Whoa, this discussion is still going?

I understand your frustration since I’ve agreed with you from the beginning. In fairness to AcesWild, it looks like he has mostly accepted the same understanding of the game’s balance that we’ve been saying all along over the course of these past, what, two years? He’s been willing to change his perspective which is more than many people do. So I commend him for that. And even for his painstaking journey of internalising and understanding the balance for himself rather than just taking our word for it.

But what remains is the fact that he is still opposed to a bid. And I guess that’s just a matter of what you are looking for in a game: I’d rather have a game that is more equitable regardless of historical accuracy, whereas some people might prefer a fixed game that is still as balanced as possible. I prefer the bid because it allows disagreements of balance to automatically be resolved by whoever is willing to bid the least. Whereas I think AcesWild is going to have a tough journey selling his recommended fixes to anything more than a handful of people he knows just because he doesn’t have the reach of people who will pay attention to him, but for those people, maybe it salvages a great game.

Whew, I had considered sending less against Karelia so I could retake Manchuria, but I’m glad I decided to play it safe! Not retaking Karelia would have been devastating there.

Okay, let’s hope for no more extreme swings!

I took your carrier as I was planning on staying anyway. The sub hit following that so it was definitely what you wanted. :)

Yes, I think I’m at the end of my rope here now. I hope you’re paying those Russian AA gunners well - if not I may have a opening or two for them!

@AcesWild5049 Sure no problem. Some people really dislike the idea because they feel like Axis and Allies is made for random lucky swings and it removes part of the game without it. I disagree, particularly because of the interesting effect that when you do use LowLuck, you can engage in what would otherwise be riskier battles, but the potential swings within those are still present and do make more of a difference because of the ability to calculate things more certainly.

I’ve also heard the dismissal “If I wanted to decrease luck I would play chess!” That’s a silly argument because I happen to very much enjoy chess too!

But I’m happy to play either, regardless.

I know that by providing it I may or may not add incentive to either attacking or not attacking, but in the interest of us not necessarily being available at the same time, it just keeps things moving forward. So I tend to try to think in advance of what I might want if it’s reasonably clear and not super important.

Whoa, this discussion is still going?

I understand your frustration since I’ve agreed with you from the beginning. In fairness to AcesWild, it looks like he has mostly accepted the same understanding of the game’s balance that we’ve been saying all along over the course of these past, what, two years? He’s been willing to change his perspective which is more than many people do. So I commend him for that. And even for his painstaking journey of internalising and understanding the balance for himself rather than just taking our word for it.

But what remains is the fact that he is still opposed to a bid. And I guess that’s just a matter of what you are looking for in a game: I’d rather have a game that is more equitable regardless of historical accuracy, whereas some people might prefer a fixed game that is still as balanced as possible. I prefer the bid because it allows disagreements of balance to automatically be resolved by whoever is willing to bid the least. Whereas I think AcesWild is going to have a tough journey selling his recommended fixes to anything more than a handful of people he knows just because he doesn’t have the reach of people who will pay attention to him, but for those people, maybe it salvages a great game.

I too definitely really enjoyed the game! And yes, I agree that the first turn is pretty much decisive of how the rest of the game will play out, but sometimes games can surprise you too.

Good luck on the tournament!

I knew that was a risky battle but I felt like I needed it. It didn’t pay off, so I concede here. Very well played, good game!

You had asked what I thought I had done as a mistake earlier: for background, I haven’t ever really played Russia Restricted before these two games, and on the previous game I had an easy enough time because you made the G1 purchase of building up your navy, which meant that even though the dice were against me early on in that game, I still could easily use the Allies production to surround and contain Germany easily in Europe.

This game I underestimated the amount of force I would need to bring on Germany without having had that initial Russian attack but with Germany going heavily on troops as they should, and I diverted my Russian forces in an attempt to keep Japan back longer, which was a mistake. As a result, Germany never did get contained and you had freedom to push out in Eastern Europe throughout the whole game. I do believe that even with Russia Restricted that the Allies have a strong enough lead but I didn’t do the best job demonstrating that because you are certainly an able opponent and capitalized very well on my mistake there. I did still very much enjoy the game, though!

