Balance Problem: Oil & Strategic bombing

[AlbertN]

Hello,

I feel already that oil is poorly set (Axis has too little, or units consume too much).

Besides that the problem is accrued by the fact the Allies can easily strategic bomb the oil plans of Germany since '39.
For reasons unknown to me, the Allies start with strategic bombers (Yes they had long range bombers, but their tools to perform strategic bombing were measly til late '41 / early '42 where they started to improve).

A strategic bomber can notch down 4 points a turn to a facility (which repairs 2 a turn).
They're pratically immune to fighters even when non escorted. (At least fighters intercepting them net 0-2 damage to them - since at the beginning the UK fighters are out of range for escorting purposes). And they may even damage the german fighters!

The AI won't bomb Axis oil.
A human player will!

And there is nothing you can do to stop it.

I tried to move flaks too (Stettin is out of range, move HQ there, relocate the 2 flaks), the Brits still merrily torch the synth plans pratically scott free.

From turn 1.

[821Bobo]

They are not immune to fighters. My unescorted bombers suffers more casualties than they do damage(PBEM game).

[AlbertN]

I've felt the contrary. They come and bomb merrily suffering no or 0 losses.
But they always nail 2 oil points per mission - so 4 a turn! They cannot miss!

[AlvaroSousa]

You need to build AA for the hex just as the UK needs to build escorts for the convoys.

[Essro]

My take is as follows:


I would like a report showing the impact of both the sub and bomber campaigns. While I see my bombers doing damage, it's hard to gauge what the collective impact is.


My bombers have been very effective don't appear to get intercepted very often. AA is 100% necessary.

In fact, as the Soviet player I absolutely wrecked the Ploesti Oilfields by investing in bombers and the appropriate tech from 1939. 4 units based from Crimea. This was catastrophic to the Germans in my game. It really put the brakes on the German offensive. So much so, that I think Ploesti should START the game with at least some AA already. It's a little tricky for the German player to get AA there otherwise and the position is so critical that had the USSR or RAF conducted such a campaign in '41 I think the Germans would reacted with overwhelming force both in terms of fighters sent to Romania and AA--not too mention it is a very compelling reason to occupy Crimea as early as possible (which of course is totally reasonable and historical).


Having said that, I really do enjoy the strategic warfare model here in general.

[Essro]

ORIGINAL: 821Bobo

They are not immune to fighters. My unescorted bombers suffers more casualties than they do damage(PBEM game).

Early game or late game?

[821Bobo]

Early, T1 and T2. No flak just German fighters in vicinity.