💥 1941 Global Command Decision - Official Thread
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Latest version v205 ready for download.
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Click 1941 Global Command Decision
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Enjoy!This update is to help the US/UK Convoys invade Europe in force, the AI struggles to deliver units in bulk to Europe. The current stacking system forces the convoys into a Taxi Rank style of que for the uBoats to pick them off.
Hopefully v205 improves the AI play making it more of a challenge for Germany?
Also as Convoys carry twice as much they tend not to travel in 7-10 stacks, making it easier for U-Boats to sink them, hopefully?
To counter this the Allied AI now has bought Destroyers.
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v205
Convoy & Europe invasion related- Convoy TransportCapacity 14, was 7 (can carry double the units)
- Convoy Allied stacking 20 was 15 (benefits allied Convoys invading europe)
Transport Restricted Unload is now false, this mainly benefits Japan as they can take multiple islands in one turnThis only applies to isLandTransport from XOB so has no effect- Capital removed SZ 91A, 109, 119, 111A (Aids the AI)
- Capital added Trondheim, Juteland, Belgium, Poitou, Algiers, 96A SZ (Improves AI chance of invasion to these TT)
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Other- Toronto-S connection x3 removed (across the Great Lakes)
- USA AI Purchases 2 Destroyers in 101A Sea Zone (helps AI US/UK in the Battle of the Atlantic)
- UK AI Purchases 2 Destroyers in 119 Sea Zone (helps AI US/UK in the Battle of the Atlantic)
- For those players that miss the roundels, to display mini national flags. View> Flag Display> Small
- Updated the documentation
1941_Global_Command_Decision_Manual.pdf
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Link to 1st post that has;
Google Drive download link
Latest TripleA version
Latest 1941 GCD manualhttps://forums.triplea-game.org/topic/3326/1941-global-command-decision-official-thread
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@thedog Here is a quick pair of games. Axis solos played about 10 rounds
I used sorta the same openers that I'd been using before just to see what sort of impact it would have.
Typically what I had been doing with this map for solo was to sorta crib the computer's standard line, and then push it towards something more extreme just by trying to trade a bit more efficiently. So for example on G1 trying to keep all my attacks at least 80% odds to the attacker by battle calc guestimate (ideally 90-100%) but then usually one swingy coin flip type battles that's maybe more 50/50. So where the potential payoff in TUV trade seems like it could be worthwhile. These would mainly be like Air attacks vs ships (where attacker prevails vs draw might come down to just the opening round flak.) The logic is basically still standard A&A for me here, so try to find the battle that has the greatest potential to swing my way. I think I might be hamstringing myself a bit by focusing mainly on hit points over attack/defense power, but it's just an instinct that's very hard to break. Sometimes power I think is the more important metric here, since some unit types can just carve defend carving infantry to ribbons if they're not supported by other unit types. Or if they're advancing or defending in the wrong sort of terrain. Still my old habits tell me that in the grand scheme the player with more cheap fodder will still come out ahead round to round if they focus on the entry level fodder unit. In this case trained infantry, infantry elite, destroyers... trying to push the stack limit there first, then backing that stack with the heavier hitters once they're already pushing the limit.
As usual I started with Italy, since it always takes me a while to get back into the swing of things.
Italian opener: Based on the current set up, went with an air attack into sz 92 using all the fighter aircraft in range. Our computer German teammates rolled rather poorly vs the Brits so figured we could pick up their slack. I couldn't see much downside to trying it. It's just under 50% to the attacker, only 40/10 Draw/or defender prevails so pretty likely to sink the Brits there I figure. If somehow they go nuts with the flak in the first round then it's pretty swingy I suppose, but with normal results it seems pretty reliable.
The computer will sometimes send some ships, but I'm not sure if maybe all air is sometimes better and just let the sub escape? Surviving fighters just land in Algeria somewhere probably. Or maybe with some ships that can reach at m3 to make sure, leaving a destroyer blocker behind to stall the Brits perhaps, but then any of those ships committed are going to die in the exchange by rounds end.
