It kind of sounds like you want to turn Global 40 into 1914.
To be honest, I kind of like the idea of contested territories. Three rounds might be a bit much. Most games that I have played, most battles are decided within 3 rounds. Strangely enough, it seems to be the biggest battles (like a final German assault on Moscow) and the smallest battles (like an infantry/artillery attacking 1 or 2 infantry) that go for more than 3 rounds. The big ones are obvious but with the little ones, sometimes you seem to roll and roll but just don’t get hits. One thing about this is it’s a good way to deny your opponent the IPCs for that territory even if you can’t get them yourself. Suppose there is a big German invasion of Eastern US that goes for more than 3 rounds. Germany effectively denies 20 IPCs from the USA’s income, if the US can’t make it uncontested. So if both are making roughly 80 IPCs per turn with NOs and all, then Germany will still get 80 while the US drops to 60 for that turn.
This brings up a couple of questions: 1>If the Eastern US becomes contested, does that affect the US Continental NO? It’s 10 IPCs for control of Western US, Central US and Eastern US. If the Eastern US has become contested, it’s no longer under US control, right?
2>If the Eastern US becomes contested, can the US still use the facilities there (air base, naval base, Major IC)? I would think not, particularly the IC. If that territory is being fought over and has an enemy presence, I wouldn’t think you could still deploy new units there.
One other question about the Night Bombing. I understand the immunity to interceptors and the lower bombing damage. What about AA fire? Shouldn’t it also be reduced to show the reduction in accuracy at night? Perhaps you have to get two "1"s to hit one plane.