Matrix Games Forums

If I want to pbem, what rules should I expect? I've only played AI so far and would like to make sure I understand the mechanics of some of the rules before playing them against a human. Specifically, the supply rules... Advanced supply? Auto supply or not? How bout fog of war? I'm just looking for what to expect the majority of opponents to want.

Most people seem to be using Adv Supply - its simply a much more complicated and hence fun game with those. Area/Auto supply can be set differently and independently for each player and has no effect on the others. So, you can use whatever you please. Most will be playing with neither but you are free to do so if you please and no opponent should ever mind.

Fog of War. Most people play with this but some dont. I specifically think its importent for the Axis so the Allies cannot tell right away in 1940 what the strategic Axis plan is based on builds.

Fuel. This one has confused several of my opponents over time. It does not effect ships and armor paying extra supply to move more than 1 area - rather it makes all land units pay 2 supply if they cross a 2MP land border. I personally believe this rule is importent to make it harder for the Japanese to walk across Siberia.

No Auto Victory. Most people do play with Auto Victory so that one should not be checked. A few turn this off - so either is possible.
No End Date. I would say that virtually everyone plays with the fixed end date - so this one should not be checked.

So, if you are the one starting a PBEM game as the Axis player in a 1on1 game you should do the following (unless otherwise agreed upon).
1) Make sure you and your opponent is using the same version (1.040, 1.070 or 1.071 atm - I suggest 1.071)
2) Check the PBEM box
3) Right click on the small numbers next to the nations till it says 1 next to Ger + Jap and 2 next to Rus, Chi and WA.
4) In Game options.
-- Check Adv supply and Fog of War for all nations
-- Check Area/Auto for any nation that wants (default will be unchecked if noone has asked for it)
-- Make sure that No Supply, No Auto Victory and No End Date are not checked
-- Make sure that Fuel is checked.

I hope this helps. Oh, and "Online" will normally be used to refer to TCP/IP gaming while PBEM will be called PBEM (its mostly offline).

Fog of War. Most people play with this but some dont. I specifically think its importent for the Axis so the Allies cannot tell right away in 1940 what the strategic Axis plan is based on builds.

Jan, did this change in the 1.070 patch? Under 1.040 you could see what the on-map forces are by looking at the unit status roster. You could not, however, see current builds. Is it still the same where you can see the total number of your opponent's units, even with fog of war on?

Its the same - which works well enough as far as I am concerned. Its the fact that you cannot tell 4 turns in advance if its armor (Russia) or tac/ftr/trs (England) thats importent.