How to Read a Battle Ticket

[WotC Bob]

Discussion thread for David Devere's article on How to Read a Battle Ticket (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/aam/ah20070420c).

[shadowhooch]

Wow, this is cool. Thanks!:D

[frogczar]

This is going to be fun!

Thanks WoTC!

[wilson2]

very cool but im part of the group "if you dont have enough units"

[Lagduf]

NICE.

This reminds me of Game Workshop's grand campaign games in which players from all over the world participate and then submit the results of their battles.

[Malaky]

I have been waiting for this! This is some of the best news since I heard Sliced Bread existed. The battles will be very detailled and that's what will make the campaign fun. I just hope for some larger than 100pts battles.

Yeah, it reminds me of the Games Workshop campaign too but only in this case, my army is ready to play. Unlike for Medusa V ( W40k) for which my chaos army was still being assembled and painted.

I just wish there isn't some kind of rule where you can put Japanese with germans or something else like that...

Anyway, thanks WotC :)

[Mantidman]

Our group has been doing a '39 to '45 campaign year by year. We just finished 1941 so we all have some practice with the '41 builds. I'm really looking forward to this. Thanks WOTC!

[Surfer_Sam]

Will we be doing this play-by-post style?

[Khayman7]

As I said before it would be really good if people that lived by each other that wanted to could get together and play over some malted hops and barley beverages. Just assign them to opposite sides evenly. As long as they all agree that is of course.

Shep you going to be Axis so I can play my French against you in a game that counts for something other than bragging rights?!?!? :D Though bragging rights really are good to have too :)

[jpkaraffa]

I have the fleet and have made my dad and wife learn how to play with me but I am far from an expert. But man I would love to play in this. :D

[Slaynar]

This is Great News!!!!!!!!

When does it start?
How do we get into this?
I am a DCI location, how do I get my store and customers into this..

Robert

[Surfer_Sam]

It's an online game. Don;t have to go anywhere

[Rysyonok]

Awesome! I've been sweating bullets since I thought WaS was going to be exempt... I'm glad I was wrong.

What about historical sinkings? E.g., only 1 Bismarck can be deployed after May'41 (= Tirpitz) and none after 1944?

[Surfer_Sam]

If this game is as interative as I think it is, the first Bismarck doesn't even have to be sunk

[DocD]

Capt Doc D, Reporting for duty sir.
Man, my life is busy as heck, but count me in!

[tragicmishap]

Man, this is going to be awesome. Waiting for more specifics and of course, the beginning.

Also if anybody wants to play online, EricM 2404 has kindly provided a photobucket account with the standard maps and most of the pieces. Visit the Play by Post forum and the "How to Start" thread for details.

[Strokin_100]

I was expecting this to be the next evolution. However I don't play the A&A naval game. Is there any options to be just land?

[Surfer_Sam]

You choose what you want to do

[djensen47]

Is there going to be a bid to play one side or another using both the A&A Europe and the A&A Pacific maps?

The problem is that in A&A Pacific, Japan has a HUGE advantage. Bids are typically on the order of 20 IPCs go to the allies and then it's still very tough to beat Japan before they accumulate enough victory points to win.

Or are we just using the game board and not the actual rules for boardgames?

[djensen47]

It's an online game. Don;t have to go anywhere

I think that is a bit of a stretch. It's online in that you email your results. Welcome to 1995! At the same time it's probably cheaper to have somebody process the results manually than to hire or contract software engineers to build a system for you to manage this.

[djensen47]

Wait a minute, I guess I was confused. How does this thing work? Who is high command and how do we know if they are goog AAE or AAP players?

[TomJag3]

I'm on board for the naval part. I'd also be interested in the boardgame end of it. How do we get signed up? I have a Wednesday night group that would be game and our workplace group would get a kick out of it, too.

[warspite]

Wait a minute, I guess I was confused. How does this thing work? Who is high command and how do we know if they are goog AAE or AAP players?

WotC is High Command. We AAM/WaS players are the troops on the field. The rest is what we are TOLD to do. Just follow orders (Battle Tickets and Fleet Actions) and report the results. They'll update the strategic map according to how well WE do.

[TrimChris]

I can only provide high command input.

[Volorkey]

Oh boy oh boy oh boy! Can't wait can't wait can't wait.

This is excellent it's like the scenarios but at the next level!

[jeffgoboom]

I'm volunteering and not waiting to be drafted. :D Now where is that inlistment office?;)

[unc_samurai]

Is there a blank Fleet Action Template available anywhere?

[Lettische_Scooterist]

I'll bet our group of six here in Denver will be ready to jump onboard when it officially starts.

[Jaels]

One comment about the Fleet Action: the "Move one objective 1 sector in any direction" option available to the defender gives him quite an advantage, as this put that objective in range to be captured without possible opposition from the opponent's surface ships on turn 2 (or even in the first turn if you are using Köln cruisers).

