Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Pacific War 1941-45: Empire of The Sun
The Pacific War 1941-45: Empire of The Sun
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction.......................................................... 2 11.0 Replacements........................................................ 25
2.0 Setting Up The Game........................................... 5 12.0 Strategic Warfare.................................................. 26
3.0 General Course Of Play........................................ 5 13.0 National Status..................................................... 27
4.0 Sequence Of Play................................................. 6 14.0 Inter Service Rivalry............................................ 31
5.0 Strategy Cards...................................................... 6 15.0 War In Europe....................................................... 31
6.0 Zones of Influence, Supply, Activation, 16.0 Winning The Campaign Scenarios........................... 31
and Hex Control................................................... 9 17.0 Scenarios.............................................................. 33
7.0 Offensives............................................................. 13 18.0 Master Scenario List............................................. 40
8.0 Movement and Stacking....................................... 15 19.0 Comprehensive Example Of Play.......................... 43
9.0 Battle Resolution.................................................. 19 20.0 Designer’s Notes.................................................. 47
10.0 Reinforcements & Amphibious Shipping Points.. 24 Bibliography.................................................................. 49
Index ............................................................................. 50
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
P.O. Box 1308, Hanford, CA 93232-1308
www.GMTGames.com
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
V3.1
2 Empire of the Sun
1.0 Introduction Continuous low-level offensives and the collapse of central authority
in China exploded in 1937 into the full scale invasion of Northern
Empire of the Sun is a game about the Pacific War during World War China. This invasion was marked by significant Japanese brutality
II. One player takes the side of the Japanese and the other the Western to the Chinese populace, as epitomized by the rape of Nanking.
Allies. The Japanese try to out perform their historical counterpart However, China was more than Japan could swallow and the Chinese
and force the Allies into a negotiated end to the war, while the Allies Nationalist government under Chiang Kai Shek refused to surrender,
try to destroy Japan’s military and place its industry within range of to the extreme frustration of the Japanese government.
Allied B29s and Naval forces. If the Allies cannot keep pace with
their historical counterpart, the only recourse is the invasion of the The German blitzkrieg of Europe in 1939-1941 defeated or laid
Japanese Home Islands themselves. low many of the Western colonial powers, whose far-flung empires
became vulnerable to military conquest. Operation Barbarossa and
1.1 Causes of the War the perceived imminent collapse of the Soviet Union, coupled with
The war in the Pacific during World War II had many underlying American economic sanctions, led the Japanese government to
causes, the most notable being the Japanese view that they had a determine that the moment to strike had arrived. The Japanese felt
manifest right to become the dominant force in Asia. The Japanese that they had to act now or forever forfeit their dream to become a
psyche correctly saw themselves as the equals of any Western world power. Although US cryptanalysts were reading many of the
nation. It was the view in Tokyo that the only barrier to becoming Japanese diplomatic and low level military codes, they were still
a world class power was their lack of natural resources, denied to caught off guard on December 7, 1941, when the Imperial Japanese
them by nature. Using the precedent of their Western mentors, they Navy attacked the US Pacific fleet in its Pearl Harbor anchorage.
embraced the colonial model of empire, which made them desirous The impact of this attack would see the United States wreck terrible
to dominate China and the Dutch East Indies. As a result of this vengeance upon the Japanese Empire for their ‘day of infamy’ and
viewpoint, the quasi-mutinous units of the Japanese Imperial Army their moment in the sun.
with Imperial instigation presented Tokyo with a fait accompli
when they attacked and conquered Manchuria in 1931. This foreign 1.2 Components
adventure, and attempts by succeeding Japanese governments to 1.21 Inventory
gain international recognition for their unique status on the Asian A complete game of Empire of the Sun contains:
mainland, continued to bring consternation and friction to Japan’s • 1 mounted map
relations with the Western powers. • 1 mapsheet (South Pacific)
More significantly, this philosophy ran afoul of long standing, and • 2 decks of Event cards (Japanese and Allied)
long un-enforced, US policies for an ‘open door’ in China. The US • 1 full-size and one half-size counter sheet
had maintained a romantic image of their extensive trade relationship • This Rule booklet
with China, which was not supported by economic reality. However, • 1 CDSS booklet
important families, such as the Roosevelt’s, had made their fortune • 1 Player Aid Card (11” x 17”)
in the China trade, and they fought diplomatically to maintain un- • 2 (identical) Combat Tables Cards
fettered US access to the Chinese market. • 2 Setup cards (1 Japanese and 1 Allied)
• 2 Erasmus Tri-folds (1 Japanese and 1 Allied)
• 1 die (10 sided)
1.22 Die their hex set up or game turn of entry is found. All other numbers
Empire of the Sun uses a single ten sided die for all random number are historical designations and generally have no effect on play.
functions. The number 0 represents results equal to zero. A zero die
roll does not represent 10, as in some games. 1.25 Strategy Cards
There are two decks of Strategy cards, one Allied and one Japanese.
1.23 Map A card has five pieces of information: Card number, Card Type (Mil-
The single map sheet is an equal area projection of the Pacific Ocean itary, Political, Resource, Reaction), Operations Value, Intelligence
and portions of Asia that were involved in the war. Each hex is Values, and Event. The card number is for reference and does not
about 150 miles across. The terrain varies from the Owen Stanley have play considerations. When a card is played for its Operations
Mountains in New Guinea to the atolls of the Central Pacific. Also Value it is called an Operations card, hereafter called an OC in the
included on the map are the all important airfields and ports that rules. If it is used as an event, it is called an Event card, hereafter
represent the logistical infrastructure required by combat units for called an EC in the rules. It should be noted that many events allow
offensives. For consistency all map spellings have been taken from the player to conduct an offensive, but playing an event to conduct
a single period source, the September 1943, National Geographic an offensive does not make that card an OC play, it remains an EC
Society map (see Bibliography). play. A number of cards are phrased to have effects that last more
than one turn after they are played and have corresponding counters
1.24 Counters as a mnemonic device. Event title is for historical purposes only.
The counters represent the units that the players maneuver and
with which they conduct combat to gain their victory conditions. 1.3 Glossary
The Ground units (interchangeably referred to as land units in the Aircraft Carrier: All CV, CVL, and CVE type naval units are
rules) represent a variety of different sized units from regiments up collectively known as aircraft carriers or carriers. When the rules
to armies. Air units represent large regional air forces. Naval units reference aircraft carriers, they are referring to all three types. When
represent a large mix of Capital ships, some of whose names are distinctions are required in the rules, they are cited by their particular
used for the unit designation, and varying numbers of Cruisers, Light naval unit type letter designator.
Cruisers, and Destroyers. Counters in play on the map are always
viewable by both players. Aircraft Range: Air units (land based aircraft units) have two range
values (normal and extended) on their counter. An aircraft unit’s
Example Counters: All non aircraft carrier naval and land units range is the distance in hexes that it can move from airfield to airfield,
have two values, attack (left value) and defense (right value). Air and the distance in hexes it can be from a battle that it participates in.
units and aircraft carriers have three values, attack (left), defense When an aircraft uses its extended range in battle, its attack strength
(center), and range in hexes (right); this last often split into two is halved for combat purposes. If an air unit’s extended range is in
ranges, a normal followed by an extended (sometimes in parenthe- parentheses, it cannot use extended range to participate in battle; it
ses). All HQs have two values, range in hexes (left value), efficiency can only join in a battle that is within its normal range. Also, a unit
rating (right value). The only other values are either hex set up (a with extended range in parenthesis cannot participate in a battle if
four digit number) or a game turn number for the entry of the unit it uses this range to move during an Offensive. Consequently, an
(one or two digits). Units that have a white triangle on their front side aircraft unit cannot react using its parenthetical value, since all re-
begin the game at reduced strength, with their back side up, where action units have to participate in a battle in order to reaction move.
U.S. U.S.
Navy Army Operations Value
Black = Military
Yellow = Political
Green = Resource
Japanese Japanese Blue = Reaction
Navy Army
Event
British New
Zealand
Australian Dutch
4.0 Sequence of Play Reaction player and may play Reaction cards and possibly activate
and move his units in reaction to the offensive. For full description
The following sequence represents all of the portions of a single and sequence of an offensive, see 7.0.
game turn. It is repeated in the indicated order for each game turn
until the game ends. If the offensives player plays a non-military EC, he implements the
effect of the event.
4.1 The Strategic Phase After the resolution has been completed, the players reverse roles
4.11 Reinforcement Segment and the new Offensives player starts with the next play. This seg-
Both players receiver their reinforcements and place them according ment ends when both players have played all strategy cards in their
to rules 10.1 (Reinforcements). hands for the turn.
The Allied player places his reinforcements first. He receives de- 4.3 The Political Phase
layed reinforcements from the previous game turn due to War In
Europe effects (WIE, see 15.0), and either receives the current turn’s 4.31 National Status Segment
reinforcements (in case of no delay) or places them in the delay box Any countries that fulfill the surrender criteria surrender according
due to the WIE or the effect of an event. If the WIE is at level 1 or to rules in 13.0.
greater, the Allied player rolls the die for certain classes of units that 4.32 US Political Will Segment
may be temporarily lost by being diverted to Europe. Adjust the US Political Will track for any conditions noted in rule
Japanese player places his reinforcements second. Japanese rein- 16.4.
forcements are never delayed or diverted.
4.4 The Attrition Phase
4.12 Replacement Segment All ground and air units determine their supply state (6.2). If they
Both players may receive replacements, with the Allied player using are out of supply, they are flipped from their full strength to their
his replacements first. Replacements are used to flip reduced units reduced strength side. Air and Ground units already on their reduced
that are in supply to their full strength side, or resurrect units from side may be eliminated. Naval units are unaffected by attrition.
those eliminated in combat. See Replacements (rule 11.0) for details.
4.5 The End of Turn Phase
4.13 Strategic Warfare Segment If the US Political Will marker is in the Zero (Negotiations) box
The Allied player conducts submarine warfare and Strategic Bombing. during this phase, the Japanese player wins the game. If the condi-
See Strategic Warfare (12.0). The effects of strategic warfare can tions for automatic Allied victory have occurred, the Allied player
reduce the number of cards that will be dealt to the Japanese player wins the game. If it is the last turn of the game, determine the winner
for the current turn. as per the campaign or scenario victory conditions for the game
4.14 Deal Strategy Cards Segment that was played. If none of these conditions are true, advance the
The Japanese player receives from 4 to 7 cards, depending on the game turn marker and conduct a new game turn. Flip or remove
outcome of Strategic warfare, from the top of the Japanese Card deck. various game markers as indicated by the rules (e.g., China Offen-
The Allied player receives from 4 to 7 cards, depending on the game sive conducted to its other side or remove Tokyo Express marker
turn, War in Europe (15.5), and whether certain Allied nations have respectively).
surrendered, from the top of the Allied Card deck. Note, however,
that the scenario being played may define different procedure for
the deal on the first turn of the scenario. 5.0 Strategy Cards
Each player has a deck of unique Strategy cards. A player can only
4.2 The Offensives Phase draw and play Strategy cards from their own deck, although some
4.21 Initiative Segment cards allow you to force the other player to discard from their hand.
The player with fewer Strategy cards may play his Future Offensives Each turn a player draws a hand of 4 to 7 Strategy cards. Players
card as EC Offensive (only) to go first. If he does not, the player alternate playing strategy cards during the Offensives segment of
with the most Strategy cards goes first (and may play any card). In the Offensives Phase. During their turn, they must play a Strategy
case of same number of cards, the Japanese player must go first for card, play one of a limited number of passes, or discard a Strategy
all game turns in 1941 and 1942, whereas the Allied player must go card. When both players have played all of the Strategy cards in their
first for all other game turns; in this case the opponent may NOT hand, the Offensives Phase of the game turn is concluded.
use Future Offensives card to go first. (See 7.29) DESIGN NOTE: Strategy cards are the heart of my card driven game
system as used in my earlier We The People and For The People
4.22 Offensives Segment
designs. The cards are the mechanism through which all movement,
Players alternate being the Offensives player, playing Strategy cards,
battle, and events are initiated during the game.
either as OCs or ECs to conduct Offensives (the moving of units
on the map and the resolution of resulting combats) or implement A Strategy card may be played as either an Operations Card (OC)
other game functions through events. The current offensives player or as an Event Card (EC), designated a Future Offensive card, or
must play a Strategy card as OC or EC, use a pass if he has any, discarded. When played as an OC card, the player may perform one
designate a card as a Future Offensive card, or discard a Strategy of the following actions:
card. If he has no strategy cards left, the role of Offensives player A. Conduct an OC Offensive (7.0).
just switches to his opponent.
B. Conduct a China OC Offensive (13.72).
If the offensives player plays an OC or EC with a logistics value, he C. Withdraw an HQ (6.13).
conducts an Offensive during which he may activate units to move
D. Bring a HQ into play from the game turn record track (6.15).
and attack opposing units. The opposing player is considered the
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
Empire of the Sun 7
E. Construct a strategic transport route (13.77). be played only as an OC Offensive or discarded, but it may not be
used as an Event Card.
It should be noted that many Events enable Offensives, which are
called EC Offensives. OC and EC Offensives follow the same proce- Military events can be played as OC cards to initiate an OC Offensive
dures, though they have some differences in actions allowed during instead of Military event. In this case, rules for OC Offensives apply
the Offensive that are covered later in the rules (7.0). as normal and all card text is ignored.
Played and discarded strategy cards are placed in a separate Discard A. Activation Instructions
pile for later reuse unless the card text specifies otherwise. The Dis- Many military events have Offensive restrictions on which named
card piles are disclosed information and can be examined by either HQs can or cannot be used if the military event is to occur.
player. Some cards indicate that if played as an event (EC) they
are completely removed from play. Note that a card that is played B. Intelligence Conditions
for an OC whose event text indicates that it is removed after being If the Intelligence states ‘Surprise Attack’ the Reaction player cannot
played as an event is placed in the Discard pile for possible reuse. make an intelligence die roll to alter the intelligence condition (use
OC value for special reaction, 7.27), but may still play a Reaction
The number of cards in a player’s hand is public information, though card in order to alter the intelligence condition from Surprise Attack.
not the card themselves. The Discard piles and the cards removed
play are disclosed information and can be examined by either player. C. Reinforcement Units
Draw piles cannot be examined by either player. Certain military events come with a special unit (e.g.,
Slim’s Burma Offensive brings the British 7th Armor
5.1 Operations Value Brigade into play). Place the new unit according to the
Each card has an Operations value of 1, 2, or 3. If the card is played card text.
to conduct an OC Offensive, Operations value of the card affects the
allowed movement range of units (8.0) and the number of units that D. Special Conditions
can be activated (6.3). In case the card is played as an Event that Many military events have Offensive player special conditions that
allows an EC Offensive, the Operations value still affects the allowed pertain to the entire Offensive, but do not extend beyond the Of-
movement range of units, though not the number of units activated. fensive unless specifically stated as such. If a portion of an event is
mandatory for the event, the card will state it as such, using words
The Operations value of a card also affects how many units Reaction such as “only”, (example, “SW Pac HQ only”). Otherwise follow
player may activate in reaction to the Offensive (7.26) and how the card text as closely as possible to derive all of the event bene-
much they can move whether the card was played to conduct an fits. Note that a particular situation coupled with a card indication
OC Offensive or EC Offensive. of “no additional effect” still allows the card to be played if either
situation can be met.
