Battleplan Magazine #3

Hi everyone,

I have been enjoying using these unique units for 1942 Second Edition Tournament Rules.

Russia:
Cavalry c3/a2/d1/m2, can Blitz. Max 5 on the board at any time.
Purpose: Allows Russia some more attack power. Sometimes it is really difficult to buy tanks with the USSR’s limited income but you need still need the ability to move 2. Since they defend at 1, they won’t make the final battle for Moscow any more difficult for Germany. This unit adds some interesting attack possibilities especially if Russia has a decent air force.
HBG has some pretty sweet cavalry sculpts and they have colors that match nicely with the OOB sculpts.

Germany:
Maus Tank c8/a3/d3/m2, 2HP, can Blitz. Max 5 on the board at any time. Can only be built after Round 4. Repairs for free if it starts its turn on a friendly IC.
Purpose: Gives Germany another hard hitting unit. This one is mostly for fun and I don’t think the stats are very overpowered since I’ve put a limit of 5 on the board at any time. I also wanted to give Germany a bonus since I gave Russia Cavalry.
HBG has a Maus tank sculpt I use. I think Germany only built like 4 of these tanks irl but they’re fun to have in the game. If you prefer you can call them heavy tanks and use a sculpt of a tank that was actually produced in earnest.

US:
Marines c3/a1/d2/m1. Attacks at 2 on amphibious assaults (not supportable by artillery on amphibious assaults) Max 5 on the board at any time.
Purpose: Represent the US Marine Corps and allow Island Hopping to be a bit easier for the US player.
I used HBG’s dark green Marines for these units.

To balance these units, I also play with the “Tokyo Express” rule which gives Japanese Destroyers the ability to transport 1 Infantry. I haven’t figured out a good UK bonus which would balance well with these small tweaks.

My group also really enjoys the “free factory” House Rule, which gives each player (besides Russia, we decided the Russian extra factory does nothing but help the Axis) a free IC before the game begins with the condition that it must be placed on a territory worth exactly 1 IPC. Typically, Germany puts theirs in Libya, UK chooses either Persia or Belgian Congo, Japan places theirs on Malaya, and the US chooses Sinkiang (sometimes West Indies if the US player is wary of Japan producing on the free factory). We enjoy this rule because it keeps Africa interesting for quite a while. Sometimes the US will get to place a fighter or two in China.

As another house rule, we often give each player one tech token at the start of the game as well. Russia is typically excluded because the Axis players in the group contend that a) Russia had a dearth of scientists at the time due to purges, and b) they would rather each side only get two tech tokens, and I tend to agree with them.

That’s one of the problems with games is everybody banks there planes. My own game at least has it where u can lose planes in naval and ground when u don’t want to. If there’s a bonus plane kill u have to take one as a casualty

I m also going with you can only spend the money in the Pacific side with no ground buys going towards India or China. Figs cost 11 icps so it would take either side 2-3 turns  just to buy a plane if it went against China or India.
Same for Med. Place a token on top of money showing NO bonus money only goes P or Med. Just use a token with the letter P or M on it.

Here is a different way of playing with Fighters.
The Carrier combat value as been change to keep balance amongst themselves: attacking against defending Full Carrier.
Hope you will enjoy.
Let me know if you ever play-test it.

@Baron:

Another way to play a 1942.2 game with some elements which can simulate air-to-air combat between Fighters or against Bombers are as follow.
This House Rule keep the same principles as the opening post system:

Fighters are having dogfight against other Fighters and Bombers and not just hitting grounds targets (as casualties chosen by owner’s) acting like a shield.

That Strategic Bombers are weak and vulnerable against Fighters in air-to-air combat.

But Strategic Bombers have a heavy payload of bombs against ground targets.

There is no special phase in this HR and the dogfight in SBR is consistent with the air-to-air combat value of Fighter and Bomber units.
However, it implies a few changes on combat values and cost of these units:

FIGHTER
Attack 2
Defense 2
Move 4
Cost 7
Always hit enemy’s aircrafts first, if any available.
A Destroyer must be present to hit submarine.

Strategic Bombing Raid Escort and Interception
Attack 2
Defense 2

STRATEGIC BOMBER
Attack 4
Defense 1
Move 6
Cost 12 (Optional: reduced to 10 IPCs)
A Destroyer must be present to hit submarine.
Can make a Strategic Bombing Raid against Industrial Complex.
OPTIONAL: Every time on attack a “1” is rolled, then an enemy’s plane (either Fighter or Bomber) must be taken as casualty.

