#S18 Tramp Steamer-Neutral Auxiliary - REVIEW CARD

Good catches!

Updated.

The convoy scenario does not use vital cargo in any way. You have 15 turns to deliver the ships across the map and are scored by them reaching the enemy deployment zone

Rats! Going back and forth between your posts and the card caused me to lose the reply I was constructing.

So Flak wants to have both SAs on the card unencumbered by any restrictions. Mnn wants to only allow one of the SAs to be used per game.

Both of the SAs can only be used once per card/unit by their own definition. One requires the unit to be removed from play, and other is "once per game" for that unit. If the player chooses to remove the card the worst that happens is they get 6 points because both SA's would have qualified. That is still only 6 pts per unit total. If the player can only use on SA per turn (Specific Loadout), then that player will only get 3 points and have to wait (and survive) until the next turn to get the other 3 points. In no case can a single unit score more than 6 points.

So if I have that right then Flak is correct that the "restriction" SA really isn't needed. Except for how it reflects "reality" which isn't a big deal here IMO. But I know I would find it confusing as a player to understand what is really going on with both SAs in play. I have to read those SAs a couple of times to digest them as it is. Even so, it works if you think it through.

If we go with MNN and a player can only use one SA on the unit per game then we would really need to restore the SAs to a value of 6 instead of 3. In this case it would actually be easier for a player to get the full 6 points than Flak's way. I do think we would need to add when the person has to make the decision of which SA to use. I don't see a problem with not declaring it until it is time to use it.

So to me it is a wash if we give the "one SA option (MNN)" a value of 6. Actually, the only use one SA per game option (MNN) is simpler to understand and easier to score 6 points.

The current "Specific Loadout" suggestion to only allow the use of one SA per turn really makes it hard to get those 6 points.

Am I missing something here? Probably?

I second this proposal as it combines with the least memory burden a versatile, universal auxiliary.

The main distinction I see between these two is that landing entails greater risk (since the tramp steamer might be sunk after it has scored its points, thereby yielding back to the enemy some value), but it offsets this with the chance to destroy an enemy installation. From a flavour stand-point, the opponent simply does not know the steamers cargo, and must therefore act as if it is capable of either a landing or of depositing vital cargo. I think this suspense would contrast well with the more obvious telegraph that previous units have.