1940 Global Alternate Universe (G40 Alt-Universe)

Description:
G40 Alt-Universe is for those who love Axis and Allies, but are looking for a new strategic experience. The war is the same, but occurs in an alternate universe where the Earth’s land formation happened differently. It’s a return to the early days of pouring over the map and developing strategies in an unfamiliar setting.

YouTube Video Introduction:
https://youtu.be/deLJfHznEms

TripleA Game File Link:
https://triplea-game.org/map/g40-alt-universe/

Most Recent TripleA Game File Version: 2.0.12

Rules File:
G40 Alt-Universe Rules.pdf

(not current) National Objectives Card Deck:
G40 Alt Universe National Objective Card Deck.pdf

(not current) Rule Difference Summary Card Deck:
G40 Alt Universe Rule Differences Card Deck.pdf
Special thanks to @CorporalClegg for designing both decks.

Summary (National Objectives) File:
G40 Alt-Universe Summary.pdf

Unit Placement File:
G40 Alt-Universe Unit Setup.pdf

Map File:
Contact @Contango about getting the map file as it’s too large to host on the forum.

General:
G40 Alt-Universe is designed to be played with the components and basic ruleset of Axis and Allies Europe 1940 Second Edition and Axis and Allies Pacific 1940 Second Edition.

For in-person play, if you already own Europe and Pacific 1940, all you need is a printed map file. If you’re interested in getting the map file, please private-message me or use the email mentioned in the YouTube video.

If you want to try the game electronically, I’ve also created a TripleA game file, available at the link mentioned above.

Note that the game is in a beta phase and might still be subject to minor changes, however, no map changes are anticipated and would be done only as a last resort in order to fix an exploit.

Strategy Videos:
Germany - https://youtu.be/rYkSKqlctZM
Russia - https://youtu.be/Dh-2z8Zso9g
Japan - https://youtu.be/x0UYA5if1KI
US - https://youtu.be/90WRDk5s0cg
China
UK
Italy
ANZAC
France

Game Play Videos:
Contango vs Corporal Clegg & Piloto – YouTube Game - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiYPkgQBrKeGCKxJJwUnzFi5fQBgQxm4H
YouTube Game Strategy Commentary - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiYPkgQBrKeFKLB8oWmFoszBt8ZXTAiB8

@koala

Yeah, I hear you on the immersion. It’s something that I’ve thought about but left off for now for a few reasons:

1. My priority has always been on strategic tension/intrigue and variety along with balance. I’m definitely still focusing on that for now.
2. The plan was always for it to be a sort of expansion from the main game for a diversion. I wasn’t really expecting anyone to play it frequently enough to start remembering territory names anyway, but more just mixing it in here and there for variety.
3. It always felt a bit disingenuous to start naming places on an imaginary map since the real game is based on real places that have history and emotional ties.

I could invent some names, but that feels like it doesn’t have any context. The other option is just going with “New London”, “New Berlin”, etc. which could also work.

At any rate, I think the naming is definitely on the back burner and we’ll see if I get there eventually. The current focus is drumming up interest in actually playing it.

Thus far I haven’t gotten any feedback on any completed, human vs human playthroughs. I’m thinking about doing a map giveaway draw for anyone who completes a TripleA game on the forum. I’m having a banner vinyl map printed that could be shipped to the winner.

Also looking into having my print shop be able to print and ship to people, rather than them having to figure out the printing process themselves.

@monsieurmurdoch

In terms of putting the vast majority of the land territories in one big continent, I wanted to stray away from that idea because I thought it might lose some of the strategic dimension.

Conceptually, if all of the objectives are available by land, it kind of removes some desirability/necessity to get involved in naval combat. Even if it was still helpful to buy a navy, perhaps to get to an objective more quicky, you still have relatively few options since you’re basically stuck going clockwise around the Pangea or counter clockwise, and once you’ve decided on a direction you’re committed.

In some sense though, the Alt-Universe map is already a bit of a Pangaea map… The entirety of Sea Zone 76 is considered a strait that can be crossed by ground units, so the two major continents are connected by land.

I felt like this was a happy medium since technically you can get to the vast majority the map by land, but the land distance is so far that there’s clear incentive to use a navy to get there faster.

BTW, not sure if you saw it, but I’m doing a map giveaway draw for anyone who submits a playthrough on TripleA. (solo or bonus if it’s a group game) Here’s the link for more info if you’re interested:

https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/36957/map-giveaway-draw-1940-global-alternate-universe

I’ve updated two of the PDF reference files:

• Summary (National Objectives) File: updated for a couple of minor typos
• Unit Placement File: updated for minor changes to opening setup

Here’s a link to a video explaining the opening setup changes:
https://youtu.be/GIhCVC8Foos

TripleA file is not yet updated for the opening setup changes, but hope to do that soon.

Further updates to original post:

• Added new National Objectives printable Card Deck designed by @CorporalClegg
• TripleA game file updated to version 2.0.7 which includes the opening setup changes plus some cosmetic fixes

Link to video showcasing the national objective card deck:
https://youtu.be/bvCEAkDFMX8

Original post updated, replaced card deck with version fixing typo.

Updated original post to add section for strategy videos.

@piloto1969

I’ve contacted you privately to work out getting it to you.

For anyone else interested in the map, you’ll need to get in touch with me as it’s too large to store on the forum.

Updated original post to add Rule Differences Card Deck created by @CorporalClegg

Version 2.0.8 Updates (all files in original post updated):

• Russian DOW moved to turn 4
• Starting Unit Changes:
  o F4 – 2 Less Infantry
  o F3 – 1 Less Infantry
  o UK3 – 1 Less AA Gun
• A4 added to German Sea Lion objective
• Plundering is now specific to each city/complex rather than each territory to accommodate factories built on territories previously taken
• France escalation chart changed slightly to allow French ships to end movement next to Axis territories if also adjacent to French territories
• Fixed some TripleA objectives that didn’t fire if necessary territories were owned by allies
• Fixed French industrial complex that didn’t transfer IPCs properly (F5)
• Some additional notes added to the “Unenforced Rules and Known TripleA Issues” section in the game notes
• Added note in rules that US War Time Production objective can optionally be 5 IPCs if players agree (TripleA will always be 10 IPCS)

Version 2.0.9 Updates:

• Bombers reverted to normal
• France’s neutral income/starting income is now 6 IPCs
• NO of +2 IPCs (max 10) per territory to France if Independent Neutrals attacked by Axis
• NO of +2 IPCs (max 10) per territory to UK if Independent Neutrals attacked by Axis (and Allies haven’t attacked any)
• If Axis attack Neutral League, French get full income and can go to war on 3rd turn afterwards
• France can declare war on turn 12
• Axis attacking UK19 no longer brings France into the war
• French escalation eliminated but still can’t position fleet next to Axis territories unless they also own an adjacent territory while neutral (but aren’t obligated to move if they start that way)
• Fixed a bug where aircraft were defining retreat paths

Note that TriplaA currently has both version 2.0.8 and 2.0.9 available under the following game names with intention to decommission 2.0.8 if 2.0.9 goes well:

• 2.0.9 -> G40 Alt Universe No Escalation
• 2.0.8 -> G40 Alt Universe

@thrasher1

Thanks for your interest in the Alt-Universe map.

At present I’m not really envisioning any major changes to the map. I did add city names to it where it used to just say “city”, but otherwise haven’t changed much. The only other thing I’m considering changing is giving it a more pastel color scheme.

The goal was to be playable on par with 1940 global which is why all 9 nations are included. I suppose it would be fairly easy for anyone to house rule that ANZAC is part of the UK (either with separate income or not). If you combined UK and ANZAC income though, it would probably require a bit of re-balancing because UK would have such a high income. Otherwise it would probably be a struggle to combine nations without significantly impacting balance, and also running out of physical pieces if you’re playing on a real board.

In general I view it as very close to completion. The game is reasonably well balanced as it is right now, although it might require some tweaking for the latest rule changes/simplifications that were made. But with the exception of some potential balance tweaks, re-coloring the map (which may or may not happen) and maybe making the rulebooks look nice, it’s pretty much where I want it to be.

Regarding the rulebook, I can get you a copy with no background image. If you want to PM me your email address I can send you one.

Updated original post to include link to US strategy video and newer style map picture.

@jkprince

Sorry it took me so long to notice this, I’ll have to look into the edits you made. I’ve been considering doing something like that to make it a bit more interesting.