Across the Pacific

[vladsee]

from the Pacific Rim Flyer:

Across the Pacific portrays the entire Pacific War in 5 month turns with units ranging from armies to regiments, air fleets to destroyer flotillas.

Across the Pacific has two Campaign Scenarios. One starting on December 1941 and the other starting on May 1942 with the Japanese initial expansion already a fact on the map.

The game includes a 36 X 48 inch map, 960 die cut counters, 2 11 x 14 inch charts and tables, 2 8-1/2 inch task force display charts, 2 Unit and Aircraft Carrier Group Stacking Charts, 2 Setup and Order of Arrival Charts, 1 - 32 page rule book and 1 six sided die.


Personal Review:
Overall, a nice game with a good combination of strategic and tactical elements to it. Also has some elegant mechanics on simulating difficulty in coordinating units and intelligence in an abstracted way. Positioning your aircraft is critical to be able to react to the enemy and more so for the Japanese player in keeping the oil flowing. Game also allows to explore the China conflict and its relation to the whole Pacific War. I also like the added chrome of forming task forces and task groups and the combat resolution, which makes a lot of sense when you actually play it.

More info on BGG

Publisher Pacific Rim Publishing

[maskmanjoe]

I have yet to gain and play any wargame in the Pacific theater. I initially was eying Fire in the Sky but with that out-of-print already I wonder how this game is like. I've had feedback from Tom and Adrian about Fire. Any comparisons (if possible)?

[Mark Humphries]

I have yet to gain and play any wargame in the Pacific theater. I initially was eying Fire in the Sky but with that out-of-print already I wonder how this game is like. I've had feedback from Tom and Adrian about Fire. Any comparisons (if possible)?

This is a much larger and deeper game, 3 ft. by 4 ft. map, 960 counters, 18+ hours to play the campaign scenario.

There aren't that many small (i.e. below 5 hours) games that cover the whole theater.

The classic introduction to the Pacific Theater is Avalon Hill's Victory in the Pacific, it has around 7 pages of rules, excludes China and is very abstract, but has great gameplay. It's been out of print for many years, but is still available cheaply on eBay. If you'd like to try it just let me know.

The only titles that I can recall of the top of my head that might be still in print are Pacific Victory (Columbia Games) and Asia Engulfed (GMT).

There's also talk that Pacific Fleet (Hobby Japan) may get a new translation.

[maskmanjoe]

Thanks Mark. Adrian Panda has Asia Engulfed I think though I have yet to muster the courage to play through it. I would be interested in trying out Victory in the Pacific.

My understanding is that unlike the Europe theater, players in the Pacific had to deal with alot of bodies of water in between their objectives. I want to experience wargaming with those challenges.

Oh, right now I am waiting for Conflict Of Heroes: Guadalcanal but that would be for month still.

[Mark Humphries]

Cool. Let me know when you'll be available and we'll setup a VITP session.

[Mark Humphries]

Arnold and I will be playing Victory in the Pacific at my place today.

[maskmanjoe]

Arnold and I will be playing Victory in the Pacific at my place today.

And many thanks for teaching me Mark! VitP's comes packed with simple rules but serious dilemma induced decision making that makes it quite meaty.