5.2 Intelligence Values
All Strategy cards have an OC, and possibly an EC, intelligence value EXAMPLE: On Allied card 33, the text states, ...”this event ends a
on the card. All Offensives are by default a surprise attack unless US inter-service rivalry. Flip the US Inter-service rivalry marker to
the Reaction player alters this condition to an intercept or ambush its Strategic Agreement side. If the US Inter-Service Rivalry marker is
intelligence condition. The Intelligence value can be changed either already on Strategic Agreement side there is no additional effect.” In
by an applicable Intelligence Reaction event card or by intelligence this example, the event text has been followed since the inter-service
die roll (7.25). Reaction player uses the intelligence value of a card rivalry component can be met in either status (Inter-service rivalry
as the base target number for the intelligence die roll. If the card or Strategic Agreement). Another example is in Japanese Reaction
specifies both OC and EC intelligence numbers, the OC value is card 34, which states,”...no additional impact if Inter-Service rivalry
used if the card was played for OC Offensive and EC value if it was is already in effect, Draw one Strategy card.” Effectively, this card
played for EC Offensive. can be played to draw a card regardless of the US inter-service
rivalry status.
5.3 Events
Each Strategy card has an event. When a player uses a Strategy card
5.32 Reaction Events
When a player is in the role of a Reaction
as an Event card, the player follows the text of the event. If the text
player, the only strategy cards that may
of an event contradicts the rules, the card text supersedes the rules of
be played are those that state in their
the game and is used instead. There are four classes of events: Mili-
title they are a Reaction event. Only the
tary events, Reaction events, Resource events, and Political events.
player currently cast in the role of Re-
5.31 Military Events action player may play Reaction cards.
Military events (also called EC Of- A Reaction event may be played in re-
fensives) allow the player to conduct sponse to an Offensive after the Offen-
multi-battle hex Offensives unlike the sives player has completed moving all
one battle hex allowed on an OC play. offensive units, provided there are one
All military events have a Logistic or more declared battle hexes or the text
value. The number of units that may be of the card indicates the card may be
activated by a military event is based on played otherwise. A Reaction player is
the Logistics (not the Operations value) limited to playing a maximum of three Reaction events in response
value of the event. Military event cards to a specific offensive, not per battle within that offensive. There
often have a variety of activation, intel- are five general categories of Reaction events: intelligence, attack
ligence, and condition text. If a player (submarine, kamikaze, and skip bombing), counteroffensive, weath-
cannot comply with all of an event’s er, and personage.
clauses, except bonuses, the card may
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8 Empire of the Sun
A. Intelligence all or some of the available replacements, unused replacements are
Intelligence reaction card may be used to change intelligence con- permanently lost.
dition as per 7.25. A player may play more than one Reaction event
during an Offensive. If both intercept and ambush intelligence con- 5.34 Political Events
ditions are possible as a result, the intelligence condition is ambush. Political events are those that move a
marker on one of the game tracks. There
B. Attack are five kinds of political events: China
Attack Reaction cards indicate the potential for some amount of OC Offensives, India Stability, War In
additional damage the Offensives player may take due to a subma- Europe, US Political Will changes, and
rine, kamikaze, or skip bombing attack. Follow the text instructions Inter-Service Rivalry. Each of these
on the individual card. More than one Attack Reaction cards can be types of events specifies which game
played during an offensive. track is affected and the direction and
distances the marker for that track is
C. Counteroffensive moved.
There are several general types of Reaction events that enable the
Reaction player to activate more units in reaction than would be nor-
mally possible and alter the intelligence condition like Intelligence
reaction cards. Counteroffensive cards have a logistics value, which
the Reaction player uses for the number of units that can be activated, 5.35 Drawing a Card
although the Reaction player still uses the Offensive card’s OC value Many events state that a player draws a strategy card if the event is
for determining unit movement points. Only one Counteroffensive played. A player never draws a card if the Strategy card played is
event may be played during an offensive. played as an OC. A draw may only occur if a Strategy card is played
as an Event. A player may not use a card just drawn during the cur-
D. Weather rent offensive. A player may never draw more than three cards as a
There are several weather Reaction events that cancel Offensives result of instructions on a card played as an Event to draw a Strategy
that activate units (with or without battle hexes), and which may be Card during any Offensives phase. Once a player has drawn three
played after Offensives player movement and before an intelligence cards, all additional events played for the remainder of the current
die roll. Canceling an Offensive due to weather causes the Offen- Offensive phase ignore further card draws.
sives player to place the moved units back at their starting locations,
PLAY NOTE: It is suggested that the players use the Card Max
ending the Offensive. The cancelation of the Offensive also prevents
counters on the Strategic Record Track as a reminder of how many
any event bonuses or reinforcement units from entering play. The
cards have been drawn during the turn.
cancelled Offensive card is considered discarded, not played, so it is
placed the discard pile and not removed from play even if its event 5.36 Removing a Card
calls for removal from play. The Reaction player may not play any A large number of the events in the game specify that they are
other events (such as Reaction cards or Attack cards) in conjunction removed from the game. A card that is used as an Event and that
with a Weather card. Any Amphibious Shipping Points that the Of- has this provision is removed from the game after its initial use
fensives player intended to use for the cancelled Offensive are not and cannot be used again during the remainder of the game for any
considered used and are still available for use during the current game purpose. If the card is played as an OC or a discard it is not removed
turn. All Weather cards are removed from play if played as an event. from the game.
E. Personage 5.37 Special Events Cards
There are a few events that focus on the impact of a famous person- Two cards, Tojo Resigns and Soviets Invade Manchuria, are Spe-
age (e.g., Gandhi, Wingate). Follow the text instructions to resolve cial Event cards and must be played during the Offensives phase of
these Reaction cards. the turn in which they are drawn as an OC or EC. Thus, they may
not be played as a Future Offensive or voluntarily discarded. If a
5.33 Resource Events
Special Event card is drawn on a game turn prior to when it must
Only the Offensives player may play
be played as EC (e.g., Tojo Resigns) or its precondition is not yet
Resource events. Resource events give
met (Manchuria), the card may be played as an OC and causes a
the player new units, capabilities, or
reshuffling of the deck at the end of the current game turn to re-in-
replacements. If a Resource event gives
clude the card and all of the other cards in the discard pile (not those
the player a reinforcement unit, it is
removed from play).
placed on the map using the same re-
strictions as for units arriving during the If a Special Event is discarded due to the play of another event and
Reinforcement phase. If the event states the criteria for the event are fulfilled, the Special Event occurs the
that the replacements must be used instant the card is discarded. If the criteria for the Special Event
immediately, then the player places the are not fulfilled, the discard pile is reshuffled just like the card had
replacements as if it were currently the been played as an OC.
replacement phase, with all the same
restrictions. Sometimes the card text
specifies a choice to either use the replacements immediately or save
them for future use. If the player chooses to save them, record the
amount on the strategic resource track with the appropriate marker.
If for any reason, the Offensives player cannot fulfill the conditions
under which the reinforcement unit is supplied, the unit is lost.
Similarly, if for any reason the Offensives player cannot use or save
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
Empire of the Sun 9
6.0 Zones Of Influence, Supply, Stacking: HQs do not count toward stacking limits, but there may
never be more than one HQ (of either side) in a hex at a time. HQs
Activation, and Hex Control must always be located in a port hex.
Supply and activation are key concepts for units’ actions in EotS. To 6.12 HQ Nationality Restrictions
move or attack during an offensive or as a reaction to an offensive, All HQs are limited to which unit nationalities they can activate and
a unit needs to be activated by an HQ. Inactivated units defend in supply. Japanese HQs can activate any Japanese unit. Allied HQs
battle if attacked, but cannot initiate attacks or move during an come in one of three types: US, Commonwealth, and Joint. The
Offensive. One precondition (unless an EC specifies otherwise) Allied HQ National Command Chart denotes which units can be
for activation is that the unit is currently in supply. In addition to activated and supplied by a particular Allied National HQ.
preventing activation, lack of supply may also cause attrition (6.24),
prevents units from receiving replacements (11.0) and prevents air Allied HQ National Command Chart
and carrier units from exerting ZOIs (6.4). However, out-of-supply
units do retain their combat strength. Supply status is continuously HQ US Common- Chinese Dutch
evaluated, so units may fall in and out of supply as other units move Nationality Units wealth Units Units Units
and affect the supply lines. However, once a unit has been activated
for an Offensive, it automatically remains in supply until the end US Yes No Yes No
of the Offensive even if it moves to a location where it would not
Common- Air Units Yes Yes No
be in supply.
wealth Only
Both activation and supply are traced from an HQ, though they
can be traced from different HQs. The criteria for tracing activa- Joint Yes Yes Yes Yes
tion and supply are somewhat different with supply tracing being
more restrictive (see 6.2 and 6.3) with the range of HQ being the
maximum path length. In addition to these traces, intelligence and 6.13 Voluntary HQ Withdrawal Repositioning
reaction determination use direct hex distance from the HQ as criteria HQs cannot move per se, but they can be voluntarily withdrawn
regardless of blocking terrain or AZOIs. from the map as the complete play for any OC. Nothing can stop
the voluntary withdrawal of an HQ and the HQ does not need be in
Aircraft Zones of Influence have a major impact for tracing supply supply. The withdrawn HQ is placed on the game turn record track
and activation. They also affect reaction possibilities and amphibious for re-entry on the next game turn. An HQ on the game turn record
movement of ground units. track returns to play during the reinforcement phase of the next game
turn as a normal reinforcement and cannot be delayed.
6.1 Headquarter Units
Headquarters (HQs) represent command infrastructure. 6.14 Involuntary HQ Repositioning
Each side begins the game with a number of HQs in If an HQ finds itself at the conclusion of an Offensive or national
play and can receive new HQs as reinforcements or surrender in an opposing controlled hex, the HQ is involuntarily
through card events. Most HQs cannot be eliminated removed from play. An HQ that does not have a dot on it is placed
permanently, as they represent a ubiquitous command infrastructure. on the game turn record track and returns to play during the rein-
HQs do not move per se, but can be repositioned voluntarily (by the forcement phase of the next game turn as a normal reinforcement
play of an OC) or involuntarily due to opposing actions. And a few that cannot be delayed. If an HQ with a dot (ABDA or Malaya HQs)
of the Allied HQs cannot be returned to play if voluntarily or invol- is removed from play voluntarily or involuntarily it is permanently
untarily removed and are indicated by a dot (Allied ABDA and removed from play.
Malaya HQs). HQs have two values: Command Range and Effi-
ciency Rating. 6.15 Early HQ Return
An HQ on the game turn record track normally returns during the
6.11 HQ Capabilities reinforcement phase of the next game turn. A player can bring HQs
Command Range: An HQ’s command range is used to determine on the game turn track into play earlier by playing an OC of any
the range at which it can supply units, trace activation for Offensives value and placing the HQ in any friendly controlled port where the
and Reaction moves, and where reinforcements and replacements HQ is in supply. The returning HQ is placed in the Japanese Home
can be placed. It is also used for determining whether the HQ can Islands for the Japanese, or in Australia, Oahu, or India for the Al-
react to an offensive and if units that are out of supply can sustain lies. The return of the HQ is the sole action for the play of that card.
themselves on the map if they are out of supply.
PLAY NOTE: An HQ that returns to play as a reinforcement can be
Efficiency Rating: An HQ’s efficiency rating is used in conjunction placed in any friendly controlled port where it would be in supply,
with an OC value or a Logistics value to determine the number of whereas a returning HQ is geographically restricted to where it can
units the HQ can activate during an Offensive or Reaction. HQ’s return. Consequently, to move an HQ into a more forward position
efficiency rating can be modified in three situations: US or Joint usually requires it to be brought back into play as a reinforcement
HQ that cannot trace a supply line, in the manner HQs usually trace vice the restrictions of a returning HQ.
supply lines, to the East map edge Ultimate Supply Source has -1
modifier to its efficiency rating (to a minimum of 0) (6.25). Simi-
larly, Japanese HQ that is used to activate units in Burma, Ceylon,
or Northern India when the Bridge over Kwai River has not been
built and the Japanese do not control Rangoon has –1 modifier to
its efficiency rating (13.79). Under certain circumstances the Bridge
over the River Kwai event can add +1 to a Japanese HQs efficiency
rating (13.79).
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
10 Empire of the Sun
6.2 Supply and Attrition For purposes of this check only, a hexside with strategic transport
route (8.44) costs 1/2 MP if both of the hexes are unoccupied OR
6.21 Supply Lines
friendly occupied (with or without the presence of an enemy unit).
General concepts: Both HQs and units must trace supply lines to
A hex with a No Transport Route marker (see 13.77) is treated as
be in supply. For HQs, a supply line of any length is traced from
if it had no transport route connections to any of the adjacent hexes
an Ultimate Supply Source (map edges for the Allies; Japanese
controlled city hexes in the Home Islands for Japan (6.22); to the Port Limitation: A supply line may include no more than one supply
port in which the HQ sits. A supply path that traces from an ultimate eligible port where the supply line switches between sea and land
supply source to an HQ can use multiple ports to enter, continue or vice versa, not including (i) the port in the HQ’s hex; or (ii) any
across land hexsides, and exit by port without overland or number port the unit occupies.
of ports used restrictions. PLAY NOTE: Note that the supply line itself may cross far more
Units, by contrast, trace supply lines from an in-supply HQ to the terrain overland than the 4 MP limitation and does not have to pass
hex they occupy, limited by the HQ’s range. As the rules below through the supply-eligible port required, there just has to be a valid
explain, the supply line may not traverse certain hexsides. Although port within the range. Also, note that if the last hexside crossed was
there are a number of restrictions, in general units may trace supply by sea, the overland limitation does not apply at all. This allows units
(1) from the supplying HQ by sea to coastal hexes the units occupy;
(2) overland from the supplying HQ to the units; or
(3) through a combination of land and sea hexsides from the sup-
plying HQ to the units, provided that the sea component is traced
through only one supply eligible port other than the hex the HQ
occupies (which will always be another port hex) or potentially
the unit activating is located in.
In addition, there are further restrictions for units tracing the last
portion of their supply line overland (cited later in this section:
Overland Logistical Range).
Supply Eligible Port: A friendly HQ whether it is in or out of supply
that can trace a legal supply path (6.21) by sea of any length to a
friendly controlled port makes that port supply eligible.
A. Units
Supply Line: A unit is supplied if an unblocked hex path can be
traced from a supplied appropriate (6.12) activating HQ to the unit
and the path length does not exceed the HQ’s range. A supply line
can be traced across any hexside except the following: EXAMPLE: Japanese units B, C and D trace supply by land to the
A. An unplayable hexside (see map). South HQ. All are within 12 hexes of the South HQ and 4 MPs of a
Supply Eligible Port. Since the Transportation hexes in Jarhat and
B. A water hexside of an un-neutralized enemy
Ledo have not been constructed yet (13.77), unit A is out of supply
ZOI hex.
since it is 5 MPs from Rangoon to its location.
