Optional Rule Suggestion

[J.L.Robert]

In the ongoing discussion of sub vs. destroyer action, I have another rule suggestion:

Submarine Shadowing
At the start of the Sea Movement phase, the First Player may declare that any or all of their destroyers occupying the same sector as an opposing submarine is "shadowing" the opposing submarine. Any qualifying destroyer that elects to shadow is marked with a Shadowing marker. Note that the Second Player automatically has the option of moving into the same sector as an opposing submarine which moved on the First Player's Sea Movement step, so this rule does not apply to the Second Player.

Destroyers marked with Shadowing markers are not moved during the First Player's Sea Movement step. Instead, when the opposing submarine moves away from the sector, the destroyer's player rolls one die. On a 3 or higher, the destroyer moves into the same sector. On a 2 or less, the destroyer does not move, and remains in the same sector it started in, effectively not moving for the turn. U.S. Destroyers may add +1 to their die, to represent the use of SONAR systems.


I'd like to think what others think of this suggestion.

[Remember-OWS-]

It does emphasis the use of Destroyer, what really lack at this moment...

A+ no doubt.

[Mpedersen84]

I like it, I think that it adds a element of realism to the game that isn't in the basic rules. The Run Silent SA should be for all subs not just the british, having the Run Silent SA would even out the sud-destroyer fights. Instead of a -1 attack, the SA would make it harder for the destroyer to shadow the sub, giving a -1 to the destroyer shadowing roll, IMHO.;)

[Uncle_Joe]

As a general rule, I think something along these line would have been good to have in the game. Given that they already have the 'Sub-Hunter' SA which is intended to be the same idea, I'm not sure about adding it for all DDs. I would perhaps suggest rename it from 'Shadowing' to 'Hunting' or even something more dramatic as 'Pinging'. 'Shadowing' is already in use as the SA on the PBYs so it might cause some confusion.

In practice, I dont think it would really matter much either way. In our games, its been very rare for a DD to actually survive long enough to go after a sub anyways. In any event, if it did work as intended, I'm not sure that weakening subs is a good idea given that they appear to be the only thing to actually 'counter' the large BBs.

Its good idea for a set of 're-work' rules though where things are a little better balanced between the ship types.

[zaarin7]

I like it, though I would extend the +1 for sonar to all DE's too. Here is anouther one for you. If a sub and a DD/DEbegin the owning players turn in the same sector the DD/DE player can atempt to ram the submarine. Roll a die. 1= sub escapes. 6=miss. On any other result remove both peices. This would track with my reading on historical incidences of this which happened a lot more often than aircraft mission killing DD/DE's in the almost 100 years they have been fighting each other.