What is making Alpha 2+ unbalanced?

@JayDavis:

And to think, if problems could be identified and solved by majority vote, democracies might actually function competently.

Democracy is much like Communism, they both work on paper and fail once you invite humans to participate.

“The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter”
~ Churchill

lol @ the concept of majority vote and choice.

Even if we had everyone vote on every issue, the choices are still made for us. It’s ridiculous.

Do you want to wear red socks? or blue socks?  doesn’t matter what you choose, you are wearing socks…

@jim010:

Democracy is much like Communism, they both work on paper and fail once you invite humans to participate.

Yes, because a democracy works better when it is only cats.

:roll:

Cats are gods, don’t you know your Egyptology?  Dang man!

Democracy works great for rocks!

I chose US is to strong, but it’s only that way when they use over 90% of there resources in only one theater for an extended period of time IMO.

The other things discussed seem to have a balance, or consequence.

UK attacks Italian fleet (one or the other), but most times the UK Med fleet is lost in the process along with much of the RAF. I know it is a bummer to play Italy once it loses the navy, but the UK is in the same boat so to speak, and you may have just cleared the path for a Sea lion. The only difference is that the US can back the UK getting it back on track (if it chooses to), and Italy normally can’t recover easily in the Med, because Germany has its hands full.

Sea lion is doable, but Russia will only be 2 spaces from Berlin with a hoard of units and will be very difficult to deal with. You will also have a hard time keeping them from getting a 3 IPC NO for each green tt for quite some time. This is also one of the reasons I would be against a Romanian IC to start. It would be nearly imposable to Sea lion, because you most likely would be giving up that forward IC to the Russians. I don’t think you (as Germany) could keep it, your best chance is to trade it to keep them from using it. If that’s not enough the US could also be steaming your way. Sea lion takes a lot of wind out of your sails, even when it is successful.

Honestly, I don’t have a lot of experience with the US using all of its income in one side or the other for extended periods of time (7-8 rounds or more), we are just now exploring that (defiantly changes things). Some games in our group the US will use all its income for 2-3 rounds in one direction, but then lends a hand for the other side. Evidently this could be a losing recipe, switching gears to early. We normally play FTF for fun, not trying to see if something is broken, but I can see the US being used in this manner to achieve victory in most games (dice and mistakes could still cost you the game). It’s my hope that Alpha 3 doesn’t force an economical split like UK (not even on the table), but it cost the US to much income for doing that (more self governing).

The NO’s are one way of doing that, but they also add a lot more income to a game that starts out with a lot more base salary. Are NO’s becoming the tail that wags the dog as Larry would say? I would be equally interested in ways to remove income from a power for ignoring its obligations and goals, as rewarding it for achieving them. Case in point like the Russian lend lease NO of now having US ships being present in sz 125 (would have been ok w/UK as well, thinking they would most likely need the help of the US anyway). I would also like to see Brazil added to the Mex NO for the defense of US interests to the south, don’t live up to your responsibilities lose income. The newly proposed Jap/US island NO’s will take more resources to achieve I think, so this could also remove income from the Pac theater. This will all depend on how much of a commitment the US has in the Pacific as to who gets its bonus. If there is a reward (NO bonus) for getting the US ground unis to Europe (should be something for this), I hope that it isn’t an extra 5 IPCs US can earn. Its other NO’s should be reduced or combined to make up for it (w/o axing the Mex NO IMO).

Are players using a bid in this version of the game?  It is a great way to balance the game.  If a player feels the axis is at a disadvantage then bid some extra units and if the other player bids lower give him the axis.

@kurt3892:

Are players using a bid in this version of the game?  It is a great way to balance the game.  If a player feels the axis is at a disadvantage then bid some extra units and if the other player bids lower give him the axis.

I disagree.  I always disliked the whole “bid” system, I just could never think of a better way to do it.  Larry has thought of a better way, the Alpha system which (presumably) will become the beta system followed by the actual set of rules.

Bidding puts the game in flux.  It is very hard to determine if 10 IPC here, or 12 IPC there will throw the game out of balance the wrong way.  And not all bids are equal.  12 IPC for artillery when used to attack round 1 is > 12 IPC for infantry to do the same thing.  Likewise, 12 IPC for Armor on the front may change things differently than 12 IPC for a strategic bomber.  What about 2 transports vs 2 infantry and 2 artillery?

