AARHE: National Units (Phase 1)

So this is what I tried in place of bids.
Each power,in the same order as play so Germany 1st France last,gets to relocate 1 starting unit (with the exception of ICs and capital ships)to a place only where they already have another starting unit.
  For example:Russia can start a tank in amur instead of moscow.
                    Germany starts  cruiser in sz113.
                  Italy moves dd from sz96 to 97
                    Us puts a 2nd fig in Phillipines
I think its gives allies a better chance b/c they start with more units out of position and they would ,for the most part, make their choices after axis.

Based on your feedback, I’ve made a couple of tweaks to the variant. The most recent version is attached for play testing.

Changes from the original version are indicated by underscoring:

Revised Russian National Objectives

1. Spread of Communism: Bonus for Russian control of originally Axis/Pro-Axis territories is confined to mainland Europe (excluding Africa, Iraq, mid-east Islands, etc.).

2. Lend Lease: Russia receives +5 PUs, when at war with Germany/Italy, if at least one of three historical Lend-Lease lanes is “open” (i.e., the lane territory is friendly-controlled and there are no enemy warships in the corresponding sz). The Lend-Lease lanes are as follows:

a. Archangel, sz 125
b. Persia, sz 80
c. Siberia, sz 5

As in the original version of the NO, the presence of non-Russian allied units in originally Russian territory cancels out the objective.

(Hat tip to calvinhobbesliker and ItIsILeClercs for this change. I enjoyed reading up on the subject)

Other Allied National Objectives

1. Western Europe Beach Head: Allied control of at least two of the following gives USA +5 PUs if at war: Normandy, Holland, Western Germany, Denmark.

(Hat tip to The Hessian for this change)

2. Southern Europe Beach Head: Allied control of at least two of the following gives UK + 5 PUs: Southern France, Sicily, Sardinia, Greece.

3. Vital Forward Bases: Allied control of all of the following gives USA +5 PUs if at war: Wake Island, Midway, Caroline Islands, Marianas, Marshall Islands.

(Hat tip to Gencre for this change)

Air Raids

Fighters attack and defend at 2 during air raids. Strategic and tac bombers attack at 1.

Play-Testing

Over the last week, I had the chance to play test the variant a half-dozen times times, both as Allies and Axis. Some observations:

1. Axis players generally were more proactive in defending Western Europe against small-sale allied incursions.

2. In two games, Italy used its surving transport (after Taranto) to move defensive units to sicily and sardinia.

3. In all but one of the games, the changes to the Lend Lease objective effectively extended Russia’s +5 PU bonus until entry of allied units into Russia (usually by round 6 or 7). Mostly, no serious effort was made to contest the objective. However, in one game I was able to defeat it by getting a sub to sz 80 by round 4.

4. The 2 attack/defense value of fighters during air raids significantly reduced the frequency of unescorted bombing raids. Dark skies was not attempted in any of the games I played (whether due to the changes, or a coincidence, I don’t know).

5. The “Vital Forward Bases” objective encouraged “island-hopping,” as well as early naval engagement in the central-pacific, which was fun.

Thanks again for ur feedback guys. Am curious to hear your thoughts on the changes. Shoot me a message if you’d like to arrange a play test.

RegularkidG40BalanceVariantv5.tsvg

@oztea:

Gotta disable smileys in that post YG.  8-)

Done.

I think the plane that is in the FMG set as the transport plane could double for a light/medium bomber.

Yeah, those other Soviet planes would be cool to get.  Unfortunately, FMG’s USSR set is a while away yet – USA is next up and Britain/ANZAC are after them.  I’m pretty sure HBG won’t come out with Russians until after we find out just what is going to be in the FMG USSR set.

New Units

IPC Lend-Lease
IPCs can be converted to raw materials (represented by tokens from AA Battle of the Bulge). These tokens can be transported by transport, cargo plane, and/or mechanical infantry.  Transports and cargo planes can carry up to 10 IPC’s and mechanical infantry can carry up to 5. The raw materials can be moved to a team player as either a loan or gift (based on verbal agreement). These raw materials are produced at industrial complexes. Production of 3 raw materials at an industry only counts against 1 production cap. (E.g. A major industry could produce 30 raw materials in one turn) No IPCs can be “pirated,” they are destroyed along with the units carrying them with the exception of those that are carried over land. Mechanical infantry transporting raw materials cannot attack, but defend normally.

