Flashpoint: South China Sea

€49.00 *

Prices incl. VAT plus shipping costs

Ready to ship today,
Delivery time appr. 1-3 workdays

  • SW13782
From GMT: “We are strongly committed to safeguarding the country's sovereignty and... more
Product information "Flashpoint: South China Sea"

From GMT:

“We are strongly committed to safeguarding the country's sovereignty and security, and defending our territorial integrity.” - Chinese President Xi Jinping

“The United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, and support the right of all nations to do the same.” - U.S. PACOM Commander Chief Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr.

“Vietnam does not pursue a military buildup, but Vietnam pursues protecting our sovereignty, firstly with peaceful measures, diplomatic measures, and even justice measures.” -Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

Flashpoint: South China Sea is a two-player strategy game that simulates the complex geopolitical contest currently taking place between the United States and China in a disputed region of the South China Sea. The game is driven by a card deck that captures developments ripped straight from today’s headlines, bolstered by cards with a context-setting reading of recent history, and a set of speculative cards capturing a diverse range of potential future events. 

The Chinese player works to influence other countries in the region, establish territorial claims and regional hegemony, and improve its world standing. The U.S. player works to maintain influence with allied countries in the region, secure freedom of navigation, and keep China in check. Success for both players hinges on the support and allegiance of non-player countries in the region. The game stops short of dealing with a potential full-scale military conflict. Rather, it requires the nuanced exercise of political, economic, and military resources, in a form of prima facie diplomacy – on the waters, in the air, and ultimately in the minds of the people – to achieve victory.

Each player manages a hand of cards that can be used immediately for various operations, or may be held for future operations under more favorable circumstances. 

Strategically, there are several key focal points for the players:

First, the US player bears the burden of keeping the region’s shipping lanes free and open. If the US player falls behind in Freedom of Navigation Operations, Chinese claims grow and game momentum will shift.

Both players must take heed of the game’s Tension Track, which directly influences the impact of events. If the Track is not managed properly, a high level of tension can increase the stakes and derail the 'best-laid plans'. 

The Chinese player must work to improve Chinese World Standing, which affords them added influence as their World Standing increases. The US player can win by reducing Chinese World Standing to a critically low level. 

Protagonist countries in the region are key influence battlegrounds for the players. This represents the pragmatic reality that claimant countries in the region have unique impact on international dispute resolution mechanisms. If the Chinese can influence them to the point that they will not exercise those claims, the Chinese position is strengthened. If the US can influence and support them to consistently exercise their claims, China’s position is weakened. In the game, both players attempt to assert economic and military influence on these claimant countries.

In order to increase the strength of their claims in the region, the Chinese can develop islands. This development will cost influence in the region and increase Tension, but is a cornerstone of Chinese strategy. To counter these claims, the United States must conduct offsetting Freedom of Navigation Operations. These Freedom of Navigation Operations help keep the Chinese claims in check but must be diligently maintained.

As the United States player, can you defend the claims of your allies, stare down the Chinese player in a high stakes game of chicken, and use your economic and military influence in the region to thwart China’s expansion? Can you erode or limit Chinese World Standing while frustrating their ambitions, without allowing Tension to get out of control? 

As the Chinese player, can you use your developing economic and military power in the region to solidify your claims and develop strategic dominance of the region?

Flashpoint: South China Sea lets you determine how this conflict will play out in a fast-to-play, easy-to-learn game.

Components:

1 22 x 17" mounted map board

40+ wooden influence cubes and markers

60+ cards 

2 six-sided dice

1 Rulebook and Designer Notes

 


Präsentationsort im Laden: Ihr findet mich im Regal W18.
Board Game Geek Link
Hier findet ihr weitere Informationen und Rezensionen zum Spiel.
Related links to "Flashpoint: South China Sea"
Available downloads:
Zu den Downloads more
Verfügbare Downloads "Flashpoint: South China Sea"
Read, write and discuss reviews... more
Customer evaluation for "Flashpoint: South China Sea"
25 Aug 2022

Perfekter Einstieg in die Flashpoint-Serie

Flashpoint: South China Sea macht den Auftakt zu einer neuen Serie von Flashpoint Games und präsentiert sich mit einer erstklassigen Ausstattung:

- Regelbuch für 2 Spieler
- Regelbuch für Solospiel
- Hintergrundbuch
- 3 doppelseitige Spielhilfen (2 für 2-Spieler-Modus, 1 für Solospiel)
- aufgezogener Spielplan auf schwerer Pappe
- Spielkarten (Event-, Scoring-, Solo-Karten)
Top!

