Using TripleA as a game aid

RogerCooper

@largowin I don't see the point of reproducing the game on the computer. It will slow down play considerably. A&A is not that complex game and what complexities there are such as the political rules in the Global game are better handled with player aids that find on line.

The battle calculator might be useful.

largowin

@rogercooper I translated 5 different versions of this game and uploaded them to BGG. Each time, the rules differed, and there was always an « errata » on the official site or on the web, in which it was said to modify this or that rule or add this or that clarification. And I've never played any of these games. Anyway, I'm not sure I remember the rules of the 2004 version I want to play with, as it's the first A&A I bought and whose rules I translated.

Panther

@largowin said in Using TripleA as a game aid:

Someone once told me that when he plays a game of Axis&Alies, he uses TripleA to make sure he doesn't make any mistakes. He told me that he reproduced step by step the same moves that were played in the game.
I'm going to play for the first time in real life at A&A next week and I want to make sure I don't make any mistakes. So I'd like to know if it's really possible to do this on the same computer (human against human in real life, with the computer next to me to reproduce the same moves) or if you have to do it as if you were playing an online game.

A problem will be that you cannot reproduce "real" dice rolling with TripleA as you will not be able to mirror the results directly to TripleA. So you would always need to use Edit Mode to edit in the battle results/new situation on the gameboard. That additionally slows down play significantly.

Panther

@largowin said in Using TripleA as a game aid:

@rogercooper I translated 5 different versions of this game and uploaded them to BGG. Each time, the rules differed, and there was always an « errata » on the official site or on the web, in which it was said to modify this or that rule or add this or that clarification. And I've never played any of these games. Anyway, I'm not sure I remember the rules of the 2004 version I want to play with, as it's the first A&A I bought and whose rules I translated.

Also keep in mind that TripleA doesn't cover the core game rules 100%.
That is why I always recommend:

"Don't always trust TripleA when it comes to rules questions. Know the rules before you start TripleA - and better check what TripleA has done."

Specifically the Revised ruleset (2004) has the most misunderstandable wording in the original rulebook and needed and still needs countless corrections and clarifications. On some TripleA maps, that base on this ruleset, some important rules are executed simply wrong.

However, later rulesets are implemented much better.

largowin

@panther

I hadn't thought of that for the dice... True.

I translated 1914, 1941, 50th, Europe and 2004 of course. We forget 1914 and Europe I suppose. The 1941 rules don't include the ability to upgrade technology (and I want to be able to upgrade technology).

Only the 50th version remains (you had written to me on another forum that if I only translated one version, it would be that one) where there is technology, but it seems to me that rules of base have been changed (is it in this version that you can't build new industrial complexes and you need damaged factory markers?). Is it this version that I should choose or is there another more recent version that I should hurry to translate?

Panther

@largowin

I am not sure that I understand you correctly:
You said you have translated Anniversary Edition (AA50) and you also say only AA50 remains?

In the 1941 edition you can't build IC. IC are printed as silhouettes on the gameboard. Also in this edition you don't need damage markers, as bombing facilities is not part of the rules there.

In AA50 you have a 1941 and 1942 scenario, but here you can buy new IC and also you can bomb facilities and thus need damage markers.

Concerning the development of the core game rules of the boardgames you have significant changes between

Classic 2nd. ed.
Revised (also Revised LHTR introduced further changes)
AA50, Spring1942 and
1942SE, 1940 Europe/Pacific/Global 2nd Editions. 1942SE is a simplification of the 1940 2nd ed. games rules - and 1941 rules are a simplification of 1942SE rules.

largowin

@panther I was saying that of the other 4 versions I've translated, the one that would look the most similar is the 50th anniversary one I think.

I wanted to confirm with you that it was the one that most resembled the 2004 version, because since you told me that this 2004 version "has the most misunderstandable wording in the original rulebook and needed and still needs countless corrections and clarifications", I thought that I could follow the rules of another version of the game. That's why I asked you if you advised me to take the 50 anniversary version.

Panther

@largowin

My very personal advice would be to totally skip (and forget about) the Revised (2004) OOB edition and go with any newer ruleset.

Annniversary (50) is your choice when you prefer rules with technology and Italy as separate nation. 1942 SE (Global1940 SE in case you want it more complex) is your choice when you prefer the most up-to-date A&A ruleset.

If I were you I would have started with AA50 and 1942 SE. This way you can easily figure out the differences and would be up-to-date.

largowin

@panther Thank you for your valuable and detailed advice. Since I haven't translated 1942 SE yet, I'll use the 50 Anniversary rules for a first try or I'll play according to the TripleA rules, as it's quite similar it seems to me.
I also own the 1941 and Europe games. I can then choose one of these versions instead for the other times I play.

Panther

@largowin

You are welcome. Indeed the AA50 ruleset is implemented quite satisfactory!