Balancing Cruiser (CL) and Battleship (BB) units with other A&A units

I like the ideas of the trucks, the game does need some help moving troops

The general fix for the 2 movement for tourney rules to me is not good.

Could even limit the amounts of trucks, for countries like they do I. Battle of the bulge

About history I agree but my point is absolutely not to make many rule changes - In fact we hate house rules but sometime we “feel” obliged to introduce some very few. And we are really happy when some experienced players or our own experience shows us later that the official rules were better! Lesser and simpler the rules better the game!

If it were only about 2 hits against a fleet like 1xBB + 1xAC + 2xFighters > We wouldn’t need any house rule because 1xBB damage and 1xFighter destroyed stays a reasonable response … But …

When 2 hits against 2xBB + 1xAC + 2xFighters > We HATE the 1xBB + 1xBB damages for many reasons explained elsewhere. Worse with 3 BB (for ex. we experienced the 2 first Japan BBs surviving and regrouped with a third one) > That is a shield of 3 hits! And that’s what we want to change with a house rule as SIMPLE as possible …

Clarification for the vets like Elk: Total respect for your stats and very precise calculations - And if our house rule makes players buy less BB in the futur … Well … Let’s say it’s the historical decline of the BB that started in the middle of the WWII! (Remember we are in 42) … And be sure some newbies (like me) will keep on buying BBs sometime to time because we don’t play maths + to overawe our opponent and finally because WE JUST LOVE BBs lol!

To be said in the last example: With our rule the defender can choose 1xFighter destroyed + 1xBB damaged (because last hit) … But the next hit (if any) should be on the BB.

D12 version I use in a 1941 variant of HBG Global War:

Incorporates SPA / SPG / Motorized Infantry / Light & Medium Armor / Commander (General).

I use National Advantages to address Heavy Armor (Russia & Germany).

Cost/Move/Attack/Defense

INFANTRY:  3 / 1(2) / 2(3) / 4(6)
Combined Arms: Attack on (3) when supported 1:1 by Artillery or SPA.
Defend on (6) during 1st round of combat when supported by Fortification (10:1).
Move (2) during Combat or NCM when supported 1:1 by Mortorized Infantry.

ARTILLERY: 4 / 1(2) / 3 / 4
Combined Arms: Increase Infantry Attack to (3) when supported 1:1.
Move (2) during Combat or NCM when supported 1:1 by Mortorized Infantry.

SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY (SPA): 6 / 2 / 4 / 4
Combined Arms: Increase Infantry & Mech Infantry Attack +1 when supported 1:1.
Initial Bombardment: On Defense, successful hit results in immediate removal of enemy land unit.
Cannot Blitz.

MOTORIZED INFANTRY: 4 / 2 / 3 / 3
Transport (1) Infantry or (1) Artillery 2 spaces during Combat or NCM Move.
Cannot Blitz.

MECHANIZED INFANTRY:  5 / 2 / 3(4) / 4
Combined Arms: Attack on (4) when supported 1:1 by SPA or any Armor.
Combined Arms: Blitz when supported 1:1 by any Armor.

LIGHT ARMOR: 6 / 2 / 5 / 5
Combined Arms: Increase Mech Infantry Attack +1 when supported 1:1.
Combined Arms 1:1 allows Mech Infantry to Blitz.
Blitz.

MEDIUM ARMOR:   7 /  / 2 / 6(7) / 6
Combined Arms: Attack on (7) when supported 1:1 by Tac Bomber.
Combined Arms: Increase Mech Infantry Attack +1 when supported 1:1.
Combined Arms 1:1 allows Mech Infantry to Blitz.
Blitz.

SELF-PROPELLED GUN: 8 / 2 / 6(7) / 7
Attack on (7) while enemy Armor is present.
Non-Infantry Land unit must be chosen as casualty.
Combined Arms: Blitz when supported 1:1 by any Armor.

