Unit House Rules Collection

Well they would be counters for each nation in a cup that you draw randomly. say 1 inch wooden chits with a decal on it. Icons of say a tank or Battleship if the commander effects those. If you draw a chit and don’t own that piece, you just lost that advantage that turn. The next turn you draw another chit. The used chits stay out of the jar, so the design features will balance in total for both Axis and Allies…or not. Depends on the game played…

Sorry not smart enough to figure out how to post link directly on the forums, but over at Brian Wassom’s YouTube Channel, under the video discussing our House Rules, we have added a link to the Abandon Monitoring Station’s Integrated Rulebook and House Rules.  This combines two projects: (1) integrates the Europe and Pacific rulebooks into a more user friendly version with cross references back to the original rulebooks when rule debates break out; and (2) incorporates the house rules we used when playing games 11 & 12 of the series.

Would love some thought and comments on the rule variants.  We borrowed and modified a bunch that was available here and there and then play tested and modified some more.  Comments to date range from “great ideas” to “you suck and broke the game.”  We do think the OOB rules are Axis tilted and maybe its because we are bad, but these rules were really fun when we played with them and it opens a boatload of new strategies. Looking for input to improve these for the future.

Thanks

OMC

@der-kuenstler For some reason I’m just finding this thread now. I mostly agree with what others have said. The only thing I want to add is that if you want to play with more than the simplest of house rules, you should feel good about creating play aids to support those rules. Seriously, go out and print your new rules, in full color. Put some thought into how to design and lay out a chart or a cheat sheet that will help players remember and use your rules. Cut them out so they’re the right size, and then laminate them or print them on heavyweight cardstock. If your rules involve any special pieces, buy sculpts for those pieces or use some paint or something to convincingly alter the closest available piece; don’t just slap a chip underneath artillery and say “OK, now it’s a self-propelled artillery.”

If you’re not willing to put in that work to make things easier on your players, then why should they put in the work to test out your house rules? It can take 8+ hours for a single playtest; if you invite 3 friends over, that’s 24 hours of other people’s time. You should be willing to put in at least 10% of that (2 hours) on creating play aids to improve that experience. If you’re not, maybe that’s a sign that you’re having so much fun imagining new rules that tickle your fancy that you’re not really thinking hard about whether those rules will be fun to play with for others.

Here is an Italian rule (offset to Axis Vichy rule).

Italian Co-Belligerent Army / Italian Social Republic

ICBA is a pro-Allied Italian government created after Rome is captured.  At the same time, ISR, a remnant and a pro-Axis goverment of Mussolini’s regime is created and seated out of Northern Italy.  ICBA eligible territories are all Italian controlled territories, EXCEPT Northern Italy and Italian controlled territories with German units.  These territories are treated same as pro-Allied neutrals.  All other forces are part of the Italian Social Republic.  ISR becomes the new Italy and starts with 0 IPCs.  On the each ISR turn, they CAN get up to 5 IPCs from Germany.  For the ICBA, any movement is done after Vichy.
**Procedure:  **
After Rome is captured, the following happens:
1. All ICBA forces (land/sea/air) standfast and defend against Axis attacks.  
2. ICBA land forces can move during the non-combat phase.
3. If an ICBA territory with units is occupied by Allied player, no new units are created, but any ICBA infantry units are converted to the occupying Allied power, and all others disband.    
4. ISR units may move as normal.  ISR can be ordered to attack ICBA units.
5. All ICBA units return to Axis if Rome is liberated.  ICBA cannot be re-created.
(Optional: Any ICBA controlled Allied territories return to original owner, non-infantry units disband.)

Bumped due to changes made to original post.

Very cool idea. I like it a lot.

:-D

Here is the chart for special units we use. Note that most have a limit that can be on the board at one time. Most come from AA 1941, with the German Mech. Artillery being from Historical Board Gaming.

| Name
M. Art.
Tiger
JS-2
P-40
FW-190
He-111
Hood
Esc. Car.
Kongo
| Nation
Germany
Germany
USSR
USA
Germany
Germany
UK
UK US J
Japan
| Cost
5
7
7
12
11
8
12
8
12
| Att
2
4
4
4
3
3
4
0
4
| Def
2
4
4
5
4
1
4
1
4
| Move
2
2
2
6
5
7
2
3
3
| Limit
N/A
4
4
4
4
2
2
2
2
| Special
Art., Can blitz with tank, boosts inf or mech to 2.
Tank, Rerolls 6’s when in battle.
Tank, roll of 1 hits enemy tank if possible.
Fighter, Attack 2 and Defense 3 in SBR’s
Fighter, Decreases 1 enemy Fighter’s Aor D  by 1 in battle or raid.
Bomber, does not add 2 to SBR rolls.
Cruiser, Bombard at 4, fires up to 2 AA shots.
Carrier, carries 1 fighter or tactical bomber.
Cruiser, Bombards at 4.
|

No please post what you got then everybody can jump in and discuss it.

If you can post a link to pictures of the map with pieces it will help convey the idea better.

just post a link for it.