A big ww2 forum game

joegrundman · 02-24-08, 03:42 AM

Is anyone interested in playing a forum game of A World at War?

http://www.aworldatwar.com/

If so I propose that we try a forum game here at Subsim. If you are interested, please post below with your preferences.

What is a World at War?

It is a hugely detailed and complex board game that represents the entirety of WW2, but at an unimaginably greater level of detail than, say, Axis and Allies. It covers European and Pacific theaters, three fronts in each theater, naval and land forces, strategic warfare, diplomacy and science.

The game occupies a similar position on the sim-game scale as Silent Hunter. It is most certainly not a complete simulation although based on as much fact as possible, but it is weighted to keep both sides competitive. Although the Allies win more games, Axis victory is possible.

The rulebook is formidably large. Like all these things, once you have absorbed the rules you see that the same few principles recur throughout the game and it is not so very difficult to understand, but a lot of reading is required before you get to that point. However, the more players that are involved, the more individuals can specialize, - e.g. focus on pacific naval ops or the Mediterranean, or strategic warfare. This means that noone needs to really understand everything about the game, just your own area. If you need to combine arms you can ask a team mate who has specialized in that are. Also once it's underway, you'll see that things happen and you learn quickly. Anyway, I’ll write guides and give prompts to help play along.

Nonetheless, this should only be of interest to people who are able and willing to absorb quite a lot of information in a reasonable amount of time.

Some here may think board games are a thing of the past, but this is not the case. The internet has given them a new mode of being and in fact internet based games often have an intensity and thrill that playing face to face cannot equal. Also, with multiplayer board games, the opponent AI is usually really, really good.

The time frame of play on a forum based game is much slower than when a group of people play around a board, several months instead of hours. This means that the amount of time required on a daily basis is not that great and indeed days may pass by with nothing much happening, but it also means the amount of thought going into each move is much greater and so the standard of play is much higher. You also are less likely to get tired, or feel you have to abandon the game to watch Friends or eat something. The design of the game is such that players can join or drop out or go on vacation as they please without causing serious problems. The only requirement is that the number of players cannot drop below 5. There is essentially no upper limit as to how many players there are.

Neal has given permission for this, and I believe once it gets going it will be an event of great interest and excitement for participants and spectators alike.

Also, it even has a fairly detailed set of rules that involve submarines!

Anyway, I think it would be really good fun. Sign up and feel free to post your interest.

Please use the following formula for preference:

Preferences: Any/Axis/Allies/Western Allies/USSR/European Axis/Japan/ or even by country USA/Germany/Italy and for a small but important role, Nationalist China.

Job: Any/Navy/Army/Leadership

e.g.

Preference: US
Job: Navy

e.g.

Preference: Any
Job: Leadership

Note: some positions, such as the USA and the USSR will not have very much to do for the first few turns, so are ideal for people who want a little more time to get sorted out. On the other hand, of course, by the time you meet the axis, they will be good at it

In my opinion, this game will be the most fun if we have at least 20 people willing to play, and so once we have 20 names I’ll start sending out information and try to build a forum.

Sign up first and you win first choice!

Joe

joegrundman · 02-24-08, 07:58 AM

I should add:

available nations are

Communist China (joins USSR upon USSR entry)
Nationalist China (joins USA upon USA entry)
France (joins other Western Allies upon defeat)
Germany
Great Britain
Italy
Japan
USA
USSR

Dutchie-one · 02-24-08, 08:52 AM

Hello Joe, what about the Neterlands do you add that too ? Dutchie-one

Jimbuna · 02-24-08, 09:41 AM

Do you only fancy playing for 4 or 5 days

joegrundman · 02-24-08, 10:20 PM

If you want to be the Netherlands, you can!

Jimbuna · 02-25-08, 07:50 AM

Or even Denmark.....then you can change the days into hours.

Brag · 02-25-08, 08:11 AM

I wish I had the time. I love strategic games. Computers have made them realistic.

Dronston · 02-25-08, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Do you only fancy playing for 4 or 5 days

LOL

Hey, we had an active resistance the entire war...

Jimbuna · 02-25-08, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dronston

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Do you only fancy playing for 4 or 5 days

LOL

Hey, we had an active resistance the entire war...

