Alpha 3?

The only way to interpret that that makes sense is if AA guns would now fire earlier into the whole mess of attacking planes including escorts. That’s more shots and more overall planes shot down. I suppose it could mean that 3 AA shots total are fired against a strat and two tac bombers hitting three targets and you get to choose where those shots land, but that’s silly.

No Kobu, during Strategic bombing the AA still only fires at bombers.  Not escorts.
But of those that hit, you get to choose your losses.

Also - during general combat w/ AA guns, you will get to choose your AA losses.

@Gargantua:

LOL no strategic bombers?

For $12, a unit that can fly a possible 7 spaces, and attack at 4?  who DOESN’T build Strategic Bombers?  That’s Crazy…

and no, not for SBR,  for general combat,  especially against navies.  or against infantry shields in dead zones, so you don’t have to waste equipment.

Tactical Bombers do the same with tanks or fighters apart from the range, but landing on an aircraft carrier is is an advantage option for $1 less. All Im saying is that I play with some pretty experienced players and no one has ever bought a Strategic bomber, I will ask them why next game. As for me, I buy Tactical Bombers.

lvl bmb’s best use is their range, that is for sure.  For Italy they are super, often Italy wants to fight in the Med one round and Russia the next, the bmb in Sitaly can cover all!

A Russian lvl bmb can help as well, it can be used to help clear sz125 with destroyers, fight the japanese or fight in the Middle East.

@JimmyHat:

lvl bmb’s best use is their range, that is for sure.  For Italy they are super, often Italy wants to fight in the Med one round and Russia the next, the bmb in Sitaly can cover all!

A Russian lvl bmb can help as well, it can be used to help clear sz125 with destroyers, fight the japanese or fight in the Middle East.

So Strategic Bomber for the $12 Japanese invasion, not bad. On the other side, I prefer Japan to push the Russian infantry stacks east two territories, and create a static wall of defence while a tank mops up the far east. I then get the help from the Italian starting units to support a German major IC purchase in Romania G3.

I am a huge fan of the Global 1940 edition of the game, but I feel that there needs to be a little bit of balance to make Italy a little more viable.  My gaming group just got done playing the 50th Anniversary Edition for the first time… while that version is not a deep as 1940, it does give Italy a much better starting position.  I would suggest putting the entire Italian fleet into one Sea Zone or changing the composition of the UK fleet in the Med to give Italy more options.  We will see how they change it up.

While my group does not put all of Italy’s fleet in one zone .  We do move the transport off egypt to south africa. The destroyer from egypt goes off the coast of gibraltar with the cruiser.  Also attacking carriers can only be taken as casualties after all other pieces with an attack value have been detroyed.

This seems to even things up a bit.  In addition a german inf. and art. in Libya.

@Jay:

While my group does not put all of Italy’s fleet in one zone .  We do move the transport off egypt to south africa. The destroyer from egypt goes off the coast of gibraltar with the cruiser.  Also attacking carriers can only be taken as casualties after all other pieces with an attack value have been detroyed.

This seems to even things up a bit.  In addition a german inf. and art. in Libya.

That would just destroy Japan. What’s the purpose?

@billinjackson:

With regards to SBR’s, I too never do them. Perhaps a creative solution is necessary to make raids on Factories and bases more the norm. What if, one Bomber (at half the cost) can only do SBR’s? Maybe each nation can start with one? Just thinking out load but it would make for a nice change if each player thought more about utilizing raids. It could add to the strategic flow of the game.

Any thoughts on this or other ideas?

Why would you want to increase the value of SBR’s?  Why is that strategy better than buying boots for ground pounders?  I don’t get why people think there should be more SBR, it should be highly costly to the attacker and not net any real gains…just like in the real war.

I SBR on rare occasions, I think that is plenty.  I don’t see a need for constant SBR runs.

@JimmyHat:

@billinjackson:

With regards to SBR’s, I too never do them. Perhaps a creative solution is necessary to make raids on Factories and bases more the norm. What if, one Bomber (at half the cost) can only do SBR’s? Maybe each nation can start with one? Just thinking out load but it would make for a nice change if each player thought more about utilizing raids. It could add to the strategic flow of the game.

Any thoughts on this or other ideas?

