WGA’s Wargamers Guide to Gary Grigsby’s/Matrix Games’ PACIFIC WAR, Version 3.0; updated 100511 Page 1 of 52 10.7. Air Bombardment Surface Combat 10.8. Submarine Combat WARGAME ACADEMY’S WARGAMER’S 11. REPAIR PHASE 12. SUPPLY GUIDE TO GARY GRIGSBY’S PACIFIC 13. BASE CONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION 14. FUEL/SUPPLY CONSUMPTION WAR; MATRIX GAMES’ 3.0 EDITION 15. AIR ZONES OF CONTROL 16. SIGINT (WWW.MATRIXGAMES.COM) 17. RADAR • Original 1992 Strategic Simulations Rulebook 18. REPLACEMENTS • Strategic Simulations Update (bold gray italics) 19. REINFORCEMENTS • Matrix 3.0 Update Notes 20. VICTORY CONDITIONS • Examples: (bold dark blue) 21. AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS • Original Designers: Notes (green) 22. TUTORIAL • Formulas (bold orange) 23. DESIGNER’S NOTES • Wargame Academy Modifications from various sources; minor 24. STRATEGY AND TACTICS formatting changes not distinguished. Various statements of SSI 25. TIMELINE warranty, disk replacement; have been deleted (magenta). Send all comments, additional information to Bill Thomson; [email protected]; www.wargameacademy.org 1.0 INTRODUCTION PACIFIC WAR is a strategy game that covers the entire war between the Japanese Empire and the Western Alliance. All facets of the war are covered; CONTENTS carrier battles, amphibious assaults, strategic bombing, kamikazes, and the A. Rulebook submarine war against merchant shipping are all critical in determining the B. Menus and Tables outcome. Pacific War places you in the role of a Nimitz or Yamamoto. You C. Article: THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC: 1941-1945 by Albert A. Nofi deploy all of your nation’s strategic assets, and plan naval, air, and land D. Novice Player Tools campaigns in an effort to crush your opponents. E. FAQ The original SSI game contained: A game disk, a rulebook, and a Data Cart. None of these are needed in the free download of Matrix Games’ Pacific War 3.0 A: RULEBOOK (www.matrixgames.com). 1. INTRODUCTION 2. STARTUP 2.0 STARTUP 3. PLAYER AIDS 2.1: Backup Disks: The original SSI game disk had no physical copy protection, 4. GAME CONCEPTS creating a backup disk was recommended. This can be ignored in the MATRIX 5. TALKING TO THE COMPUTER version. 6. SETTING UP THE GAME 2.2: README File: Your game disk may come with a README file that contains 7. TURN SEQUENCE rules updates and/or errata. Please read the file carefully before playing the 8. ORDERS game. 8.1. General Orders Menu 2.3: Installing the Game: Use the instructions on your data card to install and 8.2. Utility Menu play the game. In the MATRIX version; just download. Start the application by 8.3. Unit Menu PW.exe file. Save games actually generates a series of game files denoted with a 8.4. HQ Menu save letter (#=A-J). Saved games are a set of three files corresponding to the 8.5. Hot Keys save letter; SAVE#, SAVE#.MD and SAVE#.CD. A REPORT.CBT is also 8.6. Player Checklist created. Send this entire set of similarly named save files to your opponent. 8.7. LCU Orders 2.4: Documentation Check: To verify that you have a legitimate copy of the 8.8. Air Unit Order game you will be asked to answer a question using information from this rule 8.9. Air Transfer book. Note: Do not count section headings as part of paragraphs. This can be 8.10. Air Mission ignored in the MATRIX version; there is not documentation check. 8.11. Arctic Weather Zone 8.12. Aircraft Ranges 8.13. Air Targets 3.0 PLAYER AIDS 8.14. Task Force Orders 8.15. TF Missions The scope of the game is immense; about 200 bases and all of the land, air, 8.16. Loading Task Forces and sea forces available. The player aids listed below were designed to help you 8.17. TF Reactions get started. 8.18. Submarines 3.1 HOW TO PLAY 8.19. HQ/Leader Orders For a tutorial that gives you an idea of how to play the game, see the 8.20. Headquarters Functions “Tutorial” section on page 55. 8.21. Special HQ Restrictions 3.2 AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS 8.22. Preparation Points In order to capture most of the bases in the game, amphibious assaults must 9. LEADERS be made. Review this section to give you an idea of the many different types of 10. EXECUTION PHASE TFs you will need to make a successful landing against a heavily defended base. 10.1. Army Combat See “Amphibious Operations” on page 54. 10.2. Base Capture 3.3 SCENARIO OBJECTIVES 10.3. Land-Based Air Missions Due to the large number of bases and the size of the map, each scenario has 10.4. Carrier Combat some suggestions as to what to do. See “Setting Up the Game” on page 4 for 10.5. Air-to-Air Combat more details. 