Pillbox
Pillboxes cost 5 IPCs (limit one per territory) and can take 2 hits before any hits have to be taken against your defending land units. Pillboxes are destroyed if territory is captured. Pillboxes can be repaired, even if fully damaged, at the cost of 1IPC per damage marker. Counts as a facility for sabotage and increased factory production technology purposes only. Cannot be strategically bombed or attacked by a rocket attack. Can be upgraded to a fortress for 10 IPCs.

Fortress
Fortresses cost 12 IPCs (limit one per territory) and replace pillboxes. They can take 4 hits before any hits have to be taken against your defending land units. Fortresses are destroyed if territory is captured. Fortresses can be repaired, even if fully damaged, at the cost of 1IPC per damage marker. Counts as a facility and has antiaircraft defense against strategic bombing runs and rocket attacks only. Defends at a 3 during all combat rounds, stops defending after 3 damage inflicted against it.

Shore Batteries
Shore Batteries cost 8 IPCs (limit one per territory) and roll 1 dice for each transport conducting an amphibious assault and each warship conducting a coastal bombardment. Hits on a 1. Movement 1.

Cargo Planes
Cargo planes may transport two infantry or one infantry and artillery or one mechanical infantry or one tank into a friendly territory. All units must start from the same location. Cargo planes cost 12 IPCs, move 6, and have an attack value of 0 (may be taken as casualties in an offensive, but must be Para dropping).

Land Mine Fields
Mine fields cost 10 IPCs (limit one per territory). Mine fields roll 1 dice for each land unit (including paratroopers) attacking the territory and hit on a 1. Destroyed if territory lost. Built directly on the territory. Territory must have been under your control since beginning of turn.

Naval Mine Fields
Naval mines cost 8 IPCs (limit one per border). Naval borders are mined instead of sea zones (white chips for Allies and grey for Axis) deployed where your cruiser present. Cruiser must not have been in combat on same round. Can be removed by opposing destroyers if destroyer has not been in combat on same round. Rolls 1 dice for each ship/sub passing through sea border. Hits on a 1.
Axis mines: http://www.mediafire.com/?tao8kieyv8i6xu9
Allied mines: http://www.mediafire.com/?kcn6osvgwx0vc5x

Spy Network Rules:

Spies (represented by infantry) cost 3 IPC’s each and are designated as either sabotage or espionage. When the spy is designated it cannot be changed. Only 1 spy per slot (espionage and sabotage).
Espionage:
To use a spy for espionage, roll 1D6, the player whom you are using the spy against then rolls 1D6, if the defending player wins nothing happens. Defender wins on a tie. If you win, see espionage below and leave the spy on the board for further use.
Sabotage:
To use a spy for sabotage, roll 1D6, the player whom you are using the spy against then rolls 1D6, if the defending player wins, the spy is captured. Remove the spy from the board. Defender wins on a tie. If you win, see sabotage below and leave the spy on the board for further use.
http://www.mediafire.com/?smq4qqddfvnqicq

Espionage
When the targeted opponent finishes its combat move phase, but before its conduct combat phase, you may make one special move. You may move any number of your units from any one adjacent space into one friendly space being attacked by that opponent. Alternatively, you may move any number of your units from a space being attacked by opponent into an adjacent friendly space, but you must leave at least one of your units behind. This special move otherwise follows the rules for a noncombat move. If your units survive, they remain in the space to which they were moved. This ability must be used on the targeted opposition’s NEXT combat move/conduct combat phases following your successful espionage role.

Sabotage
You may immediately roll 1D4 against a chosen facility owned by targeted player. That amount rolled on the die is damage done to that facility. If the chosen facility is an industrial complex, normal damage rules apply. Does not destroy pillboxes or fortresses.

Part 3 - Technology
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=21072.0

Edit: added links to Axis and Allies’ chips

No way am I opening that can of worms again!!!  :-)

I am very happy as is, just wanted a clarification.

ok lets talk about it in the setup thread

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=8697.0

so far only change is FTR (fighter) on CV (aircraft carrier) is NAV (naval fighter)

Thanks for the clarification C_F. It will definitely even the game out or even favors the Axis. Africa is much more attractive since the value essentially doubles for the Axis. The Axis can exploit the many odd IPCs territories. The Axis will catch up to the Allies economically in no time while having a superior number of units.