From: Peter.O'Sullivan@dao.defence.gov.au Subject: Rules suggestions for ETO (TSR) 03 July 1998. The following are some suggested naval rules for the game "European Theatre of Operations" by TSR. Several of the modifications of the rules were suggested by William Sariego; I have in several cases recommended amendments to his proposals. His rules and scenario for Italy are good for the game, and I recommend them to players of the game. Recommended also are the errata listed in August 1997 by Steven Bucey. A sample game synopsis is also available at the Grognard site by George Pearson. a. SS attack against named ships in port. I recommend that players use Sariego's rule which allows Germany, the UK and Italy once in each game to attack named capital ships in a port with an SS unit. The changes are: Interception is automatically successful, the SS unit gets two shots against BB or named Cruisers but not CVs, and NO attack against the SS unit by destroyers in the port is possible. Players use their SS counters provided in their countermix (and as these represent more than the individual elements sent against Royal Oak, Tirpitz and Valiant, I recommend that no attack against the SS counter is allowed). b. Transfer of UK warships. Mr Sariego suggests transferring a BB to Russia. It should be an R Class BB. In addition to this transfer, modify the UK Winter 1942 transfer rules. The UK withdraws from the game Prince of Wales and Repulse (or their equivalent if sunk) in addition to the other withdrawals listed for the British player. c. German SS in the Med. Allow Germany to deploy a maximum of one SS in the Med. The SS can enter the Med via normal naval movement through Gibraltar. It cannot be intercepted (again because about 23 or so German SS were successful in penetrating the Med via Gibraltar). The German SS cannot leave the Med (I have read that the current running through the straits made it too difficult to do so). d. Land Based Naval Air. Land based bombers and fighter-bombers sank on their own only one major named vessel during the war (Roma). For this reason, land based bombers and fighter bombers should NOT receive plus two on the die for attacks against named ships. A land-based bomber/fighter bomber hits only according to the die rolled (a 12 is a damage if the defence value of the named ship is 12 or higher). CV planes however DO retain their plus three on the die. e. Additional warships. William has suggested including a number of ships not portrayed in the game. As an alternative, do not give the French or Italians any new ships (the French because they never affected the course of the war; the Italians because there are no fuel oil retrictions on their movement, and players being as they are, give them more ships and they will use them.). I would recommend giving the Germans one ship (the Schliesen). f. German aircraft carrier. Place the Graf Zeppelin in the 1942 German force pool. If the Germans build her, allow the British the choice of immeiately building their CVs which come later in the game. g. Amphibious Assaults. If a player uses more then one unit to amphibiously assault a hex, then allow a player to conduct an amphibious assault only within land based fighter/fighter bomber or CV aircraft range. A player cannot conduct an amphibious assault in the European theatre when only ATRs or bombers, or no aircraft, are in range. This will allow Germany to chance an assault on Narvik, but against a UK 3-4 in fortified Gibraltar it is almost guaranteed suicide.