Improved Research and Development 1940 Second Edition

@barnee

You’re absolutely correct.

While in playing games against myself which are lower stakes I sometimes try it, when it comes to actual, serious games against other players I stay well away from it.

It’s mostly if you just want to spice the game up and you don’t care about winning or losing.

That being said the technology does give you great advantages depending in the power and technology.

Super Subs+Improved Shipyards almost guarantees US or Japanese (depending on who got both of them) dominance in the Pacific.

Of course getting those two technologies is not easy, but it’s not impossible.

@franklin_cain yea it’d make sense for it to be Dutch and German controlled. Treat it the same as the Dutch Territories in the Pacific and the Chinese ones controlled by Japan.

You could house rule it. I guess that way Italy could get it if they conquered it after Germany lost it. I’ve never seen Germany build a major there or even a minor : )

Those are the rules though : ) So yea, no erratta

Edit
I suppose Poland, Norway and Denmark should be treated as Neutrals though. Vyborg, Baltic States and Bessarabia for USSR too. Maybe Poland Pro-Allies ? Vyborg Pro-Axis ? Hmm … I’d say no to Vyborg.

@general-spengler said in [Global 1940] Units Expansion Set:

Also if anyone has thoughts on the values (particularly cost) and if they seem balanced that would be good info as well.

Good action here. Global 40 House Rules has Escort CVs at C 9. I figured at 10, you’d just buy a 2 hit Fleet CV at 16 instead, although Italy or ANZAC might still buy one. There’s also an option that gives them ASW ability as well to encourage buys.

board 3659 has them moving only 1 +1 w/NB. In my tests Italy buys them and sometimes ANZAC, but not really anybody else. I just test against myself though. I still like them and think they’re a cool unit.

The Conscripts are A0 D1 C2 max build of 8. Can conquer empty TTYs though. They get spammed otherwise. I think with your limit of 2 per turn and using the Recruitment Centers are good ideas to limit that though as well as not being able to attack.

I always stick em in the front line and use them as bullet stoppers lol. Russia really likes em.

These could be added to the House Rules Mod for triplea if you want. Idk if you use triplea or not, but it’s real good for testing stuff from a time standpoint even if you prefer the physical board.

Once again, Good Action : )

@crsluggo Hi crsluggo,

When British Commandos are supported by artillery in an attack, they attack at “3” - and the artillery at “2” as usual.

After the attack, any surviving Commandos operate under regular infantry rules - but they are still Commandos.

So, during any future attack they (again) attack at “3” - when supported by artillery. Otherwise they attack at “1” as regular infantry - even though they are Commandos.

In other words; the artillery unit is the key.

The same rule applies to US Marines.

Please note: German Waffen-SS infantry units have similar qualities when supported by Waffen-SS Artillery.

@hengst not wasted at all. Repetition is what fine tunes these scenarios to make them the best they can be. Keep up the good work

@CWO:

I’m not sure I understand the concept of a Pearl Harbor attack involving no Japanese ships, since the whole operation revolved around the use of a Japanese carrier strike force to bring the attacking aircraft into range of Pearl Harbor.  Japanese aircraft in 1941 didn’t have the range to fly all the way to Hawaii from Japan and all the way back again.  The closest that Japan ever came to doing anything like that were one or two very small bombing raids carried out against Hawaii by (if I recall correctly) a couple of flying boats from Kwajalein Atoll.  These flying boats – Emilys, I think – were big and slow and clumsy, could hardly have done much damage, and would have had to fly unescorted since no Japanese fighters had the equivalent range.

As for the Doolittle Raid, it was carried out by B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, not by tactical bombers.  The rule section about these normally land-based planes being carrier-launched is correct (they used special training and techniques to launch from a flight deck), but the rule would have to be more precise than just saying that “The US player can launch 2 TB from 1 carrier” because it doesn’t restrict the location of the carrier and it doesn’t specify that the planes have to fly a one-way mission.  In the actual raid, Hornet had to get close enough for the planes to launch, hit their targets and continue to China.  The planes didn’t have the range to return to the carriers, and in any case could never have made a carrier landing; the techniques they used to launch from a carrier couldn’t work in reverse to land on one.

