• @Corbeau:

    While I totally agree bids are for weak players, I’d say the best way is to simply bid 0 and play allies to avoid any whining from the weaker player.

    The problem is when axis player starts whining because he won too easy and had a boring victory. No risk of losing, no fun: this is not like 40/60 chances of Revised FTF multiplayer games, it’s more like the 5/95 chances of PBEM one to one Classic games

    As axis, I’d like a limited allied asian bid. This way I ensure that Japan is a challenge and not a boring stomping fest, and also that the bid is not going to screw the balanced area of the map (Europe/Africa) and so prevent promoting a ignore Japan fanmania. For 1942 scenario, limited asian bid is still good for soviets because you could bid, say, one tank for kaz and the rest for India/China where the unbalance is most serious. Egypt bids usually balance the game, but at the cost of promoting boring ignore Japan strats, so Egypt bids are not the solution


  • @Funcioneta:

    @axis_roll:

    NO, and I mean NO version of A&A (OOB rules) has had a GOOD tech system.  Adding MORE random dice to a game with enough of them does NOT make a good addition to the game (IMHO)

    • AA50: being a broken game as it is due setup failures, however came with many engine improvements, being tech one of the most importants. Now you don’t lose the money when you roll for tech, so there is a incentive for purchasing tech teams. To compensate, tech now is not directed but you have a choice with land and navy tech teams, so you don’t get stuck with SSs being USSR and you see rare things as USA with mech inf here and there. Finally tech is a usable weapon and a valid strat, and HBs were nerfed again with FAQs. So I think that tech system of AA50 is best in the series
      You cannot say that HBs, even without nerfing, is game over in AA50. There are many counters available in the tech trees. Now it’s important fight against tech haters, and more since seems that this tech system is going to be almost the same in G40. And lasty, if you feel that a single tech is too good, simply pact with the rivals nerfing or delaying it but keep the system

    You overlook the ‘instantaneous’ aspect of the broken YATHZEE Tech system.
    That aspect in and of itself ruins the tech system.  Oh, sure, you’re supposed to always ‘prepare’ for the CHANCE that your opponent will hit a tech.  That’s like saying we can be prepared for a tornado strike on your house.  I prefer to not play a ‘paranoid’ style of game-play for outcomes that will occur with such a small chance of occurance.

    @Funcioneta:

    In fact, I feel that techless AA50 is a bit poor because you don’t have to care about the multiple variations tech gives.

    I don’t see how adding more RANDOM combinations of outcomes makes a game more strategic?  Because there’s more premutations?

    that logic is non-logical.

  • '16 '15 '10

    @Corbeau:

    While I totally agree bids are for weak players, I’d say the best way is to simply bid 0 and play allies to avoid any whining from the weaker player.

    Also, It’s always great to beat someone who is convinced axis are too strong when not only you let them play them, but you do so by the book in conditions he would not dare to play allies. It’s like adding the cherry on top of the sunday or taking a candy from a new born baby ( I would not do that to my own son, mind you  :roll: ).

    Moral of the story is if your opponent ask for a bid, you know you already won. Agree to his terms, bid 0 and watch his world fall appart. :evil:

    There’s only 1 way to prove this.  Come on TripleA, host a game that says “Dice/Tech 1-1 No Bid Adv/Exp Players Only”, and see how much you win.  See if you can win more than 50%.  I think you will be lucky to win 25%.

    If it were true that the game were balanced or close to balanced….wouldn’t there be SOMEONE specializing in Allies and willing to test themselves on the TripleA server at 6 or lower (playing dice)?  Correct me if I’m wrong, but to the best of my knowledge there is no one.

    I played many games of Revised as Axis without a bid.  As Func notes, it is a great deal harder to win as Allies in AA50 without a bid than it was to win with Axis in Revised without a bid.

    The bid simply ensures that both sides consider the game a fair contest.  There is nothing more to it than that.


  • I certainly don’t specialise in allies but I don’t agree the game is not balanced.

    I can play you here with battlemap if you want as long you are in no hurry.
    Between work, my son and my current tournament of planets4, it does not leave me much time without talking of working on the house.

    I could probably manage a full round per week ( 3 nations turns ) from work. Just start a game if interested as you will be axis , no bid.

