WW2 Path to Victory - Rules Discussion

[Adam514]

@regularkid For 11 PUs, you can get 1 mech 1 tank or 1 inf 2 art (not an efficient buy already, but just to compare same PUs). Let’s compare attack defense and hit points.

Fast:
A = 5
D = 6
HP = 2

Slow:
A = 6
D = 6
HP = 3

The inefficient slow buy has more attack power and 1 more hit point than the fast buy. In a battle, slow is still significantly more efficient than fast units. Fast units compensate that with their mobility.

[wizmark]

@regularkid Whew! A 10/10 stack now costs 110 ipcs and defends at 60…it was costing 100 and defending at 50. 10 ipc equates to 1 fighter, so the similar cost of 110 ipc gives a 54 defence with 11 units…9 hits. New stack gets 10 hits first round with less units…

[wizmark]

@regularkid On attack the 10/10 stack has 50 power instead of 40…8.5 hits instead of 6.5…the extra 10 spent on a fighter would still only get to 43 in the old money…7 hits (and a bit)

[regularkid]

@wizmark but if you’re seeking to max defense under G40 rules, why would you buy a fighter instead of 1 tank + 1 mech with the 10
extra PUs, since that is the more efficient buy, and we’re trying to compare the comparative value of tanks and mechs?

[wizmark]

@regularkid true, didnt think of that… is 55 power with 12 units better than 60 power with 10? Beyond my very basic maths skills lol

[Adam514]

@wizmark Can just run the battle calculator. Should be close.

[wizmark]

@Adam514 Dur…I meant 22 units vs 20! The 22 units were far stronger on defence, 76% win but were only 43% likely to win on attack…so…who knows lol :shrug:

[regularkid]

@wizmark if u run the battle calc comparison on defense between G40 (with 11 tanks, 11 mechs) and PTV (10 tanks, 10 mechs), what you find is that the increased number of attacker casualties on the first round is less than 1. But with more units that the attacker has to kill in order to win the battle, the G40 purchase is actually much better defensively.

Below are two battle calculations. On the left is G40, with an attack of 12 inf and 12 artillery against 110 purchase of mechs and tanks. On the right is the PTV calculation for the same attack against a 110 purchase of mechs and tanks.

As you can see, the advantage goes to the G40 purchase.

[wizmark]

@regularkid Great to see it in numbers thanks! Its just I know how scary a stack of german mechs and tanks roaring through the ME in the normal game is…with the extra defence and attack…poor UK!!

[CaptainNapalm]

It seems to me the added cost of mechs will dissuade Germany from spamming 30+ mechs in their rush to Moscow. It is still a valuable unit, for the cost, but it only realizes that value when paired with tanks. So, no mech spam. Brings the unit into balance, in that you now need to buy a balance of units, rather than one type.

[simon33]

If Northern Manchuria is not a coastal territory, does that mean it has or should have guerilla fighters?

[trulpen]

@simon33 said in WW2 Path to Victory - Rules Discussion:

If Northern Manchuria is not a coastal territory, does that mean it has or should have guerilla fighters?

What I remember I was told it shouldn’t. Likely because it’s “original” japanese.

[simon33]

Then there needs to be a notes update.

[simon33]

Just to clarify, CVs can only scramble to sea zones if there are defending surface warships (why not subs?) but airbases can still scramble to otherwise empty sea zones?

[Adam514]

@simon33 Yes. Subs are useful enough as is, and scrambling planes to defend subs seems unrealistic.

[regularkid]

Hey all! We are pleased to announce Version 5.0 of WW2: Path to Victory is now available for download on TripleA. Based on playtesting and community feedback, we made the following changes to the map:

(1) Sea Zone 38 (by Malaya) is now two Sea Zones (38 and 132), as shown below;

(2) The Vital Forward Bases National Objective in the Pacific now requires control of Gilbert Islands and is reciprocal. That is, Japan can also earn plus +5 PUs by controlling Caroline Islands, Paulau, Marshall Islands, Marianas, and Gilbert Islands.

Thanks again for all of your continued support and feedback. I look forward to seeing you around the gaming table.

[simon33]

@regularkid said in WW2 Path to Victory - Rules Discussion:

(1) Sea Zone 38 (by Malaya) is now two Sea Zones (38 and 132), as shown below;

Gee, that change is huge. No longer can ships get from the FIC SZ to India. I didn’t follow any discussion on that one - did I miss it?

[regularkid]

@simon33 some players expressed concerns about Japan’s ability to project threat while maintaining a firm grip on its islands, and the related challenge the US faces of holding onto islands once taken. Splitting seazone 38 seeks to alleviate this by (1) allowing a block of at least one of the DEI islands (Sumatra); (2) compelling Japan to choose between threatening India and defending its home islands (e.g., Iwo Jima); and (3) taking some air pressure off Caroline Islands since carrier planes in sz 38 can’t reach the islands themselves.

In essence, the change prevents Japan from having its cake and eating it too.

[simon33]

Doesn’t that make an already difficult job for the Axis (unless I am playing allies) even harder?

[regularkid]

@simon33 the issue with balance is twofold. One is the relative difficulty of playing Axis vs playing Allies. And the other is the relative difficulty of playing Germany vs playing Japan. The modifications in version 5.0 seek to address the latter.