TripleA Turn Summary: Americans round 14

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Classic, version: 2.0

Game History

Round: 14

    Purchase Units - Americans
        Americans buy 1 armour, 1 bomber and 6 infantry; Remaining resources: 1 PUs; 

    Combat Move - Americans
        1 armour, 2 fighters and 8 infantry moved from Kenya-Rhodesia to South Africa
        1 armour and 1 fighter moved from Anglo Sudan Egypt to South Africa
        1 bomber moved from Russia to South Africa
        3 infantry moved from Anglo Sudan Egypt to Syria Jordan
        1 fighter moved from Russia to Syria Jordan

    Combat - Americans
        Battle in South Africa
            Americans attack with 2 armour, 1 bomber, 3 fighters and 8 infantry
            Japanese defend with 1 aaGun, 2 armour, 1 factory, 3 fighters and 6 infantry
                AA fire in South Africa : 1/4 hits, 0.67 expected hits
                1 fighter owned by the Americans lost in South Africa
                Americans roll dice for 2 armour, 1 bomber, 2 fighters and 8 infantry in South Africa, round 2 : 5/13 hits, 4.00 expected hits
                Japanese roll dice for 2 armour, 3 fighters and 6 infantry in South Africa, round 2 : 8/11 hits, 4.67 expected hits
                5 infantry owned by the Japanese and 8 infantry owned by the Americans lost in South Africa
                Americans roll dice for 2 armour, 1 bomber and 2 fighters in South Africa, round 3 : 3/5 hits, 2.67 expected hits
                Japanese roll dice for 2 armour, 3 fighters and 1 infantry in South Africa, round 3 : 5/6 hits, 3.00 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Japanese, 2 armour owned by the Japanese, 2 armour owned by the Americans, 2 fighters owned by the Americans and 1 bomber owned by the Americans lost in South Africa
            Japanese win with 3 fighters remaining. Battle score for attacker is -57
            Casualties for Americans: 2 armour, 1 bomber, 3 fighters and 8 infantry
            Casualties for Japanese: 2 armour and 6 infantry
        Battle in Syria Jordan
            Americans attack with 1 fighter and 3 infantry
            Japanese defend with 3 infantry
                Americans roll dice for 1 fighter and 3 infantry in Syria Jordan, round 2 : 1/4 hits, 1.00 expected hits
                Japanese roll dice for 3 infantry in Syria Jordan, round 2 : 2/3 hits, 1.00 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Japanese and 2 infantry owned by the Americans lost in Syria Jordan
                Americans roll dice for 1 fighter and 1 infantry in Syria Jordan, round 3 : 0/2 hits, 0.67 expected hits
                Japanese roll dice for 2 infantry in Syria Jordan, round 3 : 2/2 hits, 0.67 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Americans and 1 fighter owned by the Americans lost in Syria Jordan
            Japanese win with 2 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is -18
            Casualties for Americans: 1 fighter and 3 infantry
            Casualties for Japanese: 1 infantry

    Non Combat Move - Americans

    Place Units - Americans
        1 armour, 1 bomber and 6 infantry placed in East US

    Turn Complete - Americans
        Americans collect 33 PUs; end with 34 PUs

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Americans : 0.67
AA fire in South Africa : : 0.33
Japanese : 7.67

Savegame

TripleA Turn Summary: British round 14

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Classic, version: 2.0

Game History

Round: 14

    Purchase Units - British
        British buy 1 aaGun, 1 armour and 4 infantry; Remaining resources: 2 PUs; 

    Combat Move - British
        4 transports moved from Baltic Sea Zone to North Sea Zone
        7 infantry moved from United Kingdom to North Sea Zone
        7 infantry and 4 transports moved from North Sea Zone to Baltic Sea Zone
        7 infantry moved from Baltic Sea Zone to Karelia S.S.R.
        2 armour and 10 infantry moved from Finland Norway to Karelia S.S.R.

