If you are looking at writing an AI, and you are considering doing one for TripleA, this post might be interesting

http://maddlinks.com/triplea/index.php?showtopic=966

A good hueristic for an AI is a really difficult thing, and I am not even sure that devising one will help with writing an AI.  The branching factory for a game like Axis and Allies is so huge that assigning a number to nodes in a search tree (no matter how carefully pruned) doesnt seem like a good idea.

I think looking for patterns like dead zones, transport bridges, infantry pushes might be a better option.

But like Octopus said, I think one of the keys is to just write something that works first, then write something that can beat the original ai, and just keep improving.  Trying to start with a human beating ai from the first revision is a real challenge.

Generaly you can select casualties for your opponent (take infantry before artillery, artillery before tanks …)

If there is a question (attacking sub gets 1 hit on a defending transport and a sub), then save the game when it is your opponents turn to select casualties, exit the game, and mail the saved game file to your opponent (this works better in 0.8.2 than earlier versions).  Your opponent can open the saved game, select casualties, and continue the battle.

@triforce:

How do I play against the CPU?  I know it sucks but I want to try.

There is an AI in TripleA in the latest version.  Hit “Start Local Game” on startup, and you can select “Easy AI” for any of the players.

It is a lot easier to use if you have the latest version.

1. Download the latest version (0.8.2).
2. When the game starts, press the “Start PBEM game”
3. Enter the emails in the field provided
4. Star the game, make your moves.
5. Save the game, and email the saved file to your friend

While you play, the dice wil be rolled with a dice server, and all the dice will be emailed to the email adresses you entered in step 3).

If you looking for opponents, go to http://tripleawarclub.org, there is a ladder club there using PBEM and TripleA