Slitherine

The Dornier strategic bombers are crazy good value. . . to the point were I can't justify ANY of the other German strategic bombers.

The Do 17z costs only 130, less than half any of the other early war strat bombers, and more importantly only takes 1 core slot (even with a 12 overstrength). Sure its stats are poor, but all it needs to do is apply a few points of suppression on units you are surrounding or reduce entrenchment.

Then the upgrade to the Do 217e comes early in January 41 and the bomber is only marginally weaker than the later He 177A and Ju 188A. And its cheaper and only takes 2 core slots compared to 3 for the others.

The only real weakness of the Dorniers is naval attack but that doesn't come into play on very many scenarios. Less air defense also but these things should be escorted anyway and being less expensive mitigates any extra casualties.

Am I missing something?

trengilly wrote: ↑Wed Apr 22, 2020 8:32 am
Am I missing something?

No, not really.

And as for the naval bombing. You are free to upgrade and downgrade as you see fit between scenarios so it's not a problem to switch to another bomber with better naval attack stats in the few scenarios you run into naval units and then switch back to the Dornier when you move on to the next scenario.

The Do17z also has a fairly low range for a strat bomber - that's something else to consider.

Not really, no. The Do 217E is the best aircraft the Germans have, weighted by the one metric that actually matters, core slots. The Do 17Z has the range of a fighter and that is extremely limiting once you're no longer playing on tiny maps as it still has the limitations of a strategic bomber, but its big brother is incredible.

Doesn't the Do17z eventually become obsolete and hard to find replacement points for? This was my impression. Or has anyone actually taken the z all the way to 1945 and managed to keep it full strength?

I still prefer a good strat' bomber, which has the best ground defense, so he can operates even if there is AA gun, and even may bomb alone, without protection (however once the skys have been some cleaned, as against a fighters pack it's costly).
Sure going alone is false for tactical bombers.

gunnergoz wrote: ↑Wed Apr 22, 2020 4:10 pm Doesn't the Do17z eventually become obsolete and hard to find replacement points for? This was my impression. Or has anyone actually taken the z all the way to 1945 and managed to keep it full strength?

Not sure. I think people upgrade to the Do217 atleast along the way.

The limited range of the Do17Z is an issue as early as one of the first scenarios, Poland South.

The Do217E is a fine strategic bomber.