Are Bombers broken? HR adjustment explorations continuating the Global tread

[baron Münchhausen]

The last solution (and not the better one)  :| is to raise back the bomber price to the original 15 IPCs.

But, I think everyone like the 12 IPCs price which give more units on the board.
That’s why I prefer the solutions posted above.

P.S. Maybe there is a real strategical solution inside the OOB, let’s wait the future posts in Global tread.

But the rules around Bombers (cost+AB move), SBR+interception and AA (vs AAA) has change during the A&A improvement and maybe JamesAleman have find a blind spot which need some cure.

Anyone an opinion?

[baron Münchhausen]

My last adjustment is on this post.

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=30248.msg1155024#msg1155024

This HR provides a special first round roll for defending fighters and TacB.
In addition to the regular D@4 and D@3, if this roll is a “1” then it destroy 1 enemy’s plane (owner’s choice).
In this way, each fighter and TacB are similar to AA vs 1 plane but without the preemptive strike.
And this special attack is only for the first round.

Thus a defending strategy of Fighters and AAA could be a little more dangerous for bombers, even when attacking with some ground troops to soak some hits.

However, attacking bombers are not empty hand. In the HR, I give them a special Air Supremacy strike against ground troops if they are in larger number than the opposing airfleet.

[Derek]

Let interceptors in SBR roll at 2 instead if 1, while escorting fighters and bombers remain at 1
This, in my opinion, also betters follows ‘historical accuracy’

[baron Münchhausen]

I would rather prefer this:
1 StratB A4-0D1M6C12 can SBR and TacBR,
when paired with another stratB one of the two get 1@1 & the other 0@0 against incoming fighter interceptors.

OOB SBR in Global give every planes 1@1, I think it is strat bombers which were out of balance.

Fighter, TacB are similar and able to do something in historical dogfight.
UK’s Bomber command lost many bombers vs german’s fighters and weren’t able to defend by themselves against them.

In addition, to keep balance in SBR 1942.2, Larry gives escorting fighters and bombers preemptive strike against defending Fgt@2.

It let suppose giving D@2 to interceptor like you suggest is a bit overpowering.

[baron Münchhausen]

@Uncrustable:

Let interceptors in SBR roll at 2 instead of 1, while escorting fighters and bombers remain at 1
This, in my opinion, also betters follows ‘historical accuracy’

We also discuss in the tread about SBR how raising interceptors @2 will greatly reduce SBR because it reduces greatly the rate of survival for StrB. And many says, it wasn’t already a very popular strategy.
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=30596.msg1107357#msg1107357

[Derek]

SBR is a key part of bomber spam strat, without it you will lose

[baron Münchhausen]

It will ruined SBR and TBR in all games if there is any fighters in the IC, NB, AB territory.
1942.2 SBR give first strike @1 to all fgt and StrB. At least, give a preemptive strike @1 to all fighters escorting any StrB or TacB.

[Derek]

Honestly the problem is not broken bombers
But broken AA, would bomber spam work vs classic AA? Or even pre alpha AA?
It likely would not

[oztea]

Nail on the head. The 2nd edition AA system is full of glitches.

[toblerone77]

@Uncrustable:

Honestly the problem is not broken bombers
But broken AA, would bomber spam work vs classic AA? Or even pre alpha AA?
It likely would not

Yeah I have only played those rules in practice once so I can’t give to much of an objective statement for or against. I think that the AAA unit was going to be used in an entirely different way than what we have now. I just don’t see making an entirely new sculpt that’s nation specific, that only moves defensively, but gets destroyed. They could’ve used the old plastic guns like before. That’s a lot of money and production for something that works as strangely as it does.

[baron Münchhausen]

@toblerone77:

@Uncrustable:

Honestly the problem is not broken bombers
But broken AA, would bomber spam work vs classic AA? Or even pre alpha AA?
It likely would not

I think that the AAA unit was going to be used in an entirely different way than what we have now. I just don’t see making an entirely new sculpt that’s nation specific, that only moves defensively, but gets destroyed. They could’ve used the old plastic guns like before. That’s a lot of money and production for something that works as strangely as it does.

That’s why I see a better future for  an artillery division unit like this one, as first proposed by Uncrustable :
AAA A1D1M1C5-6 + when on defense as OOB rule vs 3 attacking planes.
It would be far more integrated in the A&A system rules.
And keep the old AA linked to IC, NB and AB.
It was absurd to protect preemptively a large territory against all planes.
But it make sense in a limited area like ICs or bases when it is heavily protected by AA guns.

And if Bombers spam still need a fix via AAA, give them AAA vs 4 or even 5 planes, but not unlimited preemptive strike @1 vs all planes.