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War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45
1978
Rules assistance for War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–6 players
- 360 min
- 12+
- Complexity 4.4/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45 is a board game released in 1978 for 1–6 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jim Dunnigan, Edward Curran, Irad B. Hardy, and Tom Walczyk and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
Expansions
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About the game
War in the Pacific – The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45 is a multi-level simulation of the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War Two. The game enables players to recreate the entire course of the war, from the opening Japanese attack on December 7, 1941 to the climactic Allied assaults in the closing days of 1945. This Monster sized game simulates the conflict in the Pacific on a seven section map representing some 30% of the globe, across which cardboard playing pieces move and engage in combat through an hexagonal grid, which functions much like a chessboard in regulating movement. Game components: Rules booklet (56 pages) Scenarios booklet (12 pages) Two charts and tables booklets (16 pages) 3,200 die-cut playing pieces Seven 22" x 34" colored soft map sheets Playing aids, displays and cycle tracks Air/Surface Tactical Display Allied Air Display Allied Game Turn/Cycle Record Track Allied General Record Track Allied Naval Task Force Display Allied Off-Map Movement Display Japanese Air Display Japanese Game-Turn/Cycle Record Track Japanese General Record Track Japanese Naval Task Force Display 2 Dice 2 Plastic trays for playing piece storage Errata (as of December 1978) Level Of Complexity: Very High Average Playing Time: 6 hours (Midway scenario) to 200+ hours
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- Hobby Japan
- SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.)
Questions and answers
War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45 supports 1–6 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 War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45 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 War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45 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.
War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45 has a complexity rating of 4.4 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.
War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation. 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 War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45 are: Jim Dunnigan, Edward Curran, Irad B. Hardy, and Tom Walczyk. 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 War in the Pacific: The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45 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.