Problems with Cruisers: colors/numbers??

$60 preorder, expected April 2024 release.

https://renegadegamestudios.com/axis-allies-guadalcanal/

From the web page:

“Classic Axis & Allies gameplay set in a more focused theater of war: the Solomon Islands in August 1942.
Play as the United States or Japan in this head to head battle for 2 players!
Use the Battle Box to roll your dice during attacks!
Over 170 plastic miniatures included!
Updated the mini sculpts for several of the pieces to make them more appropriate for the setting of this game.
Airstrips tokens are updated to have control markers for US & Japan on either side. Nine Damaged Tokens have been added to show when these airstrips are damaged.
Updated rulebook to add any clarifications and FAQs since previous printing.”

Here is a second variant for adding Seaplanes to the game – this time without a bonus attack round. This variant can only be applied when playing with the optional rule of Hidden Movement.

Players secretly plan all sea movements (including freighters, destroyers and their cargo). Seaplanes are sent out - with the limit of maximum five sea zones and two seaplanes per sea zone. Submarines may be moved to scout ships. No attacks at this time! Dice are rolled separately for seaplanes and submarines: The result determines how many and which ships the opponent must reveal in that sea zone - i.e., he must reveal (= execute movement for) one ship of each category that either remains in or is moved to that sea zone. The following assignment applies: 1 = one freighter, 2 = one freighter + aircraft carrier each, 3 = one freighter + aircraft carrier + battleship each, 4 = one freighter + aircraft carrier + battleship + cruiser/destroyer each. On a roll of 5, the seaplane returns to base because it missed the enemy; on a roll of 6, it is destroyed. For submarines, a roll of 4, 5 or 6 means no enemy sighting. Thus they cannot sight cruisers and destroyers. Optional: for every die roll of 1, a seaplane may force a submarine that has remained in or moved to its sea zone at this point to submerge instead of having the enemy to reveal a freighter. Example 1: Japan rolls a “1” and a “3” for its two seaplanes in sea zone H. The US player must reveal the following units, if available: 2 freighters, 1 aircraft carrier, and 1 battleship. He does not have to reveal the planned movements of the other ships in sea zone H. Example 2: The US rolls a “2” and a “5” for a seaplane and a submarine in sea zone G. Japan must reveal one freighter and one aircraft carrier, if available. It does not have to reveal a second carrier or any other ships. Starting with the First Player, players move their bombers, tactical bombers and fighters. Only now the remaining naval movements are executed. Submarine attacks are also done in this step. This also applies to subs used for scouting in step 3 (unless they have been forced to submerge). Following the submarines, as usual, the battles take place in the order of air, sea and land combat.

Everyone is kindly asked to playtest and report on both variants. Depending on my gaming buddy, I will give both variants a try. Perhaps the first variant without using Hidden Movement, the second variant using this optional rule.

This is good stuff. I really appreciate the color balance in your version.

-Midnight_Reaper

@krieghund

Brilliant ! Thank you so much

@the_good_captain – Thanks for the help!

@frimmel

Amen. You are absolutely right about that one. My first Guadalcanal game also took way longer than expected. But we were both rather unprepared and thus it was our fault. With a few games played I do like Guadalcanal a lot. It is different, but very balanced. Battles can be a nail-biting experience, especially when a lone enemy subs preys on your carriers or transports.

I like Guadalcanal too. I like BOTB better but this one is pretty tasty too.

@Shr3dZ:

Ok, one more question:

At the beginning of the game, Japan has at least 1 unit on each island. In the case of Choiseul or Santa Isabel, if you remove that single infantry, do you lose control? Do the reinforcement points suddenly go to the natives? Or is it still yours until someone else lands a unit on it, hence the Japanese flag icon indicating you have control in the box with the single unit?

If the US player has no ground units on that islands, than you keep control.

Second part:
If you have 1 AAA on and island, since it has no land attack value, can it keep control of an island for you?

If the other player has no units on that island: Yes.
If the other player has land units on that island, but your navy near that island has in summary more supporting points than your enemy with ground units and navy: Yes.

In short: You only lose control of an island if the enemy has ground units on it and the dice value of enemy force is bigger than yours. Naval units only count if there is at least one ground unit (can be an AA gun) on island. Air units not count in.