Hey guys, this is a thread for feedback on G40 Balance Mod.
The 'Mod Squad" is in the process of putting together a complete, downloadable “Balance Mod” file-set that will hopefully be included in the next TripleA build as a standalone map. While we’re very close to a finished product, additional tweaks are possible if there is community demand for them.
We would appreciate your feedback, especially if you’ve completed one or more games of the Mod. (Please state the number of games completed in your post).
Thanks all!
I am struggling with the Axis and would suggest two NOs be removed. I think the new Anzac one is too much incone for them. I would the. Suggest removing either the UK Meds Islands one or the US one for N Africa. That said, however, I have always argued the US needed more Income, so feel free to call me a hypocrite and keep the US wealthy.
I am happy otherwise and am happy for this breath of fresh air. Thanks again to the developers.
I’ve done 6 games so far, mostly done between Tier 1 and Tier M. I’m Tier E. So I’m not the best, but I do have some idea what I’m doing.
I think that Vichy isn’t really worth the (substantial) effort and risk for the Axis at this point. Would it mess with the code too much if we just said landing a plane in S France doesn’t stop Vichy?
Japan needs some love. Maybe 5 IPCs if there are no Chinese units on the board?
It wouldn’t mess with the code. its interesting cuz, in the vast majority of the mod games I’ve been observing, axis has opted to go for Vichy France. Maybe that’s the novelty factor talking. Who knows.
Regarding your idea: could work. But raises a question: if UK fighter (or other units) in southern France doesn’t stop Vichy, what happens to the UK fighter when the territory changes to pro-axis neutral?
Also, its noteworthy when the mod was originally being developement, we had it so that pro-axis neutral (Vichy) control of french North Africa constituted “axis control” for purposes of Italy’s North Africa objective. However, this was discarded after some peeps complained it made Vichy over powered. if the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction (with other changes that have been made) might be worth re-instituting this feature. Am curious what others think of Vichy? Overpowered? Raw deal for axis? A wash?
Giving germany a couple more units should make obtaining vichy france a bit easier, but if it can be avoided easily by putting a uk fighter there, then honestly what is the point of having that NO.
Putting the fighter there is rarely enough by itself to prevent Vichy France, since it’s easy for Italy to air nuke that on its turn (1 inf, 3 planes takes care of it pretty well).
Soul, have you played the mod yet?
It’s not easy at all, since Italy has to kill the plane (last unit taken) without taking the territory. Essentially, it’s a complete matter of luck.
I’d agree that letting the Vichy stuff count as Axis owned for the purposes of Italy NOs is a good idea. If that were the case, then Vichy becomes more attractive. Still not a definite - diverting German forces to Normandy is a bit scary - but something worth working for.
As far as what happens to the fighter in that case, I’d go with the plane simply being destroyed. Fighters landing to keep a territory under control isn’t how air works either historically or in-game.
Aight. I can dig that. We got another problem though. If the UK plane in souther France is destroyed when the territory goes Vichy, what happens to a UK plane in French West Africa? The ability to keep that territory french is crititcal in a Vichy France scenario. Cuz it’s one of the only (if not the only) safe way for uk to to get air to Egypt by round 2. What u think?
Any Allied plane in a territory that goes Vichy is destroyed.
Just having that threat alone makes Vichy a delicious idea. I’m smacking my lips at the very thought.
So what did you think about my Japan idea? Japan needs something. Not much, but something.
Does Vichy have to wait until the Frenxg Ho to be activated? Should it happen at the end of the German go, if both Normandy and Paris are captured?
That way, the German player risking a two territory attack, rather than just one, pays off?
Re: The Chinese spawning units: it makes it much hardwr for Japan, but I do not think any more help is needed, short of reducing Pacific Allied NOs. Japan becomes more fun and scary to play; I like it!
Close, but not finished a game yet, Regular Kid.
@Shin:
Japan needs some love. Maybe 5 IPCs if there are no Chinese units on the board?
Seems logical. Need to run that one by the Squad. In our discussions on the matter, the general consensus has been that if a tweak is needed at all (which is, itself, a matter or some controversy; we’re following the current league games very closely), it would likely be on the Atlantic side. Any change that improves Germany’s prospects would indirectly help Japan, because it increases the need for US spending in the Atlantic.