    Combat - British
        Battle in Karelia S.S.R.
            British attack with 2 armour and 17 infantry
            Germans defend with 1 factory and 1 infantry
                British roll dice for 1 battleship in Karelia S.S.R., round 2 : 1/1 hits, 0.67 expected hits
                Germans roll dice for 1 infantry in Karelia S.S.R., round 2 : 0/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Germans lost in Karelia S.S.R.
            British win, taking Karelia S.S.R. from Germans with 2 armour and 17 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
            Casualties for Germans: 1 infantry

    Non Combat Move - British
        1 transport moved from Baltic Sea Zone to North Sea Zone
        1 aaGun moved from United Kingdom to North Sea Zone
        1 aaGun and 1 transport moved from North Sea Zone to Baltic Sea Zone
        1 aaGun moved from Baltic Sea Zone to Karelia S.S.R.

    Place Units - British
        1 aaGun, 1 armour and 4 infantry placed in United Kingdom

    Turn Complete - British
        British collect 22 PUs; end with 24 PUs

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Germans : -0.33
British : 0.33

Savegame

TripleA Turn Summary: Russians round 14

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Classic, version: 2.0

Game History

Round: 14

    Purchase Units - Russians
        Russians buy 4 infantry; Remaining resources: 1 PUs; 

    Combat Move - Russians
        2 infantry moved from Russia to Kazakh S.S.R.
        2 fighters moved from Russia to Kazakh S.S.R.

    Combat - Russians
        Battle in Kazakh S.S.R.
            Russians attack with 2 fighters and 2 infantry
            Japanese defend with 1 infantry
                Russians roll dice for 2 fighters and 2 infantry in Kazakh S.S.R., round 2 : 2/4 hits, 1.33 expected hits
                Japanese roll dice for 1 infantry in Kazakh S.S.R., round 2 : 0/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Japanese lost in Kazakh S.S.R.
            Russians win, taking Kazakh S.S.R. from Japanese with 2 fighters and 2 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
            Casualties for Japanese: 1 infantry

    Non Combat Move - Russians
        2 fighters moved from Kazakh S.S.R. to Russia

    Place Units - Russians
        4 infantry placed in Russia

    Turn Complete - Russians
        Russians collect 10 PUs; end with 11 PUs

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Russians : 0.67
Japanese : -0.33

Savegame

TripleA Turn Summary: Americans round 13

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Classic, version: 2.0

Game History

Round: 13

    Purchase Units - Americans
        Americans buy 1 armour, 1 bomber and 4 infantry; Remaining resources: 0 PUs; 

    Combat Move - Americans
        1 bomber moved from East US to Karelia S.S.R.
        1 armour moved from Mexico to Panama
              Americans take Panama from Japanese
        1 armour moved from Panama to Mexico
        1 transport moved from West Spain Sea Zone to West Mediteranean Sea Zone
        1 infantry moved from Algeria to West Mediteranean Sea Zone
        1 infantry moved from Algeria to West Mediteranean Sea Zone
        2 infantry and 1 transport moved from West Mediteranean Sea Zone to Central Mediteranean Sea Zone
        2 infantry moved from Central Mediteranean Sea Zone to South Europe
        1 battleship moved from West Spain Sea Zone to Central Mediteranean Sea Zone

    Combat - Americans
        Strategic bombing raid in Karelia S.S.R.
            Bombing raid in Karelia S.S.R. rolls: 4 and costs: 4 PUs.
            Bombing raid costs 4 PUs
        Battle in South Europe
            Americans attack with 2 infantry
            Germans defend with 1 factory and 1 infantry
                Americans roll dice for 1 battleship in South Europe, round 2 : 1/1 hits, 0.67 expected hits
                Germans roll dice for 1 infantry in South Europe, round 2 : 1/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Germans and 1 infantry owned by the Americans lost in South Europe
            Americans win, taking South Europe from Germans with 1 infantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 0
            Casualties for Americans: 1 infantry
            Casualties for Germans: 1 infantry