Das Spiel verzichtet komplett auf Würfel und minimiert damit den Glücksfaktor. Alle Aktionen im Spiel werden über die Event-Cards ausgeführt, die auf mehrere Arten genutzt werden können. Die Event-Karten sind klar aufgebaut und zeigen thematisch passende Motive.

Es handelt sich bei F:SCS nicht um ein Wargame, sondern, man versucht durch Diplomatie, Ökonomie und militärische Präsenz den Einfluss der USA oder Chinas in der Region zu stärken.

Das Spielprinzip erinnert stark an das Spiel "13 Minutes: The Cuban Missile Crisis" von Ultra Pro Entertainment. Auch dort werden Events ausgespielt, um Einflussmarker zu platzieren und Missionsziele (Scoring-Cards) zu erfüllen.

Das Spiel endet nach 3 Runden, in denen jeweils 6 Events pro Spieler ausgespielt werden. Zum Schluss gibt es eine zusätzliche Schlusswertung. Die Nation mit den meisten Siegpunkten ist der Gewinner.

Das Regelbuch erklärt den Ablauf klar und mit Beispielen und einem Glossar aller relevanten Spielbegriffe. Der Einstieg in das ungewohnte Spielprinzip ist etwas verwirrend, deshalb mein Tipp: Das Regelbuch mit seinen 10 Seiten einmal komplett durchlesen! Danach ist das Spielprinzip klar.

Für das Solospiel enthält F:SCS eine zusätzliche komplette Ausstattung mit eigenem Regelbuch, Spielhilfe und Karten für den virtuellen Gegner.

Kleiner Kritikpunkt: Man hätte im Spielprinzip sicher den Schwerpunkt auf die militärische Auseinandersetzung im Südchinesischen Meer legen können, um so die Gruppe der Wargamer auch noch zu überzeugen. So bleibt es vorrangig ein Diplomatie-Spiel.

Tipp: Die Regeln enthalten eine Option für "Political Warfare". Diese kann man einfach in "Military Warfare" umbenennen und verfügt dann neben Diplomatie und Wirtschaft über das komplette Spektrum der Kriegsführung.

Insgesamt ein überzeugender Einstieg in die Flashpoint-Serie mit perfekter Ausstattung und einem interessanten Spielprinzip. Ein besonderes Lob für den zusätzlichen Solo-Modus, der bei anderen Herstellern gerne schon einmal extra kostet...


Write an evaluation
Evaluations will be activated after verification.

The fields marked with * are required.

I have read the data protection information.

South China Sea - Modern Naval Conflict in the South Pacific South China Sea - Modern Naval Conflict in the...
South China Sea Volume I, Reprint 2021
€79.00 *
Blue Water Navy - The War at Sea Blue Water Navy - The War at Sea
2021 Reprint
€109.00 *
Modern Naval Battles Modern Naval Battles
Reprint (2019)
€45.00 *
Indian Ocean Region - Modern Naval Conflict in the Indian Ocean Indian Ocean Region - Modern Naval Conflict in...
South China Sea Volume II
€89.00 *
The British Way - Counterinsurgency at the End of Empire The British Way - Counterinsurgency at the End...
Solitaire Scenarios included
€79.00 *
Storm Above the Reich Storm Above the Reich
Solitaire or Semi-Cooperative
€95.00 *
NEW
Seas of Havoc: Captain's Deluxe Edition Seas of Havoc: Captain's Deluxe Edition
EN (English version)
€124.95 *
NEW
ISS Vanguard ISS Vanguard
DE (German version)
€169.95 *
Legend: Winds of War 1934-1940 + Base Game BUNDLE (EN/IT) Legend: Winds of War 1934-1940 + Base Game...
EN/IT (English, Italian Version) / BUNDLE: Includes the base...
€39.95 *
NEW
Battle of Brandywine, 1777 Battle of Brandywine, 1777
2nd Edition
€59.00 *
PREORDER***Air & Armor: Operational Armored Warfare in Europe PREORDER***Air & Armor: Operational Armored...
Designer Signature Edition
Vorbestellung
€95.00 *
NEW
Vijayanagara: The Deccan Empires of Medieval India, 1290-1398 Vijayanagara: The Deccan Empires of Medieval...
Irregular Conflicts Series Volume 1
€79.00 *
Viewed