2016 League General Discussion Thread

[Giallo]

I was using a hotmailaccount I registered a new gmailaccount now it’s working… Thanks Bmnielsen!!

[Me1945]

Yep, tripleawarclub seems to hate hotmail accounts. Works for my new gmail.
Thanks guys.

[Major Major]

@regularkid:

Gents,

The G40 Balance Mod file required a minor XML correction. Somehow, in the latest version the number values for USA’s “Vital Forward Bases” objective (Marianas, Caroline, Marshall, Paulau) got mixed up, so the game was awarding 4 PUs instead of 5 for that objective.

Attached is a corrected version of the G40 Balance Mod file. Apologize for the mix up there.

Also, in the Game Notes in the attached file, there are a few rule clarifications based on questions we received about the Mod (e.g., specifying that Russia only gets its +3 for having no allied units present if it is at war with Euro Axis). Also, the Game Notes clarify that Japan may not move its units into originally Russian territory unless Japan is at war with Russia.

I’ve been following all the league games using Balance Mod with great interest. Glad to see it getting so much traction :) Hope ya’ll enjoy!

So I have 2 games started before this fix. 
Is the US NO the only issue?  So we will edit in an extra 1PU when USA hits it in those games and it is fixed?

[Adam514]

For the value of the NOs yes it’s the only issue. There are still rules exploits that are possible with the current rule set, but they will be corrected soon.

[Major Major]

@Adam514:

For the value of the NOs yes it’s the only issue. There are still rules exploits that are possible with the current rule set, but they will be corrected soon.

Do Tell!

[Adam514]

For example landing Japanese planes (or simply ground units) on German territories to force Russia to declare war on Japan if it wants to attack those territories. This was corrected in the latest version, but I think the vast majority of mod games started without the extra rule that corrects this.

[Major Major]

So the now accepted rule is what?  No Japanese planes in German territory unless at war with russia?

[Adam514]

On originally owned Russian territories occupied by Euro-Axis.

Update mod is here for now: http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=36862.90

[Major Major]

@Adam514:

On originally owned Russian territories occupied by Euro-Axis.

Update mod is here for now: http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=36862.90

Thanks ADAM!

If you are reading regularkid.  You should put future amendments in a different color on that awesome description page so that those of us playing older versions can see what changed!

You Rock!

[regularkid]

will do for sure. thanks  :mrgreen:

[Major Major]

One other note on rule adjustments for balance.
This probably falls under realism more than balance, but what about changing the victory conditions a little.  I like 8vc in Europe but 11 axis needed globally and 6vc Pacific but 11 needed globally?  This isn’t really much harder than it is now, but removes that crappy Japanese complete sell out move for Europe victory…

[regularkid]

@Infrastructure:

One other note on rule adjustments for balance.
This probably falls under realism more than balance, but what about changing the victory conditions a little.  I like 8vc in Europe but 11 axis needed globally and 6vc Pacific but 11 needed globally?  This isn’t really much harder than it is now, but removes that crappy Japanese complete sell out move for Europe victory…

Could work. But two things come to mind. First, I’m not sure the “japan sell out” is really what makes Axis overpowered in the vanilla game. Occassionly, you do see games where Japan patently abandons its position in the Pacific to aid Germany. But, speaking from my own experience, it seems like the more common (and better) strategy is for both Axis sides to pursue their own objectives very aggressively, leaving Allies in the horns of a dilemma–if they go KGF, Japan wins, if they go KJF, Germany wins.

Also, I think you’ll find that the Balance mod makes the strategy your describing less viable than in the regular game. Among other things, the money that USA would earn from achieving its additional NO in the Pacific early game could be used in Europe (that’s 10 Pus per round, not to mention Phillipines money). So Germany has an added interest in seeing Japan play its traditional role in checking US advances there.

Just my two cents.

[nerquen]

Just a thought about the tier system: it is kind of strange that one does not have to ever win a game and be a solid tier 1 player… all one needs to do is get beaten by tier M opponents. Tier M players are also not hesitant to play such a player… as they get cheap 6 points by beating him. So all are happy, except maybe tier 3 players, wondering why that incompetent player is ranked two tiers above them…  … maybe something to consider for future updates of the system

[gamerman01]

The main thing is that it is a huge improvement on mere win/loss records.  You had the potential for much bigger disparities then.  If you can get all these tier M’s to play you and wax you, then bravo  :-)
I’m not trying to come up with the best rating system ever devised, the system was created to reflect strength of schedule.  If you’re a tier 3 and you’re better than that tier 1 who’s always playing M’s and losing, then challenge that bugger to a game and defeat him.  Even one win will go a long ways towards correcting the difference.  If he refuses to play you because he’s gaming the system, then he sucks. 
I do appreciate the thoughts and I understand the points

[Shin-Ji]

Since I assume regularkid’s stickied thread isn’t for discussion, I just wanted to say thank you for the update!  I keep accidentally buying marines when I wanted Infantry.

