In the Netherlands Fight Back expansion, the (v 3.) rules mention that :
(NFB 4.5) “The Dutch may build Colonial Infantry in territories with a point value just like the British. A maximum of one unit per turn may be built. It must be placed in a territory with a point value.”
First question : The cost for Colonial Infantry is not listed in the (v.3.0) Netherlands Reference Sheet. Do they cost 4 IPP “just like the British”?
It also mentions that :
(NFB 3.2) “You may build 1 commando per turn at a factory location. The Dutch may build 1 commando on Sumatra as if it were a militia.”
This seems to limit the Dutch West Indies builds to either Militia, 1 Colonial Infantry per turn and a sigle commando unit on Sumatra “without a factory location”.
However, the game rules only allow building a minor factory “in any land zone with a IPP-value and in Supply Path to Major Factory in Home Country” (as per Table 12-2 of the 1936 v3 Rules).
Since the Dutch Home Country is limited to the Netherlands (as per the Reference Sheet), this would be the only possible location to build a Major factory (as per Table 12-2 of the 1936 v3 Rules).
If Germany and Japan both leave the Dutch alone, this will never happen. With a peacetime IPP of 1, it would take 9 full years just to build the Major Factory (at a cost of 6/6/6) and 4 more to build one minor factory in the Dutch East Indies (at a cost of 8).
Even with most part of the 12 IPP Wartime Economy available, any sensible player probably will have more urgent priorities than to build a shiny new Major Factory right on the German Border…
Taking all of this into consideration, aside from having distinct orange battle pieces for the Dutch, this expansion only seems to divert much needed IPP from the British Economy, since it now keeps the Wartime Economy as a separate income (NFB 4.2).
In light of the above, the full build table on the reference sheet seems very theorical and an impossible achievement.
For those who play with the NFB expansion, how does it affect your game?
I also notice that the (v 3.0) Reference Sheet is not adapted to the v.3 Rules, with 4-turn builds for example. It also does not list the turn order for the Dutch, but I saw this issue mentionned in an older post also.
Bedankt!