AA50 Rules Errata and Q+A

[gamerman01]

I was using a new odds calculator this afternoon, and for heavy bombers, it appears to incorporate the “best of the two dice” rule, so each bomber can only score one hit, and there is a 1/9 chance that a heavy bomber will miss.
I went back to the rulebook to make sure, and on page 12 for technology it says:
6. Heavy Bombers.  Your bombers are now heavy bombers.  You roll two dice for each bomber when you attack or make a SBR.  On defense, your bombers still roll only a single die.
On page 19 under “attacking units fire” it says “Roll one die for each attacking unit with an attack value.  … An attacking unit scores a hit if you roll its attack value or less.”
:-o
Now I’m wondering if we’ve all been playing wrong on PBF!  I checked the FAQ and errata and didn’t find this addressed.  I’ve seen people talk about this rule online, saying they use the best of 2 dice method (Commander Jen) or the 100% always hit method for conventional attacks.
However, it appears to me (at this time, anyway) that once again the rulebook is ambiguous!  Can one heavy bomber get two hits?  It is unambiguous in the rulebook  (page 17) that the total of two dice is added together for each heavy on SBR.  But the rulebook does not make it clear whether each heavy can get two hits, or if it just rolls two dice and if one of those is 4 or less it scores a hit.

[Krieghund]

Given the context, what is the most reasonable interpretation of “roll two dice for each bomber”?

[gamerman01]

@Krieghund:

Given the context, what is the most reasonable interpretation of “roll two dice for each bomber”?

Krieg, thanks for the timely reply!!
Given the context, it sounds like the rulebook itself is implying that each unit can only hit once, including heavy bombers.
I was asking because I wasn’t sure if there was something in the rulebook I was not considering, or if there was an interpretation of these rules from someone who knows how they were intended.
I just attacked a Japanese fleet with 3 Heavies and all 6 dice were 4 or less, so right now I wish they could each hit twice.  However, if the actual rule is supposed to be each HB each hits once, that ……  well… that would be interesting. 
In my opinion, long range aircraft would become the most powerful and most devastating surprise chart 2 tech to get…  Which is fine…  Wow, this would really change the game.  Players with heavy bombers would choose to use them to SBR a lot more often.  Unless of course interceptors are in play…  Anyway, I’m just thinking “out loud”.  Please clarify for me again - is there a rule I’m missing? 
In Classic and Revised, the OOB rules were for Heavy bombers to hit two units, right?  Now I’m going to have to go downstairs and read those Classic rules again.

[gamerman01]

OK, in my 2nd edition rules, on page 10 it says for Heavy Bombers -
“In a regular combat situation with military units as targets, roll 3 dice for each attacking heavy bomber - thus each bomber could score up to three hits”
This phrase is “extremely absent” from the AA50 rulebook.  However, nowhere in the AA50 rulebook have I found that clearly states that this rule has changed.  In other words, there’s nothing to say heavies DON’T hit 2 conventional units apiece.  I would think if this rule was intentionally changed, it would be addressed at least in the FAQ.  That’s why I find it necessary to ask here - I can’t find a definitive answer in any rulebook or FAQ or errata.  Help!

[axis_roll]

If you look at AA guns, they (one unit) can inflict more than one hit, so I would say that a Heavy Bomber rolling 2 dice can indeed inflict two hits if both dice rolls are less than “4”.

The problem with rules exceptions (like Tech) that modify the ‘base’ rules is that they are usually not as detailed as the base rules, and can lead to confusion.

I would think that applying the ‘common sense’ theory, that in the abscence of explicit rules about ‘taking the best of the two dice’ for Heavy Bombers tech, that those two dice can indeed inflict two hits.

[gamerman01]

Thanks, axis.  Omega told me he’s observed that they play that way in tournament play (heavy bombers can score 2 hits)
Sure is funny they had it crystal clear in my 2nd edition rulebook from 17 years ago, and now the waters have been muddied  :lol:

[Krieghund]

Looks like you’ve arrived at the correct answer.  I have to admit, though, that I’m a little disappointed that no one tried to prove the opposite point of view.

[gamerman01]

Here’s a nice, fat +1 for you Krieg.  200 looks a lot better than 199.
Made us work for that one, eh?  :wink:

[axis_roll]

@Krieghund:

Looks like you’ve arrived at the correct answer.  I have to admit, though, that I’m a little disappointed that no one tried to prove the opposite point of view.

I’m not surprised  :wink:

Because it’s incorrect  : :roll:

[Zhukov44]

K forgive me if this has already been answered….

If you to an amphib on a territory that only contains fighters and bombers, do the bombard shots hit the planes or can they only hit land units?

[lozmoid]

I believe that any land/air units can be chosen as casualties from shore bombardment (aside from AA Guns and ICs).

[Krieghund]

That’s correct.

[rockrobinoff]

if two AA guns belonging to different powers are in a territory, which of them fires? this would be important if one power had radar…

[Krieghund]

Either one may fire.  It’s up to the owners to decide.

[rockrobinoff]

@Krieghund:

Either one may fire.  It’s up to the owners to decide.

is that explicitly or implicitly stated anywhere in the rules?

[Krieghund]

The rules simply say that only one AA gun may fire at a time, regardless of how many there are in the territory or who controls them.  There is nothing that specifies which AA gun fires, so the choice is up to the defenders.

[rockrobinoff]

okey doke. another AA gun question.

what happens to captured and then liberated AA guns? lets say italy moves their aa gun to france, and then france is captured by america, and then france is retaken by germany, does the AA gun revert back to italian control, or does it now belong to germany?

[Krieghund]

It belongs to Germany.  Control of AA guns always transfers with control of the territory, except in one situation.

Say Germany has an AA gun in France, and the USSR captures Germany and the UK captures France.  If Italy captures France from the UK, it gets to keep it and the AA gun, since Germany’s capital is held by the enemy.  If Italy then liberates Germany, Germany gets France back, but Italy gets to keep the AA gun there.  This is the only time that a territory can change hands without any AA guns in it changing hands along with it.

[lozmoid]

Thanks Krieghund, that’s a cool in-depth answer. I always got a bit confused on the AA Gun issue. Will this one be going in the '42 FAQ?

[Krieghund]

Maybe.  It seems to get asked often enough.