  • '16 '15 '10

    Ok I sent you a pm.


  • oh, can you post a link to the game?

    I’d like to watch the story with the Moral that a Zero Bid is a win for the allies.
    I want to watch the axis ‘world fall appart (sic)’

  • '16 '15 '10

    One game doesn’t prove much…but for what it’s worth…

    http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=18450.0

    Nice start for Germany but I went with a pretty conservative approach.


  • @axis_roll:

    oh, can you post a link to the game?

    I’d like to watch the story with the Moral that a Zero Bid is a win for the allies.
    I want to watch the axis ‘world fall appart (sic)’

    Aren’t we playing one of these now  :-D

    Personally I think a bid is not really necessary for '41, I know a lot of players have a different take but that is mine. '42 definitely needs a bid but I have not messed around with them enough yet to for an opinion of how much.

    As far as the original poster and wondering why you got the smack down. Play a few games here and you will figure that out. There are literally people from all over the world playing here and some darn sharp ones that have been playing AA games for a very long time.


  • Triple A is bugged and is awful to play. Get friends and play the REAL tabletop game.

  • TripleA

    @BulwFi:

    Triple A is bugged and is awful to play.

    is this sarcasm?

    Triplea is an amazing piece of software that allows you to play all variations of axis and allies for free. you can play realtime or play by email. it is quick and easy, unlike the antiquated battlemap.

    i think everyone would agree the most fun is sitting around a table with friends, but to get your fix triplea is fantastic.


  • I have been playing A&A for about 25 years now but have never even heard od “bids”, could someone explain what they are and how they are used?


  • @war:

    I have been playing A&A for about 25 years now but have never even heard od “bids”, could someone explain what they are and how they are used?

    Bids are used to fine tune the balance of the game. For example, 8-9 was a popular bid level in Revised, which was slanted against the Axis. So if the Axis got a bid of 8, they could place an infantry and tank before the game started(or 2 inf and adding 2 IPC’s to Germany/Japan’s starting cash). Classic had really high bids from what I’ve heard. And now the debate is how much, if any, for the AA50 games.


  • How is it determined who gets the bid and what the value of the bid is worth?
    Can either the Allies or the Axis be awarded the bid?

  • TripleA

    @war:

    How is it determined who gets the bid and what the value of the bid is worth?
    Can either the Allies or the Axis be awarded the bid?

    the bid determines who plays which side. if your opponent wants to play axis and you want to play allies then there is no need to bid. but if you play the game many times and you both think allies are going to win then you can start bidding.

    for example you can say ill take axis but i need 20ipc, your opponent could then accept, or decline and bid lower. this continues until someone accepts and the game starts.


  • I believe I get it now. When we played the original A&A we would give the Germans a tank to place in Libya and the Japanese a sub to place in th Sea of Japan. So if I am understanding this correctly, we would have in essence made a bid of 13 (since the sub was 8 and the tank was 5).


  • @war:

    I believe I get it now. When we played the original A&A we would give the Germans a tank to place in Libya and the Japanese a sub to place in th Sea of Japan. So if I am understanding this correctly, we would have in essence made a bid of 13 (since the sub was 8 and the tank was 5).

    Pretty much. :-)


  • The map is balanced in the 1941 scenario, if you play dice or out of box rules. I totally agree with the original poster.
    It’s just strategy dependent.
    Also for the tripple a fans, most of you play the same linear strategys and the same openings regardless if its LL or dice.
    The first is the let japan go crazy and push into europe with allies, I’d give it 40 % winning for allies without a bid.
    I don’t give much for your so called experience playing the same strategy 1000 times, it does not prove that its the best one. Maybe there is a different approach that you haven’t figured out lol.
    As for the latter not adapting your openings between low luck and dice is a sure sign of abysmal understandning of statistics.


