Primarily a G40 player, but enjoy Revised and am getting into Anniversary this month.
Fascinated with historical analysis of military strategy and tactics.
Limited home internet capabilities, so still trying to work out ways to play via TripleA.
@Corpsman_of_Krieg
Welcome aboard Corpsman!
A wealth of knowledgable folks, a volume of information, and a wonderful community of fellow players awaits!
Feel free to add your info to the player locator (https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/category/11/player-locator - specifically here:https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/21466/2020-master-players-list-version-3-0/272 ) if youâre looking for local matches.
Hi everyone,
Wanted to provide a spot for sharing some great WW2 content. Hope this can add some contextual flavor to the games we love to play, or at least provide some enjoyment to the community.
While weâve likely all watched the classic or blockbuster renderings of WW2 (think all of the Memorial Day weekend marathon movies), lesser known gems offer nuanced views into niche aspects of the war.
Off the silver screen, the wealth of historical docudramas provide a looking glass into specific moments and actions, providing tactical learnings and preserving the memories of those who served us all.
Kicking things off with a double feature at sea!
âThe Fighting Ladyâ - Come face to face with the crew of the USS Yorktown, and experience life on a carrier in WW2. Notable insight: crew would fully wash themselves before planned combat operations to reduce the risk of infection if wounded.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P1OmUKRdPVI&pp=0gcJCY4Bo7VqN5tD
âThe Western Approachesâ - filmed with actual members of the British merchant marine and auxillaries, join a convoy crossing the Atlantic. Notable insight: the briefing before setting sail provides a glimspe into the planning, support, and command structure needed. Think of that when you buy those transports for a shuck-shuck!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SYNICPKLJlA
Usually one tries to limit the âsupply chainâ length in terms of moves, as moves equal time.
Having said that, are you considering turn 1 ANZAC sending a transport with one infantry toward Brazil? In that case, any production by Brazil wonât occur until T4, two turns to land, one turn to build factory, one turn to build units. At this point, subs are actually getting to Gibralter on T5, one turn after US subs could be there.
Given you mentioned KJF, I would keep ANZAC resources in the Pacific and support the US by assualting the money islands and if able, reinforcing US captured territories. Whatever subs you want to send against Italy, the US could produce instead, and do so a turn faster.
Even without the factory, the long term value in ANZAC capturing Brazil is unclear. 2 IPC gain is just as well used by US. Any additional infantry from ANZAC Brazil are so far out of position they will not make any timely impact in the Pacific or even slow marching through Africa.
Would be curious to see a demonstration of how you would play this out. Give it a go and let us know what advantage you find!
Hi all,
Name: SeaYa (Michael)
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (northeast)
Games: G40/E40/P40, starting Anniversary this month, but will give any version a go.
Thanks!
Why do the strategic bombers and interceptors only hit on a roll of 1 during SBR? Check out this period training film for some clues!
âPosition Firing - B-17 Gunner Trainingâ
A period training film that breaks down primarily waist gunnery.
Notable gem: The speed at which aim points change during a fighters approach - and keeping collected enough during combat to perform - well done air crews!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aoHOVUKOc0M&pp=0gcJCY4Bo7VqN5tD
âBattle of Savo Islandâ - a battle history episode focusing on the opening stages of the Guadalcanal campaign. The high quality battle analysis is supported by many works cited, worth reading on their own.
Notable insight: How contextual factors and battle mantra paradigms play as significant, if not more, of a role in decision making than force disposition alone.
This is exciting! Watched a bunch of Gary & Doug discussing tournaments via Board Game Nationâs play-by-play and livestream chats from '23 thru '25 and have been bitten by the bug to give a tournament a first try. Live near Pittsburgh so Dayton is well within range.
Friends at BGN did a nice âHow Toâ and the supply line sections covers many such scenarios - a nice visual walkthrough: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AAMObMRJBMA&pp=ygUOQmduIHN0YWxpbmdyYWQ%3D
Hi all,
Searched the League Rules and Acronym posts, but am unable to find a few abbreviations, ** or AQâs as theyâre known in the Navy :-P ** that are used in the TripleA game posts such as:
L24 & L25 (rules/map variants?)