Regarding the idea of an additional bonus for completely subjugating China: one of the goals of the China guerrilla mod was to give Japan a reason not too delve too greedily into China, because of the danger of getting bogged down. Personally, I was getting tired of all the G40 games where China and half of Russia are yellow by round 8. To enhance strategic depth, we wanted to present choices for Axis without making any one choice obviously more attractive or less attractive than others in all cases. I’m not sure if adding a PU Bonus for China conquest would do that, but its certainly something worth considering.
Hrm. Well, if you want a bonus for Germany, giving them 5 IPCs each round they occupy London is a no brainer. I can’t imagine anyone having an issue with that.
Historically, Sealion was always impossible, but it makes for interesting game options.
@wittmann:
Close, but not �finished a game yet, Regular Kid.
hehe. Been watching that one. Looks like the end is nigh!
Addressing your ideas in turn:
1. Eliminating USA’s North Africa objective.
I proposed reducing it to 3. Some resistance there for reasons that others can probably better explain. Its under submission.
2. Eliminating UK’s Med Island Objective
This is a squad favorite, because of the action it generates in the Mediterranean, and its historical interest. One proposalwas to require Allied occupation of Crete in order to get it, but instead went with a reduction of UK’s “original territory’s” objective.
3. Vichy trigger occurring at the end of Germany’s turn.
Could work. But then eliminates a lot of the high drama/fun that can result from giving UK an opportunity to negate or mitigate the results of the Armistice. The more I think about it, the more I am liking this idea of requiring UK land units to keep french territory free. Assuming a typical G1 opening, UK can always use its transport in 109 if it wants to keep FWA french, and can use its transport in 98 if it really wants to prevent Vichy altogether. If we went down this route, I wonder if that would be sufficient to make Vichy an attractive option, without reinstating the North Africa bonus for Vichy control of French North Africa (which seems a bit much). Food for thought. . .
@Shin:
Hrm. Well, if you want a bonus for Germany, giving them 5 IPCs each round they occupy London is a no brainer.
Adam was just saying that. haha. Great minds think alike.
The advantage for the Axis doing Vichy shouldn’t be greater than the disadvantage the Allies get if they sacrifice a fighter to stop it. In other words, Vichy shouldn’t be a standard move, but one you consider if you are planning a late Jdow for example.
Thank you for taking the time to answer.
I hear your counterarguments. Only one I stick by, is Vichy happening end of G1. I am not sure anything the UK would have tried post May 1940 Blitzkrieg and front collapse, would have saved France from surrendering as it did. It was a deep routed mentality that had pervaded its military and politicians alike. Let it happen, if Germany meets the requirements. The game cries out for Vichy.
Goodnight.
There are a whole bunch of reasons why the Vichy change can’t happen on Germany’s turn. Among other things, it would mean that UK had no way to get its air to Egypt, short of buying a Gibraltar airbase. It would all but guarantee that Italy gets the “no enemy ships” NO on round 1 (unless UK does the 92 stack). It would eliminate uk’s ability to use the 93 french fleet as a blocker on round 1, meaning either it stacks Gibraltar on round 1 or it loses it.
Most importantly is the consideration Adam talked about in his post. It would transform the Vichy “option” into the Vichy “standard move,” by making it too good for any reasonable player to pass up.
As said before, though, I do think eliminating the UK fighter “trick” may be a good way to make Vichy France more costly for UK to thwart, and thus more attractive for axis.
Set stickied, by user request.
My biggest issue with the balanced mod so far:
Vichy is very strong in my opinion and I think I lost every game as Axis when I wasn’t able to trigger it. It makes Ita1 so much more easier and strengthens Italy a lot, which is needed because otherwise the Allies get too strong. A strong Italy is needed, that’s how I feel.
But triggering Vichy can be a real pain sometimes. If it would somehow be possible to make it slightly easier, I think that would help.
You and I have played quite a few games, some Vichy, some not. Why do you think it’s strong?
I think if it could trigger the Italian NOs on Ita1, it would be quite strong. As it stands, I could take it or leave it.
