3R-Axis - Avalon Hill 'Third Reich' for TOAW - by sPzAbt653

Norm Koger's The Operational Art of War III is the next game in the award-winning Operational Art of War game series. TOAW3 is updated and enhanced version of the TOAW: Century of Warfare game series. TOAW3 is a turn based game covering operational warfare from 1850-2015. Game scale is from 2.5km to 50km and half day to full week turns. TOAW3 scenarios have been designed by over 70 designers and included over 130 scenarios. TOAW3 comes complete with a full game editor.

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sPzAbt653
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RE: Third Reich

Post by sPzAbt653 »

About "Cordob", "Granad", I vote to keep all original errors.

Okie Dokie.
I just forget to disable the token units,


Drat, I figured that would happen, and its a very valid point because then you lose them.
Basically you're converting units into buttons. I don't mind if someone does that out of the map (in fact I think it's cool),

I thought it would make the player feel that he was actually accomplishing something. But like I said earlier, it could be a pain, and thats not the intention. I think the only alternative is the way it was in v1, all done behind the scenes by percentages.
One vote for garrisoning Gibraltar!

Done !
don't worry much about what I post.

Look, so far its up to you, me , Crossroads and Telumar. Telu may or may not be interested very much, I don't know (anything he says is very appreciated). I consider Crossroads to have the final say in stuff as it was his idea, I'm just putting this together, and you can say whatever you want, no worries. Like I said, we're all contributing to make it as close to as much fun as the original was.
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Rodia
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RE: Third Reich

Post by Rodia »

Thanks, sPzAbt :)

About reinforcements, I guess a message in the news could be enough?

How does it work in the Avalon Hill game?

Also how is Italy managed?

I ask this because I've found my Grand Strategy of not inviting Musso much like cheating... but on the other hand it was way cool.

I was getting every turn the message: "You have Theater Options". I know, lol. [8D]

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RE: Third Reich

Post by sPzAbt653 »

About reinforcements, I guess a message in the news could be enough?

An obvious idea, sorry I missed it, and I will add it. Then we can see if over the next few plays it isn't too much of a problem (the manual disbanding of units thing).
How does it work in the Avalon Hill game?


In the boardgame the player kept track of it on separate cards. In the computer version, there was a Year Start Sequence in the Spring turns, the computer did the calculations, and a screen would flash up showing how your BRP level has progressed.
Also how is Italy managed?


In the originals, Italy was a neutral operating on its own until either it declared war on a country at war with Germany, or a country at war with Germany declared war on it. Generally, the Axis player would bring Italy in to help defeat France, or Britain would attack Italy in order to knock the Axis out of Africa early. In TOAW this is impossible (no neutrals). What we have now is a German Theater Option to bring Italy in whenever the player feels like it. The Allied PO has no option to attack Italy as I think we can't trust Elmer with such decisions.
... not inviting Musso much like cheating

I didn't feel that it was cheating because if Italy isn't activated, the Germans are almost shut out of Africa. However, I hadn't considered never activating Italy, in which case I should come up with an alternate strategy for the Allied PO. That's a prickly problem, though.
"You have Theater Options".

Even with the message (which we can't stop) I often forget to use them. [:(]
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RE: Third Reich

Post by Crossroads »

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
Look, so far its up to you, me , Crossroads and Telumar. Telu may or may not be interested very much, I don't know (anything he says is very appreciated). I consider Crossroads to have the final say in stuff as it was his idea, I'm just putting this together, and you can say whatever you want, no worries. Like I said, we're all contributing to make it as close to as much fun as the original was.

Unfortunately, I am pretty much still a novice with TOAW... But I'll try my best!

I very much like what you've accomplished so far! As far as I am concerned you should get a medal for this [&o]

My votes for garrisoning Gibraltar and for "wrong" unit names as well.

I am still in the 1940... Will continue later today. France backstabbed me while I was busy at Poland. Loved that! No sitzenkrieg as far as Elmer is concerned [:D]
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Rodia
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RE: Third Reich

Post by Rodia »

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

Even with the message (which we can't stop) I often forget to use them. [:(]
I also forget about them, but the message every turn is/was cool, it was like italians calling Germany each season. "Hey, we're here waiting! Can we join plz?" [:D]

BTW the schedule is so tight that it's great to squeeze TOAW rounds from each turn.

And one minor detail, again I don't know how is in the original game but capital cities are marked with a red star, even Berlin, lol, I find that's a bit discouraging.

Is like that in the Avalon Hill game? I can help with some minor graphic things if needed.

And like Crossroads, I also vote for a medal!

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RE: Third Reich

Post by Crossroads »

Yes, they were red stars... All resistance is futile lol.

The boardgamegeek has a few images of the board if you scroll further down this page: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/ ... hird-reich
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sPzAbt653
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RE: Third Reich

Post by sPzAbt653 »

Unfortunately, I am pretty much still a novice with TOAW... But I'll try my best!


Usually I like to stay away from analogies but in this case I'll say that I can't bake a cake, but I know what tastes good.
My votes for garrisoning Gibraltar and for "wrong" unit names as well.


Ok, done and done. I'll remind later when 1.2 is posted, but will mention that the initial Gibraltar Garrison is on the puny side because I don't want it to be impossible to get, so we'll have to monitor the situation in future plays.
I am still in the 1940 ...


No worries, the great thing about working for ourselves is that there are no deadlines. Continue at your own pace and go as far as you like, voice your opinions/concerns and let me know when you want v1.2.
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sPzAbt653
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RE: Third Reich

Post by sPzAbt653 »

BTW the schedule is so tight that it's great to squeeze TOAW rounds from each turn.

