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Another new feature for Grognard.com, "Opponents Wanted" provides a quick and easy way to locate gaming opponents with similar gaming preferences. Requires site registration. Grognard.com Opponents Wanted



Spotlight Articles

Outstanding articles that are not necessarily linked to one particular game, but may have broad appeal to gamers.

Battles of Heraclea Lyncestis, 219 BC and Emporiae, 218 BC (Med Campaign 9)

Spotlight Article Graphic

"Reports are in of a battle in northern Macedon between the invading Illyrians and a force scrambled together to meet them...". Prufrock continues with two more nicely photographed AARs in the ongoing Med Campaign! "...in Nearer Spain, Proconsul Aaronius Dubius Scipio Calvus, having landed a force near Emporiae, was engaged by an alliance of indomitable Iberian tribes...".

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 6/9/2025


My pre-orders analysis – what is new and coming!

Spotlight Article Graphic

Michal, in The Boardgames Chronicle, covers his current game preorders, and why he is anxiously awaiting them. See which game has him commenting that "...we are getting so many new elements – from graphical representation, to add-ons and optional rules – that this it will be a great, refreshing comeback to fantastic classic!"

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 6/6/2025


My Top Solitaire Wargames: New Designs and All-Time Classics

Spotlight Article Graphic

Michal, in The Boardgames Chronicle, reveals his favorite recent and all time solitaire classics. Check out the game he describes as "...probably the best small units combat simulation ever created, which has fantastic planning phase and unfolds completely differently each time.", and the one that challenges you to "...harness a brilliant mind, titanic energies, and a sometimes terrifying charisma to leave your mark on history?"

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 6/4/2025


Soviet 12mm WWII Pocket Army

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"My second WWII Pocket Army is now complete..."! Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, brings us a Pocket Army update pictorial.

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 5/26/2025


The Battle of the Sacred Grove (Med Campaign 5)

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"Upon sighting the lead elements of Roman forces, being the swift-moving Equites and Velites, this mass of warriors descended from the heights to fall upon Regulus’s army." Prufrock brings us a nicely photographed Roman/Barbarian minatures clash set in 225 BC. How do the Romans fare, while already engaged, when "...a large body of the Boii tribe arrived to the north, moving southwestward towards the ridge, aiming to bolster their colleagues..."?

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 5/21/2025


Grant’s Top 10 Solitaire Wargames of 2024!

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Grant Kleinhenz, in The Players' Aid, offers an intriguing list of solitaire games from last year. See which one had him commenting "...I was very much intrigued by the concept but more importantly about how this game planned to do just that."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 5/7/2025


Historicon 2025

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Historical Miniatures Gaming Society July 16-20, 2025. Lancaster County Convention Center, Lancaster, PA. Hundreds of tabletop miniatures games for you to participate in; tournaments; hobby classes; lectures; a board game library; and over 60 hobby-related vendors.

Poster: Robert Holifield
Post Date: 4/29/2025


More Spotlight articles...


Gaming Conventions

Gaming Conventions

Another new feature for Grognard.com, the Gaming Convention calendar will make it a snap to keep up with all the latest gaming conventions in your area. But we need your gaming convention information, so please contribute.



Grognard News

Grognard Challenge - Expanded Room for Comments! (6/25/2023)

The Comments entry area has been resized to 512 characters.

Grognard Originals

In addition to our links to great content all around the internet, expect to see more Grognard.com "originals" in the future.

Malaya (v2.5) War Game Review

Pat La Pella reviews this post-card sized game and its computer editions. Can the UK Commonwealth prevent the Japanese from occupying Singapore in 1941?

Malaya Player Aid (pdf)

Pat La Pella created this player aid to clarify special movement rules for the Japanese player for Amphibious Movement and Reinforcement beach landing hexes. Computer versions of the game show eligible hexes automatically when the Japanese player selects a unit for movement.

PE TANG 1900 Q&A with Marco Campari

Some Q & A between myself and Marco Campari, designer of Pe Tang 1900 from Lumaca Games.

