Speaking of matriculations… I’m about to post Alpha +3 so be on the look out for it. There’s not a lot of differences between Alpha +2 and Alpha +3 but there are some changes, nonetheless. These changes are more or less related to SBR’s, a US National Objective or two and a couple of Research & Development modifications. And, oh yeah… a slight change to the Convoy Disruption rules. Let me know what you think. I’ll post it here of course and it will be called… drum roll… Alpha +3 (how’s that for a matriculation?).
Larry
http://www.harrisgamedesign.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=4167&start=416
Based on what’s been discussed here, and there, I’m hoping for the following:
SBR Rules: Tactical Bombers get a +1 or Strategic Bombers get a +3. Not sure which way this is going to go, but it seems the most logical conclusion and, personally, I am hoping for the TBs getting a boost, right now I rarely, if ever, use them for SBR campaigns. I’ve used them to stop Japan from using a Naval Base to attack India, or to stop Japan from using air bases to scramble from.
American NO: Man do I hope at least 10 IPCs are moved to the Atlantic. IL mentioned that it’s probably the Mexican NO being moved, but I’m really hoping for the 10 IPC Continental United States NO to be moved! I’d like Morocco, Algeria and Gibraltar for 5; S. Italy for 5. Barring S. Italy, perhaps Normandy (W. France)?
Convoy Rules: Have to concur with consensus, this is probably making German submarines automatically raid at 3 damage. I can’t imagine anything else.
R&D: Honestly, the whole system is useless IMHO. The map is just too large to be as effective as it was! Anniversary was, perhaps, the maximal map size for the technologies before diminishing returns. IMHO: Reduce it to 6 technologies: LRA (+2 Fighters, Tactical Bombers, +3 Strategic Bombers - this because the map is just plain HUGE; in fact, I’d add one to Aircraft range period anyway); Heavy Bombers (TB’s always attack at 4, SB’s roll 2 dice, take best result - do 3 dice dmg on SBRs, take best 2 results): Shipyards (reduced cost AND naval yards double ship range), Airbases (reduced cost (Fighters: 9, TBs: 9, SBs: 10) +2 range): Heavy Infantry (MI attack at 2 when coupled with tank, MI can blitz as per tank rules), War Bonds (2 dice + 2 IPCs)
I bet most of that’s wrong, but I’m hoping for some, or all, of it! I guess I can stop bitching about Alpha 2 now, I can start bitching about Alpha 3!
Of course, OOB was horrible, Alpha was better, Alpha 2 was bad the other way, but better, so maybe Alpha 3 fixes it? I’d love to see America “encouraged” to invest in the Atlantic. It shouldn’t take ridiculous chances for the Axis to win a game!
Probably the only way to balance is to make it possible for the Axis to win by round 13-15.