These are the new Techs that either the Axis or Allies can research. They are added mainly for balance or strategic purposes.
1. ESCORTS (Minor Tech, 5IPC/researcher)
-Fighters can participate in strategic bombing raids. Attacking fighters may escort and protect the bombers, and they can originate from any territory, range permitting.
2. INTERCEPTORS (Moderate Tech, 7IPC/researcher)
-Any or all defending fighters based in a territory that is strategically bombed can participate in the defense of the industrial complex. The number of fighters that will defend is decided after the attacker’s Combat Movement phase is completed and before the Combat phase begins.
-After antiaircraft fire is resolved against the attacking air units, if there are any defending fighters an air battle occurs between the attacking and defending air units. This combat is resolved in the same way as a normal combat, with a few exceptions. The fighters have an attack value of 1 (2 if the attacker has the Jet Power research breakthrough) and a defense value of 2, and the bombers have no attack value. In addition, the combat lasts for only one round. After the battle, any surviving bombers proceed to carry out the raid as normal.
-Fighters participating as either an escort or a defender cannot participate in other battles during that turn. Defending interceptors must return to their original territory. If that territory is captured, the fighters may move one space to land in a friendly territory or on a friendly aircraft carrier. This movement occurs after all of the attacker’s combats have been resolved and before the attacker’s Noncombat Move phase begins. If no such landing space is available, the fighters are lost.
-Note that these 2 techs are as per the optional rules with the big difference that they must be researched rather than just having them at game start
-The general purpose of these is to increase the strategy and balance around SBRs
3. ASW-CRUISERS (Minor Tech, 5IPC/researcher)
-Your cruisers now have the same capabilites as destroyers do against subs.
-this tech will be useful for UK and Japan against enemy sub strategies. UK in particular can purchase cruisers that can be used for amphibs once they’ve dealt with the German sub threat.
4. AIR TRANSPORT (Moderate Tech, 7IPC/researcher)
-Your bombers may now transport up to 2 INF in noncombat. Both the INF and the BMBR must start and end their turn in the same territory. The BMBR can not be used for combat this turn.
-This is more useful for the US who have major logistics issues late game. This helps. UK and Japan can also benefit.
5. AIR BASES (Moderate Tech, 7IPC/researcher)
-Your fighters on islands (one land territory surrounded by one SZ) can now defend the adjacent SZ if attacked
-Navies are very vulnerable to Heavy Bombers. This is a way to help defend your navies without having to spend as much on aircraft carriers.
6. ATOMIC BOMB (Ultimate Tech, 15IPC/researcher)
-once per game, you may load a single BMBR with an atomic bomb
-The BMBR can only be loaded from one of your original ICs, and must have started it’s turn there to load it.
-Once loaded, the BMBR can only be used for strategic bombing, not combat. Roll any anti-aircraft (or interceptor) fire as normal. If the BMBR survives, roll 4 dice to determine SBR damage. For every 2 IPC of damage done, 1 IPC of damage is considered irrepairable on the opponent’s next turn.
-the strategic use of this weapon is to soften up an enemy stronghold prior to a final assault. Maximum damage is 24IPC, with average being about 14IPC. If an 8IPC capital took 14IPC damage, of which only 7 is repairable, that would mean they would only be able to produce one new unit that turn
-this technology is more high risk than heavy bombers as you only have one chance to succeed. Plus, there is no military benefit
-before arguing this may be overpowered, please note that the effects on a country are not immediate and actually take a turn to have an effect. Plus there is the chance to develop counters before the research is successful.
OK, so these are the new techs that all countries can research. Thoughts? :-)