Technology

Yes, a cruiser piece represents a flotilla of perhaps 4-6 cruisers.
An anti sub tech would sprinkle an imaginary destroyer or two in with them.

Destroyers of the time were VERY small. Almost practically just gunboats with a few depth charges.

As it stands now my suggestion is that Battleships can catch one plane.

What does this mean?

Also, i really think a game of this scope only needs 6 techs, but i’ll go with 12. What id rather like to see is 6 techs and 3-6 NA’s per player, because some of the techs are really nation specific. That way you get choice that seems more Historically reasonable. For example: war bonds for Ottomans is bunk, real bunk.

Perhaps just scrap the techs and feature 6 NA’s for each player?  That way the flavor of developments would have the feel of what was possible for each nation.

6 NAs x 8 Powers?

Good luck with that.

6 Techs and 3 “Millitary Doctrines” per power might be better.

Similar to a national advantage, but each power can pick one.

For the US it might be
1. Unequal Terms with Mexico - While the war in Europe drags on the US goes much deeper into Mexico, and strong arms them into an unfair trade deal.
As long as you occupy the United States with 10 Infantry you collect 10 more IPCs per turn from advantageous trade agreements with them.
2. Safe for Democracy - The US can activate strict neutrals as if they were aligned with the US
3. Send in the Marines - US infantry attack at 3 at all times, but cost 4 IPCs.

Actually these are crap.
What I am thinking of is “styles of play”. But Im too hungry to think logically right now.

Ok here goes…

First one idea: Italy and Ottomans cannot ‘build’ tanks, they can only capture them if they win a battle against defending tanks. For each destroyed tank, the attacker needs to roll a 2 or less to salvage the defending tank. A second die is rolled and the result equals the cost of retrofitting the tank for use on his next turn.

Note: all nations can potentially capture destroyed tanks in this same manner.

Second idea: In NCM land units can move 3 spaces

Techs:
Gas Attacks: Roll one D6, result is number of Infantry that must make a saving roll of 2 or less. The ones that roll 3+ are removed from play. This attack is performed first before combat.
Gas Masks: Same as above, but this is an extra roll only for lost units to bring them back @2 or less.
Strategic Artillery: Adjacent artillery can participate in combat and fires at 3 or less. If the attacker wins, these units are not advanced into the captured territory.
Tanks: you may not build tanks as per OOB.
Anti-Submarine Warfare: remains undefined
Industrial Warfare: Naval and Air units cost -1

National Advantages:

Germany:
Zeppelins:
Stosstrupen:
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare:

England:
War Bonds:

etc…

@Makoshark13:

Have depth charges where cruisers get some of the abilities of destroyers. Something like, subs can’t submerge when fighting a cruiser. Gives the allies a chance against the rampaging German subs.

That sounds kind of stupid. The Germans should be able to submerge. I mean, putting too many restrictions on the warfare is no fun. And it’s not fair to the attacking subs to not be able to submerge, unless you mean when being attacked. Even then, there’s no way the sub could do anything and in an instance like that they would just run away.

My version did prevent subs from submerging at a 1:1 ratio.

One cruiser can only prevent 1 sub from submerging

Economic Techs

1. War Bonds - During your collect income phase, collect an additional number of IPCs equal to 10% of your National Production Chart level, rounded up.

2. Increased Production - Tank and Fighter costs are reduced by 1 IPC.

3. Improved Shipyards - Naval units cost 1 IPC less.

We can argue about the war bonds. I think 10% is better than a die roll and if we round up, the average pay off should be between 2 and 4 IPCs.

Naval Techs

4. Anti-Submarine Warfare - Your Cruisers prevent enemy subs from submerging or moving through them at a 1:1 ratio.

5. Battle Cruisers - Cruisers attack at 4 or less, but still defend at 3 or less. Additionally, cruisers may perform offshore bombardment at 3.

6. Q Ships - Transports defend at 1 or less.

Naval Aviation was too unrealistic, so dropped it in favor of Q Ships (armed transports).

Made Battle Crusiers 4/3/3 to account for their increased firepower, while taking into account their lesser armor when compared to dreadnoughts.

Air Techs

7. Advanced Aviation - Fighters attack and defend at 3 or less.

8. AA Guns - Artillery may target fighters before combat begins, firing at 1. The number of dice that may be rolled is limited to the number of artillery available or the number of fighters present, whichever is smaller. A nation with AA Gun technology may use it against fighters in a bombing raid, provided they have artillery units present in the targeted territory.

9. Bombing - Fighters may perform one of the following bombing raids instead of engaging in combat:

A) Fighters within 2 spaces of an enemy capital may perform a strategic bombing raid. Each fighter in the raid rolls one die, deducting 1 IPC from the attacked powers treasury for each 1 rolled up to a maximum of the capital’s IPC value. Strategic bombing raids are resolved before other combats and the fighters acting as bombers play no role in any subsequent battle for air supremacy. Surviving fighters return to the same territory they launched the bombing raid from.

B) Fighters may perform a tactical bombing raid on an adjacent territory. Each fighter in the raids rolls one die, destroying 1 enemy unit for each 1 rolled. Tactical bombing raids are resolved after strategic bombing raids and before other combats and the fighters acting as bombers play no role in any subsequent battle for air supremacy. Surviving fighters return to the same territory they launched the bombing raid from.