**Strategic Bombing Raid Escort and Interception
Attack 1

Damage on IC: 1D6+2**

1942.2 FLEET CARRIER
Attack 0
Defense 3
Move 2
Cost 14
Hit: 2 hits
Carry 3 planes (Fighters)
Damaged Carrier can still carry 1 plane.
Carriers are repaired at the beginning of the Power’s turn (Purchase and repair damage phase),
unlike Battleship which are repaired at the end the player’s turn (Placement phase).

ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY
Attack 0
Defense 0
Move NCM1
Cost 4
1 hit
Up to 3 preemptive defense @1 against up to 3 planes, whichever the lesser,(as OOB AAA) and
fire regular defense @1 against up to 1 plane on the following combat rounds.
Stop any blitz, but cannot defend itself against enemy’s ground units.

Additional units are added:

For every 2 Fighter units, you can add on the board 1 new Fighter unit.
USSR gets 1 additional Fighter unit. (1 Fg is put in Russia.)
UK gets 2 additional Fighter units. (1 Fg is put on Carrier, 1 Fighter is put in UK.)
USA gets 3 additional Fighter units.  (1 Fg is put on Carrier, 1 Fg is put in Western USA and 1 is put in Eastern USA.)
Optional: You can add an AAA in China instead of a Fighter in Eastern USA.

Germany gets 3 additional Fighter units. (1 Fg is put in Northwestern Europe, 1 Fg is put in Germany, 1 Fg is put in Polland)
Japan gets 3 additional Fighter units. (2 Fgs are put on each Carriers, and 1 Fg is put in Manchuria.)

Technology Rules:
Technology is done the same as AA50, however there are now four technology trees, land, air, naval and production; and you now pick the technology once you have a breakthrough. Each of these trees is split into three tiers. The first two technologies of each tree belong to tier one. The second two belong to tier two. The third set of two belong to tier three. On a successful role, you can choose the technology you want from any technology tier you have available to you. To start, only tier one is available; you can choose between the first 8 technologies (radar, rockets, heavy artillery, marines, long lance torpedoes, super submarines, war bonds, improved factory production). Once you have a tier one technology, you unlock tier two from that technology tree only. In order to unlock a tier three, you must have at least one tier two technology from another tree. So, once you have at least two tier one techs (radar and marines for example) and two tier two techs (jet fighters and reinforced concrete for example) both land AND air tier threes has been unlocked. From there you would just need one tier one and one tier two from the naval tree (for example) to unlock the naval tier three. You may, of course, acquire all techs on the board so long as you roll successfully and the respected tiers are unlocked.

Air Technology

1. Radar
All your AA guns now hit on a 2 or (including AA Cruisers). Fighters in a territory with an operational airbase may scramble to intercept strategic bombardment attacks against facilities in any adjacent territory, following the standard interceptor rules. Your shore batteries now hit on a 2 or less. Your AA guns may now defend against rockets in the territory that is targeted by the rockets and where the rockets ‘fly over’ your AA guns (including AA cruisers).

1. Long-Range Aircraft
All your aircraft have their range increased by 1.

2. Rocket Projectiles
Your tactical bombers may choose its targets twice. Each tactical bomber can choose its target in the first and second round of combat.
    Ammo chips: http://www.mediafire.com/?9k512hkknsh66ss

2. Rockets
Your AA guns are now rocket launchers. In addition to its normal combat function, during the strategic bombing raid step of your Conduct Combat phase each turn, each of your AA guns can make a single rocket attack against an enemy facility within 3 spaces of it. This attack does 1D6 damage to that facility. All AA guns that can fire, may fire. Only one shot per AA gun. And each facility may only be the target of one rocket attack per turn.

3. Jet Fighters
The attack value of your fighters is now 4 instead of 3. The attack value of your escorts is raised from 1 to 2. The defense value of you interceptors is raised from 2 to 3.

3. Heavy Bombers
Your strategic bombers now roll 2 dice when you attack or make a strategic bombing raid, choose the better roll. Each bomber rolls separately. Heavy bombers still only roll one dice when defending.

Land Technology
1. Heavy Artillery
Each of your artillery units can support two infantry instead of 1 per attack. Two infantry, when coupled with one artillery, have an attack value of 2.

1. Marines
Your infantry attack at a 2 (3 when paired with artillery) during the first round of amphibious assaults only.

2. Improved Mechanized Infantry
Mechanized infantry attack at 2 or less when paired with a tank.

2. Reinforced Concrete
Your bunkers and block houses each gain 1 hit point. Your blockhouses’ guns cease to fire on the fourth damage marker rather than the third.

3. Conscription
You may place one infantry, for free, in any one territory that you have owned since the beginning of your turn.

3. Heavy Tanks
Each of your tank units can support two mechanical infantry instead of 1 per attack. Two mechanical infantry when coupled with one tank have an attack value of 2. In addition, every third tank attacks/defends at a 4.

