I prefer the split economies to be honest. It’s not that confusing, and keeps the allies inherently on the defensive for the first few turns, because each force alone is too small to attack.
You let them all move at once and it’s going to be the death of the Axis REAL quick.
I prefer the split economies to be honest. It’s not that confusing, and keeps the allies inherently on the defensive for the first few turns, because each force alone is too small to attack.
You let them all move at once and it’s going to be the death of the Axis REAL quick.
UK already moves at once, and its the allies who struggle
Putting UK together again, and expanding ANZAC helps the Allies a little (reduce the bid), and adds more options to the Allies and Axis
If you are speaking of the 4 player variant, you must take into account all the new variables.
Allies income is split more (USA back to original OOB split economy)
Allies cannot enter original Soviet territories
UK no longer has SAfrican IC (Common Wealth Dominion)
Hello Friends
My thoughts to some of the ideas discussed here:
@Uncrustable:
3. Enhanced air units.
Fighters-cost 8 A2D2. On all hits an air unit must be chosen first(choose your own casualty applies)
-Fighters defend at 3, if there is an operational friendly airbase present
Tac bombers- cost 10 A3D3, no SBR
-Tac bombers A4D4 if there are no enemy aircraft, and atleast 1 friendly fighter is present (Air supremacy bonus)
Strat bombers -cost 12 A3D1, SBR at 1 D6
-Strat bombers attack at +1 if launched from an operation friendly airbase
-Strat bombers receive +1 to SBR die if launched from an operational friendly airbase
-No changes to range or carrier rules of any air unit.
-Only strategic bombers may SBR, only fighters may intercept/escort on SBR
Now we have 3 air units with a distinct role for each:Fighters: Cheap, strong on defense with an AB (See Battle of Britain), escort and intercept SBR
Tac bombers: Best combat air unit, needs fighters, deadly vs ground units when the skies are clear (no SBR)
Strat bombers: Long range, good on offense, SBR, needs airbase, poor defenseI see your attempt to introduce rules regarding aircombat into the game, but I don’t think they are working.
I don’t think those rules would function well. Let me explain why by first explaining the new situation at land, then at sea.
At land:
In small battles (South france in Round 1, reconquer Ukraine for the umpteenth time etc.), it’s all the same as before with cheaper and slightly weaker aircraft.
In a typical big battle (London, Moscow etc.), the defender will probably have at least 2 fighters. Let’s assume you attack with 3 Fg’s, 4 TcB’s and 2 StB’s (AFTER AAA) against 2 Fg’s, both with large ground armies. Then your fighters need 2 rounds in average to kill the enemy Fg’s so from the third round on, your TcB’s get their bonus damage. But the first two rounds are the most important and from experience, battles are decided within the first 3 rounds (fourth round is often only killing the few last survivors). So the bonus damage comes late and only when the battle is already two thirds over. And this is ignoring any TcB’s the defender may have (that would cancel the bonus) or the damage his Fg’s may have done the first two rounds. And it’s already heavily favouring the attacker (4 Fg’s, 4TcB’s against 2 Fg’s with one AAA hit on Fg)
So in those big fights, your TcB’s are fighting most of the time (if at any time) without the bonus.Also, fighters with def 3 only at airbases means that if you want to strengthen a defense with your fighters, you almost have to build an airbase. This would be the case for instance at egypt.
At sea:
Here it’s the same argument as above plus:
no airbases means fighters defend always at 2. This, the high costs for ships in general (as normal casualties) and the high costs for carriers to start with means, that fighters are the worse choice than TcB’s in my opinion.
But see for yourself (given CV at 15 IPC):
A) CV+2Fg: 4A/6D/31C
B) CV+2TcB: 6A/8D/35C
Yea, in A) the damage has to be given to aircraft (cost 8-10),
while ind B) the damage can be allocated freely to any ship or aircraft (cost 6-10 except last hits on CV/BB).
