Fleet Commander: Pacific is a grand strategic simulation of the naval war in the Pacific from 1941 to 1945. All major surface combat ships of the Japanese and Allied navies are present in this streamlined reproduction of the biggest maritime war ever.
The game is a turn based game, I GO U GO system with alternating phases. You can play hot seat, against the AI or in multiplayer mode. The game contains:
- a turn-based sequence of play, with US having the slight advantage to play second as they broke the enemy code, allowing for interesting counter-moves,
- all main battleships, carriers and heavy cruisers as individual units, and minor ships, marines or air units regrouped in groups and flotillas,
- a simple (but not simplistic) set of game mechanisms, focusing on taking control of key sea areas,
- straightforward battle mechanisms, handling the various aspects of naval warfare: gunnery exchanges, submarines and airborne attacks,
- game features day or night battles, island bases invasions, air raids against ports, reinforcements from other theaters of war,
- a challenging set of decisions each turn for the selection of which areas to keep under your control, seize from the enemy or harass,
- an AI that will attempt to foil your grand strategic plans or your local actions,
- a very accurate database with faithful ships sketches, 3D models, and actual historical photos,
- a streamlined UI and easy controls, and a wealth of ingame information,
- many scenarios of variable length and difficulty.
MORE IN DETAILS
GAME SEQUENCE:
The game is played in 10 turns of 4 months each, alternating the opposing sides. The US side, playing last, has a slight strategic advantage.
GAME OBJECTIVE:
Each turn, both sides will attempt to control the key sea areas on the map. Each of those brings Victory Points (VP), not always the same for each side in a given sea, representing the different strategic importance of the various seas to the respective sides. At the end of the turn, once scores have been calculated, the leading side gets the balance and accrued it to its overall score. The winner of the game is the side with a positive VP balance at the end of the scenario in play.
GAME PHASES:
They are all identical each turn, except when mandated by special case (for instance the surprise attack phase of December 1941 in FC Pacific). In sequence:
- Arrival of reinforcements in a friendly port, or removal of units if required by date/turn.
- Moving Patrols out to sea, to take control of the sea areas.
- Placement of land-based aircrafts, one plane at a time, sides alternating. Only in allowed seas. Those planes can control sea zones.
- Movement of amphibious units.
- Placement of the submarine unit (if in game).
- Raid Missions with the aim of making attacks or defenses in sea areas, but not allowance future control by raiding ships.
- Resolution of naval battles, in the order selected by the Japanese player, sea area by sea area. Battle sequence is described hereafter.
- Landing of Marines, if they did not take place during battles.
- Return to port of all Raid Missions.
- Check of sea areas control and change of ownership of isolated bases.
- Return to base of land-based aircrafts and return to port for all patrolling ships.
- Repair of damaged units in ports.
BATTLE PHASES:
Each battle follows the same process below, for as long as units of both sides remain in the currently selected sea area:
- Selection of battle round type, between air and surface. Should the sides disagree, a random selection is made, with various bonus or penalties for air action, area control or admiral’s presence in the sea area.
- Exchange of fire, air or surface, are simultaneous, although show one side after the other for better presentation aspect and understanding. All units allowed to fire may select only one single valid target per round. This full exchange is one round of battle, and it can be repeated until combat is over.
- Some ships cannot be targeted in surface battles if protected by screen of other ships and not engaged themselves (this restriction does not apply to air combat).
- Both sides may retreat totally or in part at the end of a battle round. If both remain, another round starts anew.
- Ships and planes suffer disable results or damages points. Accumulated damage superior to the ships’ protection factor sinks them. In ports (via air raids), ships can take double damage before sinking, but stay on the bottom and can’t move (till repaired) if damage exceeds protection.
- In case of a retreat, unit can be pursued by non-retreating opponents if the respective ships speeds allow.
- Retreats are made toward bases in the same area, or closest major port.
- At the end of the battle, victorious side with aircraft carrier may launch 2 rounds of air raids over bases adjacent to the sea area.
- During the battle, a maximum of one submarine per side, if present, may fire once. In such a case it will return to base just like a raiding ship.
MOVEMENT OF SHIPS:
Depending on their missions (patrol or raid) and their speed. On patrol, a ship may move to an adjacent sea and, possibly, one sea further on if speed allows. Most fast ships will automatically succeed, whi
