Posts made by Delaja

@gen-manstein
That is optional for history buffs 😉

@gen-manstein
We have seen people choose a capital near USA, but the downside is that it is far from the front. Close to Egypt would be handy, but there are still a lot of possibilities I have not seen played out yet. Some obviously not but pick any French land zone that suits your strategy best. It does not have to be in the French home country.

@hbg-gw-enthusiast
The continuation of recruitment rolls for CCP is a rule I enjoy so much. It hints to the later fears of Communism taking over the world with literally hordes of communists. As a major power CCP can attack outside of China. A true nightmare for the Allies and the Axis. We decided them to be able to run wild once they would become a major power, because the possibility of being wiped out by other factions especially at the start of the game is real. The stakes are always high. ✌️

@hbg-gw-enthusiast
If I remember correctly, the lead designer and I decided on ‘can’ on purpose and I think I remember we said we wanted it to go back and forth between major and minor should someone want Paris as the capital and loose it. So if Paris is in the middle of the front lines, you should think twice to make it your capital. It might well be that the new capital may be much easier defended and that the political and military leaders rule Free France from there until the end of the war. If the lead designer does not disagree or it is clarified in further errata apply as is written up here.

@Chris_Henry
I agree that the Allies mostly have their elite units in the Special Operations Expansion already. But there are some units among which you mentioned that deserve some attention. However I am not posting this from an official HBG point of view, but merely to scratch the surface of what could or might one day be. I had a similar issue back then with the Elite of the Soviet Union expansion. Designing it in a similar fashion as the German variant was not possible, because of the specific way Soviet elite units developed to be just that. So halfway the design I had to decide to start over again from a different angle and Soviet units became elite by rewarding. It could be a similar game mechanic by which the Allied Elite could be designed. Maybe there are alternatives. But it is off topic to go into that very deep and also I don’t want to give away any rudimentary ideas that exist already.
But on your list it contains some units I also have on my wish list as a player. As a designer I can only say that such an expansion is not (yet) in the making. People could use the Allied units from the Special Forces Expansion and house rule them. That is one of the fun things of the game. You can mix drinks as you can mix expansions to add the flavor to the game as you wish it to be.
So I can’t really answer your question, because I am not officially searching, but I am curious which units th e community thinks are elite units and also why. They could be regular army units who did something seemingly impossible.

@misck
Understanding your question as Paris falling for a second time in the game. I would say apply 9.23 here for the cash if Paris was chosen as the capital again. (Free) France would become a minor power and go back and forth between major and minor power each time losing Paris
Check War status, surrender and evolvement to major power on the Free French NRS.

So in your case there is no Vichy anymore so we can speak of Free France being France. If Paris was the capital of (Free) France, it needs to choose another capital. Cash would in your case go to Germany, unless France would have chosen to keep its other capital as capital. France becomes a minor power again until Paris is liberated. And Paris does not need to be liberated specifically by Free French (which could be an interpretation of the rules). Any liberation of Paris would make France a major power again. As a minor power France can do no tech rolls or send lend lease.

@generalhandgrenade
Correct

@chris_henry
There are multiple candidates in your list that are featured in the Special Operations Forces Expansion. Still a lot remain. Question is, what is the distinction between a special operations forces and an elite unit. When I did the research on the Special Operations Forces Expansion, I chose to differentiate between elite forces (marines, airborne and some other nation specific elite forces) and special operations forces (smaller size units with specialized training (sometimes behind enemy lines or at the frontier of upcoming battles as preparations/softening defenses and such)).
That said the elite expansions versus OOB rules show a bit more historical background to what otherwise are generic elite units in the game. There is a difference in ‘feel’ if you place ‘just an airborne’ or the 82nd.

I read in your comment the need for shorter gameplay. Is that correct? Some want to see an end to the game. Some want it to continue for as long as possible and that depends on if you can leave the map standing for a week to continue where you ended the weekend before. Expansions take up a bit of time, but if you like one or two or more the rules will eventually stick and game length will not be too much effected.

Back to topic, I would be interested why you guys choose regular units that are not elite per se as included. Would they not better become veteran units by their accomplishments in battle?
Would like to know your reasoning out of curiosity. Thanks for answering in advance.

@Noneshallpass

Good remarks on placement challenges for the Allies.

US airborne are definitely on my wishlist as well. Gliders are such a nice addition in my view. (But I can not talk about them yet without giving away details 😃)

HBG already has some glider sculpts and also some airborne markers. They could definitely be a great addition.

@insanehoshi
Indeed. Tech is rolled in an earlier phase than movement of major favtory (by USSR)

@linkler
Recently we started to add an extra overview table (page 7 table 4) which u can interpret as a cheat-sheet. The need for accessibility of the rules during game play was resolved by some with unit cards as in Special Operations Forces expansion. I enjoy how the community comes up with answers to such questions to make the expansions more enjoyable and playable.

🤔
I will do you (@Linkler) an offer. PM me and I will get you a free set and in return post an objective review on the HBG website and share with us here what your experience with the expansion was. I am available for questions on this thread.
Do we have a deal? 🤗

Re: Future Expansions

The Elite expansions are slowly coming full circle. After Germany & USSR, Japan’s elite is now out. Personally I would like to see elite units for the Allies as well. I currently work on house rules for them and maybe HBG wants to make it an official expansion one day. Which Allied units or unit would u wish included in a hypothetical Allied elite expansion and why if it was your call?

As a designer I am curious about the response of the community. Looking forward to your comments on this expansion. Every expansion starts with doing a lot of research. Sometimes this research is inspiration for rules that show the historical perculiarities like SNLF helping to fortify Pacific islands. The SNLF can be used offensively for sure but using them in the fortification option is a rule that gives a lot of new options that are based on the roles the SNLF were given in the Pacific theater. Many options that can not all be playtested by us. So share your strategies, tips and questions here.

Also marine Paratroopers are introduced. Marines that can jump from planes or attack from seaplanes.

Amphibious tanks are introduced that can fight alongside the SNLF. We often see Japan not buying much vehicles. These might be interesting to use.

Designing rules for a great game based on a war and a period of history that fascinate me is pure fun. Seeing these rules come to life with beautiful markers (and often nicely painted figures on top of them) and seeing people get inspired by them is another rewarding pleasure.

@Warwick yes, unlimited

@vondox
Thanks for the clarification. By heart I can not remember a downside in the SCW expansion. In the Admiral version USSR can send one of its own aircraft (and could subsequently lose it, which would be a downside). Also it would not be in USSR to defend in an attack or be used in offensive action if the SCW is not resolved yet. You could houserule the regular SCW to give USSR a downside to fully intervene if that is your wish.

@vondox
Hi Vondox,
which version of SCW are you talking about?
Delaja

@delaja
The use of the terminology is ambiguous here.

As a V3 designer take it from me you don’t need an airbase to intercept in the same land zone.

@insanehoshi
These are all three of them incorrect arguments from a game play point of view. As the Italian player you don’t want to invest in factories in Rome or place places there, when the planes can scramble from N Italy. And a factory if anywhere should be built in Africa. Surrounding would become more difficult because Italy would get an extra turn before their capitol might fall. It would be easier to first reinforce N Italy and then Rome. It is definitely more fun to play Italy with Rome inland.

@david-06
Mind 13.1 Axis support
But yes you can make it difficult.