When I lived in your country I recall going to an area called Bish Bosh (or something similar) and my Dutch friends telling me this lake area was a favourite hiding place used by the resistance and an area the Germans would not enter.

Dronston · 02-26-08, 03:43 AM

Quote:

When I lived in your country I recall going to an area called Bish Bosh (or something similar) and my Dutch friends telling me this lake area was a favourite hiding place used by the resistance and an area the Germans would not enter.

Yeah, the Biesbosch. When the going gets tough the Dutch hide behind water lines and just flood everything. Helped us out many a time over the centuries.

joegrundman · 02-26-08, 08:08 PM

We need volunteers for leadership roles, nearly everyone here wants to be running the navy for some reason:hmm: .

Just a few more names and we can get this thing going

UnterseeBoogeyMan · 02-26-08, 11:31 PM

I dig the board games but have never done one on-line. How do you resolve dice rolls?
Is there an honor system involved?

Blacklight · 02-27-08, 12:06 AM

A World at War is basically the old Avalon Hill game "Third Reich" and it's sister game, "Empire of the Rising Sun" smooshed together into one game. I've played a LOT of Third Reich in my time, and never tried Empire. I'll dig up the Third Reich rules and give them a read through. I'd be willing to give this game a shot. Are we doing this through Cyberboard ? I love pushing those little cardboard counters around !

Also, have you tried "World In Flames" ? It's pretty similar and has a very elegant game system. (I recall us having it set up end to end on a ping pong table to play. It took us months to get through the full game.

)

Torplexed · 02-27-08, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blacklight

Also, have you tried "World In Flames" ? It's pretty similar and has a very elegant game system. (I recall us having it set up end to end on a ping pong table to play. It took us months to get through the full game.

)

Yeah, they're trying to convert that one to a PC game too. It's been a long slog tho.

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tt.asp?forumid=110

Blacklight · 02-27-08, 12:23 AM

Yeah. I'm SO waiting for World in Flames to come out as a computer game. I love Matrix Games. I don't think they put out a single bad product. I've been very pleased with every game I've gotten from them.

02-24-08, 03:42 AM	#1
joegrundman Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,689 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	A big ww2 forum game Is anyone interested in playing a forum game of A World at War? http://www.aworldatwar.com/ If so I propose that we try a forum game here at Subsim. If you are interested, please post below with your preferences. What is a World at War? It is a hugely detailed and complex board game that represents the entirety of WW2, but at an unimaginably greater level of detail than, say, Axis and Allies. It covers European and Pacific theaters, three fronts in each theater, naval and land forces, strategic warfare, diplomacy and science. The game occupies a similar position on the sim-game scale as Silent Hunter. It is most certainly not a complete simulation although based on as much fact as possible, but it is weighted to keep both sides competitive. Although the Allies win more games, Axis victory is possible. The rulebook is formidably large. Like all these things, once you have absorbed the rules you see that the same few principles recur throughout the game and it is not so very difficult to understand, but a lot of reading is required before you get to that point. However, the more players that are involved, the more individuals can specialize, - e.g. focus on pacific naval ops or the Mediterranean, or strategic warfare. This means that noone needs to really understand everything about the game, just your own area. If you need to combine arms you can ask a team mate who has specialized in that are. Also once it's underway, you'll see that things happen and you learn quickly. Anyway, I’ll write guides and give prompts to help play along. Nonetheless, this should only be of interest to people who are able and willing to absorb quite a lot of information in a reasonable amount of time. Some here may think board games are a thing of the past, but this is not the case. The internet has given them a new mode of being and in fact internet based games often have an intensity and thrill that playing face to face cannot equal. Also, with multiplayer board games, the opponent AI is usually really, really good. The time frame of play on a forum based game is much slower than when a group of people play around a board, several months instead of hours. This means that the amount of time required on a daily basis is not that great and indeed days may pass by with nothing much happening, but it also means the amount of thought going into each move is much greater and so the standard of play is much higher. You also are less likely to get tired, or feel you have to abandon the game to watch Friends or eat something. The design of the game is such that players can join or drop out or go on vacation as they please without causing serious problems. The only requirement is that the number of players cannot drop below 5. There is essentially no upper limit as to how many players there are. Neal has given permission for this, and I believe once it gets going it will be an event of great interest and excitement for participants and spectators alike. Also, it even has a fairly detailed set of rules that involve submarines! Anyway, I think it would be really good fun. Sign up and feel free to post your interest. Please use the following formula for preference: Preferences: Any/Axis/Allies/Western Allies/USSR/European Axis/Japan/ or even by country USA/Germany/Italy and for a small but important role, Nationalist China. Job: Any/Navy/Army/Leadership e.g. Preference: US Job: Navy e.g. Preference: Any Job: Leadership Note: some positions, such as the USA and the USSR will not have very much to do for the first few turns, so are ideal for people who want a little more time to get sorted out. On the other hand, of course, by the time you meet the axis, they will be good at it In my opinion, this game will be the most fun if we have at least 20 people willing to play, and so once we have 20 names I’ll start sending out information and try to build a forum. Sign up first and you win first choice! Joe __________________ "Enemy submarines are to be called U-Boats. The term submarine is to be reserved for Allied under water vessels. U-Boats are those dastardly villains who sink our ships, while submarines are those gallant and noble craft which sink theirs." Winston Churchill