On the other side, B) is doing 33-50% more damage at only 13% higher cost. And as all ships are almost as expensive as aircraft, the “hit only aircraft”-rule is of much smaller expense than on land.All in one, I dislike the rules and would advodate the older rules:
Fighter: 2A/3D/8C (can scramble and escort)
TcB: 3A/3D/10C combined arms (tanks and fighters)And as someone mentioned the problems with TcB’s beeing to strong on CVs compared to Fg’s, I propose the following addition:
Variant I) TcB: 3A/2D/10C combined arms (fighters and tanks)(both attack and defense)
So TcB’s alone defend quite bad but still as usual if paired.
With these rules, a Fg+TcB-combo has 6A/6D/18C whereas now they are at 7A/7D/21C. This seems reasonable.
With these rules:
Fighters are good defenders and ok at attack, can scramble and escort.
Tactical bombers are great at attacking if paired with Fg’s or tanks, only mediocre if alone.So TcB’s are good and worth to build (the main criticism of OOB-rules) while the rules obey “the importance of simplicity, meaningfulness and logic” as stressed in the main post.
@Uncrustable:4. Enhance naval units
Cruisers cost reduced to 10 IPCs.
Battleships cost reduced to 18 IPCs.
Aircraft carriers cost reduced to 15 IPCs.
Transports cost reduced to 6 IPCs. When empty may move 3 spaces during noncombat move. No transport may move 4 spaces
-Transport ‘evasive maneuvers’, each transport caught undefended by an attacking warship or plane may roll 1 dice. A roll of a 1 is a successful evasive maneuver and that transport is removed from battle and placed back on the gameboard, a transport that evaded an enemy attack while undefended may not unload units until its next turn.I propose different submarines. I approve MrRobotos suggestion:
Submarines: 3A/1D/8C
This would weaken subs while underlining their attack power.
Let me explain why this is a good idea:As yet, subs are by FAR the best choice for attacks and should be part of every defending fleet as MrRoboto highlighted so nicely a few pages ago. But I don’t want to open this discussion in this post, maybe in another.
With the new subs on the other hand, destroyer, (new) cruisers and carriers would be the ships of choice for a defensive fleet while the subs remain the best attacking ships. Although not as powerful as before, everyone doubting this can start the battle calculator:
3 now subs hitting at 3 versus 4 old subs hitting at 2 (which can be simulated by 3 tanks attacking 4 infantry): the old subs would win with 57% versus 38% (5% draw).So this new rule would weaken subs in the defense (where they should never have been in the first place) while (almost) preserving their attacking power.
@Uncrustable:6. Enhanced Lend Lease. During the US or UK research and development phase the US/UK may purchase lend lease tokens for 5 IPCs each. (Place a Soviet control marker to represent each token on Wash DC for USA and London for UK) During Russia’s research and development phase they may attempt to cash in any number of these in by rolling one dice for each token. The token is destroyed on a roll of 1 or 2, delayed atleast one turn on a roll of a 3 or 4. On a roll 5 or 6 the Russian player may pick any of the following; A fighter in Amur, 2 Infantry and a mech infantry in Archangel or +10 IPCs if the allies control a series of connected territories from Persia to Russia. The territories must be under Allied control at the beginning of its turn (Soviet controll in the case of Amur and Archangel). The tokens are not redeemable if there are any non Soviet allied units in any original Soviet territory. If London or DC is overtaken by the Axis any tokens there are destroyed.
As I said before, this rule must be tweaked considerably or will break the game by making russia unbeatable.
@Uncrustable:9. Home Guard/Garrisons. (homeguard/volksturm/partisans/militia/headhunters,etc)
Anytime a land territory is attacked, one die is rolled for its Home Guard defense in addition to the dice for any units occupying it. This die is rolled for every round the battle continues. Home Guard will never roll more than 1 dice per round of combat. A Home Guard will never extend a battle (Once the defending units are destroyed the battle is over) An empty territory would roll 1 dice before falling to the enemy, in the case where 1 unit is attacking and that unit dies to the Home Guard, the territory does not change ownership. Home Guards do not stop a blitz, but if a lone tank attempts to blitz through an empty territory and the Home Guard hits, the tank fails to take the territory; it dies right there and does not proceed into the second territory. If a tank blitz is accompanied by at least 1 other tank or mechanized infantry and the Home Guard hits, then the territory is taken but one of the mobile units dies and the remaining units continue the blitz.
Home Guard die roll is determined by the IPC value of the territory.