Also, the pearl harbor attack included Jaanese subs. It wasn’t a pure air attack.

Hi all,

Been a long time reader on the boards, but this is my first time posting! Been an avid AA player and history buff for a long time. Sorry to post here at such a later date, but I wanted to get an opinion.

My take on adding Canada to the game without too much drastic effects on the playability involved a couple of moving parts.

Give Canada the 7 ipc income of the Canadian territories to spend each turn, but that same ipc value still counts towards the UK as well, with the UK also able to build from IC’s there.

Do the same thing for South Africa, giving them both South Africa territories and Rhodesia for a 4 ipc total. Again, UK still controls the money as well, with UK also able to build from IC’s there.

Both Commonwealths still play as part of the UK, buy, move, combat, etc. Essentially just adding 11 ipc income.

To counter this so it’s not unfair to the Axis, do the same thing with Romania, Finland, Bulgaria, and Hungary (Slovakia-Hungary on the map of course). Those four powers would have a total of 9 ipc value between them. I figured the extra two ipc’s would have minimal effect.

Essentially all I did was add ipc’s and therefore troop numbers to the game, just forcing them to be used at their respective locales.

My only thought with this was would the immediacy of the minor Axis powers being on the front lines basically effect gameplay on the Eastern Front more so than the added Commonwealth powers would in Africa and Europe? I don’t want to hurt the USSR unfairly.

Any feedback would be great! Glad to finally post and be a part of the community!

@eroxors

Thanks!!

I’m interested in your views on another Dutch idea… what I call “Double Dutch” and posted on the G40 forum as a new topic –

"Since G40 has Dutch marker emblems printed on the board, I’ve become interested in finding a way to include them in the game without simply forcing them in and creating more meaningless clutter in the process.

@eroxors has some nice posts and other members give thoughtful discussion here [The Dutch Diaspora, alternate AAG1940 playable faction]

After some admittedly light surface research (reading a few wikipedia sites about Suriname and the historical Dutch Gov’t in Exile at London), I can envision a scenario where the Dutch begin as an Allied power in Exile, but then SWITCH to Axis. What–how?

Basically, the Dutch were cooperative with Germany prior to a betrayal by Nazi Germany. Then, while a Gov’t in Exile at London, the Dutch leaders were made essentially impotent by the Queen–Churchill considered her “the only man in the Dutch government.”

Suddenly, the Nazis are decapitated as the controlling Party of Germany when Hitler is successfully assassinated at the hand of his own inner-circle (the assassination is not scripted at a particular point in the game, but rather is a chance event, based on a recurring die roll–no pun intended). The National Socialist Party fractures in splinters, and is displaced when contemporary-minded civilian and military entities reorganize in unity, under the headship of fictional Dietrich Helm, who is swiftly installed as the new German National Unity Party Leader. Hammer Geil becomes Commander of German armed forces, and the Generals are happy to finally have a military man heading their operations. (As an aside, in order to stomach the fun of playing Germany, which is part of my ethnic heritage, I’ve imagined a different German Leadership during the war. This is a personal side-benefit of this optional faction.)

In the new ruling Party’s immediate attempt to gain another European ally, reparations (in terms of restored Holland-Belgium territorial sovereignty, with a defense pact, plus an additional pledge of a specified number of German IPCs and units) are offered to the Dutch leadership now embittered by the mothering of the British Queen–and The Dutch become a WESTERN Axis Power!

To safeguard the now-Axis government and in a stroke of geopolitical genius, Suriname is established as the Dutch Wartime Capital/Headquarters. Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Venezuela turn Pro-Axis. An uprising occurs in the West Indies, which possibly falls to Dutch control (more on that later).