Then I thought about it again and using only the fighters might be better, cause then we're only facing the flak. This is slightly better than a coin toss for attacker to prevail, just depending on that first round flak vs hits, but if it swings attacker it's not too bad in the TUV trade.
On the Soviet front, the Italian starting fighter sink the Soviet Black Sea fleet and then land at Varna to pressure the British in the Eastern Med. Maybe leaving a bomber of two behind in Ukraine for bunker duty and the early fighters since they can't reach that far. In the central Med I tried to take Malta, so pulling off the Libyan VC to try and make that happen and sacrificing a destroyer to block.
Main shuck-shuck would be sz 96 A into Benghazi for all the production coming over from Italy via Naples Sicily whatever can reach. Though Italy is somewhat limited in what they can spam because their maintenance is pretty tight and income sorta low.
I think how big Italy can go depends on the computer's G1 defense of Chernigov. If they lose that fight, Soviets can advance on central Ukraine, and things can get pretty rough for Italians Or similarly if Computer Germany takes say Rostov and Stalingrad, then Italy is collecting a bit lighter and has to stretch their logistics to get to the next nearest factory pocket. Sometimes I'd think Egypt would be the same like if Computer G blitzes to take the primo tiles hehe. That set us up pretty well and we tried to keep the pressure on methodically picking apart the British in the Middle East. Our first big setback came after taking Baku, where we jumped up to take Stalingrad to cover the computer German advance the next turn, but then lost the VC in Caucasus to Brit counter.
Second big setback came when the Soviets destroyed our main stack at Stalingrad, killing all 3 of our generals and causing a general panic. Thankfully we had pressed to take Baghdad so it wasn't an all out route, but definitely stalled us up. USA started to have an impact vs France, so we had repositioned to start covering Gibraltar. Wasn't sure if Germany would have the juice to hold in West Africa otherwise. Little awkward to get a pocket fleet back over their after focusing so much on the Eastern Med, but once we got there it seemed to do the trick. I think we definitely made a couple goofs in the mid game there, but managed an alright recovery and eventually crept on India so pretty entertaining.
2025-3-9-1941-Global-Command-Decision_Italy_round_10.tsvg
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1riQz6zg7IuvjCNw0zF-Z5mW62sL1ghCb/view?usp=sharing
After getting my bearings a bit, thought I'd try G. I feared that transport capacity boost might make my job a bit too easy on the water, but it didn't end up quite as pronounced as I thought. I did ultimately Sea Lion but it took me a while to get into position. Americans managed some alright drops vs Italy, as we pretty much bailed on them in North Africa to pursue our main line vs the Soviets hehe.
Here it was on round 10, Axis Victory when Computer Japan nabbed the Chinese VC to clinch it. USA actually went for Rome before the round closed, but I think it had already been TKO on Japan's turn, or pretty sure that's when I got the popup. In any case, I think we'd pretty much won, though Allies were making an alright press across the Med. Here was the final with a quick screen there.
2025-3-9-1941-Global-Command-Decision_Germany_round_10.tsvg
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KCwxeYr3ZMoRBftBMTmw0c8NGN7D9O0V/view?usp=sharing
Next out I'll give it a whirl with Japan
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Here's Japan to 10 rounds
2025-3-10-1941-Global-Command-Decision_Japan_round_10.tsvg
I figured to nail Pacific Allies with the push into New Guinea. This seemed like a slightly better proposition with the added capacity. Otherwise stacking into Kunming like I usually do. I hit pearl light then waited by wake for the killshot next turn. Once we were in position off New Guinea, seemed advantageous to just press the attack there so we went no mercy vs Australia. Took a while but we kept the focus up until they were undone. Tried to sprawl as best we could to control the sea lanes. Seemed to work pretty well, we're positioned now to snake Africa so just about all she wrote hehe.
I think might make sense to strengthen Hawaii and New Guinea a bit vs J1/J2 press, just so it's a little harder for Japan to get on them right out the gate.
