So as you can clearly tell, we're running out of Capitol ships very swiftly. There are currently 2 solutions to this problem; Operational Variants and Fantasy.
This problem is particularly bad with Germany and Japan.
So I ask, which of the two solutions do you prefer? Is there an alternative we haven't looked at yet? Would it be alright to just not have Capitols for countries that are simply out of them?
To you from failing hands we throw the torch be yours to hold it high. -In Flanders Fields. John McCrea
I prefer never completed designs to operationals. I'd rather have more unique ships in game than more sisterships. That said I'm not at all opposed to operationals I'd just rather see more "fantasy".
Ultimately I want every class in the world during the war represented so I am ok with less capitols and more small boys.
I was thinking about the very same issue yesterday. I think that both would be a good option as quite a few of the original cards would need a remake.
An other option is to have a 1941/42 version and a late war option 1944/45 version from those ships that sruvived. For example one point better AA and some kind of radar SA would be a given for later war models of the same ship. So something along the lines of SWO Daddy's custom cards for the old USN BBs.
Also as a major major fan of never-were warships there is a huge list of possible (at least physically, but not real life financially) sound designs that would be nice to have in the game (actually fortunately quite a few are already in the game). But this is certainly a way to go.
Syzmo - " Ultimately I want every class in the world during the war represented so I am ok with less capitols and more small boys."
Actually IMHO I think for the smaller navies we already have all classes represented down to (and including) DDs. Even the USN has only some sub-classes of DDs and cruisers that are not represented but those would be identical at the level of detail this game offers.
Last Edit: Mar 27, 2018 10:46:47 GMT by csatahajos
Italy has the option for operational vittorio veneto class, and a planned but unbuilt fifth condettori class cruiser.
Germany is more complicated. There is one last blucher class cruiser as a semi-hypothical. A FDG sister. Alternatively, there is the Baden, interned with brits in 1919.
Japan could easily get an operational kongo class as well a Taiho-Kai.
Romania has a hypothetical heavy cruiser/pocket battleship.
To answer the initial question, i habe no preference. Irrepective of which type, they are all legal. No distinction is made, no should it be.
To reply to the above comments, every class is a noble but probably unrealistic aim. Ten or fifteen flower class reprints to cover each nation for example.
For Germans, you could also have hypothetical refitted WWI units (same approach as UK/Japan) that would not have been scuttled in Scapa Flow. They had a couple of nice ones.
The three cancelled Admiral class. (Hood sister ships)
A non converted Shinano. i.e. Third Yamato 😀
I’m not a fan of fantasy but hey that horse has bolted. Pretty soon we’re going to have to accept that the game has gone as far as we can take it with out full fantasy and we’re no longer expanding the game but diluting it.
I'm all for more smaller classes, both sisters and new. Just look at the RN smaller types still unrepresented.
Variants are good but only if needed and therefore not taking slots up. The new Akagi variant card is fine but so is the original. The one obvious to be redone is Hornet with a fixed B25 nod.
"That's right son, join the navy. Get behind a bloody big gun and knock the hell out of somebody"
"We went out, got our arses kicked, then came back again"
I like both fantasy and operational variants if done well. An operational Vittorio has been explored in the past - she just didn't have an overly storied career.
I understand that it's a difficult situation no matter what is done or chosen, here is my .02;
Limit operational units to obvious obsolete units or have them reflect something drastically different like a refit or very different situation like night operations enterprise or fjord anti air battery tirpitz. Or a bismark and tirpitz that are armor 9 but 6 or 7aa if that is more accurate.
I think the game panders far too much towards battleships (game balance wise as well) which in the big picture weren't as useful as many other unit types historically. I think they are a crutch to the game imho.
Having said that I know we all love them and that they sell and garner interest everyone knows bismark but how many people know about Lupo in comparison? I think it would be okay to do something without them if you provide other things that will draw interest , if there is no more axis BB's maybe some more installations like a sub pen or giant German shore battery , maybe a location like taranto harbor which is less brute stats and more abilities and victory point conditions.
I am probably in the minority but I love the abstractness of the point system in war at sea it can represent soo many different things that were vital to the war effort like oil , logistics , supplies, convoys , sea control etc. More things that were actually useful that took advantage of that would be nice like actual playable aux's.
And while I would rather see this in something separate like a campaign or scenario set may be you have crew/character attachments or tactic/event cards.
But for me personally I can live without BB's and carriers if there is other interesting things in there instead.