A question regarding research developments

Usually it is a bad idea to roll for techs, but near the late game (where Germany is dying and Japan is cleaning house), I would say it is okay to start tech rolling for Japan. Hopefully you might get industrial technology or heavy bombers, very, very good.

There are 3 instances when you consider rolling for tech (as any power, Allied or Axis);

1.) When you’ve got some extra cash (that is, after figuring what you’ll want to purchase if you DON’T get tech) that you don’t really NEED to put you over or keep you in the game. Usually this comes up right after a power has been taken and the side that conquered has a lot of spendable cash & wants to put the game away w/ some heavy-hitting tech (Heavy Bombers is really what you are looking for here). Spending too much here is very tempting–always have it worked out in your mind what you will buy if you don’t get tech; if its a choice between tech rolls and a needed unit, tech always loses…

2.) You are losing the game militarily and technology is the only solution. many of the techs are “defensive/offensive” in nature–pertaining to defensive capabilities (i.e. Jet Power); offensive reach for bottled up units (i.e. Long Range Aircraft); Economic relief (i.e. Industrial tech); Improvement of strategically defensive-type units (i.e. Super Subs); Punitive strikes (i.e. Rockets); or just plain a$$ kicking (i.e. Heavy Bombers). Basically, the techs heavily aid beleagured powers over those in the lead.
Here again the choice of how much to spend & when is tricky. Essentially it comes down to how long you have left. If you are sure you are losing, and the prospect of further economic gain is low-to-nil, try tech–but if you can take a few more territories and gain a few more bucks, wait; tech is to be bought with “spare” bucks only. At this point you want to buy tech when the game will be all downhill from here…however, since you theoretically are gonna lose anyway otherwise, you can allow yourself more latitude in how much you spend. Just remember that tech is useless unless you already have the units it pertains to, or can buy more.

3.) You are just feeling it. :D A friend of mine has phenomenal luck with tech–when he rolls, he just seems to get what he needs. But is this just because he is willing to take the risk and try tech more often? Who knows? Suffice it to say, this friend is a big gambling fan, and he simply has a “sense” when the dice are “hot”. He is an example of why even well-thought-out plans in A & A go awry.
If you are a gambler, you can always take this route. I am not a gambler so I have no suggestions. You will know when its time… :wink:

Hope these suggestions help…

Ozone27

When I like to technology roll, I try to do it with Great Britain. Many players consider Great Britain to be a ‘lesser’ countries, so it gives me the opportunity to test out new strategies without other players expecting too much out of me. Tech rolling works best when you are using an All Bomber Strategy. By choosing an All Bomber Strategy, you will naturally always be praying for high numbers. I remember, one time, I had successfully scored consecutive sixes in a strategic bomber raid. With such magical numbers, I decided to take a shot at tech rolling. Lucky me! Not only did I score two sixes out of five rolls, but one of them happened to be heavy bombers! :D I already built up a set of bombers, so I was able to make the effects of heavy bombing felt…you couldn’t believe the look on TG’s face! :P

@TM:

When I like to technology roll, I try to do it with Great Britain. Many players consider Great Britain to be a ‘lesser’ countries, so it gives me the opportunity to test out new strategies without other players expecting too much out of me. Tech rolling works best when you are using an All Bomber Strategy. By choosing an All Bomber Strategy, you will naturally always be praying for high numbers. I remember, one time, I had successfully scored consecutive sixes in a strategic bomber raid. With such magical numbers, I decided to take a shot at tech rolling. Lucky me! Not only did I score two sixes out of five rolls, but one of them happened to be heavy bombers! :D I already built up a set of bombers, so I was able to make the effects of heavy bombing felt…you couldn’t believe the look on TG’s face! :P

I thought all 3 of my sisters were evil.
eeeeeee :wink:

@TM:

I already built up a set of bombers, so I was able to make the effects of heavy bombing felt…you couldn’t believe the look on TG’s face! :P

That wasn’t fair! You take that back! Everything was going fine on my side (I even managed to shoot down a couple of TM’s vaunted bombers), until UK4, where out of nowhere TM manages to unlock heavy bombers on her first tech rolls! The utter pain! I had this game (Africa and Asia were mine!) in the refrigerator, when all of a sudden a wave of four heavy bombers flies from England to Germany and in one turn wipes out my entire IPC cash reverse. The humanity!!!

@CC:

I thought all 3 of my sisters were evil.
eeeeeee

Ha, and I thought I was the unlucky one. :roll:
Well I just have one that runs around causing havok and destruction to my life :x. Are your sisters younger than you? Those are always the worst - or so I heard… :wink:

naaaa. . . just buy the “anti-tech” weapons.
If they get super subs - get more ftrs to sink em’.
if they get heavy bombers - . . . you’re screwed-ish. Maybe increase your AA guns and seek out their bases a little more.
if they get improved industry - bomb the crap out of them - make 'em hurt financially
that kind of thing.

no…get all the units u can spare and destroy all the stuff that got better with that tech :)

@GeZe:

no…get all the units u can spare and destroy all the stuff that got better with that tech :)

or that :D

GZ,
How redundantly droll and refreshing!

T6,
Why not try limiting heavy BMRs to one unit! This limits the HBMR effect to a better balance with the other techs. However, it also makes it necessary to roll against specific BMR units to have a chance of AAing the HBMR. My A&A crew uses this rule and it helps keep the game within reach…even against the once dreaded HBMRs.

To the lictor belong the boils - Correct that misquote.

@Xi:

GZ,
How redundantly droll and refreshing!

what do you mean?

Why not try limiting heavy BMRs to one unit! This limits the HBMR effect to a better balance with the other techs. However, it also makes it necessary to roll against specific BMR units to have a chance of AAing the HBMR. My A&A crew uses this rule and it helps keep the game within reach…even against the once dreaded HBMRs

You know what? That might actually work! I’ll give it a try and lower the cost of tech research from 5 IPCs to 4 IPCs.

Why would you need to roll against the heavy bomber specifically? That’s not fair, because the attacker gets to choose his casualties from all the hits, whether it be during a battle or picking planes to die from AA fire. The attacker should get to “guard” his Heavy by escorting it with other planes.