C. Any land hexside of a non-port coastal hex
that the path has entered across a sea-hexside.
D. Any all sea hexside from a non-port coastal
hex that the path has entered across a land
hexside.
E. A land hexside of any hex occupied solely by
an enemy ground, HQ, or air unit.
F. Any sea hexside of an enemy controlled
port hex that the path has entered across a land
hexside.
G. Any land hexside of an enemy controlled
port hex that the path has entered across a
sea-hexside.
in location that can be supplied by sea more freedom of operation units mutually render one another unsupplied (that is absent the ZOI
than units tied to overland supply network. projected by the Allied air unit, The Japanese player’s air unit would
be in supply and thus exert a ZOI; but that Japanese ZOI, if projected
DESIGN NOTE: The overland logistical range requires that units
would cut supply to the Allied air unit in question), only Allied air
operate relatively close to a logistical supply node represented by
units are considered to exert a ZOI for supply status determination.
a port. The difficult jungle and mountain terrain in the many of the
areas depicted in EotS severely limited the possibilities of overland PLAY NOTE: The best method to determine whether the situational
supply. The overland supply lines in EotS should not be considered placement of air ZOIs creates this situation is to do the following.
literal lines along which supply flows but rather as areas of HQ’s Assuming that all of the air units are in range of an appropriate HQ,
logistical ability and responsibility. In practical terms, units in such look at the situation with all of the air units in question projecting
a situation would receive their supplies from nearest port to which their ZOI. If any air units ZOI is contingent upon an enemy air
the supplies are shipped to. Thus, the 4 MP limitation is enforced unit not having a ZOI and vice versa then take away the offending
to nearest port and not to the HQ. Japanese air ZOI. If the Allied air unit is in supply then the Japanese
air unit is OOS. If not, then this situation does not apply.
Important: During an Offensive, any activated unit remains supplied
until the end of the Offensive. DESIGN NOTE: Like the Bigfoot there have been several
unconfirmed sightings, but no examples from actual play of this
Kunming: In some cases, Allied units can trace supply directly from
occurring. So when we say rare, we mean you can essentially ignore
Kunming instead of an HQ (see 13.75).
this rule, but it is here for completeness.
In rare local situations where the ZOI of Japanese and Allied air
B. HQs
An HQ is in supply if an unblocked supply line of any length can
be traced from an appropriate Ultimate Supply Source (6.22) to
the HQ. The types of hexsides that a supply line cannot be traced
across (6.21A) apply to Ultimate supply sources tracing to an HQ,
however this supply path can use multiple ports to enter, continue
across land hexsides, and exit by port without overland or number
of ports used restrictions.
6.22 Ultimate Supply Sources
Ultimate Supply Source paths are used to determine the supply
status of HQs. Each hex on the East, South, and West map edges is
an Allied ultimate supply source. Each Japanese controlled city hex
in the Japanese Home Islands is a Japanese Ultimate Supply Source.
6.23. Emergency Supply Routes
The Hump
Play of the China Airlift (Allied #17) card establishes a supply
line between Kunming and any Allied controlled supply-eligible
Northern India airfield (Jarhat and Dacca). This supply line exists
as long as the Allies control a supply-eligible Northern India airfield
and need not be traced as specified in 6.21.
Take the situation where the Allies have the Malaya air unit in Tokyo Express
Singapore and the Japanese have air units in Singora, Miri, and Play of the Big Tokyo Express Operation (Japanese
Tjilatjap. All of the Japanese air units are drawing their supply from #28) or the Tokyo Express (Japanese #44) card allows
the South HQ in Saigon and the Malaya air unit is drawing its supply the Japanese player to place the Tokyo Express mark-
from the Malaya HQ in Singapore. The Japanese Saigon HQ has er in play to create a temporary supply line between
an uninterrupted LOC to Japan. The Japanese air unit in Tjilatjap any one in-supply Japanese HQ and any one hex
is OOS if the Malaya air unit has a ZOI. The Malaya HQ has an within range of that HQ for the rest of the turn. Air, ground, and
LOC (putting the Malaya air unit in supply) if the Malaya air units naval units, not HQs, in the hex with the Tokyo Express marker are
ZOI puts the Japanese Tjilatjap air unit OOS, but does not have a in supply for all game purposes to include re-establishing a ZOI.
LOC if the Japanese air unit in Tjilatjap has a ZOI. Nothing can sever a Tokyo Express marker supply.
The Malaya air unit and the Japanese Tjilatjap air units ZOI are The Tokyo Express marker remains in the hex it was placed into until
therefore mutually exclusive. Using the procedure above, if the Jap- one of three events occurs: (1) the hex becomes Allied controlled;
anese air units ZOI is removed, the Malaya HQ has an LOC that is (2) another Japanese card is played that moves the Tokyo Express
dependent on the Malaya air units ZOI and with the removal of the marker to another location; or (3) the game turn ends. There can
Japanese ZOI the Malaya HQ is in supply. Therefore the Malaya never be more than one Tokyo Express marker in play at any time.
air unit is in supply and the Japanese Tjilatjap air unit is OOS. Tokyo Express does not affect the prerequisites for activating units.
Taking the same example and moving the Japanese air unit from 6.24 Attrition
Tjilatjap to Batavia, changes the outcome. In this instance when During the Attrition Segment, perform the following steps in order
all the air units have a ZOI, Batavia is in supply (not dependent on for both sides air and ground units simultaneously. HQs and Naval
whether the Malaya air unit does or does not have a ZOI), so Malaya units are not affected by attrition:
is OOS and the Malaya air unit then loses its air ZOI.
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
12 Empire of the Sun
1) Eliminate all reduced or single step air or ground units that are Out of supply air or aircraft carrier units do not have a ZOI and cannot
unsupplied, are not in a hex affected by an Emergency Supply Route neutralize enemy ZOIs. The supply status for determining whether a
(6.23), and are out of range of any friendly supplied or unsupplied unit is in supply is determined anew every time the ZOI might have
HQ. For this check, enemy units, opposing ZOI, and unplayable an effect (6.2). Thus, units may go out of supply and lose their ZOI
hexsides do not block the path between the HQ and the unit. (or vice versa) in middle of enemy’s move. Note, however, that once
2) Flip all full strength air and ground units that are both unsupplied a unit has been activated for an offensive, it will remain in supply
and are not in a hex affected by Emergency Supply Route (6.23), until the conclusion of the offensive regardless of any other factors.
to their reduced side. An Air ZOI from an in-supply unit is in effect at all times when the
Attrition is calculated and applied simultaneously, so it is possible unit is stationary and during non-strategic moves (thus moving air
that opposing units can mutually attrite each other. Note that units units and carriers neutralize opposing ZOIs as they go). An air or
with only one side (e.g., Dutch Regiments, US Marine Wake units, carrier unit using strategic move loses its ZOI during the movement
CVL Hermes) are considered to be on their reduced side. and regains it after it has completed the move.
A ZOI that is un-neutralized impacts several game functions:
6.25 US Line of Communication
• No unit may enter or exit a ZOI when conducting strategic move-
Any in supply Joint or US HQ that cannot trace a valid supply line
ment (8.23, 8.33).
from the East map edge Ultimate Supply Source (see 6.21; 6.22)
has its efficiency rating reduced by 1 (a zero rating is possible). • Ground units conducting amphibious assault may not enter or exit
a ZOI (8.44).
6.3 Unit Activation • A ZOI blocks an HQ activation range path that enters or exits the
A unit must be activated to move (exceptions: Emergency Naval ZOI across an all water hex side (6.3).
Move, Emergency Air Move, Ground Disengagement, and Retreat) or • A ZOI blocks a supply path that enters or exits the ZOI across an
to initiate attack. For a unit to be activated it must have an activation all water hex side (6.21).
path from the HQ being used for offensive or reaction purposes, and
be in supply, possibly from Kunming or a different HQ than the one In addition a ZOI has two effects even when neutralized:
used for the activations (see 6.2). • Offensives unit entering, exiting or moving within reaction side
An activation path is traced from the activating HQ to the unit being ZOI gives a +2 modifier to intelligence roll (7.26)
activated and can be traced across any hexside except the following: • Offensives unit making an amphibious landing within a ZOI of
• A water hexside of an un-neutralized enemy ZOI hex. the Reaction player may allow special reaction (7.27).
• Any land hexside of a hex occupied solely by an enemy ground A ZOI does not affect:
or air unit. • Ground movement from a land hex to another land hex across a
Activation path length in hexes may not exceed the Command Range land hex side (8.42).
of HQ being used to activate units. • Naval or air unit movement other than strategic movement (8.21,
8.31).
Unlike a supply line (6.21), an activation path can be traced across
unplayable hexsides and can switch from land to sea without the • An HQ activation range path that enters or exits a hex across a
need for friendly ports. land hex side (6.3).
• A supply path that enters or exits a hex across a land hex side (6.21).
Only a single HQ per side can be used to activate units for one of-
fensive and the number of units that may be activated depends on • An HQ range when used to maintain reduced units during the
the OC value or logistics value of the card used and the Efficiency Attrition phase (6.24).
rating of the HQ (see 6.11). 6.5 Hex Control
The last player to have a ground unit enter or pass
6.4 Aircraft Zone Of Influence through a hex controls the hex. Ground units that enter
All in supply air and carrier units project a 2 hex Zone Of Influence an unoccupied hex via ground movement gain control
(ZOI) The ZOI is neutralized if an opposing Zone Of Influence is immediately. Ground units that enter a hex via amphib-
projected by non-LRB unit into the same hex. LRB units project ious assault (using an ASP, organic naval, or barge transport) and
ZOI like other air and carrier units, but cannot be used to neutralize are not eliminated or forced to retreat in battle gain control of the
enemy ZOI. Air or carrier unit ZOI is assumed to exist when checking hex just prior to post battle movement.
if that unit is in supply.
EXAMPLE A carrier escorts a ground unit using amphibious assault A. Future Offensive Card Play to Win Initiative
to a vacant Hollandia. The CV then declares it will attack enemy If, at the start of the Offensives phase, a player has fewer cards than
units in Biak, two hexes away. The opponent successfully rolls for the opposing player, that player can win the initiative and go first by
Special Reaction (SR) in Hollandia and reacts with air/naval units playing the Future Offensive card as the first card. In this case, the
to the battle in Hollandia. In this case, the carrier takes part in the Future Offensive card must be played as an EC Offensive.
battle in Hollandia and not in Biak. If the Reaction player rolled
B. Future Offensive Card During the Offensives Phase
successfully for SR, but did not react to Hollandia with any forces,
A Strategy card cannot be played as a future offensive in the same
the carrier would take part in the Biak battle.
game turn in which it was designated as a Future Offensive card,
Hexes entered solely via ground movement alone are not eligible nor as the last card played by the owning player during an Offen-
for Special Reaction. If a Special Reaction possibility occurs on a sives Phase, either as an Offensive or a Reaction. Other than this
surprise attack EC event, use the OC intelligence value. Special restriction, a Future Offensive card may be played any time a player
Reaction by itself does not change the intelligence condition. could normally play a strategy card. A Future Offensive card cannot
be discarded to fulfill an event discard requirement.
A player may keep the same Future Offensive card for multiple
turns. The only drawback of doing this is that another card cannot
be designated as a future offensive card as long as the current future
offensive designated card has not been used. Note: Any card except
Special Event cards Tojo Resigns and Manchurian Offensive may
be played as a Future Offensives card.
DESIGN NOTE: Amphibious Assault is the use of specialized naval 8.47 Japanese Barges
units to conduct the amphibious invasions that were the hallmark When the Japanese play the Japanese Barge event,
of the Pacific War. The movement through opposing units is very the Japanese flip their ASP marker onto its Barges
restrictive on purpose. Invasions cannot bypass opposing locations side and the Barges marker should be placed near the
that contain active naval and air forces. These forces would first Japanese player. During any Offensive (only, not for
have to be neutralized before the precious combat troops would be a Reaction) that has a 3 OC value card (even if played
put in harm’s way. Although the Amphibious Assault forces enter as an Event), the Japanese can move 1 ground unit of any size as an
the battle hex, this is a mechanical convenience to speed play. In amphibious assault at the cost of zero ASP, across one all sea hex
actuality, if the air naval struggle for a hex were not successful, the side as its entire move. This move can initiate a battle, and is treat-
troop transports would be turned around at sea beyond the range of ed like any other amphibious assault. If forced to retreat, the Offen-
the battle as the Japanese did at the Battle of the Coral Sea. Lightly sives unit uses barge movement to return to its original hex. The
escorted offensives did occur, though very rarely, such as the capture Japanese lose this capability or have it superseded for the remainder
of the Admiralty Islands, when the defenses were primarily garrison of the game by the play of the Allied PT Boat event card.
troops and total surprise was achieved.
8.48 Ground Unit Stacking
C. Concluding Amphibious Assault (Offensive Only) During an offensive or battle, any number of ground units may be
If at the conclusion of battle resolution containing an amphibious stacked in a hex. Stacking is evaluated at the conclusion of any
assault, the Offensive amphibious assaulting ground unit(s) are strategy card play whether it was played as an offensive or event.
not in a friendly controlled hex (e.g., the assaulting forces lost the No more than three friendly air and/or ground units (of any size)
air-naval or ground battle), the Offensive amphibious assaulting may be stacked in a hex. If there are overstacked units, the owning
unit(s) only may conduct post battle movement like a naval unit, player removes the excess units from play, air units first, until the
but must end their movement in a friendly port or coastal hex. If this hex is within the stacking limits. If the units were in supply when so
is not possible, the Amphibious Assaulting unit(s) are eliminated. removed, they are placed on the game turn record track to be returned
to play two turns later as reinforcements (which cannot be delayed).
D. US Army Amphibious Assault Special Restrictions If the overstacked units were out of supply, they are eliminated.
There is a special restriction for US Army ground units. They may
only conduct amphibious assault movement into a Japanese con- 8.49 British Armor Brigade
trolled and occupied one hex island if they end their movement in a The Allied player can receive the 7th Armor Brigade
hex containing a US Marine unit that also just completed amphibi- through the play of an event card. The 7th Armor Bri-
ous assault movement into that hex. In all other circumstances, the gade may not use Amphibious Assault, but may use
presence of a US Marine unit is not required for a US Army unit to Strategic Ground transport. The 7th Armor Brigade may
conduct Amphibious Assault. Nor are there any restrictions on US not enter Mountain Hexes except via a transportation route or Stra-
Army ground units for amphibious assaults on multi-hex islands or tegic Ground transport.
during Reaction.
DESIGN NOTE: Besides Marine units whose raison d’etre is
amphibious assault, many Allied army units were trained in this 9.0 Battle Resolution
operational art during the war. The US Army restriction maintains Each battle is conducted in two steps: first Air & Naval combat is
the role the US Marines had in late war amphibious invasions, resolved, and then Ground combat is resolved. There are two separate
although there were some solely Army invasions during the New combat results tables, air/naval and ground. Although both types of
Guinea and Philippines campaigns. combat use similar procedures, they use different die roll modifiers.
