Kerry Anderson - 09:21am Oct 8, 1999 PST (#46 of 60) 

System details on VICTORY IN VIETNAM?

Errr... 3 month turns. Divisional/brigade counters. Map stretches from China
to the southern tip of S. Vietnam.

Lots of politics, lots of special rules each of which affects the victory
point level turning the game towards one side or the other.

Not too sure whatelse to say off hand.

Kerry
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Costello - 03:30am Oct 11, 1999 PST (#48 of 60)

Victory in Vietnam - coming soon from Microgame Co-Op.

Dear Ananda;

ViV was inspired by the game 'No Trumpets no Drums' which ran in the
Wargamer several years ago.

ViV is primarily a game about the major period of active American military
involvement from 1964 to 1975; there are (potentially) 42 seasonal turns.
Optional 'Sudden Death' rules are included to shorten game play to the
first, most decisive years

Victory is based on a 'victory point' track, which is an ever-changing
value. If victory points fall to 0, the communist player wins. If the level
reaches +100 vp, the American player wins. Other victory options are
explained in the rules.

The turn sequence is a modified 'I-go, Hu-go' with the addition of: reaction
capability by the inactive player, hidden (face down) units, detection, and
bombardment whilst on the march. The intended effect is to emulate warfare
in Vietnam, where set-piece battles were rare and overruns, ambushes, and
massive applications of mobile firepower were the norm. Battles in the game
have a somewhat desparate aspect, though a competent American player usually
wins. The question is, can the US win enough...battles to make the
difference.

Aside from that I tried to include as many strategic possibilities as I
could think of in the game. Included are things like the Chinese army,
nuclear weapons, plus all of North Vietnam on the map. In this way I tried
to emulate 'MacArthur's War', Kerry's broad game of the Korean War which
included possible escalation to an Asian or even Global conflict.

There are two 'starter' scenarios of one turn each - the NVA attack on the
Khmer Rouge in 1978 and the Chinese incursion into Vietnam in 1979. There is
also a scenario on the American air war against Hanoi in December, 1972 -
Linebacker II. The game has a basic and an optional set of air rules. The
optional rules are designed to emulate the NVA integrated air defenses plus
the American technical modifications to deal with it. I like to think these
air rules are my best inovation, and hope other designers consider adopting
them in some variation. There are too few games on modern air warfare.

-Bruce Costello
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joserizal - 11:19pm Oct 11, 1999 PST (#49 of 60) 

What is your source materials for the Chinese incursion into Vietnam
scenario for the game: "Victory in Vietnam".
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Costello - 10:36am Oct 12, 1999 PST (#50 of 60) 

"What is your source materials for the Chinese incursion into Vietnam
scenario for the game: "Victory in Vietnam".

To be frank, I had trouble finding OB information on the Chinese. I was
fortunate to discover the number of divisions they had - they came in two
waves of 10-12 divisions each.

from that I crafted and play-tested the Chinese-NVA scenario a number of
times. The result matched the historical event 4 out of 5 times (ie, the
Chinese were checked with significant losses) so I believe the OB, unit
capabilities, and strengths are about right. I added in a couple of armor
divisions, some artillery, and an airborne unit for the campaign game.

-Bruce
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Gary Valenza - 09:06am Oct 13, 1999 PST (#51 of 60) 

Bruce, I like No Trumpets No Drums a lot, so I look forward to getting your
game. I just hope you weren't inspired by it's graphics. Even with my
bifocals I can't see many of the hexes.
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Costello - 10:01am Oct 13, 1999 PST (#52 of 60) 

Re; ViV graphics;

Hi Gary;

I've seen the final map by Kerry Anderson and it looks pretty good. The hex
boundaries and the terrain appears clearly delineated. A professional
looking effort.

-Bruce
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