LTR (shorthand for LHTR? Reference to bomber tech on/off?)
Thanks!
Itâs been interesting over the years reading about all of the various rule modifications, bidding, and setup variants all in an efdort to balance the game.
Of all the discussions, I may have missed where the goal of balancing, or definition of âbalancedâ means? Is it to enable the game to be won by either side assuming player skill and strategy are equal, or to allow for more historically aligned unfolding of events? The latter seems illogical, as trying to create calculated, pre-set outcomes in a game of a real war that itself was navigated through a global fog of war would require cumbersome rules that restrict player creativity and inhibit fun gameplay. The entire premise of playing a historical event themed game being to see how YOU would have done it differently would seemed to be lost. That being said, using iterative setup variants - 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, etc, does create nuanced scenarios challenging a player with âHow would you have done it, from this point on?â with victory conditions varrying through the years from complete conquest, to holding off conquest for as long as possible.
That being said, the former goal of balancing - enabling the game to be won by either side - is achieved via setup modifications/bidding, permanent or phased gameplay rule changes, and altered victory conditions. Additional rule modifications for gameplay interest inherently have an effect on balancing even when equally apllied to all powers, as the economic and current unit positions magnify or reduce the impact of the rule.
Finally, the question behind the question, why do all of the above balancing? While the answer may seem obvious to each of us in itâs own way, have we paused to ask ourselves, what is the ultimate purpose of bringing balance to game that is fundamentally about creating imbalance? How does answering that question change our approach to âbalancingâ techniques. Do we try to achieve balanance by equalizing - bringing all variables towards the center of the balance beam - or by diversifying - sending variables for each power further toward the extremes? The result of the latter would be playing with powers that have very distinct and unique strengths and weaknesses, versus all powers being more or less equal in terms of functioning, with current unit mass and economic prowess being the only differentiators.
Two cents: I find playing with more distinct and variable national attributes to be far better (and more fun) at achieving balance. Consider in real life, how a tight-rope walker uses a long pole to balance rather than trying to squish their entire body down to a single point over the rope. Historically we see this as well in the war: the US didnât build a Tiger tank to balance out the Germans Tiger, they mass produced the Sherman and gained air superiority. The Germans didnât build a bunker buster to defeat the Maginot line, they used mechanized forces to manuever around it. The US didnât send 2 million Marines to invade mainland Japan, they used the atom bomb. Finland didnât build up armor divisions to counter the Soviets, they strapped on skiâs and lit bottles of booze on fire⌠I digress!
Curious to hear others thoughts and philosophies on this, and maybe spark some new thoughts around game mods!
@geoffrebman - Wow, this sparks so many questions and thoughts!
Would this be a purchased unit? Or an upgrade purchase to an existing base, such as any naval base? If purchased:
-Thoughts on cost?
-Is there a stacking limit? I could see having two or three of these in a territory being very devastating as they hit on 3.
-Fixed position? I would think so as a shore battery in a casement is not something picked up and moved, which leads to, captured or destroyed if enemy seizes territory?
All that brainstorming, perhaps a purchaseable token, that remains fixed, like a naval base, and can take damage like bases, say +2/-2. Meaning a pre-invasion air raid could knock ot out of action. Destroyed if territory captured. Single stack limit with same placement restrictions as a minor factory (as this could get out of hand quickly on places like Gibralter.) Cost feels like 12 if hitting on 3, but more likely to purchase if cost was 8, hitting on 2. Would want to simulate probability of hit and IPC damagr dealt to mirror value of AAA guns.
Also interested to hear othersâ thoughts so as to add a historical dynamic to shore combat, but also not allow the âbalance catâ out of the bag.
Double sub feature for the weekend:
âOperation Raspberryâ - a very well done docudrama on how the Royal Navy, specifically a team of the Womenâs Royal Navy Service, contributed to shifting tactics in the War of the Atlantic.
Notable insight: As this is a war boardgame community, was intriguing to see how an actual war game was constructed to simulate and prove ouy tactics, and train new officers.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KxTb-bVG1RY&pp=0gcJCZoBo7VqN5tD
âClose Quartersâ - Join a Royal Navy submarine on patrol in the North Sea. Filmed during the war in 1943.
