Planes must end their movement at an airfield

I wanted to implement this house rule in GW 36 as I think it makes some sense. I’ve seen this in another games and it really add an historical flavor. It would also force one to build airbases or take friendly ones.

Rule would be something like: All planes must end their non-combat movement at a friendly airfield/base, or aircraft carrier.

Thoughts on this?

@trig Great ideas. I think this needs to be explored more.

Overall rule is that planes would have to be at the end of the turn landed at the appropriate airbase/airfield. This prevents you landing strategic bombers for example in the mountains without any kind of airbase and just flying planes anywhere on the map. That was not realistic. This would make airbases really important in the game, not just as scramble centers and a + 1 movement, but really useful. You want to get your B-29 Superfortress to the islands, the a Major Airbase you’ll have to build.

Minor airbase/airfield:
Cost 2/2

1. Can only land fighters, tac bombers and air transports
2. +1 movement aircraft
3. Allows up to 2 fighters to scramble*
4. Can be built in any terrain without penalty

*This would help in the scramble umbrella

Major Airbase/airfield : Your Class A airbase
Cost 4/4

1. Can land all planes (Designed to handle the larger bombers)
2. +1 movement aircraft
3. Allows up to 3 fighters to scramble
4. Penalties for building in rough terrain due to the size of the base
   A. Mountains, Deserts, Marshes, Jungle 6/6

Thoughts?

@gen-manstein If you have to end your turn at an airbase/field then it’s restricted to both taking off and landing. The thought is a plane, of any type, always has to end their non combat movement landed at the appropriate airbase.

If you don’t restrict the planes, then airbases are only good for the +1 movement and scramble, which is the only incentive to build them currently as written for v3.

@trig said in Planes must end their movement at an airfield:

I like your ideas. My thought would be to not give the minor airbase a +1 range, due to its lesser fuel storage facilities. (Also, a +1 range basically just ups all planes range by one.) My other though would be a scramble of one. (or none)

Perhaps a scramble of 1.

In general, whenever you force the building or use of something, you want to make sure it does not get too powerful or give too many bonuses. You are already getting the “bonus” of being able to land. Scramble and range are a lot.

I like the +1 movement, as it helps extend the range to other airbases nearby. Could try it without though.

Also, what is your cost on the major airfield? (not in terrain) And can you land at a damaged airfield? My thought would be maybe one plane, or up to a certain damage.

4/4 not in rough terrain. In rough terrain 6/6

This house rule represents an attempt on creating minor and major airbases with an optional airstrip. The thought was that in play testing airbases currently, planes tended to fly all over the map with no consequences on what type of terrain they landed in and how to restock them with fuel and ammunition. To make the game more interesting, planes now have more of a reason to always take off and land at an airbase.

HOUSE RULE

RULE: All planes must start and end their movement at an airbase if possible. If a plane cannot land at an airbase at the end of the non-combat movement phase, then it must suffer penalties.

PENALTIES (all planes):
RANGE: -1 movement
COMBAT: -1 attack, -1 defense
Carpet Bombing: -1
Strategic bombing raids: -1

MINOR AIRBASE: (HBG-ACR-330)
Cost 2/2
Inherent AA
Max damage: 6
(3 or less damage will allow a max 1 plane to land until repaired). 6 damage on airbase it cannot be used until fully repaired.

BONUS
Aircraft available to take-off and land: Fighters, Air Transports Tactical and Medium bombers only.
+1 movement aircraft leaving airbase
Scramble: Max 2 fighters unless airbase is damaged. See below.
Damaged airbase 3 or less 1 fighter scramble. 4 plus damage no scramble.
Can be built in any terrain without penalty
Can be converted to a Major Airbase for 6 IPP.

MAJOR AIRBASE : ( HBG-ACR-334)
Cost 4/4
Cost 6/6 (Mountains, Jungle, Marsh, Desert)
Inherent AA
Max damage: 8
(5 or less damage will allow a max 2 planes to land). 8 damage on airbase it cannot be used at all until fully repaired.

BONUS
Aircraft available to take-off and land: All plane types
+1 movement aircraft
Scramble: Max 3 fighters to unless damaged. See below.
Damaged airbase 5 or less, 2 fighters scramble. 5 plus damage, no scramble.
Can be converted back to a minor airbase for 3 IPP.

OPTIONAL AIRSTRIP (HBG-ACR-329)
Cost 2
Inherent AA
Max damage: 4
Damage 4 cannot be used until fully repaired, no scramble.
Can be built in any terrain.
Can be converted to a minor airbase for 4 IPP.

BONUS
Only fighters, tactical bombers may land and takeoff from an airstrip.
Scramble: Max 1 fighter
+1 movement

CAPTURED AIRBASES:
If you capture an airbase, it automatically is damaged, 3 for a minor, 5 for a major, 2 for an airstrip.

All other GW 36 v3 rules apply. Please play test and make any comments below.

@gen-manstein This could be an optional rule for Major and minor airbases, that’s all.

@gen-manstein Added in some scramble rules for damaged air bases. What you said makes sense. Thanks for the suggestion.

@delaja While I am neither a game designer or profess to be one, your post does not tell me anything I don’t already know. This “suggested” house rule was only meant to spark some interest in adding minor and major airbases to the game like ports, docks, and shipyards and using planes in a somewhat realistic fashion. The house rule was intended for someone like yourself, a “veteran game designer”, to perhaps add in things that ‘could work’ not theoretical things that might work. So if you want to add value to this post, please rewrite or add suggestions for the house rule for players out there that would like to see minor and major airbases in the game. I appreciate the feedback and encouragement though.