PE TANG 1900 Strategy Tips

This is the strategy I developed after playing Pe Tang 1900 from Lumaca Games.

More Grognard Originals...


Grognard Challenge

Latest Challenge

Have a look at the graphics for the latest Challenge and see past solutions and contest winners.

Recommended (archives)

Wargaming - General Info

Board Wargames

Miniatures Wargames

Computer Wargames

Academic Gaming

Board Games

Internet Based/PBEM Games

Individual Wargamer Blogs

Wargaming Magazines

Asst Software/Player Aides

In Memoriam

Grognards Lost


A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z '-9

South China Sea: War Game Replay


Learning the System - Game Replay


South China Sea - Board Game Replay
by Mark D. and Harvey Mossman  *  28-Apr-2018

Overview


Buy from
Noble Knight Games
Buy South China Sea from Noble Knight Games

My gaming buddy Harvey Mossman and I decided to give this game a shot as we are both intrigued by the subject matter. We also wanted to see whether this was more of a "game" or a "simulation" (or a nice combination of both, hopefully). But, most of all, we want to know if it is a fun, engaging, competitive game. I chose to be the Americans (also playing on behalf of regional power Vietnam), leaving Harvey to lead the Chinese (and regional power Malyasia). The Philippines will ride the fence, allowing the two major powers to alternate control every other turn.

We decided on "Scenario 4: Spratly Missile Crisis" which looked the most like a "campaign" game and dove right in, learning the rules as we go along. We opted to play the six political turns, rather than using the alternative short-cut and, while it may ultimately end up being a lot of work for very little benefit, we both think that the political card play could result in a significant advantage for one side or the other at the start of the Military Turns if skillfully handled.

We got to the 3rd political turn before Armed Conflict was triggered. USA netted a starting victory point advantage of 1. I really like the fact that the game can be played to a victorious conclusion without ever triggering armed conflict and will probably invest some time in analyzing the possibility of one player maneuvering the other into an inescapable political defeat. But, per the scenario instructions, if after 6 political turns neither major power has won, proceed directly to the 10 Military Turns. So, there will definitely be "armed conflict" in this game.

Our intention is to provide very brief summaries each week on the progress of the game, possibly some detailed commentary, and definitely some pictures.


Military Turn #1


U.S. Summary

Not a lot happening yet, as you might expect. My two large forces are split between a 3-carrier task force in the Celebes Sea, and a large naval, air and ground force on Okinawa. It will take several turns before they are able to fully engage the Chinese. I believe that we are to assume full military cooperation between the U.S. and Vietnam and also between China and Malaysia. So I intended to send the Vietnamese navy and air force out to run interference as best they can. Harvey anticipated this and destroyed the airfield, SAM unit and Flanker squadron at Cam Ranh Bay. The Vietnamese Kilo-class subs are on the prowl now and will hopefully get some payback next turn.

I chose to focus my LACM strikes on Chinese units present in the Spratlys and was able to destroy both of the SAM units there. Lots of victory point hexes in the Spratlys so I want to soften them up fast.

Meanwhile, in the Celebes Sea, I unleashed my carrier based F-35s and AV-8Bs loose on the Malaysian navy and air force, with disppointing results. Gave them a bloody nose, but both are still in existence and are therefore still a threat to my carriers. Better luck next turn.

South China Sea: U.S. Task Force #1 - Celebes Sea

South China Sea: U.S. Task Force #2 - Okinawa

South China Sea: U.S. Task Force Dispositions after Military Turn #1


China Summary

(As the game progresses, Harvey will add his comments about Chinese play and strategy. But in the meantime, I've added a few pics of his current force dispositions.)

South China Sea: Chinese Task Force #1 Near the Paracels

South China Sea: Chinese Task Force #2 South of Hong Kong

South China Sea: Chinese Task Force Dispositions after Military Turn #1


Closing Thoughts

Mark: Not much to say here. Things should heat up quite a bit on Military Turns 2 and 3. Time will tell...

Harvey: What he said...