In the original there was a Combat Phase followed by an Exploitation Phase. TOAW Rounds are a different dynamic, but with the settings we have for Maximum Rounds Per Battle and Attrition Divider, coupled with Movement Allowances and Combat Strengths, so far it seems that this is working out pretty well.
capital cities are marked with a red star


As Crossroads said, the same as in the original, although some cities had little black stars (like lisbon in Portugal). Since we don't have little black stars I've put red ones in those also. The original had contries without stars and you needed to capture all cities within them to gain the BRP's (for example, in Algeria you needed to get Oran, Algiers and Constantine). For the sake of simplicity I've tied most of those types of countries into one location. So for Algeria you need to only capture and hold Algers, but holding Kaf in Arabia gets you nothing (as in the original).
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RE: Third Reich

Post by sPzAbt653 »

I can help with some minor graphic things if needed.


It would be nice to have most placenames in Black, but I think that might require a separate .dll file.
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RE: Third Reich

Post by Crossroads »

Got a couple of turns more under the belt. Wish I can boast a Nazi Gibraltar soon as well!

I am not sure I understood the Finnish Gulf / hex side thing.

They are full hexes in the board game you could do the same? Movement was not allowed over them. At the moment it just looks wrong, a bit like the English Channel in the first draft you posted here. This is an easy comment to make though, that's why I am asking again :)

Apart from that, as I don't have that many TOAW games under my belt, I am struggling a bit trying to play with similar tactics as with the board game. Is there an easy way to move troops around?

From Poland to Netherlands and France for an example I just moved them as it was a relatively short trip to make. But is there a way to do something similar as in the deployment phase with board game, where you could place your troops in the beginning of a year sequence?
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RE: Third Reich

Post by sPzAbt653 »

Is there an easy way to move troops around?

Sadly, no free placement of constructed units and no Strategic Redeployment as in the original. So we can't get it exactly like the boardgame, but we should be able to obtain something close. Rail movement and Sea Transport mock some of the aspects of the original. I purposely kept the rail lines non-continuous in order to make it a little harder to move around (there were limits on Strategic Redeployment that hamper both sides).

Let me know if you have any specific issues and we might be able to change something.
... the Finnish Gulf / hex side thing.


Complaining once is one thing, but complaining twice demands action ! So here you go :

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Rodia
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RE: Third Reich

Post by Rodia »

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
I can help with some minor graphic things if needed.


It would be nice to have most placenames in Black, but I think that might require a separate .dll file.

You know what would be nicer? If TOAW could read the "Opart 3 Fonts.ini" from the scenario folder, much like now graphics and sounds.

This way we could have black letters in your scenario, Tolkien fonts in the LotR ones, Gothic letters in german maps...

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RE: Third Reich

Post by Crossroads »

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

So here you go :

Image

If that isn't a work of art I don't know what is [;)]

I've re-started the campaign from scratch. I am slowly getting hang of this TOAW thing again :)
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RE: Third Reich

Post by sPzAbt653 »

I've re-started the campaign from scratch.

Before you get too deep you may want to use v1.2. I'll post it now.

v1.2
added Murmansk Convoy box
added news for the Disband units
added Axis supply points in Britian for Sealion
made the escarpments blue (need to get the graphics files again)
added Vichy and Free France units in Africa
changed the events for Italian Folgore and RM6 units. Its kind of complex, so we should monitor that they work properly.
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RE: Third Reich

Post by Crossroads »

Got it. Lock and Load, Poland here we come again!

Edit: Poland conquered much more swiftly now, while some troops already transfering to West Front and Denmark. Observation: Sweden seems to break her neutrality early on. What is the trigger for that? Sumthing I said? [8D]

Edit2: It seems a strong UK fleet arrived from North between Sweden and Finland. It is not possible, it is a Gulf as well. Northern route should be via the Western coast of Norway. This is sort of essential, as I had blocked the entry to Baltic sea at Denmark straights, and was not expecting anyone from my flank.

I am now about to initiate the conquest of Netherlands and Belgium, once I get organised there...
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RE: Third Reich

Post by sPzAbt653 »

Sweden seems to break her neutrality early on.


Sweden and other neutrals will activate if a unit moves next to them. Maybe one of your fleets moved next to them? (I don't think air units overflying will trigger them, but I'm not positive about that).
UK fleet arrived from North between Sweden and Finland.

Do you think it reconstituted there? I didn't think a new arrival would show up there. You can always send me a .sal file and I can check it out.
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RE: Third Reich

Post by Crossroads »

UK fleet thing happened only once, I think I've restarted the v1.2 three times now as I am slowly getting into touch with all TOAW details...

So far so good. France finally fell on Winter 1941, and having moved my units East I have finally called Barbarossa on - in Spring 1942...

Having great fun so far :)
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RE: Third Reich

Post by Crossroads »

I like how the BRPs appear as dispandable units in conquered capitals. Nice touch [:)]
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sPzAbt653
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RE: Third Reich

Post by sPzAbt653 »

UK fleet thing happened only once,

Probably a reconstructed unit, keep an eye out for things like that because I can usually do something about it.
I like how the BRPs appear as dispandable units in conquered capitals.

I expected it to be a fun aspect, maybe if Rodia gives it a little more time it will grow on him. [;)]
Having great fun so far


Excellent !!
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RE: Third Reich

Post by Rodia »

Downloaded the new version, great.

I expect to try it in the next two days, if I have time before 1.3 is released! [:)]
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