Naval Technology
1. Long Lance Torpedoes
During the first cycle of combat only, your destroyers attack and defend on a 3. In succeeding cycles of combat, your destroyers fire as normal.

1. Super Submarines
Your submarines attack at a 3 now instead of a two, but they still only defend at a 1.

2. Combined Bombardment
Your destroyers now can conduct bombardment during an amphibious assault. (Their attack is 2.)

2. Heavy Carriers
Your carriers now have a 3 plane capacity.

3. AA Cruisers
Your defending cruiser(s) gets one AA roll against each enemy attacking plane, hitting at 1 (2 with radar tech) prior to the first round of combat. Each plane that is hit is removed before shooting back. Only one AA roll per combat, regardless of how many cruisers present. Same rules as AA guns.

3. Dreadnoughts
Your battleships have a first-strike capability (both attack and defense qualify). This capability is for the first round only. Any casualties are destroyed and removed from play with no chance to counter-attack (it does not disrupt the special ability of a submarine, but rather fires at the same time). In addition, your battleships now roll two dice during the coastal bombardment step of an amphibious assault, you may choose the best roll. Each battleship rolls separately. Casualties may still return fire.

Production Technology
1. War Bonds
Collect 1D6 extra IPCs during collect income phase.

1. Improved Factory Production
Your factories may produce one and two extra units respectively. Additionally, the cost to repair your factories is halved rounded up.

2. Mobile Industry
Your minor industrial complexes each may move one territory during your noncombat move phase. They cannot move during the combat move phase. If they are captured by an opponent, that opponent cannot move them without this tech. You cannot produce units from a factory on the turn it has moved. Subterranean industry cannot be moved.

2. Household Industrialization
Penalties to factory output by damage reduced by half, rounded up. i.e. A major industry, with 7 damage done to it, will still be able to produce 6 units.

3. Subterranean Industry
You may purchase/upgrade subterranean industry. Damage taken from strategic bombing raids is halved, rounded up. Subterranean industries cannot be moved. On the turn it is upgraded, an industry can only produce units equal to the amount it would have been able to produce prior to its upgrade. i.e. if a minor complex is upgraded to a major complex, that complex may only produce 3 units during your mobilization phase.
Cost is as follows:
Minor sub: 15 Upgrade minor to sub minor: 6 Upgrade minor sub to major sub: 25
Major sub: 38 Upgrade major to sub major: 15 Upgrade minor to sub major: 30

3. Improved Shipyards
Your sea units are now cheaper to build. Use these revised costs:
Battleship: 17 Cruiser: 10 Transport: 6
Aircraft Carrier: 11 Destroyer: 7 Submarine: 5

The National Objectives
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=21079.0

Edit: changed the Air tech tree for better historical accuracy and playability
Edit: replaced heavy payload with Rocket Projectiles. Moved heavy payload into the
      rules section.
Edit: added link to ammo markers for projectile rockets.
      http://www.mediafire.com/?9k512hkknsh66ss
Edit: heavy bombers and dreadnoughts.

The new map is an uneasy compromise, with some tts values reflecting oil wealth, others not.

Personally I prefer adding industrial base and mineral resources together to create a single economic index, but the separate oil values have been tried:

http://www.basesproduced.com/aaa.html

The big problem is that the Allies always have more than enough oil, the Axis hardly ever enough.  Forcing the Axis to take oil centres to keep going makes their moves very predictable.

I’ve changed my chart in accordance with the game pieces Field Marshal Games will be coming out with.

BREAKTHROUGH CHART 3

1. Atomic Bomb
You may build 1 Atomic Bomb per tern for a cost of 10 IPCs.  Only 1 Atomic Bomb may exist on the board at one time.  It can be captured.  It may be carried by a bomber or rocket.  An Atomic Bomb dropped on any territory destroys all units (including factories) in that territory.  Place 1 damage counter on that territory’s IPC value.  That territory now produces 1 IPC less,(applies to factory production).  When territory damage is equal to the territory’s value, remove counters and place 1 upside-down damage counter (the side that does not say “damage”) over the National Control Symbol.  This territory is now Impassable.

2. Super Carriers
Your carriers may now carry up to 3 fighters.  They can now take 1 free hit that can be healed at the end of the battle.

3. Underground Factories
Your factories now take half the damage from Strategic Bombing Raids, rounded down.

4. Combined Bombardment
Your surface combat ships can now fire in the first round of an amphibious assault, in addition to the Opening Fire stage.  Ships are vulnerable to enemy fire during the first round of combat.

5. Naval Night Fighting Skills
Your surface combat ships now fire twice in the first round of sea combat.

6. Stealth 
You accidentally discover stealth technology.  Your planes are no longer effected by enemy radar upgrade.

Ok I’ll make it more precise.

I am touching up the the player aids atm.