Notes for ADC2 Advanced Third Reich Game Set

May 20, 2001

Just a few notes on this game set.

1. Why did I do this?

Well, the first part is easy.  I wanted to play A3R by email.  I looked at Brett's game set on Nick Bell's site and while it is really good and took a LOT of time, it was lacking some features I like.  Mainly, I like to see in the hex description window in the lower left a lot of information about what is in the hex, e.g., city, objective hex, port, capitol, etc. so that I don't have to move the pieces to see what's there.

Next, I checked out the A3R playaid on www.ultraww2game.com site.  Now this is a great program and it's FREE!  The main reason for not just sticking with it was that I couldn't find a replay function in it.  There is a feature that shows with arrows where everyone moved but it's all the units at once.  I may be wrong on this.  To me, the replay  is one of ADC's great features.  You can see exactly how your opponent moved each piece and comments can be sprinkled through out a move explaining any tricky moves.  A3R is too complicated for me to play PBEM without a replay.

Then there is also the fact that I like to make game sets.  :)

2.  Why did I pick the hex/unit sizes I did?

I use 1280 X 1040 screen resolution and at Zoom Level 1, the map just fits on the screen letting me see an overview of the whole thing.  Just kind of scaled up the other two levels from there.

3.  Flip Definitions

I defined a flip side for every piece.  The air and naval obviously need that and I find myself accidentally flipping the wrong pieces and I hate it when the message comes up saying there is no flip definition.  Except for the air and naval pieces, the flip side is the same as the face up side so if you do accidentally flip a piece, you won't know it.

4.  Where are pieces?

I created a lot of force pools.  Not sure if it was the best way, but I decided to try it this way.

Top of the list is "Misc" for each major.  I've put air and fleet breakdown units here along with Air Bases and Bridgeheads.  When I play the game, I'll probably have these just off the edges of the map just like FTF play, but needed a place for them to start.

Next come "Force Pools" for each major.  This is where I plan to put the units that can be built.  It'll only contain those units actually available because lower in the list you'll find "Build" pools by date for each major as new units become available.  Initially, the "Force Pools" contain the set up pieces for each major.

"All Strategic Warfare" is pretty self explanatory.

"Markers" has the extra fortress and Maginot pieces along with breakthrough, exploitation and isolation markers.

As mentioned, the next ones for the "Builds" by date and by major.

Next are "Extras" for each major.  This is where you'll find variant counters.

Then there are the force pools for the minors.  

Spain and Turkey each get their own force pool.

"Western Allies" contain Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands and Norway.  

"Easter Allies" contain Greece, Poland, Sweden and Yugoslavia.

"Axis Minors" contain Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Rumania and Ukraine.

"Misc. Forces" is IRA and Wal partisans along with Iraq and Persia units.


Let me know what you think and especially let me know of any improvements you'd like.

Have fun!

Jim Pyle

jimpyle@att.net