8.46 Japanese Organic Naval Unit Transport Capability 9.1 Who Participates in Battle
The Japanese have five brigade sized land units (1st, 2nd, All units in the battle hex must participate in that battle. No unit of
3rd , and 4th SN and the SS). These units can conduct either player can participate in more than one battle per Offensive.
amphibious assault by either using one amphibious
shipping point per unit, or they can conduct amphibious 9.11 Air and Aircraft Carrier Units in Battle
assault by beginning the offensive stacked with and moving their Activated air and aircraft carrier units can participate in a battle
entire move with a CA, CL, or APD naval unit at no cost in amphib- if they are within their air range of the battle hex. An air/carrier
ious shipping points. Each naval unit of these types, at either reduced unit that is in a battle hex must participate in that battle and cannot
or full strength, can move one of these five brigade sized units. If the participate in another battle that is within its range. If a Reaction
naval unit is eliminated during an Offensive, the ground unit it was player air/carrier unit starts its Reaction in a battle hex and reacts
transporting is also eliminated and does not land. If the naval unit out of the hex, it must still participate in that battle even though it
loses a step there is no effect on the transported unit. is now not in the battle hex.
EXAMPLE: On the December ’41 game turn, the Japanese CA Carrier units that did not end their movement in a friendly port hex
Aoba can enable the South Seas (SS Brigade) detachment to conduct must either take part in a battle or be assigned to cover an amphibious
Amphibious Assault by moving as a stack from Truk to Rabaul, New landing on an empty enemy-controlled hex.
Britain. Units transporting and units to be transported must start
the move in the same location. 9.12 Naval Units in Battle
Activated non-aircraft carrier naval units that enter the battle hex
PLAY NOTE: There are only a handful of naval and ground unit add their naval strengths into the total air-naval combat value.
combinations that can conduct this type of move, but it is a useful Non-aircraft carrier naval units that are not in a battle hex, but in a
way to cheaply capture unoccupied opposing bases, especially hex with an aircraft carrier naval unit participating in a battle hex,
early in the war. do not use their combat value in battle resolution, but their presence
with the aircraft carriers makes them part of the losses procedure.
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
20 Empire of the Sun
Aircraft carrier units that are within their air range of the battle hex, This sum of attack strength is the total attack strength that is modified
including actually residing in the battle hex, always add their combat in the following steps.
value to the air-naval combat. DESIGN NOTE: Land based air units that are operating at extended
9.13 Ground Units in Battle range are using their two engine aircraft only. This reduces their
All ground units in a declared battle hex must participate in the combat potential due to the lack of their shorter ranged fighters and
ground combat portion of the battle. Offensive ground units that the fact that bomb loads are reduced at longer ranges. LRB units
enter a battle hex through amphibious assault only participate in the have factored into their combat ratings their basic ineffectiveness
ground portion of the battle if their side wins the air-naval battle. against naval units and the fact that the Pacific theater for the most
If the Offensives player loses the air-naval battle (does not affect part had sparse infrastructure targets that were not easy to damage
Reaction ground units) and there is a mix of units that entered the hex with high altitude bombing. The Strategic bombing campaign against
through ground movement and amphibious assault, only the ground Japan is handled as a separate procedure.
units that entered by ground movement participate in the ground Player Note on calculating combat strength: In order to avoid
battle. Reaction ground units that enter a battle hex via amphibious players counting factors, the game system gives equal weight to all
assault participate in the ground portion of the battle regardless of factors brought into a battle. The flip side of this is that there are
the air-naval battle outcome. times that you must sum a string of small numbers that add up to a
large value, occasionally in excess of one hundred. To avoid the need
9.14 Supply in Battle
for having a calculator handy we have created a graphical abacus.
Supply has no effect on battle resolution. Its effects are accounted
There are two US Stars (dark blue and a lighter blue) that can be used
for in the Attrition Phase of the turn and in activation limitations.
in conjunction with the Strategic record track. To use this, designate
DESIGN NOTE: Combat in Empire of the Sun is not intended to one counter as a 1s (lighter blue) and another as a 10s (darker
be an operational or tactical analysis of air, naval, and ground blue). Physically move the ones counter one box for each available
interactions in the Pacific. The goal is to reward the player for combat factor, moving the 10 counter one space forward each time
bringing a balanced mix of forces, which, in combination with good ten combat factors have been counted. When you are finished you
intelligence, bring superior firepower to bear, while achieving an will have a direct read out of the total number of combat factors.
historical loss rate. Surface naval units that are stacked with aircraft We have also supplied a number matrix to handle the CRT combat
carriers, but not physically located in the battle hex, reflect escorts, multiplier calculation. Between these two techniques a player can
whose defense values protect the carriers, but do not contribute to make the occasional larger calculation without a calculator. Also
surface combat, which is why their combat values are not applied feel free to do these mathematical operations in your head, or, should
offensively. Also, the fact that surface ships in the battle hex can you desire, use a calculator.
apply their hits to units that are within range of, but not in the battle
B. Roll a die (modifying as appropriate) for each player to determine
hex, is an abstraction that reflects a surface action that occurs in
the combat effectiveness rating. Each player’s total attack strength
the vicinity of the battle hex between those forces. However, as
times effectiveness rating results in the total hits made by the player.
long as carriers are not in the battle hex, it requires the presence of
opposing air or carrier units (on a one for one basis) in order for Die Roll Modifiers
them to take battle damage. • Ambush: Allies +4
The system will recreate the outcomes from the campaigns fought • Surprise Attack: +3
during the war, but due to the strategic level of play, will give little • 1943 game turn: +1 for the Allied player if any US air or aircraft
insight, except at that macro level, into why the outcomes were carrier units are present.
achieved. Combat tends to be bloody, given the time scale and the • 1944 or 1945 game turn: +3 for the Allied player if any US air or
attritional nature of much of the conflict that is below the scale of the aircraft carrier units are present.
game, but must be accounted for through this mechanism. It should
• Event Modifier: + any battle modifiers specified by an EC. Note:
also be noted that some battles actually represent a series of battles.
Some event cards have special battle modifiers.
For example a large naval battle in the Guadalcanal hex could
represent all of the losses taken in the Battles of Eastern Solomon, DESIGN NOTE: Modifiers 3 and 4 reflect the growing technological
Santa Cruz, and Guadalcanal. A game with more granularity and superiority of US aircraft and improved combat doctrine.
detail than Empire of the Sun is required for a more cause and effect
view of Pacific War combat resolution. Air Naval Combat Results Table
Modified 1D10 Die Roll = Combat Effectiveness Rating
9.2 The Air Naval Combat Procedure 0,1,2 = One Quarter (.25) (round up if required)
A. Both sides add up their activated air and naval attack strength
in the battle hex and add any activated air, CV, CVL, CVE units 3,4,5 = One Half (.5) (round up if required)
that are taking part in the battle from outside the hex. The Reaction 6,7,8 = One (1)
player also adds in the strengths of any inactive naval and air units 9 = One* (1*)
that are in the battle hex, even if they remained inactive after re-
action activation. In air naval combat, air units that are using their 9 or greater = One (1)
non-parenthetical extended range in battle halve their attack strengths * = If the die roll was a 9 before any required modification, then
(round up) in combat (at normal range they are full strength, even if that side has achieved a critical hit in addition to receiving a one
they used extended range to move during the offensive). Air units result. See 9.2.F.6.
with parenthetical extended range cannot use extended range either
to join the battle or to move during an offensive where they take C. If the intelligence condition was Intercept, both players simulta-
part in battle. neously apply a number of hits equal to their combat effectiveness
rating times their total air-naval strength.
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
Empire of the Sun 21
EXAMPLE: The Allied player has a 12 attack strength CV unit, a CVL, or CVE units, and no units are in the battle hex, hits could be
4 attack strength LRB unit, a 10 attack strength air unit at normal applied to only two of the three units. In all cases the side applying
range, a 10 attack strength air unit at extended range, and a 16 attack the hits chooses which aircraft carrier or air units take the hits. Non-
strength BB unit in the battle hex. The Allied strength total would air capable naval units can always be the target of hits generated
be 47 (12+4+10+5+16). The intelligence condition is intercept, so during an air naval battle.
there is no die roll modifier. On a roll of 2 or less, 12 hits would be EXAMPLE: If the Japanese side had one carrier and achieved 45 hits
assessed against Japanese units, on a die roll of 3-5, 24 hits would versus an Allied force with two full strength carriers, it is possible
be assessed, and on a roll of 6 or greater, 47 hits would be assessed. that a large number of hits could go unapplied because the inability
D. If the intelligence condition was surprise attack, the Offensives to reduce one of the two Allied carriers would prevent any reduced
player applies all hits first. Surviving Reaction player units in the strength unit from being eliminated, since there would still be a full
battle hex then calculate their combat strength, make a die roll on strength Allied naval unit present.
the CRT, and apply any hits to the Offensives player’s units. The corollary of this condition is if one side has no air or carrier
E. If the intelligence condition was ambush (only possible on the units present and the other does have one or more present, none of
play of a reaction card), the Reaction player applies all hits first. the air or carrier units can be damaged if they are not actually in the
Only surviving Offensives player units then calculate a result and battle hex with opposing naval units.
apply hits to the Reaction player’s units. 5. If a player was the only side with air and/or naval units in the
F. How to Apply Hits. The player who rolled the die applies all hits air naval battle, then hits may be applied to any opposing ground
against opposing units. Hits can be applied to units participating units in the hex. If opposing air or naval units were present in the
in the battle and non-aircraft carrier naval units that are not in a battle, hits can only be applied to air and/or naval units. The last
battle hex, but stacked with an aircraft carrier unit that participates ground step in a hex cannot be eliminated due to air and naval hits;
in the battle. Hits may be applied in any manner desired within the when sufficient hits are generated to eliminate the ground units in
following restrictions. a hex, the Reaction player chooses which reduced unit will be the
PLAY NOTE: The combat system generates hits. The nuances of the last ground step. However, a hex with intrinsic defense strength is
combat system are within the conditions for how those hits can be always the last step remaining in a hex. Additional hits that cannot
applied. The skill is understanding how to compose your offensives be used are lost.
so important elements such as carriers are properly escorted. 6. Critical Hit. If a critical hit is achieved (by an unmodified nine
HISTORICAL NOTE: The common perception is that the Pacific War die roll or due to an event), the player may circumvent the restriction
was dominated by carrier warfare. At the macro level this is a true of case number 2 above, eliminating units while other full strength
statement, but in fact by late 1942 the pre-war carrier forces had units remain. Continuing the example above, the Allied player has
hunted each other into virtual extinction. This is why the signature played the Rochefort card making the intelligence condition an
surface battles of the Solomons campaign became the dominant form Ambush with a special condition that allows any modified die roll
of naval combat until US shipyards began to turn out an unending that is nine or greater to be considered a critical hit. The Allied player
stream of Essex class carriers. Players will often see a similar ebb could apply the 10 unapplied hits to eliminate one of the reduced
and flow pattern develop regarding their available carrier forces. Japanese units, even though a full strength naval unit remained.
1. If a number of hits equal to an opposing unit’s defense strength Additionally, any time a player achieves a critical hit, and is math-
are applied, the unit is flipped to its reduced side or eliminated if ematically unable to achieve at least a one step loss, then one step
already on its reduced side. loss is assessed to the opposing unit with the lowest defense strength
that can receive the hits (in case of ties, Reaction players choice).
2. All full strength units must be reduced before any units can be
eliminated. Units that have only one side are considered to be re- DESIGN NOTE: This simulates the ability of the Ambushing force,
duced units. Non-aircraft carrier naval units that are not in a battle or a fortuitous opportunity during a battle, to pick off a portion
hex, but stacked with an aircraft carrier naval unit that participates of the opposing force. This is how a Midway like outcome would
in the battle, must also be reduced before any reduced strength unit occur in the game. There are only two Allied cards that enable the
can be eliminated. Ambush condition, so it is not the normal state of affairs unless you
can roll a lot of 9s.
3. If there are excess hits and no further units can be hit due to re-
strictions for applying hits, the remaining hits are lost. Continuing 7. Japanese Naval Aircraft Range Advantage. In an air naval
the example from case C above, the 47 attack strength Allied force battle where the Allied player has not achieved a critical hit and
gets a 6 or greater die roll and applies 47 hits to the Japanese air the Japanese player has more than one aircraft carrier unit present,
and naval units. Using the hits available, the Allied player reduces Japanese may transfer one received step loss between carrier units.
all of the Japanese units except for one full strength unit, which After all hits have been applied, the Japanese player can reduce one
remains with a defense of 18, and the Allied player only has 10 Japanese aircraft carrier or eliminate a reduced Japanese aircraft
unapplied hits. The Allied player could not eliminate one of the carrier to recover one step lost by another aircraft carrier (either from
reduced Japanese units because there remains a full strength unit, reduced to full strength or from eliminated to reduced strength). The
so the remaining 10 hits are lost. number of hits represented by this is irrelevant; this is a one step
for one step transfer.
4. To allocate hits to Air, CV, CVL, and CVE unit that are not in the
battle hex containing opposing naval units (they are either outside EXAMPLE: Assuming the Allied player had not achieved a critical
the battle hex or the battle hex contains no opposing naval units), hit, and the Japanese player had a CV and a CVL naval unit amongst
there must be one friendly Air, CV, CVL, and CVE unit in the battle the units that the Allied player had reduced from full to reduced
for each such unit that has hits applied on it. For example, if one strength, the Japanese player could shift one step lost by the CV onto
side had one air and one CV unit and the opposition had three CV, the CVL, eliminating it and bringing the CV back to full strength.
move the 38th army into Kuantan and declare a battle hex. The
22nd air moves from Saigon to Kota Bharu to be within 3 hexes of
Singapore and the BB Kongo/CA Mogami naval units move into
the Singapore hex and declare another battle hex. The Japanese
can declare two battle hexes because card 23 was played as an
EC whereas if it was played as an OC only one battle hex could
have been declared.
The Allied player now determines what if any reaction will be
made. The Japanese Military strategy card did not specify the Intel-
ligence condition as surprise attack, so the Allied player can either
make an intelligence die roll to alter the intelligence condition or
play a reaction card. Luckily the Allied player is holding Allied
card 5: Operation Matador, which is a Reaction counteroffensive
card. The Allies play this card and alters the Intelligence condition
to intercept. Since this is a counteroffensive card, the Allies can
use its logistic value of 3 instead of the Japanese OC value of 2.
