PACIFIC PLAYTEST!

[DeathMachine]

A2A of 3 is preferable to me then making them cost more.

[John D.]

Just make it clear that destroyer/carrier escorts  must start and end movement with the fleets they are protecting in order to participate in snap fire  defense. In other words  a destroyer can't defend a convoy zone after escorting a fleet during the movement phase....

[Mark]

Yup - ok.

I am going through and editing the rules again now and will make sure this is highlighted.

[John D.]

Excellent - we will have a few other things. We needed a bit of clarification - when a leader moves and brings another leader with them, only the leader that moved the group can participate in the first round of battle (after that - the other leader can take over). Just make sure that is very clear.

Airbase/pinning attack. If the defending air units do not scramble - the pinning units only get one ground attack roll - correct?

I will have images for the Pacific up tomorrow. It is such a close game. Close to a Jap victory, that is...

The ENTIRE US fleet was sunk...

[DeathMachine]

John should have the pics up soon but I can at least comment on the recent developments. Axis victory in the autumn of 44!

The Allies took back all of Papua New Guinea, Guadalcanal, and other nearby islands and were beginning to take over the Mariana islands, carolinas and whatever the 3rd one is in that group. The Japs started throwing their fleet, bullet-catching-saving-president style in front of a reduced capital ship US transport fleet. In particular for the fight of the Mariana islands(?) A staggering large number of US air was not enough to defeat the Yamato and Jap cruisers in the area. The thing is, a returned battleship will come back and fight but returned planes don't. The details will come back to me when I see the pics, this game ended 2 weeks ago. We did not play with the rule that a transport needs to survive one round of combat to land. John and I both had transports in the area ready to deploy troops to the island.

Quick question: Would my 6 troops be there for the defense of the island or would they go into reserve?

The allies couldn't retake Calcutta but managed to push in on both sides through Rangoon with Stillwell and his chinese forces.

The Oil fields in the malaysia/indonesia region remain unmolested.

[British_Mike]

Banzai banzai banzai!!!

A good result for the Axis.

Offsetting John's experience, Brian (and me for the sessions I was there) had some luck in terms of rules glitches. For instance, we all failed to correctly read that Chinese forces CAN enter Burma if Stillwell is present. Hence for quite a while the Burmese/China border was a secure flank for the Japs despite being completely unguarded; this made resourcing India a little easier.

My only observation on game balance - this was my first Pacific outing - is that it is probably much too easy to supply forces in the jungle. Might be worth making a "truck" piece (cost of 2) and saying that units in jungle areas can only be in-supply if they can draw line of supply AND (1) are in a space that also contains a port or (2) have a truck unit with them.  This simulates, in a simple way, the added cost and planning required to sustain jungle offensives.

It would also make for great "Chindit" / Merill's Marauders pieces that could be supplied in jungle as long as there was an Allied transport aircraft within range during the check supply phase.

Oh, and the US needs a weak/cheap paratroop piece - maybe a 2/3 (3 offensive value on first round) to represent regimental not divisional strength.

Cheers

Mike

PS. Lesson #1: Never ever Banzai counter-offensive!!

[DeathMachine]

PS. Lesson #1: Never ever Banzai counter-offensive!!

Hahaha! Truer words were ne'er spoken.

[Mark]

So - I am going to add a US paratrooper build to the US Pacific Build sheet - that makes sense.

I don't know about special units for the Burmese jungles.  I think the lack of strategic movement must make reinforcing armies there dificult - command of the sea zones is critical to get troops forward and prevent the enemy from landing troops behind you - I think this is probably enough to make advances through Burma into India a challenge ( escpecilly if the Chinese flank poses some threat with Stillwell).

Contemplating why we have damaged and retreated ships go into reserve instead of having to retreat from the battle. . . may need to change that - not sure why we made it that way.

I think I need to understand better the comment on the 6 infantry on the transport question to try and answer what should happen.  One round of naval combat is conducted before transports disembark for a battle - but the rules say if moving friendly, transports disembark immediately.  I would take this to mean the reinforcements land before the attack takes place.  But, it is a gray area if a naval battle is taking place in the sea zone as well.  I would suggest that whoever had the initiative and moved their transports into the sea zone first, gets to land his troops on the island first.


Sounds like it was a solid Japanese victory if they still hung onto Calcutta and most of the Pacific except for New Guinea and the Solomons.

[John D.]

Sure - your clarification sounds good.

Very good playtest. Good solid Jap Victory. Clarified rules. Pics will be up soon - I have been too busy...

[John D.]

ok - Here are more photos! The first pic shows the casualties from a terrifying naval engagement. US got massacred in case this is not clear...

[John D.]

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[John D.]

 

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[John D.]