  • wrath the problem with your statement here is that you are basically saying these players who play thousands of axis and allies games against thousands of opponets wouldn’t revise their strategy to all sorts of different forms. Say in revised if Japan lost a couple planes and some sea units on turn 1 and built 2 factories US could go pacific. Otherwise US goes all out germany. People that play thousands of games realize this and can instantly counter every move their opponet makes. A game with two experts is like a giant chess board, with both players Looking to counter on a possible minor mistake or capitalize on their 4 turn ahead thinking that chess grandmasters use. Great axis and allies players play the same way. They don’t do they exact same thing everytime, except for russia. The best way to play is play off of what your opponet does, and I know Zhukov knows this as well as many other posters on this thread. Bids are needed to balance games. Otherwise the game wouldn’t be fun at the expert level as whoever got allies in 1941 version would loose most games. Yes, low luck is a different game than dice since you can assure most outcomes and not get hosed in big important battles, but great players always start on dice for a hundred or more games before playing LL. Dice gets you started in the game and can give you the since of “what if I get unlucky here what do I do”, while LL gives you the idea as to what attacks are better and what units are more cost effective and why at a deeper level than dice. Lastly would you want to play as the allies in 1941 if you know you are going to loose most of the time? and if your answer is yes, why would you want to be on the loosing side?


  • @theROCmonster:

    wrath the problem with your statement here is that you are basically saying these players who play thousands of axis and allies games against thousands of opponets wouldn’t revise their strategy to all sorts of different forms. Say in revised if Japan lost a couple planes and some sea units on turn 1 and built 2 factories US could go pacific. Otherwise US goes all out germany. People that play thousands of games realize this and can instantly counter every move their opponet makes. A game with two experts is like a giant chess board, with both players Looking to counter on a possible minor mistake or capitalize on their 4 turn ahead thinking that chess grandmasters use. Great axis and allies players play the same way. They don’t do they exact same thing everytime, except for russia. The best way to play is play off of what your opponet does, and I know Zhukov knows this as well as many other posters on this thread. Bids are needed to balance games. Otherwise the game wouldn’t be fun at the expert level as whoever got allies in 1941 version would loose most games. Yes, low luck is a different game than dice since you can assure most outcomes and not get hosed in big important battles, but great players always start on dice for a hundred or more games before playing LL. Dice gets you started in the game and can give you the since of “what if I get unlucky here what do I do”, while LL gives you the idea as to what attacks are better and what units are more cost effective and why at a deeper level than dice. Lastly would you want to play as the allies in 1941 if you know you are going to loose most of the time? and if your answer is yes, why would you want to be on the loosing side?

    1. If you play thousands of times vs opponents that play the same strategys you, can play a million games and it still does not prove its the best strategy. If you don’t agree with my statement well I recooment to read a couple of pages from one of my favorite books called the black swan (author X. Taleb yes he’s an arab intellectual).
    2. We don’t talk revised here, its like comparing how you play doom compared to counter strike. We dont talk about chess here since its not even remotely the same. Instant counters aint the best counters, and your comparison to grandmasters are redundant they make mistakes all the time. And for sure there wouldnt be players like Kasparov and Carlsen that destroys grand masters.
    3. The difference isn’t just you can assess losses, the losses are much higher in low luck. This is an huge factor since axis have to push the game and make a lot of battles from the start of the game.
    Also you don’t have to adapt to volatility and have backup plans that is an huge skill factor and those players that go the same opening in low luck compared to dice don’t play good enough in my opinion.
    True the hose factor is important whats more important is to chose your battles and maybe not taking all battles you can go with rather take the battles you can afford to lose unless you been playing badly and got to gamble. Its all down to something called equity in poker terms its a profitable lesson if you don’t understand what I’m talknig about.
    I strongly disagree with that LL is deeper then dice, thats for me an absurd statement since in a game where the best option is murky (dice) is much harder to master then one where its mathematically guaranteed (LL).
    As I look at it a game with more correct strategically options are harder to master and you got more options in dice since the best strategy is losses dependent depending on the opening rounds. Since allies are the reacting side with position they benefit a lot from this. This is in my opinion a much more important factor then the oh I migth get hosed, because losses are higher in dice compared to LL the allied side get more options availible depending on how the initial battles go. Also the strategic reserv in the game is air units and air is the one you balance battles with, axis got way more air units and thus get a bigger bonus from low luck. That destroys the balance in the game in my opinion. It also takes out a lot of skill factors and replaces it with I got a good memory/opening book. Sure there are lots of people that prefer that since they just play to win and lose every game, since they miss out on developing themselves.
    4. I state the game is balanced. For me your statement is totally absurd saying that I’m on the losing side most of the time since I claim that both sides win about equal OOB, dice, if you play the proper strategys. I’m actually saying you only win 40 ish % of the time as allies if you go all in europe without a bid, go figure.

