I just checked the other MTBs in Haps spreadsheet. This is basically a "sister ship' of the British Vosper from Set 6. It is a pretty powerful MTB. If we gave it both SAs I think it would have to bump to a cost of 7. The team cards have already bumped the MTBs a bit by giving them each an additional SA compared to the WotC cards. I think that is good because the WotC cards tended to be a little pricey. But I think it would be too much to go to two "bonus" SAs.
I could go with either SA. Right now Allies have an MTB with Generate Smoke so this would give one to the Axis. On the other hand, Muffle Engines is definitely a more powerful SA, but it pushes the cost envelope IMO. Especially on the only MTB class with a Range 2 torpedo attack.
What about this alternative?
Muffle Engines - When in darkness, roll a die. On a 4 (or 5) or higher this unit may reroll one torpedo attack.
Muffling engines is only a viable tactic in darkness (or dense fog) anyway. And most MTB operations were conducted at night as well.
I am fine with Generate Smoke. It fills a small open niche in the game. My proposed version of Muffle Engines would have some additional historical flavor, but we aren't talking about game-killers here either way IMO.
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Is the original vosper a solid 7 or a 6.5 rounded up you think?
7 with both would settle the issue
I wouldn't suggest going over 7 anyway. Darkness abilities on ships in particular are very scenario dependent. And Generate Smoke is once per game. I think we could live with 7. If it was the full version of smoke then I would be a little concerned.
No Sea Control - This unit can't claim objectives. Shallow Draft - This unit can enter sectors that contain islands or shoals. High-Speed Evasion - Whenever this unit is attacked by an enemy Ship, roll a die. On a 5 or higher, this unit takes no damage from that attack. Generate Smoke - Once per game, instead of attacking during your Surface Attack step, this unit can make a local smoke screen. A sector containing a smoke screen blocks line of sight through its sector. A unit in a smoke screen has concealment. Remove the smoke screen at the end of the next turn.
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How very Russian... I still prefer the Muffle Engines SA. At least it would bring something new to the table.
I like it to, but for some people adding new SAs is a negative. In this case I do have to agree that specific to Romania they could use a smoker. Assuming a Romanian player is probably playing against the Soviets.
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Three Viforul Class MTBs were built by Vospers in the United Kingdom and delivered to Romania in 1940. Romania received a licence to build these but were unable to get the tools requires before Romania joined the Axis. The classes biggest claim was the sinking of Shch-206 a soviet sub that had penetrated the defences of Mangalia Port on the 9 July 1941. Later 2 of the class were sunk when they hit debris from a sunken merchant vessel as they tried to rescue survivors. The finial boat then was used as training for the new Gusto And Italian MTBs they acquired.