Why would you want to increase the value of SBR’s?  Why is that strategy better than buying boots for ground pounders?  I don’t get why people think there should be more SBR, it should be highly costly to the attacker and not net any real gains…just like in the real war.

I SBR on rare occasions, I think that is plenty.  I don’t see a need for constant SBR runs.

No matter how costly or ineffective SBRs were in the war, the fact is that there were many many bombing raids conducted by the US, UK and Germany during the war. So, when I play a WWII strategy game, I would like it to resemble the war in this regard. However, the fact remains that no one is Bombing in our games or even purchasing bombers due to the high risk vs. low reward of SBRs and the introduction of the Tac Bomber. In my opinion, the failed attempt to introduce escorts and interceptors have killed an otherwise fun and exciting game mechanic.

Well I agree with you to a limited extent, but there are many facets of WW2 that the game doesn’t cover.  Each person has his or her favorite aspect of the war, but I don’t think even Global is big enough for us to squeeze them all in.

I am really surprised you do not purchase lvl bmbs in your games.  I find them very useful for 1 dollar more you get a unit with increased range and a guaranteed 4 on offense.  Their only disadvantage is they cannot be squeezed onto a CV.  The increased range is really the cherry on top.  This lets you fight in one theater on one turn and be in another theater on the next turn.  Italian bombers are golden, they can fight in africa and then land in Sitaly.  They can also reach most of the Russian front from there, probably the power that can use bmb’s the best is Italy.  Russia can use them too, if they intend to fight over sz 125 then the bmb will give them air cover for that sz.  Germ and Japan have the same uses for bmbs, with the added benefit to Germany that should they need some additional firepower in Russia it will only take 1 round to bring aircraft from london/Gibraltar, where your bmbs should be threatening to keep US away from the Med.  I also really like to purchase Japanese bmbs if I have been chased from sz6.  These bmbs can still, fly out to shepherd the fleet to the Med, and then can be used in SBR raids in Europe.

I would suggest you try purchasing a few lvl bmbs next game but without the intention of SBRing.  Only SBR when you cannot find a better target, which might be 1-2 rounds throughout the game.  Pay attention to the options this purchase gives you of exerting offensive firepower many territories away either on land or at sea.

That’s good advise, I will look for the opportunity in the future. After thinking about it, I remembered a game where I bought a strategic bomber for ANZAC and it worked out very well for them. It keept the Japanese from island hopping with only transports.

i think buying bombers with america could be useful, they can be bombing germany 2 rounds after when you buy them……

A US bmr force is awesome. The fact that it can jump form theater to theater quickly helps to. You can hit the W German IC (or bases) from England (4-5 bmrs will max it out), while the Germans are using the bulk of their air force trying to take down the Russians. Then the German builds shift to Berlin (its cheaper, but not where they want units). If/when allies get Norway you can SBR Berlin too, and now you have both German majors getting shelled. They are forced to repair, and max damage can bankrupt them for def w/deep Russian push, especially if the bulk of the Luftwaffe is on Russian soil trying to take Moscow. Build a few US subs and (w/bmr force) you also have a powerful naval attack if you can get into position, or have the surface ships to protect the subs. Getting those extra 4’s in a ground battle works well too. Keep them guessing where your going to hit.

Larry mentioned on his site that the Alpha 3 rules might be up next week providing the hurricane doesn’t blow him away. I hope it is worth the wait.

it will be!

@GoSanchez6:

Larry mentioned on his site that the Alpha 3 rules might be up next week providing the hurricane doesn’t blow him away. I hope it is worth the wait.

Could you please provide a link.

@Young:

@GoSanchez6:

Larry mentioned on his site that the Alpha 3 rules might be up next week providing the hurricane doesn’t blow him away. I hope it is worth the wait.

Could you please provide a link.

@Larry:

I’m about ready to post Alpha+ 3.  Probably next week.  If I find myself without electricity for 4 or 5 days, as some are predicting, I’ll be a bit longer posting it.

Larry

http://www.harrisgamedesign.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=6024

Thanks

As for SBRs I have tried buying 2 lvl bombers 1ss first turn with Germany and on the second turn doing a major air raid on UK.  If uk intercepts they will loose lots of aircraft.  And even after the air battle the damage to the factory/airbase/shipyard should be close to maxed out.  This almost cripples them for a couple turns,  just as your buying your fleet for sealion.