Painted Major ICs, Minors, Strict Neutrals

I think you should re read the rules. They’re clear.

Simon, I am also baffled by what happened in Russia since we are missing the critical first few rounds in that BM game.  Adam is one of the top players, if not the top player, in the world and I am sure that he didn’t make mistakes.  Unfortunately the thread missed out on the initial setup and openings so I can’t explain how Moscow was so easily captured.  Regardless, the Allies are still very much alive and the combined factories in Egypt and Iraq are making it very tough for the Axis to push further south.  I am sure that Adam will fly over a bunch of planes when it is critical to make a stand in the oilfields.

@simon33:

I don’t even think it’s a that much a function of the D6. Think of how upsetting it would be if you were using a 20 sided dice rolling at a one and it hit!?

I’d wonder if low luck for SBR AA would be better? Triple A can handle that. You have to ask the question then why not LL for normal AA.

You made a good point IMO.
Lower is the odds of making a hit, the higher AAA shot can be called “unpredictable” and can create hilarious or desastrous outcomes, depending of POV of defender or attacker.

@ShadowHAwk:

**The game is unrealistic with regards to strategic bombing.
And yes with a D6 that is just really not something to be changed at all.

Interception would take down a few bombers and the rest would just attack your facilities.
In the game if you win the interception nothing happens no damage at all, if AA hits again no damage at all. Normaly you only shoot down a % of the bombers.
Also attacking bomber formations would be able to defend themself and where known especialy later in the war to shoot down plenty of fighters so bomber defence @1 represents that.**

The interceptor @1 and the AA @1 just represent that fact, also the bombers rolling for damage iso just doing a fixed number represents that.
It will never be realistic whatever houserule you devise and how balanced you say your houserule is.
Its a game not a simulation if you really want to change the game to more realism move to D12 system or even D20 and overhaul the whole combat system then at least you can have more variance that isnt jumping up that much.

Currently your return on investment that you can expect with a bomber is around 3 ipcs in total if you do strat bombing a lot, that bomber attacking in a land battle will hit and inf as well.
And that is only if you attack a factory that needs to be used, If you bomb india for 6 damage they might completely ignore it and produce 4 units you did 0 damage but risked 12 ipcs worth of production.

These points make a lot of sense.
An all or nothing strategic bombing raid seems unhistorical.
If flak and interceptor hit, there is no damage; while no hit makes for an highly damaged IC.
The real things was in between. Extremes were exceptional event in WWII while mitigated raids were common, as far as I know.
You made me think about an alternate way of doing SBR, without changing basic OOB StB A1 Fg A1 D1 combat values.
I will post something in House rule later. Thanks.

Edit: Here is the link to the House rule alternate SBR mechanic:
Strategic Bombing Raid (SBR): an alternate mechanic for 1942.2 and G40
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=39189.msg1620459#msg1620459

Dido what everyone else said.

You should have the Russian minor in Leningrad and prob Ukraine as well a couple turns after you invade Russia, so there really is no need to spend the IPCs up there for redundancy.

You can buy a second German transport for 7 IPCs (cheaper) and move 2 more units (4 tot) through the Baltic and threaten all Russian territories that boarders the Baltic Sea (or even the White Sea sz 127 if you venture out). Besides threatening multiple territories, transports can be used to reinforce or counter attack as well. A 3rd German transport in the water (with some added fleet) will keep the London in a defensive position in the early/mid game too.

Finally as others pointed out a German IC in Scandinavia will quickly draw the attention of the USA. Norway/Finland is already a target, you really don’t want to magnify it IMO.

Along with the damage if it was never bought off before it can be upgraded.  It could be a 26 IPC expense for the original owner to upgrade it back to the major.

From play experience, what it does is allow the germans a viable southern campaign, and also - the Russians, the ability to fight a souther campaign, instead of the traditional - Germany to moscow from Novisibirsk approach.

I tried it already:

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=20754.75

It wasn’t one of my better games and I doubt it should be used as a guideline (think it was my third Global?)

I wouldn’t recommend it under the current True Neutral rules unless Germany or Japan seriously sends some loaded transports and a carrier group to contest S. America (and be willing to invest in a minor IC as well).  It’s just too much bonus to the US with all those extra free infantry produced.  Japan could send a loaded transport(s) to take Chile on J3 in conjunction with an attack on Pearl Harbor; if Germany is threatening a Sealion and the US is built heavily into the Europe theater, it might work.  You could also try a combined assault with Germany attacking from Gibraltar on G3 to seize Brazil or Argentina while Japan invades Chile; if you combine both carrier groups together and both powers built minor ICs, it could tie up the US for quite a while.  It will also be a huge drain on the Axis war effort too, for a measly 8 S. American IPCs, but it might be worth it if it takes the US out of the war for another 4-5 turns.

@TexCapPrezJimmy:

I don’t think the UK can spare the IPCs, but…

Can UK build a minor IC in W. India, use European theater monies to build land units there, and then walk them east to slow Japan?

If so, this might be a viable strategy to hold off Japan until the cavalry come.

Yes you can build a minor IC in West India with London’s money and send them to East India.

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=19651.0 here’s some more info.