Just a pondering, but, what if there were 6 technology “trees” where the technology got slightly better with each “level”?
For instance, just cause it’s easier for me to think up on the spot:
Improved Factories: (Tree 4)
Level 1
- Improved Shipyards - per rules
Level 2
- Improved Facilities - get the extra builds from the technology as it is now
Level 3
- Improved Airfields - Fighters cost 9, Tactical Bombers cost 10, Strategic Bombers cost 12 (no change from normal)
Level 4
- Improved Training - Infantry Cost 3, Mechanized Infantry Cost 3, Artillery Cost 3, Armor Cost 5 (Why mech = regular? Because people will still do regular because of transport rules, others like Germany, Japan, India and Russia (and Italy?) might just go straight mech for blitzkrieg.)
Level 5
- Improved Naval Bases - One Free Submarine or Transport per round, placed at any OWNED naval base.
Level 6
- Improved Air Bases - Fighters/Tactical Bombers move 6, but Strategic Bombers now move 8 (Would be nice for America, Australia, India and Japan at least.)
It’s a thought, I didn’t really look at over all game play effect, I just wanted to demonstrate what it MIGHT look like.
The idea is, Nations would have to select what tree they want to invest in and roll a die for success. I was thinking Level 1 might be automatic, level 2 requires a 5 or less, level 3 requires a 4 or less, level 4 requires a 3 or less, level 5 requires a 2 or less and level 1 requires a 1 to succeed. So technology gets progressivly harder to attain, but each level makes the technology stronger than the previous level.
Granted, this means Germany, Russia, Japan and USA might be the only ones with level 4 or better technologies with America shooting for level 6s, but then, who had the freedom to spend time and money researching? Eh? I was told in my Ukrainian school that the Germans knew the war was over not when they lost battles, but when they shot down American bombers carrying Chocolate Cake for Christmas. That’s when they realized America had the money and power to waste resources on CAKE! Well, same could be here.
Dunno, take it, leave it, improve on it, whatever makes ya all happy.