Well this is somewhat offtopic from the core of the thread, but the approach so far for variable has involved the non-com opening for the player who wins the role, in such a game. Which I think could work for an expanded Commonwealth Dominions faction too.
Typically the player/nation which starts begins in the non-com phase at zero to start, but collects the largest bonus. Each nation receives paired cash bonuses one time (at the beginning) after which point the game relies on the map values and printed IPCs, together with the bonuses gathered around the VCs, or through a spoils bonus (+1 ipc for taking a territory) or other bonuses which are generic and universal for all players. Things like that.
I favor a more basic ruleset generally for a g40 board, since the map itself and the unit roster is already highly complex. NOs require constant tracking, and more and more NOs get introduced to offset the effect of the NOs already in play, until the manual starts to require its own separate “players guide” or a deck of cards or incessant consultation and deep familiarity with the nuanced rules in the rulebook. The basic rules I am working on would take a different approach. Because I think all that stuff works fine in the smaller theater games, but is a hindrance when you up the scale to combine them both into one massive time sink haha. To that, but that is a different subject from just the basic idea of a Dominions faction.
For the Commonwealth Dominions, and the British Empire (including India and the rest of their possessions) the point I was hoping to make is that the Commonwealth player has a more interesting basic functionality that has me intrigued if it incorporated Canada and South Africa. I think they could be integrated in a lot of different potential ways, but would definitely be more interesting than just Anzac alone.
To the point about factories, the monster stacks that g40 features are in large part a function of all the majors +10 and the ability to upgrade. I know you can’t get rid of the stack push, but I think there are things you could do with factory or production restriction that might help. The potential for Canada to actually be an effective power, and South Africa, and Anzac is what I like, and the integration of the UK/India into one economy (since that last especially opens the discussion of factory adjustment to work).
I am thinking out loud a bit, when I mentioned the turn order, clearly all this is just musing on possibilities. What had me excited was the idea that you could split positions on UK/Dominion/France turns if so desired, so you get F/G/R/J/USA/Italy/UK-Dominion (back to France) or other potential starts in a similar sequence that might be interesting to explore. So in a variable game with Non-Com start with bonuses, the first player has a cash bonus but no placement (since they start in the middle of a game phase.) This would mean a larger pot for the Germans to steal on Paris, but offset by a UK-Dominion bonus. Or we do other similar mechanics to change the game, basically by altering the starting money and position in the turn order, this as an alternative to bids.
Not sure if you would enjoy that sort of game or not, I do, but again the basic thrust here was that I think the Dominion idea has promise. I did a quick draft up above with CWOMarc’s point about S.A. being a Dominion stronghold. I like the faction name the Dominions, because it sounds badass and reminds me of star trek haha! Commonwealth Dominions CD, and British Empire BE, the shorthand I already finding myself adopting in my head :)