(Depending on balancing factors, a small number of Dutch units are placed in Suriname and Belgium-Holland. To protect Suriname from immediate American invasion, some National Objective or consequence may need to be invoked. One idea to promote a feasible Double-Dutch entry could be that additional international neutrals with historical ties to The Low Countries and even Spain or Portugal would all turn Pro-Axis if the Allies invade the South American State. The Monroe Doctrine could require such an invasion? Another hybrid idea is given in greater detail below.)

**

In the Pacific, however, the Western-Axis Dutch become NEUTRAL with the Japanese, but can become AT WAR with Japan–only if provoked by an attack. If the Japanese already occupy originally-Dutch territories, a resolution based on an overall alignment with the Axis is reached. Those details could include the Dutch “buying back” the IPC value of each Japanese-controlled territory originally belonging to the Dutch, all at once or incrementally, with the political power of the European Axis Powers being sufficient to broker a deal with the Japanese. Occupying Japanese units would exit the Dutch East Indies as soon as possible, without combat occurring. Japan would receive one-time per territory the IPC value of each “liberated” Dutch East Indies territory as each is converted.

Once a W-Axis, Dutch units are considered hostile to the Allies, even in the Pacific Theatre. The Dutch will NEVER become an ally of Japan, although their mutual Pacific enemies may lend to an uncoordinated passive cooperation by remaining Neutral with one another. Therefore, W-Axis Dutch units may only share space with Germany and Italy.

Some additional “Double Dutch” considerations:

The assassination roll (and if a 1D6 is successful at “6”, the implications of political realignment) takes place at the beginning of Germany’s turns, before any other purchases/repairs, etc.

W-Axis Dutch could be managed either as a separate Power, or as a German “One Power, Two Economies”

-or-

W-Axis Dutch could have the option to re-establish its homeland as their capital in Europe if conditions are considered secure. Suriname could later be established as a South American foothold for the Axis to sway the continent’s standing armies to Pro-Axis.

-and/or-

If newly W-Axis Dutch choose Suriname as a Wartime Capital, Germany cannot negotiate a Dutch Axis-switch unless the following reparation terms are met:

Germany must immediately send at least 2 defensive air units (not strategic bombers) to Suriname. These defensive air units (but not any additional) must remain as defenders for the territory and adjacent sea zone for as long as Berlin stands.

Germany transfers 30 IPC to The Dutch for purchasing an air base, minor IC, and an Infantry in Suriname, which now being aligned with nearby Pro-Axis Venezuela and Brazil, receives logistical support for the Territorial IPC Requirements of the minor IC being ABLE TO MOBILIZE THIS TURN.

If/once Suriname is established as Wartime Capital, neighboring British and French Guiana fall to W-Axis Dutch via German political muscle for a coup-d’etat in each, and are annexed. (Any Allied Forces present in either would be eliminated/become POWs if such a house rule for POWs exists.)

Each territory, in addition to Suriname, immediately produce 1 Dutch Infantry. Unless liberated, all 3 territories are considered a single “Suriname” territory worth 2 IPC, as if they were originally worth 2/3 of an IPC apiece. (Use Dutch markers, if available. Also, use either German units or a new color such as turquoise or orange units such as those HBG supplies.)

The uprising in the West Indies generates (2) Dutch Infantry. Would need resolution process if American forces are present. Consider any occupying American forces in the West Indies to be required to conduct combat with W-Axis Dutch, but to simulate the political upheaval and national uprising, allow the 2 Dutch Infantry a unique “Surprise Strike” each attacking at 2 (like submarines).

Certain issues with mid-game/late-game ANZAC/British troops occupying/controlling originally-Dutch territories would need a resolution process

W-Axis Dutch, if a separate Power, would play after Germany

There would be games where the 1D6 roll would happen in Turn 1, other games where it didn’t occur at all, and anywhere in-between. The political instability may bring a bittersweet tension to the game. Allied players who overcompensate for a potential “Double Dutch” Power may waste valuable time and resources for an event which never occurs. The unpredictability may add a realistic new psychological dynamic to the game, if the final design isn’t too convoluted, or stifling to the game, or significantly unbalanced.

Where are the historical/practical problems/holes here? Fire away!"