Comprehensive Offensive Example: This allows the Allies to use the Malaya HQ to activate land, air,
At the beginning of the 1942 scenario the Malaya Peninsula has and naval units.
the Japanse 38th Army in Kuala Lumpur (1913) and the 25th Army
The Allies activate the 3rd Indian Corps, the 8th Australian Divi-
(reduced) in Kota Bharu (2112). In support are air and naval forces
sion and the Malaya air unit. The Allies are entitled to activate 4
in French Indo-China (22nd Air Flotilla in Saigon hex 2212 and
units also, but there are no other Commonwealth air, naval, or land
the BB Kongo and CA Mogami naval units in Cam Ranh (2311)..
units within range of the Malaya HQ and so this last activation is
The Allied player has the 3rd Indian Corps in Kuantan (2014) and
lost. The British cannot move the 8th Australian division into the
the 8th Australian Division, Malaya Air unit and Malaya HQ in
Kuantan hex, because Singapore has already been declared a battle
Singapore (2015).
hex. The British Malaya air unit if it had been attacked solely by
The Japanese player opens the 1942 game turn with Japanese card the BB naval unit could have flown off to strike from afar, but the
23: Operation RE, which is played as an EC. The Japanese player presence of the Japanese air unit in the battle makes this a moot
can use any HQ to activate units with a logistics value of 3. The maneuver, so it stays put. The text condition on Japanese card 23,
Japanese player designates the South HQ in Saigon (2212) as the cannot be fulfilled, so it is ignored, but the Japanese will subtract
HQ for the Offensive, so 4 units (log value of 3 + South efficiency two from their ground combat die roll due to terrain. The event
rating of 1). The Japanese player activates the 38th army, the 22nd text on Allied card 5, allow the Allies to add +2 to MA air strength
air flotilla, BB Kongo, and CA Mogami naval units. The Japanese due to the card bonus.
DESIGN NOTE: If a side gains air naval supremacy over the battle Ground Combat Results Table
hex, the amphibious ground forces can engage. If not, it is assumed Modified Die Roll = Combat Effectiveness Rating
that amphibious assault forces are turned back as at Coral Sea.
• Less than Zero, 0, 1, or 2 = One Half (.5) (round up if required)
9.34 No Air-Naval Combat Was Conducted • 3, 4, 5, or 6 = One (1)
If neither player had any air or naval units present, then the Ground
• 7 or 8 = One and One Half (1.5) (round up if required)
combat occurs, just as if it had been an offensives player air-naval
victory. • 9 or More = Two (2)
9.4 Ground Combat Procedure B. How to Apply Hits. Each player applies to the opposing units
A. Ground combat is always simultaneous, regardless of the intelli- a number of hits equal to their combat effectiveness rating times
gence condition. Both sides add up their activated ground unit attack their ground strength.
values plus the attack strengths of any inactive ground units that are 1. Only ground units can be hit. Non-activated ground units in the
in the battle hex and then conduct a combat effectiveness die roll. battle hex can be hit.
The basic procedure is similar to Air-Naval combat, but Ground
combat uses a different Combat Results Table and has different die 2. If a number of hits equal to an opposing unit’s defense strength
roll modifiers. are applied, the unit is flipped to its reduced side or eliminated if
already on its reduced side.
The player who rolled the die applies all hits against opposing units
in any manner within the restrictions on how hits may be applied. 3. Full strength units must be reduced before reduced units can be
eliminated.
Ground Combat Die Roll Modifiers 4. If there are excess hits that cannot be allocated without breaking
All modifiers are cumulative except for the modifier for Japanese other criteria they are lost.
card Col. Tsuji. The bonus modifier of that card is the final modifier
for Offensives player roll, regardless of any other modifiers that 5. Offensive ground units that conducted amphibious assault to
might apply. enter the battle hex have their defense strength halved (rounding
up if required) for calculating hits.
Offensives Player Modifiers
1. If only the Offensives player has naval units in the battle hex after C. Concluding Ground Combat.
air-naval combat, then the Offensives player adds +2 to the die roll 1. If, after all hits are applied, only one side has ground units in the
for shore bombardment. hex, that side is the winner. Otherwise, the side that took the most step
losses during ground combat retreats during post battle movement.
2. If after air naval combat the Offensives player is the only player Flipping a ground unit from its full strength to its reduced strength
with active air and/or carrier units participating in the ground battle side or the elimination of a reduced unit counts as one step lost. If it
(there are no surviving active or inactive Reaction player air or is a tie, the Reaction player wins and the Offensives player retreats.
carrier units) then the Offensives player adds +2 to the die roll for
air superiority. 2. It is possible for both sides to be eliminated in a ground combat.
If this happens, the Reaction player maintains control of the hex,
PLAY NOTE: An unopposed offensive carrier unit in the battle but all forces are still eliminated.
hex (e.g., CVE) generates both the shore bombardment and air
superiority die roll modifiers for a +4. DESIGN NOTE: What is being simulated here is that both sides’
units are no longer combat effective and a remnant force remains
3. Certain terrain types modify the Offensive player’s die roll: in the defender’s hex.
• JUNGLE: subtract one from the die roll (–1). 3. If the Offensives player is the only one with surviving ground
• MIXED: subtract two from the die roll (–2). units in the battle hex, the hex is now controlled by that player. If
• MOUNTAINS: subtract three from the die roll (–3). the Reaction player is the only one with surviving ground units in
Note: There is no modifier for City type terrain. the battle hex, the Reaction player maintains control of the hex.
DESIGN NOTE: Ground combat is quite bloody given the time
Reaction Player Modifiers scale of the game. If both sides are eliminated, it is not the case that
If the Reaction player had any land or HQ units in a hex prior to the everyone was dead, but that the forces of both sides are no longer
Offensives player conducting an Amphibious assault into that hex, combat effective. For the Allies, this means the unit needs to be
the Reaction player adds +3 to the die roll. rebuilt. For the Japanese, this means the unit is usually lost, because
Both Players the unit in fact fought to the last man. In addition, there were times,
Any Event Modifiers from the ECs played as the current Event for especially during the Solomons campaigns, that both sides occupied
the Offensive and in Reaction to the Offensive and modifiers from the same island. For the sake of simplicity, this situation is treated
the previous play of an Events (for example, Japanese Defense a bit abstractly, given the length of the game turns.
doctrine) are added to any other battle modifiers that are in effect
as indicated from above. Note that unlike other EC bonuses, the 9.5 Retreat
bonus from Japanese card Col. Tsuji is the final modifier used in A retreating Offensive ground unit that entered a hex by ground
the ground battle instead of being cumulative with other modifiers. movement must retreat into the hex from which it entered the
battle. A retreating Offensive ground unit that has entered a hex by
Armor Modifier amphibious assault movement conducts post battle movement like
If the British 7th Armor Brigade is in the battle the Allies add +1 to a naval unit.
their combat die roll for armor superiority.
DESIGN NOTE: China was always too much for the Japanese NOTE: Hong Kong (hex 2709) begins the 1941 Campaign Scenario
to swallow. Surrender in this context means that the Central as Allied controlled, but once it becomes Japanese controlled or
government has collapsed and the portions not under Japanese begins a scenario as Japanese controlled it has Japanese intrinsic
control have fallen into the hands of local warlords. The Japanese strength and adheres to all rules in this section.
might have been able to make separate deals with these warlords,
while continuing the conflict against the Communists allowing Japan 13.77 CBI Infrastructure
to annex the occupied portions of China. A. CBI Infrastructure: At the start of the 1941 Campaign Scenario
the three hexes Jarhat, Imphal, and Ledo have a marker placed on
13.74 Allied Air Units in China them denoting that the strategic transportation route printed on the
Up to two Allied air units may be in the Air Units in China box map is not yet constructed. Later scenarios will give instructions
(hereafter called China Box) at any one time, but only one of these on whether these markers are in place or removed to show that the
air units may be a B29. Allied air units are in supply in the China strategic transport route has or has not been constructed.
Box if the Burma Road is open or the HUMP is active and there is a
supply eligible airfield in Northern India (regardless of road status).
An Allied HQ can activate in-supply air units in the China Box if
it can trace an activation path to Kunming or if the HUMP active
to any supply eligible friendly controlled airfield in Northern India.
If China has not surrendered and the Burma Road is open, the Allied
player may place Allied Air units as reinforcements directly into
the China box. Allied air units (including B29s) that are activated
during an offensive (to include reaction) can fly from a Northern
India supply eligible airfield to the China Box and vice versa. The
distance between the China box and any airfield in Northern India is
considered one ‘leg’ (8.31) regardless of the air unit’s actual range B. If the Allies control all of Northern India plus Akyab, the Allies
factor. A B29 unit in China is considered to be in range of Tokyo only can construct one of the three strategic transport routes in Jarhat,
for Strategic Bombing (12.3) and Allied Victory purposes (16.2). Imphal, or Ledo with the complete play of a 3 OC card. The Jarhat
If an Allied air unit in the Air Units in China box is out of supply strategic transport route must always be constructed by the Allies first
it cannot be activated, does not generate a die roll modifier for a and is required to subsequently construct the Ledo or Imphal routes.
China Offensive, and suffers attrition, but cannot be eliminated due The Allied player can decide to build the other two strategic transport
to attrition. routes in any order for the cost of a 3OC play each. Construction
occurs upon the play of the 3 OC by removing the appropriate
13.75 Kunming, Allied Supply, and Chinese Army Units marker revealing the strategic transport route printed on the map
Kunming is a supply source if the Burma Road is open (See 13.78) that is immediately useable for the ½ MP cost for all game purposes.
or the HUMP is active (through the play of Allied event card 17) and The 3 OC card cannot be used to activate any units. Construction
there is a supply eligible Northern India airfield. If these conditions is permanent and cannot be altered for the remainder of the game.
are met, any Allied unit is in supply if it can trace an overland (only)
4 or less MP overland supply path directly from Kunming akin to a C. Using the same construction procedure, the Japanese player can
Supply Eligible port. This is an exception to the normal supply rules only construct the Imphal route, never Jarhat or Ledo, if they can
where an HQ is required to place a unit in supply. This supply path trace an LOC from Imphal via strategic transport route to a Japa-
can be used to activate a unit assuming an activation path also exists. nese controlled Rangoon, provided it is Supply Eligible. Unlike the
Kunming and all adjacent hexes are considered Allied controlled Allies the Japanese do not require that the Jarhat route have been
and occupied for all game purposes. previously constructed.
Chinese Army units can be activated by any Allied HQ in range. 13.78 Burma Road
Unsupplied Chinese Army units cannot be activated and suffer attri- The Burma Road is the strategic transport route in
tion normally. Chinese units may enter only Northern India, Burma, hexes 2206, 2306, and 2407. The following rules deter-
Kunming (hex 2407), and hexes adjacent to Kunming. If forced to mine the status of the Burma Road marker on the Bur-
enter a hex in any other nation, Chinese units are eliminated. ma Road status track. The Burma Road can be in one
of three status boxes, Open, Closed/HUMP, Closed/No HUMP each
13.76 Japanese Intrinsic Strength in China. of which as a value that is the Chinese offensive strength modifier.
Each city hex in Japanese occupied China is considered to contain The status on the Burma Road status track determines whether
one intrinsic, 9-12, one step, Japanese ground unit, for each 4 boxes Kunming is a supply source (13.75) and the Chinese offensive
still remaining on the Japanese Divisions in China track. This count strength modifier (13.72).
is rounded up, so, for example, if there are 5 remaining boxes on the
track, there would be two intrinsic units per hex of China. If there A. The Burma Road is open if a strategic transport route can be
are no Japanese divisions left, one unit would still considered to traced from Kunming to Rangoon and then via sea to Madras or by
be in the hexes in China. This information is incorporated into the sea to a map edge. The sea portion of the route cannot pass through
track. These units do not count for stacking purposes and are always an unneutralized enemy AZOI.
the last ones eliminated in the hex, if there are other non-intrinsic OR
units present. These units are considered no longer present in a hex
B. The Burma Road is open if a strategic transport route can be
controlled by the Allies, but are not permanently eliminated from the
traced from Kunming to Madras, via the constructed Jarhat/Ledo
hex, and return to consideration if the hex returns to Japanese control.
or Jarhat/Imphal routes (13.77).
Tournament Bidding
A. Non-Campaign Scenario Bidding
17.0 Scenarios
The counters are geared for the start of the full campaign scenario.
Players bid victory points to determine which side they will play.
In order to set up the campaign game, set up all of the counters with
After the pieces are set up, both players write down on a piece of
hex setup locations in those hexes. All other units enter the game on
paper a number of victory points that they are bidding to play a
their indicated game turn of entry.
particular side. A player can choose either side and can bid any
number of victory points they desire. A player must pick a side, but is 17.1 The Full Campaign, Dec ’41-Aug ’45
allowed to bid zero victory points. There are two possible outcomes:
both players pick the same side or each player picks a different side. 17.11 December 1941 Special Turn
This is a mini-turn consisting of the Japanese player only playing
1. If both players pick the same side, the player who bid more points two specific Strategy cards as Event cards in the following order:
gets to play that side. If the winning player is playing the Japanese
side, the bid number of victory points is subtracted from the Japanese Card 1: Operation Z- Attack on Pearl Harbor.
total at the end of the scenario. If the winning player is playing the All Japanese naval units must remain together. Allied units at sea
Allied side, the bid amount is added to the total of Japanese victory (e.g., US CVs) may not be attacked. Follow all event text.
points at the end of the scenario.
Card 2: IAI-Operation No. 1- Conquest of SE Asia
EXAMPLE: If Mark bids 1 VP to play the Japanese and Grant bids
The Allied player may not react to any Japanese moves that are
0 VPs to play the Japanese, Mark gets the Japanese and subtracts
not specified in the event descriptions. No Allied air units project
1VP from his VP total at the end of the scenario. If, on the other
Zones of Influence during IAI, but all Allied air units that are not
hand, both Mark and Grant bid for the Allied side, and the winning
in a battle hex can automatically participate in a battle hex that is
bid was 2 VPs, then the player with the Japanese would have 2 VPs
within range of its location. For the duration of the IAI card only,
added to his total at the end of the scenario.
Manila (hex 2813) and Singapore (hex 2015) prevent Japanese am-
2. If both players pick different sides, the net difference is added or phibious assault unless the ground units are escorted by a Japanese
subtracted from the Japanese total. naval unit (adhering to all restrictions in 8.45 B) and the Japanese
cannot use the Shore Bombardment die roll modifier in the ensuing
EXAMPLE: If Mark bids 2 VPs to play the Japanese and Grant
Ground combat. Any escorting Japanese naval unit in the Manila
bids 3 VPs to play the Allies, each player gets the side they bid, but
or Singapore hex automatically loses one step prior to battle due to
Mark (the Japanese player) adds 1VP to his total at the end of the
coastal artillery and mines. The Japanese may only use Amphibi-
scenario, however, if Mark had bid 3 VPs to play the Japanese and
ous Assault to hexes that are within 5 contiguous water hexes of a
Grant bid 2 VPs to play the Allies, then Mark (still as the Japanese
Japanese controlled port.
player) would subtract 1VP from his total at the end of the scenario.
At the conclusion of IAI the Allies get a one time Emergency Naval
3. In cases of ties, a high die roll determines the winning bid. In case
Move for all of their naval units. After this Allied action finish out
of tie die rolls, re-roll until someone wins.
the remaining phases of the turn, except the Attrition Phase, and
PLAYER NOTE: Playtesting results indicate that a bid of higher then start normal play.
than 3 victory points for any side is probably excessive.
