Best posts made by Contango

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

@surfer said in Using Game The TripleA Game Stats:

One I would like to see is have the same info but presented on a bar/line chart that shows the trend over time easily. Perhaps it would have “zoom” / “expand” buttons that allowed you to change the time scale to show fewer (zoom) or more (expand) turns at one time.

I gather there’s already been some work on a similar idea that’s in the Beta features…

Try going: Game -> Engine Settings -> Testing -> Show Beta Features = True

Then restart Triplea and go: Game -> Game Statistics

You can also read more here:
https://forums.triplea-game.org/topic/2563/aftermath-statistics-with-game-info-achievements?page=1

@anikom15

Welcome aboard. Are you familiar with TripleA? It’s what most people use on the forum to play games with each other electronically. It’s also open as an engine for anyone to design new games/scenarios on. It might be of interest if you’re into designing games.

There’s also the below thread which houses conversations on a lot of custom variants people have come up with. Balance Mod and Path to Victory exist in Triple A and are the most played in the league.
https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/category/13/other-axis-allies-variants

I worked on a 1940 Global Alternate Universe map/game which you can check out here if you’re interested:
https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/36740/1940-global-alternate-universe-g40-alt-universe

@gunnastunna93

YG’s second tournament never happened, although I believe he cancelled 1-2 years in advance.

However, there is a tournament happening in Dayton Ohio May 20-22, 2023 using YG’s tournament edition that @Young-Grasshopper plans to attend.

The only place I know of that it’s posted right now is the “Axis and Allies” group on Facebook under the events section.

See details below for an 8 player G40 Alt-Universe tournament to be played over the Forum starting in early 2022.

If you’re interested in joining please respond below or send @Contango a private message. There are currently 3 spaces available and priority will be given to the earliest responses.

Format:

• 8 Players, 1 vs 1, Single elimination tournament, random seeding
• Play format per the forum league rules #5 Through #9. (https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/28660/2020-league-rules)
• Game threads should be in the “Tournaments” section of the forum (https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/category/25/tournaments)
• Marti Dice Server, regular dice
• No Technology
• Sides chosen by bidding (see below)
• TripleA Map: G40 Alt Universe version 2.0.8 (note: does not actively enforce all game rules)

Game Rules:

• G40 Alt-Universe Rules (Version Beta-1.3, as of 1.1.2022) -> Using 1940 Global 2nd Edition rules as basis
• Rules Doc available here: https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/36740/1940-global-alternate-universe-g40-alt-universe

Bidding:
Players should randomly chose who will bid first. The initial bid should be in the form of “Alliance: #” where “Alliance” is either Axis or Allies and “#” is the IPC bid. The opponent should then either:
o Approve the bid
o Offer a lower # value (including into negative values)

If a lower value is offered, then the decision will revert to the other player. This process should be repeated until a player approves a bid offered by their opponent.

When a bid is approved, the player who made it has purchased the right to play the alliance from the initial bid for the compensation of the agreed IPCs.

If the IPC bid is positive, it will go to the alliance from the initial bid. If the IPC bid is negative it will go to the opposite alliance as a positive value.

Spending the Bid:
Bid IPCs can either be allocated to the treasuries of the nations from the alliance receiving them or spent on additional units in the starting setup as follows:

1. Limit one bid unit in a territory or sea zone.
2. The nation placing a unit in a territory or sea zone must have started with a unit in said territory or sea zone prior to placing the bid.
3. China is limited to bid units of: Infantry, Artillery, AA Guns (the units China is legally able to purchase) These units are still limited to movement/placement restrictions of Chinese units.

Tournament Moderator:
@Contango will serve as rules and tournament moderator and will have ultimate decision authority over any rule/game/tournament dispute.

Game Thread:
Thread title should include the names of both players, which side they are playing and that it is a G40 Alt-Universe game.

Bid units should be declared in the first post of the thread.

I’m looking to entice (bribe?) some players into giving this map a try on TripleA for purposes of playtesting feedback.

I’m going to be doing a draw for a 72”x33” physical map printed on banner vinyl to be shipped to the winner.

To be entered into the draw, complete a TripleA game of G40 Alt-Universe and submit feedback on game balance and any potential exploits found. All participating players will be entered per below:

1 draw entry – Complete a solo TripleA game where you play both sides and send me the TripleA file.
2 draw entries – Complete a Play by Email game with one or more opponents and copy me on game emails.
3 draw entries – Complete a forum game in the “Play Boardgames” section of axisandallies.org with one or more opponents

Other Details:

• Multiple entries from the same player are welcome
• A full game is considered at least 8 rounds
• Cut-off date for entries is TBD

Forum Thread with TripleA link, rulebook links, etc.
https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/36740/1940-global-alternate-universe-g40-alt-universe

YouTube Video about the Draw:
https://youtu.be/nBXaOk7d1zw

@gunnastunna93

Excellent, hope you can make it to the tournament.

@barnee said in Grasshopper’s Dice & Cards (A&A Gaming Accessories):

@al3xanderthegr8 Haven’t seen YG in a while. @Contango might know

Agree with @hengst that they are sold out and don’t think he has plans for another run. Don’t think he checks the forums much these days but he did put out a new video not that long ago and said he wants to do a series teaching people how to play G40.

@nylo

I believe there’s 4 known teams so far, but the organizer could say better. I’m not sure if he’s on the forums but you could ask on the Facebook event.

The first round is now up and running with the below matchups.

