two hit carriers

[Karel Doorman]

Why not use the two hit battleship rule on carriers? In my group we use this rule because we feel that carriers were and should be harder to sink than a sub of destroyer. And when you feel that a unit in A&A represents in fact a "group of units of the same kind" this should be especially the case.
So, a carrier is only sunk after 2 hits. But, after one hit planes that were based on the carrier can't land on it anymore and have to land on adjecent friendly territory. If there is no such territory adjecent to the seazone the battle is fought: bad luck, planes crash after combat is over (if they weren't casualties already).
A carrier whith one hit is repaired at the end of the players turn. Although we hate this last part of the two hit Battleship rule and would like to have some workable alternative for it. Haven't found that yet.

[Zombie]

Carriers are already the best bang for your buck in anything that floats. Making them better without increasing their prices would be a big mistake. People wouldn't buy anything else on the seas anymore.

[Karel Doorman]

It is not my experience that it does lead to a carrier-arms-race (there has never been one in the games we played (AAE, AAP and AAR)). Carriers are pretty much useless whitout planes which are mosly needed elsewhere (Allied and Axis) or use up to much PC's to purchase (Axis mostly). But maybe none of us has been so clever to exploit this "too-much-value-for-money" advantage.

[Zombie]

It's not an arms race. You only buy enough of them to defend your tranports. The point is that with the current costs, carriers and transports are the only ships worth buying. You shouldn't increase this discrepancy or you'll never see a sub, DD or BB bought ever again.

If you want 2-hit carriers, fine, but then they should cost 24 IPCs.

[ May 18, 2004, 06:17 PM: Message edited by: Zombie ]

[Karel Doorman]

Uhm. the defense of transports is one point we all overlooked I think. Guess I should try it and discus it in my group. Thnaks for your comment on this point, gave me new insight.

[Zombie]

The only reason anyone should ever buy a fleet is for the defense of transports. There is just no other good reason, period. The game is ultimately won with land territory, and the only reason to buy boats is to get men from one country to another. If you're buying navy for any other reason than this, you should rethink your strategy.

Having said that, like i said, if you like 2-hit carriers, go ahead and have a blast. Just make sure you price them right (24 IPCs would be a pretty good bet though it might prove a little cheap still).