Intuitive Bonuses

I vote for excluding the unit from it's own bonus. It makes perfect sense in my head, but I can't explain it. It seems odd to have a bonus that always applies to the unit need to be calculated every time you look at it.

Just my thought.

First, I'm with everyone else. Exclude the unit from its own bonus, Venga's logic is good and shouldn't be a problem for players.

Are there so many different units that you feel you need to indicate the +1 with a "+1" marking of some kind, as a reminder to players? You seem to be concerned that players will see the +1 and try to argue that it applies to itself as well...

Unless you have a very large number of different unit types, I don't think you need the marking. No chess piece is marked with a diagram of its moves... players learn them and quickly remember them. In newer Axis & Allies games there's an Artillery unit which gets its own attack and which gives a +1 to any Infantry or Marine it accompanies... it has its own distinct shape (I assume the units in your game will have their own images distinct from each other as well) and no visual indication of the +1, but trust me, nobody ever forgets the bonus!

~Josh

I prefer that it doesn't give a bonus to itself. I also for some reason dislike units that don't have a combat strength (I prefer when commanders count as a combat unit).

I agree with Outside Lime. I don't think you need to add the +1 onto the unit itself. If it's appropriately themed it'll be easily remembered.