West:

1. @Caesar-Seriona (Allies +0)
2. @Madrascal222 (Axis)

https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/37910/g40-alternate-universe-tournament-round-1-madrascal222-vs-caesar-seriona

4. @CorporalClegg (Allies +0)
5. @aphatcat (Axis)

https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/37925/corporalclegg-vs-aphatcat-g40-alt-universe-tournament-round-1

East:

2. @TheVeteran (Axis)
3. @osb1987 (Allies +4)

https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/37906/theveteran-vs-osb1987-g40-alt-universe-tournament-rd1

3. @Iron_Stitch (Allies +0)
4. @Belochai (Axis)

https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/37903/g40-alt-universe-tournament-belochai-vs-iron-stitch

@general-LD

Welcome to the forum. Where are you from in Ontario?

We had a Global 40 event in Waterloo/Kitchener not too long ago and might do another in the future. Just wondering if that’s in range for you and if you have interest.

@waxenhen4

I think two things can be true at once, and there’s probably some combination of the below:

1. The OOB (out of box) game heavily favours the Axis, especially as a gaming group gains skill/experience
2. Your group’s Allied play is probably lacklustre

On the first point, there’s a consensus among skilled players that OOB favors the Axis. Sometimes it takes a while for a new gaming group to gain enough skill/experience that this starts to show up, and it’s not uncommon for the Allies to win >50% of games in a very inexperienced group.

Mind you, the progression to a high Axis win rate can happen very quickly because the Axis are much easier to script a potent opening for. This appears to be what’s happening in your games, as Germany seems to be using a scripted Moscow crush that your allied players haven’t developed an answer to yet.

Here are some items that are suggesting to me that inexperience is, at least, part of the problem:

• You’ve only played 4 games, and these were split between Global and Europe
• Japan wasn’t rampaging even though the US was ignoring it
• Moscow appears to be falling on turn 5/6 – I would consider this early, although turn 6 isn’t completely unreasonable, it should be a huge, all in, gamble for Germany

Some things that aren’t clear:

• Did you check the odds in the Moscow battles?
• Is Russia bringing all their forces back to Moscow, or leaving them haphazardly to die elsewhere?
• What is Russia purchasing?
• Is the UK sending support to Moscow via the middle east, especially fighters? (Persia factory?)
• Is the UK doing a proper Taranto Raid or 92 stack? Or something less effective?

So the real question is, how much of your problem is due to the Axis being favored and how much is due to inexperience. The solution to the first is house rules or a bid, the solution to the second is learning.

My best suggestion is to start by downloading TripleA and then view some top tier league games to see what better players are doing as the allies. Then you can mimic/implement some of what you’ve learned. Hopefully that will solve your problem. Sooner or later though, you’ll need a bid/house rule to help, so you could also consider implementing that now.

Unfortunately very few league players are doing OOB these days, so probably the next best option to learn from is BM3 (Balance Mod). It’s a house ruled variant, but at least it’s reasonably close to OOB, so the play is somewhat similar.

We’re hosting a G40 event around the time of the upcoming Remembrance Day/Veterans Day and we’re looking to have multiple tables of G40 going.

Rumor has it that @Young-Grasshopper may be attending, so don’t miss your opportunity to trash talk him in person.

Short Details:
Date: Saturday November 9, 2019
Location: Waterloo/Kitchener Ontario, Canada
Game Type: Global 1940, Out of Box Rules with Grasshopper’s combined UK Pacific and ANZAC for balance.

Venue address and further details will be sent to those who sign up. Please PM me if you’re interested or have questions.

Grasshopper’s video on combining UK Pacific and ANZAC:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9t8JwxT5Eo4

@surfer

Good to know. I hadn’t really been using it, I just remembered reading something about it from the TripleA forum. At least it’s in the works though.

@general-LD

Excellent, I’ll send you a private message.

Here’s a link to the past event post as well:
https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/33919/battle-of-waterloo-g40-event-nov-9-2019-waterloo-kitchener-ontario-canada/

@Marshmallow-of-War

I don’t think it’s written anywhere but it’s fairly simple so I can explain here.

• All UK units on the Pacific board will be replaced with grey ANZAC units (or another colour, so long as they are unique from other nations)
• UK Pacific and ANZAC starting cash is combined, as is future income
• UK Pacific and ANZAC now operate as one nation and play in the original ANZAC position of the turn order
• The capital of the new UK Pacific Nation is Calcutta
• UK Pacific units function independently of UK Europe units, do not attack together, do not move simultaneously and don’t transfer ownership when crossing between maps
• We will eliminate the Malaya national objective for ANZAC.
• The “maintenance of the empire” UK objective and “Strategic outer defense perimeter” ANZAC objective will remain available for the combined nation.

It’s conceptually the same as how Canadian units and income are joined into one nation with UK Europe, so hopefully fairly straight forward.

So far we have about 12 players confirmed and waiting on confirmation from some others, so hoping to have 3-4 games going.

Hope you can make it, please let me know as soon as you can confirm if you’ll be there.

Thanks to everyone who participated, the draw is now complete. If anyone missed the draw but still wants to give the map a try, I’d still be happy to hear about your feedback.

YouTube Video of the results of the Draw:
https://youtu.be/IwhD7ZcVS4I

I’ve had a similar experience that they aren’t purchased very often and I think this question comes up every once in a while. My general thought is that there’s almost always a better use for the cash.

If you want them to be a more viable option then you probably need to house rule something for them. On the other hand though, I think they were meant to represent a class of warship that was becoming obsolete, so if you’re more of a historical accuracy kind of guy then you might want to leave them as-is.

Here’s a link to a great video @CorporalClegg did about cruisers, and also the link to some discussion about it on the forum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_P4GK8o2kE

https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/34781/are-cruisers-for-losers-a-video-discussion?_=1626269870487

@Gargantua

You didn’t get a notification from the game engine when you took all of the pro-Allied territories did you? I don’t see it in the history.

It looks like my trigger for this is set to fire after combat move, and since it happened on non-combat it didn’t work. I’ll try to fix that if/when I do another update to the map file.