Bad Data

Thoughts on 1862

Mon Dec 30 21:45:28 2019

We've played a lot of 1830, and some 1846. While those games have some differences, they basically play the same.

We recently picked up 1862 and it plays a lot differently.

Specifically, the way companies count their revenue from train runs is completely different. In 1830 trains each count their runs separately, and you can't reuse track at all. In 1862, you can reuse track with different trains, but you can only score each station, port, or off-board area once for your whole company, and each of your runs has to link up into a connected network.

This means that with multiple trains, you will necessarily be hitting a large station more than once, but you can only count it once. Rather than thinking of it as scoring trains, it makes more sense to think of it as building a network with your trains, and then counting where you hit with your network.

To evaluate a train then, don't think about how the train can run, but rather how it can extend your network. Long runs of track are rewarded if you have multiple trains, and maximizing the advantages of each type of train in a multiple permit company will lead to higher runs.

Merger Cost

Other than a few edge cases, you will always lose value on a merger. For "normal" mergers, the loss in value will be about one-third.

Take a merger of two companies, where you own 5 shares of one valued at 82 and 7 shares of another valued at 110. In this case you lose 342 in share value, a 31% loss. It may be that 60% of the combined revenue is worth more, and it will be easier to multiple jump to regain the share value, but you still have a 342 loss to overcome. It may have been better to sell a higher valued share and buy two lower valued shares.

If you did that, and then immediately merged at the beginning of the next stock round, you'd pay a net of 54, and then merge 7 shares at 82 with 6 shares at 105, which would entail a loss of 308. Plus the 54 paid out, is a loss of 362, or $20 more than the previous case. You'd also have to shell out $64 to redeem an option share, for a final loss in value of $426.

Posted in / games

Scripted Opponent for 18xx games

Wed Jul 18 12:24:42 2018

Stock Purchases

1. Attempt to obtain five shares in companies where the player is the president.
2. Maximize dividend payout
3. Start a company, par price sufficient to buy five shares. Otherwise don't start.

First stock round: start a company if it can buy five shares. If not, buy the most number of shares? Diversify? One of each?

What company to start? Preference defined by game? Minors?

Minors: buy cheapest offered minor. take random card?

What company to start?

Running companies

Company money target: two tile lays, plus one token, plus second cheapest available train. plus cost of minors?

Issue shares: always issue if possible? Issue if would hit company money target?

Purchase minors: always purchase if possible? Purchase if run increases? Purchase if will still hit money target? Money target minus train?

Lay track and tokens: always play to maximize revenue.

Then, shareholder input for additional tile lay. Need at least two shares, greatest number of shares wins, can't go below money target, ties for greatest broken by how many of the players companies shares are owned by the opponent. If still tied, no additional tile.

Once revenue can't be increased further, extend a run. Take shareholder input, if any. Where track lay costs money, don't go below a token or train.

Pay or keep: attempt to have enough money for the next train, and a token. Would withholding be the difference between buying the next train or not? If yes, withhold, if not, pay.

Buy trains: opponent will never sell trains. Buy a train if it would increase the run. Buy the train that increases the run the most, (on existing track?) Buy a permanent train.

Posted in / games

Wrong

Tue Jun 1 20:25:10 2010

Rule Errors in our recent game

• Some powers with territorials start with some.
• CL units aren't used with Ships in Flames.
• US Entry options with no specific power are directed against *all* Axis powers, and need the entry for each pool.
• Initial Commonwealth units are British unless otherwise specified.
• Flying boats stack separately than other air units, and at most one per hex.
• Strat bomb factors aren't halved for terrain.
• Large ATRs pay double movement when transporting other infantry class corps.
• Retreats are performed by the attacker.

Posted in / games / wif

Cwconvoy

Tue Jun 1 14:11:22 2010

Allied Convoy Setup

The commonwealth controls the following resources and factories:

The Commonwealth has 81 Convoy points (assuming you're using Ships in Flames).

This uses 9 French CP to do all the Allied shipping through the Med. If the Italians declare war on the French and not the Commonwealth, they are likely to end up back at peace once France falls, and they won't be able to harrass the British. The CW will need 6 CP through the Med to replace the French CP. If any of those survive, they should be moved to French africa in hopes that they will be Free French.

That gives 15 Resources to the UK, maximizing their production at 21, which will give 11 BP in 1939. The chains use 66 CW convoy points and 6 French convoy points, leaving 15 free convoy points for the CW. The French will have 9 resources, giving them 5 BP in 1939.

Once Italy declares war, the Med may get too dangerous to route convoys through, and after France falls, the Bay of Biscay may be too vulnerable to German air cover.

Any of the CP in the Faroes can alternatively be put in the Bay of Biscay. The CP in the Bay of Biscay can be routed through the North Atlantic instead if an equal number of CP are also added to the Faroes.

The Med can be skipped, and the Indian resources can be brought around Africa for 8 more CP (though you'll need 9 as a CP in the red sea is needed to keep Egypt in supply).

In that case

Posted in / games / wif

Frprod

Fri May 28 18:50:53 2010

French Force Pool

After set up and reserves, the french have the following:

In 1940, the french will add 1 HQ-A, 1 INF, 1 MAR.

Without British help, they will produce 5 BP (Assuming 3 resources imported) in 1939, and 7 in 1940.

If the British give 4 resources, that will improve to 7 in 1939 and 10 in 1940, at a cost of 2 CW BP per turn in 1939 and 3/turn in 1940. If the convoys are there, it might make more sense to lend the BP directly.

If you're still alive at that point, build some air or lend everything else to the Commonwealth. Also, if the situation is hopeless, lend everything to the CW, the Vichy declaration happens after the lending stage, so the CW might as well benefit from the French production.

Posted in / games / wif

Cwprod

Thu May 27 18:35:02 2010

Commonwealth Production

Posted in / games / wif

Russian Production

Thu May 20 18:32:53 2010

Assuming a MJ 1941 attack, you've got 10 turns before the germans roll across the border.

Russian Build Points should be as follows, assuming the Japanese don't attack.

You may have a couple extra BP if you demand the Rumanian and Finnish territory.

So, you've got 128 BP.

What's in the force pool?

Timoshenko (HQ-I), Zhukov (HQ-A), 1 Mech, 5 Inf, 2 Gar, 2 Cav, 2 Ftr 2, 3 Lnd 3, 1 Lnd 4 are set up.

That leaves 2 Arm, 4 Mech, 1 Para, 7 Mot, 1 Mtn, 11 Inf, 6 Gar.

Posted in / games / wif