@Black_Elk:
Shifting gears back to 1942.2 for a moment. Since we are doing House Rule objectives for G40, I think we could also consider these for 1942.2
I would suggest that we keep Sphere of Influence and the NAP for v5, but reduce the penalty to fit with the smaller board. Something like…
Sphere of Influence Violations:
-5 ipcs from Russian income, if Western units in Soviet territories.
-5 ipcs from British income, if Soviet units in Western territories.
-5 ipcs from German income, if Japanese units in European Axis territories.
-5 ipcs from Japanese income, if European Axis units in Japanese territories.
NAP Violations:
-5 ipcs one time aggressor penalty if Japan is first to break the non aggression treaty.
-5 ipcs one time aggressor penalty if Russia is first to break the non aggression treaty.
The closest board in scale to 1942.2 (and its predecessor) is AA50, with 6 players and 18 total objectives.
In 1942.2 we have 5 players. I think this would recommend something in the range of 15 total objectives, or perhaps a dozen.
We should fold the Italian objectives into the German objectives for sure, but there are others which would also need to be adapted for a board like 1942.2. China is not a separate nation in v5 for example, but it could likewise be folded into US or Soviet objectives to suggest Chiang or Mao.
The values in AA50 can also be rather high, suggesting +5 for pretty much everything. I think some of these could probably go down in value or be somewhat more focused to match the economy and playscale of v5, which is more limited in scope.
Below is the AA50 list…
Which objectives get axed, and what do we change so it makes more sense for V5?
National Objectives Germany: Lebensraum-
+5 PUs if Axis control France, NW Europe, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Poland.
+5 PUs if Axis control 3 of Baltic States, East Poland, Ukraine, East Ukrain, and Belorussia.
+5 PUs if Axis control Karelia or Caucasus
Japan: The Greater East Asia Coprosperity Sphere-
+5 PUs if Axis control Manchuria, Kiangsu, and French Indo China.
+5 PUs if Axis control 4 of Kwangtung, East Indies, Borneo, Philippine Islands, New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
+5 PUs if Axis control 1 of Hawaiian Islands, Australia, or India
Italy: Mare Nostrum-
+5 PUs if Axis control 3 of Egypt, Trans Jordan, France, and Gibraltar
+5 PUs if Axis control Italy, Balkans, Morocco and Libya AND no enemy surface ships in sea zones 13, 14, or 15.
United States: The Arsenal of Democracy-
+5 PUs if Allies control France.
+5 PUs if Allies control Philippine Islands.
+5 PUs Allies control W U.S., Central U.S., and E U.S.
+5 PUs if Allies control 3 of Midway, Wake Island, Hawaiian Islands, and Solomon Islands.
United Kingdom: The British Empire-
+5 PUs if Allies control any territory originally controlled by Japan.
+5 PUs if Allies control E Canada, W Canada, Gibraltar, Egypt, Australia and South Africa.
+5 PUs if Allies control France or the Balkans.
Soviet Union: The Great Patriotic War-
+5 PUs if Soviets control Archangel and no allied forces in Soviet controlled territories.
+10 PUs if Allies control 3 of Norway, Finland, Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and Balkans.
China: Chinese Resistance & The Flying Tigers
+1 infantry for every two territories controlled by China at the beginning of her turn. These infantry must be place in a territory with less than three Chinese pieces. No Chinese Units, including the Chinese Fighter may leave Chinese territory (except for Kwangtung) (this means no entering sea zones)
@Baron:
For my part, I prefer a much simpler scheme without any other NOs outside these:
Sphere of Influence Violations:
-5 ipcs from Russian income, if Western units in Soviet territories.
-5 ipcs from British income, if Soviet units in Western territories.
-5 ipcs from German income, if Japanese units in European Axis territories.
-5 ipcs from Japanese income, if European Axis units in Japanese territories.
Japan NAP bonus:
+5 to Japan if follows the Non-Agression Pact
-5 ipcs one time aggressor penalty if Japan is first to break the non aggression treaty.
Russia get no bonus (outside keeping intact all Eastern TTs and VCs)
But suffer no penalty from breaking it.
However, Japan bonus would remain active for all the rest of the game.
No complex things to learn and only a NAP which is beneficial to Russia and Japan.
This would be another incentive to go west for Japan, without compromising the Center Crush strategy.
Once this said, with option toggle switch on/off, it is still an opportunity to test NOs as a viable concept for 1942.2
However, VCs will already play a part in strategy.
I think that it must be as simple as 1 or 2 max per 5 powers, so 5 or 10 NOs at most.
For Germany, I would use a kind of Atlantic Wall for Europe and Mare Nostrum in Med.
Atlantic Wall (Fortress Europa):
+5 PUs as long as these Axis TTy were never conquered by Allies: Norway, NorthWestern Europe and France.
Once Allies take this once, no more bonus.
Mare Nostrum:
+3 PUs If all TTy bordering Med are Axis Controlled: Gibraltar, France, Italy, Southern Europe, Trans-Jordan, Egypt, Lybia, Tunisia and Morocco.
For Russia, it is difficult because VCs (with Warchest might incorporate most of Lend-Lease NOs).
If Helsinki is chosen as VCs over Archangel, then it may be possible to use:
Soviet Union: Arctic Convoy route
+5 PUs if Soviets control Archangel and no axis warship in bordering SZ 4.
United Kingdom: The British Empire western colonial resources
+5 PUs if No Axis warship in Atlantic SZ (excluding SZ5 and SZ6) and Gibraltar is an Allies TTy.
United Kingdom: The British Empire eastern colonial resources
+5 PUs if No Axis warship in SZ28, SZ33, SZ34 and SZ35 (African East Coast+ India SZ) and Suez Canal is open (Egypt and Trans-Jordan are allied TT).
Japan: Outer defence perimeter:
+5 PUs if Japan control Hawaiian Islands, Midway, Wake and Solomon Islands
Japan: The Greater East Asia Coprosperity Sphere-
+5 PUs if Japan control Manchuria, Kiangsu, French Indo-China, Kwantung and Burma.
+5 PUs if Japan control 1 of Eastern Australia, New Zealand or India.
(IDK which one is better for Japan)
United States: The Arsenal of Democracy-
+5 PUs for each TTy Allies control: France, Philippine Islands or Kwantung.
+1 PUs for each original Axis Pacific Island TTy owned by Allies.
Here is my first draft. 10 NOs+ NAP and Sphere of Influence Violations…