This one, I played it a few times two years ago. Not a real game breaker IMO.
But what I prefer is this dedicated Fighter combined with Tactial Bomber (from Global) in a 1942.2 setting.
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=34224.msg1317032#msg1317032
(Also developped, for the first time in this thread: http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=33334.msg1268768#msg1268768)
Where bombers (both StB and TcB) are hitting ground units first (as usual) while Fighters hit any aircraft first, then other units available.
In Naval Combat, cheap Fighter A1 first strike D2 M4 (7 IPCs) have a lesser combat value than Destroyers A2 D2 M2 Anti-Sub (8 IPCs) and are most often used as fodder than before (at 10 IPCs). As it should IMO.
I just find this order of casualty more consistent with my view of WWII Naval battle in PTO where many planes were lost against each other fleets while there was less direct combat between warships.
Also, Tactical Bomber A3-4 D3-4 M4 (at 10 IPCs) (getting @4 when paired to a Fg or when there is no enemy’s plane) or even Strategic Bomber A4 D1 M6 (12 IPCs) are more valuable and, after the first rounds, DDs becomes the next main casualties.
However, surviving Fgs on 1 side becomes precious because any hit override the regular casualty order and pass by Destroyer to get to these bombers (with high attack value), making them more vulnerable.
It gives really the feel of aerial battle without adding any special phase (except letting attacking Fgs roll preemptive strike @1). :-)
Played this twice till now and hope to do more to get a wider perspective.
For sure, I won’t return to ordinary Fighter unit A3 D4 M4 C10 making only regular rolls, unless I found a real balance issue.
I should add it was funny to fully load each sculpt of Fleet Carrier with 2 Fgs and 1 TcB.
Look is great but it gives also more range than simply empty, half full, full. Now their is much more variability to load carriers according to strategy or casualty of war.
Empty, one third (1TcB or 1 Fg) , 2 third (1 TcB & 1 Fg or 2 Fgs), full (2 TcBs or 1TcB & 2 Fgs or 3 Fgs).
On SBR, our group agree to do same as OOB 1942.2 but StB A1 unescorted by Fg, damage are D6+2.
Till now, there was no big StBs Raid of many units. So I can just tell that most of the time players buy only a few StBs or having more important targets for them than ICs, even if the damage are as high as in G40.
1942.2 SBR House Rules :
1 StB doing SBR without interceptor, damage 1D6+2
Sum: + 4.583 - 2 = +2.583 IPCs damage/SBR run
1 StB A1 regular vs 1 Fg D2
Sum: + 4.723 - 5.333 = - 0.61 IPC. damage/SBR run
1 StB A1 regular doing SBR against 2 intercepting Fgs D2
Sum: +3.704 - 7.556 = - 3.852 IPCs damage/SBR run
1 StB & 1 Fg A1 first strike (due to combined arms with Fg escort) doing SBR against 2 intercepting Fgs D2
Sum: + 7.554 - 7.564 = - 0.01 IPC damage/SBR run
2 StBs A1 regular doing SBR against 2 intercepting Fgs D2
Sum: +9.445 - 10.667 = - 1.222 IPCs damage/SBR run
1 StB & 1 Fg A1 first strike (due to combined arms with Fg escort) doing SBR against 1 intercepting Fg D2
Sum: + 7.639 - 5.159 = + 2.48 IPCs damage/SBR run
2 StBs A1 regular doing SBR against 1 intercepting Fg D2
Sum: +10.639 - 7.334 = + 3.304 IPCs damage/SBR run
I forgot to add that because Fgs were 3 IPCs cheaper, I reduced the cost of Anti-Air Artillery to 3 IPCs.
Germany bought 2 or 3 of them (since it was at the same price as Inf) but never hit anything (against planes) and finished as fodder to protect Infantry rolling @2 on defense.
Cheaper fighter were less dramatic to lose and cheap AAA weren’t game changer either.
Retrospectively, it would have been better for Germany to buy Infantry instead.