@Der:
Sorry but it seems very complicated to me - you lost me about halfway down the page….simplicity is one of the main traits of this game.
The last post about what I tried to develop before you start your tread is not so important. :wink:
I tried to develop a fair rule which assign a singular target to every single interceptor. So even bombers can be targetted not just Fgts escorting. All the rest is technicallity… So I have the same intention as you in your initial post.
A) Global 1940 OOB SBR rules are almost no Bomber casuality and all Fgt destroyer when escorted.
For example: 3 interceptors against 2 Bombers & 2 Fgts escort mean all rolls to take down the Fgt first.
So 2 rolls “1” means 2 Fgts down and “2” for nothing. Rest: 2 SBR on IC and 0 Fgt.
B) Your SBR was far more Bomber destroyers and no Fgt even escorted: all escorts get a chance to hit a Bomber on a roll of 1 or 2.
Example : 3 interceptors against 2 Bombers & 2 Fgts escort mean all rolls to take down the StrB first.
So 2 rolls at “1” means 2 StrB down and the “2” for 1 Fgt down. Rest: No SBR on IC and 1 Fgt.
C) My initial SBR rule revised was allowing almost to 1, seldom 2, chance to hit a Bomber during SBR but still remains an escorting Fgt destroyer as OOB 1940.
For example: 3 interceptors against 2 Bombers & 2 Fgt escort mean no roll to take down the 2 Bombers unless one of the 2 Fgts was hit twice.
So 2 lucky rolls “1” and 1 at “2” means � 2 Fgt down and the last “2” can be a hit, if it was the case, then 1 StrB is down because of 2 hits cannot be allocated on the same Fgt so it pass to a StrB.
Even if the “2” was a miss, if the same Fgt was hit twice then, it is 1Fgt and 1 StrB down.
Rest: 1 SBR on IC and 0 Fgt worse scenario / 2 SBR on IC and 0 Fgt best scenario / 1SBR and 1 Fgt middle scenario.
D) Now, the new one SBR rule based on your ideas give all interceptors 1 chance/D6 to hit a Bomber on roll of 1 but it is not automatic destruction on a roll of “1”. It gives a second chance to the Bomber. It can be hit twice before being destroyed. And even though give some other tactical options to the attacking player doing the SBR.
For example: 3 interceptors against 2 Fgts escorting 2 Bombers mean 3 rolls to take down Bombers or Fgt.
So 2 lucky rolls “1” and a “2” means 1 StrB down and 1 Fgt down / or 2 StrB damaged going home and 1 Fgt down.
Rest: 1 SBR on IC and 1 Fgt  / or No SBR and 1 Fgt but still have 2 StrB for next turn.
It means option D is less a killer but can still negate a SBR on a IC and destroy StrB or Fgt.
In this manner, the D option is more dangerous to bomber than A & C but not as much than option B.
The D version is simpler for allocating the hits (“1” for Bombers / “2” for Fgts).
It is more respectful of the attacking and defending value than
A OOB1940 (all @1) and
B (only interceptor@2) or
C (Fgt1@2/2 Fgt, others @1)
when compared to standards in normal combat situation: Fgt A3D4 or TcB A3D3 and StrB A4D1.
It is the other post (version D) that I want your comments because it is base on your ideas:
Here is my proposal:
All the stages are similar as the original post.
Jet fighter A@2 & D@3
Fgt Interceptor @2
Bombers (StrB and TcB) @1
Fighter escort @1 +1 if paired with 1 TcB or Fgt. ***
So 1 pair of Fgts: 1@2 and the other 1@1.
When interceptors rolls “2” they hit the escorting fighters.
When interceptors rolls “1” they hit the bombers (TcB and StrB).
The novelty is here to discuss:
Give StrBomber in SBR only, can take a hit before being destroy.
But if receive this hit, the StrB can not do bombing and must turn back home.
Damaged StrB are repaired at the end of turn like BB in 1942.1&.2
Ex.: So 3 StrB can endure 3 hits without being destroy but they can not bomb IC.
In the same situation another player can decide to destroy 1 StrB, and proceed with one Bomber to attack the IC and keep the other damaged bomber, which can do no arm to the defender.
In case of a mixed group of StrB and TcB, it is the attacking player as usual which decides casualty: destroying a TcB or taking a hit on a StrB forcing it to turn back home.
Finally, keep the damage on IC and NB,AB as 1D6+2 for a StrB and 1D6 for TcB.
But to promote more airbattle with interceptors, when a SBR get a free ride without interceptors:
the bombing damage get fiercer: 2D6 keep the better and add +2. (As it was a heavy bomber).
If playing 1942.1 or .2, this could be 1D6+2 (instead of OOB 1D6) for the more accurate bombing.
I’m sure defending players will allocate more interceptors to prevent this.
When their is only one interceptor � � maybe the rule can be:
Roll “1” destroy a StrB / roll “2” damage a StrB.
Otherwise, if there is more than 1 Fgt, the interceptors roll a hit on “1” or “2” but it takes 2 hits to destroy a StrB.