Use the following chart to determine the Home Guard’s defense die:
0-2IPC territories - @1
3-5IPC territories - @2
6+IPC territories - @3I don’t see the point in this rule. Do you think the defender is to weak as of now?
This would make it far more dangerous (or “lucky”) to capture undefended with a single tank or infantry. Is this deliberate? Or did you just add this rule due to “style” and “realism”? Because I still think of this game as primarily a game, set in WW2 and not a historic simulation. And shouldn’t it in any case only apply to your own original territorys? Don’t see no Volkssturm to defend the ukraine.So far, see you araound
Kion
Hello Friends
My thoughts to some of the ideas discussed here:
@Uncrustable:
3. Enhanced air units.
Fighters-cost 8 A2D2. On all hits an air unit must be chosen first(choose your own casualty applies)
-Fighters defend at 3, if there is an operational friendly airbase present
Tac bombers- cost 10 A3D3, no SBR
-Tac bombers A4D4 if there are no enemy aircraft, and at least 1 friendly fighter is present (Air supremacy bonus)
Strat bombers -cost 12 A3D1, SBR at 1 D6
-Strat bombers attack at +1 if launched from an operation friendly airbase
-Strat bombers receive +1 to SBR die if launched from an operational friendly airbase
-No changes to range or carrier rules of any air unit.
-Only strategic bombers may SBR, only fighters may intercept/escort on SBR
Now we have 3 air units with a distinct role for each:Fighters: Cheap, strong on defense with an AB (See Battle of Britain), escort and intercept SBR
Tac bombers: Best combat air unit, needs fighters, deadly vs ground units when the skies are clear (no SBR)
Strat bombers: Long range, good on offense, SBR, needs airbase, poor defenseI see your attempt to introduce rules regarding aircombat into the game, but I don’t think they are working.
I don’t think those rules would function well. Let me explain why by first explaining the new situation at land, then at sea.
At land:
In small battles (South france in Round 1, reconquer Ukraine for the umpteenth time etc.), it’s all the same as before with cheaper and slightly weaker aircraft.
In a typical big battle (London, Moscow etc.), the defender will probably have at least 2 fighters. Let’s assume you attack with 3 Fg’s, 4 TcB’s and 2 StB’s (AFTER AAA) against 2 Fg’s, both with large ground armies. Then your fighters need 2 rounds in average to kill the enemy Fg’s so from the third round on, your TcB’s get their bonus damage. But the first two rounds are the most important and from experience, battles are decided within the first 3 rounds (fourth round is often only killing the few last survivors). So the bonus damage comes late and only when the battle is already two thirds over. And this is ignoring any TcB’s the defender may have (that would cancel the bonus) or the damage his Fg’s may have done the first two rounds. And it’s already heavily favouring the attacker (4 Fg’s, 4TcB’s against 2 Fg’s with one AAA hit on Fg)
So in those big fights, your TcB’s are fighting most of the time (if at any time) without the bonus.Also, fighters with def 3 only at airbases means that if you want to strengthen a defense with your fighters, you almost have to build an airbase. This would be the case for instance at egypt.
At sea:
Here it’s the same argument as above plus:
no airbases means fighters defend always at 2. This, the high costs for ships in general (as normal casualties) and the high costs for carriers to start with means, that fighters are the worse choice than TcB’s in my opinion.
But see for yourself (given CV at 15 IPC):
A) CV+2Fg: 4A/6D/31C
B) CV+2TcB: 6A/8D/35C
Yea, in A) the damage has to be given to aircraft (cost 8-10),
while ind B) the damage can be allocated freely to any ship or aircraft (cost 6-10 except last hits on CV/BB).
On the other side, B) is doing 33-50% more damage at only 13% higher cost. And as all ships are almost as expensive as aircraft, the “hit only aircraft”-rule is of much smaller expense than on land.Kion
You seems to have a concrete experience on the game overture and bring a very precise and details examination of consequence inferred from the rules.
Would you please take a look at this other version of Fg/TcB?
I’d like to see if there is the same problems in it, as you saw for the first.It is a very different version of 1940e but try to keep the same inspirational goals (bold above in Uncrustable’s quote).
Your contribution will be greatly appreciated.
