201. Variable technology introduction dates.
At some point this game may well see the introduction of "hedgehogs", ship and aircraft borne radar, centimetric and millimetric radars, depth charges capable of being fused deeper than early war DC's, Lut and Fat torpedoes, both steam and electric, and acoustic torpedoes and "Foxer" for escorts.
All of these will have nominal entry into service dates. In the campaign-game, I think it would be good if these dates, whatever they may be, were fudged +/- a month or two, so that there is uncertainty, as experienced gamers in what precise technology the enemy players may be equipped with. Another possible avenue would be for only a few, escorts/uboats getting new kit initially, which with passage of time become more generally available.
This has several useful results. The first is that players won't be able to argue about an in-service date for a particular item, as the date is somewhat fudged and incremental. It'll mean captains of both escorts and u-boats will be in the position of suspecting a new technology may be in use, but won't know for sure, leading to variety of outcome for a game. Finally it'll allow the devs, if needbe, to apply some deliberate balancing in terms of capability, to preserve the game as a competitive game-play between the two sides, without getting into arguments about which week-end in April '42 a particular sensor, weapon or other device, anti-asdic coating, weapon etc was introduced....
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