G40: Once in a Lifetime Dice Roll

Rule set we are currently playing by
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The map in playtest 9°

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M1.OIL1940v2.jpg

Have any of you ever modified some of the Sea Zones in the Pacific?  I am thinking about doing the following.  Would like comments and suggestions.

SZ6 - Japan:  Would be divided into two along the central “spine” of Japan.  Convoy Zone and Kamikaze marker would be repeated.  This would allow Japan to more safely mobilize sea units in the Sea of Japan between Korea and Mainland Japan.  This is basically the same divide that exists in the '42 2nd Edition version of A&A.

SZ’s 7 and 16:  Would be split in half with a North-South line.  This would prevent both Japan and US from directly attacking each other via Hawaii.  Instead, it would be necessary to launch (or hit) Midway or Aleutian Islands first.

SZ 30 - Johnson Island:  Would be split with an East-West line in the “lower part”.

**SZ 50 - Fiji:  **  Would be split an East-West line just below the island of Fiji.

With the political exile option for the UK, our group has decided to give Germany a 10 IPC NO for control of London.

Ok, you’ve learnt me some new things !
Thanks for that. Your NOs look fairly good.

@knp7765:

Hey Yavid,
I like your idea for Vichy/Free France. I have been wanting to incorporate that into the game, but most of the house rules for that seem too complicated. Your rules seem fairly simple. I have a few questions:
1 > If the Allies move into a French territory with no units in it (French Madagascar, French Equatorial Africa, French Central Africa, French Indo-China), those territories are simply liberated for Free France, right?
2 > Vichy France is considered an Axis country and their remaining income goes to Germany during the Vichy France collect income phase. So, after Germany finishes their turn and collects their own income, you add whatever Vichy France has left to the German total for spending next round, right? So it is possible that Allied forces could cut that down a bit.
3 > What happens if Axis forces enter Vichy French territories (e.g. Italy moving from Libya to Tunisia)? Since Vichy is considered Axis, I am assuming that Italy doesn’t actually take control of Tunisia, rather it is simply a shared occupation with the existing French infantry there.
4 > Can French units, once they turn Vichy, move from one French territory to another (e.g. French infantry from French West Africa to French Central Africa)?
5 > I am unclear what happens to the naval units. Are they also Vichy?
A = Do they have to just sit in their sea zones?
B = Or can they move and attack Allied ships?
C = If Allied ships attack Vichy French ships, do they have to sink them or can they turn them Allied?

I think that is it. If you could answer these questions, I think I can incorporate this idea into my next game.

Liberate them for Free France, correct The way I play it is Vichy France collects there income and hands it straight to Germany. The Allies can cut into Vichy’s income by attacking Convoy zones. Vichy Frances turn is basically only handing money straight to Germany. If an Axis power moves into Vichy France then it’s just like if Germany moves units into Italian territories. The just occupy it together. With the added risk of Vichy France switching sides when it comes to defending it. No they can’t move there units around. Vichy France tired to pretend to be neutral so they tired to stay out of it without angering Germany. The French navy also becomes Vichy. Remember UK attacked the French fleet in the med. because it refused to surrender to the allies. It’s kind of the effect I’m shooting for. Remember Vichy units only fight for one round and only one round all surviving Vichy units then switch sides and become Free French. Now that I think about it Vichy shouldn’t be able to switch by being attacked by only aircraft. A popular UK move is taking the Mech Inf. from Egypt and attacking Syria with no help. Odds are the mech doesn’t hit and the French inf. has only a 33% chance of a hit thus turning it Free French.

@Baron:

It is intended to be played with the starting board.

Fg A2D2M4C8, 1 hit, all hit destroy an enemy plane first, if there is any.
Give +1A/D to any TcB paired with.

TacB A2D3M4C10, 1 hit, gain +1 A/D when paired 1:1 with any Fg or Tank.
Can do a Tactical bombing raid vs AB and NB.

Now, the Fleet Carrier is A0D2M2C16, 2 hits, can now hold up to 3 planes.

This point is for balancing vs OOB full carrier with 2 planes:
2 Fgs= A6D8C20 (.7pt/IPC)  / 1 Fg+1TcB= A7D7C21 (.67pt/IPC)

3 TcBs= A6D9C30 (.5pt/IPC)
2 TcBs + 1 Fg = A7D9C28 (.57pt/IPC), but with Air Supremacy can rise to A10D10C28 (.71pt/IPC)
1TcB+2 Fgs= A7D8C26 (.58pt/IPC), but with Air Supremacy can rise to A8D8C26 (.62pt/IPC)
3 Fgs= A6D6C24 (.5pt/IPC)

There is probably some changes to compensate for the weaker planes units.
For instance, 1 CV with 1 Fg and 1 TcB should be added an additional Fg on board.
You can also put on board a Fleet Carrier 1 TcB or 1 Fg when there is 1 plane on a CV and at least 1 Fg or TcB in a Naval Base nearby.

Since in this HR TacB gets the best defensive value, it should be better to put on the initial board a TcB instead of an OOB Fg and put a Fg instead of a TacB.

I also prefer the roll of the dice.  I suppose I ought to be careful as I have never played out a game in LL.  I really enjoy the different directions that game often takes based on dice rolls.  Every game can be a different game whereas in LL I can see the game tending to play out along predictable ways.  That being said, re-rolls of early outrageous dice should be considered and I have allowed it and suggested it in my games when I was the beneficiary of the opponents bad dice.  If I win, it’s not going to be because my opponent got diced early.

I think it adds to the game when you have to consider and plan for unlikely outcomes.  It forces you to use more forces than you would like to and to hold some forces back for contingency plans.  Everyone is a competent general and planner when the dice are going their way.  The mark of a truly good tactician is the ability to build in flexibility to account for unlikely dice outcomes.  If dice are always determining the outcomes of your game then maybe you ought to play a bit differently.