@Perry:
Yes, that is kind of my point: FIDA bids result in bids that gives Axis approx. the same amount of units, as in a Fullplacement bid, but in ADDITION to that , the Axis also get a handful of $$$.
Thus - the Axis is better off with FIDA bids , than with Fullplacement.
Well yeah, its better to get 16 ipc (FIDA), than 8 (full placement). Heck the more the merrier. :-D
But my argument would be more geared toward the “extra” 8 in cash
will not be the reason you win the game. I just don’t think it adds significantly to whether the Axis will win. Say a bid of 7 gives you 50/50 to win, I’d argue that a FIDA with 14 gives you essential a 50/50 shot as well. Maybe it bumps you up to 51, 52? Big deal.
Consider a Full cash bid. I’d grant someone as high as 20+ in a straight cash bid.
Why?
Cause that bid won’t help the Axis attacks G1 or J1.
Not all bids are equal to begin with.
IMO,
PAfr (or a Med trn bid) is the strongest (2-3 units to Lib)
PE is the next best with 2-3 units to Europe, and
PA is the weakest (anything bid to J)
I’d be more likely to grant 4 inf to Japan then I would 4 inf to Ger.
The cash component acts the same way, the extra cash is nice but not the difference maker in the game, since it most likely will take you 2-3 turns to get that unit into play. Example, 2 inf to Lib, 6 IPC to Ger bank. Say they buy 2 more inf, they place in G1, move to EE on G2, move to Ukr G3.
That is three turns where inf get traded and nickled and dimed on multiple fronts, SBRs happen, etc.
There is so much that happens over the course of 2-3 rds that by the time they reach the front they might not be as valuable as they would have been if you could have just placed the extra inf on Ukr to start the game.
I’d grant a FIDA bid up to 15-16 before I’d grant a 9 Full placement bid.
Which is what I mean by artifically inflates bids. Why have people bidding 15, 16, 17 when all they need is 7-9.
As, I said I’d gladly take more but one of the biggest complaints about Classic was you needed to bid 22+ to have a shot, and I thought Revised was supposed to be more “balance”, so why start introducing bids that approach Classic levels (15-16+).
It might be neat for a change of pace game or try new things to spice things up just like a declared bid game where you get higher bids cause people want to see what it is like to play Ger with an extra bom (15) or maybe 1 ftr, 1 inf (13), etc.
But if you’re looking for the lowest bids needed to get a relatively even game Full Placement will get you there with the least amount of altering the initial game.