Fg A3D3M4C8, on a roll of “1” destroy an enemy aircraft (owner’s choice).
When defending an AB territory, up to 3 Fgs in it gain +1D and on a roll of “1” or “2” destroy an enemy’s aircraft.
TcB A3D3M4C10, when paired 1:1 with Fg get +1 A/D (max A4D4).
It can also get +1 A/D (max A4D4) via Air Supremacy (no enemy’s aircraft present, no need of any Fg).
No more pairing bonus with Armor, because Air Supremacy bonus is enough.� Reply #25 on: Today at 05:01:12 pm �
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=32328.msg1213502#msg1213502
Excellent post KionAAA,
All in one, I dislike the rules and would advodate the older rules:
Fighter: 2A/3D/8C (can scramble and escort)
TcB: 3A/3D/10C combined arms (tanks and fighters)And as someone mentioned the problems with TcB’s beeing to strong on CVs compared to Fg’s, I propose the following addition:
Variant I) TcB: 3A/2D/10C combined arms (fighters and tanks)(both attack and defense)
I think tweaking fighters to A2/D3 (from A2/D2) would work. Remove air superiority bonus. It is closer to OOB anyhow.
On the second i really think you make fighters too powerful.
Reducing TcB strength while at the same time strengthening fighters.
I propose different submarines. I approve MrRobotos suggestion:
Submarines: 3A/1D/8C
This would weaken subs while underlining their attack power.
Let me explain why this is a good idea:As yet, subs are by FAR the best choice for attacks and should be part of every defending fleet as MrRoboto highlighted so nicely a few pages ago. But I don’t want to open this discussion in this post, maybe in another.
With the new subs on the other hand, destroyer, (new) cruisers and carriers would be the ships of choice for a defensive fleet while the subs remain the best attacking ships. Although not as powerful as before, everyone doubting this can start the battle calculator:
3 now subs hitting at 3 versus 4 old subs hitting at 2 (which can be simulated by 3 tanks attacking 4 infantry): the old subs would win with 57% versus 38% (5% draw).So this new rule would weaken subs in the defense (where they should never have been in the first place) while (almost) preserving their attacking power.
Im starting to be convinced here.
Along with the other changes it could work.
Regarding Lend Lease:
As I said before, this rule must be tweaked considerably or will break the game by making Russia unbeatable.
It was tweaked since you last were here. The odds of success was reduced.
Lend Lease would go particularly well with the 4 player variant. Considering the Allies cannot enter original Soviet land.
On Home Guard:
I don’t see the point in this rule. Do you think the defender is to weak as of now?
This would make it far more dangerous (or “lucky”) to capture undefended with a single tank or infantry. Is this deliberate? Or did you just add this rule due to “style” and “realism”? Because I still think of this game as primarily a game, set in WW2 and not a historic simulation. And shouldn’t it in any case only apply to your own original territorys? Don’t see no Volkssturm to defend the ukraine.
Quote from Variance:
Why? This is meant to stop cheesy stuff like risk-free blitzing in and back out of “empty” territories, or a single tank taking over millions of square miles of “empty” land in Northern Russia or Africa. In real life there are always some kind of a garrison or local militia groups during wartime. This rule would reflect realities like Dutch garrisons defending the DEIs (as well as these headhunter guys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exhoKS3F1Qo ). Territories with higher IPC values are more likely to hit (ie they hit on higher dice rolls) because they have more population, more cities, and would be defended more strongly with fortifications etc.
Maybe adjust it to just one roll during the first round of combat.
Some good thoughts here though…
@Cmdr:
Home Guard:
* I’d say territories worth 0 or 1 IPC are too impoverished to have an organized resistance of any worth. (besides, I think this would make people give up on playing the entire board)
* Territories worth 2-4 IPC could be 1@1
*** W. USA and C. USA (which I think are the only territories on the board worth more than 4 IPC but are not capitols) could be 1@2.
* National capitols (ie territories where you surrender your treasury if captured) could be 2@1.**
I agree with you.
This Home Guard can imply much more hindrance to slow down the game than create a more historically accurate aspect in the game.
These two criterions must be balance.
I think Cmdr Jen, you have formulated the compromise solution. :-)
Im tending to agree now aswell
except:
W. USA and C. USA (which I think are the only territories on the board worth more than 4 IPC but are not capitols) could be 1@2.