Oh also I noticed that when Pacific Allies is awarded their industrial advance the Major Factory still autoplaced, even though the territory was under Japanese occupation. You can see it down there doing the contested territory thing next to the Medium Factory we'd captured a few rounds prior.Quickie screen of the final..
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xsvqs5-5eGsuU4-eA1bpsrjLhEaUfYLA/view?usp=sharing
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Thanks for the info. I will take a look at the balance suggestions and fix the ownership of Sydney/New South Wales before placing the factory.
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@thedog Right on! Sounds good
I just finished my rematch game as Italy. Tried the same move with the air attack west, and then pulling off Libya for a turn to receive pressure, then snap back at Egypt. This time I was determined not to lose my stack in bloody fighting for control of Stalingrad too soon. Instead we did a springboard to Baku and set up shop there. Didn't make it quite as far into India and East Africa, but I think we're in a better position overall this out
The Americans definitely came at us and started trying to get a ruckus going in North Africa! We just sent the Regia Marina forward into the Atlantic for the big breakout. I think we're about to clinch it for the team at Uzbekistan though, so just about wrapped up.
Here it is in round 10
2025-3-13-1941-Global-Command-Decision_Italy_10.tsvg
Quick screen of the action overview at that point...
Good times
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USSR solo to round 10
My round 1 is usually only like 7-10 PUs for purchase, so I thought I would just try to force a really big exchange and see what we could free up on round 2. I thought about suiciding one of my stacks on round 1 but chickened out. Then watched in horror as computer Germany killed like all my mediums tanks and artillery. We had to clap back, so it was basically a wash, with most of the armor toast by the second turn. My first thought was to press south and punish Italy, but they were hitting harder than we anticipated so I audibled up the middle to try and take Belo. This also proved pretty tricky as Italians had some depth to their can openers. Once we secured Stalingrad I felt like we were solid, but it's happened to me before were I went in overconfident with no generals and then just got smoked by some Italy/Germany double whammy, so I was a bit cautious. We bought a bunch of aircraft but then sort of regretting it when they mostly died to flak, and the Axis air HQs, also had us stalling a bit when Italy made a final punch before collapsing back onto Ukraine. We took Leningrad, which I feel like is game over for the computer, I mean if I can just get back there and stack it, I feel like then we're on pace to win. Once we recommitted to artillery/infantry type buys, made more progress, as by then the Allies were starting to chip away at North Africa and Western Europe. Here were are in round 10 getting ready for the final push
2025-3-15-1941-Global-Command-Decision_USSR_10.tsvg
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Latest version v210 ready for download.
In TripleA
Click Download Maps Button
Click Installed tab
Click 1941 Global Command Decision
Click Remove Button
Click Yes button to remove
Click Ok button (Successfully removed)
Click Close (To force the map list to refresh)
Click Download Maps Button
Find & Click 1941 Global Command Decision
Click Install button
Enjoy!.
v210
(Thanks to Black Elk for most of these suggestions)- Germany, Vienna now a Capital
- Japan, reduced their number of Convoys as they don't need so many
- Japan, Bangkok-Siam +1 Bunker
- Pacific-Allies, Industry-Hvy fixed, only if they own it
- Pacific-Allies, Port Moresby, Brisbane, Sydney +1 Bunker
- USA, Honolulu +2 Inf-Elite/Marines
- USSR, Siberia now a Capital
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Current v205 documentation
1941_Global_Command_Decision_Manual.pdf.
Link to 1st post that has;
Google Drive download link
Latest TripleA version
Latest 1941 GCD manualhttps://forums.triplea-game.org/topic/3326/1941-global-command-decision-official-thread
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A few players have reported issues on GitHub with Triplea versions 2.7.15027-31, please upgrade to at least this version 2.7.15032 here
https://github.com/triplea-game/triplea/releasesHopefully this fixes your issues.
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There some minor problems with the TripleA code/engine that the Devs are working on, the latest stable Pre-release I am using is here;
https://github.com/triplea-game/triplea/releases/tag/2.7.15032
For those above this version I suggest you downgrade.
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Latest version v215 ready for download.
WARNING: This version is NOT compatible with your old saved games, so finish them before upgrading.In TripleA
Click Download Maps Button
Click Installed tab
Click 1941 Global Command Decision
Click Remove Button
Click Yes button to remove
Click Ok button (Successfully removed)
Click Close (To force the map list to refresh)
Click Download Maps Button
Find & Click 1941 Global Command Decision
Click Install button
Enjoy!.
v215
WARNING: This version is NOT compatible with your old saved games, so finish them before upgrading.- Kamikaze-Plane can now Scramble 1
- Lots of place names have been shortened (thanks to RogerCooper) as need more space on the status bar in preparation for, Winter is coming, as a Terrain Effect
- Winter terrain effect can be turned on, for veteran German players it will slow your advance
Use Events: Winter Weather – to turned it on, before pressing Play button, in Game Options> Use Events: Winter Weather (tick), bottom right
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As an aside, here is a Google Gemini image, used in game
Type Google Gemini in your browser
Type Draw ww2 armoured column stuck in the snow
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Current v215 documentation (last page has winter turn on instructions)
1941_Global_Command_Decision_Manual.pdf.
Link to 1st post that has;
Google Drive download link
Latest TripleA version
Latest 1941 GCD manualhttps://forums.triplea-game.org/topic/3326/1941-global-command-decision-official-thread
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Latest version v220 ready for download.
In TripleA
Click Download Maps Button
Click Installed tab
Click 1941 Global Command Decision
Click Remove Button
Click Yes button to remove
Click Ok button (Successfully removed)
Click Close (To force the map list to refresh)
Click Download Maps Button
Find & Click 1941 Global Command Decision
Click Install button(be aware, displayed percentage download is not working as intended, have a coffee)
Enjoy!.
v220- Kamikaze-Plane now has Defence=3, was 0, needed for Scramble to work as intended
- Air-Transport doubled TC to 8 was 4, can now transport 4 Inf-Elite, rebalance as sea transport was doubled
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Current v220 documentation (last page has winter turn on instructions)
1941_Global_Command_Decision_Manual.pdf.
Link to 1st post that has;
Google Drive download link
Latest TripleA version
Latest 1941 GCD manualhttps://forums.triplea-game.org/topic/3326/1941-global-command-decision-official-thread
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@thedog I gave the latest version a try for the first time in, oh, I dunno, 2 years? The graphics are obviously much improved, and whatever I was complaining about in the Pacific seems to have been fixed; I can't remember what the problem was.
I played as Germany with all other sides taken by the Fast AI, and found it to be pretty easy -- Leningrad fell on turn 2, Archangel on turn 3, London on turn 6, and the game was over on turn 12. The Soviets did retake Archangel midway through the game, but it didn't matter much because the lend-lease is gone forever once the territory is captured, and they had to strip their southern flank to do it -- so my buddies the Italians made it all the way to Baku in a fit of unexpected competence. I can't remember the last time I was so pleased with an AI alliance partner's performance. The Italians did almost get kicked out of Libya, but after I rescued them once they rebounded and we made it to Cairo together.
As you hopefully can tell from the narrative, I had fun. I particularly enjoyed the whack-a-mole (dodge-a-mallet?) in the Atlantic with the randomly generated submarines and sub commanders; it sets up interesting tactical puzzles each turn and helps simulate the fog of war. It also interacted well with the $1 and $2 sea zones; I'd try to sweep through as many of those as possible on the way to each battle. This felt like it simulated or at least gestured at the idea of sweeping the commercial sea lanes to look for freighters to sink. I would have ideally liked the sea zones to be marked in some way so I know which ones I need to protect as Germany -- my understanding is that you can't actually collect income from enemy sea zones; all you can do is deny the income to your enemy -- but once I start capturing sea zones, I can no longer tell which ones were originally mine (and thus generating income for me and worth protecting at some cost) vs. which ones were originally British (and thus worth taking if I can get 'em for free, but not worth losing a sub over).
My biggest complaint this time was that the Western Allies seemed to have an arrogant indifference to the possibility that they could lose control of the Atlantic Ocean or even the English Channel. While I was building German battleships for several turns, both the UK and US just built loaded convoys; eventually these convoys had to turn around and go back home because there was nowhere safe for them to land; Germany owned the seas, and the UK/US didn't really do anything constructive to try to stop that. They built a few carriers and one or two destroyers, but they didn't concentrate them or save them up or put them in the way of my Sea Lion transports. It was a naval construction program that would have made sense for a 'historical' German opening where the Allies only need mild reinforcements to hunt down a few last submarines, not for a Sea Lion attack where London is going down the drain.
I also wonder if the Infantry-Conscript and Infantry-Trained unit caps ought to be higher than the specialist units like Artillery, Anti-Tank Guns, and Medium Tanks. Having 20 of each unit doesn't really seem to make for a historically balanced army group composition; in real life the vast majority (80%+) of even elite army groups was just regular infantry; if you had 1 soldier inside a tank for every 5 marching on foot, that was a highly mechanized army for the time. Perhaps the ratio ought to be 30 infantry : 20 specialists : 10 tanks, or something like that. I like the way battleships are capped at 5 instead of 10 per stack; something along those lines probably would make sense for the land units as well.
Finally, I didn't entirely follow all of the many steps of each combat, but it looked to me like when armies are attacking airplanes, the armies are forced to use flak; the armies are not allowed to use their regular attack values. This means there is no way to simulate airplanes being 'caught on the ground.' I think if there are only airplanes left in a territory then they should be vulnerable to enemy tanks -- at the very least, they ought to be forced to retreat at the end of combat, rather than supporting a stalemate. Conversely, if 15 infantry and 1 plane attack 15 infantry, the plane will be immediately shot out of the sky by all the flak from the enemy infantry, so the plane isn't doing any good. This feels counterintuitive; having a bit of air support ought to be much better than having none at all. The simplest fix might just be capping AA shots based on the number of air units in the fight, e.g., 15 infantry vs. 1 fighter should only be rolling 1 die per round against the fighter. If there were a specialist unit like flak guns (the way there is for anti-tank guns) then I could see the flak guns each getting a guaranteed roll against a lone fighter, because they're all hunting for the fighter, but infantry is going to be busy with its mission(s) in the mud and trenches; they don't have the time or equipment to go hunting after enemy fighters unless the fighter is currently shooting at them.
Anyway, thanks for all your work on this interesting map. Keep up the good work!
2025-8-29-1941-Global-Command-Decision.tsvg
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@jason-green-lowe
Thanks for your detailed feedback!To make the game harder cause your a vet player, turn on Winter, that will be more realistic and harder for the Germans.
All players collect Sea Zone PUs, just a turn later. Yes it almost impossible to remember what you owned last turn, so don't try. Sea Zones work just like land territories, so occupying them denies the enemy the PU and eventually gives you the PU.
Sadly the sea AI is weak, sometimes very weak.
Stacking: We tried a few variants and settled on this version as the player can easily understand it. But I will have a look at your suggestions.
Lone aircraft: Yes don't attack big stacks with lone aircraft. Attack high value stacks & conscripts (not high inf-Trained or Inf-Elite stacks)
Check the manual especially the Air Units page to see the stats in one go.
The whole air mechanics are novel and have their weaknesses, one you have highlighted. I'm open to suggestions.
Play as Japan, for me that's the most tactical and strategic fun.
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@thedog Thank you! I was playing with winter; it was an interesting added challenge.
That makes sense about the sea zones; thanks for explaining.
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Latest version v225 ready for download.
In TripleA
Click Download Maps Button
Click Installed tab
Click 1941 Global Command Decision
Click Remove Button
Click Yes button to remove
Click Ok button (Successfully removed)
Click Close (To force the map list to refresh)
Click Download Maps Button
Find & Click 1941 Global Command Decision
Click Install button(be aware, displayed percentage download is not working as intended, have a coffee)
Enjoy!.
v225- All Land, not Conscript AA v aircraft fire for 2 rounds @ 1:6 chance, was 7 rounds @ 1:12 chance
- Destroyer/Convoy_____AA v aircraft fire for 2 rounds @ 1:6 chance, was 5 rounds @ 1:12 chance
- Cruiser_________________AA v aircraft fire for 2 rounds @ 2:6 chance, was 5 rounds @ 1:6 chance
- Carrier_________________AA v aircraft fire for 2 rounds @ 2:6 chance, was 5 rounds @ 2:6 chance
- Battleship______________AA v aircraft fire for 2 rounds @ 4:6 chance, was 5 rounds @ 3:6 chance
- Aircraft_________________AA v aircraft fire for 3 rounds, unchanged
Above reduces the chances of aircraft being shot down and removes d12 for AA fire
Thanks to @Jason-Green-Lowe for prompting me to look at the above again.- Scramble To Sea Only - true
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Current v225 documentation, land & sea AA stats and last page has winter turn on instructions.
1941_Global_Command_Decision_Manual.pdf.
Link to 1st post that has;
Latest TripleA version
Latest 1941 GCD manualhttps://forums.triplea-game.org/topic/3326/1941-global-command-decision-official-thread
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Using this map with version 2.7.15025, last known version where 'centering focus on active player's capital at the start of their turn' works, the German player will center on Sea Zone 113. To center on Berlin-Cen.Germany, that territory, along with the rest of the capital territories will need to be moved to the top of the <map> section.
<map> <!-- Territory Definitions 8 capitals & 598 Land & 190 SZ = 796 --> <territory name="Berlin-Cen.Germany"/> <territory name="Chungking"/> <territory name="London-S.England"/> <territory name="Moscow-Cen.Russia"/> <territory name="Paris-Cen.France"/> <territory name="Rome-Cen.Italy"/> <territory name="Tokyo"/> <territory name="Washington D.C."/>As for the other secondary capitals, if their order is unimportant, the land and sea zone declaration can be swapped. So, the order in the <map> section would have 8 capitals then 598 land followed by 190 sea.
Cheers...
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@wc_sumpton
Another rabbit out of the hat!I thought this was not possible because of multiple capitals for a nation.
Next release will have the above in and links to 2.7.15025
https://github.com/triplea-game/triplea/releases/tag/2.7.15025As this release gives centering focus on active player's capital at the start of their turn.
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@samurai-jd said in A more challenging AI:
Re:
1941 Global Command Decision - Official ThreadFirst, for a guy who has played TripleA in the earliest of days and before that all the published versions of the Axis and Allies board games since the 1980s, the GCD map and rules is a true masterpiece. Thank you.
I play solo. Can anything be done to improve the skill of the AI? I have tried both Fast and Hard modes. No matter how I favor the AI (through multiple iterations as either Axis or Allies) the AI is finished by the 7th round. In my most current effort, I start with 2700 units for the Axis and 2400 units for the Allies. Especially when the AI plays as the Allies, I can NEVER get the USA to invade Continental Europe no matter how favorable I set the situation.
I appreciate your time and the incredible game that you have so elegantly created.
Samurai JD
Thanks for your 1st post, thanks for the kind words.
Can anything be done to improve the skill of the AI?
Probably not without some serious engine tweaks or a new AI. Currently the two AIs are weakest at sea.
1941 GCD was probably the first map designed to be played solo v the AI, Im still looking for ways to improve AI play.I start with 2700 units for the Axis and 2400 units for the Allies.
Does this work? As this means the AI will buy very little as each unit cost 1pu for upkeep/maintenance.
From play test, I know that if you swamp the Atlantic with uBoats both AIs will back off and not try to cross/invade Europe, even though the USA usually has the spare PU to out manufacture Germany.
the AI is finished by the 7th round
Please elaborate on this, for all factions?
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@thedog yea years ago Zim Xero made a solo map for the Pacific. It had quite a few cool things. You might want to check it out if you haven't already. He may have some ideas you haven't considered yet.
"Pacific Theatre" I think it is
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@beelee
Thanks, I have never played or looked at it.
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