Solomon Islands Campaign

Thats a nice map

I just dont have time to play these days

Yowch! $180 on eBay for the board game? No wonder you started thinking outside the box. If I didn’t already have a copy I’d never own one. Guess it’s time for a reprint, Hasbro?

Yeah, on a War at Sea fan board it’s just about unanimous.

I made the swwas map

redirect.viglink.com/?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_163825335137610&key=71fe2139a887ad501313cd8cce3053c5&libId=kwlpqujs0102ylrr000MLer5ctmpc&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fforumini.boards.net%2Fthread%2F438%2Fflak-solo-player&ccpaConsent=1---&v=1&out=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fpresentation%2Fd%2F15x_z5DGZS62DEkzF07oZSNVuNzz8-RzE7Kr7af_9ZFI%2Fedit%3Fusp%3Dsharing&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fforumini.boards.net%2Fboard%2F15%2Fonline-matches%3Fpage%3D8&title=Flak(Solo%20Player)%20%7C%20Forumini&txt=docs.google.com%2Fpresentation%2Fd%2F15x_z5DGZS62DEkzF07oZSNVuNzz8-RzE7Kr7af_9ZFI%2Fedit%3Fusp%3Dsharing

Here is what the class limits roughly are:

Allies



USA



Wasp Class: 1 (Wasp becomes available in September)

Yorktown Class: 2 (Enterprise, Hornet)

Lexington Class: 1 (Saratoga)

Sangamon Class: 4 (Sangamon, Suwannee, Chenango, Santee all available in October)

South Dakota Class: 3 (Alabama becomes available in September)

North Carolina Class: 2 (North Carolina, Washington)

Colorado Class: 1 (Colorado)

New Mexico Class: 3 (New Mexico, Idaho, Mississippi)

Pennsylvania Class: 1 (Pennsylvania)

Nevada Class: 1 (Nevada becomes available in September)

New Orleans Class: 6/7 (New Orleans, Astoria, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Quincy, Vincennes)

Portland Class: 2 (Portland, Indianapolis)

Northampton Class: 3/5 (Northampton, Chicago, Chester becomes available in November, Louisville becomes available in December)

Pensacola Class: 2 (Pensacola, Salt Lake City)

Cleveland Class: 4 (Cleveland and Columbia become available in December, Montpelier becomes available in January, Denver becomes available in February)

Atlanta Class: 4 (Atlanta, Juneau, San Diego, San Juan)

St. Louis Class: 2 (St. Louis, Helena)

Brooklyn Class: All Available

Omaha Class: All Available



Australia and New Zealand



County Class: 2 (Australia, Canberra)

Leander class: 4 (Leander, Achilles, Hobart, Perth)



If things get BAD or you run out of big ships of the following categories to bring in 1.Carrier 2. Fast Battleship 3. Battleship (if you’ve also ran out of fast battleships entirely) to bring in:



Ranger Class: 1 (Ranger)

South Dakota Class: 1 (Massachusetts)

New York Class: 2 (New York, Texas)

Wyoming Class: 1 (Arkansas)

Wichita Class: 1 (Wichita)

New Orleans Class: (Tuscaloosa)

Northampton Class: (Augusta)

Illustrious Class: 4 (preferably Victorious)











Japan



Shokaku Class: 2 (Shokaku, Zuikaku)

Hiyo Class: 2 (Hiyo, Junyo)

Ryujo Class: 1 (Ryujo)

Ryuho Class: 1 (Ryuho becomes available in December)

Zuiho Class: 1 (Zuiho)

Nisshin Class: 1 (Nisshin)

Chitose Class: 2 (Chitose, Chiyoda)

Yamato Class: 2 (Yamato, Musashi becomes available in October)

Nagato Class: 2 (Nagato, Mutsu)

Ise Class: 2 (pre conversion only)

Fuso Class: 2 (Fuso, Yamashiro)

Kongo Class: 4 (Kongo, Kirishima, Haruna, Hiei)

Tone Class: 2 (Tone, Chikuma)

