1942.2 Red Bomber or USA First?

Hello,

After reading many answers from different vets on this forum about balancing 1942SE and knowing that we don’t want to play any bid, my friends and me are finally hesitating between two last solutions proposed by some of the most experienced players:

1. THE RED BOMBER: Simply add a bomber in Russia (This seems to be very efficient to balance but only in the hands of a well experienced player).
2. AMERICA FIRST: The USA play first before Russia but only to product units so with no movement nor combat (For fast help toward east and west).

Both solutions are said efficient to balance the game close to 50/50 by the most experienced players of this forum.
We think about trying the second solution first because it seems more easy to manage for new players?

Your advices? (Only about those two - No bids nor complicated settings please)

GG

@Baron:

Give Axis to less experienced players and Allies to more experienced ones.
This can be a way to balance things without requiring other twists.

If Allies lost, give Red Bomber to Allies.

After 3 games, if all Axis wins, then goes to America First.

IMO, dicing might occurs one way or another.
It will probably become tight.

TY very much!
GG from France

@Midnight_Reaper:

The only thing I would add to the Baron’s input is that the America First (or turn A0) option calls for production AND non-combat movement. The reason for the non-combat movement is to allow the Flying Tigers to move to safety and to give the US player the choice to reinforce Pearl Harbor or to withdraw the Pacific Fleet back to the west coast.

You don’t get combat movement or combat, but you do get the option of adjusting the American setup.

-Midnight_Reaper

We will first play it with NO MOVEMENT AT ALL > Them after a few battles if the Allies are still underdog > We will allow non-combat move by USA

LOOOOL
Sorry it’s not shouting!
OK with pleasure!

Just for info: I use capital and bold for titles … No screaming lol!

OK we tried once with America First (with no move at all) —> It changed for many the game and the Allies immediately won with the help of America pushing hard both directions! OK we know we need many other tries because of the dice variance but next time we’ll try with the Red Bomber just to “feel” if it’s less helping Allies than America First.

GG

The point is America used a part of his IPCs from this option rule to buy a factory in China! This together with the biggest US Pacific fleet were very efficient!

I promise we try hard - But we all know that de variation of the dice is an important factor too and we must all wait and try again and again before early conclusions!
Did you guys try this “America First” option? I promise it’s a rude feeling for the axis (mostly the Japanese)!
Let’s keep on looking for the ultimate balanced A&A set-up!

We think also about each player to receive a ROUNDED number of IPC’s as their starting money:

Russia 30 (+6)
England 40 (+10)
USA 50 (+8)

That is Allies +24

Germany 40 (-1)
Japan 30 (0)

That is Axis -1

Only for the start: After they receive their normal incomes.
Just another Idea … Simple / Fast / Stronger Allies.

@Midnight_Reaper:

@GGleize:

We think also about each player to receive a ROUNDED number of IPC’s as their starting money:

Russia 30 (+6)
England 40 (+10)
USA 50 (+8)

That is Allies +24

Germany 40 (-1)
Japan 30 (0)

That is Axis -1

Only for the start: After they receive their normal incomes.
Just another Idea … Simple / Fast / Stronger Allies.

I like this idea a lot. It sort of would be a built-in bid, but it’s done in a slick way.

-Midnight_Reaper

TY Reaper
For sure we have to test and test it again to see the influence of this house rule on the balance.
Obviously it may help the allies … But witch way? I suppose less than a 25 classical bid because here the allies can only spend those extra IPCs a the stat of their turn so use the new units later! But it may immediately help:

• Russia in instant defense and futur attacks … ?
• Help England only in defense of India (because Germany will play before in Atlantic) and futur rebuilt of a fleet … ?
• and help USA in both Atlantic (destroyers & transports) and Pacific (reinforcement of the fleet) … ?