Hidden Gem: The film used actual su mariners for the filming, in which the balance between acting, and seeing their truer personalities come out ebbs and flows, giving some insight into how the men coped in their circumstamces.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8lKRZp4NDSo&pp=0gcJCYcKAYcqIYzv
âBerehnshteinâ - Based on a true story, a glimpse into Soviet led partisan forces in occupied Ukraine and Poland that located some of Germanyâs biggest war secrets.
Notable gems: The opening scene gives a harrowing view of what it may have been like to be on the receiving end of a âcombined armsâ blitz style attack.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MEhNB6TkKq4
A few points to consider that US bombers vs. JPN destroyers is not really a risk for the US, as risk is a measure of likely loss vs. Likely reward.
Likelyhood of loss: Bombers attack on 4, destroyers defend on 2. In 1-on-1 encounters, JPN subs will be hit 2/3 times, while hitting on defense only 1/3 times. If the US vectors 2 bombers to 1 destroyer, this advantage tips more in US favor.
Direct cost: Assuming a 1:1 trade every attack, if the US is earning 50% more than JPN (ie: 75 vs 50 IPC) they can afford the trade, as bombers cost 50% more than destroyers ( 12 vs. 8 IPC).
Indirect cost / opportunity cost: Even with a worst case 1:1 trade, doing so preserves US subs (6 IPC each) AND allows the sub to do convoy disruptions (assume 2 IPC minimum). This makes an economic opportunity cost swing of (6+ IPC) x (# of US subs on station).
So, is a 1 US bomber per turn loss (worst case 12 IPC) that enables subs to max convoy SZ 6 and SZ 19, in addition to sinking a JPN destroyer every turn (>24IPC JPN loss per turn) still as risky as it looks on the surface?
As the 86th anniversary of Denmark being invaded by Germany approaches, here is a double feature of that opening and aftermath:
âApril 9thâ - Join a Danish bicycle platoon the days before and day of the invasion.
Notable gem: Captures the vital impact communications, or lack thereof plays in decision making within the fog of war.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V7t17Y7uPwE
âLand of Mineâ - the oft forgotten aftermath of the war - the cleanup of 2.2 million mines laid on the Danish coast. A gritty view of the bonds of humanity fighting to heal against the wounds of war that tore them apart. A Danish officer supervises former German Army youth as they are used to clear mines on a section of beach.
Notable gem: Forgiveness.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sewmsP3biAc
English dub: https://m.ok.ru/video/2120526137883
Friends at BGN did a nice âHow Toâ and the supply line sections covers many such scenarios - a nice visual walkthrough: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AAMObMRJBMA&pp=ygUOQmduIHN0YWxpbmdyYWQ%3D
âBattle of Savo Islandâ - a battle history episode focusing on the opening stages of the Guadalcanal campaign. The high quality battle analysis is supported by many works cited, worth reading on their own.
Notable insight: How contextual factors and battle mantra paradigms play as significant, if not more, of a role in decision making than force disposition alone.
@PGsquig - sure, that makes sense. Depending on a hard take (want to hold territory after capturing) vs. soft trade (only want to capture, assume lost next turn) itâs nice to see the confidence intervals around units left.
@PGsquig - An interesting multi-wave feature in the link you shared. While helpful for assessing initial attack units to be marshalled at the front, in practical play, it seems you would be re-assessing after the first roll of wave one anyway, and then completely re-assessing at the start of the next countryâs turn/assualt.
Said another way, if the first assualt goes sideways for the attacker, I would hope one would not blindly commit to sending in wave 2, regardless of wave 1 outcome.
Said yet another way, how useful is a multi-wave calculator, vs. re-assessing each wave with a solid, single wave calculator?
@Corpsman_of_Krieg
Welcome aboard Corpsman!
A wealth of knowledgable folks, a volume of information, and a wonderful community of fellow players awaits!
Feel free to add your info to the player locator (https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/category/11/player-locator - specifically here:https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/21466/2020-master-players-list-version-3-0/272 ) if youâre looking for local matches.
