250 Countries?

[76mm]

I'm not familiar with this game, but it seems like a huge game with a rabid fan base, which sounds appealing.

I won't buy it until there is a digital-only option, but in the meantime I have a very basic question--apparently this game features 250 countries. How many players do you need for a game? What is the point of including 250 countries, who "gets" to play Ghana, Yemen, Guatemala, and similar WWII heavyweights? Has a Nigerian tank corps ever been pitted against Rommel, etc? Just seems a bit odd...

[willbowe]

The game revolves around seven *major* countries, which can declare war on the minor ones. When they do so, the minor country aligns with a major country on the other side, whose player takes control of its units - if any. Nigeria is part of the Commonwealth and has two Territorials (weak infrantry units) in the CW force pool, which will only be on the map if the CW player produces them.

[76mm]

Thanks for the response.

So what is the minimum/optimum number of players for a game?

[willbowe]

Assuming we're talking the Global War scenario here, I guess you'd say optimum is one player for each of the seven major powers. Personally though, I've only played two-player games, with one side the Axis and the other Allies, and invariably had a great time doing so. Maybe the best idea would be to have the USA or USSR player double as China or France, since the former have little to do in the early years of the war, and France is very likely to be conquered in 1940 ("Free France" fights on, but it obviously doesn't have much to do).

[Sabre21]

Right now you can play against yourself in solitaire play or against one other human in netplay. Steve is going to be working on releasing an AI and the ability to netplay with up to 6 people. Then he plans on releasing pbem. I figure it will take several months to get the AI out, not sure on the other 2 options.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

To clarify:

There are eight major powers: China, Commonwealth, France, US, USSR, versus Germany, Italy, Japan. When Vichy is declared there are 9, with France being split into Vichy and Free France. China is a little unusual because it is split into Nationalist and Communist, with the latter being controlled by the USSR player.

The WIF rules define who plays what major powers, with the number of player ranging from 2-6. With 6, there are 3 players on each side.

[composer99]

Having a separate player for France & China would make me feel a great deal of pity for whomever was stuck in that position.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: composer99

Having a separate player for France & China would make me feel a great deal of pity for whomever was stuck in that position.

If I remember correctly, it is the US & China and USSR & France.

[willbowe]

Oh yeah, eight major powers. Seven's Diplomacy. Hey, speaking of WW1 games, perhaps Matrix could knock up a Fatal Alliances add-on, if it found a bit of free time.