    5. I’ve had great fun playing tripple A where I’ve spent all games except one on suboptimal strategys where I’ve been theoretically on the losing side but hey I still won like 80 % of my games since people can’t adapt or in my opinion play well enough. My main goal has been to build two factorys as britts and whomp japan, let germany take Moscow and then still win the game. Playing the optimal strategy again after I’ve been playing it for years vs better opponents then most on tripple A is boring and probably someone will start to copy it. The latter I find very repulsive since I think you guys should look beyond your linear clown play, and base it on “ooh I need a bid to balance the game” and actually try to research other avenues, avenues I’m claiming is there THAT BALANCES the game.

    6. My next project is to play on tripple A and see how far down I can go with negative bids and still win the game, I bet I can fid some joe blow from idaho where I can get the bid down to 10 for axis and still win the game.

    7. And no I’m not even going to comment on your name dropping, and if you where going to name drop pick the best players to name drop.

  • '16 '15 '10

    Well Wrath, if you are correct, it would be easy to prove.  Challenge any of the top players on the ladder to a no-bid game of whatever preferences and play your Allied strategy against them.  If you are right, you should win 50%.

    But keep in mind the only games that would matter would be against expert opponents–playing some noob on TripleA and beating him with no bid proves exactly nothing.  Experience>bids by a large margin.  An experienced Axis player can easily defeat the 2 UK factory strategy–all you have to do is hold Japan and hold a few Japanese mainland bases until Germany can rescue you.

    There is an easy way to play using TripleA in the forums here, so if you were right you could challenge me or any other experienced player and demonstrate your contentions, and everyone reading this could observe the progress of the game.  So you’ve been formally challenged–bring it or shut it.

    The game is not balanced in dice–people have always played dice here (and at AAMC, where tech is also standard) and the bid just keeps going up, and no one agrees it is balanced at 0.  In tournament games (ie between some of the strongest experts in the world) on this site the bid is now going as high as 13, which is just as high as the standard low luck/no tech bid on TripleA.

    About 2 years ago, the majority of the users on this board shared your opinion (based no doubt on their face-to-face games) but after appropriate experience they changed their minds, as you will if you continue to play online.

    Playing the optimal strategy again after I’ve been playing it for years vs better opponents then most on tripple A is boring and probably someone will start to copy it. The latter I find very repulsive since I think you guys should look beyond your linear clown play, and base it on “ooh I need a bid to balance the game” and actually try to research other avenues, avenues I’m claiming is there THAT BALANCES the game.

    This quote reeks of ignorance.  First off, the best players on TripleA have played a wide wide variety of strats over the years.  Yamamoto was initially a KJF specialist who came after Japan every time and became the most advanced USA Pacific player at that time.  But nevertheless he eventually changed up his tactics in ladder games because he couldn’t beat the elite players that way.  Yet for a long time USA Pacific was the most common USA strategy on TripleA, and it only changed (fairly recently) when Axis strats improved to the point where USA Pacific was no longer viable.

    It may be true that ll/nt 41 play on TripleA has become overly technical and therefore is starting to get stale, but the same could be said for expert level play in Revised or any ruleset (or any chess-like game, for that matter).  It’s great that you desire to shake up the game but you come off as ignorant and arrogant when you assert the game is actually balanced without making an effort to prove it.

    People who cry about bids and want only “balanced” maps don’t understand competitive A&A.  The bid is a large part of what keeps the game interesting and diverse, because different bids lead to entirely different game outcomes.  When people create new Allied strategies in 41, a new bid strategy is typically part of the process.

    I agree with you on dice being a deeper and more complex game than low luck.  But the virtue of playing with low luck is that it is a fair contest where people =don’t blame losses on the dice.  If I lose a game in low luck it doesn’t bother me because I’ll have learned something from the loss.  But in dice people tend to blame losses on dice and sometimes don’t learn the right lessons.

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