Thanks for the thoughtful questions -Argothair.
Since this is probably the first time this has been considered, there will be some kinks to be ironed out.
This is not for Newbies and Rookies.
If you have a player spending 15 minutes and doing basic math to figure out the buy … not for him.
It’s meant for experienced players that know the flow of the game and can make solid decisions in a timely manner.
Also, we assume players show up on time… otherwise you adjust the time accordingly.
It is a handicapping System… so… if the player knows he will take a longer time… play Allies.
Ultimately, it’s the Axis game to lose.
The onus is on them to bid correctly to try to win…
It need not be all the 6 or 8 VCs… but usually by end of Turn 7… early Turn 8…one can see the direction of the game.
Problem is that most games are not getting to Round 8
Also… yeah… the Emergencies etc will come.
Then pause the clock if you plan to resume.
If the player wants to reset the Battleboard, that is on his time.
Once ALL combats have been declared… then the Clock STOPS … till all the Combats are resolved.
And as you know… once Combat phase starts… you cannot add or remove new units.
The moment Combats are done… the Clock Re-Starts immediately.
Your suggestion of 100 combats taking 1-2 hours is correct.
That is taken into account.
So to take a common example of how it can be played…
Everyone gets there at 9am. Sets up board… about 30-40 mins
Start 9:40 am
Pause for lunch at 1:10pm
So far 3.5 hours gone by… usually 2.5 turns done.
Resume 1:40 pm… Break for 5 mins about 4:40pm (3 more hours played)… Usually 2 more rounds done… (4.5 turns done)
Resume 4:45pm to 6:45 pm … 2 more hours of play… 1.5 turns additionally done… so 6 Turns done
Break for dinner… 30 mins
Restart 7:15 pm… till 8:45 pm … 1 more Turn done … 7 Turns
5 min break…
Resume 8:50 … till 10 pm… 1 more Turn done … 8 Turns
Play time will be 3.5+3+2+1.5+1 = 11 hours
Let’s say for practical purposes… it’s 10 hours
And we do 7 turns… get into 8 … usually 4/5 times you will be able to see who is winning.
Lastly… given 11 hours of Play Clock time that is divided up…
the Axis with less time will have to play faster from the get go to get a solid win.
They have the incentive to literally be Clock-Nazis smiles
As per my previous topic… Colored Dice will help in speeding up Combat…
Combination of both these precepts -Colored Dice and Time Handicap in Bidding process… experienced players will find it more fun…
than say after 5 Turns… nothing conclusive achieved… say… it’s 9:30 pm… gotta go… nice game…
Thank you for wasting a whole day for nothing…