AAR - PBEM Game 2 (The FIRST public AAR)

[MButtazoni]

i'm not done my turn yet, but i can tell you my strategies are based on JA's abysmal supply situation [:-] he doesn't have enough supply his next turn to move his fleet away from Pearl Harbor. (he can move some of it, but we know what happens to a JA navy that splits up [:D])

So i want to relieve the pressure on southern RU (after all it's mostly my fault GE is over there) : India regained her Western province and Torch is well under way too.

Churchill says "Say hello to my little friend!" (i mean the US if that is too obscure)

more to come...

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: MButtazoni

Churchill says "Say hello to my little friend!" (i mean the US if that is too obscure)

more to come...

Hope you found some appropriate residence for good ole Winston somewhere in New England, with soft armchair for Nelson*. We want him in good health for the Victory Parade on the event of the reconquest of England. Hope his fighting spirits are still high.

* - Churchill's favorite cat

O.

[MButtazoni]

Well the US finds itself in a war. After some consideration of the JA situation i decide to launch Torch first and land in Vichy North Africa. India also takes back it's lost Western Provinces.

China, after spending 1.5 years stockpiling 10 supply, decide to attack into French Indo-China and Peking. Both attacks fail but cause numerous casualties to the JA army. (i think CH lost some troops too, but it's hard to keep track of 10 or 20 thousand troops in this country of millions)

here's a picture of the Mediteranean front with a highlight on the US Torch forces:

[MButtazoni]

Here is the Force Pool and Production Queue at the end of Fall 1940:

[MButtazoni]

and here is the Global Map (Victory) screen:

As you can see the allies jumped up 10 production points (from 54 to 64), these are the 10 Factories that RU brought online this turn. All things being left alone (which is unlikely) the Allies will jump by another 36 Production next turn as the 18 US Factories ramp up from a x1 to a x3.

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: MButtazoni

and here is the Global Map (Victory) screen:

As you can see the allies jumped up 10 production points (from 54 to 64), these are the 10 Factories that RU brought online this turn. All things being left alone (which is unlikely) the Allies will jump by another 36 Production next turn as the 18 US Factories ramp up from a x1 to a x3.

Yeah! Three cheers for Communist Red Workers and Peasants! (While they are still alive.)

Oleg

[neuromancer]

ORIGINAL: MButtazoni
it's 3 month turns because it was designed that way [:D], no impulses either.

I'd like to say at this juncture that I would have liked more territories (map is a little to Axis and allies for my tastes - Europe Engulfed has a nice scale for territories) and turns to be a tad shorter, say 1 or 2 months (again similar to EE).

But, what the hey. Its what we got.

[Joel Billings]

A couple of quick notes. Thanks to the testers who have been willing to write about this game even though they are all just getting used to the game. Great screenshots. Someone mentioned that each player has a very different experience and set of issues to deal with and I totally agree. When I first started testing, I found I was having a lot of fun switching to different players (letting the AI play the other 4). Every time I got bored with my fifth time playing the Germans against the beginning AI, I'd play someone else and it would be a whole new game.

As for the factory and victory situation. Although the rules say we only credit factories that have resources, I don't think this is working. Currently the strat map screen is showing all factories whether they have resources to match or not. For example, the Japanese have probably only had about 13-14 resources, so they have not been able to use close to half of their factories. We're not sure how we will ultimately deal with this as we haven't even begun to deal with balancing victory conditions, but I'd guess now the code is looking at factory points only, not resources.

As for the criticism, we welcome it. I think I understand the expectation that the AI will be weaker than Axis & Allies due to the number of territories. A reasonable expectation, except having played a lot of A&A on the computer years ago, I'd bet our alpha AI is already 5 times better than the A&A AI. Remember the US building infantry and then not having transports to bring the units into battle? Pure stupidity. I can guarantee this game will be better. Of course, it is only AI, and the PBEM games will be better. As for play balance, I don't know how that can even be looked at until these testers have a few games under their belt. Of course this is exactly why we are pressing testers to play more PBEM games so they can gain the experience to judge these issues. It will take a little time. We also are in the process of adding a few more testers so we can get even more testing going. I'd think the testers would agree the game is pretty stable (with a few strange quircks), so about 80% of the programming focus is on improving the AI and play balance (when not implementing new artwork). Hopefully with a few more testers you'll see some more AAR's in the near future.

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings
We also are in the process of adding a few more testers so we can get even more testing going.

Komrade Bekket, there's some hope for you! [:D] Nazdrovye!

Oleg

[Becket]

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings
We also are in the process of adding a few more testers so we can get even more testing going.

Komrade Bekket, there's some hope for you! [:D] Nazdrovye!

Oleg

Except I still have no idea if they received my missive requesting a posting to the front! Ah well, ni shagu nazad and all that. [:D]

[neuromancer]

ORIGINAL: a19999577

Given that the game is set up in such long turns and large areas, the way I'd spin the entire London falling to the Axis and recovery by colonial troops is thus: <snip>

Of course, game mechanics don't work out like this, but I think it sounds epic enough.

I like it!

Works for me.

[Count Bobby]

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

ORIGINAL: Count Bobby

Your argument it´s an Alpha appears to be sound,

It's not an "argument" per se it's a simple fact [8D] Anyway all comments are welcome as long as they are: a) constructive (ie contain some suggestions or ideas); b) clearly have in mind that the game is in alpha phase (this being one of the first 4-player PBEM games in the history of WAW testing - wow this sounds preposterous, but is true).
...