It’s a great house rule, don’t get me wrong, and it can add dynamic to the game, but I don’t think it’s the proper way to balance a game “officially.”  If the powers that be determine there is a certain “bid” that is required, they should just add whatever units or cash is required and make that standard.  IMHO.

The problem with counting on Larry to create a ‘perfectly balanced’ ruleset is that feat may be impossible.  Strategies develop over time.  The global version is still in its infancy.  Bids in second edition at first were in the 14 to 16 range but gradually increased to 23-24 over the years.  If and when a ‘beta’ version is released strategies will be developed over the years that will throw off the balance.  What better way to fix this than a bid?  And if you do not like what or how the other player is bidding you can always bid lower.  Some may be worried that the addition of an extra transport for example may throw off the Sealion odds…limit the bid then.  In Anniversary edition an intriguing bid idea I thought was adding/subtracting Chinese infantry units in the territory that contained the Flying Tigers unit.  So a bid of six would add two infantry there and a bid of negative three would take away an infantry there.

I did not mean to imply bidding was “unfair” only that I disliked it greatly.  I much prefer changes to the opening set up than bids.  It is something you can always plan for and account for, even if how they are used differs greatly.

Also, second edition was “balanced” at about 6 Infantry, 1 Armor added to Germany and stayed that way for years.  If Larry had released rules that just gave you 6 infantry, 1 armor as standard, in fixed locations, no one would ever have needed to bid again.  Same with revised, if the allies had just been given 10 IPC period, the game would have been balanced and kept that way without the need of a bid.

I like the 1999 Euro board extra cash at the beginning. Everybody spent it differently, that makes it a great game.  I think that, that game was the one we started doing the multiple boards everybody had their chance to do their ultimate Germ, or Russia or U.K. or U.S.
    We have 2 ALPHA+2 boards in our group, so it’s just a matter of time
  Our rolls made it unbalanced for the Allies last week. Two weeks ago it was also unlucky for the Allies but the sides were different, 5 at the table each time.
  There is a difference between 1 on 1 and 3 against 2, more players more opportunity

fun games include cashing in all your pieces and spending it all over again.  Caveat: Any territory worth 2 IPC or more must have an infantry unit per IPC.

@kurt3892:

Are players using a bid in this version of the game?  It is a great way to balance the game.  If a player feels the axis is at a disadvantage then bid some extra units and if the other player bids lower give him the axis.

Bids is a good way for players to reach a feeling of fairness in their chance to win the game. As you said (in following post) for a laps of time, the bid might evoluate.

Thing is, without a form of league, what bids worth?
As for now, about over 1/4 of people feel it’s fair already.

So I look forward a league, to have multiple game and a fair sample. Without that, I think any assumptions don’t have a strong base. Why can’t we, for once with G40 have a good playtest time before changing rules?

There will be a tournament, Global 1940.  I am waiting for a few things before opening enrollment.

1)  Alpha 3
2)  At least a month of play of Alpha 3, preferably 2 months
3)  Decision to use Alpha 2 instead (to give people time to test Alpha 3)
4)  Decisions on rules, etc.

But there will be a tournament with it.

Sorry if I just missed it… but is Alpha 3 is already out? Or just about to be? Where?
I thought all this Alpha 3 talking was speculative.

All I found is some new NO here : http://harrisgamedesign.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=5573

At this point it is just a collection of ideas Larry is considering and has shared some of them with us. They are subject to change as he tests some of them himself, or through feed back from others.

@BigBadBruce:

Sorry if I just missed it… but is Alpha 3 is already out? Or just about to be? Where?
I thought all this Alpha 3 talking was speculative.

All I found is some new NO here : http://harrisgamedesign.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=5573

He announced that discussion on Alpha 2 is closed and that discussion on Alpha 3 requests is about to be closed.  Alpha 3 is expected out immenently, perhaps next week, perhaps tomorrow.  Whenver Larry has a few moments to spare.

There’s some new NOs, I think that’s pretty much it.  The intent is really to get America to pay attention to Europe, at least a little bit.  Things like reducing the number of VCs for Germany to win from 8 to 7, but requiring that Moscow be one of them should really drive home the point that America needs to send SOMETHING to Europe.  Additional cash for Russia via SZ 125 and America transports is also on the table.  He mentioned something a week ago about changing the SBR rules to make it more appealing as well, can’t wait to see what that is!  I love bombing my opponent, going to love it more if it’s more attractive!!!

So there are some significant changes, but it’s not going to be HUGE.  Not like allowing scrambling from all airbases huge, anyway.