Rules clarify - airfields

Haaahaha! I feel your pain, FMG. The second I bought Guadalcanal, I was so psyched to make my opponent’s IPC’s deteriorate via bombing raids, and swarm em with fighters. And then I opened up the box and went “WTF!?”.

I, too, am a bit unappealed by the rules. What we did was put a certain amount of chips on each island, gave it an IPC value, and put a production factory on our “base islands”. This made for an exciting naval minimap. I haven’t gotten to play a lot of navy-heavy games, usually my 1942 games just end up with British bombardment and amphibious assault on Berlin, and the US navy buildup with the subsequent bulldozing of the Japanese.

So, theres my suggestion for you, FMG. I look forward to your custom A&A molds. I’m DEFINITELY buying an italy set once I get my paycheck, and of course, once it’s released =D

The two of you are getting pretty close to a tactical miniatures campaign game than a strategic game, with simplified combat.  You might want to take a look at some books on naval wargaming that cover running a campaign game.  I keep thinking of taking the Guadalcanal game resources and writing my own set of rules for the game, along with adding a PT Boat miniature and US APD fast transports.  I would not likely use the battle box, although it is a very interesting idea.

It does.

You can keep control of an airfield as long as you have units on the island even if you don’t control the island for earning reinforcement points.

Once all of one side’s units are eliminated only one side can control the airfields.

I like the fact that both units can be on an island and not have to keep battling until someone owns it.

It tooks days to take Iwo Jima.

additional note.  Here’s an example to print out.  This helped me alot.

Example: I have 2 destroyers and a cruiser in the space, and you are rolling 6 dice.

Slot         1         2         3         4                   5             6
Type  Destroyer Cruiser Battleship Aircraft Carrier Transport Submarine
Result Hit Roll  1    Hit Roll 2    Miss Roll 5 Miss Roll 3         Hit Roll 1 Hit Roll 2

* The first hit destroys a Destroyer because it’s a hit with a result of 1.
    * The second hit will damage the cruiser because it’s a hit with a roll of 2.
    * The next two shots miss.
    * The hit of 1 on the transport will go back to the start of the line and destroy another destroyer, since I have no transports in the space.
    * The hit of 2 on the sub will also go back to the start of the line, but there are no more destroyers left to kill (both have already been counted as destroyed from the 1’s). This will put a second damage on the Cruiser, destroying it.

Obviously destroyers, fighters, and infantry are “cannon fodder”.  The only way to get a sure hit is to get one on that spot of the ship such as a “Roll of 1” in the 5 location if there was an aircraft carrier.  During the war, there were no countermeasures for ships, smaller ones including PT boats would get in the way of the torpedo instead of the larger ship and take the hit.

I thought there might have been a kamikaze in this one, but Japan didn’t start doing that until later in the war.  Your choice for another house rule Token, but balance it out with something on the allied side.

@sanya33:

i just bought AAG and i played it for the first time last night.

3 questions about the rules:

1. when it says ‘move battleships, destroyers etc’ can they move if they are in a combat situation? so move them out of combat?

Yes you may. Your units are not locked in combat. They are free to move or load during the appropriate segments.

2. it’s my turn and i play 2nd. during a land attack  i lose an artillery. can i use this lost artillery to attack back during my round? (like most AA games)

My understanding is that casualties are not removed till the end of the phase except in the case of subs. Units get a chance to shoot back.

3. in order to damage my enemy’s airfield do i have to destroy all of his land pieces first??

thanks, sanya  :roll:

Nope. You just need two hits from bombers or ships.

@Shr3dZ:

Im just throwing this out there, I havent played enough to know for sure, but if the Japs invest heavily into airfields and supplies, the equal and opposite maneuver would be for the Yanks to go all units. If NG has an airfield on the first turn, and they are spending even more on trannies and supply for more airfields, the Yanks should have a good shot at taking NG for themselves no (assuming you go with all unit purchases)?

[…]

Have tried these unit heavy approach. Bought only one token, fall behind VP from second turn on. Attack New Georgia heavy: Lost three land units, one cruiser, several air units before land attack, and attacked with 25 or 26 dices against 25 japanese.

Was lucky with my two subs, could get one CV. Was more lucky with the japanese counter attack via air to my carriers - lost only the defending DDs.

Regardless of some disastrous dices (not controlled Santa Isabel on first turn; four japanese ART hit three ships on amphibic assault to New Georgia; 24 japanese dices hit 12 times) I got so much land units to New Georgia that I failed the control of the island only about one point. With normal dices I could get control of New Georgia. But is that enough? No! You have to eliminate all japanese ground units before get control over the airfield, and I didn’t come close to that.

My clonclusion so far: If the japanese bunkered on New Georgia, no land victory is possible (normal dices).

Perhaps I will try an air based assault to the japanese airfields in next game, with an amphibious assault to New Georgia only for bind the air above this island and the japanese navy.

If the japanese act as I described above, I see these scenario:

Should be possible to get four fully loaded carriers with the US navy to sea zone I and four additional FIGs to the airfields on Santa Isabel and Guadalcanal to protect the fleet. Attack in the third round as second player and attack the two airfield on Bougainville with eight fighters. These airfields should not protected except with one AA gun, at these moment the japanese have to protect to many objectives: New Georgia themselve and two flotillas.

Protect the US fleet in zone I with the four FIGs from Guadalcanal and Santa Isabel, if needed. If not, save these FIGs four next turn, perhaps attack japanese navy in sea zone B (the japanese carrier group should be there) if not protected.

With some luck both airfields could be damaged. Will perhaps instantly repaired from the supply tokens that the japanese player might have in game right now, but with that tokens the fifth airfield on New Georgia will not build.

With some more luck the battleship and the cruiser in sea zone I can damaged one more airfield on New Georgia. Than the japanese should lose some air units because of missing landing slots.

Do not landing any ground units on that turn! They will be only cannon fodder. Fall back on turn four, bring four bombers to your airfields, replace any loss of FIG. Attack New Georgia again on turn five. Same procedure with the FIGs, additional attack with the bombers. Bomber from Malaita and Guadalcanal can reach Choiseul or sea zone B to attack airfield and/or carriers. Could be a good move to attack Choiseul (suicidal) with four bombers to bind japanese FIGs there.

Could be possible to hold position in the VP run or take the lead. Could buy some time for perhaps some US subs, that can be added to the plot for sinking of the japanese carriers.

Of course the japanese could decide to re-attack the amphibic force in zone I, but then I would return my own carriers to New Caledonia for better protection and put all naval and air unit in that attack. Should be all navy, 12 FIGs and five BMR. Sounds good … ;-)

Of course the japanese can try to protect the airfields with additional FIGs, but this will bring a gap on other places.

Of course the japanese can attack the CVs in zone I with their subs, but such thing happens: The american navy have to risk their carriers near Midway and lost one, if I remember right, but the reward …

We will see … :-)