Custom Map Overlaps

@black_elk Rock On !!!.png

@Skyian_Leader:

Any tips on game/map design? Like things to avoid doing? I might just need to finish up the map and post a photo of it so you experts can actually see it, instead of general assumptions.

The best advice on this will come from the board’s various map-making people, like Imperious Leader.  I’ve never made wargaming maps, but here are a few thoughts for whatever they’re worth.

I personally prefer area-movement maps (like in most of the A&A games) over squares and hexes.  They look more natural to me and better suited (in my opinion) to games that operate at the global/strategic level.  This is due to the fact that, at that level, things like combat and movement and the depiction of the military forces involved occur at a very high level of abstraction – so it doesn’t seem like a good fit to combine this abstraction with the kind of fine-scale movement tracking that hexes offer.  Hexes, to me, only work well for large-scale actions when tracking is a central game element, such as in hunt-the-Bismarck type games.  On another point, I find it annoying that hexes only allow straight-line movement in six of the eight main compass directions.  Hexes are better than squares in that regard (since squares only allow straight-line movement in four directons), but they still don’t permit movement in one of the two diagonal axes.

One idea you might want to consider, on the issue of map zone size adequacy, is to use a split-representation system along the lines of the “task force markers” that were used in the original A&A Pacific game.  In such a system, the plastic sculpts corresponding to a particular group of forces are placed off the game map (on a side table) rather than on the map, along with a small numbered identifying marker.  A corresponding marker is placed on the map to mark the position of the force group.  That way, the map sections only need to be big enough to accommodate these small markers rather than a pile of sculpts, and you only need to move the markers from position to position rather than the sculpts.

As a further refinement, you can even use this system (if you’re so inclined) to introduce partial blinding into the game.  This involves keeping your map markers face-down until they make contact with enemy markers (which are also face down).  Before the markers make contact (at which point they are both turned face up), each side knows the composition of the enemy’s various forces (seen via the groups of off-the-board sculpts) and the position of the enemy’s various forces (seen via the map markers), but remains unaware of which group of sculpts corresponds to which map marker. This makes possible the element of surprise, which is absent in a conventional A&A game in which you can always see every detail of the enemy’s forces.  The old Stratego game works a bit like that, in the sense that you know what pieces the enemy has and you know where on the board the enemy has pieces, but you don’t know the specific unit type of each piece until you make contact with it.

I think I asked you for your Med map long ago.  I am working on a game and wanted to see what yours looked like. (I have always enjoyed your map style)

Thanks for sharing!

Jeremy

sorry i wasn’t clear enough, i already have the files aa42 & aa50 from that link.

looking for AAP (2001), AAE (2000), aa50 (original, the file in link above seemed different enough…with azores and malta added).

thanks.

MIDDLE EAST TERRITORIES Cont…

The territories of the Middle East consist of independent countries that provide oil and other resources to the Allies. During the game, Germany and Italy have a chance to control this oil (and the IPCs) by taking over these territories. They are captured or liberated like any other land territory, but the IPCs of this region are tracked differently. The Allied powers may occupy these territories in order to defend them from Axis capture, but they can never take control of these territories for themselves. In fact, the United Kingdom player begins the game with one Infantry in Lebanon-Syria, but does not gain the IPCs generated by this territory.

Whenever Germany or Italy captures a Middle East territory, move their national control marker (either German or Italian) along the track of the lower ‘Middle East Territories’ section of the National Production Chart (NPC), according to the value of the territory just captured. The upper part of the chart is unaffected.

As per the normal rules for the Axis Minors; if the AM capture a Middle East territory, place a German national control marker on the Middle East Territories section of the NPC, according to the value of the territory just captured.

Germany and Italy may never build Naval Bases or Industrial Complexes on a Middle East territory. However, Air Bases are allowed.

There are eight positions on the Middle East Territories track of the NPC chart. During their Collect Income phase, the German and/or Italian player may collect their IPC income, according to their respective IPC level, directly from the Allied players - not from the bank. The Allies must decide who will pay Germany and/or Italy. The costs may be spread out among the three Allied powers, or one power may bear the burden. If the Allies are unable to decide to pays, the Axis powers will choose.

For Example: In the chart below, Germany controls 3 IPCs and Italy controls 2 IPCs. During Germany’s Collect Income phase, he/she will collect 3 IPCs from the Allied powers. During Italy’s Collect Income phase, he/she will collect 2 IPCs from the Allied powers.

Axis Capture Middle East IPC's.PNG

can you put a link to the download in sted of having to buy it???

Stalingrad wins it look for new thread Stalingrad game. I probably can’t start work on it for a while.

I purchased Ralph Boerke’s Large European Map a couple of years ago, and I kept in touch with him over that time, e-mailing questions I had about the game, interpretations of rules, etc.  I sent an e-mail to him several months ago but never received a response.  His web site also appears to no longer exist.  Does anyone know what has happened to him? From his e-mails, I know he has been very sick for the past several years–-and I do not know if he has taken a turn for the worse.  If someone has information about him, please respond to this post.  Thank you.