the proposed changes, artillery will now become a viable anchor for infantry freeing up tanks and planes for other events.

  • 2007 AAR League

    Anyone who thinks the rules need to be any more complicated should try programming a combat simulator first…

    Back on topic: in my current game, I have just built 7 Art over the last 2 rounds with the UK, because I could’nt afford armor to fill my production quota.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Speaking of Which, Ender, you ever come up with that portable, stripped down version of your calculator?

    I need a dice roller for my laptop with the busted wireless card to play a game on Monday.


  • Another observation is that if u play OOB rules, then the game is still flawed.

    OOB means tech. And the cost of research is 5 ipc. Generally, G will have long range every game if all is spend on
    tech.
    G now have 49%-50% for sealion G1 with LL, with reg dice is 50%-51%.
    This is not good enough.
    I have no problems with a G trans in sz5 as bid, that means 33% for sealion G1, reg dice. Stats about the same with LL.
    In LHTR any tech discovered will take effect after all combat moves, but not in OOB rules.
    This matter will be fixed I suppose, in the 5th.ed. rules.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Yes, and if you make the simple change that tech only comes into play after you place your units on the board, it’s no longer unbalanced.

    Tech is part of the game.  It was obviously intended to stay because it was included in revised and, without checking, probably in the other flavors as well.  It’s what balances the game!  Bids are nice to add flavor, but really only needed because of certain clubs basically banning technology.


  • @Cmdr:

    Tech is part of the game.  It was obviously intended to stay because it was included in revised and, without checking, probably in the other flavors as well.  It’s what balances the game!  Bids are nice to add flavor, but really only needed because of certain clubs basically banning technology.

    Well, with OOB if the G player spend all money on long range, and go for sealion G1 every single game, then,
    according to my estimates, axis victories should be about 50%-51%……  :roll:
    And, OOB means no bid!

    Your statement is correct Jen, but still it’s easy to understand why I disagree?


  • Someone should start a wish list thread for 5th.ed. revised :-)

    As for artillery, this unit was a good addition to tanks and inf.
    Artillery should not change, neither price or other values.
    Some units need to change, exactly what change is hard to say.

    DD, reduced price to 10, or 8 ipc, with att.def. 2-2.
    BB, reducing cost to 18 or 20 ipc.
    AC, need 2 hits.
    Bmr, reduce price to 12, or atleast 14, but one ipc less wouldn’t matter.
    Subs get to choose their targets.
    AA gun, my suggestion is that AA guns fire one shot each unit. And AA should be destroyed, not captured.

    Other rule changes must not be a gamble with the current revised, which is good, although some changes should be made.
    No capital attacks rnd 1, tech is activated after placing new units.
    Better balancing. Axis needs bid that are too high as it is. This is not a big problem, but there should not be any need for
    more than one German or Jap inf somewhere, as a pre-placement bid.
    Ports could be nice. This means u have to take Italy to kill the med fleet, and Berlin for the baltic navy,
    or maybe naval units could be captured in ports?

    Units that should not change at all are ftrs, tanks, inf, art, trans.

  • 2007 AAR League

    @Cmdr:

    Speaking of Which, Ender, you ever come up with that portable, stripped down version of your calculator?

    I need a dice roller for my laptop with the busted wireless card to play a game on Monday.

    Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    @Ender:

    @Cmdr:

    Speaking of Which, Ender, you ever come up with that portable, stripped down version of your calculator?

    I need a dice roller for my laptop with the busted wireless card to play a game on Monday.

    Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.

    That mean you havn’t made it yet, or that you havn’t forgotten I want it or …… :| hehe.  Sorry.  I don’t wanna be a pest, just not relishing the thought of carring 48d6 to school on Monday to play this egotistical, Machiavellian, homicidal maniac of a math department chair. hehe.  Dang fool isn’t even gunna let it count for extra credit on my capstone either. :(


  • maybe naval units could be captured in ports?

    Typically they are displaced and naval combat occurs in these SZ if you also have ships. Otherwise only air units can get at ships in port and no naval. Also, the port does not cost MP to leave so your counting from SZ to SZ. Its that simple.

    Also, your naval build go directly in ports and usually a damaged BB or CV must touch the port to repair, rather than the old way of “fix at sea”


  • Play it with real dice…

    Just make sure you have plenty of colors…

    “8 INF are black dice for 1’s, 5 ARM are red dice for 3’s, 1 BOM is white die for 4”

    :-D


  • I think the discussion was always regarding the actual board game balance rather than triple A anyway.

    All those dice rollers are no official. Does it just make sence to just have people roll out dice and post or is their some massive cheating going on? requiring a common sight and neutrality for both sides to see the results? Part of the fun was rolling dice if im not mistaken.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    @ncscswitch:

    Play it with real dice…

    Just make sure you have plenty of colors…

    “8 INF are black dice for 1’s, 5 ARM are red dice for 3’s, 1 BOM is white die for 4”

    :-D

    I have 12 Red Dice, 12 White Dice, 12 Blue Dice, 12 Gold Dice. (Red White and Blue with Gold Fringe.  Sorry, I’m a hopeless patriot. :P )

    But I’d rather have a dice utility.  Shooting him an email now to see if he has a wifi card and a laptop of his own, or if I have to bring dice. :(

  • 2007 AAR League

    @Cmdr:

    But I’d rather have a dice utility.  Shooting him an email now to see if he has a wifi card and a laptop of his own, or if I have to bring dice. :(

    Shouldn’t need to now - give this a shot (instructions in a README in the zip file, just extract to C:\ root) http://frood.net/aacalc/maps/frood.zip

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Appears to be working, though, the unit I am running on ATM is perma-connected to the net so it might be drawing off the net…doubt it.  :)

    Thanks, Dan

  • 2007 AAR League

    @Cmdr:

    Appears to be working, though, the unit I am running on ATM is perma-connected to the net so it might be drawing off the net…doubt it.  :)

    Thanks, Dan

    Nope, there’s no way that’s drawing off the net. That would take a whole lot of programming that I simply haven’t done.

Suggested Topics

  • 2
  • 4
  • 4
  • 3
  • 5
  • 8
  • 15
  • 5
Axis & Allies Boardgaming Custom Painted Miniatures

80

Online

17.8k

Users

40.4k

Topics

1.8m

Posts