The Allies may choose Allied card 4: Arcadia Conference as one of
B. Campaign Game Bidding their cards for game turn 2.
Players bid US Political Will boxes to determine which side they DESIGN NOTE: This card has been very hard to get right, as
will play. After the pieces are set up, both players write down on the Japanese went into the war without foreknowledge of how
a piece of paper a number of US Political Will boxes that they are successful they would be in catching the Allies unprepared for
bidding to play a particular side. A player can choose either side and war. Consequently, they went into this initial operation with some
can bid any number of US Political Will boxes they desire. A player critical assumptions that need to be accounted for in order to give
must pick a side, but is allowed to bid zero US Political Will boxes. you the opportunity to write your own history of this event within a
There are two possible outcomes: both players pick the same side reasonable set of historical restrictions. Players who want a more
or each player picks a different side. unrestrictive environment can unofficially relax the restriction on
1. If both players pick the same side, the player who bid more US where the Japanese can Amphibious Assault.
Political Will boxes gets to play that side. If the winning player is
17.12 Game Turns 2 to 12
playing the Japanese side, the US Political Will bid is added to the
Follow the rules normally.
US Political Will total at the conclusion of Operation Z when the US
Political Will is normally set at +8. If the winning player is playing Historical Variant: for the game turn 2 hand of cards, use 17.25
the Allied side, the bid amount is subtracted from the US Political D and F.
Will total at the conclusion of Operation Z.
17.13 Winning the Game
2. If both players pick different sides, the net difference of US Po- See 16.0.
litical Will bids are added or subtracted from the initial US Political
Will total of +8 at the conclusion of Operation Z. 17.14 Track Marker Starting Locations
Here are there starting locations for the game markers:
DESIGN NOTE: The 1942 campaign scenario and the yearly
scenarios were intended as the main format for tournament play. • US Political Will Marker: begins in the Zero box on the US Po-
litical Will track.
• China Marker: begins in the Stable Front Box on the China track.
• Japanese Division in China marker: begins on the 12 box of the
Japanese Divisions In China track.
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
34 Empire of the Sun
• Burma Road marker: begins on its NO HUMP side in the Burma 2917: 19th LRB air unit (reduced strength)
Road Open box on the Burma Road track. 3014: CA US Asia Naval (reduced strength)
• India Marker: begins on its Front side on the India track in the 5108: 7AF Air Force
India Stable box. 5808: 7AF LRB Air unit
• War In Europe Marker: begins on the WIE track in the Zero box. 5808: CV Lexington (full strength)
• Japanese Amphibious Shipping Marker: begins on its No Barge 5808: CV Enterprise (full strength)
side on the Strategic Record track in the 7 box.
5808 CA N Orlns (reduced strength)
• US Amphibious Shipping Marker: begins on the Strategic Record
Ttack in the Zero box. 17.22 Japanese Setup:
• Japanese Resource Marker: begins on the Strategic Record Track Place all Japanese units in the hexes indicated. All units are at full
in the 3 box. strength unless otherwise indicated. No Japanese units start this
scenario having been eliminated.
• Game Turn Marker: begins on its PM Tojo side on the Game Turn
track, in the 1: December ’41 box. 1912: Japanese Control marker
• US Inter-Service Rivalry Marker: begins on its Strategic Agree- 1913: 38th Army
ment side in the Inter-Service Rivalry box. 2012: Japanese Control marker
• Japanese Inter-Service Rivalry Marker: begins on its Strategic 2109: 15th Army
Agreement side in the Inter-Service Rivalry box. 2110 28th Army (reduced)
• There are no units in the Delayed Reinforcement box on the map. 2112: 25th Army (reduced)
• Allied & Japanese Pass markers are in the zero box on the Strategic 2212: HQ (South), 22nd Air Flotilla
Record track.
2311: BB Kongo, CA Mogami
• Place the Jarhat (hex 2104), Ledo (hex 2205), and Imphal (2105)
2415: 2nd SN
no transport route markers on map in the indicated hexes.
2709: 17th Army (reduced)
CONTROL MARKERS: There is an Allied control marker on Guam 2812: 5th Air Division, 14th Army
(3814) and Hong Kong (2709). 2909: 21st Air Flotilla, CA Takao
17.2 1942 2911: 1 SN
This scenario is three game turns long and begins on game turn 2 at 2913: 19th Army (reduced)
the beginning of the Offensives Phase. There is no Reinforcement, 2915: 16th Army (reduced), CVL Ryujo, CVL Zuiho, CA Nachi
Replacement, or Strategic Warfare Segments conducted for game 3004: 2nd Air Division
turn 2, as it has already been incorporated into the starting locations.
3007: 35th Army (reduced)
Similarly, Japanese cards #1 & #2 are not in play and should be put
aside. Set up the units and markers for both sides as described and 3009: 23rd Air Flotilla
then play out the game normally. The game is concluded at the end 3305: Korean Army
of game turn 4. 3407: HQ (Combined Fleet), BB Nagato, Yamato (reduced), 25th
Air Flotilla
17.21 Allied Setup:
Set up all game turn 1 Allied units in their starting locations with 3607: 3rd Air Division, 4th Air Division
the exceptions of the following units that are permanently removed 3704: 27th Army (reduced)
from play (these are the units that were destroyed during game turn 3706: 1st Air Division, Eastern District Army, 18th Army (reduced),
1) and the other listed units that have alternate setup locations and are CV Akagi, CV Soryu, CV Shokaku, BB Hiei
reduced or improved in strength. If a unit is not listed here, it begins 3814: 3rd SN
on its counter indicated starting location at its original strength. Note: 4017: HQ (South Seas), APD Kamikaze
the US 7th air units were both eliminated during game turn 1, but
4021: SS Brigade, CA Aoba
have been brought back into play with replacements.
4715: 4th SN (reduced), 24th Air Flotilla, CL Tenyru
PLAY NOTE: The Australian forces usually remain out of command
throughout game turn 2 and subsequently suffer attrition. This is 17.23 Markers
intentional and represents the losses incurred by the various air All markers are in their Campaign Game (17.14) starting positions
and ground contingents such as Gull Force that were lost in the with the following exceptions:
early fighting. The Japanese have 4 Resource hexes under control, instead of 3.
The Japanese have 11 Divisions in China.
Eliminated at start Allied units:
BB MD/CA The Allies have 1 Amphibious Shipping Points.
Mindanao (M) Corps US Political Will is at +8 instead of Zero.
HK Division
17.24 Delay Box
Force Z
The following Allied units are in the Delay Box: All game turn 2
NL Corp
reinforcements except the British HQ (SEAC), which is in Calcutta
Repositioned, Altered, or Replaced Allied Units: hex 1805.
1805: SEAC HQ
2813: US FEAF Air unit (reduced strength)
2912: SL Corps (reduced strength)
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
Empire of the Sun 35
17.25 Special Rules C. For isolating Townsville from Oahu, e.g., no supply line can be
A. Japanese cards 1 and 2 have been played and are removed from drawn between the two locations, 5 victory points.
play. All other cards are eligible for use in this scenario. For game D. For controlling each hex of Northern India, 1 victory point per
turn 2, the Japanese receives 7 cards and the Allied player receives hex.
5 cards and 2 passes.
E. For India Unrest or Strikes, 1 victory point (awarded on the last
B. No nations have surrendered. The Japanese control all hexes game turn).
originally part of the Japanese Empire.
F. For India Unstable, Revolts, or Surrender; 2 victory points (not
C. The Allies get a free Emergency Naval Move for all naval units cumulative with E; awarded on last game turn).
prior to the play of the first Japanese Strategy card play.
G. For Control of Australian Mandates, 1 victory point.
D. The Allied player may choose Card 4: Arcadia Conference as
one of the five cards received on game turn 2. This is at the option H. For each box US Political Will is 5 or below, 1 victory point per
of the Allied player and must be announced to the Japanese player box. Example a US Political Will of 5 equals 1 victory point.
prior to drawing any cards. I. For each box US Political Will is 6 or above, minus 1 victory point
E. If the Japanese do not receive any military offense cards in their per box. Example a US Political Will of 7equals 2 victory points.
opening hand (e.g., Military Events that have a logistic value) they J. For the capture Kauai or Hawaii, 1 victory point, for each hex, if
may discard a 3 OC card of their choice, or one of lesser value if controlled and occupied at the end of any game turn, but only once
no 3 OC cards are in the Japanese hand, and replace that card with per hex per game.
Japanese card 47: VADM Kondo.
K. For the capture Oahu, 3 victory points if controlled and occupied
F. Historical Japanese Opening Hand Option: If the players agree to at the end of any game turn, but only once per game.
play with this option the Japanese player takes the three Japanese
cards: Col. Tsuji (card 3), VADM Kondo (card 47), and Central Victory Point Levels:
Force (card 59) and then deals themselves 4 additional cards for • Allied Decisive Victory: Japanese have 2 or less victory points.
their opening hand. • Allied Tactical Victory: Japanese have 3 to 5 victory points.
DESIGN NOTE: Due to the ongoing war in China the Japanese • Japanese Tactical Victory: Japanese have 6-9 victory points.
southern offensive was conducted with a limited number of resources • Japanese Decisive Victory: Japanese have 10 or more victory
and a force ratio that was more evenly matched than is appreciated points.
in hindsight. It is my intention that part of the Japanese experience
in EotS is to experience this uncertainty as represented by the large
number of possible Japanese opening hands. To aid in this process I
have created several YouTube videos that can be seen for free on the
GMT and my personal channel (Mark Herman). For those players
who are new to the game or who do not play the game regularly I
offer an historical variant that ensures that the Japanese historical
dominance is a sure thing.
17.26 Short Game Inter-Service Rivalry and Political Will
Events
During yearly scenarios any time Inter-Service Rivalry comes into
effect for either player, that player can remove Inter-Service Rival-
ry at any Offensives card play by playing a 3OC value card as a
Remove Inter-Service Rivalry play (flip the marker to its Strategic
Agreement side). This is then the entire effect for that card play, and
counts for that player as a complete card play action. In addition, 17.3 1943
all events that modify US Political Will can only be played as OC This scenario is three game turns long and begins on game turn 5 at
not EC (Doolittle’s Raid, Bataan Death March, Tojo, Tokyo Rose). the beginning of the Offensives Phase. There is no Reinforcement,
Replacement, or Strategic Warfare Segments conducted for game
17.27 Victory Conditions turn 5, as it has already been incorporated into the starting locations.
Automatic Victory: If the Japanese do not control at least 11 of the Set up the units and markers for both sides as described and then
14 Resource hexes by the conclusion of game turn 4, they lose the play out the game normally. The game is concluded at the end of
game and the Allies win an automatic victory. If an automatic victory game turn 7.
has not occurred then the Japanese player gains victory points for the
following conditions at the conclusion of game turn 4. Victory points 17.31 Allied Setup:
are assessed at the end of game turn 4 unless otherwise indicated. Place all Allied units in the hexes indicated. All units are at full
For Tournament play: A hex counts as captured for victory points strength unless otherwise indicated.
only if some non-HQ unit would be in supply in it. If these criteria Eliminated at start Allied units:
are not fulfilled, the hex counts as being held by the player who had US Units
control of it at the start of the scenario. CV: Wasp
A. If China surrenders receive a bonus 5 victory points. BB: MD/CA
CA: N Orleans, Northampton, and US Asia
B. For closing the Burma Road, 1 victory point. DD: US Asia
17.36 Political Situation Q. If the Allies control a port that is 11 or less hexes from Tokyo,
The Japanese control all hexes originally part of the Japanese Empire. minus 3 victory points.
The following countries have surrendered and the Japanese control R. If the Allies control a Resource hex, minus 1 victory point per
all of these hexes unless specifically noted in the Allied Set Up: Ma- Resource hex.
laya, Philippines, Dutch East Indies, Burma, or Australian Mandates For Tournament Play Purposes: 1943 Starting Score
17.37 Short Game Inter-Service Rivalry and Political Will The initial conditions at the beginning of the 1943 scenario are the
Events Japanese start with +3 victory points (effectively an Allied Tactical
During yearly scenarios any time Inter-Service Rivalry comes into Victory). Here are the details at the start of the scenario (if not
effect for either player, that player can remove Inter-Service Rival- specified, then the condition is not satisfied for VP gain or loss at
ry at any Offensives card play by playing a 3OC value card as a the start of the scenario):
Remove Inter-Service Rivalry play (flip the marker to its Strategic
Agreement side). This is then the entire effect for that card play, and • 17.38 B: The Burma Road is closed (+1 VP)
counts for that player as a complete card play action. In addition, • 17.38 G: The Japanese control the Australian Mandates (+3 VPs):
all events that modify US Political Will can only be played as OC the Allied control of Guadalcanal does not change control.
not EC (Doolittle’s Raid, Bataan Death March, Tojo, Tokyo Rose). • 17.38 I: The US Political Will stands at 6 PW (–1 VP), but Attu/
Kiska (hex 4600) has been occupied by the Japanese starting
with the National Status Phase of game turn 3 (two turns at the
start of the scenario). If the Allies do not control Attu/Kiska at
17.42 Japanese Setup: 3615 Ulithi: ���������������� BB Yamato, CVL Zuiho, BB Hiei
Place all Japanese units in the hexes indicated. The Japanese control 3620 Altape: �������������� Control Marker
all of their original hexes within the Japanese Empire boundary. All
14 resource spaces are controlled by the Japanese. If no Japanese 3704 Hakodate: ���������� 27 Air Flotilla (reduced), 51st Air Flotilla,
units present a control marker should be placed. Malaya, Philip- 27th Army (reduced)
pines, Dutch East Indies, and Burma have surrendered. In addition, 3706 Tokyo: ��������������� Eastern District (ED) Army 1st Air Division,
the Japanese control the Australian Mandates, so all hexes in these 10th Air Division
countries and locations are Japanese controlled unless occupied by 3720 Wewak: ������������� 19th Army (reduced), 6th Air Division
an Allied unit. Key bases are indicated with a control maker, but (reduced), 7th Air Division (reduced)
this list is not exhaustive and does not supplant Japanese control of 3721 Madang: ������������ 18th Army (reduced)
the indicated nations. 3813 Saipan/Tinian: ��� South Seas HQ, 31st Army (reduced), 61st
Eliminated at start Japanese units: Air Flotilla, 62nd Air Flotilla
BB Kongo 3814 Guam: ��������������� Control Marker
CV: Akagi, and Soryu 4017 Truk: ����������������� 22nd Air Flotilla (reduced), CA Nachi
CVL: Ryujo 4021 Rabaul: �������������� 17th Army, 25th Air Flotilla (reduced), CA
CL Tenyru Takao (reduced), APD Kamikaze (reduced)
CA Aoba
4612 Wake Island:...... 4th SN (reduced)
Air Units: 21st, 50th, and Tainan (T)
Naval Brigades: 1st SN, 2nd SN, and SS 4715 Kwajalein:......... 3rd SN, 24th Air Flotilla (reduced)
Combined Fleet HQ (Yamamoto)
17.43 Markers
Japanese 1944 Setup All markers are in the following positions:
All units are at full strength unless otherwise indicated. • Game Turn 8: PM Tojo
1813: Medan ��������������� Control Marker • The Japanese have 14 Resource hexes under control.
1916 Palembang: ������� 25th Army (reduced), 9th Air Division • The Japanese have 5 Amphibious Shipping Points
2008 Rangoon: ���������� 28th Army, 5th Air Division (reduced), • The Japanese Divisions Available In China is in the 5 box.