Mogami Class: 3 (Mogami, Suzuya, Kumano)

Takao Class: 4 (Takao, Atago, Maya, Chokai)

Myoko Class: 4 (Myoko, Nachi, Haguro, Ashigara)

Aoba Class: 2 (Aoba, Kinugasa)

Furutaka Class: 2 (Furutaka, Kako)

Agano Class: 1 (Agano becomes available in December)

Sendai Class: All Available

Yubari Class: 1 (Yubari)

Nagara Class: All available

Kuma Class: All available

Tenryu Class: Both available

Thanks for the feedback on the map.  Airfields are obviously going to happen (Henderson Field and all) but I am skeptical of allowing forward naval bases and heavy shore batteries, as these are things that we didn't really see and that would be somewhat overpowered if you could use them to lock down islands.  Airfields can still be ignored so long as you approach the area at night (and they were also much more realistic to build in the space of a few days).

Guadalcanal Campaign Rules (preliminary)



Overview



This should be a rather long scenario to play (I speculate around 100-200 turns for an average game and it should take around 20 hours of game time). Most turns will be rather uneventful since both players have to spend a significant amount of time saving up points for units and fuel for them to sortie.



Game Setup



The game starts at 10 AM on August 5th, 1942. The Allied player has 400 points, control of the New Hebrides, and control of Port Moresby. The Japanese player has 200 points, control of Rabaul (with an airfield and port), control of Bougainville (with an airstrip), and control of Guadalcanal (with an uncompleted airstrip, 8 turns from completion).



Victory Conditions



The Allied player wins in one of two ways:



1. Conquering all of the Solomon Islands on land and having a presence on Bougainville.

2. Sink at least 5 Japanese capital ships (fleet carriers and battleships) AND build an airfield on Guadalcanal AND have complete control of the following islands on land: Rennell Island, Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Malaita.



The Japanese player wins in one of three ways:



1. Conquering all of the Solomon Islands on land AND having an airfield on Guadalcanal

2. Conquering both Port Moresby and Guadalcanal

3. Sinking at least 7 American capital ships (fleet carriers and battleships) WITHOUT losing ANY capital ships.



Turns



Each turn on the strategic board is conducted as follows:

Both players write down their intended movements at the beginning of the turn. During this time, they calculate the cost of fuel deducted from their point total. Also determine a formation in which each of your fleets is in, so that your units will be in a particular formation in the case that an engagement occurs.

Both players reveal their movements.

If it is determined that any opposing units have come across each other, a typical A&A WAS battle occurs in the sector where it is determined they crossed paths.

Land battle occurs on all contested land sectors.

Both players check if they have satisfied a victory condition.

Both players may purchase units.



Point Gain and Usage



Each player can save up as many points as he desires. Each unit has the price on its stat card. House rules regarding the prices of specific units may be used.


Purchase units in secret and deploy them at your port.  Once they are at sea, your opponent will know the location of each task force you have, but you will only be obligated to tell them the highest level of unit in the force (if there is a carrier, you say that it is a carrier force, then battleship, then cruiser, then seaplane tender, then destroyer, then auxiliary).

Each player gains 10 points per turn.



Cruising and Fuel Cost



Any ship capable of speed 2 can cruise at up to 28 knots, speed 2 with slow 1 or 2 can cruise at 21 knots, and units with speed 1 and speed 2 with slow 3 cruise at 14 knots. Any group of ships can only travel as fast as the slowest unit. Groups can be broken up at sea, however, so you can decide to leave behind some vessels. A unit which is crippled will be treated as being able to achieve 14 knots unless it has the Stalwart ability.



On the large campaign board, 1 turn is equal to 6 hours

0 knots = 0 spaces / turn - 0.3125

7 knots = 1 space / turn - 0.3125

14 knots = 2 spaces / turn - 0.5

21 knots = 3 spaces / turn - 1.25

28 knots = 4 spaces / turn - 2.5



Fuel costs a certain point value. On every turn, for any given task force, take the collective number of hull points of the force and multiply it by the listed constant for the speed it is going at. Add 0.25 for each squadron's worth of carrier capacity present during daytime turns (representing keeping up a CAP). Do not do this if there are no aircraft left present on the carrier, but leave it . Round this number up and subtract this point value from your total.



