#S18 Tramp Steamer-Neutral Auxiliary - REVIEW CARD

I think that is over-stating it a bit. Not every minor nation had the ability to mount a significant sea borne landing. Or the capability to provide meaningful protection to a convoy. But that is getting historical. There is also the issue of "should every nation have the same stuff and abilities." At the "Axis versus Allies" level maybe yes. At the individual country level I would argue no.

Here is what is already in the game:

Landing ability:

US Gunston Hall 7 pts AA6 2-8-3 Landing 10
US LST 4 pts AA4 2-7-2 Landing 5
US Bayfield 6 pts AA5 2-6-3 Landing 3 (plus landing craft SAs)
JA T1 Landing Ship 6 pts AA4 ASW2 1-7-2 Landing 5

Vital Cargo:

US Jeremiah O'Brien 3 pts AA4 1-4-2 VC6
US American Victory 4 pts AA5 1-6-3 VC8
JA Kinai Maru 4 pts AA3 1-4-2 VC8
UK Melbourne Star 4 pts AA3 1-7-3 VC8
IT Pietro Orseolo 3 pts AA3 1-6-3 VC6

Right only the US and Japan have amphibious landing abilities. And that is not entirely inaccurate. Yes, there were massive Allied landings in Europe - but arguably mostly equipped by the US. It was Japan and the US that "often" landed on islands around the Pacific as an almost routine activity.

Vital Cargo freighters are a little more available thanks to us. I really would have liked to see a German freighter in this set and I have had a good one (also was a block-aid runner and a class of more than 5) picked out at least two sets ago.

So based on what is already in the game I still think filling in the "hole" on freighters/convoy ships makes the most sense. Much as I dislike grey cards.

I will go either way you two can agree. But if I am a tie breaker then I would prefer just a freighter as it doesn't try to do too much. And I think it is more "true" to Flak's intent to simply make a formal card out of the generic convoy ship in the rulebook. The rulebook says the goal is to move the convoy ships "off the enemy's side of the map."

Would changing it to Vital Cargo 4 or 5 and Landing 2 or 1 be more reflective or actual capabilities of neutrals?

So are we doing both SA's with Sailing Orders?

You have to choose one or the other at the start of the game with all of the other units by default. If we allow the choice to be made "in game" you will obsolete all those other cards. It's a single declaration at the start of game so it shouldn't be hard to remember. Yeah, I am not thrilled with that, but it comes with the territory when we try to make a single card do too much IMO.

While i think its entirely unneccesary. The top of these option covers the issue

Yes