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Empire of the Sun: The Pacific War 1941-1945
- 1–2 players
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- Complexity 4.4/5
- 2005
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- BGG #6,197
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- 7.8
South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943
2016
Rules assistance for South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 90–120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 4.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943 is a board game released in 2016 for 2 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Mark Herman and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
South Pacific (SPac) is an Empire of the Sun (EotS) C3i Scenario Variant by RBM Studio that uses the full scope of its parent design. While South Pacific is a complete stand alone game, all of the tactics that work in EotS work in SPac. What is unique about SPac is the smaller map region (see C3i 30 back cover image) focuses and significantly simplifies the strategic options available to the two sides. Each side has a 24 card deck that are like the EotS cards except they have been renumbered. The counter mix is also identical, except we have aligned the set up and reinforcement markings to the four-turn scenario. In designing this new C3i Scenario Variant, I wanted to put you in the shoes of MacArthur and Ghormley/Halsey prosecuting the US counterattack, while still being impacted by interservice rivalry, China, and competition for resources in Europe. All of the relevant tracks have been redesigned by Mark Simonitch to fit on the tailored C3i Mapsheet surface that shines a spotlight on the turning point in the Pacific War. Since this is a subset of the broader war each player is playing with a four rather than a seven card hand, and you will never reshuffle the deck allowing for high replayability. The practical result of this smaller hand of cards is South Pacific typically clocks in at less than two hours, so easily a one-session game. If you learn to how to play South Pacific you will also know how to play its parent game Empire of the Sun. (from the designer)
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- RBM Studio
Questions and answers
South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943 supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943 is 90–120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943 for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943 has a complexity rating of 4.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943 are: Mark Herman. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists South Pacific: Breaking the Bismarck Barrier 1942-1943 as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.