In both strategic and tactical bombing raids, if the targeted territory has fighters present, one round of aerial combat is fought according to the system laid out on the battle board. Surviving fighters acting as bombers then roll for strategic or tactical damage.

Modified bombing to incorporate tactical bombing to make it worthwhile for those powers who won’t be getting within 2 spaces of an enemy capital. This way the bombers tech covers the whole range of WWI bombing from Handley Page and Muromets to Zeppelins.

Edited for clarification.

Land Techs

10. Radio Communications - During combats where friendly forces are also in the contested zone, roll a die. That many friendly artillery may be used to boost your attacking forces on a 1:1 ratio, but may not participate in combat.

11. Chemical Warfare - In one attack this turn, roll a die: 1-4 that many infantry do not roll defensively; 5-6: No effect. If the defender also has the Chemical Warfare Breakthrough he halves the number of infantry so immobilized, rounded down.

12. Stromtrooper Tactics - When you are the attacker, you may conduct a second round of combat.

Stormtrooper Tactics could really open things up. Perhaps we should think of making a tech hierarchy, with certain techs needed before others?

Edited, forgot Chemical Warfare, so dropped Heavy Artillery.

How about four tech trees, you have to get the first tech before you can get the next:

Economic:

War Bonds -> Improved Shipyards -> Improved Production

Follows attempts to keep improving production - first raise more money, then work on improving efficiency and productivity.

Naval:

Q Ships -> Battle Cruisers -> Anti-Submarine Warfare

Evolving response to submarines.

Air:

AA Guns -> Advanced Aviation -> Bombers

Evolving nature of air warfare.

Land:

Radio Communication -> Chemical Warfare -> Stormtrooper Tactics

Finding a way to break the stalemate.

Or to be really rigid, you have to get all tier I techs before you can get any tier II techs, etc.

Edited: forgot Chemical Warfare, so dropped Heavy Artillery.

Please drop economic bombing. The tech is 3 paragraphs long and has no place in WWI.

Can we find another air tech for gods sake?

@oztea:

Please drop economic bombing. The tech is 3 paragraphs long and has no place in WWI.
Can we find another air tech for gods sake?

How about improved aerial combat tactics?  According to Wikipedia, “By the end of World War I, aerial combat had progressed to the point where dogfighting tactics based on such doctrine as the Dicta Boelcke had progressed to the point that air supremacy could be achieved; the earliest example is the Italian air offensive against the Austro-Hungarians just before the end of World War I.”

Well we already have planes becoming 3/3.
We could have them be allowed 2 rounds of dogfighting or have them get longer range.

Bombing is so out of place it makes me sick. It just didn’t have the kind of impact in WWI.
And besides, no one will want bombers. Its more important to boost your stack of artillery than it is to maybe blow up 1-3 IPCs

@oztea:

Please drop economic bombing. The tech is 3 paragraphs long and has no place in WWI.

Can we find another air tech for gods sake?

OK, I’m nothing if not flexible. I just have to be hit over the head a couple of times for the flexibility to rise to the surface. :-D

Air Techs

7. Advanced Aviation - Fighters attack and defend at 3 or less.

8. AA Guns - Artillery may target fighters before combat begins, firing at 1. The number of dice that may be rolled is limited to the number of artillery available or the number of fighters present, whichever is smaller. A nation with AA Gun technology may use it against fighters in a bombing raid, provided they have artillery units present in the targeted territory.

9. Bombing - Fighters may perform a bombing raid on an adjacent territory instead of engaging in combat, scoring a hit on a roll of 1. If the target territory has fighters present, one round of aerial combat takes place before the attacking fighters roll to inflict damage. Bombing raids take place before all other combat. Surviving fighters return to their original territory before land combat begins.

Bombing is now strictly tactical bombing. I’ve stuck with only adjacent territories to account for the fighters need to fly there and back. Since it’s now only tactical bombing, should they hit on a 2 or less just like fighters do, rising to 3 or less with Advanced Aviation?

Here are some other options that work within the role planes have:

Coordinated Observation: Your fighters may grant air superiority to friendly forces in contested territories. Friendly fighters also grant your forces air supremacy.

Observation Specialists: When you have air superiority your artillery attack at 5.

Id still rather use my fighter to boost artillery than risk it on some ill begotten bombing raid.

The utility of fighters is in observation.
For air techs we have an attack boost, a defense against air, i think an observation enhancement tech would be logical.

Air Techs

7. Advanced Aviation - Fighters attack and defend at 3 or less.

8. AA Guns - Artillery may target fighters before combat begins, firing at 1. The number of dice that may be rolled is limited to the number of artillery available or the number of fighters present, whichever is smaller. A nation with AA Gun technology may use it against fighters in a bombing raid, provided they have artillery units present in the targeted territory.

9. Aerial Photography - In combat, choose an enemy unit to target before you roll for each artillery unit.

I thought you wanted to keep rolling to a minimum.

Calling out each artillery shot one by one will take a long time.
I think arty shooting at 5
Or HALF of your artillery can shoot at 5 with air superiority would be better.

All the techs need to be 2 or 3 sentences max. Larry doesn’t wrote paragraph long techs.