* National capitols (ie territories where you surrender your treasury if captured) could be 2@1.
These 2 together will only create confusion for no reason. Roll 1 die at 2, then 2 dice at 1. Why lol
Just go with:
2-4 IPC tts roll 1D @1
5+ IPC tts roll 1D @2
All capitals roll 1D @3
Or can just scrap it altogether.
@Uncrustable:
Im tending to agree now aswell
except:W. USA and C. USA (which I think are the only territories on the board worth more than 4 IPC but are not capitols) could be 1@2.
* National capitols (ie territories where you surrender your treasury if captured) could be 2@1.These 2 together will only create confusion for no reason. Roll 1 die at 2, then 2 dice at 1. Why lol
Just go with:
2-4 IPC tts roll 1D @1
5+ IPC tts roll 1D @2
All capitals roll 1D @3
Or can just scrap it altogether.
I’m fine with this, simpler.
Is there many occasions that a capital has no unit on it?
Is there many occasions that a capital has no unit on it?
No, but the Home Guard gets one roll regardless if the territory is empty or not.
Onto that tech chart i spoke of:
Army Doctrine (5 IPCs per token)
-Paratroopers: From Airbases. OOB, Consult Rulebook.
-Adv Artillery: Can pair 2 infantry units with 1 artillery.
-Improved Mech: Mech can blitz alone. Mech can pair with a tank for +1 attack (1:1) A Mech cannot pair with both a tank and an artillery .Infrastructure (7 IPCs per token)
-Increased Factory Production: Minor IC produces at 4, Major IC produces at 12. Repair 2 damage for each 1 IPC. Maximum damage not increase.
-Rockets: Rockets from airbases (bombing raid). One rocket attack per airbase. Range 4. Damage 1D6. Airbase must be operational. Rockets are susceptible to AA.
-Radar: AA rolls hit on a 2 or less.Naval & Aviation Technology (10 IPCs per token)
-Super Submarines: Attacking submarines hit on a 3 or less. (This obviously would need revised with A3D1C8 subs, maybe +1 to defense)
-Long Range Aircraft: +1 to range of all aircraft. Stacks with airbase bonus to +3.
-Heavy Bombers: Strategic bombers roll 2 dice when attacking or strategic bombing. Select the best result (dice does not add). LL roll = 5. (LHTR)
Tech rules:
A nation purchases tech tokens and places them in the category they wish. (And pays the proper amount)
Each turn said nation rolls for each token in all categories it has a token in.
A 6 is a breakthrough, a 1 rolled is token lost, roll to see what tech you get (within that category)
Once you get a breakthrough within a category, all other tokens in that category are removed.
A nation can never get more than 1 breakthrough in a single category per turn.
Other categories are not effected by success/failures in another category.
Unsuccessful tokens not lost, remain until that nations next turn.
Each nation begins the game with 1 token to place in a category of their choosing.
These tech rules are very straight forward and simple.
Also not too far off from OOB.
They essentially make it more worthwhile to spend on technology,
while keeping some risk both with dice and with what tech you ultimately end up with.
Russia would most likely look for advances in Army Doctrine.
UK in Infrastructure or Naval & Air Aviation.
ANZAC in Naval & Air Aviation.
USA, Germany and Japan would likely be looking at all 3 categories.
@Uncrustable:
Is there many occasions that a capital has no unit on it?
No, but the Home Guard gets one roll regardless if the territory is empty or not.
Sorry, I missed to read the post.
I thought it was only for empty territory.
Otherwise, it is adding something “invisible” with stack of units.
And are they permanently resurrectable?
That’s why I was just thinking about no army territory.
Updated OP
fighters, tacbombers, submarines, carriers updated
home gaurd updated
added enhanced technology:
Tech rules:
A nation purchases tech tokens and places them in the category they wish. (And pays the proper amount)
Each turn said nation rolls for each token in all categories it has a token in.
A 6 is a breakthrough, a 1 rolled is token lost, roll to see what tech you get (within that category)
Once you get a breakthrough within a category, all other tokens in that category are removed.
A nation can never get more than 1 breakthrough in a single category per turn.
