Board Games by Email

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Per our discussion in the board games thread, I'd like to see if there is enough interest in getting some games-by-email going. I'd recommend either Acquire or Axis & Allies, neither of which are too tough, and both of which have dedicated interfaces on the GamesbyEmail website.

 

Axis and Allies seats:

1.) P4

2.) S Tenshi

3.) Ethan

4.) Malicious H

5.) Mr. Goh

 

Checking out my past games, it looks like A&A typically can take up to 2-3 weeks depending on how fast people pull off their moves. Acquire would probably be a bit shorter. Some details:

Axis & Allies

Players: 2-5 (Best with 2 or 5)

Playtime: 2 weeks (by email)

Complexity: Medium

The Pitch: The classic WW2 game of yore. You have to win by having such a strong economic production rate that your opponents can't possibly win in the long run, or capture your opponents' capitals. It's a team game, with 2 players taking on the Axis powers (Japan, Germany) and 3 taking on the Allies (US, Russia, Britain). Things could get a little complex, but luckily the system automates all the movement and combat and you have some hint screens you can pull up.

 

 

Acquire ("Mergers")

Players: 3-6 (Best with 4-6)

Playtime: 1-2 weeks (by email)

Complexity: Low

The Pitch: A classic Sid Sackson design from the '60s, Acquire has a very sparse ruleset that nonetheless leads to deep strategy and tactics. You are playing tiles to a board trying to create "corporations", which then merge when the smaller ones touch the more prominent chains. If you have stock in either side of a merger you'll usually come up on top, with small companies getting big cash payoffs and big companies getting increased stock value.

 

 

Post stating which one you'd be up for. I can organize the details and start date. I can also send out or post a quick rules summary, and full rule sheets I can link to online. Looking forward to meeting y'all on the virtual tabletop!

[Saturnine Tenshi]

I'm interested.

[TheMightyEthan]

I'm interested, and my vote would be for Axis and Allies. I love that game but I never get to play it.

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Let's plan on Axis & Allies, and we will have two more open seats then.

[Mal]

Count me in.

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Let's hold out until the weekend for one more player. With just 4, one will have to play two powers. 

 

Here are the rules if anyone wants to read them. It's not strictly necessary but might be a good idea to get a feel for it.

 

Rules PDF

[Mr. GOH!]

I'll be the 5th or 6th player.

 

Gotta figure out what email to give you all.

 

Edit: duh, 5 max. Dean reserved his seat first. Let me know when you guys start another board game by email. I spent a lot of time in law school doing this sort of thing, so I'd love to participate at some point.

Edited January 24, 2014 by Mr. GOH!

[Mal]

How about multiple games at once?

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

We could move to Acquire to play all six of us, if everyone is okay with it.

[Mr. GOH!]

I'm game. But don't change the game just to fit me in if folks are set on A&A. I can sit out the first PXOD PBEM board game.

[deanb]

If Goh wants to play he can. I only chimed in since you were one short. I've enough IRL games to keep me occupied at the moment.

[Mr. GOH!]

Thanks, Dean. You're the best.

 

Link to the PBEM site, P4?

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Great. It's GamesByEmail, and the game is called WWII. Everyone PM me the email address you want to use, a country preference for the game if you have one, and I will get it started.

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Alright as a brief rundown:

 

Goals

 

Military Victory: Axis need to capture 2 of 3 territories: Eastern US, Russia, UK. Allies need to capture BOTH Germany and Japan.

 

Economic Victory: Axis need a combined production level of 84 at the end of a full round to win. Allies cannot win by economy.

 

Turn Structure

 

1.) Develop weapons -- This is optional but you can spend 5 of your IPCs (money) to try to develop weapons on a roll of 6. Typically you don't want to devote a ton to this but you might depending on income and strategy.

2.) Purchase units -- Buy units that will be placed at the end of the turn.

3.) Combat moves -- Move units into enemy zones to fight them. Click the target you want to go to and it will show which units and from where you can commit them. Note you can hold CTRL at any time to show the full map and hide combat menus.

4.) Combat - click on the flashing zones to resolve combat in them. You can withdraw if you are losing (unless amphibious assault I believe).

5.) Land Combat Aircraft -- Any surviving planes need to land.

6.) Non-combat moves -- Make maneuvers into territories you already control. If units moved in step 3 they cannot move in step 6.

7.) Place units -- Place units you paid for at the beginning of your turn.

8.) Collect income -- You get IPCs based on what industrial centers (the black circles with the white numbers in them) you control now.

9.) Order your defense -- The game automates your casualty selection on enemy turns unless you specify priorities now. You are ok to leave this default unless you want to micromanage.

 

Take the first few turns as slow as you need, and ask questions here whenever. Note you can chat privately with your team or publicly with all players in the GBE interface. Pay special attention to the combat charts on the interface and the little help windows. They will be invaluable. You can click on this link to run through a preview turn or two on the interface we're using. Once I get all emails we will begin. See you on the battlefield.

[TheFlyingGerbil]

Let us know how it turns out. Hope you all have fun.

 

That sounds a bit mumsy, but never mind!

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

I will try to post an after-action report, if I can remember to.

[Mr. GOH!]

Who all has played A&A before? And does the PBEM site have a team chat function?

 

P4: feel free to give that email to the other players, too. Since this is a team game, we'll need to have strategic discussions via email.

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

It has universal chat as well as team chat. I can give out emails if that is easier, I'm not sure if you have to keep logging on to see if your team is chatting you or not.

 

Yes, though--strategic discussions are very important for both sides. Axis should coordinate which type of victory they are going for and which areas they will concentrate on, and Allies should coordinate attacks and decide which two capitals to go after.

[Mr. GOH!]

I prefer emails, but we can sort all that out in the initial burst of chat on the website.

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Fine with me, just anyone specify if you don't want your email given out (I assume since you're giving me an email, you won't mind if I give it to your teammates, etc.).

[Mal]

I never played. I'll see if I can get some quick practice in while I wait. I also might do a daily or bi-daily recap from the perspective of my side. Shitty visuals may or may not be included.

[Mr. GOH!]

In AARs, shitty visuals are a huge plus.

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Here is the official thread for discussion of PXOD PBEM #1: Axis & Allies, Roll 1 or Die!

[P4: Gritty Reboot]

Everyone should have team contact info as well as a link from Games By Email. Let me know if you have problems.

 

P4

[Mr. GOH!]

Malicious:

 

Ignore the reminder I sent you; thought it was a setting to remind me when it's my turn. Since you're first and this is your first time playing, don't worry about hurrying up. Take some time, read the rules, and confer with your team mates.