@Gamerman01:
Krieghund used to frequent this thread but he hasn’t posted for awhile. If you really want to know, you’ll need him.
In the meantime, I’ll take a stab.
I’m sure it has nothing to do with “game balance”. It’s not like it benefits one side more than the other.
It’s derived from the relatively new “ignore submarines and transports” rules.
Sure, they could have worded the exception to say “to avoid combat”, but they didn’t. My guess is, it is an unintended “loophole”, as I think also is the cheesy ANZAC declare war on Japan after UK moves a destroyer smack into Japan’s main transport fleet. IMO this is a much bigger scofflaw than your little sub thing. :-)
I’ll tell you a rule that bugs me more - it’s that you can’t destroy transports and also bombard from the same zone. If you have a single non-bombarding attacking unit, it should be able to sink the transports - you shouldn’t have to choose (whether to bombard, or to sink transports).
Seems you are extra focused on this one rule because it worked against you once in a game :roll:
My point is, as I said before, there are actually many of these quirky rules that could really bug a player. The rule book is set at this point AFAIK. Since 2nd edition, it’s been pretty much time to accept the rules as they are and learn to play with them. It is fruitless to seek reasoning or campaign for change. That ship sailed, when Larry was actually getting (way too much) feedback from all the players between OOB and 2nd edition.
If you really have a beef (again, I think you are just frustrated because you couldn’t sink a sub and it convoyed you for maximum damage once), then you should message Larry directly, on his website. Maybe you will have an effect on a future game. I highly doubt it.
There are many, many subtle little rules like this one that can catch a player off guard. Be glad it wasn’t one that made you lose the game. That can happen.
Also, now that you know the rule, it shouldn’t catch you again, and you can exploit it yourself. That’s always been a part of playing A&A, from the beginning.
Happy gaming, Magic
Hi Gamerman01
Thanks for your time. I think you are good and experienced enough to realize the balance problem it will cause.
It allows allies to constantly convoy Axis (eg. sz6) with subs knowing that Japanese have to move fleets from there next round and the allies sub can survive. Japan can convoy allies? True. But not as profitable as allies. And usually Japanese sub can’t survive as allies coalition force (eg. ANZ) can finish it off. To let enemy’s force survive in your heart area will damage you more than a few convoy IPC lose.
This loophole weakens Japan thus helps allies a little bit overall. Sounds like a good idea to balance the game. I should have been happy to accept. Unfortunately, it is against A&A game’s mechanic or spirit. This game is balanced in a mutually acceptable way but not by anything like this. At least I haven’t noticed any.