FMG COMBAT UNITS - Rules: COMMANDER

  • '10

    @Imperious:

    Each commander has a rating that forms a new way of bidding. Players who use generals no longer use the bidding system, but rather raise or lower the generals rating to balance the game.

    When that is decided each general has a value.

    Points for doing certain actions cost points>

    Generals can do the following:

    1. Retreat units on defence ( each unit doing this costs 1 leadership point)
    2. Provide a unit boost of +1 in combat for one round  ( costs 2 points per unit)
    3. Re-roll a miss in combat ( This costs 3 points)

    A generals range is 4 spaces, so it can effect and allocate these benefits as outlined in various combat situations.

    Use tokens or chips to indicate remaining leadership points.

    These units can effect only land or sea (admirals). If used at sea they are placed and moved with their flagship.

    If lost in battle they are replaced but after a one turn penalty at no cost.

    I do not agree with replacing commanders with no cost. You cannot just replace a good general out of thin air. Look what happened to Lee when he lost Jackson. Commander units should be protected at all costs. If they are not replacable then one would HAVE to give careful thought to how they are used and where. Commanders should be limited to the setup or make their purchase very expensive.


  • The example of Jackson is somewhat antiquated.  Generals are really HQ behind the scenes and represent infrastructure and the ability to command operations in the field. Not a single major commander sake Paulus faced capture or death. Generals are only a figure because the representation of a building for a HQ is not very glamorous, and consequently the name commander or general is really an easier namesake due to the nature of the sculpt.

    The problem with assigning a cost is that once you lost the general, you are really behind. In the war, many generals were replaced with other good ones so its not really a cost to maintain the high quality of leadership.

    But perhaps we can just make the cost very low, but introduce a random draw to reconfigure the leadership value for each new general.

    Then again another idea is to start all generals having the same value or not and then allow the ‘purchase’ of replacement generals paying a cost per leadership point.

    So a replacement leader has a base cost of 3 and each leadership point costs additional 1 IPC per point.

    Example: Germany starts with Manstein ( general with rating of 8) , but he was lost fighting in France so Rommel is now built. the German player wants to 'purchase" a 12 value general, so he pays 3 +12 = 15 IPC for this new general.

  • '10

    @Imperious:

    The example of Jackson is somewhat antiquated.  Generals are really HQ behind the scenes and represent infrastructure and the ability to command operations in the field. Not a single major commander sake Paulus faced capture or death. Generals are only a figure because the representation of a building for a HQ is not very glamorous, and consequently the name commander or general is really an easier namesake due to the nature of the sculpt.

    The problem with assigning a cost is that once you lost the general, you are really behind. In the war, many generals were replaced with other good ones so its not really a cost to maintain the high quality of leadership.

    But perhaps we can just make the cost very low, but introduce a random draw to reconfigure the leadership value for each new general.

    Then again another idea is to start all generals having the same value or not and then allow the ‘purchase’ of replacement generals paying a cost per leadership point.

    So a replacement leader has a base cost of 3 and each leadership point costs additional 1 IPC per point.

    Example: Germany starts with Manstein ( general with rating of 8) , but he was lost fighting in France so Rommel is now built. the German player wants to 'purchase" a 12 value general, so he pays 3 +12 = 15 IPC for this new general.

    Is it logical for the richer nation to have the higher quality general? Better equipment, yes. Just look at the poor southern states with Jackson. Oops I did it again.


  • The question is this cost issue. Should they be built or replaced with new general if disgraced. The general is not getting killed in battle, as in civil war but just replaced in the attempt to find better leadership. A poor nation ( france, Italy, Anzac could not rebuilt them if lost). But if they just suffered a penalty of a turn if they lost the battle , it would be more realistic for WW2 because this is merely a new general taking command after the last one failed to get any results.

    In fact id like a set of cards made for each nation where players draw them in a deck if they lose one.

    it might model the UK changes of command like in north Africa. Generals could be placed in this deck in sequence and if lost, you draw the next one and eventually you get a good one.

    It might be a situation where you have 2-3 generals ( for each front) and you have a deck of 12 generals to cycle thru during the game, perhaps one new general is drawn and placed on the front per turn or if you win a battle you earn this right ( either sea or land). Each general will have unique abilities as expressed on the card.


  • I do not think commanders should be purchased, or something that each power just “gets” automatically. I’m thinking they should be placed when a battle is won “against the odds”. What “against the odds” means specifically is up for debate really. This would represent the simple chance that the commander that is already with the army happens to be really good at what he does, and keeps contributing this throughout the war.

    As for what they do after they appear:

    Commanders are non attacking or defending land units that are taken as the last causality in a land battle exactly like a transport.When present in a battle (either attacking or defending) you may reroll one missed die for each type of unit in the battle that missed. This means that commanders are most useful in battles with mixed forces. For example if each type of land unit was present in an battle the commander would average contribute an additional 1-2 or maybe 3 hits depending on the value of the new units. since a commanders influence could be quite large in a battle they would need to be fairly expensive. I’m thinking 15 ipcs.

    Also considering giving Commanders the right to travel with fleets on a capital ship such as Aircraft carriers and battleships. Commanders would work the the same way in a sea battle as in an land battle.

    This.


  • Here are my thoughts

    Commanders
    Cost: 12 ipcs
    Attack: 0
    Defense: 0

    Movement: Commanders may attach themselves to any unit type gaining the movement points of that movement (and the ability to move over air or on water as applicable). They do not have an attack or defense value and are lost if that unit is destroyed.

    Special:

    Commanders may use one special ability per battle. Multiple commanders may be in a territory during a battle and up to three of them may use an ability. However, their ability effects may not stack. Thus, two commanders working in tandem could not increase the attack power of your tanks by +2, but they could increase the attack power of tanks and infantry by +1.

    You must declare which abilities you will be using before the first cycle of combat.

    Abilities:

    GENERAL ABILITIES

    Extra Offensive power: Pick one unit type. For this battle all units of this type attack at +1 (unit must be able to attack normally).

    Extra defensive Power: Pick one unit type. For this battle all units of this type defend at +1 (unit must be able to defend normally).

    Strategic Retreat: After the first cycle of combat is played out you may retreat all of your defending units into a neighboring allied controlled territory.

    re-roll: Once per battle, at the end of a combat cycle, you may re-roll for all of your units that missed during this combat cycle. You must declare that you will be using it before your first roll.

    damage reduction: Once per battle, at the end of a combat, cycle, you may reduce the number of casualties inflicted by the enemy by half (rounded up)

    LAND SPECIFIC

    preliminary bombardment: your artillery units may make a special bombardment before the first cycle of combat. Any units killed are immediately removed from play and do not get an opportunity to retaliate.

    AIR SPECIFIC

    carpet bombing: During a strategic bombardment you may add +1 to the damage inflicetd by each bomber.

    NAVAL SPECIFIC

    combined bombardment: During an offshore bombardment you may have destroyers conduct offshore bombardments at a 2 or less.

    convoy system: your transports may now defend at a 1 (may not be stacked with extra defensive power).

    expert gunnery: Pick one type of surface naval vessel (besides the Carrier). During the first cycle of combat you may roll 2 dice for each unit of that type.


  • Ok here is a combination of what has been said and what I think. Some ideas are my own and some are others

    DF’s Commander rules

    Basic:

    Powers start with:
    Germany: 3 (2 Land, 1 Air)
    US: 3 (1 land, 1 Air, 1Naval)
    Japan: 3 (2 Naval, 1 Air)
    UK Eu:3 (1 land, 1 air, 1 Naval)
    Uk P:1 (1 Land)
    Anzac: 1 (1 Land)
    France: 0
    China: 0
    Italy: 1 (1 Naval, 1 Land)
    USSR: 3 (3 Land)

    Rules:
    Each type has special rules
    Basic rules are:

    • Unable to be bought
    • Unreplacable
    • No attack or defence points

    Land Rules:

    Each General/Commander gives 1 hit(on attack and defence) for every 2 units of a type (max 1 hit per unit type)

    I.E.

    2 Tanks, 8 Inf, 3 art, 1 Mech
    One hit for 8 inf, 1 for 2 Tank, 1 for 3 art and 0 for 1 mech. Receives 3 free hits

    Movement: 1 with infantry and artillery, 2 with tanks, mech, 3 with FMG trucks

    Naval Rules:
    Adds 1 attack/defence value for the ship he is in:
    Admiral is allowed on any ship
    Add 1 attack/defence value for another ship if a 1 is rolled

    I.E.
    Admiral in BB gives BB attack/defence of 5
    Other ships 2 CV, 3 tran, DD

    Player rolls 2,3,1,4,1,1

    So depending on the Order given

    I.E.
    CV roll 1
    CV roll 2
    DD roll 3
    Tran roll 4
    Etc.

    DD gets 3 attack/defence value
    Tran #2 gets 1 att/def value
    tran #3 gets 1 att/def value

    Air rules:
    Squadron commander flys in any kind of plane. If in Bmr in Sbmr raid adds 1 to any roll/ If in ftr in scramble (for G40) adds 1 def value/ Increases att value of 1 plane by 1 for every 3 planes in battle.

    Historical rules coming soon


  • I think we should all stick with simple ideas here, this is axis and allies not dungeons and dragons.  I like the idea of having the commander give a bonus to one type but I also like the idea of having the commander give a bonus to using units in combination with each other (mech inf and tanks for example) because it would allow a new dimension of strategy. Also commanders should be purchased instead of replaced automatically.  It takes a great deal of money to train, equip, and deploy a new commander or a new hq if you prefer to think of it that way.  Depending on the kind of bonus they give I think a cost of 10-15 IPC with a cap on total number of commanders allowed would suffice.  Maybe 1 commander per each branch of armed forces (land, sea, air)?


  • OK looking at some of the ideas….

    You start with one general and in your turn just place him in one space:

    Land General: can move units 2 spaces, also if he is in combat with tanks, they can be used to target enemy land units of any type of their choosing.

    At the end of your turn, you place it again in any other area. If on the enemy turn they attack the space with your general, you can retreat part of all of your forces after any complete combat round.

    Sea Admiral: Select one ship as your “flagship” it can target any ship and if it hits only that ship is hit ( or sunk). If you select a Carrier, it allows that carrier to carry an extra fighter ( 3 total), and with 1 hit it can still fight and launch fighters.

    Germany gets a second commander when Russia is at war with Axis
    Japan Gets a second commander when USA is activated
    USA gets a second commander when they first perform any sea invasion
    UK Gets a second Commander when USA is activated
    French commander is removed when Paris falls, and can appear again once Paris is taken
    Soviet gets another commander when Germany takes one Soviet VC.

  • '10

    @Imperious:

    OK looking at some of the ideas….

    You start with one general and in your turn just place him in one space:

    Land General: can move units 2 spaces, also if he is in combat with tanks, they can be used to target enemy land units of any type of their choosing.

    At the end of your turn, you place it again in any other area. If on the enemy turn they attack the space with your general, you can retreat part of all of your forces after any complete combat round.

    Sea Admiral: Select one ship as your “flagship” it can target any ship and if it hits only that ship is hit ( or sunk). If you select a Carrier, it allows that carrier to carry an extra fighter ( 3 total), and with 1 hit it can still fight and launch fighters.

    Germany gets a second commander when Russia is at war with Axis
    Japan Gets a second commander when USA is activated
    USA gets a second commander when they first perform any sea invasion
    UK Gets a second Commander when USA is activated
    French commander is removed when Paris falls, and can appear again once Paris is taken
    Soviet gets another commander when Germany takes one Soviet VC.

    I like this also.  It keeps it simple.  Allows you to “Target” one Hit per round? or do you target just one units roll?  And the tactical retreat.


  • Allows you to “Target” one Hit per round? or do you target just one units roll?  And the tactical retreat.

    Well you select the target first and the unit that is rolling to hit it. If you hit that selected unit, it is gone. Same with the flagship idea. If defender fires back, you can just take off infantry

    The naval modeling is accurate because typically the flagship is a battleship and it has ranged guns that can hit stuff at greater ranges than itself can come under fire.

    The only other ship you might be an admiral on is a carrier, which would be the main fleet strength so a third plane and a real free hit carrier ( as opposed to the OOB where you cant even use the planes if you take a hit)

    ON land what is going on is your general leads the focal point of the attack and he is going in after enemy tanks, so you cant just soak off infantry.

    I don’t think the defense should have any combat benefit other than retreat, because typically the defense is at double defense with all the 1-2 units.


  • Ok here are my ideas for a historic rule set

    DF’s Commander rules

    Historical:

    Powers start with:
    Germany: 3 (2 Land, 1 Air)
    US: 3 (1 land, 1 Air, 1Naval)
    Japan: 3 (2 Naval, 1 Air)
    UK Eu:3 (1 land, 1 air, 1 Naval)
    Uk P:1 (1 Land)
    Anzac: 1 (1 Land)
    France: 1 (Free)
    China: 2 (1 Communist, 1 Nationalist)
    Italy: 1 (1 Naval, 1 Land)
    USSR: 3 (3 Land)

    Maybe edited due to historic leaders not being the type listed

    Rules

    Every nation starts with what is stated in a territory where they would have been.
    Excluding Soviets

    The Soviets gain 1 commander every turn until the end of turn three

    Each leader has a special unit type i.e. Rommels Afrika Korps which is with them at all time

    Ideas

    German

    Rommel Land

    Afrika Korps Armour att 4 def 3 Rommel often attacked when faced with enemy resistance hoping to suprise the enemy so they couldn’t attack his vulnerable flanks

    Early Rommel

    Passive power (Used in every battle)
    Ghost Division
    Due to the fast moving advances Rommel’s Panzer’s were often out of Radio Contact

    In the first round of every battle involving Rommel and at least one German tank per tank roll one dice hitting at 1. For every hit one tank is able to fire a suprise shot against an enemy hitting at 3 or less (if firing in this round not allowed to fire in normal combat round)

    Active power (Used once)
    Attack on Lille
    General Hoth placed the 5th panzer division under Rommel’s command for the assualt on Lille

    Place a armour unit on the battle board for free attacking at normal stats and destroyed at the end of the turn.

    Becomes Middle Rommel on G2 if in a North African territory or G3 in any other

    More ideas to come


  • I have an idea.  If a commander is in a territory adjacent to a territory being attacked the commander can move 1 of each type of unit in the territory to the territory under attack, arriving for the 2nd round of combat.  Similar to Patton in the battle of the bulge.  What do you think?

    Question for IL.  If a land commander is attached to a tank do all the tanks that hit chose their targets or only the one the commander is attached to?  Also, does this last every round?  What if the commander targets only with his unit and any units paired with it the first round of combat (say a tank and a mech inf blitzing with it or an infantry supported by artillery) and an additional unit of the same type for every additional round of combat?  This way the bonus isn’t too overwhelming but it can grow as combat continues on.

    Also, defending commanders should be able to target units.  A good commander will know how to counterattack as well as when to tactically retreat.  And perhaps the amount of units that can retreat should be capped at 1 of each type in the territory, or maybe 2 of each.  Otherwise I see the retreat ability as being too overpowered.  What do you think?


  • Question for IL.  If a land commander is attached to a tank do all the tanks that hit chose their targets or only the one the commander is attached to?

    yes and just tanks and they can target any land unit

    Also, does this last every round?

    Yes

    What if the commander targets only with his unit and any units paired with it the first round of combat (say a tank and a mech inf blitzing with it or an infantry supported by artillery) and an additional unit of the same type for every additional round of combat?  This way the bonus isn’t too overwhelming but it can grow as combat continues on.

    no only tanks, other units would make it too powerful

    Also, defending commanders should be able to target units.

    Too powerful. The defense already has double the firepower on average as the attacker. The retreat option gives the ying yang thing going where you can take a small hit, then retreat and gather tanks for a counter attack and repeat process.

    A good commander will know how to counterattack as well as when to tactically retreat.

    He can do that on his own turn

    And perhaps the amount of units that can retreat should be capped at 1 of each type in the territory, or maybe 2 of each.  Otherwise I see the retreat ability as being too overpowered.  What do you think?

    NO cap and he can retreat some or all of them. Their are not tank limits, so no retreat limits


  • A commander unit that allows all tanks to choose their targets each round is too powerful and will break the game.  It would make them practically invincible with a stack of tanks.  A cap seems better for gaming purposes and it would be more historical.  Or maybe the bonus should only last one round.


  • Actually i am seeing this.

    I plan on making cards but they use the same rules as before, with limits

    each nation will have 4-12 commander cards which are separated into early, mid, and late war leaders: game spread into 12 turns 1-4=early, 5-9= mid, 10-12 late

    Each leader can boost only 1-3 units of various types depending on his skills

    For example: Nagumo would get a boost for tactical bombers and these would override the combined arms thing: 2 tactical bombers at +1 and don’t need fighters
    Yamamoto gets +1 for one Battleship and Cruiser

    Rommel would get +1 for two tanks, or Artillery.

    card would have two tank icons and the word OR and two artillery icons and would say AD for attack or defense. Some generals only work for attack or defense, while the best can effect both.

    Chuikov, the hero at Stalingrad would have a card with two infantry icons and have letter D in lower right corner. He can only boost 2 Infantry +2.

    The commanders would be drawn only from the available ones in that period of war.

    Commanders would be assigned to each front and limitations on numbers imposed.

    This is the new idea.

    Alternatively, it could be just a random draw each turn and only one General total.


  • Cards was what I was thinking of doing with pictures of the battles during the time

    Although I was thinking that all generals would be activated at the start of the war SU not included

    Middle Rommel would be

    Passive Power: Panzer warfare
    Rommel was a master at using his tanks in the Dessert
    For every two tanks on attack add +1 to one tank (excluding Afrika Korps general unit)

    Active Power: Cunning Escape (only used once)
    Rommel managed to make many daring escapes
    Once during a defence Rommel may after 1 round of combat retreat all or some units (must include him and his special unit) All units are subject to retreating fire from the enemy units. Roll 1 dice hitting at 1 for each unit (including rommel) any units hit are destroyed


  • Its not very KISS but it would make the game interesting and add many extra dimensions to the game.

    Also does one turn = 6 months in G40?


  • yea 6 months.

    KISS must apply or this will only be played by few.

    The unit icons convey the bonus. no special script or text and only one Rommel card ( midwar)


  • I think the card idea sounds fun but it seems a little too complicated and restrictive.  I enjoy playing axis and allies because it is a ww2 strategy game that allows you to try new strategies and see if you can change the outcome of the war.  The card idea seems like it would force commanders to be used in certain ways in order to mimic the way the war actually went.  I would like to see the commander unit have across the board rules depending on what type of unit it is tied to (air, sea, land), that way the player has more flexibility on how he uses his commanders.

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