Other categories are not effected by success/failures in another category.
Unsuccessful tokens not lost, remain until that nations next turn.
Each nation begins the game with 1 token to place in a category of their choosing.Tech categories:
Army Doctrine (5 IPCs per token)
-Paratroopers: From Airbases. OOB, Consult Rulebook.
-Adv Artillery: Can pair 2 infantry units with 1 artillery.
-Improved Mech: Mech can blitz alone. Mech can pair with a tank for +1 attack (1:1) A Mech cannot pair with both a tank and an artillery .
Infrastructure (7 IPCs per token)
-Increased Factory Production: Minor IC produces at 4, Major IC produces at 12. Repair 2 damage for each 1 IPC. Maximum damage not increase.
-Rockets: Rockets from airbases (bombing raid). One rocket attack per airbase. Range 4. Damage 1D6. Airbase must be operational. Rockets are susceptible to AA.
-Radar: AA rolls hit on a 2 or less.
Naval & Aviation Technology (10 IPCs per token)
-Super Submarines: Defending submarines hit on a 2 or less.
-Long Range Aircraft: +1 to range of all aircraft. Stacks with airbase bonus to +3.
-Heavy Bombers: Strategic bombers roll 2 dice when attacking or strategic bombing. Select the best result (dice does not add). LL roll = 5. (LHTR)
How is going down to 9 techs from the OOB 12 an “enhancement”?
How is going down to 9 techs from the OOB 12 an “enhancement”?
Yes War Bonds, Jets and Improved Shipyards need worked in.
Fixed the spelling errors in the OP.
;)
On technology, i almost think OOB is best. Just add Anniversary style tech tokens.
They can be placed in either category. 5 IPCs each.
Each turn roll for all the tokens you have in each category (roll categories separate).
A breakthrough in one category removes all the tokens you have within that category (Tokens in other category not affected).
You must pick which technology you want within that category, and hit the corresponding number.
You may not roll for more than one technology within either category on the same turn.
You may however decide on rolling for different technologies on different turns.
-e.g. your not stuck rolling for heavy bombers on turn 2 if you missed it on turn 1.
There is no limit on tech token purchases.
Germany, Japan, USA, Russia and UK each receive 1 free tech token to place in the category of their choosing on their first turn of the game.
Q: Do we really need rules for interceptors and escorts? I know it’s part of the game now, I just wonder if they are really necessary or if they just overly complicate things? (no wrong answer, just a question.)
Q: If we need rules for interceptors and escorts, wouldn’t it just be easier to say all attacking fighters/bombers are @1, all defending fighters are @2 and limit it to 1 round of battle?
As for costs I like:
Also, had a thought in another thread might work:
Improved Naval Yards:
Normal units:
Speaking of CRD, no more surface ships doing it. Submarines only, in my opinion. (goes for planes too.)
My opinions of course, I won’t be offended if you don’t like them, just let me know if you don’t like them.
Hey Jen,
I like your ideas, especially regarding submarines and convoy raiding. So now a single sub can convoy raid England for 6 points instead of having 2 or 3, or 1 sub and a number of warships.
Curious though, why no surface warships being able to convoy raid? Is this an attempt to get people to buy more subs?
Germans built BBs with the sole purpose of raiding convoys
And this makes nonsense anyhow, so all of a sudden surface ships and planes cannot attack convoys…maybe a new rule in the Geneva convention?
I really do not want (and seriously doubt anyone does) anymore auto die units
Subs and bombers at 0 defense is not a good thing, it means they don’t roll and auto die on defense when alone
It also makes 0 sense, why would subs not defend themselves ?
On intercepts and escorts, I’m not sure what your commenting in…
Are you saying get rid if OOB rules regarding fighters in SBR?
3 hit battleships, regardless of how it may or may not help in balance, would be to tedious to keep track of in F2F games
Your naval cost sytems is similar to what we have now (just reversed)
But carriers at that relative coat would be OP
I also think increasing destroyers and giving cruisers AA might be too much. Think one or the other would do
My thoughts are that if we increase the cost of submarines again, we need to give them something unique. For instance, tanks cannot blow up factories, even though it was one of their major roles in combat - we reserve that right to bombers. Technically, infantry could send in sappers and destroy manufacturing facilities as well - heck, that was a major role for Paratroopers (drop in, destroy lines of communication, take out bridges, etc) so what we are looking at really isn’t historical accuracy, what we are looking at is game play mechanics.
