Games - TripleA

	Games - TripleA

TripleA is an open source engine for writing networked turn based strategy games. TripleA contains an implementation of the popular Axis and Allies game. TripleA is written in Java and is thus cross-platform. It requires Java version 1.5. It is also in beta as of this writing, so expect a few beta glitches and oddities on occasion.

Basic gameplay

Based in World War II around 1942, a basic TripleA game consists of five players, representing most of the great powers, vying over a map of the world. Taking turns, they attempt to conquer and maintain control of various territories. While historical strategies may be employed -- e.g. the Western Allies attempting to clear North Africa, then the 'soft-underbelly' of Europe -- the nature of the ruleset and map tends to create some peculiar scenarios. A good example of this is using the Japanese armies to drive across eastern Asia toward Europe, attempting to coordinate a double attack on the heart of Russia with the Germans. Familiarity with the war is not technically necessary, but is definitely advantageous. The same goes for knowing about Axis and Allies itself.

The five players, two Axis and three Allies, are (in order of their turns): the Soviet Union, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States. There are variants available that will add Italy and China as separate entities as well. This is a strategic level game and doesn't get too bogged down in the detail of full-blown wargames -- and that is a good distinction to make. This is a semi-complicated board game, not a true wargame in the sense of an Advanced Third Reich. A few rungs on the ladder above, say, Risk. Which is not to denigrate A&A/TripleA; this is a lot of fun as is.

TripleA may be played locally with multiple people, over a network, or via play by email. There is an AI being worked on, but it is not available in the latest stable version (0.7.3 at the moment).

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for TripleA ]

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