02-24-08, 07:58 AM	#2
joegrundman Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,689 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	I should add: available nations are Communist China (joins USSR upon USSR entry) Nationalist China (joins USA upon USA entry) France (joins other Western Allies upon defeat) Germany Great Britain Italy Japan USA USSR __________________ "Enemy submarines are to be called U-Boats. The term submarine is to be reserved for Allied under water vessels. U-Boats are those dastardly villains who sink our ships, while submarines are those gallant and noble craft which sink theirs." Winston Churchill

02-24-08, 08:52 AM	#3
Dutchie-one Officer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 249 Downloads: 255 Uploads: 0	Hello Joe, what about the Neterlands do you add that too ? Dutchie-one __________________ Old in Age but young of Heart

02-24-08, 09:41 AM	#4
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Do you only fancy playing for 4 or 5 days __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

02-24-08, 10:20 PM	#5
joegrundman Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,689 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	If you want to be the Netherlands, you can! __________________ "Enemy submarines are to be called U-Boats. The term submarine is to be reserved for Allied under water vessels. U-Boats are those dastardly villains who sink our ships, while submarines are those gallant and noble craft which sink theirs." Winston Churchill

02-25-08, 07:50 AM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Or even Denmark.....then you can change the days into hours. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

02-25-08, 08:11 AM	#7
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I wish I had the time. I love strategic games. Computers have made them realistic. __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

02-26-08, 08:08 PM	#11
joegrundman Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,689 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	We need volunteers for leadership roles, nearly everyone here wants to be running the navy for some reason:hmm: . Just a few more names and we can get this thing going __________________ "Enemy submarines are to be called U-Boats. The term submarine is to be reserved for Allied under water vessels. U-Boats are those dastardly villains who sink our ships, while submarines are those gallant and noble craft which sink theirs." Winston Churchill

02-26-08, 11:31 PM	#12
UnterseeBoogeyMan Ensign Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Land of Cholla Cactus and Red Chile Posts: 224 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	I dig the board games but have never done one on-line. How do you resolve dice rolls? Is there an honor system involved?

02-27-08, 12:06 AM	#13
Blacklight Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,507 Downloads: 145 Uploads: 0	A World at War is basically the old Avalon Hill game "Third Reich" and it's sister game, "Empire of the Rising Sun" smooshed together into one game. I've played a LOT of Third Reich in my time, and never tried Empire. I'll dig up the Third Reich rules and give them a read through. I'd be willing to give this game a shot. Are we doing this through Cyberboard ? I love pushing those little cardboard counters around ! Also, have you tried "World In Flames" ? It's pretty similar and has a very elegant game system. (I recall us having it set up end to end on a ping pong table to play. It took us months to get through the full game. ) __________________ Be my friend or be a mushroom cloud. "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes !" Last edited by Blacklight; 02-27-08 at 12:21 AM.

02-27-08, 12:23 AM	#15
Blacklight Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,507 Downloads: 145 Uploads: 0	Yeah. I'm SO waiting for World in Flames to come out as a computer game. I love Matrix Games. I don't think they put out a single bad product. I've been very pleased with every game I've gotten from them. __________________ Be my friend or be a mushroom cloud. "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes !"