Re: A&A PBEM Resources

From: barich@tam2000.tamu.edu (Dewey Howard Barich)

Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 00:00:00 +0000

In article <32da270e.0@n5.gbso.net>, Neil Carr <carrn@dclink.com> wrote:
>I've found several web pages dedicated to A&A and I've even found
>programs to aid in games, but I can't seem to find any decent write up
>on how to play A&A by email.  The game itself doesn't need to be
>modified much so what I am looking for is info on how orders are
>written out in an efficient manner, such as a list of abreviated
>spaces.  Also, how do people deal with water spaces?
>
>Thanks
>

Here are my guidelines, which are referred to in the A&A FAQ.  I usually
do not post them, but have been getting a large number of requests
lately and will thus post them this one time.  I always send them when
requested via e-mail at barich@unix.tamu.edu

-------------------------

Rules for Axis & Allies PBEM (play by e-mail) by Dewey H. Barich.

There are two ways of playing, with or without a moderator.  To the
uninitiated, a moderator may well be worth the expected slow down of the
game.  Don't get me wrong, a moderator will make the game run smoother and
lessen the workload on the players, but the extra person in the loop will
usually slow things down a bit.

The job of a moderator is to make sure that rules are followed consistently,
to keep all players informed of the game status.  What I have found works
best in this type of game is for the current player to send his move to the
moderator in several steps.  It is important that the message be sent to the
moderator ONLY so that any problems can be resolved privately, thus avoiding
confusion with other players.  Once approved by the moderator, though, the
message will be sent to all players.  Examples:

1.   Purchases/Weapons Development and Combat Movement.

USSR Turn 1:

Purchase:         1 battleship (24 IPCs), leaving 0 IPCs.

Combat Movement:  Into German Sea Zone (1S, 1T):
			 1S, 1T from Karelia.
			 (Lose T then S, retreat if I miss and he hits).

Into Ukraine (3i, 2a, 1f):
			 5i from Caucasus
			 3i from Karelia
			 2a from Russia
			 1a from Karelia to Ukraine (3i, 2a, 1f)
			 (Lose infantry then armor, to the death)

2.   Combat  (Depends on system, here's enough to give you the idea).

Karelia (8i, 3a vs. 3i,2a,1f)

iiiiiiiiaaa     vs     iiiaaf
	  14235263512            525251
	  x        xx             x x x   USSR loses 3i, Germany loses 3i

iiiiiaaa     vs        aaf
	     45215351               252
		x   x               x x   USSR loses 2i, Germany loses 2a

iiiaaa     vs          f
	       542414                 5
		   x                      USSR takes with 3i 3a

3.   Non-Combat, Placement of New Units, and Collect Income.

Non-Combat:

4i from Russia to Karelia

Placement:      8i in Karelia

Collect Income: 27 IPCs plus 0 change for a total of 27

Moderators should validate each phase, such as making sure that all aircraft
have legal landing places, that no miscounts were made in what can get where,
etc.  Each verified phase should be sent on to all players.  For combat, the
attacker rolls for each player with the help of a die server.  When needed,
ask the defender what he/she wants to lose.  The defender can often tell the
attacker what order to lose things in (it is often "obvious" -- infantry,
armor, fighters).  Defending bombers can cause problems, as do nearly all
naval battles.  Defenders should not say what order to lose things until the
combat has started (don't volunteer information!).

In a non-moderated game, each player would send his move in the same steps as
above, but to all players.  Combat should be handled in the same fashion, but
the whole group is responsible for monitoring the process.  Questions on
rules should be handled by the group, by whatever means seems best for the
given group.

Rules interpretations are responsible for a large portion of all problems
in playing by e-mail (or in real-time!).  I have found it useful to present
some test questions to all players and the moderator before a game, so that
we can get some idea of what problems may come up.  Patience is a very useful
thing, as there will inevitably be problems the first few times you play.

Now for the hard part:  Combat.  There are several ways to do it.

1)  Use an on-line dice server.  I have recently been sufficiently
	 satisfied by the performance of die servers to finally make them the
	 preferred method.  Use of a die server with a PGP signature would
	 provide the optimum environment, as the attacker would be able to
	 send all die rolls with very little question about the integrity of
	 the rolls.  The PGP need only be used to verify that the mail
	 message containing the rolls did in fact arrive from the die server.

2)  Roll your own dice and report back and forth.  This will take the
	 longest time (more messages), but allows all players to make their
	 own rolls.

3)  The attacker rolls everything, asking what should be lost when
	 necessary, and report the final results.  A perfectly good
		 method if all players trust one another.

One concern that many people have is cheating.  While this is a valid
concern, I continuously hope that it is an unwarranted one.  If you are
going to all the trouble of playing by e-mail, why cheat?  If you do, you are
skewing the results of the game, and thus nullifying much of what you might
have been trying to accomplish (test a new strategy, see how other players
react, etc.).  But, some people will be understandably concerned, and there
are ample ways of dealing with it (moderators or dice servers).

The last thing to deal with is the task of keeping the board straight.
Below you will find my system of keeping track of the board.  It is simple to
follow, easy to edit, and easy to modify if you do not like it.  I would
suggest sending it at the end of each round (all 5 countries), more often
if your group feels it is warranted.  This is a duty for the moderator if
there is one; otherwise, rotate who gets it.  If the US and USSR are played
by the same person, shift the use until after the USSR's move.  That will
allow the US and USSR to move faster.  Everyone involved should take the
time to check each State Check, to make sure mistakes are not made.

Please take time to read the intructions carefully, not everything is obvious.

Rules for the form:

1)  Keep all columns separated by spaces.  Tabs are better, but the file will
    get mailed around and not everyone's mailers will read tabs the same.

2)  Even though there is a column for each unit type, place the appropriate
    letter after the number of units (to prevent confusion should
    columns get moved).  One might ask why not put zeroes in where needed?
    You can, but I have left them out to avoid clutter.

3)  Land and air units use lower case letters, naval use upper case.

4)  As in the game rules, an asterisk indicates a fighter on a carrier.
    Those fighters are listed under the naval units, not on land.

5)  Technologies are listed under the IPC information line.  Example:

USSR            24 IPCs         Control 24 IPCs worth of territory
----
		Super Subs, Long Range Aircraft

6)  If a country has units in a territory that it does not control, list
    those units with the rest of that country's units.  In the IPC column,
    name the controlling nation.  For example, there are two UK fighters in
    USSR-controlled Karelia.  Along with the other _UK_ units, include the
    following line:

Karelia                         2f              USSR

7)  Sea zones.  I have avoided devising or adopting a system that names all
    sea zones, as it requires that all players involved learn it.  I do feel,
    though, that it is time for such a scheme (I am working on one now).  The
    big problem with sea zones is that you often would like to use the name
    of a territory that is adjacent to several sea zones.  One example of this
    problem is Western Europe, which is adjacent to four sea zones.  This
    particular case is readily solved, since three of the four sea zones are
    already named at the start of the game (Germany, UK, Gibraltar).  Here are
    my criteria for a system:

A)  When possible, use the name of a territory that is uniquely adjacent
	to that sea zone (e.g., Phillipines, Japan, UK).  The Rules Manual
	also has a picture that names four zones A, B, C, and D (page 8).
	There will of course be times when there is more than one way of
	defining a sea zone (e.g., Persia, Italian East Africa).  When this
	happens, try to use one consistently for simplicity.

B)  Use features of the board.  One example is the sea zone south of the
	"Allies" part of "Axis & Allies" that is one the board to the
	southeast of Brazil.  I would call it "South of `Allies'."  Another
	example is the Western Europe sea zone could be named "Atlantic,"
	since that word is printed on the board in that sea zone.

8)  Following this paragraph is the beginning of the form itself.  Replace
    the "USSR move 1" clause with the next turn so that current and old
    versions do not get confused.

Axis & Allies Board Setup, next move:  USSR move 1.

USSR            24 IPCs         Control 24 IPCs worth of territory
----