comments from Cyberboard WIF game in progress

[wfzimmerman]

Hello,

I am a spectator in an epochal game of WIF that Peter Kanjorski is organizing using Cyberboard system. There are some very well known players and about 10 on-line spectators. I volunteered to bring any lessons learned from that group back to the Matrix forum.

So far, we have spent about a month negotiating options, familiarizing everyone with the Cyberboard system, and getting almost through setup. It seems safe to say that "conversation-intensive" issues like choosing options and computer learning curve will also be important concerns for CWIF.

The other insight I'd offer so far is that Matrix CWIF should definitely ship with a *lot* of prepared set-up files for each power, including standard strategies like "demand Bessarabia", "France First," and so on. Take advantage of the computer whereever possible.

Cheers,

Fred

[Fred98]

Set up files are an obvipus one.

Another is that a player might have their own fav set up. It ought to be possible to save that set up to be used over and over again -until an opponent finds a fault in it [:)]

[Mziln]

ORIGINAL: Joe 98
Set up files are an obvipus one.

Another is that a player might have their own fav set up. It ought to be possible to save that set up to be used over and over again -until an opponent finds a fault in it [:)]

This was one of my favorite options of the CWiF beta (a real time saver). I had several saved start up's especialy for the U.S.S.R. and Italy.

[Greyshaft]

Great stuff!!!

I'm reserving my seat as a lurker on this thread and bringing the popcorn

C'mon the screenshots!!!

/Greyshaft

[Mziln]

I hope wfzimmerman comes back or supplies a link if there is a site for the game as it progresses.

Since there have been no changes in the status of MWiF.

[wfzimmerman]

Much debate about meaning of Russian set-up. I'll see if I can figure out how to make Cyberboard show all counters in a hex.

[wfzimmerman]

and near vladivostok.

[pak19652002]

Hi everyone. Yes, indeed, we are starting a Cyberboard game and it's shaping up to be a dandy. There is still plenty of time to sign on as a spectator, which could be a great way to learn about Cyberboard. We are finding that players who have not observed at least one CB game are having some difficulty getting up to speed. The result is a slow start for us, infortunately.

Therefore, I would recommend that anyone interested in playing a CB game first observe at least a few turns of another game. That's what I did and I am now having no problem leading my own game.

So, you can contact me through this forum, or directly to pak19652002@yahoo.com if you are interested in watching the game.

Peter

P.S. I am playing Italy with Mike Cobb as Germany and John Benn as Japan. The allies include Michael Burke, Paul Dernyck, Vesa Saarinen, Kenneth Crist and Bryce Bingham.

Take a look at that Russian set-up in Asia. Any idea what they might be up to?

[Greyshaft]

ORIGINAL: pak19652002
...Take a look at that Russian set-up in Asia. Any idea what they might be up to?

I'm looking at the Russian stack at Vladivostok.
Any hints what lies beneath?

[coregames]

ORIGINAL: Greyshaft
I'm looking at the Russian stack at Vladivostok.
Any hints what lies beneath?

Probably guys with bolt-action rifles

[Mziln]

Yup, guys with bolt-action rifles. looks like standard "Claim Bessarabia" and "Hold in the East".

Information down loaded from ADG 30setup.

Any map

1 Fighter, 1 Bomber, 1 Transport, and 5 Convoy Points

Europe

Timoshenko, 1 Mechanized, 2 Infantry, 2 Garison, 1 Cavalry, 1 Fighter, 3 Bombers, and 1 Submarine

Baltic - BB Marat and CA Kirov
Black Sea - BB Paris Commune and CL Chervona Ukraina

Asia

Zhukov, 3 Infantry, 1 Cavalry, and 1 Submarine

[pak19652002]

Yeah, sorry. I forgot the screen cap doesn't show what's underneath. Basically, Russia loaded everything allowable into the area around Vladivostok. The Axis thinks this is a little risky given the vulnerable rail line near Blagovyeshchensk.

Playing with oil, how do they plan to reorganize Zhukov and other oil dependent units once that rail line is severed? I don't know, but we are soon going to find out. Stand-by. Fred will post more screen caps of the Japanese set-up shortly. Then, the fireworks.

Peter

[coregames]

ORIGINAL: pak19652002
Playing with oil, how do they plan to reorganize Zhukov and other oil dependent units once that rail line is severed?

When tracing an oil path, it is like a supply path except that it can be of any length. So you have to cut off all access to the oil, including the farthest north hexes near Chita, as well as denying any route by sea to Archangel/Murmansk. So cutting the rail line will stop rail moves, but not oil. It's also advisable for Russia to stockpile some oil out there in Vlad, just in case Japan does cut it all off.

Of course, the Japanese could cut the line closer to the coast than Blagovyeshchensk... that might cause oil dependency problems for Vladivostok and environs.

[wfzimmerman]

Here are the German & Polish setups.

[pak19652002]

Leeb is one hex east of Breslau. Rundstedt is two hexes north of Poznan. Bock is one hex south of Konisberg.

Wait until Fred posts the Asian map. The Russians are going to be sorry they rebuffed the Emperor's peace offering.

Peter

[Skanvak]

Which gamebox do you use? (I mean made by who?)

[Grotius]

Er, how does "spectacting" work? You receive e-mailed updates on the progress of the game?

Not that I'm ready to spectate. I don't own WIF and I've never played it, but I have to say I'm pretty darn tempted to get it. Would "spectating" help me learn the game system?

[pak19652002]

Thierry Aradan made the gamebox and Manuel Ron made the maps. I do not know Thierry but I ahve corresponded with Manuel.

Peter

[pak19652002]

When playing a game on CB, each player is assigned his own game file which all start off being identical. The players then add layers of moves in the form of move files that are sent back and forth via email.

CB has added two additional types of game files, one for a referee and another for spectators. The spectator game file receives all the emailed move files from all the players and looks no different than the players' game files. The only difference is that the spectator game doesn't actually send any move files to players. You might say it's analogous to read-only CD, but even that is not completely accurate because you can pick up and move pieces if you like. But, that's more than you need to know to get started.

In any event, if you are interested, I will issue you an invitation to the Yahoo! discussion group we are using to manage the game and distribute move files. As a bonus, we have added all spectators to the Allied and Axis strategy email lists so they get a unique pespective into the thinking of both sides. We thought that would be a neat way to keep the spectators engaged.

Peter

[Greyshaft]

ORIGINAL: pak19652002

In any event, if you are interested, I will issue you an invitation to the Yahoo! discussion group we are using to manage the game and distribute move files. As a bonus, we have added all spectators to the Allied and Axis strategy email lists so they get a unique pespective into the thinking of both sides. We thought that would be a neat way to keep the spectators engaged.

Peter

Where do I sign up ?