Right now, submarines are rarely purchased (compared to previous games.) Destroyers have twice the defense ability of any submarine and can hit air units. Unlike submarines, destroyers can block enemy movement. Really, the only utility for submarines are convoy raids.
Also, keep in mind, surface ships did no convoy raids for most of the Alpha projects so we’re not really taking anything away, we’re just not adding the extra stuff Larry tossed on at the end. Also, I don’t think giving cruisers convoy damage of 1 or 1d6 really adds anything to the game.
The other thing that does not really seem to add to game play, that I think was just thrown on at the end of the Alpha projects, rolling dice for convoy damage. Taking that off and giving submarine significantly more punch (up to 6 damage per submarine - provided the convoy zone supports that much damage) really adds some more significance to a unit that is under represented (in my opinion) currently.
Of course, we do not want them to become TOO powerful, so to counter that we say all submarine commanders always dive for deep water when under attack and therefore cannot defend themselves (defense 0, Attack 2 or 3 with technology) and we raise the price to 8 IPC.
The idea, also, is to make the fleet costs more expensive over all. Carriers went down in price, as I listed them, but I also made them weaker (1 hit to sink, defend at 1 instead of 2) since their main goal is to bring planes into combat. Battleships and destroyers are 2 IPC more expensive, but cruisers got AA Guns. The idea here is to get more cruisers on the board without losing the destroyer utilities of anti-submarine and picket ship status, as well as to drive the cost of fleets up a bit (and when you have Japan and the US making a combined 150+ IPC a round, a slightly more costly fleet isn’t to unexpected in my mind.)
And yes, a submarine or two would be sufficient to reduce a convoy zone to debris. I’m not saying surface warships, aircraft and troops did not conduct economic warfare against the enemy. But in terms of game play, I don’t think it is effective to park 5 loaded aircraft carriers off the coast of Italy to convoy raid. If they are there, odds are good, they are there to protect the transports from the Luftwaffe and are probably not out and about looking for private yachts that have been pressed into service to smuggle in oil from Jordan.
As far as aircraft go, I was thinking of going back to just SBR. Send in the bombers, if they live GREAT! roll damage, if they don’t well, sucks to be you. I don’t really have a problem with interceptors and escorts, I just think it really slows down the game because now you have to wait for interceptor orders on every SBR run (virtually…) Yes, you need to wait for scrambles for coastal naval battles, and that slows things down as well, but - at least in my games - SBRs happen way more often than naval engagements off the coast of anywhere…(short of the Sea of Japan, LA Harbor, Philippines, England or Italian coasts I don’t see scrambles being an issue.) In fact, I think it would be better to declare what units are flying Cover Air Patrol and do away with waiting for scramble orders altogether - planes are on CAP or not on CAP and the attacker knows for sure what is there.
As for strategic bombers with no defense ability: when was the last time you heard General Smith scream at his lieutenant for failing to scramble the bombers to defend the airbase against attack? If anything, they try and get the bombers in hangers or at least spread out so they are not juicy targets, but B-17s were not really known for their dogfighting abilities, right? So give the fighter ATT 2, DEF 4 and the tactical bomber ATT 4, DEF 2 and have them both be 10 IPC units. For example.
@Cmdr:
Really, the only utility for submarines are convoy raids.
This is not true. Submarines cannot be hit by air units without destroyers. This has at least 2 major ramifications. One is that once the enemy’s ships are all sunk and only air is left in the battle, submarines can work on sinking transports even if the battle is still raging. This has been significant more than once in my games.
The other is that submarines are the only ships that can approach an enemy with immense air power (like Japan) without getting ripped to shreds because it takes at least 1 destroyer for EACH ZONE that submarine(s) are in to even be attacked. Then often those destroyers can be counterattacked.
Submarines have utility beyond convoy raids, even if they cost more (same as destroyers, I think you guys are talking about?). Oh, and then, of course, there’s the surprise strike capability - and no, the enemy does NOT always have destroyers present!!
