Topics created by rockrobinoff

Let me introduce you to Phoney War, a grand strategy WW2 game for 2-3 players. Phoney War consists of two games in one: Race to Berlin, the 3 player version, begins in 1939 and features a setup inspired by history. Phoney War: Prelude to War is our two player version, and begins sometime in the early 1930s. It plays out very differently from the three player game, and should appeal to the alternate history crowd, or those who just like two player games more.

Some features: Diceless combat resolve. Fog of War mechanic. East and West share a common enemy in Germany, but are nonetheless competitors - single player victory!

Please see my instagram to follow along with the development story of Phoney War, and read some primers on our original and intriguing game mechanics.
Race to Berlin.jpg

17, the bid follows classic bid. you can go 20-13… jeez

STOP MAKING THIS MORE COMPLICATED. HE ASK SIMPLE QUESTION AND YOU MOCK HIM. THEN WONDER WHY FORUM HAS ONLY THE SAME PEOPLE.

But yeah I’d house rule against japan cheese and give axis a bid. It’s simple, you move in allies sz territories you declare war. thada!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivY3jFXoXSY&feature=channel_video_title

Playable in 720 and 1080 hd (recommended for good connections/computers)

This video was mostly an experiment. It is largely unfinished, and is far from a complete introduction to the game - mostly a few random thoughts, and some experiments with presentation. No, i will not be doing anymore work on it or making changes. I may make more videos in the future based on what I learned making this one.

Enjoy!

IMO, if transports or any other ship enters SZ with enemy sub, sub should always have the opyion of suprize attack shot. Thats the way i play it.

@lnmajor:

But then you would never send unescorted transports to amphibous assault a TT containing a airbase with fighters present. Is that correct?

yup, gotta protect those transports.

Well you admit to Bad Play on the part of U.K. so the case is closed.  Regardless of what had to go right for the Germans.

And no, resources don’t HAVE to be built to deal with the Japanese Navy, but the reality is 100% of the USA’s income is going into the atlantic, thereby relieving NO pressure on Germany.

A Jap navy with transports off the east coast of the U.S. or threatening australia however, would divert that 100%.  Sending a useless navy to South America was a poor decision in this game. Hinsight or not.

Just jumping in, since the water seems warm enough.

Are people trying to win as the axis militarily(meaning conventional forces/economy shifting) or by victory cities?

Just curious, cause if you don’t have to worry about future turns(by ending the game early through cities), you may be able to afford to give up certain ground and take unusual risks or losses to secure the cities in question and then see if the allies are in position to liberate one in time.

I’ve drafted and posted early ideas on unconventional strategies. One designed for Europe with a goal of 5 cities in 5 turns seemed plausible. My first live try failed, based on one particular allied response and a close battle being not close after dice were rolled. Am I giving up? Nope. I’m refining the strategy. (In this example, it is clear I must take Normandy if I permit France to produce units, as 3 carriers for the allies proved to be “a bridge to far” for the German air and naval forces.)

Loved the Video… Great job!

@Imperious:

It looks like you employ some of our usual strategies.

Kill the British at Gibraltar is a good move.

Remember the Soviets only get one round against Vyborg for the first couple of turns. They can only take Vyborg as their prize and cant attack Finland in any other way till they at war with Germany or turn 3.

We usually have the British take Persia since they lose the oil at Borneo when Japan starts. Remember also, Japan has a 3 turn oil reserve. They suffer oil shortage rolls on turn 4 if they don’t have an oil source.

You can see that it is impossible for Japan to attack early… they will be crushed if they do because they have not established their power.

In this Germany plays a much more historical feel as they grow in IPC. Japan does not get unwieldy as they do in g40. In G39 the powers are reversed with Germany playing the behemoth.

Yes, I have a hard time remembering that there is only one combat round in Norway and Finland.

@Pelanderfunk:

I like the early attacks against the US, but it looks like Russia was becoming a problem.

The attacks against America were half baked - I was still at the drawing board but jumped in anyway.

A bigger problem than Russia is UK in Africa, the Mediterranean, and South East Europe.  If Italy were an asset to Europe and not a liability, I think I could deal with the Russians.  In fact, if I could lock UK out of the Med (without extra effort from Japan or Germany) I would combine the Japanese North American campaign with Sea Lion and be sitting pretty.

What to do about that pesky Med…

Haha nice video man. That Russian stack is pretty intense.

well, if russia buys three art turn 1 and saves the rest and collects the same turn 2, that would be a turn two buy of 25+37= 62 to spend in 16 slots. which is either 9 tanks and 2 mech inf if Germany is going sea lion, or 14 art + 1 tank if Germany is going for russia. so your save idea seems to have some merit.

anyone have a link, or could maybe post a high quality (i.e. zoomable) photo of the complete map with units, or failing that a graphic of same?

@rockrobinoff:

@axis_roll:

One downfall to this sytem is that usually when a scenario is proposed, the player proposing it has THOUGHT about the scenario a bit.  In other words, they have a plan (for either side), while the opponent probably has not.  I don’t think this is a great disadvantage, in fact, I like it when my friend does this sort of thing to me, as I like playing the underdog sometimes, or being able to prove his plan was not good enough to beat me.

I pointed this out in my original post no?

yep, I guess I missed it.    :oops:

My mistake

Dard closed seems to be a small advantage for Allies, but not quite enough to balance the game imo.  It’s only an advantage as long as the Med fleet is alive, but late game it could even hurt the Allies.

hi all,

i am robin123 on triplea.

given that a ladder is far away, I am looking to organize a tournament. geographically assigned brackets, with quarter finals, semi finals, and finals, all depending on number of participants. 16 player max. all games to be played on triplea.

this will be a single game elimination event with bids for allies. dice, tech, and NOs.

first to bid will be randomly selected by me.

email: rockrobinoff at gmail.com to secure your spot. tournament will begin on Dec. 13 or whenever all slots are full - whichever is sooner.

players have a week to schedule and finish their games.

four players thus far! would like at least eight before we begin!

email: rockrobinoff at gmail.com to register.

Yep, only planes can’t land on a territory you just conquered. Inf / art / tanks are fair game :)

It’s really what you could call a Blitzkrieg:

Attack the frontline territory with inf/art only, keeping tanks in reserve Take the next territory with amphibious assault or paratroopers if you use techs Move in all armor in NCM deep into ennemy territory

If well executed, it can be a game ender or at least enable you to bypass a deadzone.

Not sure exactly what you mean by ‘historically accurate’.

For instance, Germany built rockets because Germany wanted rockets. Britain researched Radar becuase the UK recognized the advantage in it. Goering is famous for eschewing Radar early in the war, thinking it not that important.

So, if by ‘historically accurate’ you mean: recreating the way history played out as closely as possible, then I don’t really see the advantage in your system. However, if you mean: recreate the circumstances so as to allow any power to research any technology, but some having a leg up on others because of certain advantages (like excellent german rocket scientists) then we might have something.

As for the exact figures - game balance is always a bigger consideration than historical accuracy, and i have no idea what the figures should be.

@Subotai:

It is not possible to be prepared against tech rolls, or any dice rolls regardless of regular dice or LL. The only way to be prepared, as such, is to look into the future, and we humans are not able to predict the future.

True.  True.

That’s why I said, “…trying to be prepared…”

Peace.