All this complexity is for odds calculation, so no manual intervention can be done. For simple rolling one need not include automatic hit assignment, and the problem could be much simplified and made to include arbitrary units (like self-defined ones).

One difficulty easily overlooked when approaching the problem of AA-simulators is the automatic assignment of hits. When you have combinations of units which make only some units legal targets for some other, one has to make sure that the attacker gets the maximal number of hits for his rolls. I’ve been thinking of this as a bipartite matching problem and think it can be rigorously solved through that approach. If you see a simpler solution to that I would be much interested in hearing about it.

Like yourself I program for a living and am very enthusiastic about the game, but my job and family situation makes it hard to get some playing done, and even harder to contribute to excellent initiatives like this.

Yes, subs can never dive with enemy destroyer present (as I interpret it).

Also, if subs make surprise attack (both defender and attacker, as I interpret it) units hit does not get to return fire. So maybe you need a entirely separate surprise-attack section, in addition to opening fire.

As with any new A&A rules there is always something that is subject to interpretation. So a bit of careful reading to make up your own mind might be needed. You are probably aware of the fact that the rulebook is available online: http://www.wizards.com/AvalonHill/rules/AxAl-AnEd_Rules.pdf

Maybe other readers have opinions on these matters, as well.

Great work. I am looking forward to this.

Some things that need to be dealt with:

• There is all the techs of course.
• air can not hit subs wo destroyer present.
• defending subs are given the option to dive before battle starts (I think)

checks for input data:

• one can not include more bombarding ships than land units landed to the battle
• altering the OOL so that trns comes before anything else should not be permitted

I’ll let you know if anything more comes to my mind.

Can we expect this roller to stay up for a while. A friend of mine and myself are trying to find the time for an pbem-game, and might “beta”-test this for you.