"Out of play" hexes

[Happycat]

Question for developers/playtesters---Greenland and Newfoundland hexes are set as "out of play". I am curious what the thinking was behind this. Was it concern that allied air units stationed there could too easily interdict U-boats? Greenland, I can see, but would it not make some sense to have the ability to station tactical and/or strategic air in Newfoundland? Perhaps there is a way to make only two hexes in Newfoundland playable (and add a port so it can be in supply of course). Restricting to two hexes ensures that the Allied player can't overload Newfoundland with air units.

Any thoughts on this?

[firepowerjohan]

Yes, that is the reason and as you can see on the map the Atlantic is considerably shorter than on a real map so the New Foundland nose is just sticking out way too much and would be too wicked to bring into play making it a too much centre of importance in game.

[Happycat]

You are probably right about this---the Atlantic is not wide enough. Anyway, with enough research dedicated to "strategic" focus for aircraft, strategic bombers can certainly go a long way towards eliminating the "air gap". Once they have decent range, the key is then to station them in Nova Scotia and Northern Ireland (which has a port in the mod that Stauffenberg and I are using, btw).

In the game I am playing with Stauffenberg, my US and Brit bombers can now cover a significant chunk of the Atlantic, although there is still a zone where he can hide his rather wicked U-boats (he put a lot of research into subs). Contrary to some people's experience with CEAW, Stauffenberg and I are finding that naval warfare, including U-boat economic warfare, is having a significant influence on the game and upon our strategic decisions.

[firepowerjohan]

You are probably right about this---the Atlantic is not wide enough. Anyway, with enough research dedicated to "strategic" focus for aircraft, strategic bombers can certainly go a long way towards eliminating the "air gap". Once they have decent range, the key is then to station them in Nova Scotia and Northern Ireland (which has a port in the mod that Stauffenberg and I are using, btw).

In the game I am playing with Stauffenberg, my US and Brit bombers can now cover a significant chunk of the Atlantic, although there is still a zone where he can hide his rather wicked U-boats (he put a lot of research into subs). Contrary to some people's experience with CEAW, Stauffenberg and I are finding that naval warfare, including U-boat economic warfare, is having a significant influence on the game and upon our strategic decisions.

Seems like you are having a fun game, is it PBEM or TcpIP?
I envy you, in a few weeks when things cool down I will try to sit down and play a few full campaign games myself in TcpIP

[Happycat]

Seems like you are having a fun game, is it PBEM or TcpIP?
I envy you, in a few weeks when things cool down I will try to sit down and play a few full campaign games myself in TcpIP

Hi,

It's a PBEM, utilizing some modifications---we've actually shortened up the attack ranges for CV's, changed some starting stats. Nothing too wild, but it is extensive. Stauffenberg has done all of the work and most of the ideas have been his---I am just his associate play-tester and hopefully worthy opponent.

It has been an exceptionally good game so far, and very balanced. Stauff as Axis didn't go after the oil in the Caucasus region, nor did he repeat any of the Wehrmacht's other mistakes. So his position now in January 0f 1943 is superior to that of the Germans historically. His weakness will ultimately be oil, but I will have extreme difficulty getting to Berlin by 1945.

In the Med, I (Allies) am a bit ahead of schedule---Sicily is secure, and I expect to land somewhere else (shhh, can't tell where---Stauff might be reading this ) very soon.

The Atlantic has been the real problem. The U-boats are at the top of their tech, and are hard to kill. It forced me to research more ASW, but that is not unrealistic imo.

So a good game, with lots of little surprises. And the mod is not taking away from the fact that your people designed and developed a really solid game. The mod just changes the flavor to our personal tastes.

Have a good weekend