Expert Bomber X

[Bigblue2]

I didn't want to add an unnecessary post on Kaz and Joisey's battle thread, but I believe they are playing expert bomber x wrong.

I don't think the attacker has to declare which aircraft get the expert bomber X special ability in the air defense phase. The attackers don't trail banners stating expert bombers from their aircraft. I believe the special ability would be declared during the air attack phase. Anybody else agree?

[TheFoeHammer]

I agree, Expert Bomber X does not say anything about a particular time to declare it, which means it should be declared when used.

[kaz]

Well we wont change it for now but an ace fight bonber or even a torpedo plane might have a difrent paint skeem or destinktiv markins you never no lol

[zaarin7]

They usually did in the IJN, the USN officially disallowed anything other than kill markings and oficial insighne.

[shousa]

The way I've played it is that you declare which psquadron gets the ability when the attack is made (when the ability is used). The reasons for this are 1. the wording of the ability seems to support this and 2. I asume that if anybody manages to make it through to attack then it's most likely going to be the experienced 'expert' pilots who do so.

[Joisey]

I thought it was a bit gamey for the "best" bomber to always be the one you didn't shoot at.

Perhaps a random assignment or secret assignment?

What did Richard Baker intend?

[mikoyan]

But then again, it would be pretty "gamey" for the enemy pilots to know which one to shoot.

[Kaufschtick]

I thought it was a bit gamey for the "best" bomber to always be the one you didn't shoot at.

You have a point there. Of course, you could rationalize it by saying that the "expert bombers" were good at staying out of harms way to begin with.:)

[Kaufschtick]

But then again, it would be pretty "gamey" for the enemy pilots to know which one to shoot.

This is an even better point, and the way I think it was intended to be played.:)

[DeathsHead420]

Experts are declared as you are using them.

[mikoyan]

This is an even better point, and the way I think it was intended to be played.:)

I could see having something to pre-pick your expert unit but the enemy doesn't know who it is.

[IXJac]

Rather time consuming that.

Just assume that being the experts, they're the ones best able to penetrate the defenses and if everyone else gets shot down they're most likely to be the last ones left.

[Joisey]

Somehow, I don't think Kaz has been hurt that much by playing it wrong, so far. ;)

[XAos]

The previews of the Carriers (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/aam/ah20070219c) said something about only needing 1 un-aborted bomber to use the SA.

[Bigblue2]

I didn't remember reading that. Now we know Bakers intent of the rule.

[Tibour]

Yep, the intent seems pretty clear thanks for the link.

[Endbringer]

The previews of the Carriers (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/aam/ah20070219c) said something about only needing 1 un-aborted bomber to use the SA.

This line was also in the article. It supports the fact that aborted planes still get their attacks in the Air Defense phase.

"Moreover, there’s no way to stop a Zeke from using Expert Dogfighter, as it occurs during the Air Defense Phase."