Picking this option twice leaves the defender with 2/3 of the needed victory points to win at the end of turn 2, putting the attacker at a serious disadvantage.

[V-Disc]

I'm glad official, Campaign play is open to soiltaire players. Sadly, I rarely have the time to get into FTF games. It seems this effort is taking scenarios to a whole, new level. Exciting stuff!

[Surfer_Sam]

So you can play this either with someone near you or online using a play by post system?

[Joisey]

One comment about the Fleet Action: the "Move one objective 1 sector in any direction" option available to the defender gives him quite an advantage, as this put that objective in range to be captured without possible opposition from the opponent's surface ships on turn 2 (or even in the first turn if you are using Köln cruisers).

Picking this option twice leaves the defender with 2/3 of the needed victory points to win at the end of turn 2, putting the attacker at a serious disadvantage.

Interesting insight. Counter tactic: Pick alot of air units to attack your opponent trying to quickly claim objectives out of the box. Chances are good such forces will be rather light and not have good AA.

[V-Disc]

So you can play this either with someone near you or online using a play by post system?


Yes....at least that's my understanding. The article reads "We encourage you to print out the Tickets and Actions and play with your friends face to face, online or even solo."

[Green_Centipede]

I've been playing since the the rules were pre-released for the first set and I am compelled to make this my first post. I'm am ridiculously excited to be a part of this campaign. Actually playing board games and using technology to make it fun. It's about time. I have very little extra time and now all of it is going to be utilized for tactical warfare. BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Panthinator]

Can you pick the fleet action only?

I have all but one of allies war at sea mini's but none of the land based ones. My friend has all of the axis ships and planes.

[Jaels]

Interesting insight. Counter tactic: Pick alot of air units to attack your opponent trying to quickly claim objectives out of the box. Chances are good such forces will be rather light and not have good AA.

Someone trying to grab quick objectives with Kölns would be vulnerable to strong air power, but you don't need a special buildup to abuse this option: any non-slow surface units (including battleships) would be able to reach the objective on turn 2 while the opponent will be two hexes away an unable to contest it.

There are possible counters (basically subs, fighters, and battleships), but they need to be lucky to cripple sink the opposition on turn 2. I can live with the defender picking this option once, but twice starts abusing things.

JL

[V-Disc]

Can you pick the fleet action only?

I have all but one of allies war at sea mini's but none of the land based ones. My friend has all of the axis ships and planes.

My understanding is that you can engage in either or both the land and sea battles.

[Slaynar]

** grabs hair and pulls strongly**
I need more info...
1) where do we sign up
2) do we pick Axis or Allies an have to stick with it
3) where do we get the "tickets" for the scenarios
4) where do we send them into
5) where will the results be tracked?

TO start with.
Robert

[V-Disc]

** grabs hair and pulls strongly**
I need more info...
1) where do we sign up
2) do we pick Axis or Allies an have to stick with it
3) where do we get the "tickets" for the scenarios
4) where do we send them into
5) where will the results be tracked?

TO start with.
Robert

I think all of these issues/questions were addressed in the article. So...in answer to your quesions {& to my understanding!}..

1. ...I'm not sure you actually "sign up". You just submit your After Action Reports.

2. You can play either or any side/country. One week you're the UK; next week Japan. They leave it up to you.

3. Tickets/Fleet Actions will be downloads.

4. After Action Reports are sent to "High Command" via e-mail. I don't think the address is active yet.

and 5. Yes...the maps/boardgames used in Axis & Allies "Pacific" & "Europe" will be used to track/guide the battle results. Should be interesting.

Oh yes....I don't think this is worth pulling your hair out! It'll be fun!

[frimmel]

I have several questions as well.

1) This strikes me as just a new way to generate scenarios. Is that correct?

2) Is this mostly geared at players of the minis games? If yes is this child board in the Board Games forum as some sort of effort to market minis to the board gamers or is input in determining the strategy that is generating the scenarious being sought?

3) Folks will play minis games and some sort of average of the results will be taken to determine the outcome of a combat that was created on an Axis and Allies board game board?

4) Which board game is being employed? Actually any details--was there a bid? What are the Victory conditions? Will National Advantages be used. et al would be apprecitated.
Okay I got bogged down in the details and missed that this was in the first paragraph of the article.

5) How do units in the board game translate to points for minis?
6) The combat results will influence the board game which will determine future scenarios?

[Grenzewolf]

I enthusiastically look forward to this broad spectrum application of the AH family of games. The concept of the operation appears quite straight forward if one reads the articles.

A grand scale campaign is tailor made for massive multi force collectors like myself. WOOT!

I would hope that "Historical" pre-builds will be made optional. If not to appease historical players like my self that enjoy playing the hand we are dealt but to offset power builds that exist that could easily skew results if overplayed.