    Non Combat Move - Americans
        1 bomber moved from Karelia S.S.R. to Russia
        2 fighters moved from West Spain Sea Zone to Anglo Sudan Egypt
        1 submarine moved from West Spain Sea Zone to Central Mediteranean Sea Zone
        2 transports moved from West Spain Sea Zone to East Canada Sea Zone
        2 transports moved from West Spain Sea Zone to East Canada Sea Zone
        7 infantry moved from West Canada to East Canada Sea Zone
        7 infantry and 4 transports moved from East Canada Sea Zone to West Spain Sea Zone
        1 infantry moved from Syria Jordan to Anglo Sudan Egypt
        8 infantry moved from Anglo Sudan Egypt to Kenya-Rhodesia
        1 armour moved from Anglo Sudan Egypt to Kenya-Rhodesia
        6 infantry moved from French Equatorial Africa to Anglo Sudan Egypt
        1 armour moved from Algeria to Anglo Sudan Egypt
        4 infantry moved from Algeria to French Equatorial Africa
        2 fighters moved from Anglo Sudan Egypt to Kenya-Rhodesia
        1 fighter moved from Russia to Anglo Sudan Egypt
        7 infantry moved from West Spain Sea Zone to Algeria
        1 armour moved from East US to West Canada
        1 infantry moved from East US to East Canada
        4 infantry moved from West US to West Canada

    Place Units - Americans
        1 bomber placed in East US
        1 armour and 4 infantry placed in West US

    Turn Complete - Americans
        Americans collect 39 PUs; end with 39 PUs

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Germans : 0.67
Americans : 0.33

Savegame

TripleA Turn Summary: British round 13

TripleA Turn Summary for game: World War II Classic, version: 2.0

Game History

Round: 13

    Purchase Units - British
        British buy 1 armour and 7 infantry; Remaining resources: 1 PUs; 

    Combat Move - British
        1 transport moved from Baltic Sea Zone to North Sea Zone
        2 infantry moved from United Kingdom to North Sea Zone
        2 infantry and 1 transport moved from North Sea Zone to Baltic Sea Zone
        2 infantry moved from Baltic Sea Zone to Karelia S.S.R.

    Combat - British
        Battle in Karelia S.S.R.
            British attack with 2 infantry
            Germans defend with 1 factory and 1 infantry
                British roll dice for 1 battleship in Karelia S.S.R., round 2 : 0/1 hits, 0.67 expected hits
                British roll dice for 2 infantry in Karelia S.S.R., round 2 : 0/2 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                Germans roll dice for 1 infantry in Karelia S.S.R., round 2 : 1/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the British lost in Karelia S.S.R.
                British roll dice for 1 infantry in Karelia S.S.R., round 3 : 1/1 hits, 0.17 expected hits
                Germans roll dice for 1 infantry in Karelia S.S.R., round 3 : 1/1 hits, 0.33 expected hits
                1 infantry owned by the Germans and 1 infantry owned by the British lost in Karelia S.S.R.
            Germans win with no units remaining. Battle score for attacker is -3
            Casualties for British: 2 infantry
            Casualties for Germans: 1 infantry

    Non Combat Move - British
        4 transports moved from Baltic Sea Zone to North Sea Zone
        1 armour and 5 infantry moved from United Kingdom to North Sea Zone
        1 armour, 5 infantry and 4 transports moved from North Sea Zone to Baltic Sea Zone
        1 armour and 5 infantry moved from Baltic Sea Zone to Finland Norway

    Place Units - British
        1 armour and 7 infantry placed in United Kingdom

    Turn Complete - British
        British collect 23 PUs; end with 24 PUs

Combat Hit Differential Summary :

Germans : 1.33
British : -0.17

Savegame

No I’m up for the fight if you want it to happen there, I just wanted them together for it. Thanks!

Oh no, did I forget to move those Russian naval units again? I had meant to keep them with the American fleet.

If it’s too late to amend that then I’d lose the transport and retreat the sub.