Optional rule 10,2 “reinforcement of captured bases”

Note: Rules I post are house rules for free use for the community. No need to give me credit if you use or share.

I wrote a house rule to include a simple rule for two historic ‘events’, that I liked to introduce in the game without the outcome imbalancing the game. Just for fun. Enjoy… or not 😉

THE HAPPY TIMES

Happy Times events have to be announced verbally. The years are not part of the rules but mentioned for historical reference.

July 1940: The First Happy Time
As soon as Germany and/or Italy declare(s) war on the UK, the European Axis double the damage done to the UK convoy routes in the North Atlantic Ocean. This First Happy Time is an event that takes place once per game and encompasses 1 game turn (half a year in the game)

January 1942: The Second Happy Time (Operation Drumbeat)
As soon as Germany and/or Italy declare(s) war on the USA, the European Axis double the damage done to the US convoy route in the North Atlantic Ocean. This Second Happy Time is an event that takes place once per game and encompasses 1 game turn (half a year in the game)

@theveteran Yeah, it’s definitely a good point. I think we’ve really just been overlooking the value of an easy lend-lease area for the CCP by doing this earlier in the game than has typically happened!

@hbg-gw-enthusiast I would just add italicised texta clause saying something on the lines of “aircraft may not be placed on carriers during the place units phase” in that section, and a clause saying “newly built carriers may not be used to guarantee landing spots for fighters and tactical bombers.”
It is rather obvious is you look for it, but I think a FAQ or a additional clause is needed.

@sjelso
GW is a 3 player game. Naturally everything is broken if you make it a two player game without severe adjustments.

That way, all facilites under constuction are subject to strategic bombing or capture.

There is also an optional rule (15.8) to declare multi-stage ships under construction. It’s more realistic that way.

@hammertimepower

I wouldn’t call myself any kind of official on the rules, first off.

Yeah, this is a bit different than the other nations. I would say first off that this is one of the bigger differences between versions 2 and 3. I believe the game makers went out intentionally with the idea of making conflict between the Comintern and Allies a more realistic possibility. Example, in Version 2, the Allies and Comintern couldn’t declare war on each other until the Axis had been defeated (though I think there’s a little loophole in the Monroe Doctrine there). Same with China, the KMT or CCP would not have been allowed to declare war on the Comintern or Allies, respectively, until all foreign powers were expelled from mainland China.

The Version 3 rules open this up for conflict earlier on, so I think this was absolutely intentional on their end.

Of note, in order for the KMT or CCP to get Major Power status, they need to effectively have control of all of China. They need 13 IPP, I think there are only like 16 IPP possible in all of China. So while not necessarily needing FULL control of all China, that IPP threshold probably effectively means they’ve won the Chinese Civil War, and arguably have expelled Japanese power on the mainland for that to have happened also.

That’s my long way of saying that their ability to declare war is probably not as easy as it reads on the surface. Plus, I think the KMT would have a hard time deciding to declare war on the USSR unilaterally until the other Allied nations were available to assist!

” Is there a limit to how many infantry units you can upgrade to motorized? I assume there isn’t since it’s not stated.”
No limit. You may spend all your IPP on it having 1 minor factory with a supply path to the regular infantries. Such are the current rules (may 2021)
Optional house rule: count motorized upgrades as using up production slots for factories.

“If Russia and Germany sign the pact, can the Germans use the northern sea route to trace a lend-lease supply path? My hunch is they can’t, but I’m still curious”
No, because it is not mentioned specifically or generally.
Optional house rule: Let the USSR player decide on permission.

@GeneralHandGrenade

Thank god for house rules because this rule is an overreaction that’ll make planes a waste of money.