This technically means that a player can “go into debt” with too many ships on the board and not enough points saved. If it is ever determined that a player will go into debt unless ships are returned to port, he must have all task forces which are at sea return before this occurs (in the case that this is overlooked, he must return all vessels to port AND not send them back to sea until he has gained enough points to be back in the positive).



Aircraft



Carrier based and single-engine aircraft may fly up to 6 strategic spaces and back in 1 turn.



Patrol bombers may fly up to 10 strategic spaces and back in 1 turn.



In the case that it is determined aircraft have crossed paths with enemy units, a one-turn engagement occurs, starting from the initiative phase, but skipping the sea movement phase. Long-range engagement rules are in play, but a player can choose to have multiple squadrons “in formation,” and have them use a single search die.



If the aircraft are carrier-borne, the player may use the Expert SA’s from the carrier that these aircraft originate from.



It must be determined what direction the attacking aircraft come from (the direction where the strike originated from). In the case that the desired target is behind enemy ships or aircraft, attacking aircraft must get through said screen without getting aborted or destroyed. If an attacking aircraft has Determined Attack or Press the Attack and the ability is used while flying past a screening unit, it cannot be attacked again by units in that sector.



For example, say that the American player has a strike of 1 F4F squadron, 2 SBD squadrons, and 1 TBF Squadron being sent to hit a task force with Shokaku and Kongo at its center (long-range search checks have already occurred), with Yukikaze and Naka in the way, and an A6M2 squadron in the sector of Shokaku. The American player discloses his intention to send the strike at the sector with Shokaku and Kongo. He then has his aircraft fly from the direction that the strike came from (based on the direction this task force is going in and its movement on the strategic map). It is determined that the strike will fly through the sector containing Yukikaze and Naka, so the Japanese player can make AA attacks with those units. Say that Naka aborts one SBD and Yukikaze aborts the F4F. The American player uses Press the Attack on the SBD and succeeds. This would mean that the TBF and both SBD’s arrive in Shokaku’s sector (although one SBD only hits on a 5 or 6). The units in Shokaku’s sector then make AA attacks as in normal WAS.



Aircraft Carriers



Because carriers will be extremely strong with the ability to hit enemy ships that have no chance of returning fire on the strategic board, they will be weakened in shorter-range battles. If a naval battle occurs, a carrier aircraft will receive 3 rearming counters during the air return phase, unless it has not attacked. Carrier aircraft will receive 1 additional rearming counter for every 10 spaces that aircraft travelled during the air movement phase.



Submarines



Players will not disclose the locations of their submarines on the map. They will be moved around and managed at the same time as other units on the strategic board. If he determines one of his submarines (which he may have arranged individually or together in a squadron with a formation) have crossed paths with enemy surface units, he rolls a die in secret (or without context). On a 5 or 6, an engagement occurs.



If a submarine vs surface ship engagement occurs, pick a series of sectors in a rough semicircle in front of the enemy formation that are in range 2-3 of enemy ships (range 0-1 for Infiltrator). Via dice roll, determine which sector(s) the submarine(s) are in. A WAS engagement occurs. However, the surface player must have his ships continue at the same course and speed and not attack until the submarine attacks. If the submarine happens to be in the same sector as an enemy destroyer at the end of the sea movement phase, the surface player may roll a die. On a 6, the submarine is detected and may be attacked. If for 4 consecutive turns the submarine has not been hit by an ASW attack, the combat may be ended by the submarine player.



Ammunition limits



Keep track of the number of surface engagements your ships have partaken in. After 3 engagements where the unit used gunnery attacks, it will be considered “low on ammunition” and roll -1 on each attack die when making gunnery attacks in future engagements.



