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- 6.0
Dawn of the Rising Sun: Ship Forms
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,136
- BGG rating
- 7.7
The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun
2004
Rules assistance for The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 360 min
- 12+
- Complexity 4.1/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun is a board game released in 2004 for 1–2 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Bill Madison, Larry Bond, and Chris Carlson and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Grid Movement.
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About the game
"The fate of the empire rests upon this one battle, let every man do his utmost." Admiral Togo addressing the Japanese Fleet 27 May 1905 Dawn of the Rising Sun contains 20 scenarios covering all the major surface engagements of the Russo-Japanese War that led to this stunning reversal of fortunes. Using the same rules as Fear God & Dread Nought, a novice can begin playing within a half hour of opening the box using the specially designed Jump start scenario. Dawn of the Rising Sun follows the same format as Clash of Arm's other rules used in the Admiralty Trilogy, making them easy to follow for experienced gamers, and novices alike. Tactical turns represent 3 minutes, with intermediate turns (for long distance maneuvering and long stern chases) representing 30 minutes. Gun hit probability is based upon a combination of factors such as visibility, range, target size, number of rounds fired at the target, and the speed of the firing and target platforms. Damage is a function of the type of shell, number of barrels firing and armor of target, and is easy to calculate also. Blank ship forms allow the player to list all the ranges and damages of his ship's particular guns in advance, making it quick and easy to calculate both damage and hit probability. Critical hits are a function of the amount of damage taken last round vs. the amount of damage able to be taken. Critical hits are typically scored against systems (engineering, bridge, steering or individual weapon mounts). Each scenario has its own map, showing the disposition of forces. In addition to the well known battles such as Port Arthur, Yellow Sea, and Tsushima Strait, several smaller battles are included. The scenario book is full of original after action reports as well as helpful sidebars on a wide range of topics. The Data Annex is complete for all the ships that were involved, as well as including line drawings of the major combatants and additional source material, making it a valuable reference in itself. Step onto the Admiral's bridge and see if you will sustain or reverse history. Russo-Japanese War contains: FG&DN Rules RJW Data Annex Scenario Book - 20 scenarios plus numerous sidebars and articles. 2 countersheets, 210 ship, and 140 markers (land based guns, searchlights, fires, torpedoes, etc.)
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Clash of Arms Games
Questions and answers
The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun supports 1–2 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun is 360 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 The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun 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.
The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun 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.
The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Grid Movement. 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 The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun are: Bill Madison, Larry Bond, and Chris Carlson. 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 The Russo-Japanese War: Dawn of the Rising Sun 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.