[regularkid]

my plesh. yah, the more distinct marine images are helpful, and the color change for vichy france is nice too.

the link for the optional download that adds these cosmetic upgrades for g40 balance mod (second post): http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=37341.0

[nerquen]

@regularkid:

@Infrastructure:

One other note on rule adjustments for balance.
This probably falls under realism more than balance, but what about changing the victory conditions a little.  I like 8vc in Europe but 11 axis needed globally and 6vc Pacific but 11 needed globally?  This isn’t really much harder than it is now, but removes that crappy Japanese complete sell out move for Europe victory…

Could work. But two things come to mind. First, I’m not sure the “japan sell out” is really what makes Axis overpowered in the vanilla game. Occassionly, you do see games where Japan patently abandons its position in the Pacific to aid Germany. But, speaking from my own experience, it seems like the more common (and better) strategy is for both Axis sides to pursue their own objectives very aggressively, leaving Allies in the horns of a dilemma–if they go KGF, Japan wins, if they go KJF, Germany wins.

Also, I think you’ll find that the Balance mod makes the strategy your describing less viable than in the regular game. Among other things, the money that USA would earn from achieving its additional NO in the Pacific early game could be used in Europe (that’s 10 Pus per round, not to mention Phillipines money). So Germany has an added interest in seeing Japan play its traditional role in checking US advances there.

Just my two cents.

Hi regularkid, I have to support Infrastructure’s opinion here. The way this Axis strategy works is that each Axis power works aggressively towards victory in their home theater in early and mid game. Then for the end game they all go against the theater in which victory is more likely. If this endgame only takes 2-3 turns, economy does not really matter, even if US manages to take capitals in the abandoned theater… their production centers are so far from VCs so they just don’t have time to bring all that money into fight.

Have a look on this game for an example: http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=37309.new  Japan just ignored economy altogether… it lost all DEI islands in Turn4 and never bothered to recapture any… economy is not important when you aim at early victory. In Ita6,Ger7 all EuroAxis planes jumped to Pacific to target India.

1st edition rules  had a flaw that strongly motivated Allies to throw all resources into a single theater, so the designers changed the victory conditions for 2nd edition. Now, however, there is an opposite flaw in 2nd ed. that motivates Axis to throw all their resources into a single theater in the end game.

This is what I currently use in my house-ruled games: If ever German or Italian unit end turn on a Japanese owned territory, or Japanese unit ends on German or Italian territory, or they land a plane on others side carrier, or they attack a VC on the opposite side of the map, then Axis need 13 VC globally to win the game.  So Axis have a choice here: if they just play in their home theater, then 2nd edition VC’s apply, but, if they chose to collaborate actively, sending resources to the other theater (for example Germany sending a bomber to pacific) then the VCs switch back to the 1st edition version.

[regularkid]

Nerq, thanks for the comment.

I’ve been following the BM game between you and Gamerman. I think the game is atypical of Balance Mod games since it was played without 4 of the Allied National Objectives that were included in the mod. My personal view is that giving up these four NOs puts the advantage squarely with Axis. Yours is also the only BM game i have seen that ended (?) in a India crush by Italy/Germany. I think that makes the game extraordinary in its own right (wp!). I wouldn’t characterize that a a recurring problem with the game (vanilla or mod), since its something I rarely see.

[nerquen]

@regularkid:

Nerq, thanks for the comment.

I’ve been following the BM game between you and Gamerman. I think the game is atypical of Balance Mod games since it was played without 4 of the Allied National Objectives that were included in the mod. My personal view is that giving up these four NOs puts the advantage squarely with Axis. Yours is also the only BM game i have seen that ended (?) in a India crush by Italy/Germany. I think that makes the game extraordinary in its own right (wp!). I wouldn’t characterize that a a recurring problem with the game (vanilla or mod), since its something I rarely see.

Fair points, giving up 4 allied NOs make indeed some difference. In my games though, Axis putting it all into a single theater is not that uncommon… bombers especially can be pretty much anywhere in 2 turns… and are useful in providing extra defensive fodder in VC that have to hold for the last turn of the game.

Anyway the BM is a good step forward, it definitely feels more historically accurate than OOB. Rich Russia and spawning Chinese are especially brutal for Axis… without that gamey move against India, it would look quite desperate for Axis I have to say.

[gamerman01]

A little too eager to draw conclusions I think, using a single game that isn’t completed yet.
Excellent response by kid, I think.
Now I’m a party to this too, so I get to put my 2 cents in.

1. I’m not sure -4 NO’s is too many.  1 game is not enough
2. I am facing the perfect storm. 
   a) I accepted a game with an unknown entity (Nerquen) who has very little league history.  Usually this means an easy win.
   b) Nerquen clearly is an experienced, accomplished player who has played very, very well (as kid said with the wp)
   c) Overall the dice probably haven’t been all that bad (hard to remember when playing multiple games at once) but I definitely got ripped in Tobruk and at least 4 battles in SE Asia early, which is the main reason I have this vulnerability at all.  I lost Egypt on I1 to really bad dice in Tobruk.  This allows Italy to make the gamey move on India so early.  India is weak because of terrible dice in SE Asia, over and over again.  Nerquen played very well to take advantage of these dice.
3. The game is not over.  I feel disrespected for Nerquen to basically be dancing on my grave that I’m not in yet. (again, kid acknowledges this with a well placed question mark)  I would love to comment more on this but of course I can’t, because the game is not over

You’ve been a swell guy Nerquen, so I am quite disappointed at all these remarks on a game that isn’t done yet and where you know you got great dice in the key places (again, tip of the cap for exploiting very well), and you know you ambushed me because you have almost no league history

I was here to make my Russian move, and probably would have been done now….  :|