2014 Kuantan: ����������� Control Marker • The Allies have 8 Amphibious Shipping Points.
2015 Singapore: ��������� 29th Army (reduced), 28th Air Flotilla (re- • China Government Front Status Track: Major Breakthrough
duced) • Japanese Card #31 has been played: +1 Ground Combat DRM in
2017 Banka: ��������������� Control Marker effect.
2018 Batavia: ������������� Control Marker • US Political Will is at +5.
2019 Tjilatap: ������������ Control Marker • Japanese Inter service Rivalry: Yes
2106 Mandalay: ��������� 33rd Army • US Inter service Rivalry: Yes
2110 Bangkok: ���������� Control Marker • Japanese Air Replacements: 0
2206 Lashio: �������������� 15th Army • Japanese Naval Replacements: 0
2212 Saigon: �������������� South HQ, 38th Army • WIE: +2
2220 Soerabaja: ��������� 16th Army (reduced) • PT Boats- No Japanese Barges
2305 Myitkyina: �������� Control Marker • Burma Road Closed/ Hump
2409 Hanoi: ��������������� 8th Air Division • Place the Ledo (hex 2205), and Imphal (2105) no transport route
2415 Miri: ������������������ Control Marker markers on the map in the indicated hexes.
2517 Balikpapan: ������� Control Marker • India: Stable
2616 Tarakan: ������������ 37th Army (reduced) 17.44 Delay Box
2813 Manila: �������������� 14th Army, 23rd Air Flotilla No Allied units are in the delay box.
2909 Tainan ��������������� 3rd Air Division (reduced)
17.45 Strategy Cards
2915 Davao: �������������� 35th Army
Japanese Strategy cards 1, 2, 5, 6, 13, 15, 18, 26, 31, 39, 51, 53,
3004 Peking: �������������� 2nd Air Division, 4th Air Division 54, 55, 73, 78 have been played and are removed from play. Allied
3119 Sarong: �������������� Control Marker Strategy cards 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23,
3219 Vogelkop: ���������� Control Marker 24, 27, 30, 39, 41, 42, 47, 51, 73 have been played and are removed
3305 Seoul: ���������������� Korean Army from play. Japanese card 7 is in the discard pile, as is Allied card
2. The Allies have card 45 and the Japanese have card 4 as future
3319 Biak: ����������������� Control Marker
offensives cards. All other cards are eligible for use in this scenario.
3407 Kure: ����������������� Combined Fleet HQ (Ozawa), CVL Junyo, For game turn 8, the Japanese player receives 6 cards plus 1 pass
BB Nagato, CA Mogami (reduced), CVL and the Allied player receives 7 cards.
Kaiyo, CV Shokaku, CV Taiho, 11th Air
Division 17.46 Political Situation
3416 Palau: ���������������� 26th Air Flotilla (reduced) The Japanese control all hexes originally part of the Japanese Empire.
The following countries have surrendered and the Japanese control
3520 Hollandia: ��������� 2nd Army (reduced)
all of their hexes unless specifically noted in the Allied Setup:
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
40 Empire of the Sun
• Malaya Japanese Tactical Victory: Japanese have 6 to 9 victory points.
• Philippines Japanese Decisive Victory: Japanese have 10 or more victory points.
• Dutch East Indies
• Burma 17.5 1942-1943
• Australian Mandates For this scenario, use the starting conditions and setup of the 1942
scenario (17.2) but play turns 2-7 and use the victory conditions of
17.47 Short Game Inter-Service Rivalry and Political Will the 1943 scenario (17.3).
Events
During yearly scenarios any time Inter-Service Rivalry comes into 17.6 1943-1944
effect for either player, that player can remove Inter-Service Rival- For this scenario, use the starting conditions and setup of the 1943
ry at any Offensives card play by playing a 3-OC value card as a scenario (17.3) but play turns 5-10 and use the victory conditions
Remove Inter-Service Rivalry play (flip the marker to its Strategic of the 1944 scenario (17.4).
Agreement side). This is then the entire effect for that card play, and
counts for that player as a complete card play action. In addition, 17.7 1942-1944
all events that modify US Political Will can only be played as OC For this scenario, use the starting conditions of the 1942 scenario
not EC (Doolittle’s Raid, Bataan Death March, Tojo, Tokyo Rose). (17.2) but play turns 2-10 and use the victory conditions of the 1944
scenario (17.4).
17.48 Victory Conditions
The Japanese player gains victory points for the following conditions 17.8 The Shortened Campaign (1942-1945)
at the conclusion of game turn 10. Victory points are assessed at the This scenario starts as if for the 1942 Scenario (17.2) and uses all
end of game turn 10 unless otherwise indicated. of the setup requirements of that scenario, but plays the rest of
For Tournament play: A hex counts as captured for victory points war, using the Campaign Scenario (17.1) conditions and length for
only if some non-HQ unit would be in supply in it. If this criteria everything else, including victory conditions.
is not fulfilled, the hex counts as being held by the player who had
control of it at the start of the scenario. 17.9 The Even Shorter Campaign (1943-1945)
This scenario starts as if for the 1943 Scenario (17.3) and uses all
A. If China surrenders receive a bonus 5 victory points. of the setup requirements of that scenario, but plays the rest of
B. For closing the Burma Road, 1 victory point. war, using the Campaign Scenario (17.1) conditions and length for
C. For isolating Townsville from Oahu, e.g., no supply line can be everything else, including victory conditions.
drawn between the two locations, 5 victory points.
D. For controlling each hex of Northern India, 1 victory point per
hex.
E. For India Unrest or Strikes, 1 victory point (awarded on the last
game turn).
F. For India Unstable, Revolts, or Surrender; 2 victory points (not
cumulative with E; awarded on last game turn).
G. For Control of Australian Mandates, 1 victory point.
H. For each box US Political Will is 5or below, 1 victory point per
box.Example a US Political Will of 5equals 1 victory point.
I. For each box US Political Will is 6 or above, minus 1 victory point
per box. Example a US Political Will of 7equals 2 victory points.
J. For the capture Oahu, 3 victory points if controlled and occupied
at the end of any game turn, but only once per game.
17.10 South Pacific
K. Control of New Guinea, 5 victory points Map: Use South Pacific mini-Map instead of Main map.
L. If the Allies do not control New Guinea, 3 victory points. Cards: To play this scenario create two decks of 24 cards from the
M. If the Allies have not captured Rabaul (4021) or placed it out of list below. These are all of the cards used for this scenario.
supply on the last turn of the scenario, 3 victory points. Allied Cards:
N. If the Allies control no Philippine port hexes, 5 victory points. 8: Coast Watchers
O. If the Allies control 1 in supply Philippine port, 3 victory points 13: Watchtower
(corollary if the Allies control 2 in supply Philippine ports, 0 victory 20: Halsey Replaces Ghormley
points). 21: Operation Cartwheel
P. If the Allies do not control a port hex within 8 hexes of Tokyo 23: PT Boats
(3706), 5 victory points. 24: Skip Bombing
Victory Point Levels: 25: Lilliput
Allied Decisive Victory: Japanese have 2 or less victory points. 27: Operation Vengence
Allied Tactical Victory: Japanese have 3 to 5 victory points. 28: Chronicle
29: Operation Toenails
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
Empire of the Sun 41
31: Black Day Japan: All other ports, airbases and resource hexes on the map begin
32: Operation Reno II the game under Japanese control (Example: All Solomon Islands
36: Operation Cherry Blossom and New Guinea ports, airbases and resource hex except for Port
Moresby and Gili-Gili).
40: Operation Dexterity
43: Japanese Army-Navy Dispute 17.10.1 Allied Set Up
44: Operation Squarepeg Scenario Hex Setup/Game Turn of Entry
Numbers in brackets [ ] set up at reduced strength
46: Operation Brewer
50: Tornado TF Type Unit Designation Set Up
52: Roosevelt Nimitz MacArthur Air 5AF 3626
56: Typhoon TF Air 5AF LRB 3626
64: Tradewind TF Air 13AF 4825
66: War in Europe Major Allied Victory
Air 13AF LRB 4825
81: China Offensive
Air 14AF LRB China Box image (no counter)
82: China Offensive
Air Marine 1 MAW 4826
Japanese Cards
Air Marine 2 MAW 4
9: RADM Ugaki
Ground Marine Mar Bde 4825
13: JN 25 Code Change May 28, 1942
Ground Marine SF Bde 4828
16: Operation RI
17: Savo Island Ground Marine 1M Div 4828
20: Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Ground Marine 2M Div 4
23: Operation RE Ground Marine 3M Div 6
25: Operation KA Ground I Corps [3727]
27: Submarine Attack Ground XI Corps 5808 (Oahu)
28: Big Tokyo Express Operation Ground XIV Corps [3626]
29: Combined Fleet
Ground XXIV Corps 5
32: Operation I-GO
HQ C Pac 5808 (image on map, no
33: Imperial Intervention counter)
34: US Army-Navy Dispute
HQ S Pac Gho 4828
35: Operation KE
HQ S Pac Hal Event
42: Ichi Go
44: Tokyo Express HQ SW Pac 3727
48: General Adachi Naval CV Enterprise [4828]
49: JN-25 Code Change Naval CV Wasp [4828]
51: War in Europe Minor Axis Victory Naval CV Lexington [4828]
52: War in Europe Minor Axis Victory Naval CA Northampton 4828
73: Ants Naval BB N Carolina 4828
75: Submarine Attack Naval BB Washington 4
84: JN25 Code Change
Naval BB Mass 5
85: Battle of Kolombangara
Naval CVL San Jacinto 5
PLAY NOTE: Any card reference to an HQ or unit not in the scenario Naval CV Bunker Hill 6
should be ignored. For example the Japanese South HQ referred to
on several cards is not in this scenario. Naval CV Essex 6
Naval CVL Belleau Wood 6
Overview
This scenario is four game turns long (game turns 3, 4, 5, and 6) Naval CVE Sangamon 6
and begins on game turn 3 at the beginning of the Offensives Phase Naval CVL Cowpens 6
with the US having the option to use their Future Offensive card to
pre-empt the Japanese going first. There is no Reinforcement, Re-
placement, or Strategic Warfare Segments conducted for game turn 3.
Hex Control at the Beginning of the Scenario
Allied: The Allied player controls all ports and airbases in Australia,
the New Hebrides (all hexes within 3 hexes of Noumea hex 4828),
Oahu (hex 5808 box), Port Moresby (3823), and Gili-Gili (4024).
18.0 Master Scenario Setup List Ground SL Corps 2913 [2912] Elim Elim
This extensive chart shows the setup location for every counter at the Ground 11 Division 8 8 8 3626
beginning of the four yearly starts. Numbers in brackets [ ] indicate Ground I Corps [3] [3] 4024 3922
that a unit sets up on its reduced side. Ground IX Corps 8 8 8 4828
DESIGN NOTE: The Designer and Developer of this game have over Ground X Corps 5808 5808 5808 5808
fifty years of experience designing and publishing games. We have
Ground XI Corps 2 Delay 3922 3822
learned that no matter how many times you check this quantity of
numbers, it is possible that some unintended mistakes are made. In Ground XIV Corps [3] [3] 4423 4222
any situation where there is ambiguity, the hierarchy of correctness Ground XXIV Corps 5 5 Delay 5808
is the counters are always correct, followed by the master scenario
HQ C Pac 5808 5808 5808 5808
list, and last the scenario listings.
HQ S Pac Gho 3 3 Elim Elim
US HQ S Pac Hal Event Event 4828 4828
Scenario Hex Setup/Game Turn of Entry
HQ SW Pac 2813 2813 3727 3727
Numbers in brackets [ ] set up at reduced strength
Naval BB Mass 5 5 Delay 5808
Type Designation 1941 1942 1943 1944 Naval BB MD/CA 5808 Elim Elim Elim
Air 5AF 2 Delay 3626 3823 Naval BB Miss 2 Delay 5808 5808
Air 5AF LRB 2 Delay 3626 3823 Naval BB Missouri 9 9 9 9
Air 7AF 5808 5108 5808 5018 Naval BB N Carolina 3 3 4828 4828
Air 7AF LRB 5808 5808 5108 5018 Naval BB New Jersey 7 7 7 4826
Air 10AF LRB 2 Delay 1905 1905 Naval BB New York 9 9 9 9
Air 11AF 3 3 5100 5100 Naval BB Washington 4 4 4828 4828
Air 11AF LRB 3 3 5100 5100 Naval BC Alaska 10 10 10 10
Air 13AF 3 3 4825 4322 Naval CA Balitmore 11 11 11 11
Air 13AF LRB 3 3 4825 4322 Naval CA N. Orleans 5808 [5808] Elim Elim
Air 14AF Event Event 2104 2104 Naval CA Northamp- 2 Delay Elim Elim
Air 14AF LRB 4 4 China China ton
Box Box Naval CA US Asia 3014 [3014] Elim Elim
Air 19 LRB 2812 [2917] Elim Elim Naval CV B. H. 10 10 10 10
Air 20BC 9 9 9 9 Richard
Air AVG 2008 2008 Elim Elim Naval CV Enterprise [5609] 5808 [4828] 4828
Air Marine 211 4612 4612 Elim Elim Naval CV Franklin 7 7 7 5808
Wake the Marines, the Marines win the battle and retain control Wake. The
1. 4715: Activate the 4th SN, CL Tenyru (supplies organic naval 4th SN conducts post battle movement with the CL Tenyru back to
transport) and the 24th Air Flotilla. The 4th SNLF uses Amphibious Kwajalein hex 4715.
Assault movement to move to Wake hex 4612; declares a battle hex. It should be noted, that the Japanese were able to conduct this attack
on Wake because the IAI event card neutralizes Allied air ZOI for
the duration of the Offensive. If the Japanese decide to attack Wake
later in the game, they will need to bring an aircraft carrier to bear
to neutralize the Marine 211 air units air ZOI, which the Japanese
24th Air Flotilla cannot do from Kwajalein due to range. Historically,
the Japanese brought the CV Soryu naval unit to bear to complete
the conquest of Wake.
This concludes the Japanese move of 26 activations for Game Turn 1.
Political Phase
During the Political phase the players would determine if any coun-
tries surrender and if there are any changes to US Political Will. No
countries meet their surrender criteria and no other US Political Will
criteria is met, so the US Political Will remains at +8, concluding
the political phase.
Attrition Phase
There is no Attrition Phase for game turn 1 (see 17.11).