COMMANDER (General): - / 1 / - / -
Fixed number of Commanders per Nation.  If destroyed, replaced on fixed turn schedule by nation.
Coordinated Attack: Provides (1) called shot against any Land unit during 1st round of Combat.
Organized Retreat: Allows Land & Air units to retreat after 1 full round of Combat. No Defense rolled in round 2.

Cavalry should attack on a 1, defend on a 1, and move at a 2. They could be combined with other units to up their abilities. For example, they could defend on a 2 if paired with infantry. THey could attack on a 2 if attacking with infantry. They should cost 3 IPCs.

The real role of cavalry should be to harass the enemy. If cavalry are in a battle, the other units cannot retreat nor engage another contested territory until the Cavalry are cleared out of that territory. In effect the unit is stuck there. This would simulate cavalry cutting supply lines and communications etc.

Also, cavalry could disrupt IPCs by entering into a vacant territory and in effect scorching the earth. The territory would lose 1 IPC for every Cavalry performing this task in that territory. A marker could be used to denote the territories new value. Cavalry themselves could not conquer a territory by themselves. They would need to be paired with an infantry.

On the map, all the territories on the Western front are occupied so this tactic would not really be used. However on the Eastern Front there are a couple of open territories mainly in Russia where it could be used.  Also, The middle east and Africa are more wide open. This rule conjures up images of Lawrence of Arabia!

Here are my house rule suggestions for economic balance in Global…. it’s not much, but that’s the point.

#1. The $5 Russian National Objective for no axis ships in the Norwegian convoy zone #125, control of Archangel, and no allied units on originally owned Russian territories has now been modified and split into 2 different National Objectives for Russia.

Lend Lease

$5 National Objective for no Axis ships in the Norwegian convoy zone #125, and for control of Archangel.

National Prestige

$5 National Objective for at least 1 Russian warship on the board, and no Allied units on any originally owned Russian territories

#2. Two significant National Objectives that were dropped after Alpha +3 have now been reinstated.

Merchant Shipping Protected
#1. 5 IPCs for the United Kingdom if the Atlantic is free of German submarines.

Germany controls London
#2. 5 IPCs for Germany if they control London.

#3. When the United States declare war, they are automatically given the War Bonds technology for free.

Is this giving to much to the Allies?

@Imperious:

OK.
Cruisers when they shoot and roll a 1 can force the defender to remove a plane
Cruisers move 3 spaces even if they didn’t come out of port.
Now they are worth the extra 2 IPC.

@Young:

@variance:

Another idea has been that each cruiser would only fire an AA shot at 1 attacking plane.

This is better than 3 shots per ship IMO.

So our Cruisers combine those ideas and get:
1-An attack and a defense @3 + 1 bombard @3,
2-A first round AA @1 against 1 attacking aircraft,
3-Cruisers when they shoot, either on attack or defense, and roll a 1 can force the attacker/defender to remove a plane.

In the game I played, the AA has more of a psychological impact than a real effect.
Indeed, it never destroyed any aircraft. And thus, neither by the AA and even by the “1” roll which force the defender to destroy an aircraft.

But UK bought 3 cruisers, instead of any BB, against German Luftwaffe.

Thanks everybody, those suggestions makes cruiser a more interesting unit that worth buying.

However, it can be a real nuisance for Germany but it may also help protect the Baltic fleet against UK aircrafts: at least, it slightly upgrade the Baltic fleet to better defend against attacking UK planes.

I’m still thinking the 2 dollar Russians are unbeatable.  unless they are 1-1 or 0-2 or something.

Bring in all the mec/arm combinations and double supporting artillery you want.  at 37 IPC’s a turn, I’m putting 18 men on the board each round.  Germany is not going to be able to do anything about that.

Oh and lets not forget, once I have a fat stack, if things don’t look good, I can call in the Russian winter, and defend with a $2 unit at 3 or less.

goto thrashers site ill bet you find it there.