For info we played twice with this rule and the result is 1/1 … mmm …  
Maybe it’s because we are not much experienced and we donno how to play the allies the best way as all newbies?

Anyway this “Rounded IPCs” option rule seems to balance the game and we’ll keep on testing it! If it comes around 50/50 on the long run = Perfect … But if it comes around 55/45 for the allies (with better allies moves by more experienced players) = Let’s say it’s a more historical tendency and I feel like it’s normal for the Axis player to be the underdog trying the challenge to change history!

And maybe the point is that as a frenchman I’m not too much fan of the Axis … Ha Ha!

TY for all Baron!

So we’ll try to play the normal BB rule again when possible!

But we are bad boys and not only we keep on playing our AAA unlimited shooting home rule but we forbid the ICs to defend itself. They need a AAA to shoot at the bombers in case of strategic Bombing (while still can’t shoot at the escort fighters in this case)! In the case of Karelia’s IC starting with no AAA: There is a fighter here that can Intercept plus Russia can buy a AAA later! This rule is also for the players who like to build no-historical ICs in South Africa or China to think more about their protection against Strategic Bombing > So buying AAA too! Then AAA is not a “garbage unit” anymore!

@Baron:

Do you really need to lower down Germany?

Going with OOB for Germany and Japan let’s Axis player planned their purchase as usual.
There is already a good bid for Allies. Especially for Russia (any ground units at the centre is a bliss) and UK (+10) is far more able to rise India defense with another Fg traveling through Russia.

It was not to lower Germany: The thema was also to ROUND all numbers for a fast set up also helping the Allies
So it goes: ALLIES = 30+40+50 IPCs and AXIS = 40+30 IPCs
And remember it’s ONLY the income of the first round! Then after their incomes are back to the normal territory points.

Hence a +25 for the Allies
OK It’s just a try and maybe you’re right saying it’s helping too much the allies but I would be curious to see the balance on the long run …
… Knowing that it’s not exactly a Bid of 25 because the +25 reinforcements arrive later: They are not on the board at the start!

@Baron:

…
3 will lost against 2 Carriers and 4 Fighters (15% vs 85%)
…
Use Subs, you will cut them into pieces.
…

1. I respect your experience but our (certainly shorter) is that now our naval battles are more “natural” with this rule!
2. Can you please tell me were you find those 15% vs 85%? I find a much shorter difference between those two plus another question:
3. If 3xBB vs 2xAC + 4F >  If the 3xBBs roll 2 hits in average return shoot: What do you sacrifice? 2F? 1F+1AC? 2AC?
4. How subs? Remember the subs hit only 33%! Even 6 subs attacking 3xBB will only average sink 1 before all dying if I’m not wrong!?

… ???

To be hit twice for each BB is normal but my problem is when they are together: Those 2 or 3 hits “screens” are too much don’t you think so?

@Midnight_Reaper:

@GGleize:

We think also about each player to receive a ROUNDED number of IPC’s as their starting money:

Russia 30 (+6)
England 40 (+10)
USA 50 (+8)

That is Allies +24

Germany 40 (-1)
Japan 30 (0)

That is Axis -1

Only for the start: After they receive their normal incomes.
Just another Idea … Simple / Fast / Stronger Allies.

I like this idea a lot. It sort of would be a built-in bid, but it’s done in a slick way.

-Midnight_Reaper

TY Reaper
For sure we have to test and test it again to see the influence of this house rule on the balance.
Obviously it may help the allies … But witch way? I suppose less than a 25 classical bid because here the allies can only spend those extra IPCs a the stat of their turn so use the new units later! But it may immediately help:

• Russia in instant defense and futur attacks … ?
• Help England only in defense of India (because Germany will play before in Atlantic) and futur rebuilt of a fleet … ?
• and help USA in both Atlantic (destroyers & transports) and Pacific (reinforcement of the fleet) … ?

@SS:

@GGleize:

Hello,

The only two rules changes we are still using after several battles because useful and no disadvantages noticed yet are:

1. The BB needs 2 hits to be destroyed but IN A ROW - So if the defender decides to take a damage on a BB > The very next hit (if any) during the battle must be one this same BB. This to avoid the 2 or 3 BB “damage shield” of 2 or 3 hits at the start of the battle. Notice that this do no weaken the big advantage of each BB to bring +1 hit point to the battle.  And for example 2xBB + 2xDD will still bring 6 targets to be destroyed by the enemy instead of 4.

Wonder where this rule came from ? I know I mention giving the 1 hit battleship the second hit right away in a earlier post to you.

2. The AAA can shoot on ALL PLANES over their territory (not only 3). This to make them more attractive and have some player buy them once a century lol. Yes we know: The normal 3 planes shoot limitation was supposed to encourage the players to buy more of them to shoot at more than 3 planes but we discovered that this official rule resulted in a pervert opposite result: The players didn’t want to buy a weapon not only limited in 3 shoots max but with dice result of 1 only and no strategic bomber target possible either!

We don’t pretend to keep those rules definitively but for the moment we love them and they are useful.

This plus the “USA FIRST WITH NO MOVE” option rule we keep on testing to balance the game.

WOW! Really? I didn’t get it seriously! Respect to you so. This is a house rule from us. It came from several battles were a player could joint 3 BBs (for example 2 already owned +1 bought > This being 60IPCs value) inside a big fleet and take a big advantage on an opposite big fleet with 2xACs with 4 Fighters as main ships instead (68IPCs) because of the huge advantage of the 3 FREE HITS (3 damages) taken by the 3 BBs at the start of the battle! This being opposite to history too.

@Baron:

Nice AAA paradox.
So, besides 1 AAA no need to stack more in a given TT.
Did players spread them?
Stronger or cheaper, this is two ways to improve them.

For sure there is no use to stack them up!
But the main effect of our rule was not to buy new ones and spread them but to rebuy them immediatly if destroyed in a battle (witch my players never did before)!

We think also about each player to receive a ROUNDED number of IPC’s as their starting money:

Russia 30 (+6)
England 40 (+10)
USA 50 (+8)

That is Allies +24

Germany 40 (-1)
Japan 30 (0)

That is Axis -1

Only for the start: After they receive their normal incomes.
Just another Idea … Simple / Fast / Stronger Allies.

Hello,

The only two rules changes we are still using after several battles because useful and no disadvantages noticed yet are:

1. The BB needs 2 hits to be destroyed but IN A ROW - So if the defender decides to take a damage on a BB > The very next hit (if any) during the battle must be one this same BB. This to avoid the 2 or 3 BB “damage shield” of 2 or 3 hits at the start of the battle. Notice that this do no weaken the big advantage of each BB to bring +1 hit point to the battle.  And for example 2xBB + 2xDD will still bring 6 targets to be destroyed by the enemy instead of 4.

2. The AAA can shoot on ALL PLANES over their territory (not only 3). This to make them more attractive and have some player buy them once a century lol. Yes we know: The normal 3 planes shoot limitation was supposed to encourage the players to buy more of them to shoot at more than 3 planes but we discovered that this official rule resulted in a pervert opposite result: The players didn’t want to buy a weapon not only limited in 3 shoots max but with dice result of 1 only and no strategic bomber target possible either!

We don’t pretend to keep those rules definitively but for the moment we love them and they are useful.

This plus the “USA FIRST WITH NO MOVE” option rule we keep on testing to balance the game.

I promise we try hard - But we all know that de variation of the dice is an important factor too and we must all wait and try again and again before early conclusions!
Did you guys try this “America First” option? I promise it’s a rude feeling for the axis (mostly the Japanese)!
Let’s keep on looking for the ultimate balanced A&A set-up!