Destroyers can make 1 torpedo attack each while at sea. Cruisers can make 2 torpedo attacks while at sea. Submarines can make 3 torpedo attacks while at sea.



A unit will have its ammunition resupplied if it spends 2 full turns in a friendly port.



Ports



When a unit is purchased, it is placed within the player’s port (Rabaul for the Japanese player and the New Hebrides for the Allied player). When a ship leaves the port it is already considered to be in the sea zone that the port is within.



When a ship is returned to port, it may be released for its full point value returned to the player. In the case that a ship is released while damaged, multiply its hull value by 2 and subtract that number of points from those that are returned. Keep track of what turn any given unit is released.



The ship can be brought back immediately if undamaged. If it was released while damaged, use the following information to determine when it can be brought back



1 hull damage = 10 days (40 turns) after being released

2 hull damage = 20 days (80 turns) after being released

3 hull damage = 35 days (140 turns) after being released

4 hull damage = 50 days (200 turns) after being released

5 hull damage = 70 days (280 turns) after being released

Crippled = add 5 days (20 turns) to the time required



If a unit has an ability such as Extended Range which requires it to be undamaged, but has been damaged and is now in port, temporary repairs may be made in port. This will take 1 day (4 turns) and allow that SA(s) to be used in combat. This does not bring back lost hull points.



Ports and the ships anchored in them can be raided by ships and aircraft. If ships raid a port, a sea battle necessarily occurs with the ships anchored there.



A port can also act as a seaplane base.



Port Moresby cannot be used to deploy units because it is actively contested. However, ships can be anchored there.



Airfields, Airstrips, and Seaplane Bases



Airstrips can base 3 squadrons of any aircraft that does not have Sea Basing, Loiter, or Hi-Level Bomber.



Airfields can base 7 squadrons of any aircraft that does not have Sea Basing or Loiter.



Seaplane bases can base 2 squadrons of any aircraft that has Sea Basing or Loiter.



Airstrips can be built on: Rabaul, Port Moresby, Bougainville, Choiseul, New Georgia, Santa Isabel Island, Guadalcanal, and the New Hebrides



Airfields can be built on: Rabaul, Port Moresby, Bougainville, Guadalcanal, and the New Hebrides



Seaplane bases can be built on any island sector that has some sort of bay (pretty much all island sectors, just look at them)



Airstrips can be built by delivering 50 points worth of Vital Cargo SA’s to an allowed place on land which is friendly (Landing and Tokyo Express CANNOT be used for this purpose). Keep track of what time sufficient vital cargo is delivered; the airstrip will be considered complete one week (28 turns) later.



Airfields can be built by delivering 100 points worth of Vital Cargo SA’s to a place on land which already has an airstrip. Keep track of what time sufficient vital cargo is delivered; the airfield will be considered complete two weeks (56 turns) later.



Seaplane bases can be built by delivering 30 points worth of Vital Cargo SA’s to a place on land. Keep track of what time sufficient vital cargo is delivered; the seaplane base will be considered complete two days (8 turns) later.



All three of these installations do not come with aircraft which are based on them. Aircraft can be ferried to them from a friendly installation within that aircraft’s combat range. Aircraft carriers and seaplane tenders can be used to bring aircraft to their respective bases. Land based aircraft can be ferried by a carrier, placing them on board at a port and brought to an island airfield or airstrip and placed on the installation, but doing so will take 1 stationary turn in the sector of each installation.



If a carrier is ferrying aircraft, it can carry two more squadrons than its usual basing limit, but CANNOT launch and recover aircraft if it bases more than its stacking limit. If the carrier is sunk while doing this, all aircraft on board are also lost.



Ship usage



It is not a rule, but it is suggested that players put ships that often operated together historically in the same task force (i.e., Shokaku and Zuikaku should sail together as Carrier Division 5 unless one is sunk/damaged; ships of the same class are often sent together. Cases that would be cringe would be like sending Nagato and Fuso together instead of either Nagato and Mutsu or Fuso and Yamashiro)