Game Turn 2
At the beginning of game turn 2; the Allies receive a number of
reinforcements during the Reinforcement phase. Since the War in
Europe (WIE) marker is in the zero box, the level is 1, which means
that Allied reinforcements are delayed, place all Allied game turn
2 reinforcements in the delay box except for the SEAC HQ which
cannot be delayed. The SEAC HQ is placed in Calcutta, India. In
addition one US Army and three US Army air units are in the delay
2. Battle Resolution: Hex 4612: Due to Marine 211 air unit, air box, which due to the WIE level of 1 means that a divert to Europe
naval combat is conducted. The Japanese have an attack strength of roll is made for these units. Each unit makes a die roll and on a zero
9 (Air units 10 attack strength is halved due to extended range plus 4 or one the unit is removed from play for 3 game turns. The Allies lose
for the CL Tenyru). The Japanese add 3 to their die roll for Surprise one of their Army air units in this manner. The Japanese place their
attack but roll low and get a half result achieving 5 hits (round up). reinforcements on the map (this portion of the example was included
This is insufficient to eliminate VMF 211. Due to the fact that the to show where it would occur, but in the actual 1942 scenario the
Japanese have 9 factors (5 air plus 4 for the CL Tenyru) versus 1 Allies were luckier and did not lose any units).
for the US, they have sufficient air and naval superiority to conduct
ground combat. The Japanese 4th SN adds 2 to its die roll because Replacement Phase
it is the only side with naval units in the hex, but does not get the During the replacement phase of game turn 2, the Japanese receive
additional air modifier because of the presence of Marine 211 air no replacements per se, but they choose to take one China Division
unit. The Japanese achieve a one times their strength outcome which replacement. They move the China Division marker from 12 to 11
results in 4 hits, which is insufficient to damage the Wake Marine and increase one in supply Japanese army ground unit from reduced
Brigade. The Marine die roll is a 9 (Semper Fi) and achieves 4 hits. to full strength. The Allies receive 2 ground, 5 air, and two US na-
Since the Japanese 4th SN moved to Wake via amphibious assault val replacements (one plus the standard one US naval if they hold
its defense strength is halved from 6 to 3, so the Marines cause the Oahu). The Allied player brings the two 7th AF air units back into
4th SN to take a step loss. Since the Japanese took more losses than play at full strength for the cost of 4 air replacements, losing one
unused replacement. The 7th non-LRB and LRB AF air units are
placed in Midway (5108) and Oahu (5808) respectively. The two
US CV naval units are brought up to full strength and there are no
Allied ground units available to receive the ground replacements.
This ends the replacement phase.
Strategic Warfare Segment
During the Strategic warfare segment, the Allies conduct submarine
warfare. The die roll result is 2, which has 1 added to it for defective
torpedoes. This total (3) has the current game turn number subtracted
from this total for a result of 1. Since 1 is greater than zero, there is no
effect for submarine warfare. If there had been no torpedo modifier
the submarine warfare result would have seen the Japanese lose one
strategy card. As it is, the Japanese will now have 7 cards dealt to
them. The Allies have 5 cards dealt to them and receive 2 passes.
21.0 Bibliography
I have literally read hundreds of books on the Pacific War and a period source for all spellings in the game, most of which are now
bibliography of my entire collection would take more space here out of vogue.
than it is worth. I offer a few works that I feel I used more than Madej, W. Victor, The Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle,
others for this game and that you may want to consult if you are 1937-1945 (volumes I and II) and U.S. Army and Marine Corps
interested in reading up on this topic. Order of Battle: Pacific Theater of Operations 1941-1945 (vol-
umes I and II)
A series of historical reprints that extensively covers Japanese and
Allied ground orders of battle.
Morrison, Samuel Eliot, History of the U.S. Naval Operations in
World War II
A multi-volume set of books that are the official U.S. navy account
of its operations during World War II. These books are a great
reference source for order of battle information and narratives of
the major military operations.
Allen, Louis, Burma: The Longest War 1941-45
Okumiya, Masatake and Horikoshi, Jiro, Zero: The Story of Japan’s
Perhaps this should be called the longest read. Allen’s book is a Air War in the Pacific 1941-1945
very slow but detailed account of military operations in the Chi-
na-Burma-India Theater of operations during the war. It is men- An excellent Japanese account on air operations during the war,
tioned above other works on this theater, because it consistently based on the personal experience of the authors. Although it was
appears as the primary source cited by other works on this topic. not a source for the game per se, a must read is Samurai which is
a riveting personal account from Japan’s highest surviving ace.
Bergerud, Eric, Touched With Fire and Fire in the Sky
Prados, John, Combined Fleet Decoded
Two very well written and researched books on ground and air
combat (respectively) during the Solomons campaign. Gives John and I go back to our SPI days. In my opinion this is John’s
excellent insight into operational factors that dominated combat best work over a long and distinguished career. A must read with
in the Pacific. cogent analysis, based on impeccable research, on how U.S. intel-
ligence successes and failures impacted Pacific military operations.
Comptroller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, The Japanese Air
Forces in World War II Pu-Yu, Hu, A Brief History of Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)
I have no clue why a British finance office would be in charge of A little known book out of Taiwan that is translated from the Chi-
this kind of material. In any event this is a great reference book on nese. A tough read grammatically with a heavy Chiang Kai-shek
Japanese air organization and command structure during the war. bias. Its main value is it details many military operations in China
that are close to impossible to find in any Western texts.
Costello, John, The Pacific War 1941-1945
Tuchman, Barbara, Stilwell and the American Experience in China
There are numerous one volume general histories that were used
at one time or another in researching this game and my earlier A great read with a heavy anti-Chiang Kai-shek flavor. Details
Pacific War game. This one is a good start if you haven’t read many of the personalities that drove much of the inactivity in this
much on this topic before. Theater during the war.
Dorn, Frank, The Sino-Japanese War 1937-41 Williams, Mary H. (compiled for the Center of Military History
U.S. Army), U.S. Army In World War II: Chronology 1941-45
Dorn’s book is a good background reference on the origins of the
Sino-Japanese conflict prior to U.S. entry into the war. The entire Green Book series are useful reference books that cover
World War II from a U.S. Army perspective. This volume covers
Dull, Paul S., A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy the key events of every day of World War II from 1941 until its
(1941-1945) conclusion. In addition I used most of the other volumes in this
Dull’s work is the original English source book that views the series at one time or another to check information.
naval war in the Pacific from the Japanese perspective. The book Willmott, H.P., Empires in the Balance and The Barrier and the
is based on original Japanese documents and gives interesting Javelin
perspective and detail on Japanese naval operations.
Two excellent books on the development of Pacific War strategies
Grosvenor, Gilbert (editor); Pacific Ocean and the Bay of Bengal up to Guadalcanal. Unfortunately the author has yet to finish the
map, compiled and drawn in the cartographic section of the Na- series, which is a shame because he is perhaps the best living World
tional Geographic Society, September 1943. War II historian out there.
The map projection is drawn from an equal area projection taken
from a U.S. Army Engineering section map from 1942. Apparently
there are a lot of ways to spell the place names on the EOTS map
when they are translated into English. I have chosen to use this
21.0 Index
1942 Scenario, 17.2 Battle and Concluding the Offensive, 7.28 Entry Problem Reinforcements, 10.12
1942-1943 Scenario, 17.5 Battle Resolution. 9.0 Even Shorter Campaign Scenario (1943-
1942-1944 Scenario, 17.7 Bibliography, 21.0 1945), 17.9
1943 Scenario, 17.3 Bridge over the River Kwai 13.79 Events & US Political Will, 16.44
Air and Aircraft Carrier Units In Battle, Burma Road, 13.78 General Course Of Play, 3.0
9.11 Burma Surrender, 13.52 Glossary, 1.3
Air Ferry in Gardner Hex, 8.35 Burma, 13.5 Ground Combat Applying Hits, 9.4B
Air Movement & Stacking, 8.3 Campaign Game Set Up, 2.2 Ground Combat Concluding, 9.4C
Air Movement, 8.31 Campaign Scenario (Dec ’41 - Aug ’45), 17.1 Ground Combat Procedure, 9.4
Air Naval Combat If Ambush, 9.2E Campaign Track Marker Starting Locations, Ground Disengagement, 8.43
Air Naval Combat Applying Hits, 9.2F 17.14 Ground Movement, 8.42
Air Naval Combat If Intercept, 9.2C Causes Of The War, 1.1 Ground Unit Movement & Stacking, 8.4
Air Naval Combat If Surprise Attack, 9.2D CBI Infrastructure 13.77 Ground Unit Stacking, 8.48
Air Unit Stacking, 8.34 Changing Intelligence Condition With A Ground Units In Battle, 9.13
Aircraft Zone Of Influence, 6.4 Reaction Card, 5.32A Headquarters Units, 6.1
Alaska And Hawaii, 16.42 Changing Intelligence Condition With An Hex Control, 6.5
Intelligence Die Roll, 7.25C
Allied ASPs, 10.31 HQ Capabilities, 6.11
China Offensives, 13.72
Allied Campaign Victory, 16.2 HQ National Restrictions, 6.12
China Surrenders, 13.73
Allied Draw Limitations, 12.52 HQ Return, 6.15
China, 13.7
Allied Draw, 12.51 Implications Of India Surrendering, 13.63
Chinese Army Units, 13.75
Allied Replacements. 11.3 Index, 21.0
Chinese Replacements, 11.34
Allied Strategy Cards, 12.5 India Surrender, 13.62
Components, 1.2
Allied Surrenders, 16.41 India, 13.6
Comprehensive Example Of Play, 18.0
Amphibious Assault, 8.45 Initiative Segment, 4.21
Counters, 1.23
Amphibious Assault ASP Requirements, Intelligence Values, 5.2
8.45A Deal Strategy Cards Segment, 4.14
Inter Service Rivalry, 14.0
Amphibious Assault Conclusion, 8.45C December 1941 Special Turn, 17.11
Introduction, 1.0
Amphibious Assault Restrictions, 8.45B Declaring Battle Hexes, 7.24
Invading Japan, 13.94
Amphibious Assault Special US Restric- Delayed Reinforcements, 10.2
Involuntary HQ Repositioning, 6.14
tions, 8.45D Designer’s Notes, 20.0
Japan, 12.9
Amphibious Shipping Points, 10.3 Determining The Winner Of The Air Naval
Combat, 9.3 Japanese (only) Organic Naval Unit Trans-
Attrition Phase, 4.4 port Capability, 8.46
Attrition, 6.24 Die, 1.21
Japanese Air Unit Replacements, 11.22
Australia, 13.8 Drawing A Card, 5.35
Japanese ASPs, 10.32
Australian Surrenders, 13.82 Dutch East Indies Definition, 13.41
Japanese Barges and Allied PT Boats,
Australian Territory, 13.81 Dutch East Indies Surrender, 13.42 10.33
Automatic Campaign Victory, 16.1 Dutch East Indies, 13.4 Japanese Barges, 8.47
B29 Availability, 12.31 Dutch. 11.35 Japanese Campaign Victory, 16.3
B29 Event Cards, 13.33 Emergency Air Movement, 8.32 Japanese Ground Unit Replacements,
B29s and Allied Air Units In China, 13.74 Emergency Naval Movement, 8.22 11.23
Base Movement Allowance, 8.1 Emergency Supply Routes, 6.23 Japanese Inter Service Rivalry, 14.2
End Of Turn Phase, 4.5 Japanese Intrinsic Strength In China, 13.76
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
Empire of the Sun 55
Index
Japanese Naval Scheduled Replacements, Operations Value and Reaction Player Ac- Strategic Bombing, 12.3
11.21 tivation, 7.26 Strategic Ground Transport, 8.44
Japanese Passing, 12.4 Operations Value, 5.1 Strategic Naval Movement, 8.23
Japanese Reinforcements, 10.11 Overview Of An Offensive, 7.1 Strategic Naval Situation & US Political
Japanese Replacements, 11.2 Philippine Surrender, 13.22 Will, 16.46
Japanese Strategic Reserves, 11.12 Philippines Definition, 13.21 Strategic Phase, 4.1
Japanese Strategy Cards, 12.1 Philippines, 13.2 Strategic Warfare & US Political Will,
Japanese Surrender, 13.93 Placement Reinforcement, 10.11 16.43
Kunming, Allied Supply, and Chinese Political Events, 5.34 Strategic Warfare Segment, 4.13
Army units, 13.75 Post Battle Movement, 9.6 Strategic Warfare, 12.0
Malaya and Siam, 13.3 Pre-War Unit Restrictions, 11.1 Strategy Cards, 1.24
Malaya Definition, 13.31 Procedure, Submarine Warfare Procedure, Strategy Cards, 5.0
Malaya Surrender, 13.32 12.21 Submarine Warfare Modifiers, 12.22
Manchukuo, 13.91 Progress of the War & US Political Will, Submarine Warfare, 12.2
Mandate Control, 13.84 16.47 Supply & Attrition, 6.0
Map, 1.22 Reaction Events, 5.32 Supply Lines, 6.21
Marshall Islands, 13.92 Reaction Move, 7.26 Terms of Australian Surrender, 13.83
Military Events, 5.31 Reaction Player Victory, 9.32 The Air Naval Combat Procedure, 9.2
Movement & Stacking, 8.0 Reaction Post Battle Movement, 9.61 The Hump, 6.23
Movement In India, 13.61 Receiving Reinforcements, 10.1 The Political Phase, 4.3
Movement Restrictions, 8.41 Reinforcement Segment, 4.11 The War In Europe, 10.21
Moving In China, 13.71 Reinforcements, 10.0 Tokyo Express, 6.23
National Status Segment, 4.31 Removing A Card, 5.36 Tournament Bidding, 16.48
National Status, 13.0 Replacement Segment, 4.12 Tournament Play, 16.48
National Surrender, 13.1 Replacements, 11.0 Ultimate Supply Sources, 6.22
Naval Movement, 8.21 Resource Events, 5.33 Unit Movement Allowance, 8.1
Naval Unit Movement & Stacking, 8.2 Resource Hexes, 12.11 Unit Types That Cannot Be Delayed, 10.23
Naval Unit Stacking, 8.24 Retreat, 9.5 US Casualties & US Political Will, 16.45
Naval Units In Battle, 9.12 Scenarios, 17.0 US Inter Service Rivalry, 14.1
New Guinea, 13.85 Scenarios, 2.1 US Political Will Segment, 4.32
No Air Naval Combat Was Conducted, Sent To Europe Die Roll, 10.24 US Political Will, 16.4
9.34 Sent To Europe Eligible Units, 10.22 Voluntary HQ Withdrawal Repositioning,
No Surviving Air or Naval Units, 9.31 Sequence Of Play, 4.0 6.13
Offensive Intelligence Determination, 7.25 Sequencing of Moves During an Offensive, War In Europe, 15.0
Offensives Player Unit Activation, 7.21 7.23 Who Participates In Battle, 9.1
Offensives Player Victory, 9.33 Setting Up, 2.0 WIE Level 1, 15.2
Offensives Post Battle Movement, 9.62 Shortened Campaign Scenario (1942-1945), WIE Level 2, 15.3
17.8
Offensives Phase, 4.2 WIE Level 3, 15.4
Siam Definition and Surrender, 13.33
Offensives Procedure, 7.2 WIE Level 4, 15.5
Special Event Cards, 5.37
Offensives Segment, 4.22 WIE Modified Die Rolls, 15.6
Special Reaction Move, 7.27
Offensives, 7.0 WIE No Effect, 15.1
Stacking, 8.0
Operations Value and Movement, 5.1, 7.21 Winning The Campaign Scenarios, 16.0
Strategic Air Transport, 8.33
Operations Value and Offensives Player
Activation, 7.21 Strategic Bombing Procedure, 12.32
© 2018 GMT Games, LLC
56 Empire of the Sun