Oleg

The 'argument' I was referring to is that the version being Alpha matters a lot. I believe balancing should be very much in the developer´s forehead from the start (so as not to create any mechanics that make balancing difficult).

That said, I realize I do not always explain the deep thoughts [:'(] behind what I say, so it may appear to a sensitive playtester [:D] that I am a detractor, while in fact I´m pretty much sold on this one (as long as it comes packaged). That´s the reason I care about the balance/ai/historicity in the first place.

[Count Bobby]

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings

...
As for the criticism, we welcome it. I think I understand the expectation that the AI will be weaker than Axis & Allies due to the number of territories.

I love it when someone is getting my point!

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings
A reasonable expectation, except having played a lot of A&A on the computer years ago, I'd bet our alpha AI is already 5 times better than the A&A AI. Remember the US building infantry and then not having transports to bring the units into battle? Pure stupidity. I can guarantee this game will be better. Of course, it is only AI, and the PBEM games will be better. As for play balance, I don't know how that can even be looked at until these testers have a few games under their belt. Of course this is exactly why we are pressing testers to play more PBEM games so they can gain the experience to judge these issues. It will take a little time. We also are in the process of adding a few more testers so we can get even more testing going. I'd think the testers would agree the game is pretty stable (with a few strange quircks), so about 80% of the programming focus is on improving the AI and play balance (when not implementing new artwork). Hopefully with a few more testers you'll see some more AAR's in the near future.

Great. I´m looking forward to them. And yes: thanks to the betatesters for the large number of screenies!

[VI66_slith]

Question: Is there mechanics for strategic redeployment something like there is in Third Reich? It seems like there is. Im expressly talking about the UK's colonial troops attacking GB after the German take over. If I missed it somewhere please do forgive me. [8|]

I would also like to know where and how one applies to be a play tester? What are you looking for? I did play A&A in all variations for better than 15 years. I realize that this in itself may very well disqualify me however [X(]

[Joel Billings]

ORIGINAL: VI66

Question: Is there mechanics for strategic redeployment something like there is in Third Reich? It seems like there is. Im expressly talking about the UK's colonial troops attacking GB after the German take over. If I missed it somewhere please do forgive me. [8|]

I would also like to know where and how one applies to be a play tester? What are you looking for? I did play A&A in all variations for better than 15 years. I realize that this in itself may very well disqualify me however [X(]

Bart Koehler is in charge of assigning playtesters to GGWaW for Matrix. In the thread about call for playtesters Bart said the following (and more so check out that thread):

1) Send me an Email to bartk@matrixgames.com. This email should include:
2) Your name
3) Your address
4) Your phone number
5) Your Matrix Forums Name
6) Your Computer OS
7) Your computer Memory/Processor
8) Your Video Card Brand/Memory
9) Your affirmation that you are willing and able to be a tester and some idea as to how many hours you could plug into the game on a regular basis per week.

[MButtazoni]

...Bart looks up from his paperwork and notices 87 new messages; "WTF?"

[paullus99]

Germany Fall 1941 -

Despite the declaration of war by the Americans (with Churchill shouting over Roosevelt's shoulder [:D]) & their landings in Morocco we can count several additional successes for our war effort.

In the Med, our Italian allies were able to eliminate the two remaining allied light fleet units (one in the Central Med, the other in the Red Sea) with their submarines. We also sent two new U-Boat units to intercept the Americans off of the African Coast & eliminated two transport units.

With the waters now clear of hostile warships, we sent General Manstein to Algeria with reinforcements to throw the allies back into the sea - which we plan to do next season. We have also re-established links to our captured Middle Eastern resources & the Germany war machine is humming along.

In Persia, we counterattacked the British Colonial troops there, eliminating all but a single militia unit - our true invasion of India is at hand!

In Europe, we sent the Luftwaffe to engage the remnants of the English fleet & destroyed another Heavy Fleet unit for no loss of our own. We also re-positioned our troops in England to prevent any attempts at future landings there by the Americans.

Our research efforts paid off handsomely this time around - upgrading our tanks in speed (evasiveness) & our fighters air to air combat ratings.

Our production lines continue to pay dividends - the Tirpitz (Heavy Fleet unit) was finally commissioned, along with an additional U-Boat unit. Our Italian allies also contributed a Heavy Fleet unit which will help serve to protect our interests in the Med.

[paullus99]

Middle East & Indian Situation

[neuromancer]

Another thought, which may or may not be possible in this game, I think it would be appropriate for the Brits, US, and 'allied Minors' (such as France, Belgium, etc.) to have different colours (Green, Tan, and Blue is fairly typical). It may even be appropriate for them to be tracked completely seperately while still controlled by the same player (most other WW2 games that I am familiar with do that, so I'm surprised that this one doesn't).

The reasons for this is that simply makes things a little clearer (US vs. Brit on the map), in the economic mechanics it makes a bit of sense, and there were political and logisitical issues with coordinating things among the various powers.

Like I said, don't know if this can be done in this game, its just a thought.

[bigbabyhead]

Japan used the last shred of supplies saved up to grab as many resource-laden areas as I could reach.

The forces arrayed in Siam for the invasion of India were badly mangled during the WA turn, so I reinforced them until repairs are complete. I got one more good hit on the Pearl Fleet (which hadn't moved out of port for some reason) taking out another heavy fleet and one light fleet before starting my withdrawal.

U.S. subs are lurking about and right now all the resources I've grabbed are damaged and aren't contributing. Next turn I'll be forced to spend some supply repairing them, and preparing to hold on to what I've got in the Pacific while hopefully meeting Germany in South Asia.

Here's what I've gotten ahold of this turn.