I'd say that it does block it. All the penalties described are only that 1) a fighter can't use its AA score and 2) it also can't use the Escort ability. The book doesn't say anything about it not being treated as a fighter or it not counting as one.
Likewise you can't use Interceptor if your opponent is using Kamikazes to bomb in that sector.
So Interceptor is even MORE useless than before. Outstanding. When I think of the fuss Andy made about how "powerful" Interceptor-2 was on the P-38, it makes me sick...
Post by cavalrywolfpack on Aug 3, 2017 17:52:56 GMT
Interceptor strikes me as a purely defensive mechanic, and a little bit more "new player friendly." If you place your fighters first, which is usually a mistake, it allows you to move them to where the bombers actually are, assuming they are one sector away. It also gives some flexibility in defending your bombers if they place their fighters at an unguarded bomber adjacent to it. This is, of course, assuming any or all of the following apply 1) You have less aircraft than your opponent, thus they can place more than one before you place any of yours. 2) You lost initiative. 3) Your opponent actually places their aircraft adjacent to an interceptor. 4) Your fleets is concentrated into a formation of a central sector and all adjacent ones (in a sort of hexagon fashion).
Good luck getting that in a game. It sounds fine in theory, but is just useless in practice. Flavor text would've been better -- we could at least learn something that way.
I really feel like it is a useless, busted, overvalued SA. It is super hard in trigger in a normal game against a competent opponent. Just not good given the way the game is played.
I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way. - Captain John Paul Jones
Yeah, once I played a few games, I realized "oh, this doesn't do anything." And then I played a 1939 match against the Germans and realized that Interceptor makes one want to bring a fighter even if it doesn't have Escort to keep the extra die away. This is certainly an extreme example, though.
I think the rules went to great lengths to tell you what a strafing fighter can and can't do; but again to me realistically once committed to strafing your strafing:: War At Sea is all about KISS so the presents of a fighter stops Interceptor simple enough.
I don't think the real problem lies with the SA; just look at the units with it;; its almost like an after thought what should we do, make them intercept or escort; maybe not really a bad double use though. Their are a few others with good uses and better AA numbers but i think the SA would probably have served better if not just a fighter but an escorting fighter had to be present to negate it. Their's only one Advanced Fighter with the SA the Fw 190 and i think if you make a mistake preparing for that unit your going to pay for it. Is the game ready for an Advanced Fighter with Intercept and Escort???
So Interceptor is even MORE useless than before. Outstanding. When I think of the fuss Andy made about how "powerful" Interceptor-2 was on the P-38, it makes me sick...
I laughed at this a little too hard, I think.
To you from failing hands we throw the torch be yours to hold it high. -In Flanders Fields. John McCrea
Post by cavalrywolfpack on Aug 9, 2017 16:13:41 GMT
I'm actually curious: if we made it so a strafing fighter with interceptor could abort the strafe to intercept, does that make the ability relevant at all? I kinda want to to test this, ignoring whether it would actually be possible.
So Interceptor is even MORE useless than before. Outstanding. When I think of the fuss Andy made about how "powerful" Interceptor-2 was on the P-38, it makes me sick...
Kind of rough on Andy; Brigs; getting a feeling on why he left. Could always change Interceptor 2 to Advanced Interceptor maybe than the P-38 would be worth 9 pts. to everyone. Personally i argued with him over the 9pts on line, but in the end i think the team did it justice.
Were you there? No? Then you got no idea what you're talking about.
For the record, AFAIK, Andy left because he couldn't prevent the Ju 52 card from being printed as-is (he strongly objected to the Paratrooper SA, IIRC). Nothing to do with the P-38.
9 points for the P-38 (as written) is a sad joke. WAY overcosted. Rarely ever sees use. For 10 points, you could take two P40s or a Marine Corsair.
Further, P-51 has the P-38 completely covered for a point more. P-51 rolls 9 dice all the time rather than 7, and its conditional +2 dice is completely controllable by the Allied player.