1/1918 Rules Updates

[Guinness]

The following summary will also be cross-posted to the "Rules Update" sticky for posterity.

Beginning as you read this, I'm rolling out a number of rules updates which become active in 1/1918. Please post any questions or comments on these in this thread.

Updates for 1/1918 include:

Extend Naval Techs

DDs: 1924-2,500 destroyers, quintuple tubes

Subs: New sub table which extends to 1940

Torpedoes: add 1928(double-time) Reliable Oxygen Torpedoes (aka Long Lance Torpedoes)

Gun Techs: Haven't actually updated these, but I'm copying the table into the Naval Tech tree to eliminate some confusion.

Extend Non-Naval Techs

Infantry: Extend Infantry Tech to 1935

Aircraft: Extend Aircraft Tech to 1937

Anti-Aircraft Artillery: New AA tech tree
If a nation has already invested in AA tech, accomplishments on the old tree map to the new as such:
1900 -> 1903
1908 -> 1910
1914 -> 1918

New Rocketry Tech

Update to Research Rules:
"Obsolete techs", which are defined by techs that do not require double time to research for which the first research date is now 15 years are now considered to be generally well understood globally and can be digested by any nation as though that tech had been acquired from another nation, provided that the nation has all the precursor techs, of course.

Ship Construction Rules
More than one ship may now be built in a drydock at the same time subject to a number of constraints, provided that dry dock has been given the extra equipment necessary to make that possible via a one-time surcharge. Note that this capability is only possible in drydocks, not slipways or floating drydocks. All ships built together in the same dock must be launched at the same time. Drydocks that have been upgraded to allow multiple coincident ship construction are designated with a '+', ie Type 2+ Drydock.

Fortifications and Coast Defense
Updated fortification and coast defense cost tables. The former system for estimating costs for coast defense batteries is retired.

Armored Unit Costs
Update cost tables for both light and heavy armored units.

Misc:
New HTML tables are replacing old screengrab image tables throughout the ruleset.

Special note of thanks: Much credit for much of these updates goes to MikeTR who did a lot of work researching costs and proposed many iterations of the Armor costs (among many other works). Similar credit goes to Logi for proposing the rocket tech.


Also, several ideas that have been proposed aren't in this update. This doesn't mean they've necessarily been ruled out for inclusion in the ruleset later.

[miketr]

Special note of thanks: Much credit for much of these updates goes to MikeTR who did a lot of work researching costs and proposed many iterations of the Armor costs (among many other works). Similar credit goes to

Takes a brief bow... Others also had input into the army talk, especially P3D who has now left us..  :(

Michael

[Logi]

Similar credit goes to Logi for proposing the rocket tech.

Takes a brief bow. I didn't do all that much compared to Miketr and P3D :-[

[Guinness]

Ok, the sub table turned out to be a lot more trouble than expected, but Naval Tech is updated.

I'm probably going to knock off for the night, but the rest of the updates will come tomorrow.

[Borys]

Ahoj!
A big BFTBG for all involved!
I like the "obsolescent technology" option.
Borys

[Guinness]

Non-naval tech updates now done.

Please also note that dual-purpose guns are in the AA Tech progression. Once that tech is obtained, DP gun mountings can be used on ships as well as on land if you so desire. We have not, at this time, elected to require development of a new mount for a DP or AA gun. The assumption is that an existing LA mount can be modified as required.

[Guinness]

Also just added this to research regarding obsolete techs:

Once 15 years has passed since a technology's 'first researchable' date, it is considered to be common knowledge. After that point, it may be researched by any nation as though it were being digested from another nation. Or in other words, $0.25 must be spent on that tech for two half-year turns. Techs that require double the time to research may not be digested in this way, nor can techs be digested this way in secret. Otherwise, all other normal research rules apply.

Please let me know if you have any questions about that.

[ctwaterman]

Was their any discussion of a more mature AAA tech tree because proximity fuzes and the 1936 Mature AAA plans tech are one and the same and its really not all that realistic I would add a seperate tech like the odd Engine Techs requires Radar and then in 1940 you can start researching Proximity Fuzes.

Or do you prehaps mean timed fuzes for the 1936 tech ?????

[Borys]

Or do you prehaps mean MECHANICAL timed fuzes for the 1936 tech ?????

Fixed it fr ya.
Borys

[Guinness]

Nope, I mean proximity fuses. I can see an argument for making radar a prerequisite of that tech, so maybe we'll make an improvement in the future.

If you assume it takes 4 halves to develop that tech, that means it would be available in 1938, which might be a little bit early compared to OTL dates. If you assume it takes 6 halves, that puts us in 1940, which is perfectly reasonable.

At any rate, we've got 18 game years to argue about that :)

New multiple ships per drydock construction rules are up (spread between naval infrastructure and ship construction and upkeep posts).

[Jefgte]

...At any rate, we've got 18 game years to argue about that...

That mean, hmmm... probably in 2013... :D


Jef  ;)

[Guinness]

And now the new fortifications and coast defense, etc. rules are up too.

The only thing I have left is armored unit cost. I've got a little question about that the mods need to resolve, then I'll post that too.

[Borys]

Ahoj!
I agree that advanced AA might be improved from its current form.

1936 (+3): Mature AA fire control. Radar guided AA fire control. Proximity fuses for guns larger than 75mm.

Maybe this could be double time? Also, it would be silly to have it WITHOUT having radar first :)

I still don't like drydocks being used to build two ships at the same time.

Borys

[Logi]

Also:

New Rocketry Tech

We'll have to know which nations are at which level, or do we all start off with 1910? It would irk me if we all started off on 1910.

[Guinness]

If you believe your nation belongs higher on the rocketry tree than the bottom, please PM the mods and make your case. A good argument would include any $ you've invested in such tech up until this point.