@Unknown:
Wow, the errata on increased factory production is huge.
There were two problems with Increased Factory Production as written:
Production was doubled or tripled in low-IPC territories.
True, but how is this really a “problem”? :?
The problem is that Germany’s (a major industrial center) production is increased by 20%, while Algeria’s is increased by 200%. That math just doesn’t work.
@Unknown:
One-IPC territories were impossible to shut down with SBRs, since the maximum damage that can be applied is two points (1 IPC - 2 damage + 2 for IFP = 1 unit produced).
Ok, this makes some sense, but then why not make the minimum 2 IPC territories? You can still apply 4 damage, thereby shutting it down. What’s special about 3 IPC territories?
There were two possible approaches here; either create a system of graduated increases or establish a minimum IPC value to get the benefit. Establishing a minimum was cleaner and easier. Three IPCs was chosen as the dividing line between “major” and “minor” economic territories.
@Unknown:
Having 3 as the minimum detracts from factories in Australia, South Africa, Egypt, Karelia, Burma, FIC, and Kiangsu, all of which are fairly common sites for ICs and will now be less attractive. On the other hand, it’s not like anyone really builds ICs in 1 IPC territories unless they already have the tech.
These sites will be less lucrative, but that doesn’t necessarily make them less attractive. True, they won’t get the increased production, but they will still benefit from the reduced repair cost. If they are “fairly common sites”, why should they depend on success with a particular tech to make them so?
@Unknown:
It just seems like having 3 IPC territories as the minimum is a kinda arbitrary and affects gameplay more than have a minimum of 2 would (maybe this was the goal?).
It’s not really arbitrary. There’s a big difference between 2- and 3-IPC territories in the percentage increase achieved when adding two to the production cap. 2-IPC territories increase by 100%, while 3-IPC ones only increase by 67%. Each one IPC of value from there reduces the percentage increase even further. Also, there are a lot of 1- and 2-IPC territories, so 3 seems a good cut-off point from a perspective of empowering the more resource-rich and/or developed territories. Four IPCs may have been an even better choice, but I think Larry didn’t want to exclude places like India and Manchuria.