Matrix Games Forums

Here are my quick response points: For my time needed for a turn of play, I imagine I could forward within 24 hours.

For the mod, I shall download it Monday evening (I'm Western U.S.) and start poking around.

I have to emphasize that I'm new to competitive multiplayer, so a smaller role to start would be best for everyone so that I don't spoil the game. In this regard, your offer of tutelage is a very welcome one.

As for the diplomatic dynamics... I don't understand any reason for the Axis not to work together. I assume France, U.K., USA will also be working together? And my biggest question is how things work with the USSR, which in my long history of playing with a group for HoI3 is always the touchy discussion.

Edit: I went through the first 50 posts of the Game 23 AAR. Nothing interesting yet. Is there a better place to look, or is it buried deeper?

The new victory conditions do not lead to an Axis-Allied confrontation to the degree that the older conditions did.

Under the old conditions each nation picked one VC out of a custom crafted set of VCs. These were constructed by a real human, with a sense of how World War II really went. Most games went a lot like WW2, with the exception that the Soviets were a wild card and might play as more sympathetic to the Axis. In general the "East Front" attack by Germany on the USSR did occur, and a huge struggle occurred. A big variant was introduced if Japan and the USSR did not stay at peace throughout the conflict, and variants of the Sino-Japanese situation were another common diversion from history.

Under the new conditions anything goes. There is a single nation which can win a major victory, but it is difficult to see how it can be done without "allies". These allies can win a minor victory. Nations not in this coalition will be "defeated". Thus Italy would be wise to join the coalition headed for "victory", even if it does not include Germany. Alliances among the major powers, such as the GB-FR, USSR, USA, China "alliance" of WW2 would result in one of these powers convincing the others to support her for a "major" and becoming "also-rans". Thus I see a wild end game where a power with 35+ points looks for a winning combo, even among "enemy" nations. No one has seen the end of a new VC game yet.

The older AARs, going back to the earliest GD1938 games will give you a look at how the old VCs drove a game. As for the new VCs Game 23 is the only example, and it looks to have an old fashioned Axis-Allies pattern, but this may fall apart as the 35 point threshold approaches. Very wild west sort of situation. Some "non-rewarded" commitment to the cause will be required of majors in a coalition.

Chuck

I loaded up GD 1938 gold (version y) last night, and I also read through more of the game 23 AAR. I'm starting to get a sense for the new victory conditions. I see, for example, that USA used Finland to lose isolationism, but that was taken poorly.

From what I gather, it seems the house rules aren't too strict about maintaining any semblance of a historical timeline? What are the house rules for this?

Let me make an extreme example: if I played as Italy, pretended to go along with Germany, and then backstabbed them, it seems that would ruin the intended balance, although this also seems like a great way for me to guarantee myself a minor victory, if that's the only parameter I condition my play over. (Note that's not the way I play, I tend towards something generally historical.)

Anyway, I can also see that things are greatly different in the GD1938 mod, so I'm trying to do a test game by myself to get a feel for it. Lots to learn still. I know from experience that there will be a ton of tricks that I won't discover until I'm hit in the face with it.

The stricture on the USA being isolated is not too sensible in a ruleset where it is a dog eat dog scramble for victory points. The new VCs posit a world where Germany and the USA might agree on who gets the major and happily campaign together. American isolationism is a left over from the "scripted" world of the old VCs.

The new GD1938 is "Risk". It is a war-game played on a map of the world of 1938 without the political state that existed then. It is a game for amusement of somewhat jaded players of the older VCs. There might need to be some reform of the old VCs, but they give a much better feel for World War II.

I am going to post a call for a "classic" game in this forum, and think you should consider joining it. This will give you lots of AARs to see what is up.

Chuck

I'm quite happy with the new victory conditions. I think theres still some historical plausibility with an extra degree of randomness.

So do we have enough players to kick off now?

"The new GD1938 is "Risk"

I would have no problem with playing the old victory conditions, if chuck feels that strongly about the new system. I am playing a game of GD1938 on the Generals HQ forum where the game has broken down into a global war with Japan USA and USSR V France Italy and The United Kingdom no player yet has achieved their victory conditions, as the GB player I have it within my power to gift victory to one of my allies that would end the game but I have decided that is not perhaps how the game should be played giving our opponents a opportunity to win the game by force of arms. Or our alliance to win also via military power only.

Interesting post Ironduke, where are Germany and China aligned?

Chuck

Japan destroyed China with the British desperately holding the last Chinese cities in the Himalayas, Germany was overwhelmed by the French and British and surrendered, and now the British and Italians are fighting the Soviet Union who changed sides from a alliance with the British in a war against the Japanese, to a war against the British with the USA Japanese and the Soviet Union as allies, the French were British Allies and remained so the Italians had remained neutral but for survival joined the British and French.

From the "Fast, Classic" thread, where Ironduke1955 said :

I am for starting game 24 GD1938 if necessary Chuck can play Germany and Italy if no other player steps forward we have players who have shown willing the least that can be done is to reward them with a game.

Just a quick check that all are onboard. I will post a GR-IT turn tonight. Game 24 will live.

Chuck

I'm good to go...think I am the Soviets, right?

Almost forgot who I was playing. Ready to start.

Hey Ironduke, have any more room in this game or another game of 1938? I'm having so much playing against you as Japan, I need more!!