Author	treadasaurusrex (Japan)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Japan
Participants	Reconquista
Play Date	2023-04-08
Language	English
Scenario	ChOp002

This was a 5-session, very bloody, play-through with the implacable and sly, Reconquista leading the defending Chinese. I led the overeager & excessively aggressive Japanese side. We used the consolidation, excess initiative and FOW optional rules in this flawed and hopelessly unbalanced scenario. We refrained from using house rules in what ended up as a major Japanese victory. The victory conditions include the Japanese capturing two bridges over a major river and exiting at least 20 steps onto Maps 114 or MAP 93. The Chinese force is inadequate to prevent these two conditions. Between us, we threw 18 combat 7-die rolls and there were 6 FOW-shortened turns that, surprisingly, did relatively little to help the defending Chinese garrison.

As others have reported, the Sons of Nippon made dilatory progress on Map 95 and very slowly ground down the defenders in the vicinity of the bridge. A Japanese movement to contain the left flank took the easternmost bridge after suffering many casualties, multiple morale failures & leader losses. Oddly, the defenders in the adjacent town, were not made of the same stout stuff, as the courageous, Chinese bridge guards on either flank.

This problematic scenario is suitable for SOLO play only, as it is virtually impossible for the defending Chinese side to prevail, I give it a generous; 2, and recommend against trying it in SHARED play.