10.6. Air-to-Sea Combat cPCW; Compliled and edited by Wargame Academy for internal use only www.wargameacademy.org WGA’s Wargamers Guide to Gary Grigsby’s/Matrix Games’ PACIFIC WAR, Version 3.0; updated 100511 Page 2 of 52 3.4 LIST OF BATTLES 5.0 TALKING TO THE COMPUTER See the “Timeline” section on page 65 to review the dates for the various battles that took place in the Pacific theatre. 5.1 USING THE KEYBOARD: 3.5 PLAYER’S CHECKLIST Note for IBM users: Make sure your [Num Lock] and [Caps Lock] are off before In the section “Orders Phase-Player’s Checklist” on page 14 you can review playing. some of the important tasks you need to perform in any given turn. Use the following keys to move the cursor around the map in large 3.6 STRATEGY AND TACTICS HINTS increments: A section on “Strategy and Tactics” on page 62 gives you some helpful hints I on game play. J K 3.7 SUMMARY OF GAME MENUS M A few of the important game menus have been duplicated and grouped Use the following keys on the numeric keypad to move the cursor: together on page 100. These are especially useful when using the keyboard. 7 9 4 6 4.0 GAME CONCEPTS 1 1 Other options can be accessed with hotkey commands. These commands are 4.1 GAME SCALE listed on the back of this rule book, and can be displayed during the game by Each hex is 100 miles across. Each turn is 1 week long. pressing the ‘/’ key. 4.2 GAME MAP 5.2 HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL MENU SELECTIONS: Pacific map areas will contain the following types of terrain: Use the “4” and “6” keys or the left and right arrow keys to move • • Open sea (light blue or light blue with a red dot) horizontally across the menu. Use the “8” and “2” keys or the up and down • • Coastal (gray, green, and light blue) arrow keys to move vertically in the menu. Press <Enter> to accept your • • Land (gray and green) selections. Some of the menus that require these keystrokes are the Setup Menu, Terrain will effect naval movement as follows: Delay/Display Menu, Aircraft Factory Change Menu, and Standoff Range Menu. • TFs may never enter a land hex. • TFs may never move through a land hexside. 5.3 USING THE MOUSE: Only Task Forces (TFs) will be displayed with ship icons on the map. Land Use the mouse to move the pointer over the menu items and buttons. To Combat Units (LCUs) and aircraft are placed inside bases. The various icons are move around the map, click the pointer at the edges of the map. To select hexes, listed below: move, or transfer units; click the pointer over a desired hex. Click the left mouse • One blue ship One Allied TF button to activate the Unit Menu over a particular unit (Task Force, Base, Army, • Two blue ships Multiple Allied TFs or Airfield). Click the right mouse button to get information about friendly units • One red ship One Japanese TF in the hex. All keyboard commands also work if you are using a mouse. • Two red ships Multiple Japanese TFs • US Flag* US controlled base • British Flag* Other Allied controlled base 6.0 SETTING UP THE GAME • Japanese Flag* Japanese controlled base When you start a game, the Setup Menu allows you to load saved games or • A flag with a green colored border shows that both sides have Land set up new ones. You can return to this menu while playing by selecting ESC or Combat Units in the hex. pressing “Q” on the General Orders Menu and SETUP on the Options Menu. Each scenario has a list of short term objectives that you can review to give 4.3 COMBAT FORCES you an idea what bases you need to be concerned with in either attacking or A Pacific scenario will contain some or all of the following: defending. • Carriers (CV,CVL) • Escort Carrier Groups (CVE) • Battleships (BB) 6.1 SETUP MENU • Battlecruisers (BC) SCENARIO PLAYER BALANCE • Heavy Cruisers (CA) Saved game Japanese Computer Max Help Japanese Campaign 41 Allied Computer Help Japanese • Light Cruisers (CL) Campaign 42 Both Human Even • Antiaircraft Cruisers (CLAA) Rising Sun Both Computer Help Allied • Seaplane Cruisers (CS) Coral Sea/Midway Max Help Allied Guadalcanal • Destroyers (DD) Marianas • Destroyer Escorts (DE) Leyte Gulf • Patrol Craft (PC) ACCEPT SETUP • Destroyer-Transports (APD) • Transports (AP) If you are using the keyboard, see the section on “Horizontal and Vertical • Landing Ships (LST) Menu Selections” on page 3 to make your menu selections. • Merchant Cargo Ships (MC) • Oilers (AO) 6.1 SCENARIO selection allows you to load a saved game or start one of the • Tankers (TK) scenarios: • Submarines (SS) 6.1.1 Saved Game loads a previously saved game.