G40 Balance Mod - Rules and Download

@all-encompassing-goose

Hi, these rules are cool. I did not base my rules off of this. This was developed independently.

A different take on “free for all”. Being able to make alliances though means it should be called “shifting alliances” rather than “free for all”.

@all-encompassing-goose

Crazy!

You have some of the most interesting ideas on this forum.

I would only have the two boards fighting each other change and the part where the boards don’t wrap around, but not the Panama Canal or national objective rules-just a few questions and recommendations:

So I assume that West India is given back to UK Europe, and Western Canada is given back to UK Pacific-is that right? Thank you!

Is there a capital for the Soviet Far Eastern territories?

You might need to make a new map, as the proportions on the map do not allow for your idea to work effectively, unless they are already explained before playing, but that might be tough, especially with the sea zones.

For national objectives, change all references for the respective powers from Allies or Axis to the respective map alliance (of course, this means Japan get all their national objectives, but it also means that Italy and Germany get most of their national objectives as well).

Finally, all Soviet national objectives should be given to the Europe side (how the Soviets will get their Berlin national objective is if they liberate it, there is still the first time rule), and all Pacific related national objectives should go to the US Pacific, and all Europe related national objectives should go to Europe US. This assumes that all national objectives are for the global version. The 10 IPCs for the US control Eastern, Central, and Western United States is split evenly between US Europe and Pacific

Hi all,

Big fan of 3G40 & the improvements it introduces to a beloved game. Wondering if there exists a set of rule/setup changes required/recommended to play it in only the European theater, akin to the OOB E40 game.

@Young-Grasshopper, if you haven’t already written those up, any off-the-cuff thoughts on what would be required to maintain game balance on half the board?

@taamvan it is ridiculous how easy it is for Japan to kill China and how worth it to do it.

But to your point, we have all of these complicated efforts to add to our game variety flavor historical elements. All good! But the most elegant solutions is always the simplest: adjust or eliminate Allied political handcuffs. Good topic. I would do it incrementally to analyze the effects. I would start with Russia.

I’m reviewing all Vichy rules available out there, as I plan to make a unique mod, because I like historical realism and simplicity, with minimized luck of dice, and some “asymmetric balance”.

Some major points I’ve posted elsewhere in the forum:

The main issue for this expansion is how to develop French neutrality, while at the same time providing a bonus to Germany. Apparently ignored by most players, in real life (IRL), Germany economically exploited Vichy, which had to richly sustain 300,000 German troops stationed in Northern France. Therefore, in the game, it only makes total sense that Germany gets the 3 IPCs from Vichy Southern France.

Another related major issue is what to do with French colonies in terms of neutrality/occupation and IPC flows. I agree that the Vichy setup should reflect what happened IRL: North Africa, Syria, and Indochina go to Vichy, while other French colonies stay Free. However, it messes up Italy’s incursions into North Africa (as IRL, Hitler denied French colonies to Italy). I’m not sure yet as to the best approach to subjecting these colonies to invasion, occupation, and who gains IPCs (other than agreeing that Japan has easy access “rights” over Vichy Indochina), and also remote units…

Germany never fought Vichy. IRL, with Operation Torch, Germany simply occupied Vichy in 1942, with no resistance whatsoever. Vichy units were disbanded. That can be also the case in the game. Just remove Vichy units.

The uncertainty surrounding local pre-battles is quite interesting (will Vichy troops welcome or resist Allies in North Africa?..). However, I’d try to minimize dice randomness that is often used to decide some outcome. IRL, Vichy troops (just like Italians) surrendered as soon as seeing enemy superiority: thus, in the game, if Allies send more land + air units than defending Vichy units, then there should be no battle but quick surrender. Or, make it highly unlikely that a battle would ensue (for example, need to roll a 1).

I’m now working on my own house rules, for an expansion (HBG lingo) that is quite realistic, fun yet simple. If anyone is interested, let me know and I’ll be happy to share my rules when ready…

phd_angel@yahoo.com

Chicago, December 2020

In the interest of putting unit variant house rules ideas in one place, I’m starting a new thread.  Here’s my tentative list:

Piece              Name                  Attack        Defense        Move        Cost        Special
Soldier 1        Para. Infantry          2                2                1            4            Can be air dropped w/ +1 attack

Soldier 2        Elite/ Marine            2                2                1            4            + 1 Attack during Amphibious Assult

Truck/
TT Jeep        Motor Unit                0                0                2            1            Can Blitz: “Motorizer” for Infantry/Art.

Gun(1)          Artillery                  2                2                1            4            + 1 to infantry attack on 1-1 basis

Gun (2)          Heavy Artillery          2                3                1            5            + 1 to infantry attack on 1-1 basis

Half-Track    Mech. Infantry          2                2                2            4            Can Blitz

Tank 1          Armor                      3                2                2            5            Can Blitz

Tank 2          Heavy Armor              3                3                2            6            Can Blitz

Fighter 1      Fighter                      3                4                4            12

Fighter2/      Fighter-Bomber/
Light Bomber  Tac Bomber              4                2                4            12            +1 tanks attack on 1-1 basis

Bomber        Bomber                      4                1                6            14

I try to implement a scale when it comes to Russia and the US.  Russia whenever it takes occupied nations back from the Germans can either add it to her territory and recieve IPs for it or she can liberate it without gaining any IPs.  The more territories she takes for her own the closer she goes to war with the US and Britian.  Eventually aid is suspended and after a while war is declared.  After that my friends and I have many rules about what happens afterward.  Also the scale to which these consequences occur varies, but it works.

When Hitler is successfuly assasinated Germany gets a permenant 5 IPC increase.

The Tech rules suck, I sugest you make your own or stick with the originals.